The Little Peacock Raises a Snake (GL) Chapter 69

After Fu Zhuochen understood the meaning behind Qu Linyan’s words, his expression turned extremely ugly.
A moment earlier, he had been angry because Qu Linyan’s plan might easily put Yun Su in danger. The next moment, under the gazes of three girls, he unconsciously clenched his fists.
Yun Su looked at Fu Zhuochen’s reaction and did not dare speak. She instinctively hid a little behind Qu Linyan.
“This, this…” Ciyin stammered for a long time and could not say anything.
After a long silence, Fu Zhuochen gritted out each word. “Absolutely impossible!”
They actually wanted him to… use beauty on someone. And on a man. What did they take him for?
Qu Linyan blinked as if helpless. “Do we have another choice?”
“You want me to deliberately go and… and flatter someone? I cannot do it.” Fu Zhuochen was too ashamed to speak of it. He held back for a long time before forcing out the words.
“I think it will not be that troublesome.” Qu Linyan raised a brow and smiled. “After all, your beauty is rarely seen in this world. Who knows how many little demons in the demon realm cannot forget you after one glance. A lustful person like Chi Heng will surely be very happy to see you. Perhaps, when the time comes, you will not need to seduce him on purpose at all. He might eagerly choose you to serve him in bed himself.”
“You!” Hearing this, Fu Zhuochen was so ashamed and angry that he stood through gritted teeth. Even the roots of his ears burned red.
“Your cultivation is high, your skills are strong, and your injuries have recovered the best. Finding a chance to subdue an unguarded Chi Heng should be very simple for you. Besides, you act much more steadily than Xiaoba. If anything unexpected happens, you can surely protect yourself.”
After Qu Linyan finished, seeing Fu Zhuochen turn away from her in fury, she glanced at Yun Su and deliberately raised her voice. “What else can we do? That person likes handsome men. If you are not willing to go, should Xiaoba dress as a man?”
Fu Zhuochen was silent. The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched tightly from anger and trembled slightly.
“Actually, I can,” Yun Su said, tugging Qu Linyan’s sleeve with a finger. Her voice was nervous. “Little Black, do not make things hard for Brother…”
“But Chi Heng is deep-minded and cruel. You have little experience and are not good at adapting. Besides, you are not a man. If he discovers you are female, I fear you would be captured before you could do anything.” While Qu Linyan spoke, she watched Fu Zhuochen from the corner of her eye.
Fu Zhuochen closed his eyes and struggled for several seconds. Then he breathed out heavily. “I can go…”
Yun Su froze.
“Brother Fu…” Ciyin’s eyes were also full of surprise.
Qu Linyan was not surprised at all. She only narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly. There was no joy from a scheme succeeding in her gaze, only deep gratitude.
She filled a cup with wine she had specially bought from Wuzhou City that morning, lifted it high, and smiled. “I prepared tonight’s food especially. Do not keep sitting there. Will you not give me face?”
Yun Su picked up her chopsticks. She wanted to eat but did not dare put them down. She looked up at Fu Zhuochen for a long while. Only after seeing him finally sit back at the table did she let out a breath of relief and smile, placing food into everyone’s bowls.
“Brother, try this!”
“A-Yin, this is one of Little Black’s best dishes. You cannot eat it in heaven. Try it!”
“Little Black, you and Brother are both still injured. You two should drink less!”
Perhaps to ease the mood, Yun Su spoke much more than usual, like a little housekeeper chirping away as she managed her small family.
This Yun Su, whether smiling or losing her temper, looked especially adorable.
Everything seemed to return to three hundred years ago, when she was still that carefree little peacock, protected without worry, still daring to care with all her heart for everyone she liked.
“Little Black’s cooking really is much better now,” Yun Su could not help sighing as she ate.
Qu Linyan smiled proudly. “I studied cooking for three hundred years just to wait for you to come back and praise me with that one sentence.”
“Ugh! So mushy! I cannot watch!” Ciyin covered her eyes as if joking, but secretly opened two cracks between her fingers to keep peeking at the sticky pair before her.
How enviable.
Thinking this, Ciyin’s gaze turned toward Fu Zhuochen on its own.
A moment later, she quietly looked away.
After the meal that day, Yun Su took the rare initiative to clean up the bowls and chopsticks. The little lazy thing who used to work hard to lower her presence whenever chores appeared was so hardworking today that she seemed like a different person.
