It felt like being licked by a kitten.
This was an entirely unfamiliar sensation. Xie Jingci felt a shiver travel down her spine, a tingling numbness that swept through her entire body in an instant.
Her body had never run so hot before.
The surrounding breeze was clearly warm and gentle, yet Xie Jingci felt as though she were trapped in a massive furnace, letting the heat spread until even her sea of consciousness grew dizzy and hazy.
How strange. Itchiness was not an exactly pleasant feeling, yet right now, with Pei Du's warm breath brushing against the side of her neck, it seemed to possess a unique magic. It made it impossibly hard to control herself as she sank deeper and deeper, even yearning for more.
The final thought made her ears burn with heat.
Xie Jingci thought she was truly doomed.
The movement of his tongue was brief, tasting her lightly before stopping. When Pei Du lifted his head from her neck, he left behind a faint lingering warmth that made her blush and her heart race.
As the tide of sensation gradually receded, her hazy gaze silently refocused. Xie Jingci parted her lips slightly, then quickly took a deep breath, pressing them tightly together.
Just what was she thinking?
Just a moment ago, she had almost blurted it out right in front of Pei Du, telling him she wanted him to continue.
If she had actually spoken such shameless words, she would never have the face to see him again.
As the young man lifted his head, the distance between them finally widened a little. Xie Jingci did not dare meet his eyes. Her gaze wandered for quite a while before finally settling on Pei Du's messy lapels. "Are you feeling any better?"
Heavens as her witness, she had used every ounce of courage in her body just to speak. Although she wanted to pretend to be unfazed, the fiery blush on her face completely betrayed her thoughts, making them impossible to hide.
Earlier, when she had cut the side of her neck, she had been secretly worried that given Pei Du's temperament, he might not be willing to touch her. She never expected things to unfold so entirely beyond her expectations. Xie Jingci was truly caught off guard; to think Pei Du would actually...
"Mm, thank you."
Pei Du fell silent for a moment. He reached forward, his thumb brushing over the bloody scratch on her neck, eliciting a fleeting itch like a dragonfly skimming water. His voice was very low, carrying a hoarseness completely different from his usual tone, possessing an inherently soul-stirring quality. "Does it still hurt?"
The cut on her neck was nothing but a trivial scratch. As a blade cultivator, Xie Jingci had experienced life-and-death situations; naturally, she would not cry over something like this.
Still immersed in the lingering afterglow of what had just happened, her entire body felt stiff yet soft. Hearing his words, she shook her head and replied softly, "It is just a small scratch. It is nothing, leave it be."
She answered nonchalantly, but the person listening beside her did not think the same. His thumb brushed the edge of the wound, slowly injecting a trace of spiritual energy.
This aura was clean and cool, like a handful of clear spring water poured over her in the scorching summer, quickly sweeping away most of the pain.
"You do not have to do this for me."
Pei Du's throat sounded tight. He paused for a moment before speaking with a hint of hesitation, "There is no demonic energy in this spiritual power. It is not dirty."
The two kinds of energy within his body were mixed and fused together, their boundaries long gone. Xie Jingci would never know just how careful Pei Du had to be to deliver this purest strand of spiritual energy to her.
Even so, he still could not help but feel a deep sense of inferiority.
"What do you mean dirty or not? Demonic energy is not something too shameful to see the light of day."
Thanks to his energy, the bleeding on her neck had stopped, and the pain was barely noticeable. Xie Jingci raised her hand to touch it, feeling as if the heat from the young man's fingertips still lingered there.
Only then did she dare to quickly lift her eyes and steal a glance at Pei Du's expression.
His tone sounded indifferent, but his face was actually just as red as hers, the pink flush even spreading down his neck. Xie Jingci inexplicably wanted to smile, but she could only press her lips together and lower her head once more.
She had to admit, when Pei Du's beautifully shaped thin lips were stained with her blood, red and glistening, parted just slightly, it was genuinely alluring.
"Senior Lin said that it is normal to not be able to adapt the first few times and for this kind of situation to occur."
She cleared her mind of those unpresentable thoughts and gave a soft cough. "Once your body gradually gets used to it, you will eventually be able to completely purge the demonic energy."
Xie Jingci paused as she spoke, rubbing her hot cheek.
