Ji Zhaoxi began learning how to take care of Xie Qingyan.
But she really didn't know how to take care of someone. She often exhausted herself, sweating profusely, yet still couldn't do it well.
However, Xie Qingyan always said she took exceptional care of him. Ji Zhaoxi had no idea what she was actually doing right, because even though he was the injured one, he still helped her put on her clothes and shoes.
"Miss Ji, could you let me lean on you for a while?" His voice was hoarse, sounding rather weak.
"Of course."
Ji Zhaoxi obediently let him lean against her.
She frowned slightly. This time, Xie Qingyan seemed to be truly severely injured. Weren't his junior martial brothers going to come and heal him?
Xie Qingyan gently rested against the crook of her neck, his lips brushing against the side of her neck as if by accident. Feeling a strange sensation, Ji Zhaoxi's ears turned red. She tried to pull away to create some distance, but Xie Qingyan only held her tighter.
Ji Zhaoxi stared blankly at the ceiling.
She thought of that dream again.
Did Xie Qingyan even know how much danger he was in right now?
She was a female ghost who could suck away a man's vital essence. This was entirely a case of the prey throwing himself into the hunter's hands!
Ji Zhaoxi felt she couldn't let this continue. Although she usually liked to bully people, she was still a rather upright ghost when it came to matters like this.
"Daoist... Daoist Xie, it's very dangerous for you to be this close to me." Ji Zhaoxi cleared her throat.
"Dangerous?"
Not daring to look at him, Ji Zhaoxi nodded haphazardly and decided to make it clearer to him. "It's very dangerous for a Daoist to be so close to a female ghost!"
But instead of moving away, Xie Qingyan leaned in even closer.
Xie Qingyan's voice carried a hint of a smile. "If it's Miss Ji, you can do whatever you want to me."
Ji Zhaoxi choked on her words and fell silent.
In an unknown corner, a Daoist and a parrot were incessantly gossiping about the two of them.
The Parrot Ghost had somehow gotten acquainted with Zhi Xuan. The man and the bird hit it off right away, even sharing the same interest in cursing people.
The Parrot Ghost sat inside a birdcage in the room. "She's just an idiot. She's being completely eaten up and wiped clean, yet she still thinks the guy is pitiful."
Zhi Xuan sighed. "You can't entirely blame Miss Ji for this. Eldest Senior Brother really isn't acting like a decent human being. To think he'd even resort to such tactics."
The Parrot Ghost squawked loudly, "Such a clumsy trick! Anyone would figure it out with a little thought, but she just can't see it. This bird has never seen anyone so stupid!"
Every time it saw a ghost being played for a fool by a Daoist, its heart ached.
Zhi Xuan also felt that things couldn't go on like this. His Eldest Senior Brother had been sick for over half a month now. How much longer did he plan to stay sick?
But every time he went to see his Eldest Senior Brother, the man wouldn't even let him through the door. He could only shout from outside the courtyard.
"Eldest Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother! El—dest—Se—nior—Bro—ther—"
The only answer he received was total silence.
The Parrot Ghost trotted back and hopped onto Zhi Xuan's shoulder.
"Your Eldest Senior Brother is there, he's just ignoring you!"
Zhi Xuan frowned. "Then what about Miss Ji?"
Miss Ji couldn't possibly ignore him. Before the Parrot Ghost appeared, Miss Ji was the only one in this courtyard willing to listen to his rambling.
The Parrot Ghost sighed like an old soul. "Sleeping. The stinky Daoist set up a formation, so she definitely can't hear you."
The two of them sighed heavily.
The room was very quiet, completely isolated from any outside noise. Xie Qingyan was meditating, while Ji Zhaoxi was sleeping soundly beside him, hugging the quilt.
Suddenly, Ji Zhaoxi jolted awake. She was panting heavily, her face flushed with a highly unnatural red, and even the tips of her ears were crimson enough to bleed.
Thinking of what had just happened in her dream, a sense of shame almost melted her. She subconsciously touched her lips.
