Chapter 07: Dance Under the Moon

The Wine and the Tease

Good wine is easy to find in this world, but a good drinking buddy is rare.

Pei Ningxue was clearly an excellent one.

Before meeting her, Gu Chi was already a drunkard.

When idle, he’d drink himself senseless, waking unable to find home.

But back then, he was rootless anyway—no home to return to.

His family shattered thirteen years ago in that demon-slaying war.

Pei Ningxue held her liquor well, but her drunken behavior was awful.

Tipsy, she’d act cute, play rogue—and cheating on drinks wasn’t new.

Gu Chi brought out the spirit wine; most ended in his belly.

Pei Ningxue clinked bowls with him, but much spilled from her lips onto her chest.

“Cheating again.”

Gu Chi raised a brow.

“To wet my clothes, let you see more spring scenery.”

Pei Ningxue set down her bowl.

Gu Chi’s gaze shifted to her collarbone—now dotted with crystal droplets.

Her neckline slightly damp, clinging to fair skin.

He took a handkerchief.

“Let me wipe for you?”

Pei Ningxue’s lips curved.

“So kind?”

“Of course.”

Gu Chi replied righteously.

Just daily teasing—he knew she’d refuse.

Unexpectedly, Pei Ningxue stood, swaying like a willow in wind, demonic and seductive under moonlight.

She came to his side, sat sideways on his lap, leaned into his arms.

Took his handkerchief hand, turned her face to him.

“Wipe carefully then.”

“Didn’t drink that much… already drunk?”

“Compensation for taking a thousand more spirit stones—selling some charm.”

Gu Chi looked at her collarbone, finally raised his hand, carefully wiping the wine stains.

Pei Ningxue bit her lip lightly.

After a while, her fingers tugged her neckline lower, revealing more tender softness.

“Here too.”

Gu Chi tossed the handkerchief to her.

“Wipe yourself.”

Pei Ningxue laughed wildly in his arms, snow-white calves kicking under her skirt.

“Why always lustful thoughts but no guts?”

“Because I won’t live past forty—if I die early, you’d widow?”

“As if touching me means I’d fall for you and widow.”

Pei Ningxue suddenly hugged his forehead, leaned in, kissed it lightly.

Her voice rare—not lazy teasing or coquettish.

Now gentle, serious.

“Stop saying you won’t live past forty.

There will be a way.”

Gu Chi silent a moment, no reply.

His body held the Demon Dragon Gu—all demonic cultivators dreamed of.

It let twenty-year-old him crush Core Formation without hard cultivation.

Cost: life slowly devoured—dead by forty.

To live, massive blood qi needed—truly become a mass-murdering demonic.

“Why? Kissed you… still frowning?”

On his lap, Pei Ningxue lowered her head, fingertip lifting his chin, forcing eye contact.

“Must be because only forehead—frowning.”

“Where else?”

“Tongue.”

“When we met, you were proper—if my leg brushed, skirt slid, you’d look away.

Now bolder.”

Pei Ningxue leaned closer, hot breath on his face.

“How long?”

“Ten breaths? Twenty?”

“Thirty then.”

Pei Ningxue always toyed him with small favors.

Her lips neared—fragrant, tender tongue slick and soft.

After thirty breaths, her lips glistened slightly.

Gu Chi slowly opened eyes, gaze bewildered.

Today’s Pei Ningxue felt off—really drunk?

Before asking, she rose.

Full and sated—time for fun.

Gu Chi took out a guqin.

“Dance your Southern Domain specialty again?”

Pei Ningxue wasn’t Eastern native—from Southern Domain.

Her background still a mystery.

First ask: runaway Southern miss.

Second: demonic orphan.

Third: former dynasty princess—each more exaggerated.

Compared, Gu Chi honest: parents demonic, died when seven.

Wandered alone since, no fixed home.

“High heels or not?”

“Never seen you in heels…”

“Men all like tall heels? Hm?”

“For you, whatever—you’re tall enough…”

Pei Ningxue stood before him, lifted a snow-white calf, fingers hooking her earlier shoes, handed them.

Gu Chi put them on one by one, cleared table dishes.

Guqin on table, fingers lightly plucked strings.

Under moonlight, black-gauzed Pei Ningxue like a painting fairy—or legendary succubus.

Her eyes too seductive.

Yet dancing, no vulgar charm.

Even showcasing figure, pleasing men—elegant, holy somehow.

“Where’d you learn this?”

“Childhood, my emperor father loved concubines dancing—I watched much, learned.”

“Still on princess story?”

“Former dynasty princess.”

Pei Ningxue sighed lightly.

“Southern Domain thinks father deceived, used demonic for breakthrough.

Officials backed second brother—one night, palace fires everywhere.

Father sealed in Dragon-Trapping Well… I fled.”

“Just schemes.

If father used demonic, how’d they live under him?”

Pei Ningxue sneered, no more.

Just seductive glance.

“Your guqin improves.”

“Practice hard to match your dance?”

Gu Chi didn’t care true or false.

Many words: believe true, it’s true; believe false, even truth useless.

Moonlit Pei fairy—graceful, leg lifts curved beautifully.

Face moonlit, eyes warm as autumn water.

She seemed truly drunk.

Dance ended, she returned, lightly sat on his lap.

Seeing him unmoved, she took his hand, wrapped around her waist, softly.

“Now hug me—not sit like wood.”

“Who knows if hugging—you’ll say I take advantage.”

“Fool.”

Pei Ningxue laughed, looked at bright moon.

“How long till twenty birthday?”

“Seven days.”

“Ah.”

She nodded lightly, murmured softly—Gu Chi didn’t catch.

Just heard.

“Birthday gift want?”

“Anything.”

Gu Chi deadpan.

“Under my training, you’re shameless now.”

Pei Ningxue not shy—voice more teasing.

“Not first day knowing—years, never seen you blush.”

Gu Chi pinched her waist lightly—through gauze, still incredibly soft.

“I only know feet.”

Pei Ningxue coquettish again.

“Last time, you flipped spring palace book eagerly.”

“Never tried.”

“Try and know?”

“Alright, birthday—sister satisfies you.”

Pei Ningxue gentle, like coaxing child.

Left Gu Chi no teasing satisfaction.

“We agreed Tiger Soul Mountain demon-slaying?”

“Yes.”

“Depart tomorrow?”

Pei Ningxue sudden.

“Why rush? Earn spirit stones—you usually hit Lingyun Pavilion days first?”

Lingyun Pavilion: cultivator pleasure den—all desires satisfied with stones.

After splits, Pei Ningxue dragged him to splurge.

She loved gambling—skilled, read people, grasped hearts.

Won small sums for expenses—tireless.

Gu Chi figured she saved near ten thousand high-grade in secret.

“Bored lately—want blood.”

Pei Ningxue licked lips lightly.

“Blood then play.”

“Fine.”

Gu Chi no objection, just lifted her gently.

Pei Ningxue tall, not overly curvaceous—chest modest, buttocks perky and tender.

“Early sleep tonight?”

“No coaxing first?”

“Who knows if you’ll drunk-kick me.”

Pei Ningxue stunned, then laughed loud.

After long laughter, Gu Chi carried her to room.

Two years ago, separate rooms.

One year in, Pei Ningxue drunk, vomited her bed, knocked on his.

Without wait, pink lips smacked his—as lodging fee.

Then hugged him peacefully, slept sweet.

Long without such sound sleep—no nightmares, no palace fires.

She craved it—knocked nightly.

Occasionally easing his stirred desires—her room fee.