Although she had emphasized beforehand that cutting her neck was only to suppress the demonic energy in Pei Du's body, no matter how high-sounding the purpose was, for him to kiss her neck like that was inevitably far too intimate.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, Xie Jingci decided to change the subject. "By the way, my father came looking for me just now..."
Her original intention was to divert attention, but halfway through her sentence, she realized that when Xie Shu knocked on the door, her back had been pinned down by Pei Du. She had let him tell blatant lies, completely deceiving the honest man outside.
In fact, at that time, her heart had been pounding wildly, secretly reveling in the thrill of sneaking around and the constant threat of being exposed.
Xie Jingci felt a profound sense of sorrow.
I am sorry, Father. I am an unfilial daughter who only cares about her own pleasure. I am sorry.
"He came to see me, perhaps regarding your treatment."
Her sea of consciousness was bubbling wildly, but on the surface, she maintained a perfectly serious expression. "I will go ask him. You get some good rest first."
After so long, hearing her speak so seriously, the young man's heartbeat finally managed to return to a steady pace.
Pei Du nodded and was just about to say goodbye when he saw the girl in front of him curl her lips into a smile. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned in close to him, and whispered something low in his ear.
Xie Jingci's voice was light and fast, like a sudden gust of wind. Yet, because of this wind, his chest tightened once again, his back went rigid, and his dark eyes wavered.
Miss Xie had told him...
"If you want it again in the future, just let me know."
Xie Jingci's divine sense had returned to its proper place, and her cultivation base had not suffered any damage. However, she had, after all, lain motionless in bed for several years. Compared to the past, her physical stamina had dropped significantly.
Pei Du's condition went without saying. He had first been severely injured, and later his meridians had been eroded by demonic energy. Even with the help of the Medical Sage Lin Que, it would take quite a long time for him to mostly recover.
With two patients recovering at home, for a long time afterward, Xie Jingci lived a comfortable and leisurely life like a lazy bug. Normally she only needed to eat, drink, play, and sleep, or pick up her blade to practice her slashing techniques. She did not have to pay attention to any messy grudges or emotional entanglements. Her daily routine was simple, and she thoroughly enjoyed her freedom.
Once Pei Du's injuries had finally improved a bit, Xie Jingci took him out for a stroll around Yunjing.
When he first heard this proposal, the young man looked slightly startled and instinctively wanted to refuse. However, her tone was light and lively, casually telling him that they could just use a disguise technique to hide his appearance, so there was no need to worry.
"Besides," Xie Jingci said, resting her chin in her hands, a leisurely smile in her eyes, "you have not gone out to take a look around in a long time, have you? With me here, if the two of us go together, everything will definitely be fine."
It was a tone that made it impossible to refuse. Pei Du remained silent for a moment after hearing it.
He had a notorious reputation in the cultivation world and had not openly and unburdenedly left his small corner of the world to walk freely under the sun for many years. The day he first arrived in Yunjing, he had caught a few glimpses of the streets, but he had been in such a hurry that he had not had the time to look closely.
In truth, he had long grown accustomed to hiding in the dark, concealing himself in small, unknown spaces. Yet, when Miss Xie spoke, Pei Du could not help but feel a faint, cautious sense of anticipation.
Aside from the outside world itself, what held an equally fatal attraction for him were Miss Xie's words: the two of us together.
Even when facing a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, or a situation with barely a chance of survival, this decisive and ruthless demon lord could remain completely unfazed, always maintaining his cold, detached gaze.
No one in the cultivation world could have ever imagined that when Pei Du stepped out of the vermilion gates of the Xie Manor alongside her, merely standing on a completely ordinary street in Yunjing and looking up at the sunlight, his dark eyes would be faintly filled to the brim with hesitation and bewilderment.
"The scenery here isn't bad, right?"
Xie Jingci stood by his side, the corners of her eyes curving slightly as a smile touched her lips. "Pei Du, welcome to Yunjing."
This was not Pei Du's first time in Yunjing.
After he fell into demonic cultivation, he had continued searching for medicines that could awaken Xie Jingci. Whenever he obtained one, he would quietly come to Yunjing City and leave it at the entrance of the Xie Manor. Back then, everything was done in absolute secrecy; he came and went without ever lingering.
So this was what Yunjing City looked like during the day.
