Qu WeiYin pressed her lips together tightly, but her gaze wavered.
Luo JinXiao didn’t know if she felt angry or pained. From her perspective, she could see the demonic energy churning within Qu WeiYin, even gnawing at her celestial veins, yet she endured silently.
“Let go,” Qu WeiYin said, taking advantage of Luo JinXiao’s surprise to pull her hand free, turning away. “It’s just some demonic energy; I can dissolve it myself.”
“But you could barely manage to fly with your sword earlier,” Luo JinXiao’s eyes reddened, her heart aching.
She also felt a burning anger, unsure whether she was mad at Qu WeiYin for disregarding herself or upset that Qu WeiYin always kept her in the dark.
When Qu WeiYin turned back, she saw two tears slip down Luo JinXiao’s face, hitting the ground with a soft thud, yet the sound echoed in Qu WeiYin’s heart like a roar.
Qu WeiYin sighed, her eyebrows slightly raised in resignation.
“I’m really fine,” she insisted, shaking her head and stepping closer to Luo JinXiao. Seeing her red-eyed expression made her want to laugh.
Her tone softened, trying to sound reassuring.
“I already have demonic energy in me; it doesn’t matter. Besides, the evil technique he practiced consumes celestial veins. It can’t be expelled, only absorbed. My cultivation can handle it; yours can’t.”
“Stop acting like a child. Go rest; tomorrow is important,” Qu WeiYin said, reaching to pull Luo JinXiao’s arm, but Luo JinXiao grabbed her wrist instead.
“Little Martial Aunt, let me heal you,” Luo JinXiao insisted, sniffing her red nose.
“No need,” Qu WeiYin replied, but was pulled back to the bed by Luo JinXiao, sitting down with a jolt. She barely caught herself from falling.
“Luo JinXiao!” Qu WeiYin scolded, her eyes reproachful.
“You can’t even beat me right now,” Luo JinXiao muttered sullenly.
Qu WeiYin raised her slender fingers in mock anger, pretending to strike her. But Luo JinXiao didn’t flinch, moving closer instead.
“Go ahead, hit me. But I’m not leaving until I see you’re better,” Luo JinXiao said with her head down.
Qu WeiYin paused, lowering her hand slowly. Her gaze softened, the usual sharpness gone, perhaps due to her weakness.
She even reached out to wipe the tear on Luo JinXiao’s chin.
“How old are you to cry so easily?” Qu WeiYin chided gently, shaking her head.
Then, she answered herself with a self-deprecating shake, “Barely in your teens, still young.”
Lifting her skirt, Luo JinXiao sat by the bed, using her spiritual energy to repair Qu WeiYin’s damaged veins. Neither spoke, Qu WeiYin grimacing and clenching her fists, enduring the pain.
Seeing her struggle, Luo JinXiao’s heart ached, helpless to ease her suffering.
Qu WeiYin’s thin inner garment clung to her skin, damp with sweat, sliding over her smooth skin as if she’d been caught in a downpour.
Despite the strain on her features, she remained breathtakingly beautiful.
As Luo JinXiao healed her, her gaze traced Qu WeiYin’s features, entranced.
Suddenly, Qu WeiYin coughed, slumping back. Luo JinXiao quickly steadied her, pulling her upright.
Qu WeiYin sighed, resting her head on Luo JinXiao’s shoulder.
The warmth and softness left Luo JinXiao frozen, swallowing nervously before gingerly guiding Qu WeiYin to lie down.
Qu WeiYin’s face was as pale as glass. She turned and fell into a deep sleep, or perhaps unconsciousness, but thankfully, her chaotic demonic energy had calmed, her celestial veins stabilized.
Luo JinXiao infused her with more spiritual energy, sighing in relief, deciding to fetch water to wipe away her sweat.
She asked the innkeeper for a bucket of hot water, carrying it upstairs. Wetting a cloth, she gently dabbed away Qu WeiYin’s sweat, from her cheeks to her slender neck, then her arms under her inner robe.
Though there were spells to do this, Luo JinXiao felt this method was more sincere.
Qu WeiYin’s figure was exquisite, even lying down, her curves discernible. Her white garment clung like water, accentuating her graceful form.
As she wiped, Luo JinXiao’s face reddened inexplicably. Startled, she pressed the cloth to her own face, scolding herself for her inappropriate thoughts.
Qu WeiYin had just saved her, and here she was, behaving improperly—hardly fitting for someone of a righteous sect.
Daring not to continue, she tossed the cloth into the water, murmuring a spell to dry Qu WeiYin’s body, then tucked her in, sitting nearby, watching blankly.
Qu WeiYin seemed caught in a dream, murmuring, her hand groping for something.
Luo JinXiao quickly grasped it, whispering, “Little Martial Aunt?”
Of course, Qu WeiYin didn’t reply, but finding her hand no longer empty, she seemed at ease, holding it to her chest as she slept.
