The room was unlit, and in the dim light, Shijian’s eyes were dark yet bright as she spoke, with Yun Jinghe’s reflection floating in her pupils.
When Yun Jinghe met her gaze, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed. Before, when she couldn’t see, it had been easier to remain composed. But now, this close scrutiny was an unfamiliar experience.
Instinctively, she wanted to retreat, to maintain a safer distance.
But Shijian wouldn’t allow her to withdraw. Kneeling, she moved even closer, pulling Yun Jinghe toward her. The latter was drawn forward until their noses touched, their breaths mingling for a fleeting moment.
Yun Jinghe paused, then spoke in a clear and earnest voice, “Why say this so suddenly?”
By now, she had learned to respond with composure to Shijian’s unpredictable whims.
Shijian tilted her head in thought. “Is it really that sudden? But you kissed me out of nowhere too.”
Yun Jinghe hadn’t expected her to bring that up, but she couldn’t argue that Shijian had been even more abrupt doing so would make it seem like she was keeping score over who initiated what.
“Do you even know what marriage means?” Yun Jinghe asked, somewhat worried that Shijian might not understand its significance.
“Of course,” Shijian said, raising an index finger on each hand and pressing them together. “It’s just two people being together, right?”
“Are you truly certain you want to stay by my side and spend your life with me?” Yun Jinghe asked slowly.
“Why must there be a fixed limit? Do we only live this one lifetime?” Shijian countered. “Wouldn’t it be better to cherish every moment as it comes?”
At times, Yun Jinghe felt there was a profound wisdom in Shijian’s words, one that left no room for rebuttal.
“Alright. But this isn’t a trivial matter, it requires careful consideration,” Yun Jinghe said. Though she didn’t need anyone’s approval to choose a partner, she still didn’t want to be too hasty, lest she end up mistreating the other person.
But Shijian clearly thought differently. “But if everything were planned out, wouldn’t that be so boring?”
The words struck Yun Jinghe like a sudden revelation, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Her life, it seemed, had always been “arranged.”
Born into an official’s family in the capital, she had been recognized for her exceptional talent by a wandering master in her childhood.
Her family believed that sending her off to cultivate immortality would bring fortune to their lineage, so they agreed to let the master take her as a personal disciple. From then on, she followed her master and grandmaster in diligent practice at Taicang Mountain, breaking through realms one after another.
Though no one had ever forced her along this path, she had always walked the grand road laid out before her, never straying even half a step.
But now, looking back, she saw only her own monotonous silhouette, trudging forward alone.
In contrast, Shijian radiated an innate liveliness just from her appearance. Time, for Yun Jinghe, had been a long and solitary journey, but for Shijian, it was a brilliant embellishment.
A sudden pang of unease struck Yun Jinghe was she, in Shijian’s eyes, truly just a rigid, dull, and utterly uninteresting person?
In cultivation, Yun Jinghe had far surpassed her peers, so she had never feared being left behind by the masses. But now, for the first time, she felt a flicker of panic, the fear that Shijian might “abandon” her.
“You,” Yun Jinghe slowly clenched her fist, “do you think I’m too dull and might leave me someday?”
Just like that tabby cat on the back of the mountain that was never seen again.
Shi Ying looked at her with a strange expression. “If I wanted something interesting, I’d go find interesting things. Why would I leave you?”
Before Yun Jinghe could even feel happy, her eyelids twitched slightly as she instantly recalled those shocking words Shi Ying had said before.
“No!” Yun Jinghe said firmly, stopping her. “If you choose me, you can never step foot in those pleasure-seeking places again in this lifetime.”
“Ah, I know, I know,” Shi Ying puffed her cheeks slightly to show she understood.
Yun Jinghe wanted to say more but ultimately held back.
“So, shall we get married? Shall we?” Shi Ying pressed eagerly.
Yun Jinghe hesitated. “But the timing is too rushed. Many things won’t be prepared in time.”
She was still worried about this, afraid that Shi Ying might feel slighted.
Hearing her response, Shi Ying’s pupils dilated slightly. She knew there was hope, and a bright smile spread across her lips. “No need for all that. Having you is enough.”
Her words were like a ray of warm sunlight falling into Yun Jinghe’s heart, making it impossible not to smile in return.
Yun Jinghe gazed at her steadily, her brows and eyes softening slightly as a light laugh escaped her.
Shi Ying found the sight inexplicably dazzling. When Yun Jinghe smiled, her usually solemn and cool features melted like spring snow, revealing a piece of cold jade warmed by a faint glow.
Yun Jinghe slowly raised her eyes and took Shi Ying’s hand, sensing a momentary pullback that vanished almost instantly as if it had been just her imagination.
The warmth in her palm was slightly higher than Shi Ying’s, whose hands always seemed a little cold.
Yun Jinghe leaned slightly closer, her gaze shifting as she studied Shi Ying’s face.
“I haven’t told you yet, my eyes can see now,” she murmured, her fingertips lightly brushing Shi Ying’s cheek.
Pretending she hadn’t noticed Yun Jinghe’s regained sight, Shi Ying grinned. “Well? I’m not ugly, am I? Now you don’t have to worry about marrying me, right?”
Yun Jinghe let out a soft laugh, as light as a breeze. “Mm, you’re very beautiful.”
Her concern had never been about Shi Ying’s appearance.
“Of course,” Shi Ying replied, her voice brimming with pride.