But once Yun Su did housework, she was clumsy. Ciyin truly could not keep watching and ran over to help, just as clumsily.
The two little fairies, usually served by others and untouched by mortal chores, went to work. The two parents who were used to handling everything suddenly became idle and sat across from each other in silence.
Qu Linyan suddenly stood, closed the doors and windows, and waved her sleeve to set a soundproof barrier around the room.
Fu Zhuochen was surprised and looked up at Qu Linyan.
Qu Linyan turned, leaned against the door, folded her arms, and said, “Shall we talk?”
Fu Zhuochen asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
Qu Linyan took a deep breath, then let it out softly. She walked several steps to Fu Zhuochen, pulled over a stool, and sat down.
She asked, “You like Xiaoba, right?”
Fu Zhuochen said, “She is my younger sister.”
Qu Linyan said with certainty, “Do not use that on me. You like her. I can tell.”
Fu Zhuochen suddenly frowned. He turned his gaze away in silence and stopped speaking.
Three hundred years ago, at Little Princess Yuyao’s birthday banquet, Fu Zhuochen had blocked the Fox King’s killing palm for Fu Xiaoba without the slightest hesitation. Even though he was not lightly injured, he had not feared standing against the Fox King and the bird clan leader at all.
Yet such a person had also once carried a worry and lingered outside a door, not daring to enter for a long time.
From then on, Qu Linyan knew that although Fu Zhuochen was proud and untamed to the bone, for Fu Xiaoba, he was not completely unable to bend.
He and Fu Xiaoba had not the slightest blood relation. No matter how much he loved and spoiled Fu Xiaoba, he always kept that distance between man and woman which could not be crossed.
Lately, it had been even more so.
If he did not feel guilty, why care so much about contact that siblings would not care about? Why care so much about so-called boundaries?
“Fu Zhuochen, your feelings for Xiaoba changed long ago without you noticing.” Qu Linyan spoke lightly. “That nearly overstepping care cannot be hidden. You can fool Xiaoba, but you cannot fool me.”
“So what if it is true?” Fu Zhuochen turned back to look at Qu Linyan and said in a low voice. “Before you appeared, it was not as if I had no chance. But missed is missed…”
That little peacock had grown up under his eyes, bit by bit.
Sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy, she had broken the peace of Wuyou Valley. From then on, he grew used to worrying for someone, to caring for someone day after day, and to tolerating someone.
He had once thought it was only a very ordinary responsibility. He had gone thousands of years without company and had by chance found a trace of lively warmth in loneliness. Though it smoked his heart into disorder, it did not count as anything important. Once the smoke scattered, his heart would quiet again.
But one day, that little thing who could not even take human form stood on the tea table with clear eyes. With her small muddy claws, she scratched at the table and casually said to him, “Why do you not undergo this love tribulation with me?”
Such a casual question should have been rejected by him without care.
But in truth, he was uncontrollably thrown into panic for one instant.
At that time, he knew that although smoke and fire would one day scatter, his heart might never quiet again.
But in the end, he still refused.
“Think more about whether you are worthy.”
It seemed like a casual joke, but in truth, it rejected Fu Xiaoba and also cut off his own unrealistic thoughts.
The heavenly realm’s Blue Luan fairy was destined to marry Black Tortoise Divine Lord. He was only protecting Yun Su for one lifetime on Zhiming’s behalf. How could he dare cross the line even a little?
In truth, because Zhiming could not let go of Yunni, he had sealed half of his Youjing and long since cut off love…
Zhiming could not even love Yun Su. Why could Fu Zhuochen not fight for her?
After learning of this in the heavenly realm that year, he kept thinking. If he had known earlier, he would have agreed to Fu Xiaoba. Would Fu Xiaoba not have been so wounded by love? Would everything have changed?
But after thinking for a long time, he understood that there were no ifs in this world. Even if there were, he could not have been Fu Xiaoba’s right person.
“She and I were never suitable… I am not like you. I do not know how to make people happy.” As Fu Zhuochen spoke, he could not help laughing at himself.
When Yun Su was still Fu Xiaoba, by his side she had only received peace and freedom from worry. Everything else had been given by Qu Linyan.
Back then, in Northern Xuan Palace, when Yun Su questioned him with red eyes, he had not even had the courage to explain.
Qu Linyan, however, dared break into the heavenly realm alone and steal Black Tortoise Divine Lord Zhiming’s bride in front of countless immortals and gods.
