Pei Ji stood alone in the bathtub.

Under the steaming heat, the boy's pale and thin skin gradually turned a light pink. Uncomfortably, he raised his hand and touched the warm water beside him.

His mother hated dirty things and ordered him to take a bath every day.

Washing requires a lot of water, so she naturally didn't want to waste time heating it up. Therefore, most of the water Pei Ji could get was cold water drawn directly from the river.

Compared to the scars, the cold is nothing.

Pei Ji shivered at first, but gradually got used to it. He was used to cold water, and when he first found himself here, he felt a little restrained and uncomfortable.

No longer was there the torment of freezing cold, now every corner of my body was filled with heat, a warm current sweeping through my limbs and bones, making me feel unreal.

His body became strange.

The bloody wound disappeared, but many dark brown scars appeared inexplicably - no matter what the appearance, it looked unpleasant.

"Has it been a long time since you last touched hot water?"

Chengying's voice rang in his ears. Pei Ji looked up and looked at the black sword placed on the table.

Ningning said that he had lost some of his memories. During those forgotten days, Chengying, the sword spirit, had left his body and transformed into the most authentic form of a long sword.

She did not lie to him. When he grew up, he would really be able to use a sword like Ningning.

"Ah, I haven't seen you like this for a long time. I kind of miss you - no, I miss you very much."

Chengying's appearance changed, but he was still enthusiastic about talking: "Come on, Pei Xiaoji, call Chengying brother!"

Pei Ji and Ning Ning made an agreement last night, and he has been smiling secretly ever since he returned home.

It saw through the boy's thoughts at a glance and couldn't help teasing him. As he was talking happily, Pei Ji put him into the sword case.

If Ningning hadn't let it out later and let it talk to Pei Ji, Chengying would never have seen the little boy so naive and ignorant.

It was in high spirits and was about to continue making some jokes when it suddenly heard Ningning calling from outside the house: "Pei Ji, are you done with your shower? If you stay any longer, the water will get cold."

The dazed boy blinked and tried to turn up the volume so that she could hear: "... Yeah."

*

The pajamas Pei Ji was wearing were bought for him by Ning Ning specially when she went down the mountain.

At that time, his body suddenly shrank, and it was impossible for a child to wear an adult's loose robe. Therefore, before looking for his master, Ningning went down the mountain to buy some necessities suitable for children.

For example, shoes, snacks and various clothes.

This pajamas is made of natural silk and down cotton. It has the effect of containing heat. It feels soft and you can feel the delicate little balls of fluff.

When the skin touches it, it feels warm as if being wrapped in clouds.

Ningning waited outside the house for a long time. When she saw Pei Ji pushing the door open, she lowered her eyes to glance at him. She was so fascinated by his cute appearance that her mind went blank.

Compared with the later teenager, the boy's facial features were not as cold and gorgeous as his, and more characteristics on his face were the ignorance and naivety unique to children.

He was frail, with a thin face, and wrapped in a white, soft pajamas, he looked like a cat with its claws retracted.

Her extremely white skin looked as if it had been washed by snow, and there was a trace of wet water on her long eyelashes. Further down, there were clear black pupils without any impurities, and thin lips that were nervously pursed.

Sensing her gaze, Pei Ji lowered his head awkwardly, a hint of red on his earlobe faintly visible among his scattered black hair.

It’s so cute!

Ningning almost reached out to rub his face, but for fear of scaring the child, she had to barely restrain her right hand.

She couldn't help but want to tease him, so she took a few steps forward to get closer to him, and chuckled, "I've played with you all day today, shouldn't Pei Ji express his gratitude?"

The boy was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly replied, "Thank you...thank you."

He had nothing to give her except this "thank you".

This fact made him a little sad, and his heart ached. Sure enough, not long after, he heard Ning Ning's response: "One thank you is not enough."

A panic-stricken feeling of loss came over him in an instant, but before the emotion could spread, Ningning stretched out her right hand and wiped away a drop of water that remained at the corner of his eye.

She looked into Pei Ji's eyes, and when she smiled, her pupils were like rippling springs: "You should say, 'Thank you, sister'."

