Chapter 12 A veil separates a breathtaking scene, even more stunning than the shimmering beauty of spring.

The air was slightly warm, mixed with a lingering dampness. A cool incense burned in the small room, its fragrance carrying the subtle scent of bath beans. Separated by a thin gauze curtain, the scene was more breathtaking than the shimmering spring sunshine.

Sweating profusely, they were both lost in each other's passion, each holding their heart out, unaware of the reasons for their lingering feelings, only knowing the extreme infatuation. They drew closer, so close that their skin touched, so close that the tips of the fine hairs on their faces brushed against each other, exchanging the wetness of saliva on their soft lips, their hot breaths colliding, merging, and intertwining, the heat of the water igniting the fire in their hearts, burning their cheeks crimson, and then begging for mercy.

Listen to Master begging for mercy.

None of this happened. The heat of the demonic energy, combined with the pain of her internal injuries, gave rise to Ling Shu's hallucinations. The kind of lingering intimacy she imagined flashed before her eyes again and again.

She felt a heat under her nose, and when she touched it in confusion, her hand was covered in a glaring red stain. Ling Shu felt as if she had been hit with a hammer and suddenly woke up.

Her master was taking a bath when she accidentally barged in. The sudden embarrassment made her want to disappear into the ground. She wiped the blood from her nose with her sleeve, turned around and ran away, but she tripped over her own feet and stumbled a few steps, practically fleeing in panic.

After leaving Shuiyue Hot Spring, Ling Shu ran towards the nearby artificial hill, far away from the place that had captivated her. She went to a secluded corner, huddled under the cave entrance created by the overgrown artificial hill, like a dog knowing it was about to die, licking its wounds alone in its final moments.

The cold winter wind blew in from all directions of the artificial hill, far away from the main hall. For the first time in Qingxi Hall, she felt a coldness other than that person. In the pitch-black night, in the cold corner, the wind howled like ghosts. Her stomach ached slightly, and cold sweat broke out on her head. The high fever made her delirious. She had stopped the nosebleed, but there was a red stain on her sleeve, which looked like a dirty black stain in the darkness.

She used her not-so-strong magic to heal herself. For the first time since her birth, she felt like she was about to die. She wasn't afraid of death, but she was afraid that the bright moon in her heart would shed tears for her. But would someone who cultivated the path of ruthlessness shed tears for the death of a small life? Perhaps her death would earn her a single glance.

A heartless traveler beyond the reach of the world, I feel cold when I'm near you, but my longing for you burns brightest when you're far away.

Suddenly, as if scorched by the blazing sun, the moon's reflection became increasingly indistinct, and a deep drowsiness washed over me.

Ling Shu pinched her thigh to wake herself up, gritted her teeth and healed herself. She criticized herself for not being able to use her thousand-year-old demon power freely, and persevered with a strong will until her meager magic power was exhausted. Then she fell into a deep sleep with her last thoughts.

Why did Wang Lifu keep this dead pig?!

And I want your help.

While severely injured and unconscious, his five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch seemed to sink into an ancient chaos. He would hear the howling of wolves and the howling of the wind for a moment, and then smell the fresh scent of grass. Everything in front of him was black, and his sense of taste was almost gone. Only his hearing and touch remained.

She heard the rustling of her footsteps in the thick weeds, felt something soft on her skin, and felt a pair of soft hands steadily supporting her back and the back of her knees. Then her body lifted off the cold ground, and her arms rested on something soft.

The cool embrace, pressed against her hot skin, was like a cure for her ailment.

The rustling footsteps turned into the extremely faint clattering of footsteps on the blue bricks. She was carried away, the person's steps steady, carrying her from the cold place to the warmth, and finally laying her down on the soft couch.

The familiar, cool magic was being continuously channeled into her body, suppressing her burning demonic energy. The pain in her abdomen gradually subsided, and half an hour later, a delicate, damp cloth was wiped across her forehead, cheeks, and neck.

Then he started to untie her clothes...?!

She had regained consciousness, but she couldn't open her eyes. The less she could see, the more sensitive her body became. She could clearly feel the coldness emanating from Zhuang Jinfu as his clothes were loosened and drifted onto her.

She was very patient, and when she pulled off the belt, she was afraid of accidentally choking her waist, so she moved very carefully and slowly.

Zhuang Jinfu pulled off her sash!

My dear master, you heartless mortal, what are you doing with your noble hands? Untying your disciple's clothes?

Hehe, continue...

