Though Shang Can’s mind hadn’t fully processed the strange things Yun Duan had just said, she quickly realized that Yun Duan’s reputation among the cultivators was likely higher than she had imagined.
This was primarily evident in the silence that followed Yun Duan’s audacious and shocking statement; none of the cultivators dared to voice any opposition to her.
“But… but…” Elder Huang was the only one still holding onto his views, anxiously advising, “After all, Yunzhong Jun has a special constitution, and it’s too dangerous to accompany Shang Can…”
“It won’t be.”
However, this reasonable concern was immediately dismissed by Yun Duan. She shook her head, her tone returning to indifference. “She won’t harm me.”
The certainty in her voice jolted Shang Can back to reality. She hurriedly pulled her hand back from Yun Duan’s, stepping back two paces as if trying to cover her tracks.
Yun Duan didn’t press the matter; she merely tilted her head, her gaze warm and bright, like a deer gazing at the water’s surface.
“…I truly disdain engaging in such petty acts.”
“But that’s not the only issue,” Shang Can paused, laughing lightly. “How come no one thought to ask if I’m willing?”
This could only be blamed on the overwhelming aura that Yun Duan projected, which had shifted the dynamics of the conversation, making it seem less like a matter between Shang Can and the Heavenly Realm and more like a dispute involving Yun Duan and the Heavenly Realm.
At that moment, the cultivators seemed to remember that there was a dangerous individual nearby, and they looked at Shang Can as if waking from a dream. However, the combativeness had significantly diminished; among the crowd, at least seventy percent bore expressions of confusion, as if asking “So what do you think?” with no trace of their previous hostility.
These young cultivators really lacked a sense of urgency. Shang Can felt both frustrated and amused. Just as she was pondering how to respond, Yun Duan spoke up beside her.
“It’s something that should be asked.” After saying this, Yun Duan met Shang Can’s gaze directly and bluntly asked, “So, do you want to?”
“……”
For some reason, that question felt off.
Shang Can furrowed her brow, hesitating.
Given the circumstances, agreeing to Yun Duan’s proposal seemed like the most advantageous choice. Not only would it help her avoid a grueling battle with the cultivators, but it would also allow her to seek out that fake Shang Can without arousing suspicion.
The only thing that made her hesitate was the fact that Yun Duan wanted to accompany her.
Suppressing her doubts, Shang Can countered with a question, “Is Yunzhong Jun very free?”
“Yes.” What was clearly a subtle rejection seemed to go over Yun Duan’s head as she nodded without a second thought, confirming, “Very free.”
“……Is that so?”
Abandoning her approach, Shang Can turned her gaze away from Yun Duan and waved toward Pei Chen.
“If it makes you feel safer to have a cultivator accompany me, could you send someone else? How about Kun Yao Jun instead?”
Her words sparked outrage among the cultivators, who shouted, “Why are you being so picky!” and “Is this a shopping trip?” Shang Can pretended not to hear and avoided looking at Yun Duan, hoping Pei Chen would pick up on her unspoken plea. Yet, he sincerely shook his head.
“Pei Chen cannot accompany Shang Can; he is… quite busy.” He bowed apologetically as he spoke. “After much consideration, if Shang Can is willing, Yunzhong Jun is indeed the best choice.”
The implication was clear: he was busy, and it was better to send someone who was free.
Shang Can rolled her eyes under her mask in annoyance. Elder Huang already recognized that Yun Duan’s special constitution made it unsafe to accompany the rumored dangerous demon cultivator Shang Can. Yet, as the head of the Heavenly Realm, Pei Chen didn’t seem to consider how to arrange matters at home, opting instead to send Yun Duan to do the work. What sense did that make?
At this moment, she chose to selectively ignore the fact that it was Yun Duan who had proposed this arrangement in the first place. Frustrated, she was trying to think of ways to avoid traveling with Yun Duan when a sudden loud humming erupted from the barrier behind her, startling Shang Can into jumping aside.
Suddenly, a rift opened in the empty air behind her, and a woman in red tumbled out.
Having exerted considerable effort to break through the barrier Shang Can had set at the entrance to the Bitter Falls, Wan Shao charged forward, grabbing the startled Shang Can by her collar.
“Are you out of your mind—?!”
