Chapter 61 A hazy sky, rain dampening emotions

Yunzhou, late afternoon, in Wenchuan's room.

It's really cold outside today. The wind is howling and there seems to be raindrops hitting the window. Although there are magical artifacts inside the Cloud Boat that can block out the sounds from outside, wind, frost, rain and snow are the sounds of heaven and earth, and the Cloud Boat Inn will not block them out.

Outside, the wind and rain raged incessantly, but inside, it was warm, quiet, and peaceful.

Qingyu quietly leaned against the bed reading a book, while Wenchuan sat at a table not far away, cutting fabric.

Suddenly, the wind howled, and the drizzling rain instantly intensified, pouring down with a fierce wind, drawing attention to the ground.

Qingyu looked out the window for a while. The rain was pounding against the window, and the whole sky was gray, making one feel the chill of winter.

She snapped out of her reverie, and finally stretched wearily; her head was aching from reading for so long.

Wen Chuan watched her laugh from a short distance away. Qing Yu put the book on the quilt and asked in a softer voice, "What are you laughing at?"

Upon hearing this, the boy put down the cloth, gently walked over and sat down beside her. "What are you looking at? You've been looking at it all afternoon."

"Chronicles of the Nine Provinces,"

Qingyu moved closer to him. "I borrowed it from Brother Tianshu. He said it's the most worthwhile book to read in Kyushu... I didn't know about many of the things about the human race that you guys mentioned before. I had no choice but to learn them now."

Wen Chuan took her hand and said, "What's the big deal? Qishan is in the west, and you've traveled from south to north, traversing the nine provinces. The scenery along the way is even more important."

"You're just spouting nonsense to fool me," Qingyu said, looking at Wen Chuan with a smile playing on her lips.

"I am a demon, that's true, but I think being a mortal is interesting too. When I enter the cycle of reincarnation, I'll plead with Lord Taishan to let me be a mortal in my next life."

Wen Chuan smiled upon hearing this. The boy leaned closer to her, his eyes filled with a gentle smile and a hint of mischief. "How come I remember back in Qingshui, when we were cooking, feeding chickens, and fishing, a certain demon complained every day that mortals were troublesome?"

They were standing very close. Qingyu chuckled, tilted her head, and thought for a moment. "I didn't say that,"

"At that time, I just said that you are hardworking but sometimes lazy... and you even made me wash the dishes, and you wouldn't let me use my spiritual power."

Hearing her mention these old stories, Wen Chuan unconsciously smiled. The young man leaned down slightly and kissed Qing Yu's forehead, his voice carrying a low laugh.

“I’m doing this for your own good. Cultivation isn’t something you can achieve just by sitting in meditation every day. Although I’m not a medical cultivator, I do have some of my own methods.”

“At that time, the spiritual energy in your body was very complex. Doing some ordinary work might be able to help you.”

"Really? Then why didn't you tell me back then?"

Qingyu gently embraced Wenchuan from behind, her chin resting on the boy's right shoulder. Before Wenchuan could react, she tilted her head to look at him intimately, her black hair flowing like a waterfall as she smiled alluringly.

Wen Chuan's body stiffened slightly, his eyelashes trembling as his voice deepened, "There's nothing to say, and besides, didn't you say you wanted to repay me?"

"Yes,"

Qingyu leaned against him and laughed, her voice becoming increasingly soft and sweet. The girl breathed softly on his neck, their warm breaths caressing each other.

"I said I would repay you..."

Wen Chuan looked down at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable, but Qing Yu smiled at him, uttering words softly, her eyes filled with complete innocence and a hint of illusion.

Outside the window, a torrential downpour shrouded the world in darkness. Inside, the lamplight flickered dimly amidst the wind and rain. Lovers whispered sweet nothings to each other, their eyes locked in a tender exchange. The sound of the rain dampened their affection.

A soft, rapid breathing sound arose, the rhythm of their breaths intertwined, and the warm, suppressed beating of their hearts masked the sound of rain outside.

The raindrops seemed unable to fall to the ground, endlessly swirling and swirling in the air...