He could face life and death for Fu Xiaoba, but he did not dare disobey Heavenly Dao or human order.
Qu Linyan was different. If she could be with Fu Xiaoba, then even if the world could not accept them, even if all gods and devils in the heavens stood in her way, she would still dare risk her life and charge through.
This was the greatest difference between him and Qu Linyan.
Even if everything started over, even if he had gotten there first, he could not have done better than the Qu Linyan of that year.
So he had lost from the start. There was nothing to be unwilling about.
“I never thought of fighting you for her. I did not before, and I will not in the future.”
“I know. If not, I would definitely take her far away from you.” Qu Linyan said seriously, “Even though I know you cannot beat me.”
Fu Zhuochen lifted his eyes. “So? You say all this to show off, to warn me, or because you suddenly think I am rather pitiful and want to comfort me?”
“None of those.” Qu Linyan shook her head and said seriously, “I only want to say that saving Chu Yuebai is dangerous. I am grateful that you are willing to help, though I know clearly you are doing it only for Xiaoba… No matter what, Xiaoba sees you as family, so you are my family. I hope you can believe I have no guard against you at all, and I also hope you stop putting yourself in a place where you should be isolated… After all, everyone should be very familiar by now. There is no need to deliberately keep your distance.”
“Speaking of it, we became acquainted through fighting, did we not? You heavily injured me, and you also saved me. Many things in this world are not so absolute… Just like how you and I met because of Xiaoba, and I long ago saw through your feelings, yet I still admire you from my heart.” After speaking, Qu Linyan curved her brows and smiled. “What I said earlier was serious. If one day you need anything, I am willing to help with all my strength.”
Hearing this, Fu Zhuochen felt much more relieved.
After a moment of silence, he shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Before I knew you, my days were very peaceful. If I truly have any need, it should be… I need you to behave yourself in the future and stop making Xiaoba worry and fear with you.”
Qu Linyan heard this and smiled back. “This is the last time. Once I repay this debt, I will do everything I can to protect her life of peace and freedom from worry.”
…
“Susu, what little secret do you think they are talking about?” Ciyin had finished cleaning the bowls and chopsticks in her hands. Now she sat with Yun Su on the small stone stools in the courtyard, muttering softly. “What can they not let us hear? Why close all the doors and windows and even set up a barrier?”
“I do not know. Why not ask later?” Yun Su answered casually.
Ciyin pressed her lips together. “If they could tell us, they would not be so mysterious.”
“That makes sense.” Yun Su nodded.
Seeing Yun Su’s calm appearance, Ciyin could not help asking, “Are you not curious? Your brother and your woman shut the door and are whispering behind your back.”
“What use is curiosity? Being curious does not mean I can get an answer.” Yun Su lifted her head slightly without concern, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the slow spring wind.
After a long time, she opened her eyes. “Being a little muddled is not bad. Many things do not get results just because one sees them clearly enough.”
“That makes sense!” Ciyin lowered her head and began counting on her fingers.
“I thought you would say…” Yun Su paused, then imitated Ciyin’s tone. “Susu, I do not understand! Why? I do not get it, I truly do not…”
“Hey! You are laughing at me!” Ciyin interrupted Yun Su.
“Are you not always like that?” Yun Su laughed.
For a moment, Ciyin was both angry and amused. She made a small fist, grabbed Yun Su, and hit her several times before finally stopping amid Yun Su’s laughing pleas for mercy.
“We are about to set out!” Ciyin sighed.
“Yes.”
“After this matter ends, I have to go back,” Ciyin said.
“Will you come down to play again?” Yun Su turned to ask.
Ciyin’s gaze dimmed slightly. She bit her lip and shook her head. “Divine Lord Zhiming said I am not allowed to come down to play again.”
Yun Su was silent for a moment, then tugged Ciyin’s sleeve and suggested, “When the time comes, plead with Zhiming again. He is very easy to talk to.”
“But I promised him…”
“Do not be so honest. Look at Little Black. Not one word from her mouth is true, yet she lives freer than anyone.”
Ciyin’s eyes lit up. “That makes sense!”
She discovered that she seemed to be learning bad things.
But she could not help feeling that this way was not so bad.
It was like being an immortal. Everything about it was good. As long as one peacefully did their duty, there was nothing to worry over. Yet she still liked the lower realm’s freedom more.
If only the heavenly realm did not have so many messy rules.