She paused mid-rant, suddenly remembering the current situation and temporarily set aside her grievances against Shang Can. Instead, she glared fiercely at the cultivators, causing those who met her gaze to instinctively shrink back.
“Are we going to fight or not?! When are we fighting?!”
As Shang Can watched her glare at her like a bull ready to charge, she felt a mix of dread and disbelief.
Looking at Wan Shao and then at the cultivators, who were now acting like they were facing a great enemy, her gaze finally settled on Yun Duan for a few seconds, and she sighed in resignation.
“…What’s the point of fighting? Let’s just go back.”
In the end, things turned out quite well.
Shang Can watched the cultivators gradually retreat, impatiently waving at Pei Chen, who even dared to bow and say goodbye. She comforted herself internally.
At least this time, they had resolved the issue without bloodshed. As for what would come next—
Sighing, Shang Can thought, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to stay up late and spend more time looking for that fake Shang Can. After all, with all this fuss, it shouldn’t be too hard to investigate.”
Probably, it would take no more than a week—hmm, just a week of being with Yun Duan. That’s even shorter than the time she spent in the Heavenly Realm before.
With this in mind, Shang Can’s awkward feelings eased a bit. She absentmindedly recalled the half bowl of noodles she hadn’t finished before leaving; just as she was about to head back, she noticed Chu Ming, who seemed to have been waiting behind her all along.
“……”
Shang Can glanced at him but didn’t intend to engage, continuing on her way toward the entrance of Bi Luo Huang Quan.
“……I just spoke with Junior Sister Yun Duan. She’s adamant about accompanying you.”
“I’ll talk to Uncle Wang Yue when I return, but at this rate, even if he comes personally, it’s unlikely he can persuade her.”
Hearing this from behind caused Shang Can to pause for a moment, and she quickly caught the soft addition from Chu Ming, “I haven’t told anyone… about your matter, so you don’t need to worry.”
Shang Can closed her eyes, finally stopping to turn and look at Chu Ming.
“Yushan Jun,” she said gently, her tone as casual as everyday pleasantries, “Be cautious of harboring inner demons; don’t be too stubborn.”
“……”
Chu Ming stared at her for a long while before finally lowering his head, an unwilling expression still lingering on his face.
Having said her piece, Shang Can didn’t linger any longer and walked toward the entrance. Just before she entered Bi Luo Huang Quan, she heard Chu Ming’s low voice carried by the wind.
“Junior Sister Yun Duan’s memory has truly been sealed. If you don’t want her to remember… take care of it.”
With steady steps, Shang Can returned to the gates of Bi Luo Huang Quan. The entrance sealed shut behind her, and the demon clan guarding the gate all bowed respectfully. Shang Can silently returned their gestures before walking into the city.
Take care of it.
She reached up to remove her white jade mask, feeling slightly fatigued as she pinched her brow.
It’s easy to say, but when it comes to actually doing it, how can one maintain that boundary? This was indeed a challenging issue for Shang Can.
Temporarily setting those thoughts aside, she strode back into the city.
She planned to head back to her residence at Yun Tian first to pack things up; after all, starting tomorrow, she would be looking for that fake Shang Can, and she needed to prepare everything in advance.
The demon clan in the city seemed unaware of what had just occurred at the entrance. The streets were still bustling with activity, and many greeted her upon her arrival.
“Lady Can!”
Among the calls, the voice of a Night Crow rang the loudest. Shang Can looked up to see the same Night Crow who had called her to the city gate circling above her, eventually landing gracefully before her. He transformed into a young boy, although his left arm remained a crow’s wing, unable to fully take on human form.
“Lord Demon heard that you hadn’t finished your meal when you went out, so he asked me to wait for you to come back and remind you to finish it.”
As he spoke, he cleared his throat and mimicked Wan Shao’s tone, saying, “Otherwise, she’ll definitely skip the meal entirely; that person is just not right in the head!”
“Ah, that was merely a joke from Lord Demon,” he quickly added, bowing respectfully and unfurling his left wing toward Shang Can. “Lady Can, please, irregular eating can lead to stomach issues.”
“……”
This was the second time she had heard this today; it seemed the young Night Crow truly took health seriously.
Since she had been caught, Shang Can had no choice but to abandon her intention of heading home directly. She followed the Night Crow to the food stall they were heading toward.
