Seeing the expression on her face after waking up, the woman closed her eyes and smiled. She poured a cup of tea from a small table nearby and handed it to her. “Little sister, do I look like a demon or monster? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Yue Jin had never been taught how to speak properly since she was young; no one had taught her. She could only understand the general meaning of sentences. So, she shook her head vigorously, as if wishing she could shake it off.
The inside of the carriage was meticulously carved with walnut wood, and the soft cushions were piled high with layers of silk satin. She huddled, retracting her limbs, terrified her muddy clothes would soil the place.
The woman placed the teacup into her hand, pulled over her dirty hand, and gently wiped it with a handkerchief from her person.
“Drink quickly. This spiritual tea quenches thirst and can warm your body.”
Yue Jin’s cheeks were flushed. Her fingers were held and gently rubbed in someone else’s hand, and she dared not move. She could only use the teacup to block her face, constantly stealing glances at the woman.
So beautiful.
“Ah, ah…”
She made sounds, wanting to attract the attention of the person opposite her, but then heard footsteps outside the carriage. Frightened, she quickly shrank back into the corner.
“A’Ling, how is the child?”
“She’s fine, just a bit weak,” the woman called A’Ling leaned forward, lifted Yue Jin out, and placed her on her lap. “A’Mu, have we reached Nanyang Prefecture? The outside is filled with war now. Only Lin’an City, under the protection of the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, has some peace. Taking her there should allow her to survive.”
The woman outside the carriage had a clear and beautiful appearance. She lifted the curtain at the window opening, propped her hands on her hips, and leaned in, examining the person in A’Ling’s arms carefully. “This child is attached to you. In this chaotic world, she still won’t have an easy time. How about we see if she has any aptitude for immortal cultivation later? A’Mu can take her in as your junior sister.”
“A’Ling, A’Ling…”
Yue Jin called out repeatedly. She didn’t fully understand their conversation, just kept repeating the name, not wanting to leave.
A’Ling, is that her name?
A’Ling held her, using cool fingertips to push aside the stray hair in front of her eyes. She took a warm crab roe bun from the outer woman’s hand and fed it to Yue Jin’s mouth, smiling tenderly. “Yes, it’s A’Ling. So you can talk, you’re not a little mute after all.”
The wind blowing through the forest gradually turned cold. Yue Jin finished the bun sitting on the ground, stood up, dusted off her clothes, and started walking back the way she came.
What Wu Bei said was really true.
Running out in a fit of pique, only to have to sneak back in disgrace?
She felt she understood now. Since she was currently suffering from amnesia, she might as well just let things go to ruin. She should endure whatever she could when facing such matters.
“Lingyi…” Returning to the courtyard, she pushed open the door of the bamboo house, wanting to find Fu Lingyi and offer a proper apology.
There was no one inside to respond. Only a faint floral scent drifted out, mixed with the smell of aged moss and dew, causing Yue Jin to twitch her nose repeatedly.
“Lingyi, are you there?”
She followed the scent deeper in. The moisture grew thicker, and there was a faint sound of splashing water.
It wasn’t until she reached the backyard that she found the source of the scent.
Fu Lingyi was bathing in a steaming hot spring in the backyard. Mist swirled around her. She raised her right hand, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it onto herself. Her fair arm shimmered, causing Yue Jin to quickly avert her eyes.
The spring wasn’t large; it seemed to have been specially opened for the owner to use and cultivate spiritual energy. The person in the water seemed unaware of the movement behind her, merely leaning her head lazily against the edge of the terrace, letting out a long, relaxed sigh.
Yue Jin lowered her head in a panic. She didn’t know what to do, didn’t know where to look.
Now isn’t a good time to interrupt…
I should come back later.
Just as she turned to leave, she heard that clear, drawn-out voice from the water, halting her steps. “Come here.”
Yue Jin didn’t dare turn back, nor did she dare leave. She stood still.
“Come here.”
Fu Lingyi repeated herself, her tone more forceful this time.
She had no choice but to speak up and ask, “Me?”
“No one else can get in here, not even Yun Lingyue. Who else do you think it would be?”
Yue Jin felt helpless. She cautiously turned her head, her eyelashes fluttering downwards, and dragged her legs forward two steps towards the edge of the hot spring.
“Just now, just now I…”
Before her stuttering explanation could begin, a soft, light piece of cloth was thrown onto her face.
“Help me scrub my back.”
Yue Jin tremblingly took the cloth off her face.
Fu Lingyi was lying on the edge of the pool, her hands propped on the rim, her head resting on her arm. Her long hair was spread out and swept to the left, slightly obscuring the curves of her body, leaving only her exceptionally smooth back exposed.
The part submerged underwater was faintly visible, with occasional ripples disturbing the surface.
“Hurry up.”
She urged, and Yue Jin had no choice but to slowly inch closer. She’d glance up, then look down, walking this way until she reached Fu Lingyi’s left side and squatted down.
The cloth was soft and smooth, woven from pliable snow silkworm silk. It carried a unique fragrance that was almost intoxicating.
Propping one hand on the ground, she took the cloth in the other, reaching awkwardly towards the water’s surface.
Fu Lingyi turned her face, propping herself up on her elbow to watch her, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.