Wu Feng had told her she looked like her mother her mother, who was the most beautiful. She just didn’t know what her other mother had looked like. Wu Feng hated her, so naturally, she never spoke of her.
“What are you thinking about?” Yun Jinghe noticed her distraction.
Shi Ying rolled her eyes playfully. “About our wedding, of course.” She reminded herself that she couldn’t act as recklessly as before Yun Jinghe could see now, so she had to be more careful.
“As for the wedding,” Yun Jinghe relented, “no matter how rushed, it can’t be today. Tomorrow, we’ll go into town and take a look.”
She had other plans in mind.
At this, Shi Ying finally perked up. Yun Jinghe had been strict these past few days, keeping her indoors every evening without letting her out.
“Then let’s rest early tonight and leave first thing tomorrow.”
Shi Ying nodded eagerly, looking utterly obedient.
Yun Jinghe couldn’t help but want to reach out and pat her head, but she restrained herself.
By nightfall, the two had already gone to bed early.
For the past few days, Yun Jinghe had given up most of the bed to her, while he himself sat in meditation at the foot of the bed.
Today, she kept hearing the sound of him tossing and turning.
Suddenly, her sleeve was tugged. She opened her eyes and saw Shi Ying’s dazzlingly beautiful face gazing at her eagerly in the dim light.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?” Shi Ying’s tone carried a faint trace of complaint.
“I’ll sleep in a bit.” She had been lying to Shi Ying, claiming she would only lie down to sleep after Shi Ying had fallen asleep.
Shi Ying refused to let go, tugging at her sleeve again, almost like a petulant child. “No, right now.”
Couldn’t this person just sleep for once? Even if just to satisfy her hunger. Though starving wouldn’t cause any real harm, it was still uncomfortable.
Yun Jinghe remained silent for a long while before finally relenting.
The bed wasn’t large to begin with, and with the two of them lying side by side, there wasn’t much space left. Still, she tried to stay as close to the edge as possible.
“Why are you sleeping so far over?”
Yun Jinghe opened her eyes at the question and saw Shi Ying lying on her side, watching her.
“I didn’t want to crowd you.”
“Fine.” Shi Ying didn’t turn onto her back after saying this but continued to stare at her.
Yun Jinghe turned her face away and closed her eyes, trying not to be affected, but her heart refused to settle.
Before long, she heard the sound of shifting. When she opened her eyes, Shi Ying had moved right beside her.
“Can’t you just fall asleep already?”
“I’ll try.” Yun Jinghe replied.
But she wasn’t the least bit drowsy. The next moment, she felt the warmth of another body pressing against her arm.
When she opened her eyes again, Shi Ying had wrapped her arms around her, nuzzling against her. “I’ve seen others coax people to sleep by holding them. So if I hold you, will you fall asleep too?”
Yun Jinghe’s ears flushed slightly. “Y-you should lie down properly.”
“No, you sleep first.” Shi Ying insisted.
Unable to bring herself to use force, Yun Jinghe had no choice but to let her cling.
Perhaps the method really worked, because she actually began to feel drowsy.
The next morning, as dawn barely broke, she woke up to find Shi Ying practically plastered against her.
Shi Ying also stirred awake, though her eyes held a hint of resentment.
This person had slept last night, but her consciousness remained as impenetrable as a fortress. There was no way in, and she didn’t dare force her way in for fear of being discovered.
Flustered, Yun Jinghe gently disentangled herself and got out of bed first. “I’ll go wash up.”
Only after she left did Shi Ying let out a sigh of frustration, sitting cross-legged on the bed with her chin propped in her hands, yawning widely.
The sound of running water came from the courtyard outside, followed by Yun Jinghe announcing she was going to fetch water.
Shi Ying responded weakly, listening as her footsteps faded into the distance.
Suddenly, a flash of green darted past her vision. A small green frog leaped up and landed right in front of her.
“What are you doing here?” Shi Ying tilted her head, looking at it.
The frog wanted to say it had actually been here for a while, but the aura around the woman beside her had grown terrifying, so it had kept its distance, not daring to approach until the woman had left.
“Auntie, Lord Wu Feng sent me to ask if you’ve had enough fun yet. She also said if you can’t find it, just forget it, she’ll find another way.” The frog said.
“Who does she think she’s looking down on? How am I just playing around?” Shi Ying was indignant, ready to argue her case and explain her grand plans to Wu Feng, to prove her capabilities.
But then the little frog continued, “Lady Wu Feng also said that if you dare to follow in your mother’s footsteps and meddle with those you shouldn’t, she’ll personally come to drag you back and lock you up and turn whoever you’ve messed with into a corpse puppet to keep you company.”
Shi Ying swallowed the words she had been about to say.
After all, Wu Feng rarely made empty threats. She had no love for outsiders.
Perhaps it was an innate dislike, or maybe it was because of her mother, a mighty Dream Demon who had fallen to such a wretched fate for the sake of a mere woman.
Though, if she were honest, her mother’s downfall was largely her own fault.
Dream Demons were born of heaven and earth, but she Shi Ying had been conceived by her mother using the essence of the land’s spiritual veins, blending her own blood with that of her beloved. The process had drained her mother’s demonic power, leaving her vulnerable.
And because Shi Ying wasn’t a pure Dream Demon born solely of natural forces, her own demonic energy was often unstable.
“Tell Wu Feng not to worry,” Shi Ying murmured. “I…”
The face of Yun Jinghe surfaced in her mind unbidden.
After a long pause, she finally whispered, “I’m not like my mother.”