Foreheads touching, noses brushing against each other, Qingyu opened her eyes, which were still filled with confusion and tears. The girl was a little unsteady on her feet, and she tried to back away as she breathed heavily.

As their eyes met, the boy gently moved his fingers, and the candlelight in the room went out silently. Qingyu was a little confused. As her lips parted slightly, she was pulled forward again, and the back of her head was held by a light but firm force.

Silent, dim, surging.

He deepened the kiss.

...

"Are you in a bad mood? Hmm?"

Wen Chuan kissed the girl's eyebrows and eyes one last time, then leaned down and asked softly.

Qingyu: "There was a bit of that originally..."

Later, after being kissed, I lost all temper and mood.

Wen Chuan gently chuckled, his forehead pressed against the girl's, his voice tender yet coaxing, "Why?"

Qingyu lay there with her eyes closed, not speaking, but Wen Chuan continued to speak.

"Tell me, okay, okay?"

“I want to know,”

I just want to make you feel better...

"Qingyu..."

His voice was too low and soft, carrying an ambiguous and teasing atmosphere in the dim light. Qingyu couldn't help but purse her lips. "You...I...It's too dark. Light the candle."

Upon hearing this, Wen Chuan slightly rose and met her gaze, a deep smile in the young man's eyes.

Qingyu deliberately gave him a cold look, but after a few moments she laughed again. She nudged him, "Go and light the candles, it's too dark."

"Order a few more; it's dark outside, and I can't see anything."

Except for him.

"Sigh," Wen Chuan sighed, taking a deep breath. After a while, the young man slowly got up to light the candle, and Qing Yu watched his back.

As he lit the candle, he asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like me to get you some food?"

Qingyu rolled around on the bed a couple of times, her eyes fixed on the bed curtains. "I'm not hungry, but... I'm a little thirsty. Could you get me a glass of water?"

"……good."

He lowered his eyes and smiled unconsciously, responding gently to her. He then walked to the table and poured a glass of water. Afterward, the young man turned around and saw Qingyu lying on the bed, rolling around under the covers...

Wen Chuan: "..."

He smiled and walked to the bedside, holding a cup in one hand and gently patting the girl he liked with the other, "Don't stay gloomy."

"Shangguan."

A muffled sound came from under the covers, somewhat indistinct and difficult to hear.

Wen Chuan frowned. "What?"

"Shangguan."

Qingyu raised her voice a bit, and Wenchuan immediately moved closer after hearing it. The boy lifted the upper part of the blanket, and Qingyu's head was exposed, her hair was a bit messy.

"...It's the name Shangguan that makes me feel bad."

Wen Chuan looked at her, gently smoothing her hair, but his eyes held a rare seriousness. "Was it... was it the Shangguan family who harmed you before?"

Qingyu avoided his gaze, her eyes vacant, and said weakly, "I don't remember very well..."

The candlelight flickered, the water in the glass swayed slightly, and a shower fell outside. It seemed as if everything had returned to two years ago...

On a dark and cold evening, Hua Fan and Huai Gui had a big fight, and even their favorite tea drinks were knocked over.

He refused to back down or speak, which made the girl's eyes red with anger. She couldn't understand his sudden indifference and sarcasm. She endured it all but still didn't choose to fight back. She just thought about going back to her room to sleep and then "arguing" with him later.

After all, they were friends. She was fourteen years old and an adult, so she wouldn't hold it against him.

With these thoughts in mind, the cold snow blurred her vision, and she vaguely drifted into a dream, yet she seemed to hear the sounds of many people.

They were talking about Wen Gu, Jian Xue, and Shangguan.

"Young master, the patriarch has been searching for you."

"That woman is a demon, you must harden your heart..."

"This is something Miss Shangguan brought for you..."

"Young master, how can the demon race be allowed to desecrate the Path of Ruthlessness? This heavy snowfall is the perfect opportunity for you to prove your Dao..."

It's all too blurry. The conversations between those people are too distant, so distant that Hua Fan doesn't even remember how she got poisoned.

According to the cultivators who were chasing her, it was the Cold Snow Poison, which existed only in Youzhou, the only province in the entire Nine Provinces.

