Infatuated Girl
"...Brother Duan, did you hear a sound?"
Duan Qinghe and the disciple from the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Sect walked together through the winding secret passages.
The two had met halfway and originally planned to travel together for a short distance before parting ways to find their respective doors. However, they encountered pursuing skeleton soldiers. Unable to fend them off even with their spiritual energy, they were forced to flee down the same branching path.
Strangely enough, the moment they stepped into this area, the skeleton soldiers hesitated for a moment before choosing to let them go, turning around and leaving.
Duan Qinghe knew something was amiss; this place definitely held a secret different from the rest. He silently observed the iron mesh covering half the wall in front of him, and said with some hesitation, "Brother Li, look at this... could this be one of the so-called Eight Gates?"
Although they couldn't see the seams of a door, this place was far too different from the other walls.
Unlike Duan Qinghe's careful observation, the Brother Li he spoke of had already pressed his head against the outside of the iron mesh with a solemn expression. Making a shushing gesture, he whispered, "There is a sound, and it seems to be coming from inside... Brother Duan, come listen!"
Duan Qinghe cautiously stepped forward. He first lightly touched the iron mesh with his fingers before leaning in to listen. After listening for less than a few seconds, he stiffened and took a half-step back.
Being slightly older, he had taken on a sect mission or two. Once, he was sent to the mortal realm to eliminate a flower-plucking fox demon... He had heard a similar sound back then and it left a deep impression on him. He immediately realized that this was... the sound of a man and a woman in an intimate moment.
But the cultivator surnamed Li did not yet possess such experience. His brows were locked tight, and with a conflicted face, he said, "What exactly is this sound? It's so faint, let me listen again..."
Cultivators have sharp hearing. Through the thick stone wall, he listened closely once more and caught those panting noises again, occasionally accompanied by a murmur like a kitten begging for food, something indescribable.
He looked up in surprise and analyzed, "Brother Duan, this might really be a door! One of those two female cultivators might be inside. I suspect that's the sound of a woman sobbing softly."
Before Duan Qinghe could open his mouth, he saw visible black mist suddenly seeping out from the previously dull iron mesh. He shouted, "Oh no!" and hastily grabbed Cultivator Li's arm, using a flash step to retreat.
With a few rumbling sounds of shifting stone walls, the black mist that appeared from nowhere instantly covered the outside of the wall. It acted like a defensive shield, but it wasn't just for defense; simply looking at it revealed its immense offensive power. Had they not retreated in time, their limbs would have likely been entangled by the black mist.
The embarrassment on Duan Qinghe's face was replaced by seriousness. He said in a low voice:
Spring Day
"It seems that is indeed a door, but it is highly likely one of the Death, Fear, or Injury gates. Judging from the second round, this year's Heavenly Dipper Martial Gathering places great emphasis on cultivating the heart. This door must contain a miasma of lust... To be honest with you, Brother Li, I roughly understood the meaning of that sound. It is a trap set by the illusion within the door to test us. We must leave here quickly..."
"Brother Duan is brilliant, I cannot compare!" Cultivator Li suddenly realized the truth. Seeing the menacing chill of the black mist, he knew the inside of the door must be extremely dangerous. His expression turned stern, and he quickly changed direction with Duan Qinghe, running far away.
...
Inside the stone chamber.
Both of them were panting heavily, their chests heaving unsteadily. Their lips were wet and swollen, glistening with an ambiguous sheen in the dim light.
Yingshi broke away from that euphoric sensation and suddenly began to struggle, a layer of aggrieved mist quickly filling her eyes.
Although she had been sobbing softly earlier, no tears had fallen. Now, however, it was different.
Had she sobered up a bit and realized what had happened between them?
So, was she belatedly beginning to feel disgust and aversion?
Shuangjian was struck by the sight of those real tears, and his heart suddenly tightened.
He propped up his upper body. By the dim, warm yellow halo of the stone chamber, he looked at Yingshi's face, which had grown even more delicate and charming from his kisses. The flush on her cheeks had not faded, and her lips were crimson and slightly swollen. Now, her long eyelashes were soaked with tears, sticking together in little clusters in a pitiful manner.
