He was soaking in the chilly lake water, feeling…
When Lu Qingtang woke up, sunlight was slanting into the cave entrance. The chaotic traces on the ground proved everything wasn’t a dream – Jiang Xunbai’s strange illness, those bizarre creatures, and the night she had desperately endured were all real.
How was Jiang Xunbai?
Lu Qingtang shuddered and quickly sat up straight, turning to look beside her. Her gaze met a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes glistening with moisture. His pupils were ink-black, like unfathomable abysses, carrying an emotion she couldn’t quite decipher.
But in just an instant, his eyes filled with laughter. Lu Qingtang instinctively averted her gaze, only to be drawn to the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye, making her stare a moment longer.
“Jiang Xunbai, how are you feeling? Does it still hurt? Are you still cold?”
Lu Qingtang fired off three questions in one breath.
Jiang Xunbai answered each one: “I’m alright, it doesn’t hurt anymore, and I’m not cold either. I’m just a bit weak, and my cultivation has only recovered fifty percent.”
Hearing this, Lu Qingtang lowered her gaze, letting it linger on his lips – they had regained some color, but remained pale, completely different from their usual rosy hue.
Still, Lu Qingtang breathed a sigh of relief. Recovering fifty percent of his cultivation was no small feat.
Noticing her gaze fixed on his lips, Jiang Xunbai felt an inexplicable tension rise within him. He swallowed lightly and suggested, “Shall we go out and take a look?”
Lu Qingtang agreed. Only when she stood up did she realize her dress had become dusty and gray.
After Jiang Xunbai used a hand seal to erase the traces at the cave entrance, he turned to see Lu Qingtang frowning slightly at her dress.
Jiang Xunbai raised an eyebrow at her with a smile: “Shall I clean your clothes for you?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Jiang Xunbai felt some regret, wondering if Lu Qingtang would find his offer inappropriate.
Lu Qingtang said gratefully: “Yes, please! Thank you, Second Young Master Jiang!”
She thought to herself how great the fantasy world was – even clothes could be cleaned with spiritual power.
Seeing Lu Qingtang didn’t mind at all, Jiang Xunbai felt relieved.
Though Jiang Xunbai could clean her clothes, Lu Qingtang still felt uncomfortable all over. They had been staying in the formation for several days and nights, plus that night in the space-time rift. If she didn’t bathe soon, she felt she would start to smell.
While Lu Qingtang was still thinking this, she saw Jiang Xunbai point at her face: “There’s some dust on your face.”
Hearing this made Lu Qingtang even more distressed. She couldn’t be bothered to wipe it off, instead looking seriously at the distant lake surface glittering in the sunlight: “I was wondering, could I go wash up?”
Jiang Xunbai followed her gaze and agreed: “Let’s go take a look.”
The two left the cave, and Jiang Xunbai set up another talisman formation at the entrance. Lu Qingtang finally had the chance to voice her confusion: “When are we leaving?”
Now that Jiang Xunbai had recovered, could they leave?
Jiang Xunbai sighed: “We still have to wait.”
“Wait for what?”
Jiang Xunbai pointed towards the sky. Lu Qingtang followed his gesture and saw that although it was clearly daytime, there were seven extremely bright stars in the sky. Six of these stars were aligned in a straight line, clustered so closely together they resembled the view of space Lu Qingtang had seen on television in her previous life. The scene was so bizarre that she fell silent.
Jiang Xunbai said softly, “When the seven stars align at the heart, spacetime will become turbulent, and we can seize the opportunity to escape the space-time rift.”
Lu Qingtang’s mouth fell open. “When will they form a straight line?”
“I don’t know.”
“What?!” Lu Qingtang exclaimed in shock. “So you mean we have no idea how long we’ll have to wait?”
Jiang Xunbai nodded. “It could be a day or two, or it could be several years. The most frightening part is not knowing whether time flows faster here or in the human world.”
Lu Qingtang felt despair creeping in. “So when we return to the human world, it might already be a world completely changed?”
Jiang Xunbai nodded again.
He had read about space-time rifts in his family’s library – how powerful formations could tear through spacetime, and those who broke such formations were easily pulled into these rifts. The book had mentioned very few formations of such magnitude, meaning whoever set up the formation at Kumu Temple must be extraordinarily powerful.
But what was their purpose?
In her consciousness, Lu Qingtang desperately shook her system: “Where is this place? Can I still go home? I’ve left the human world – how am I supposed to be resurrected now?!”
The system remained completely silent, making Lu Qingtang wonder if there was no signal here.