How strange.

Everyone he met today rushed to call him "brother or sister".

Chengying couldn't help yelling, "Ningning! You're taking advantage of him! Pei Xiaoji, don't yell, Mom, I won't allow it! No! Allow! It!"

The boy's long eyelashes trembled, and his thin lips, which were dyed light pink by the water vapor, opened slightly.

Even if she really would be taken advantage of...but once the target is her, there seems to be no reason to refuse.

Or rather, Pei Ji didn't mind being taken advantage of by Ning Ning.

"Thanks--"

Ning Ning listened attentively, watching Pei Ji's face flushed with red, and he called her in a very soft and slow voice: "Sister."

Chengying whimpered in extreme anger, while Ningning was in high spirits and touched the child's wet black hair.

ah.

I would rather live a perfect life. I just hope that after Pei Ji recovers his memory, he can pretend that this incident never happened.

Ningning took Pei Ji to see the mountains and snow today, and later accompanied him to take a walk down the mountain on a flying sword. After eating and drinking, it was now late at night, and when he finished washing up, it was time to go to bed.

"Remember not to kick the quilt. If you are afraid of the dark, the candle in the corner won't be blown out."

Ning Ning watched the child get into bed obediently, and reached out to tuck the quilt tightly for him: "Are you scared being here alone?"

She thought Pei Ji would shake his head.

But the boy on the bed looked at her quietly, his eyes looking big and round on his little cheeks. He was silent for a while, seemed a little hesitant, and nodded silently.

There was a hint of hope in his eyes.

Pei Ji had lost his memory. To him, the little girl in front of him was just a strange sister whom he had just met for less than a day. Ningning thought that if she offered to sleep with him, Pei Ji would probably feel uncomfortable.

She knew how to control the situation, and lowered her head and said, "Then you sleep on the bed, and I'll sit at the table and rest, okay?"

Pei was silent for a moment, his eyes darkly responding with a "hmm".

The candlelight in the corner was blocked by the screen, and only a thin and faint light like gauze could be seen. Pei Ji was very well behaved when he slept. He lay quietly on the bed without making any sound.

Today's unexpected events were so huge that Ningning couldn't fall asleep for a while. She lay in front of the table in a daze. Suddenly, without any warning, she sensed an extremely weak demonic aura.

...That's right.

Because of his bloodline, Pei Ji would be disturbed by evil spirits.

The sleepiness that had been brewing for a long time disappeared instantly. Ningning looked up at the bed not far away: "Pei Ji?"

No one answered.

She was anxious and walked forward, only to find that Pei Ji had shrunk into the quilt, curled up into a small ball just like he did in the morning.

In the light of the candle, there was a sinister black aura entangled with the long hair, faintly overflowing from the bedding.

The evil energy surges up, and all the meridians in the body are tortured. Even Pei Ji in his youth had to grit his teeth and try his best to endure, let alone this child who can't even accumulate energy.

Ning Ning reached out to lift the quilt, but found that there was another force holding the quilt -

Pei Ji held the quilt tightly, preventing her from lifting it.

"Pei Ji."

There was no trace of impatience in her tone. She coaxed him gently from a very close distance through a layer of quilt: "Be good, come out."

The voice was like a bewitching voice. The boy, who was tortured by severe pain, was in a trance and almost lifted up the quilt.

But he didn't want Ningning to see him like this.

Everyone hated the demons at the moment and wanted to kill them as soon as possible. Moreover, his appearance was so hideous now that if others saw it, it would only make them more disgusted.

Pei Ji didn't want to scare her, and even more so didn't want to be disliked by her.

The surging demonic energy rushed forward, sweeping through his internal organs, causing knife-like pain wherever it passed. Pei Ji didn't know how to relieve it and could only grit his teeth and endure it.

He clearly... clearly tried very hard not to make any sound, so why did she still notice something was wrong?

The blanket was filled with pain and darkness. The pain intensified and the boy began to tremble uncontrollably.

Suddenly, something quietly reached out from under the quilt beside me.

Without humiliating or beating him like her mother did, Ningning's hand explored clumsily on the bed, from his shoulder down, and finally held Pei Ji's palm.