And in her hazy, half-open eyes, his own reflection was mirrored: messy hair, reddened corners of his eyes, and a face that still held unrestrained desire and... wretchedness.
"..."
Seeing himself through Yingshi's eyes, an overwhelming sense of self-loathing surged up within him.
What exactly... was he doing?
Taking advantage of her vulnerability?
Enduring a body that began to ache intensely the moment it left Yingshi's touch, Shuangjian abruptly pulled back, as if creating distance in time could somehow make up for his mistakes. However, he immediately saw Yingshi crying softly while her hands fumbled around her waist, seeming to try and untie the already loose skirt sash.
"No!" Shuangjian reacted fiercely, grabbing her wrists with a somewhat out-of-control force. His voice was terribly dry and hoarse. "You can't take it off..."
Yingshi's wrists hurt slightly from his grip, and she stopped her movements. Looking at him with teary eyes, her lips parted slightly: "I... think..." I think I wet my pants...
It's wet and uncomfortable...
But even in her daze, she couldn't bring herself to say those words.
What if Shuangjian felt disgusted by her and refused to let her taste him anymore?
Forget it, I'll just endure it... Her muddled brain compromised, and then she began to stare fixedly at Shuangjian again.
Shuangjian was still waiting for Yingshi to speak, but the words never came. Instead, what came were her arms reaching out to him once more.
Using her soft hands, she hooked them around his neck again, threw herself onto him, and sat down. With absolute directness, she crashed toward his face, clumsily taking his lips in hers and sucking gently.
She was addicted.
She hadn't had enough.
"..."
Shuangjian was dazed for a moment, his scalp tingling at the realization that he still couldn't muster the strength to push her away.
Even worse, Yingshi seemed to have discovered more tricks to bring herself pleasure in her dizziness. For instance, her legs kept rubbing against his body, occasionally clamping tight. While he experienced an indescribable, ultimate sensation, he was also suffering immense torment.
He... also had instincts.
He also had special knowledge that he could instantly learn the moment contact was made.
He knew all too well how dangerous this moment was, and how terrifying the consequences would be if they continued.
But feeling the gentle pecks on his captured lips, his eyes lost focus. All thoughts of the consequences were forcefully interrupted, leaving him with no choice but to despairingly raise his hands and firmly embrace Yingshi's waist.
...Let his future self bear all the consequences.
At this very moment, other than cooperating with Yingshi, he couldn't do anything else.
...
Yingshi was awakened by a dull migraine.
The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself resting on someone's chest, sleeping sprawled out. If it weren't for an arm lying across her waist, gently holding her in place, her posture would probably be even more unrestrained.
But just as she examined that arm, its owner, realizing she was awake, released her. He gently pulled her up while quickly withdrawing his hand to keep a distance from her.
Yingshi looked blankly at the pale Shuangjian, startled by his current appearance.
His clothes were crumpled, as if they had been ruthlessly ravaged. His hair was slightly messy, and his lips were very red and slightly swollen, giving him an alluring, battle-damaged look...
Yet Yingshi couldn't muster any romantic thoughts, because Shuangjian's eyes were... heavy with gloom.
Like a death row inmate escorted to the heavenly prison, having experienced some irreversible sentence, his eyes hid a suppressed sense of dead silence.
"Shuangjian... what's wrong?" The moment the words left her mouth, Yingshi realized her voice was incredibly hoarse. She covered her neck, coughed lightly twice, and after dizzily scanning their surroundings, stared at Shuangjian with solemn worry. "What happened? Why are we here..."
"..." Shuangjian's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't speak.
"Damn it! How strange, I actually can't remember anything!" Yingshi frowned and tapped her head, guessing, "Did you find out I was trapped in the Xiu Gate, and run into some danger while coming to save me?"
Her last memory fragments remained on those complicated recitations in the Xiu Gate. Thinking of this, she remembered her meeting with Changyi and that book titled "Taiyu Space-Traversing Technique."
