The day of leaving Qingyu came very early.
Although Wang Yue didn’t mind her two disciples staying at Yuheng Peak, she understood their feelings of being restrained at Qingyu. Thus, she generously gave her approval but couldn’t help but sigh like an elder reflecting on the passage of time: “Ah, the children have all grown up. Time truly waits for no one.”
Shang Can wasn’t quite accustomed to Wang Yue’s slightly wistful expression, but soon her master returned to her usual carefree demeanor. She patted Shang Can on the shoulder and said that she would visit Yunyun whenever she had the time. Suddenly, she glanced over at Yun Duan and, with a mischievous look, pulled the confused Shang Can aside, lowering her voice to say, “…Duan’er isn’t in very good health; let her sleep more at night.”
Even though Shang Can had a thicker skin than Yun Duan, she immediately felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Her normally fluent tongue became clumsy as she stammered, “I, we didn’t…”
Before she could finish, Wang Yue, with an expression of “I understand,” patted her shoulder and walked away. Left standing there, Shang Can stared blankly at her retreating figure, losing the chance to explain that nothing unusual had happened between her and Yun Duan recently.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to explain—cough. Shang Can shook her head vigorously, trying to calm the heat in her face. The first time had indeed been too much, and after a series of entanglements, their relationship had finally settled into something more complicated. They were now much more cautious with physical contact, and were barely managing to straighten out the chaotic progression of their relationship.
“Ah Can?”
Perhaps noticing that she had been standing there in a daze for too long, Yun Duan approached and softly called her name. Shang Can snapped back to reality, hurriedly suppressing her thoughts that had been brought up by Wang Yue’s words. She waved her hand at Yun Duan to signal that nothing was wrong. Yun Duan blinked in slight confusion but didn’t press further, only smiling gently as she said, “Then let’s go home.”
Hearing those words caused Shang Can’s heart to skip a beat. She momentarily spaced out before smiling warmly and reaching for Yun Duan’s hand, happily replying, “Let’s go home.”
For some reason, that word sounded exceptionally beautiful.
At this moment, it was still very early, and the sky had just begun to lighten; even the morning training of the Qingyu disciples had yet to start. The two of them flew to the Qingyu gate on their swords without encountering a single person along the way.
The Qingyu disciple guarding the gate had heard the clear sound of their sword singing from afar. According to Qingyu’s rules, one was to slow down when approaching the gate and descend from their sword until after exiting, at which point they could continue flying. Upon turning around and recognizing the visitors, he hurriedly bowed respectfully, his tone a mix of fear and excitement: “Yun Zhongjun.”
Yun Zhongjun’s name resonated as one of the most renowned in the entire realm of immortal cultivation, especially within the Qingyu sect. The guard had heard that she had been staying at Qingyu for the past few months and wanted to see her for himself. However, Yun Zhongjun was known for her aloofness and lack of social skills, often appearing and disappearing without a trace. Even the leaders of the peaks and the sect master found it difficult to meet her, let alone him, a junior disciple who had only joined a few years ago.
He hadn’t expected to encounter her in person during his watch. The disciple felt elated, and despite knowing it was inappropriate, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Yun Zhongjun. The woman before him was even more outstanding than the rumors suggested—her elegance was ethereal, dressed in white that glimmered like snow atop a mountain, as if her bones were made of ice and her form was that of the radiant moon. She was so luminous that merely looking at her evoked feelings of inadequacy.
Yet, despite her usual indifference, Yun Zhongjun maintained her decorum and courtesy, even toward him, a mere gatekeeper. She halted her steps and returned his greeting. Eager to speak with her, the disciple hurriedly attempted small talk: “Yun Zhongjun, are you heading down the mountain?”
Though it was clear he was struggling to find a topic, Yun Zhongjun still smiled gently and nodded, her cold, onyx-like eyes softening in a way that inexplicably felt warm: “Mm.”
The guard nearly lost his mind in that moment of warmth, finding his throat dry and his words failing him. As he racked his brain for something more to say, a light laugh suddenly broke the silence. Instinctively, he looked over and noticed a person standing beside Yun Zhongjun—a tall, graceful figure also clad in white. Yet, there was an effortless, lazy charm about her that made her appear more relaxed than the impeccably dressed Yun Zhongjun beside her.
The person at that moment was consciously aware of their lapse in demeanor, raising a hand to cover their lips while awkwardly turning away. The disciple could only see that it was a woman but couldn’t make out her features. In a state of confusion, he asked, “…Who is this?”
Clearly directed at her, yet for some reason, Yun Zhongjun stepped forward, blocking his gaze. The disciple, still puzzled, watched as Yun Zhongjun was about to speak, only to be interrupted by the voice behind her. It was bright and cheerful, the words lazily drawn out at the end: “You could say I’m Yun Zhongjun’s subordinate.”