A breath he had never felt before was slowly transmitted into his body.

She was touching him.

The spiritual energy was gentle and clear, silently brushing away the demonic energy surging in the body. Pei Ji was stunned as he felt the warmth coming from her and forgot to tremble for a moment.

When the pain subsided a little, he heard Ning Ning whisper, "Come out?"

This is a tone that is irresistible.

The beige quilt moved slightly. The boy bit his lower lip secretly, lowered his head and lifted the quilt, exposing his curled up body.

Pei Ji didn't dare to look at him.

But Ningning was getting closer and closer.

Ningning held him in her arms as they passed through the terrifying layers of black fog.

"S-Sorry."

Pei Ji trembled all over, and his voice couldn't stop shaking: "I am..."

He is the descendant of the demon clan.

He must look very ugly now, with bloodshot eyes, black air surrounding him, and blue veins bulging, looking hideous and terrifying.

In the cellar, the evil spirit would appear every now and then. Every time this happened, his mother would become furious. She would watch him in agony and utter merciless sarcasm and curses.

Demons, evildoers, monsters, and many more words that are unbearable to the ears.

Finally, someone was willing to smile at him and hug him carefully.

He didn't want Ningning to be like his mother, who felt disgusted even when she touched him.

The force that was holding him gradually increased.

The candlelight flickered, and I could hear his embarrassed panting and whimpering, as well as Ningning's sigh: "What are you apologizing for? That's not how you use 'sorry'."

"It's just demonic energy, no big deal."

She stroked Pei Ji's back again and again until his trembling became lighter and lighter. "Like sword energy, Taoist energy, and all other messy energy, demon energy itself is neither good nor bad. If there is anyone who should be hated, it should be the people who use it to go astray - even sword energy, once it falls into the hands of the bad guys, it is also a disgusting thing."

How could Ningning not understand what he was thinking.

At that time, Chengying had lost his memory of being an ancient divine sword and was just an ordinary middle-aged man, knowing nothing about demonic energy. When the evil energy was surging, it could not offer any useful suggestions except trying its best to comfort Pei Ji.

Therefore, Pei Ji’s only source of knowledge about demonic energy was his mother.

How could that woman say anything good?

Her heart was filled with bitterness and she spoke more seriously than ever before: "You are not a bad person... I don't hate anything about you."

Pei Ji’s back stiffened.

An endless supply of spiritual energy flows like water, rising from the spine, flowing along the meridians and blood vessels, and gradually flowing through the entire body.

Ningning said to him, "I'm here, nothing will happen to me, don't be afraid."

A torrent of soft warmth swept over him, completely enveloping the boy. Pei Ji was still young at this time, but he had already learned to disguise himself with a cold and hard shell. It should have been indestructible, but now it was easily shattered, revealing his heart huddled in the corner.

Those humble and cowardly wishes that only appeared in dreams suddenly came true. His eyes were burning and his long eyelashes blinked suddenly, sweeping away a drop of water.

Pei Ji had experienced countless beatings and scoldings as well as being haunted by evil spirits, and had long been accustomed to the pain. No matter how difficult it was, he would grit his teeth and endure it, and would not cry out in pain even if he fainted.

Only this time, Pei Ji shed tears.

Tenderness is always more powerful than pain.

When the evil energy receded, Pei Ji was exhausted and had little strength left.

Ningning wiped away the tears from his eyes: "Are you sleepy?"

This time he didn't shake or nod his head.

The weak and pale boy had disheveled breathing and cold sweat on his forehead from the pain. He stared at her with wet eyes, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Ningning's sleeve.

Pei Ji was still shy and didn't say anything, but Ning Ning quickly understood what he meant: "You want me to stay... with you?"

He wanted to nod.

However, before he could react, the thin boy was hugged again, and in the blink of an eye, he was lying on the bed.

Ningning had a light and sweet fragrance after bathing. Pei Ji was used to the bloody smell in the cellar and rarely smelled sweet fragrance.

It's incredible that her body is softer than the quilt.

Pei Ji subconsciously pressed closer to her and heard Ning Ning's soft laugh: "Go to sleep."