After all, since she had taken the liberty to set up a barrier at Bi Luo Huang Quan when the cultivators arrived, preventing Wan Shao and the others from coming out, Wan Shao was likely waiting there to question her. It would be better to go.
Shang Can thought that ordering a beef noodle with a chicken leg for Wan Shao would probably be enough to calm her down, but the further she walked, the more uneasy she felt.
At that moment, the streets seemed unusually crowded, and ahead of her, there was even a jam forming. The demons appeared to be captivated by something, halting their steps and creating a blockage that was impassable.
This was the main city of Bi Luo Huang Quan. Although it wasn’t the most luxurious, it was certainly no less than Da Cheng Yan Yang. In the nine years Shang Can had lived here, there had only been one incident of blockage, caused by the trampling of the main street during the migration of a demon clan.
So what was happening this time? Could it be that another clan, like the Blue Bears, was moving?
Shang Can mused to herself as she nimbly navigated through the crowd. When she finally reached the most congested area, she suddenly realized…
This crowded spot was her destination!
Feeling a surge of unease, she hadn’t yet had time to think when the young Night Crow leading her suddenly transformed back into his original form and flew up, squawking loudly, “Clear the way! Let Lady Can through first!”
Shang Can felt her throat tighten, and the demons in front of her quickly parted to make way, all apologizing in a cacophony. With no choice, she pushed forward, the sense of foreboding growing heavier in her heart.
“Ah Can!”
A crisp child’s voice rang out from the crowd; it was the long-horned child who had first greeted her when she returned to Bi Luo Huang Quan. He was currently perched on his father’s shoulders, eagerly waving his little hands at Shang Can.
“Can’s guest is so beautiful! Just as beautiful as Can!”
…A guest?
Shang Can’s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively looked in the direction the child was pointing at with urgency.
The crowd of demons was gathered near a roadside stall, creating a large circle around a particular table. Wan Shao was sitting there nonchalantly, waving at her with a very mischievous smile.
On the other side of the table sat someone who instantly captured Shang Can’s attention.
The person was clad in a white robe as pure as snow, surrounded by the dim light of the stall, giving her a softer appearance than usual, as if a moon had suddenly emerged from the eternal night of Bi Luo Huang Quan, shining with an ethereal glow.
The woman, resembling delicate mountain snow, slowly lifted her gaze, her long eyelashes seeming to hold the moonlight, creating ripples in the air.
“So this is what you look like.”
Yun Duan, who should have already left with the others from Qing Yu, was indeed sitting there, her slightly parted lips stirring up a tempest within Shang Can’s heart.
In a hurry, she turned away, pulling out her white jade mask and pressing it onto her face. Her vision darkened, but the blankness in her mind lingered.
“I’ve already seen you.”
That faint voice, haunting and enchanting, drifted through the air, seemingly unaffected by the earlier interruption.
“Why are you still hiding?”
Shang Can’s hand trembled, and the mask clattered to the ground.
Bi Luo Huang Quan rarely received guests.
This was the demon realm, which already had a poor relationship with the cultivation world. The current Bi Luo Huang Quan, rebuilt after quelling a rebellion seven years ago, was still stumbling through its growth, so it was quite rare to have any visitors, especially not cultivators like Yun Duan.
In this world, humans and demons were of different races and stances, and mutual hostility was a common occurrence. It was likely that since the establishment of Bi Luo Huang Quan, there had never been a case of a demon lord and a cultivator peacefully sitting at a stall in Bi Luo Huang Quan to share a meal, which explained the current congestion on the streets.
Even if she had revealed herself, Shang Can didn’t want to let the situation spiral out of control. She hastily put the jade mask back on, wearing a stern expression as she left the street with Wan Shao and Yun Duan, heading toward Wan Shao’s demon lord hall.
“Here’s the thing,” Wan Shao preemptively explained before Shang Can could ask. “You see, Yun Zhong Jun helped us out a lot, so it’s really too impolite to just let her leave without at least treating her to a meal, right?”
“…”
This sounded rather self-righteous. Did this flower demon even know what she was doing?