As they walked under the sunlight, the lake surface shimmered with rippling light, surrounded by various colorful flowers filling the air with their fragrance. The gentle breeze wasn’t as hot as midsummer in the human world.
Lu Qingtang lifted her head and couldn’t help asking: “Jiang Xunbai, what happened to you last night?”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Xunbai finally spoke: “I frightened you last night, Miss Lu – it’s a congenital condition.”
“Congenital condition?”
“Since childhood, every fifteenth of the month, my hair turns white, I lose my vision, cold evil penetrates my bones, and my internal organs feel like they’re tearing apart. The suffering ends when the full moon night passes. At first, not only my parents and elder brother, but even I thought that improving my cultivation could suppress these symptoms. So I practiced diligently, never slacking for a single day. But as my cultivation grew higher, during every full moon night, my cultivation would completely dissipate, only beginning to gradually recover the next day…”
Jiang Xunbai’s tone was calm, as if describing something that had happened to someone completely unrelated to him. Yet Lu Qingtang felt her heart stirred, her nose tingling and eyes reddening. She thought Jiang Xunbai was truly pitiful.
Among all those symptoms, perhaps the white hair and blindness were actually the mildest.
Jiang Xunbai joked, “Maybe I committed some unforgivable sin in my previous life, and this is heaven’s punishment.”
He lowered his gaze, meeting Lu Qingtang’s eyes, and said softly: “About last night, besides apologizing to you, I also need to thank you.”
He said very seriously: “Lu Qingtang, I’m sorry, and thank you. If not for you, I would have died in the mouths of those creatures.”
Even though she was so terrified, she had stubbornly protected him.
At the thought of this, Jiang Xunbai’s heart surged with boundless gratitude and heartache.
Lu Qingtang said indifferently, “There’s no need for you to apologize to me, and even less reason to thank me. I wasn’t doing it for you. If I hadn’t stayed awake until this morning, I would have ended up as food in their bellies myself.”
There were actually a few willow trees by the lake. Lu Qingtang approached one and sat down beneath it. Jiang Xunbai took out a Fu Zhi (Talisman Paper), murmured something under his breath, and the paper left his fingers as if it had grown wings, circled over the lake, then flew back.
Jiang Xunbai also sat down beside Lu Qingtang. He had expected her to panic or become despondent upon hearing that they couldn’t leave the space-time rift for now, but she merely frowned and complained a few times before returning to her usual demeanor.
For instance, she was now teasing a butterfly on an unknown flower.
“I didn’t find anything dangerous in the lake or around it. It’s possible they only come out at night. If you want to…” Jiang Xunbai paused. Lu Qingtang looked at him in confusion, her eyes so pure that it made him feel somewhat awkward. Jiang Xunbai had no choice but to finish his sentence: “If you want to wash up, now would be a good time.”
Hearing this, Lu Qingtang’s face lit up with joy. “Great!”
Her eyes shifted, and she looked at Jiang Xunbai suspiciously. “What about you?”
Jiang Xunbai coughed lightly. “I—I’ll go too! If I don’t go soon, I’ll start to stink as well.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll go over there.” Jiang Xunbai pointed behind a cluster of green trees not far away. Worried that she might still be uneasy, he added, “Rest assured, I’ll set up a formation around you to ensure your safety… and mine. I won’t be able to see you, and you won’t be able to see me either.”
By the time he finished speaking, Jiang Xunbai’s ears were already bright red.
Lu Qingtang glanced up at him and nodded. “Alright.”
Jiang Xunbai was still worried that she might find him too presumptuous or refuse his offer, but he hadn’t expected her to agree almost without a second thought.
He took another look at Lu Qingtang. How could she trust him so easily? Would she trust others just as casually?
“You…” Jiang Xunbai decided to be honest with her. “This is a special circumstance. You can’t trust others so casually in normal situations.”
Especially men.
Lu Qingtang gave him a puzzled glance. “I know. I trust Second Young Master’s character.”
An indescribable sense of satisfaction filled Jiang Xunbai’s chest. He felt as if he were floating on soft cotton—gentle and sweet—wrapped in an unfamiliar sensation.
Lu Qingtang looked at Jiang Xunbai’s slightly flushed cheeks and hesitated to speak. She caught a whiff of that fresh, sweet fragrance again, but with a step still between them and flowers blooming all around, she couldn’t be sure where the scent was coming from.
Jiang Xunbai picked up a few colorful stones—the rocks by the lake came in various hues, shimmering in the sunlight and quite beautiful.