The bewildered disciple hadn’t yet responded when he saw Yun Zhongjun’s usually serene and jade-like brows suddenly crease lightly. Without waiting for him to react, she resolutely denied it: “No.”
As she spoke, she reached back to take the woman’s hand, then looked directly at the gatekeeper disciple. Her calm demeanor now had an unsteady ripple as she articulated each word: “She is my Dao companion.”
The poor young disciple was struck dumb by such shocking news, his eyes widening in disbelief. The two in front seemed to fall silent for a moment, and after a brief pause, he vaguely heard that bright voice say, tinged with a hint of helplessness, “Why say such things right after meeting?” Meanwhile, Yun Zhongjun kept her eyes downcast, evidently not intending to retract her statement.
Eventually, it was the woman who, perhaps fearing the situation might escalate, encouraged Yun Zhongjun to step back a few paces. She then approached the stunned disciple, lightly patting him on the shoulder and offering a gentle smile, filling the air with polite apologies for startling him, but she didn’t mention anything about keeping it a secret.
It was only then that the disciple caught a clearer glimpse of her face. She was fair and beautiful, reminiscent of an outstanding disciple from a prestigious sect. However, her eyes were filled with charm, the naturally upturned corners glimmering with mischief, her gaze bright and unguarded. Leaning in slightly, she whispered, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh earlier. I just thought of something that relates to you…”
Before he could fully grasp the meaning of her words, Yun Zhongjun had already quickly stepped forward, pulling the woman back a couple of paces from him. The one abruptly taken away didn’t seem annoyed; instead, she smiled apologetically at him before following Yun Zhongjun as they left on their swords.
As for the dazed disciple, when Yu Shan Jun came to check on him, he groggily described the woman’s appearance, which inexplicably caused Yu Shan Jun to explode in anger—a tale for another day.
By the time they reached Cloud City, Yun Duan’s mood remained less than cheerful.
Clearly a bit upset but not wanting to stir trouble, she ultimately expressed her feelings by silently taking Shang Can’s hand. Still feeling it wasn’t enough, she hesitated, wanting to interlace their fingers. However, perhaps mindful that they were on the streets of Cloud City, she hesitated for a long time without acting.
Shang Can found her adorable, suppressing a laugh as she felt Yun Duan’s grip tighten and then loosen again. Finally unable to wait any longer, she boldly intertwined her fingers with Yun Duan’s, smiling brightly and tilting her head to ask, “Like this?”
Yun Duan instinctively averted her gaze, trying to appear nonchalant as she walked straight ahead. However, the tips of her ears, revealed amidst her dark hair, began to redden under Shang Can’s watchful eyes, betraying her current feelings.
As Shang Can observed, a delightful sensation tingled within her heart. Yun Duan, feeling the pressure, dared not look too long. She abruptly changed the topic to something Yun Duan seemed to care about: “Earlier… that guy seemed to admire you a lot. I wonder if he’s come back to reality yet.”
“…” Yun Duan pressed her lips together, her tone slightly sullen, “Can’t I say anything about it?”
“Of course not.” Shang Can replied with a smile. By now, she felt some sympathy for the disciple who had suffered a blow in front of the one he admired, but still said, “If you want to say something, just say it. If any admirers come looking for trouble later, I’ll just take care of them.”
As she spoke, Shang Can felt relieved that the disciple seemed unfamiliar, likely not recognizing her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to appear in front of him so casually. Having already made enemies with most of Yun Zhongjun’s admirers in the immortal realm, she didn’t want to complicate matters further.
Yun Duan’s expression softened as she shook her head, saying, “No way, there’s no such person.”
Internally, Shang Can wondered why Yun Duan seemed so unaware of her own popularity. An inexplicable feeling stirred in her heart, yet she chose not to enlighten her. Instead, she went along with Yun Duan’s words, saying, “It’s best if there aren’t, but if there are, I’m not afraid.”
Thinking it was merely to avoid exposure due to her identity, she reassured herself that she could handle it. Little did she know, Yun Duan replied quite seriously, “If there are, I’ll handle it.”
Shang Can nearly choked, laughing and crying at the same time, thinking it made her sound like a sheltered boy toy kept hidden by Yun Zhongjun. Why should Yun Duan deal with her own admirers? Glancing at Yun Duan’s exquisitely delicate profile, she could see that Yun Duan spoke with a straight face, devoid of any hint of jest. Sensing her gaze, Yun Duan turned slightly, her eyes soft and gentle, filled with a hint of innocent confusion.
It was truly odd; the more she acted this way, the more Shang Can wanted to disrupt Yun Duan’s tranquility, like wanting to leave an indelible mark upon the pristine, snow-capped peaks of Tianshan that few could touch.
Surrounding them were the familiar streets of Cloud City, a sight that should have warranted lingering admiration. However, Shang Can’s desire to savor the moment flickered and faded, and she quietly quickened her pace. Yun Duan, confused, followed her lead, walking briskly until they finally stopped in front of the courtyard gate.