But Shuangjian's current state was off, and he kept silent. Her heart was full of concern for him, making her unable to immediately share that information. Feeling a bit helpless, she took a step forward and tugged at Shuangjian's sleeve.
"..."
That touch woke Shuangjian as if from a dream.
His long eyelashes blinked, the frost covering his body slowly thawing, and he looked back into Yingshi's eyes with a hint of a daze.
—She didn't remember.
Everything that had happened, all that excessive pleasure and the evidence of his sins, had left absolutely no trace in her mind.
She had merely slept, cleanly forgetting her demands and control over him.
Should he breathe a sigh of relief? The judgment that kept him in constant panic would not fall; he and Yingshi were still the same as before they entered the Du Gate.
But why did his heart feel a sense of loss and unwillingness?
It was as if he was suddenly caught during an endless fall, only to find himself actually suspended in an even emptier void...
"...Yes."
Shuangjian nodded hastily and quickly lowered his eyes.
He feared that if he continued to meet Yingshi's gaze, the next second he would confess to those sticky kisses that couldn't be measured by the word "single."
"You and I met outside the Xiu Gate, entered the Du Gate together, and were locked inside for twelve hours," he answered in a low voice.
Yingshi stared at his lips, whose presence became ever more distinct as he replied, and sharply noticed a broken patch of skin on them.
Shuangjian... truly had never shown such a wretched appearance.
His clothes were a mess, and upon closer inspection, she found that not only were his lips red, but there were also a few faint red marks on his face and neck.
After looking for a few seconds, Yingshi suddenly had an epiphany: "Shuangjian, are you allergic to bugs? There are quite a few crawling insects in this altar. You absolutely must not let them get close to you; allergic reactions can be very serious! Your mouth is even a little swollen..."
"..."
There was a cruel innocence in her words.
Shuangjian clearly should have felt even more relieved by her question. After all, she had mistaken those marks of passionate kissing for hives caused by bugs.
This was the best possible outcome; he shouldn't remind Yingshi of what had happened.
It was enough that he alone knew the details of that loss of control.
However, he was already possessed by his desires.
And so, the words that left his mouth shifted from an admission to an ambiguous rebuttal: "It's not an allergy... I was bitten."
"Huh?" Yingshi's eyes widened. "Have the bugs here turned into demons? To go so far as to bite you right on the mouth!"
"..."
Shuangjian twitched the corners of his lips, which counted as tacit agreement.
"Then do you feel unwell anywhere?" Yingshi asked again. "And your demon core, is it about to act up?"
"It already has."
"...When?" Yingshi was even more dumbfounded.
"While you were asleep." Shuangjian sorted out the faint gloom in his heart and comforted her, "Don't worry, this flare-up wasn't too hard to endure." It was especially hard to endure.
"Ah? I didn't help at all again."
Yingshi was a bit frustrated.
She was always like this, lying flat when she should be providing the most help to Shuangjian, not reliable at all...
It was written in the book that the second flare-up was terrifying. Shuangjian was half-dead but still forcefully jumped down the Gate of Death... Even though Shuangjian described it lightly now, he must have suffered greatly...
Yingshi moved a bit closer, gently hooked Shuangjian's finger, and whispered, "Next time, I will definitely stay by your side."
"..."
Shuangjian scoffed softly, remaining noncommittal, but he also twitched his finger to respond to Yingshi's little gesture.
Having her by his side would only increase the difficulty of resisting the flare-up.
"Shuangjian, I met the original male lead's mother." Yingshi pulled the wrapped drawing paper from her chest.
For some reason, before sharing the shocking news of the existence of the "Taiyu Space-Traversing Technique," she wanted more to share this drawing that had been modified by Changyi.
She wanted to show it to Shuangjian, wanted him to know the smile Changyi had added to the corners of the person's lips in the drawing.
She felt there was love in it.
And Shuangjian needed lots and lots of love.
Wrapped in a lot of love, he wouldn't avoid or cower when facing love.