Using those stones, he set up a formation. With this formation in place, Lu Qingtang would be much safer.
By the time Jiang Xunbai reached the area near the green trees, Lu Qingtang realized she truly couldn’t see him anymore—even though there was still a considerable distance between them, she assumed he couldn’t see her either from his side.
Feeling reassured, Lu Qingtang began to untie her clothes.
The lake water was cool. Lu Qingtang gasped softly the moment she touched the surface, but soon grew accustomed to it.
At least it was better than being filthy.
As a demon hunter with keen senses, Jiang Xunbai’s cultivation had only recovered to half its usual strength. Though he had deliberately dulled some of his senses, he could still hear the faint splashing not far away. Soaking in the chilly lake, he felt a restless pounding in his chest and a growing warmth spreading through his body.
Yet the mere thought of sharing the same lake with Lu Qingtang made him unbearably restless—so much so that even the cold water couldn’t quell the heat.
The time spent in the lake felt like an ordeal. Only when the distant splashing ceased did he finally let out a slow, relieved breath.
Lu Qingtang had already dressed and was wringing out her hair. In high spirits, she sat by the lakeside, dipping her feet into the water and playfully stirring the surface. Worried that Jiang Xunbai might think she wasn’t finished, she called out, “I’m done!”
Hearing this, Jiang Xunbai quickly dressed and made his way over. But as soon as he stepped into the clearing, he froze.
There sat the young woman, happily playing in the water. Her dark, wet hair still dripped, and the lake shimmered under the light. Her fair, almost luminous feet stood in stark contrast against the blue water, making Jiang Xunbai narrow his eyes—whether from the glare of the sun or an unwillingness to look too closely, he couldn’t tell.
He turned slightly away, gazing into the distance as he asked awkwardly, “Sh-shall we head back?”
Lu Qingtang didn’t shy away when she saw him. She turned to look at him and noticed his hair was already dry, tied up in a high ponytail, while his neck and the tips of his ears were flushed red.
Her eyes curved into a delighted smile. “I’d like to play a little longer. Want to join me?”
Jiang Xunbai stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
He walked over and sat beside her but didn’t dare look down—afraid he might catch another glimpse of her feet submerged in the water.
Lu Qingtang swung her feet idly while twisting her damp hair around her fingers.
Curious, she asked, “How did your hair dry so quickly?”
Jiang Xunbai’s gaze drifted to her pale, slender fingers. He smiled. “I used a bit of spiritual power. Would you like me to help dry yours too?”
Lu Qingtang nodded eagerly. “That would be wonderful—just half-dry, please.”
She looked up at him with a radiant smile. “Thank you, Second Young Master Jiang!”
A soft laugh escaped him. “It’s my honor to serve you, Miss Lu.”
Lu Qingtang’s smile widened. Jiang Xunbai rose and stood behind her, his hand hovering briefly in the air. As he hesitated, she asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Do you need me to stand?”
Thinking he couldn’t reach her hair easily, she started to rise, but Jiang Xunbai gently pressed her shoulder. “No need.”
His hand brushed against her hair—damp and silky to the touch. With his other hand, he channeled a faint glow of spiritual power, and slowly, her hair began to dry. It was well cared for, without a single split end at the tips, dark as clouds and gleaming with a healthy sheen.
Lu Qingtang continued to splash her feet restlessly. With each movement, her hair swayed against his palm, sending a tickling sensation straight to his heart.
She murmured, “What a shame there’s no essential oil here.”
Jiang Xunbai caught the regret in her tone. He released her hair and chuckled softly, “There aren’t any here, but I can conjure some for Miss Lu.”
Lu Qingtang whirled around, eyes wide: “Really?”
“Of course it’s true.”
Then, Jiang Xunbai drew out a Fu Zhi (Talisman Paper). The talisman emitted a yellow glow, circling above the myriad flowers around them. A wispy fragrance drifted from it, and with quick reflexes, Jiang Xunbai produced a white porcelain bottle to catch the essence.
Lu Qingtang watched Jiang Xunbai curiously. He raised the bottle toward her, slightly arched his brow, and curled the corner of his mouth: “See? It’s done.”
Jiang Xunbai thoughtfully extended the bottle to Lu Qingtang: “Take a sniff. See if the scent pleases the young lady.”
Lu Qingtang leaned in slightly, gave a light inhale, and immediately nodded repeatedly: “It smells wonderful!”
“Endlessly fresh and sweet without being cloying—I love it! Jiang Xunbai, you’re amazing! Can you teach me?”