Shang Can felt a headache coming on, and given the circumstances, she found it absurd to mention to Wan Shao that “allowing cultivators into Bi Luo Huang Quan is strictly forbidden.” She had to hold her tongue and muttered, “You should have at least warned me first.”
“Hmm? Did you consult me when you set up the barrier at the entrance?”
Fine, fine, can’t we just let bygones be bygones?
Shang Can didn’t want to dig up old grievances. Looking at Wan Shao’s rather triumphant expression, she simply turned her gaze to the quietly standing Yun Duan.
“…This place is filled with demons, and they aren’t used to seeing cultivators, so they may have been a bit rude earlier—”
“Stop talking nonsense. Did they gather around just because they had never seen a cultivator?” Wan Shao interjected with a chuckle, asserting, “Of course, it’s because they think Yun Zhong Jun is beautiful.”
Shang Can didn’t know how to respond to Wan Shao’s entirely irrelevant remark, but Yun Duan nodded seriously and said, “Indeed, I heard someone—some demon saying that I am as beautiful as Can.”
It was an unintentional repetition, but the mention of “Can” sent a chill down Shang Can’s spine, making her back stiffen.
…She really didn’t want to continue discussing this topic. Whether it was complimenting Yun Duan’s beauty in a social manner or being drawn into a conversation about her own looks, Shang Can was not keen on either.
“It’s getting late,” she said, trying to shift the topic firmly. She looked at Yun Duan and added, “If you don’t head back soon, Qing Yu will start to worry.”
“It’s still only the fifth hour; don’t think just because Bi Luo Huang Quan is dark all day that you can fool Yun Zhong Jun.”
“We’re setting off tomorrow, so it would be better for Yun Zhong Jun to return and pack early.”
Choosing to ignore Wan Shao’s blatant disregard for her feelings, Shang Can remained polite and persuasive toward Yun Duan.
Then she remembered something and added, “Although the demons in Bi Luo Huang Quan are generally gentle, not all demons in the cultivation world are like that. I can escort Yun Zhong Jun partway to prevent any unruly demons… or humans, from blocking her path.”
“If you’re so concerned about those few cultivators who might attack Yun Zhong Jun, why not just ask her directly?”
…Talkative. Wan Shao was indeed very talkative today.
Shang Can shot her a silent glare, but instead of quieting down, Wan Shao dramatically put on a show as if she had a brilliant idea.
“Indeed, as Shang—cough, Can said,”
She hastily corrected herself, pretending not to notice Shang Can’s piercing glare as she continued, “Yun Zhong Jun has a unique constitution, and it’s indeed dangerous to travel alone. If something happens and people learn that Yun Zhong Jun was injured on her way out from my Bi Luo Huang Quan, I’d be unjustly blamed.”
Saying this, Wan Shao gracefully stepped in front of Yun Duan and smiled sweetly.
“Since Yun Zhong Jun is going to set off with Can tomorrow, why not… stay the night in Bi Luo Huang Quan today?”
Absurd. Outrageously absurd.
Shang Can walked the streets with a cold face, wanting to pry open Wan Shao’s head to see what she was thinking.
“Staying the night in Bi Luo Huang Quan” —she could say something like that! Saying that it was dangerous for Yun Duan to leave alone; did she think that staying in a Bi Luo Huang Quan filled with demons was safe?
Not to mention, let alone the assumption that Yun Duan would be injured after leaving Bi Luo Huang Quan, just the fact that people would know Yun Duan had been there was already a huge deal!
Words can be frightening. Even if it was just a simple overnight stay, who knows how it might be twisted in the mouths of those with ulterior motives.
Yun Duan had protected her in front of so many cultivators today. Even if that could barely be explained away with “Yun Zhong Jun was calm and rational, considering the bigger picture,” Shang Can still felt the danger.
She certainly didn’t want Yun Duan entangled in any rumors about “colluding with demons.”
But she couldn’t throw a tantrum because—
“Make way, make way! Clear a path for Can and Yun Zhong Jun!”
The voice of the night crow youth echoed through the street, and the demons surrounding them quickly made way, creating an almost welcoming atmosphere.
“It seems that ‘humans’ are indeed rarely seen here.”
Yun Duan didn’t show any signs of discomfort or distaste, merely offering her perspective on the situation, sounding very much like a researcher conducting fieldwork.