Wasn't she a ghost? Why had she been dreaming so much lately, and having that kind of dream, no less?
She had just claimed to be an upright ghost, but clearly, she wasn't upright at all.
She looked up and met Xie Qingyan's gaze.
The atmosphere froze for a second.
Xie Qingyan was looking down at her. Ji Zhaoxi's face instantly exploded with redness. Had he been staring at her this whole time?
"Dao... Daoist Xie?"
"What's wrong, Miss Ji? You were calling my name just now." A hint of amusement flashed in Xie Qingyan's eyes.
"Impossible!" Ji Zhaoxi immediately denied it.
She absolutely did not talk in her sleep. That was the one thing she was certain of.
Xie Qingyan had been standing by the edge of the bed. Now, he leaned forward, resting his arms beside Ji Zhaoxi, bringing a wave of invisible pressure upon her.
As he approached, Ji Zhaoxi had no choice but to lean back. But the bed was only so big, and she ended up being cornered by Xie Qingyan.
Ji Zhaoxi's face was incredibly red. She kept her head down, not daring to look at him.
The scent of sandalwood kept drawing closer.
"So you did dream of me, didn't you, Miss Ji." His voice was cold and clear, yet at this moment, it carried a hint of tender affection.
Xie Qingyan watched Ji Zhaoxi's evasive gaze, a dark undercurrent surging in his eyes. His voice took on a coaxing tone. "Miss Ji, what did you dream about? You look particularly nervous."
Ji Zhaoxi's ears were so red they looked ready to bleed, but she also felt a little wronged. Xie Qingyan was usually so understanding; she didn't know why he was forcing her to say it now.
She reached out to push him away, but Xie Qingyan caught her hand and lowered his head to kiss her fingertips.
Ji Zhaoxi was incredibly nervous. Seeing her flustered state as she was backed into a corner, a flash of morbid pleasure crossed Xie Qingyan's eyes.
"Go away!" Ji Zhaoxi glared at him, angry from embarrassment.
Xie Qingyan chuckled softly. Instead of moving away, he leaned in even closer.
"Did Miss Ji dream of doing something bad to me?"
Ji Zhaoxi finally realized that Xie Qingyan had definitely guessed it.
She was brought to tears of frustration by Xie Qingyan. Choking back sobs, she cursed, "Stinky Daoist! Fake Daoist! Bastard Daoist!"
What cold and clear, what steady and reliable—it was all fake.
Xie Qingyan didn't coax her as he usually did. He slowly lowered his head, pressing his slightly cool lips against her eyes.
"Mhm, Xixi is fragrant."
Feeling his actions, Ji Zhaoxi's body stiffened instantly.
Xie Qingyan's kisses trailed downward—next came her nose, her cheeks, and gradually sliding toward the base of her ears. His scorching breath sprayed entirely over her earlobes. As if he had found a new toy, his teeth lightly and teasingly ground against her earlobe.
Ji Zhaoxi's face was extremely red. She didn't dare to look at him at all, her hands tightly gripping the clothes on Xie Qingyan's body.
Finally, Xie Qingyan looked at a certain place he had repeatedly ravaged in the dream last time.
He lowered his eyes to watch Ji Zhaoxi's reaction, gently covering her lips with his. Then, he went further and further. The tip of his tongue pried open her teeth, and he patiently licked and sucked time and time again, wandering playfully over and over.
Ji Zhaoxi's body sank softly into the bed. Her mind went completely blank, her slender neck subconsciously tilting backward. Feeling a bit deprived of oxygen, she panted continuously.
Xie Qingyan watched her reactions with near obsession—watching her eyelashes tremble from nervousness, watching the tears that welled up from shyness, watching her grip his hand tightly out of helplessness.
The thrill of completely possessing her brought him a morbid sense of gratification.
"Xixi, do you still remember the words I taught you to say in the dream?"
Xie Qingyan leaned close to her deeply flushed ear, his voice brimming with lingering tenderness.
"Xie Qingyan likes Xixi too."