Meeting Lu Qingtang’s admiring gaze, the curve of Jiang Xunbai’s lips lifted even higher.
“Not bad, just average—”
Just then, the system that hadn’t appeared for centuries suddenly spoke: 【Congratulations, host. Character Lu Qingtang’s current favorability is 25/100. Please continue your efforts and complete the mission soon.】
Jiang Xunbai abruptly looked at Lu Qingtang. Last time, the favorability was only 11, and today it’s already 25. It seemed the mission would be accomplished soon.
Lu Qingtang blinked innocently: “Can’t you teach me?”
The corners of her eyes curved, presenting a pitiful, innocent appearance. Jiang Xunbai immediately denied it: “No.”
The moment he blurted it out, he regretted it. Creating talismans required spiritual power support. Lu Qingtang was a mortal who had never cultivated—how could he teach her? Would he have to start with how to draw qi into the body?
Seeing a trace of difficulty flash across his face, Lu Qingtang thought he had changed his mind and said, “If Second Young Master Jiang doesn’t want to teach, it’s fine. Qing-Tang won’t blame Second Young Master…”
Jiang Xunbai immediately shook his head: “No—it’s just that drawing talismans requires spiritual power. How about this: if you like them, I’ll make a few of these talismans for you another day.”
Lu Qingtang smiled joyfully, revealing a pair of shallow dimples: “Jiang Xunbai, you’re so kind!”
Jiang Xunbai struggled to suppress the corners of his mouth. He poured the essential oil from the white porcelain bottle into his palm, carefully gathering Lu Qingtang’s hair together. He had never applied essential oil to anyone before—his movements were incredibly clumsy yet extremely cautious, afraid of accidentally pulling Lu Qingtang’s hair.
After applying the oil, Lu Qingtang’s hair became even smoother and more beautiful. The sweet floral fragrance drifted into both their noses, making them somewhat intoxicated.
Lu Qingtang was very satisfied. She narrowed her eyes, basking in the sun, enjoying Jiang Xunbai applying the essential oil for her. Afterward, neither of them knew how to tie hair, so Lu Qingtang simply let her hair down and lay under the willow tree. She covered her eyes with her palm, originally intending to rest for a while, but under the gentle breeze and warm sun, she fell into a deep sleep.
Jiang Xunbai sat beside her with one leg slightly bent. Hearing Lu Qingtang’s soft breathing and the rustling of willow branches in the breeze, he also lay down.
He rested his hands under his head, staring blankly at the sky. The floral scent from Lu Qingtang’s hair drifted to his nose, making him feel as if he were surrounded by a sea of flowers.
As the sun dipped westward, Lu Qingtang finally awoke. Jiang Xunbai retrieved various foods from his storage bag: layered pancakes, glutinous rice, roasted deer tendon, sweet and sour pork ribs, shredded chicken with snow fungus, braised eggplant, cold cucumber salad, and even pastries and tea.
Lu Qingtang stared wide-eyed as he pulled out such an abundance of food all at once from the storage bag.
“You… how did you bring so much food?”
Not only had Jiang Xunbai brought food, but also utensils. He handed a pair of jade chopsticks to Lu Qingtang and said with a smile, “We demon hunters are constantly on the move outdoors. Sometimes we end up in places with no households around, so I always keep many daily necessities prepared.”
He added, “I have enough food here to last us a month.”
Lu Qingtang was puzzled, “Won’t it spoil over such a long time?”
“Of course not. My storage bag is unparalleled in the world—it preserves freshness.”
Jiang Xunbai’s tone carried a hint of pride.
Once again, Lu Qingtang felt envious of Jiang Xunbai, mainly jealous of his possession of such an excellent storage bag.
After finishing their meal, the two returned to the cave. Jiang Xunbai set up two formations—surely those things couldn’t break through an extra layer of defense.
After completing the formations, he lit a fire and took out a cloak and blanket from his storage bag to arrange for Lu Qingtang, letting him sleep on the stone bed.
Lu Qingtang tried to decline politely, but Jiang Xunbai raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “I don’t need to sleep—at most, I’ll take a short nap. But you, Miss Lu, so delicately bred and accustomed to luxury, how could you not sleep in a proper bed?”
His tone was lighthearted. Seeing she couldn’t win the argument, Lu Qingtang stopped refusing and lay down on the stone bed, gradually drifting into dreamland.
Author’s Note:
Jiang TangTang: The young lady is delicately bred, so of course she should have the best (firmly believes).