“Are you tired?”
“Not tired, I’m not tired at all,” Yue Jin saw her lift her upper body slightly and scooted back a little, shifting her numb leg to change position. “Don’t worry about me, just lower your head.”
“Today I said your clothes were tattered, and you got angry.”
Fu Lingyi didn’t lower her head, maintaining the same posture, but opened a new topic.
“No.”
Yue Jin subconsciously bit her lip, then quickly released it. “I said I wasn’t angry. What you said was the truth. I shouldn’t have run off. I’m sorry.”
“Why apologize to me? It was clearly me who made you work so hard for nothing.”
A hint of almost imperceptible warmth entered Fu Lingyi’s tone. She actually really wanted to ask clearly.
Why does she keep enduring?
Is it just because they are dao companions? Or is it because of the love she spoke of down the mountain?
As the Demon Lord, could she truly fall in love after losing her memory?
Is this person in front of me truly that wicked demonic cultivator who committed every evil, burning, killing, looting, and using the old, young, and frail as cultivation vessels?
If she keeps her amnesia…
If she keeps her amnesia, does everything I’m doing to her still count as the right thing?
Fu Lingyi felt lost.
“Why do you love me? From your perspective, we shouldn’t have known each other for very long.”
Yue Jin met her eyes.
The pretense in those eyes had faded, leaving behind scrutiny and inquiry.
She was waiting for her answer.
Yue Jin pondered deeply. This was a rare opportunity. She had to come up with the best possible answer to resolve her current predicament. If she could speak perfectly, perhaps she could even gain Fu Lingyi’s sympathy and be allowed down the mountain.
“Because,” perhaps influenced by the warm environment, both their faces were flushed. Yue Jin reached out to rub her disabled left leg, attempting to appear a little pitiful. “Because we are dao companions, aren’t we? Only people who love each other become dao companions, right? I know you are dissatisfied with me… I know all of this. Otherwise, your junior sister or the women down the mountain wouldn’t keep reminding me and telling me I’m not worthy of you.”
Her appearance was blurred in the mist. Fu Lingyi stared at her expression, trying to find the slightest hint of inconsistency.
“But you still went down the mountain and found me. In the icy water, the moment you saved me, I finally understood that you love me, just like before. And I, too, felt the meaning of love.”
Yue Jin raised her face, finished this long, mushy speech, and lightly curved her lips, appearing very shy and reserved.
She observed that Fu Lingyi was already somewhat swayed.
Ultimately, no matter how much they concealed it on the surface, no matter how much they pretended, righteous path cultivators were righteous path cultivators. Their thinking was still old-fashioned; they couldn’t let go of that tiny bit of kindness.
Unlike them, demonic cultivators, who could reach the peak of cultivation just by acting on their desires.
Now that Fu Lingyi had heard her “heartfelt words,” surely she would have some reaction?
Fu Lingyi stared at the person opposite her, remaining silent for a long time. Suddenly, she reached out, grabbed Yue Jin’s wrist, and dragged her into the water.
Yue Jin wasn’t prepared and fell straight in. She choked on several mouthfuls of water before forcefully surfacing to breathe.
“Cough, cough, you, what are you doing…”
Fu Lingyi didn’t respond, just moved forward to take off her clothes.
As soon as she had pulled open the tattered outer robe and thrown it aside, Yue Jin screamed in fright. She hugged her chest, her face turning pale again. “You, you, you to me, you want to…”
Fu Lingyi remained silent, simply continuing to undress her.
Yue Jin couldn’t struggle free from her and was forced to strip down to just her undergarments, tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall.
This is humiliation!
Just after saying those words, just after opening her heart and talking to her like sisters, how could someone just come up and strip their ‘sister’s’ clothes?!
Bullying her with errands wasn’t enough; she had to insult her body too!
Fu Lingyi stopped and said, “Take off the rest yourself.”
“…Alright, I give up. Go ahead.”
Yue Jin took off her remaining undergarments and threw them out of the spring, closing her eyes with a look of righteous defiance.
“Although I’ve fantasized about romance, imagined sitting opposite each other under the beautiful moonlight, drinking together, with the autumn wind rustling, and then holding hands, both willing…”
“But in this situation, I accept it too! Come on! Just be gentle with me!”
That cloth was thrown onto her face again.
Fu Lingyi had already used a cleansing spell to dry the water from her body and put on her outer robe, standing by the edge of the hot spring.
The expression on her face was complex, perhaps due to Yue Jin’s earlier speech or her current chaotic shouting.
“The spiritual spring can heal the wounds you scratched and will be effective for your leg too. The clothes are here. This is a coat of Fu Ye fur I wore when I was down the mountain before. Wear it inside your outer robe, and you won’t be cold.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left without lingering.
Yue Jin was extremely awkward. So, she hadn’t meant that at all.
Major misunderstanding.
However…
She looked at the fur inner coat. In the mortal world, this was not a material so easily obtained.
Is this person planning to stop tormenting her?
That sentence worked.
Yue Jin leaned back comfortably. It had been a long time since she had felt this relaxed.
Just wait a little longer, wait until Fu Lingyi completely lets down her guard…
Nice chapter