A wave of sadness swept over Luo JinXiao. Kneeling by the bed, she rested her chin on the edge, silently watching Qu WeiYin.
The infamous bloodthirsty demon lord lay before her, defenseless.
“Little Martial Aunt, I shouldn’t have been angry with you. You meant well,” Luo JinXiao murmured, squeezing her soft hand.
“As long as I’m here, I’ll never let you fall into darkness again,” she vowed softly.
Dawn’s light filtered through the window, casting a sheer glow over the bed, waking Qu WeiYin.
Squinting against the light, she tried to shield her eyes, but found her arm wouldn’t move.
Switching hands, she managed to sit up, only to freeze at the sight before her, nearly falling back.
“Luo JinXiao,” she hissed, clenching her teeth.
Luo JinXiao slept soundly, clutching her hand tighter, pulling it closer in her sleep.
“Luo JinXiao!” Qu WeiYin shouted, waking her. Luo JinXiao bolted upright, bleary-eyed and confused.
“Let go,” Qu WeiYin ordered, masking her anger with calm.
Realizing the situation, Luo JinXiao quickly released her hand, tucking it behind her, still dazed.
Qu WeiYin reclaimed her overheated hand, getting up and donning her outer robe. She checked her internal state, finding her celestial veins mostly healed, only weakness remaining.
“Did you sleep like that all night?” Qu WeiYin asked, hiding her embarrassment.
Now fully awake, Luo JinXiao nodded, attempting to stand but collapsing as her legs, numb from kneeling, gave out.
Qu WeiYin’s expression softened, shaking her head. Golden spiritual energy lifted Luo JinXiao from the floor.
“Rest. I have things to do.”
With that, she strode to the door, only to bump into Tang Lan’er returning from downstairs.
They stared at each other, Tang Lan’er clutching a roast chicken. She peered inside, dropping the chicken leg in surprise, pointing between the room and Qu WeiYin.
“Is this how you slept last night?”
Qu WeiYin’s gaze turned icy, meeting hers. “Yes. Why does it matter to you?”
“No reason,” Tang Lan’er stammered, sweating. She’d thought this woman wasn’t intimidating, but now felt her heart race with fear.
“Then move,” Qu WeiYin commanded, exuding an unapproachable chill.
Tang Lan’er backed away quickly. Just then, Luo JinXiao found her footing, calling after her, asking where she was going.
Qu WeiYin’s expression softened instantly. “You’ve been busy. Rest more. I’ll be back soon.”
Though her tone was steady, her eyes had softened, becoming gentle as water.
Tang Lan’er gaped, glancing between the room and Qu WeiYin, before hastily retreating, face flushed like a cherry.
Qu WeiYin watched her leave, then vanished like a light into the corridor.
Luo JinXiao, sprawled on the bed, rolled over, blushing from head to toe. She felt utterly humiliated by her fall in front of Qu WeiYin.
She groaned, pounding the mattress in frustration.
By noon, the Wu Hui Sect arrived in town, beginning their demon-cleansing. Luo JinXiao helped intermittently, with few demons around during the day, leaving her to roam idly.
Qu WeiYin’s whereabouts were unknown, heightening Luo JinXiao’s concern. Her health was still tenuous, and the demonic energy lingered. Afraid of more mishaps, she was distracted.
Wandering by the river, footsteps approached. Luo JinXiao turned to see Lu Fanzhi’s excited face.
“You’re here,” Luo JinXiao sighed in relief.
“News spread that you and Little Martial Aunt Qu defeated the demons and saved our fellow disciples. Luo Ning and I came. She’s inspecting now, but I slipped away to find you,” Lu Fanzhi said, slapping Luo JinXiao’s shoulder, pulling her along.
“Yan Ying didn’t come?” Luo JinXiao asked.
“Why are you so interested in her? She’s been acting strange, not even fighting with Luo Ning anymore. It’s odd,” Lu Fanzhi replied, shaking his head.
Luo JinXiao merely nodded, finding Yan Ying’s behavior peculiar.
“I haven’t asked—what’s going on with you and Little Martial Aunt Qu?” Lu Fanzhi inquired eagerly, leaning close.
Luo JinXiao tensed, feigning indifference. “With Little Martial Aunt? What about us?”
“I met a pretty girl who asked about your relationship with Little Martial Aunt Qu. I said you’re fellow disciples, but she didn’t believe me, claiming she saw you two sharing a bed.”
“Don’t keep secrets. This inn is huge; you have rooms. Why sleep in hers?”
Luo JinXiao’s face flushed at his words. She clamped a hand over his mouth, scolding, “Don’t talk nonsense! Little Martial Aunt was hurt. I helped her heal. Stop imagining things.”
Lu Fanzhi pried her hand off. “Then why were you so tired last night?”
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