The crowds wove together like a tapestry, and tall pavilions stood in beautiful clusters. Scattered stalls lined the streets, merging into an endless dragon. He heard the chaotic sounds of laughter, hawkers' cries, and conversations. Like a caged bird finally breaking free of its constraints and soaring into the vast, boundless sky, he was dazzled for a moment, his eyes widening slightly.
Xie Jingci looked up at him, her fingers clutching her cuffs.
"Pei Du."
The little thoughts secretly hidden in her heart urged her to speak as soon as possible. Xie Jingci's motives were not entirely pure; the moment she called out his name, her heartbeat uncontrollably accelerated.
She took a soft breath and reached out her right hand to him, her tone carrying a barely detectable trace of nervousness. "There are so many pedestrians in Yunjing City, it would be terrible if we got separated. You might as well hold onto my—"
Before she could finish her sentence, her entire right hand was enveloped by a cold yet soft touch.
The young man's movements were incredibly clumsy. His palm, covered in thin calluses, brushed across the back of her hand. Just as he was carefully adjusting his grip, he heard Xie Jingci blankly finish her sentence at the same time: "...sleeve."
The instant that word left her mouth, Pei Du froze.
He felt a continuous burst of heat exploding across his face.
Miss Xie's original intention was merely for him to hold onto her sleeve to avoid losing each other in the crowd. But he had misunderstood, grasping her right hand so directly.
"I'm sorry."
His mind was a tangled mess of thoughts. Not daring to look into her eyes, Pei Du awkwardly released the strength in his hand. "I thought—"
As he spoke, he began to pull his hand back, but halfway there, it was abruptly held down.
The palm of the noble lady, soft as silk, gently covered his skin. When Pei Du raised his eyes, he heard her low voice: "Compared to a sleeve, this is much more convenient, right?"
Naturally, this was her feigning composure.
Xie Jingci appeared as steady as a mountain, but in reality, she was screaming internally, so nervous she was holding her breath.
Help, help! Was this truly an action she could take, were these really words she could say? If Pei Du didn't want to be held by her and resolutely pulled his hand away, she would definitely feel incredibly sad and heartbroken.
But if he obediently complied and let them maintain this posture... that would be truly embarrassing.
This ambiguous push and pull was the most torturous of all. Xie Jingci couldn't grasp the proper boundaries, leaving her caught in a dilemma.
Thoughts surfaced one after another in her sea of consciousness. The left hand she was holding suddenly moved, breaking free from her palm.
Xie Jingci's hand was much smaller than his, so holding it was already a bit of an effort. At this moment, she could only let Pei Du pull away, her heart feeling an empty wave of disappointment.
Immediately following that was an even more violent pounding of her heart.
The hand that slipped from her palm did not leave; instead, it slid down and gave a gentle squeeze. His long, slender fingers draped over hers, effortlessly enveloping her entire hand within his grasp.
The back of Xie Jingci's ears grew hot, and an incredibly fierce thumping echoed in her chest.
Pei Du said, "This... is more convenient."
He had affirmed it, and even held her hand in return.
Xie Jingci was stunned for a moment. The little person in her heart was kicking its legs wildly, rolling around in circles, so happy it could fly into the sky, giggling foolishly while covering a blushing red face.
This, this, this counted as holding hands, right? Her and Pei Du.
Now that they were even holding hands, could further progress be far behind?!
Xie Jingci would never take the initiative to hold hands with anyone, but Meng Xiaoting had a clingy personality and would often hold her wrist and swing it back and forth.
Thanks to that, she didn't appear too inexperienced. In contrast, Pei Du's entire arm seemed to have turned into a piece of wood, incredibly stiff.
Perhaps he was also nervous. This thought put Xie Jingci in an excellent mood. The curve of her lips simply couldn't be stopped as she led Pei Du strolling from south to north, her mouth never stopping for a moment.
"This is Linglong Pavilion, they specialize in selling delicate little trinkets."
"Over there is the Qin Music Pavilion, a place where music cultivators often gather. They also sell instruments and sheet music. If we're lucky, we can hear the music cultivators performing spontaneous ensembles there."
"If you keep walking in this direction, you'll reach the barren mountains outside the city. There are many cultivators in Yunjing City, so usually no demons or evil spirits cause trouble here, but once you go deep into the wilderness, strange things often happen."
She introduced things as they walked. When they reached a bookstore, she noticed Pei Du's footsteps pause slightly.
Ever since their days at the academy, he had always loved reading.