Shang Can, losing her anger, nodded and replied, “If you’re not adapting, then I can escort Yun Zhong Jun back to Qing Yu.”
“No need to trouble yourself.”
After her refusal, the conversation came to a halt, and she showed no intention of returning to Qing Yu alone. Yun Duan simply followed closely behind Shang Can, obedient as could be.
—Because the person involved herself didn’t know why she had agreed, how could she possibly be angry?
Thus, the matter of Yun Duan staying over was decided on the spot in the demon lord hall, and Shang Can found herself at a loss for what identity or reason to object. She was quickly assigned the task of letting Yun Duan stay by Wan Shao, who seized the moment while Shang Can was caught in confusion.
…This flower demon would definitely be reprimanded by the elders of Bi Luo Huang Quan later, without a doubt. If not, she would go and tell the elders herself.
“Or,” Shang Can was mulling over this when Yun Duan’s voice suddenly sounded, “is it… inconvenient for me to stay at Can’s place?”
If you’re talking about convenience, she indeed was not very convenient in many ways.
But considering the entirety of Bi Luo Huang Quan, Shang Can felt that her own residence was the safest place for Yun Duan to stay—thinking this, she looked at Yun Duan and sensed that there was something more in her question than just the literal meaning.
As if sensing her confusion, Yun Duan averted her gaze and added, “If Can already has a partner, then it would be inappropriate to disturb you.”
“…A partner?”
Did she really look like someone who had a lover?
Shang Can, who had never been in a relationship, was taken aback for a moment before laughing lightly, “I don’t have anyone like that.”
“Oh, I see.” Yun Duan nodded indifferently, her expression unchanged. “Then I will be imposing on you, Can.”
“…”
Oh no, should I have lied and said I had a partner?
Shang Can felt a twinge of regret but realized it was too late to change her response. She led Yun Duan back to her residence and showed her to the guest room.
“The place isn’t big, but I clean it from time to time, so it should be fairly tidy. You can use anything in here.”
After a moment of hesitation, she asked directly, “Are you really going to stay here tonight?”
Yun Duan turned her head, her ink-black eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight, calm and composed.
“If Can doesn’t want me to stay, you can just say so.”
At this point, Shang Can didn’t know what to say; after all, her concerns were not something she wanted to reveal.
She pursed her lips and, in an act of surrender, pulled a chair and sat down, adopting a serious demeanor.
“You can stay, but you must answer a few questions honestly first.”
Yun Duan nodded and sat down at the table, saying lightly, “Go ahead.”
“Every cultivator sees demons as a grave threat. Why did you agree to stay in Bi Luo Huang Quan today?”
“I’m not staying in Bi Luo Huang Quan; I’m staying at Can’s residence,” Yun Duan replied seriously, “Since I’ve taken on the responsibility of ensuring that Can doesn’t falsify her testimony, I should start right now.”
“…You took that responsibility on yourself; there’s no need to be so serious. Speaking of which, why did you speak up for us in front of those cultivators?”
“I’m merely stating the facts; I’m not intentionally speaking for Bi Luo Huang Quan.”
Yun Duan raised an eyebrow, her gaze seemingly capable of seeing through one’s heart.
“If we were to put it that way, I should say I’m… speaking for Can.”
“…”
Shang Can felt stuck by her words, struggling to respond. After a while, she tentatively asked, “Is it because I remind you of a past acquaintance of yours that you’re doing this?”
Yun Duan tilted her head slightly, pondering for a moment. Her eyes seemed to cloud over as if veiled in mist, and she softly replied, “Perhaps.”
Entangling herself in this line of questioning was pointless. Shang Can decided to drop it, standing to leave, but halfway up, she remembered something and sat back down.
“One more question.”
Her expression turned serious, her gaze darkening, her previously clear voice now cold and firm.
“…What happened to those who attacked you before? Where are they now?”
Logically, she knew she shouldn’t be asking this—what did it have to do with her? Yet, the thought had been weighing on her mind, and she couldn’t hold back from voicing it.
She was overly concerned.
Even though she could imagine that once her immaculate celestial body was exposed, such petty acts would certainly follow, hearing Yun Duan mention it made her anger surge beyond her expectations.
“…”
Yun Duan didn’t answer immediately, gazing at her without blinking, making Shang Can feel uneasy.