The scene from the last time she had chased after the missing Shang Can seemed to linger vividly in Yun Duan’s mind. A sudden wave of homesickness washed over her, causing her to instinctively grip Shang Can’s hand tighter. The person beside her immediately responded, clasping her hand firmly before slowly pushing open the courtyard door and leading Yun Duan inside.
The long-awaited moment she had dreamed of had finally come to pass. As she turned to close the courtyard gate, Yun Duan felt a moment of daze. She had been waiting for this day for what felt like an eternity, yet now that it was here, everything felt so serene, like an ordinary winter day, everything falling into place. She and Shang Can had returned here—this was their home—just the two of them.
The daze in her heart hadn’t quite faded when suddenly, she was enveloped from behind. Immersed in her thoughts, Yun Zhongjun couldn’t react in time, her heartbeat thrown into disarray. Shang Can wasn’t one to pull such sudden moves, and Yun Duan was slightly surprised, wanting to glance back at her expression. Yet, she found herself unable to move, held tightly in Shang Can’s embrace. She could only touch the hand that was gradually tightening around her waist and softly say, “A Can?”
A gentle “Hmm” came to her ears, but Shang Can’s actions were anything but innocent. Yun Duan soon felt the warm, soft lips tentatively pressing against her pale neck, igniting an uncontrollable shiver within her.
“You don’t even know,” Shang Can said, sensing the tension in Yun Duan’s suddenly stiffened body. She continued kissing upward, lightly nibbling on Yun Duan’s reddened earlobe, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance, “…So many people like you.”
She recalled the admiring gaze of the gatekeeper disciple who had stolen glances at Yun Duan. Perhaps it was merely a rumor-based admiration, yet it was undeniably marked by unabashed infatuation and reverence.
It was somewhat displeasing.
It was a blatant lie when Yun Duan said she hadn’t meant to smile; she had meant it. While Yun Duan might have been oblivious to such people, Shang Can found them irritating. Thus, she followed her instincts to interrupt this conversation that hardly qualified as one. It was only when Yun Duan openly declared their partnership that she regained her composure.
How petty, Shang Can thought, realizing for the first time that she was indeed quite stingy.
She had always considered herself generous, but when it came to matters related to Yun Duan, her possessiveness had made itself known.
Eager to assert her claim on Yun Duan, she slightly loosened her grip and stepped in front of her, quickly tightening her arms again. Lowering her head to look at her seemingly dazed lover, she whispered, “I want to kiss you.”
Yun Duan’s heart raced like a drum, and instinctively, she glanced at Shang Can’s lips—the very lips that had just been teasing her neck now appeared pleadingly, seeking permission as if they wouldn’t proceed without her consent.
Despite knowing that the distance they had struggled to create these past few days was being recklessly closed, Yun Duan couldn’t muster a single word of refusal. Instead, in a flustered manner, she half-closed her eyes and offered herself up.
Even though she hadn’t fully recognized Shang Can’s abnormal behavior earlier, she now understood the source of Shang Can’s emotions. A certain unknown corner of her heart seemed to have been touched, and an unusual sense of satisfaction washed over her.
As Shang Can’s tongue, no longer satisfied with mere contact, tangled with hers, Yun Duan seized a moment to softly ask, “…Do you care?”
Shang Can paused, drawing back slightly, her scrutinizing gaze meeting Yun Duan’s. Sure enough, she saw the slightly agitated look in her lover’s eyes, laced with playful mischief, and she couldn’t help but chuckle in exasperation, “You know the answer already.”
Yun Duan smiled, her eyes brightening with a soft, melting warmth, “Yes, I do.”
Perhaps it was a willingness to fall into her somewhat clumsy trap of provocation, as Yun Duan heard Shang Can chuckle softly, then effortlessly lifted her off her feet, carrying her into the house.
The thought that “So A Can can feel jealous too” lingered in her mind, leaving her feeling somewhat dizzy. Though Shang Can walked steadily, Yun Duan felt as if she were floating on clouds, only able to find solid ground in this person’s embrace.
Unaware of her thoughts, Shang Can was already consumed by her own desires. After savoring Yun Duan’s sweetness, she took her time to tease the red in her eyes, using a courteous tone to say, “Everyone says that Yun Zhongjun doesn’t smile. Today, it seems they were right. Why aren’t you speaking? Don’t you like me?”
Yun Duan was so soft and weak that she couldn’t muster the strength to resist. However, she obediently loosened her grip on her tightly clenched lips, though she couldn’t help but let out a few muffled, needy sounds.
“I like you… I really do,” Yun Duan said in fragments, wrapping her arms around Shang Can’s neck, urging her to lean down. She whispered in her ear, “…I’ll only say this for you to hear.”
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