Love would make his soul a little heavier, and then a little heavier still.
When Yingshi unfolded the drawing, she suddenly felt a burst of nervousness. She belatedly developed an apprehension of "this is her work." Only the artist themselves knew how many of their "personal feelings" they had smuggled into their work... Would her liking for Shuangjian be noticed?
Teacher Xinmei's teachings were still etched in her heart. Were those feelings laid out on the drawing paper considered a straightforward expression, or an indirect attraction?
The drawing paper was presented completely, Yingshi's movements carrying a trace of preciousness. She pursed her lips and looked at Shuangjian's expression.
...He quietly gazed at the portrait, very slowly curled his lips, and smiled.
He actually smiled.
Smiling at her just like in the drawing. Not only were the corners of his lips raised, but there was also something very gentle and light in his eyes.
The moment Yingshi caught that smile, she felt as if she had rolled around in those soft things.
Ah... she liked it so much.
She really liked the way Shuangjian smiled!
If only he could keep smiling like this forever. She liked seeing him happy because of her presence.
—Damn it, was she acting too much like a love-struck fool right now?
"Why don't I give it to you? This drawing is best kept by you," Yingshi looked away with a guilty conscience, trying her best to sound serious.
She paced two steps with her hands behind her back, pulling out the last item that had been placed in her mental "to-do list" for a while. Her hands began to fumble around her body, and after a fruitless search, she opened her storage bag, but it still wasn't there.
Where did she put that book when she left the Xiu Gate again?
Could it be... she didn't bring that book out with her?!
"Shuangjian, when you ran into me outside the Gate of Rest, did you happen to notice if I was carrying a book?" Yingshi asked hurriedly.
"No, I did not."
A book was different from a piece of drawing paper; its physical presence was much more obvious. Having been in such close contact with Yingshi without feeling it meant it simply was not there.
"Oh no, I left something important inside the Gate of Rest! It might be the key to whether the two of us can return to the modern world! Changyi gave me a book, and it actually recorded a secret technique called the Great Cosmos Traversing Art, with an acrostic inscription of Jing Fengliu at the bottom!" Yingshi could not help but bite her lip. "Once a gate is closed, is it impossible to go back in?"
The faint, warm yellow halo of light inside the stone chamber seemed to freeze for a moment at Yingshi's words.
"...The Great Cosmos Traversing Art?"
Shuangjian repeated this unfamiliar term, his body beginning to feel a numbness that seeped from the surface deep into his bones.
A tremendous sense of panic swept over him following Yingshi's description. The previous warmth was instantly drained away completely; his emotions were rising and falling drastically just from Yingshi's every move.
Such a state was not that of a puppet, yet it was far more dangerous than being one.
But the danger was no longer worth considering. He was entirely terrified by the very first hypothesis that surfaced in his mind—a world after Yingshi had left.
What panicked him was not that her departure would result in him being subjugated once more, but rather her departure itself.
How could he have forgotten? She was inherently the greatest anomaly in this world; was it not only logical that more anomalies would descend around her?
That was why a secret technique that had never existed before would appear in the Gate of Rest. He had read through all the records in the Gate of Rest, and he was certain that in his previous two lives, there had absolutely never been such a thing as the Great Cosmos Traversing Art.
But now, such an exception appeared exclusively before her eyes... Could it be that the Rules of this world were trying to forge a path home for her?
Yingshi desperately wanted to go back; this was something he had known from the very beginning.
He had indeed thought more than once about shattering the barrier between the Greater and Lesser Realms, but that should have been a path he exhausted everything to find and carve out for her himself.
Not like this, listening helplessly to her share her discovery, as if anticipating the arrival of that day when he would similarly be left behind by her, completely powerless...
"...The Great Cosmos Traversing Art?" Shuangjian heard his own voice ring out, unusually dry, sounding almost as if it came from someone else.
But he had to say something, had to grasp onto something, to fight against the icy premonition that was threatening to swallow him whole.
"Do you still remember how this secret technique is performed?"