Just as she began to wonder if this question was too strange, Yun Duan suddenly stood up and walked straight to her. Shang Can instinctively leaned back but was blocked by the chair, unable to create much distance.
“If Can wants to know, you can.”
Surprisingly, Yun Duan didn’t immediately refuse to answer her question. Instead, she adopted an ambiguous stance and slowly raised her hand, her delicate fingers lightly touching the white jade mask on Shang Can’s face.
“Take it off, and I’ll tell you.”
“—”
Shang Can jumped up abruptly, the chair falling backward as she moved, but she couldn’t afford to care.
“…It’s just a face; what’s there to see?”
She hastily tossed out that line before leaving the guest room.
How to say it, her retreating figure did seem a bit like a flight.
In the guest room, only Yun Duan remained. She didn’t chase after her but quietly watched as Shang Can hurriedly exited the courtyard. Then she picked up the chair that had been knocked over and sat down.
“It’s just a face,” Yun Duan murmured softly, lowering her gaze, speaking to herself, “Why is she so afraid for me to see it?”
Shang Can fled, not even daring to return home.
The hour was still early, and she had to force herself to wander around to pass the time. When she saw Wan Shao being scolded severely by the elders for bringing Yun Duan in, she felt a slight relief, but it quickly faded into gloom.
…Even though Yun Duan had already seen her face and didn’t remember anything, it definitely wasn’t wise to casually flaunt her true self in front of Yun Duan.
After all, in the dramas she watched before crossing over, those who had amnesia would recall something familiar after seeing a familiar face. Even if it didn’t happen immediately, it could in the future—this was a serious risk.
Ah, this was all Wan Shao’s fault. If that guy hadn’t taken the liberty of bringing Yun Duan into Bi Luo Huang Quan without telling her, she wouldn’t have been so careless as to show herself without a mask!
Shang Can quickly realized she was misplacing her anger and sighed in frustration.
…After all this, she hadn’t even had a decent lunch, and now she was feeling a bit hungry.
Her stomach didn’t care whether she was worried; it would just growl if it was hungry. Choosing a restaurant, just as she was about to sit down, she suddenly remembered that Yun Duan hadn’t had dinner yet.
She had just arrived, so leaving her alone at home felt a bit excessive.
Shang Can furrowed her brow and walked to the counter, speaking to the attendant.
“I’d like to order some takeout.”
The attendant, who seemed to be a monkey demon, moved quickly, soon bringing out the dishes Shang Can ordered, packaged and ready, smiling mischievously.
“Why, my lady Can, why did you order two servings today?”
“…Don’t ask what you already know.”
Having brought Yun Duan back home in full view of everyone, this would probably have spread throughout Bi Luo Huang Quan by now—when it came to gossip, demons and humans were no different.
Shang Can muttered a response, no longer lingering, and turned to head home.
Hmm… If they ended up eating together, she’d have to take off her mask… What to do about that…
Her heart began to worry again, fretting about the days ahead with Yun Duan, fearing she’d have to constantly deal with this issue. Yet, her feet were quite honest, quickening their pace as she soon arrived back at her residence.
Though it was still a bit early for dinner, in Bi Luo Huang Quan, it was always dark, so it didn’t seem out of place to eat now.
She had only herself to blame for being emotionally unstable earlier. Shang Can rarely felt regret, but she had run off just because her sore spot was poked; it was really childlike behavior. Logically, she should have been more considerate toward Yun Duan.
Shang Can felt a deep conflict within her, shaking her head in frustration as she arrived at Yun Duan’s door and knocked.
“I brought back some food; do you want to eat?”
There was no response from inside, but the door opened quickly.
Yun Duan appeared, her outer robe inexplicably removed, revealing her white inner clothing, and the worry that usually hung at her waist was nowhere to be seen.
“…Are you going to sleep now, Yun Zhong Jun?”
Shang Can widened her eyes in surprise. Yun Duan looked at her deeply for a moment before stepping aside to let her in.
“There’s nothing to do anyway.” Without hesitation, Yun Duan walked to the table, pouring two cups of tea. “I thought Can wouldn’t be back.”