She said, "Pei Ji, have a good dream."

The boy closed his eyes and leaned against her.

Pei Ji didn't tell her that all the dreams he had ever had were not as beautiful as today.

*

Ningning was a light sleeper and was suddenly awakened by a slight noise in the middle of the night.

The candlelight went out at some point, and through the moonlight, she saw Pei Ji's face.

She was more familiar with the handsome face of a young man.

He lowered his voice and said apologetically: "Did I wake you up?"

Ningning was hugged by him, and she was drowsy: "When did you wake up?"

Pei Ji touched her head as she had done before: "Not long ago."

Compared to his body, Pei Ji’s memory needs to be restored first.

Ningning fell asleep at that time. Although he closed his eyes and lost his memory, he did not fall asleep.

As a child, he had never been held to sleep by anyone, and with her voice lingering in his ears, every moment was precious. Pei Ji was reluctant to fall asleep.

Then his memory returned, and he felt the spiritual energy flowing in his body. He quietly got out of bed, took off his clothes, and put on his original pajamas.

Everything that happened today remains clear in my mind.

He carefully hid the petal in the cabinet and couldn't help stroking it for a long time, thinking about what his life would be like if he had met her earlier.

But fortunately, he met Ningning when he was a teenager.

As a child, he had only endless suffering and could not give her anything. Pei Ji didn't want to live under someone's protection, he wanted to protect the girl in his heart.

On Moon-Watching Peak, Ningning was only half right.

Even if he has the power to surpass mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, he will always be willing to succumb to her tenderness.

"Ningning."

His voice still had the hoarseness of crying not long ago. Originally, his voice was clear and crisp, but now it had a bit more tenderness like a spoiled child: "I like you so much."

"I knew it a long time ago."

Pei Ji's chest shook slightly when he spoke, and even the slightest tremor could be clearly felt by Ning Ning.

As she became more sleepy, she whispered jokingly, "Why, did you just discover today that you like me so much?"

"no."

Pei Ji lowered his head and moved back a little so that he could see Ningning's face.

In the eternal silence of the night, her eyes seemed to be glowing.

"I love you every day."

He placed his lips on her forehead and moved them down slowly and gently. The winter night was cold and dark, and the warmth from his thin lips passing through her skin made the touch seem particularly real and strong.

The heat finally covered the girl's lips.

Pei Ji used very light force, touching and moving away intentionally, like the lingering drizzle in spring, dripping and making people feel itchy.

There was an unspeakable desire in his tone: "Tonight is different."

The spring rain came suddenly and heavily.

The chaotic breaths intertwined with each other, and it was impossible to tell which side they came from. Pei Ji heard the long breathing in the night, and Ningning in his arms clutched his clothes tightly.

He could hardly contain the surging thoughts.

I want to get close to her, I want to kiss her, I want to tell her how happy I am. There are so many thoughts like these that they are about to overflow from my chest.

After the kiss, Ningning's face was already flushed.

She had gradually gotten used to kissing. Although her heart still beat faster, she was no longer as nervous as before and dared not move. She was secretly adjusting her breathing and wanted to ask him if there was anything different tonight when she suddenly heard Pei Ji breathing slightly and calling out "Ningning".

He liked calling her name very much, two simple repeated syllables, always with a gentle nasal tone when pronounced.

Pei Ji kissed her forehead again and again. Perhaps he felt that the following words were so straightforward that they were almost frivolous, so he used the serious and solemn tone that was unique to sword cultivators: "Tonight... I can't help myself."

He suddenly paused, not knowing what he remembered.

Under the moonlight, a beautiful blush appeared on the boy's cheeks.

Pei Ji curled the corners of his mouth, and let out a low, laughing sound from his throat. His thin lips rubbed against her lips, and he spoke in a hoarse voice.

Like a whisper, or a tease, he solemnly pronounced the two words, with the ending tone rising: "Sister."

This is clearly a small act of revenge, and it is unclear who is taking advantage of whom.

Her ears and blood exploded, and Ningning curled up her toes spinelessly, almost melting from the heat on her face.