Youzhou was too far away for Hua Fan at that time.

It's too far.

Even if she fell into the sea, she vowed to fight her way back.

...

A loud clap of thunder echoed outside, and a fierce, howling wind seemed to try to blow the windows open. The boy scooped the girl up, holding her as he handed her water. "Don't worry if you can't remember, drink some water first."

"If we meet again in the future, whether we are friends or enemies, we will settle our scores one by one."

His last words were spoken in a low voice, with absolute indifference, but in an instant, when he looked at Qingyu, his expression softened.

Qingyu straightened up, sat cross-legged again, and gently drank water, while Wenchuan watched her quietly.

Qingyu suddenly smiled. A pair of fabric scissors on a table not far away caught her eye. The girl looked puzzled, but couldn't help laughing, "I've been reading in bed since I got here, I haven't seen what you've been doing..."

"What are that cloth and scissors?"

"you……"

Wen Chuan smiled when he saw her smile, "It's too cold outside. Cai Cai is alright in the carriage; she's covered with blankets and quilts."

"It started shivering from the cold as soon as it got out of the carriage, so I thought I'd make it some clothes."

Qingyu found it increasingly unbelievable as she listened, but if it were Wen Chuan, it made some sense...

"You...did you also work as an apprentice in a tailor shop?"

Wen Chuan was amused by the girl's eyes and words. He took the teacup from her hand, took a sip, and then casually placed it on the bedside table. The boy replied leisurely, "No."

Qingyu playfully slapped him, then chased after him, asking, "So how do you know how to sew clothes? Why is that...?"

Qingyu shook his arm, and Wen Chuan let her shake him. He sighed, but his eyes were filled with a casual smile. "When I was little, my father went fishing, and my mother stayed at home with nothing to do, so she did weaving handkerchiefs. Later, she often sewed clothes for us."

“My mother worked so hard sewing clothes under the lamp, and I didn’t like going out to play, so I simply stayed at home and learned needlework from her.”

"Although I'm not very good at needlework, I can manage simple sewing."

"I specifically chose green fabric and plan to buy some cotton wadding in the next couple of days to make clothes for Cai Cai."

In previous years, winters were alright. In Qingshuihai City, they would lay down seaweed when winter came, and when it got even colder, they would put Cai Cai inside the house. But now it's not so good. The north is so cold, and there are snowfields everywhere in Youzhou. He thought about it and decided to make Cai Cai a kind of cotton-padded coat so that it could travel safely to the far north.

As Qingyu watched Wen Chuan speak, the girl's lips parted slightly, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and seriousness.

At that moment, Qingyu seemed to see a very small little boy, who followed his father fishing on the boat during the day, and when he returned at night, he sat on a high stool, learning to thread a needle like his mother by the candlelight...

"Wen Chuan, you're so kind..."

Wen Chuan glanced at her, his smile warm yet tinged with a hint of melancholy. "What's the big deal? After I learned it, my dad was also clamoring to learn it too."

Qingyu leaned on his shoulder. "And then?"

"Then he wasted a lot of fabric, and my mother beat his hands until they were red and raw..."

"Really? Have your hands ever been hit and turned red?"

"……have?"

"How pitiful, let me take a look..."

"..."

"Wen Chuan's hand, oh... does it hurt... sigh, I really feel sorry for you..."

"..."

"Blow it..."

"..."

"...Hey you...Ugh..."

The wind seemed to pause for a moment, then quickly spun again, stirring up the chill of late autumn. Outside, the sky was hazy, but inside the warm, bright room, they whispered intimately, the candlelight flickering, casting a glow on their affection.

-----------------------

Author's note: Suddenly remembered that today is Qixi Festival [cat paw]...

According to the schedule, this chapter should be updated in two days, but what can I do? It's Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day), and our sweet little couple needs to go out for a walk, hehe [heart emoji]

(Although it seems like not many people are watching, it's okay, my female lead still has to be there! [Okay])

So I'm releasing both chapters I had saved up today, and it just so happens to coincide with this sweet one [shy].

Alright, enough said. Qingchuan/Huayue99 [heart emoji]