“…” Although Shang Can knew Yun Duan didn’t mean it that way, she still felt like an unfaithful lover being accused. Her aura inexplicably diminished, and she walked over to the table, placing the takeout down awkwardly, mumbling, “I just… went to buy something to eat.”
Seeing that Yun Duan showed no reaction, Shang Can paused for a moment and added, “Irregular eating can lead to stomach issues—I’ve heard others say that.”
How very convenient of her to learn that just in time.
Yun Duan nodded calmly, accepted the food handed to her by Shang Can, and began eating quietly after thanking her. Shang Can fidgeted for a while and finally steeled herself to take off her mask, daring not to raise her head as she began to eat.
… Sigh, there was no way she could say she wanted to return to her room and eat alone in such a guilty situation.
Fortunately, after a while, Yun Duan still showed no reaction, which made Shang Can feel a bit more at ease. The two of them shared a silent meal together.
Although she couldn’t really taste anything due to her excessive tension, at least they finished the meal safely. Shang Can let out a silent sigh of relief, tidied up the remnants on the table, and, feeling the need to amend her previous behavior, turned to Yun Duan and said, “It’s still a bit early to sleep. Is there anything you’d like to do or anything I can help you with?”
Yun Duan thought for a moment and unexpectedly nodded, “Yes.”
“I’d like to bathe.”
Oh right, Yun Duan was fastidious about cleanliness; she had been bathing daily since she was little.
In the bathroom, as Shang Can dutifully summoned flames to heat the water, she couldn’t help but marvel at how long Yun Duan had maintained this habit.
Yun Duan’s long black hair reached her waist, and it would take a long time to dry after washing. Back when they were at Qing Yu, it had been Shang Can’s responsibility to dry Yun Duan’s hair every night. She wondered who took care of it now that she was gone.
Lost in thought, Shang Can almost forgot that she was still heating water. She quickly snapped back to reality, extinguishing the flames and turning to Yun Duan.
“Please, Yun Zhong Jun.”
Yun Duan had prepared her own change of clothes. Shang Can secretly commended her for being more cautious this time, unlike before when she had been injured without a change of clothes.
Yun Duan lightly acknowledged her, walked to the edge of the bathtub, and, without hesitation, began to undress. Shang Can gasped in shock and, acting as a true gentleman, turned her head away hastily, saying, “Call me if you need anything,” as she hurried to leave.
“I have something.”
… She hadn’t even taken a step when she was called back. Shang Can’s face scrunched up, hesitatingly turning her head back.
At that moment, Yun Duan had removed even her inner garment and was only wearing a light nightgown that she typically wore to bed. She had rolled up her sleeves and was reaching her delicate fingers into the water, lightly touching the surface. Turning to look at Shang Can, her exquisite features appeared exceptionally translucent amidst the rising steam.
“It’s too hot.”
“Oh, oh.”
It must have been that she had heated it too much while she was lost in thought. Shang Can quickly added some cool water and personally checked the temperature, finding it just right this time.
Throughout the process, Yun Duan simply stood beside her in that thin gauzy dress, silent as ever.
The fabric was so sheer that if Shang Can fixed her gaze even slightly, she felt she could see the pale skin underneath. It made her feel short of breath, and she dared not look closely.
… How to say it, they had been sisters and had a good relationship for those years; it was impossible to say they had never seen each other. However, Yun Duan had always been reserved, and such opportunities had been few and far between.
Now, whether it was that Yun Duan hadn’t noticed or something else… in front of an unfamiliar demon cultivator, this was truly too unguarded.
Shang Can felt a bit embarrassed to stare too much, her eyes wandering. Inadvertently, she glanced at Yun Duan’s waist and abdomen, and her gaze suddenly froze.
Though she couldn’t see it clearly through the gauze, it was apparent that there was a darker patch on Yun Duan’s waist, which looked quite regular in shape, resembling a mark. But it was too vague to discern what pattern it was.
Curious, was it a birthmark?
Shang Can began to wonder, trying to recall whether she had ever seen such a mark on Yun Duan’s waist before, but no matter how she thought, she had no memory of it.
“It’s ready. Thank you.”
Before she could sort it out, Yun Duan had already adjusted the water temperature to her satisfaction and thanked her. With no reason to linger, Shang Can nodded and left the bathroom.
She couldn’t help but ponder it even after returning to her room.
A birthmark… or a scar?