Xie Jingci blinked. "Shall we go in and take a look?"
There were many bookstores in Yunjing. This one wasn't the largest, but fortunately, the books were arranged neatly, giving people a comfortable feeling.
Pei Du had used a disguise ointment, and his demonic aura had been concealed by Lin Que. The bookstore owner failed to recognize his identity and approached with a smile. "You two, is there any particular book you fancy?"
Xie Jingci smiled politely. "We're just browsing on our own, thank you."
Neither of them had been to a bookstore in a long time, so they were both unfamiliar with the current popular books. Pei Du swept his gaze across the wooden shelves one by one, his eyes restrained yet searching, revealing a faint curiosity.
This was an expression suited for someone his age. Before this, such expressions had been entirely masked by a gloomy silence, showing a maturity that made one's heart ache.
Seeing him looking so earnestly, Xie Jingci lowered her guard and began examining the popular books. This was originally a casual action, but as her gaze swept past a certain corner, it suddenly stopped halfway.
The books that achieved massive sales in bookstores were rarely the official histories or sword manuals that Pei Du loved. The works that commoners were passionate about usually needed a few entertaining gimmicks.
For example, the one right in front of her was titled The Secret Records of the Pei Manor.
"Taking a liking to this one?"
The store owner was not far away and came over upon seeing this. "You two know of Pei Du, right? This storybook is based on him. It tells the story of how the protagonist step by step fell into demonic cultivation and was ultimately brutally killed. People read too much about chivalry and justice; occasionally looking at a villain who betrayed the entire cultivation world is also quite interesting."
The young man beside her remained silent. Xie Jingci caught a glimpse of the darkness deepening in his eyes, and the back of her head began to buzz.
Recently, the news of Pei Du's fall had spread across the four seas and eight continents. There was no one who didn't know about it, making him the undisputed hottest topic of the moment.
Given such a blunt title on the book before them, it went without saying how much the contents would be exaggerated and sensationalized to grab people's attention.
Among the young cultivators who stepped onto the path of immortality, who didn't want to achieve the Great Dao and save the common people? Pei Du was born with supreme sword bones and held lofty aspirations in his heart, yet this storybook ruthlessly trampled his dignity into the dirt.
She subconsciously felt disgusted. Just as she reached out to grab it, she didn't expect another hand to beat her to it.
The hand was small, fair, and tender, bearing the unique immaturity of a child. When Xie Jingci turned around, she indeed saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen.
The boy was fair and slender, and the fabric of his clothes was clearly expensive at a glance. After taking the book, he didn't say much. With a turn of his wrist, he handed it to a young man beside him who looked like a servant.
Xie Jingci frowned. "This book—"
Thinking she was interested in the storybook, the boy looked impatient and interrupted her coldly, "Nothing in this book is true, so why bother reading it? You two shouldn't be that young anymore, can't you tell right from wrong?"
Being inexplicably lectured, she figured out the meaning behind his words and tentatively replied, "Then why did you buy it? Where did this book lie?"
"I bought this kind of trash to throw it into the fire and burn it, of course."
The boy looked up and glanced at her. His eyes were cold, clearly lacking patience, and he snorted softly, "Where did it lie? The whole thing is a lie. What 'arrogant of his talents,' what 'thinking too highly of himself'... Forget it, forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."
His tone was far from polite, but Xie Jingci smiled. "So, you don't think Pei Du is a bad person?"
Ordinary cultivators would immediately show disdain upon hearing Pei Du's name. It was probably the boy's first time seeing a reaction like hers. The hostility on his face faded a little, and he answered in a muffled voice, "...He saved me."
Xie Jingci cast a quick glance at Pei Du and continued to smile gently. "Then he is your savior."
He hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and added, "He is completely different from what is written in the storybooks. He is very gentle. He even bandaged my wounds and told me not to be afraid. So don't read those storybooks anymore, they are all fake."
It really was like this.
Even though the cultivation world was full of rumors and gossip, among those who had truly interacted with Pei Du, there would always be a few who held a shred of trust in him.
Although such trust was minuscule and seemed insignificant amidst the overwhelming malice, just like a single firefly in the dark night, as long as it still existed, it was enough to produce a warm, glowing light.
A child's world is black and white; once they set their minds on something, it is hard to change.
Xie Jingci leaned down to look at him. "So, you bought all the books about him in the bookstore just to throw them into the fire and burn them?"
