Chapter 13: Lie Down and Sleep
A Quiet Room
The room fell silent.
Only their breathing remained.
Pei Ningxue lay on Gu Chi, drained.
Her eyes half-closed, weary, cheek pressed to his chest.
Her body stayed close.
After a while, she bit his chest lightly.
Gu Chi, still stiff, raised a hand.
He stroked her hair gently.
“Like it?”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Liked it.”
“You’re satisfied…”
“It still hurts, good brother.”
Her tone turned playful again.
Moments later, she poked his chest several times.
She sat up slightly, straddling him.
Her gaze looked down proudly.
“Look at my eyes.”
He obeyed, meeting her face.
She lifted her chin haughtily.
“Books say this is a woman’s most beautiful moment.”
“You should read less nonsense.”
Sweat glistened on her slender waist.
Her cute navel stood out.
Her hair, messy, veiled her hazy eyes and flushed cheeks.
After the Moment
Gu Chi lost track of time.
Judging by Pei Ningxue’s exhaustion, it had been long.
She still lay on him, face glowing with satisfaction.
Her voice soft, tender.
“Dual cultivation… feels so good…”
“Should’ve done it sooner…”
He didn’t know what to say, so he stayed quiet.
Seconds passed.
She punched his stomach, fuming.
“Blame you, coward.”
“So many hints, and you ignored them all.”
“Did I?”
“Of course!”
“Any one time you’d been bolder, I’d have yielded to my good brother.”
“Hah, my fault then.”
He replied softly, looking at her.
“Where are you going?”
“Southern Domain.”
“To train with my father’s old friend, long in seclusion.”
“She owes him a debt—she’s trustworthy, will care for me.”
“The old loyalists want to clear my father’s name.”
“My bloodline’s their banner, so I must go.”
“Okay.”
“After I leave, take care of yourself.”
“No risking your life, no treating it lightly, no self-destruction, no overdrinking.”
“That’s a lot of demands.”
“You have to live.”
“Only alive can we dual cultivate again.”
Her cheek pressed to his chest.
“Next time might be years away…”
“Don’t come to Southern Domain.”
“If they learn of us, you’ll die.”
“Okay.”
“But if you get really strong, we could sneak a meeting.”
“Okay.”
“But be careful—don’t risk your life for power.”
“Okay.”
“You just say ‘okay’ to everything.”
She bit him again, annoyed.
“Want my tongue to serve you?”
“Next time.”
“What, can’t handle it?”
“You look exhausted.”
His fingers brushed her hair.
“Sleep well.”
“No sleep…”
“I leave tomorrow morning.”
“Talk with me all night.”
“Okay.”
“Remember our first meeting?”
She lifted her chin.
“I thought, how’s he so good-looking?”
“Didn’t you try to poison and rob me?”
“Hmph, you tried stealing my stuff first.”
“Why so patient with me?”
“I pit you three times, right?”
“You didn’t kill me.”
“Plus, I was living aimlessly—didn’t care much.”
“Hmph, you just lusted after me.”
“Charmed by my eyes, so easy to talk to.”
“Think that if you want.”
“Ugh, what a twisted fate.”
She laughed, fair calves swaying.
She nuzzled his neck, bit softly.
“When did you fall for me?”
“Maybe when I realized I didn’t want to die so much.”
He answered gently.
“That’s deep love then.”
She pinched his earlobe.
“Why never bold enough to touch me?”
“I… have no future.”
“Likely won’t live past forty.”
“Didn’t want to let you down.”
“You live so stubbornly.”
She bit his earlobe.
“But I love you, so you’d better cherish yourself.”
He nodded, saying okay.
Recalling the Past
Snow swirled outside.
They reminisced—first meeting, secret realm adventures, scheming against rogues.
She asked how to make her favorite pastries.
He taught her, word by word.
She memorized it silently.
They talked so much, yet more remained.
But dawn broke outside.
She poked his chest, leaned to his ear.
“Sleep with me a bit.”
No more words.
Her snow-white legs wrapped him like a python, unwilling to let go.
Waking to Absence
Gu Chi woke at noon.
While atop her, she’d kissed him.
Her tongue slipped a pill into his mouth.
Then he’d fainted.
Opening his eyes, she was gone.
Only her faint scent lingered.
He knew she’d left.
No farewell, no teary eyes.
She departed alone, sparing the goodbye.
A letter and jade box sat by the bed.
He took the letter.
Her handwriting was elegant, lively.
“Jerk! Left so much inside me…”
“Took ages to clean.”
“That senior was waiting, so no need to see me off.”
“She’ll take me by spirit boat.”
“Don’t know what to say at parting.”
“Crying’s not pretty—don’t want you to see.”
“Remember the portrait I asked you to paint?”
“It’s in the cabinet—look at it when you miss me.”
“I’ll be safe in Southern Domain.”
“That senior’s half-step ninth realm—no danger.”
“No lack of resources, so don’t worry.”
“But think of me—every day.”
“Forget me, and I’ll invade your dreams, stomp your face, knock your head.”
“I took my skirts but left you socks.”
“Your favorite white lace ones.”
“A little jerk like you’ll love them, right? Heh.”
“Never felt time was short before.”
“Now, parting, I realize there’s so much to say.”
“One night’s not enough.”
“I’ll train hard in Southern Domain.”
“If I control my fate one day, I’ll come back for you.”
“Your job’s to stay alive.”
“If you die, I’ll whip your corpse—remember.”
“So many words left, a lifetime’s worth.”
“Stay well, so I can tell you later.”
“The jade box has your birthday gift.”
“Saved nine months for it.”
“Meant to see you cry, sobbing in my arms, vowing to be mine forever.”
“But last month, that senior found me.”
“I won’t lack stones now, so the gift feels less precious.”
“But this is nine months of my hard savings.”
“Not some casual buy because I don’t need stones.”
“Remember my kindness.”
“After I’m gone, if you’re pent up, play with other women.”
“But don’t fall for them.”
“Your heart’s mine.”
“If I find you’ve strayed, I’ll have the senior grab you.”
“Strip your cultivation, lock you in my room as my caged bird.”
“Got it?”
“So much to say, but too much to know where to start.”
“Gu Chi, we’ll meet again.”
“Then, we’ll truly become dao companions.”
“Refuse, and I’ll break your legs.”
“Make you kneel, kiss my feet, and yield.”
“Gone.”
Some words on the paper blurred, smudged by water.
Was she wiping tears as she wrote?
The Snow Velvet Gift
His heart twisted, like a hand gripped it.
The Demon Dragon Gu woke with his emotions.
It gnawed his heart.
His face contorted, sweat poured.
Years of calming practice kept emotions in check.
Less anger, less pain from the gu.
But now, it raged in his chest.
He sat motionless by the bed.
After a long time, he opened the jade box.
Inside, the Snow Velvet Lampwick Flower he’d longed for.
He’d mentioned it once at Skylark Immortal Palace.
She’d patted her chest, vowed to win ten thousand stones at the casino.
Lost ten, teary-eyed, she’d clung to him.
Said her heart hurt, needed Lingyun’s mushroom chicken stew to heal.
Fleeced him hard.
But she’d saved for this flower.
She wouldn’t hide such effort—she’d want credit.
Her letter demanded he remember her kindness.
He plucked a petal, placed it in his mouth.
It melted into cool liquid, seeping into his limbs.
The frenzied gu calmed, lulled to sleep.
Petal by petal, he ate, heart hollow.
He wanted to cry, but tears dried thirteen years ago that snowy night.
Exhausted, he lay on the bed.
Closed his eyes.
Ready to sleep deeply.