Just thinking about the latter possibility made Shang Can’s heart tighten, and she couldn’t help but frown.
Speaking of which, Yun Duan had also been injured at the waist during the previous battle at the Tian Wai Tian arena; the person responsible had yet to be found—though that wound hadn’t been serious and the location was different from what she had seen, it shouldn’t have left a scar… should it not?
With uncertainty lingering in her mind, Shang Can frowned, secretly wondering if her healing spells had been that ineffective.
Forget it; there was no way to confirm it, and the more she thought about it, the more anxiety it would only bring.
Feeling a bit troubled, she lazily flopped onto the bed and sighed silently.
If she were still Yun Duan’s senior sister, she would have directly asked about what she had just caught a glimpse of.
But unfortunately, now…
Shang Can forced herself not to think any further, grabbing a pillow from the side and burying her face deep into it.
When she opened her eyes again, everything was pitch black.
It seemed she had fallen asleep without realizing it. The candles in the room had burned out, and as Shang Can propped herself up, she felt sore all over from sleeping in an awkward position.
Perhaps it was because too much had happened today that she had unconsciously gotten tired. Shang Can sighed at herself, feeling like an old person, lightly waved her hand to summon a fireball for illumination, and got up to search for new candles.
She had no idea what time it was. In Bi Luo Huang Quan, there was only night; it was impossible to determine the time by the color of the sky. The demons seemed to have an accurate biological clock, while Shang Can lacked such convenient features and could only guess.
At this moment, the outside was quiet, suggesting it was still deep night. However, now that she was wide awake and her body was sore, it seemed she had still managed to sleep for several hours.
As Shang Can pondered whether she should get up to practice since she wasn’t sleepy anymore, she suddenly heard faint sounds coming from outside the door, as if someone was slowly approaching.
“Who?”
She immediately tensed up, asking in a deep voice, but there was no reply from outside.
No response.
The person showed no intention of hiding their presence at all, simply dragging their feet at a leisurely pace toward the door.
The door gently shook, and Shang Can suddenly remembered that she hadn’t locked it before she fell asleep, just as she watched the door being pushed open.
In a snow-white nightgown, with long black hair lazily cascading over her shoulders, and without a trace of makeup yet still exceptionally beautiful, it was Yun Duan.
The alertness that had just sparked within Shang Can immediately fizzled out, and she couldn’t help but chuckle, “Yun Zhong Jun, don’t scare me! Why didn’t you respond earlier?”
“……”
Yun Duan remained silent, quietly stepping inside. For some reason, her movements appeared a bit sluggish.
“……Yun Zhong Jun?”
Her unusual behavior was too apparent, causing Shang Can’s heart to rise again. She unconsciously lowered her voice, but Yun Duan showed no response, slowly walking toward her as if she had found a target.
Outside, the night was as dark as ink, with only the fireball summoned by Shang Can floating erratically in the room, allowing her to see Yun Duan’s appearance clearly as she approached.
The delicate side of her face was illuminated by the soft glow of the fire, her expression as tranquil as ever, though her eyelids drooped slightly, and the clear, cold gaze that used to be so piercing now seemed somewhat lost, obscured by her lowered lashes.
Shang Can suddenly realized what was happening and instinctively inhaled sharply.
She stopped calling out to Yun Duan, her handsome face revealing a hint of complexity, yet she still permitted Yun Duan to approach.
It wasn’t until Yun Duan stood right in front of her that Shang Can’s beautiful eyes trembled lightly. Finally, she reached out and grasped Yun Duan’s wrist, gently guiding her toward herself.
Yun Duan complied obediently, leaning into Shang Can’s pull without any resistance, settling comfortably into her embrace.
The familiar cold fragrance enveloped her, and Shang Can felt slightly dazed. Her hand instinctively found its way to a familiar spot, gently caressing Yun Duan’s smooth hair while soothingly patting her back.
Sleepwalking.
Or, to put it in terms from her original world… it was somnambulism.
Yun Duan’s condition should have healed before Shang Can left Qing Yu; after all, she hadn’t had any episodes during those years.
Shang Can felt a mix of surprise and uncertainty in her heart, subconsciously tightening her hold around Yun Duan’s waist.
… Why had Yun Duan started sleepwalking again?
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