The boy nodded.
He seemed to be thinking about something, his eyes darting around as he looked her up and down. After a long while, he finally asked curiously, "Sister, do you like him too?"
Pei Du was visibly stunned.
The word "like" in the child's mouth held a pure meaning, unlike the convoluted implications of adults. Although Xie Jingci knew this perfectly well, she still felt her cheeks heat up. "I wouldn't exactly say 'like,' I—"
His eyes drooped, looking very disappointed. "So you don't like him. I thought you were different from the others, Sister."
Well, that wasn't it either. If she just said "I don't like him," wouldn't that be no different from hating him? This kid was clearly using bandit logic; no matter how she answered, she would step into a trap.
But... perhaps it wasn't entirely a trap.
Xie Jingci had always liked him, after all.
The bookstore was crowded, filled with noisy sounds from all directions. However, their little corner inexplicably fell into a strange silence, as if some indescribable element was slowly brewing.
Pei Du lowered his long eyelashes, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of self-mockery.
Just now, he had actually felt a surge of greed, vainly hoping that Miss Xie would go along with the boy's words and coax him with a "like." Thinking about it, he was truly shameless, asking for far too much.
As for those books about him...
More self-loathing and defeat welled up in his heart. In the spreading silence, Pei Du suddenly heard her voice.
Miss Xie said, "Like... I also like Pei Du very much."
Even knowing this was a comforting lie, he couldn't help the trembling in his heart as he hastily looked up.
"Right!"
The boy's eyes instantly lit up, and his mouth broke into a wide grin. "Back then, to protect me, his shoulder was pierced by a monster. Even though he was bleeding, he still stood in front of me."
He lowered his voice as he continued, "I asked my parents, and they both said the Ghost Tomb incident was very suspicious. It's just a pity that no clues were left behind, which is why all the blame was pinned on him."
Xie Jingci secretly gripped her sleeve, her heart tense and suspended in mid-air. When she finally made up her mind, she softly replied, "I have also met him a few times."
This was a fake act played for real, where truth and falsehood were hard to distinguish. It looked like playing along with the situation, but in reality, every word came from the bottom of her heart.
Those storybooks must have made him feel terrible. Xie Jingci wanted to tell him the words in her heart—even though Pei Du would definitely think it was just a joke to coax a child.
In truth, he was the little kid who needed to be coaxed.
She said, "Pei Du has a gentle temperament and doesn't talk much. His swordsmanship is incredibly powerful, yet he never acts superior because of it, and treats everyone equally."
Rarely finding a kindred spirit, the boy's eyes shone as he nodded repeatedly. "And he's also very good-looking!"
How could a child understand too many profound principles? This was all that occupied his mind.
Xie Jingci couldn't stop smiling. "Yes, very pretty. No one is as good-looking as him."
As the little boy spoke excitedly, his gaze casually shifted, sweeping over Pei Du, who had been silent by her side all along. "Big brother, your face is so red. Are you sick?"
Pei Du heard Xie Jingci burst into a chuckle.
He was already flustered, and this laugh gently scratched at his heart, drawing out an even hotter fire. Besides shyness, his heart was filled more with an unprecedented joy, like syrup bursting open with a pop.
Feeling her gaze, Pei Du looked away.
"Actually, he's also very cute."
Unlike her previous words, Miss Xie wore a teasing smile this time. "Sometimes he can be a bit clueless. If someone praises him to his face, Pei Du easily blushes and gets shy."
Xie Jingci had a pointed meaning, and Pei Du heard the teasing in her words. His chest felt as if scratched by a kitten's paw, and he lowered his head even further.
She really was...
"Whoa—"
The boy looked thoughtful and chimed in softly, "No wonder you like him."
Saying it herself was one thing, but having it pointed out so bluntly by someone else was a completely different feeling.
Xie Jingci touched the tip of her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, yet she felt emboldened and continued to reply, "Because he's very good."
The self-loathing that had arisen upon seeing that storybook earlier dissipated completely because of her words. His cowardly, almost withered heart suddenly jolted at this moment, pounding fiercely against his chest, leaving behind an unbearable fluttering.
The surroundings were extremely noisy yet incredibly quiet. Pei Du heard her say, "Someone as wonderful as him... as long as you've met him once, it's hard not to fall for him."