Those warm, cool hands peeled away her clothes layer by layer from the front, stopping at her inner garment. His warm breath swept over her, and his cool fragrance enveloped her face.

Is she going to kiss me?

The expected lips did not fall; instead, a hand wrapped around her shoulder and helped her up from the couch. With the other hand, she removed her clothes. A chill instantly swept over her, so sudden that goosebumps rose on Ling Shu's skin.

What...what are you doing, Master?!

Soon, another garment made of a soft, skin-friendly fabric was draped over her back, her gloves were tucked into the sleeves, and after some adjustments, a belt was fastened around her waist.

Oh, so you were just changing her clothes. I thought...

Ling Shu felt embarrassed, but she still tried to open her eyes. She couldn't wake up, and the coolness around her gradually faded away.

Zhuang Jinfu gently placed her on the couch, carefully covered her with a quilt, and then turned and left.

Before she could take a single step, her steps faltered as a force tugged at her sleeve. Turning around, she saw a pair of large, watery eyes, their gaze as clear and pure as glass, reflecting light without any impurity, yet filled with an unease born of uncertainty and fear.

After a long while, Ling Shu didn't speak, but just stared at her with that gaze.

Touched by the pitiful look in her eyes, Zhuang Jinfu, a fairy, asked, "Why didn't you come to your master when you were injured?"

Ling Shu moved her throat, and after confirming that she could still speak, she said the first word: "I... I'm afraid you'll find me troublesome and won't want me anymore."

Zhuang Jinfu stepped forward, sat on the edge of her bed, tucked the blanket around her, and said, "Master won't find me troublesome. Taking you in was my own choice, and I will never abandon you, no matter what."

Ling Shu hadn't let go of the hem of her clothes, nor had he taken his eyes off her, and said softly, "You mean what you say."

"Yes, I keep my word." Zhuang Jinfu softened his tone and asked with concern, "Who bullied you?"

Ling Shu shook her head, as docile as a rabbit, and said, "No one bullied me. It was that bastard Wang Lifu's pig that went mad and tried to kill my fellow disciples. I went to subdue the stupid pig, but I accidentally got stepped on by it. I might have broken two ribs... It's okay! I'm not dead!"

Zhuang Jinfu said gently, "It's alright. I've already taken care of it for you, and your internal injuries have also been healed. You'll need to rest quietly in the palace for the next two weeks."

Ling Shu said angrily, "It's all that idiot Wang Lifu's fault! Why did he have to go and smell the lotus pollen!"

Zhuang Jinfu paused, then said, "There are no lotus flowers in the Demon Transformation Valley."

Upon hearing this, Ling Shu jumped up, slapping the covers on her face: "Which villain is trying to frame me!" She immediately thought of the three cultivators. They had clearly provoked her, dragging her to the Demon Transformation Valley for no reason. Perhaps they were the ones who caused that stupid pig's madness!

Seeing her anger, Zhuang Jinfu gently patted her shoulder to comfort her: "I will investigate this matter for you. Just focus on getting better. I will arrange leave for you. It's getting late, you should rest early." After saying that, he got up.

I still couldn't leave this time.

Ling Shu hadn't let go of the hem of her clothes.

"What's wrong?" Zhuang Jinfu seemed oblivious to Ling Shu's emotions. "Is there anything else?"

Ling Shu glanced at the doorway, then looked at Zhuang Jinfu with the same pitiful gaze. Her lips moved, but she didn't speak, as if she was hesitating about something.

"Um?"

"Could you... stay with me?"

"good."

Zhuang Jinfu sat down again, glanced at the hand that was holding her clothes, and said, "I promised to stay with you, and I will stay with you." Ling Shu then slowly let go of her hand.

"Go to sleep."

Ling Shu did not close her eyes.

"Do you want me to sing a lullaby?"

Ling Shu was annoyed and said bluntly, "I'm not a child!" Zhuang Jinfu smiled faintly. Ling Shu liked her when she smiled. Only when she smiled could she feel a little closer to her.

Taking advantage of her momentary softening, Ling Shu wanted to push her luck, so she asked, "Master, are you going to sit here the whole time?"

Zhuang Jinfu said she would leave after she fell asleep. Ling Shu held her hand and said pitifully, "Will you sleep with me?"

Zhuang Jinfu was unsure how to react and was about to refuse when he heard Ling Shu say sadly, "I miss my mother."

"All right."

Ling Shu happily lifted the covers and moved over to the other side. However, there was only one pillow, so Zhuang Jinfu lay down and shared the pillow with her. After covering herself with the covers, Ling Shu crawled under them, keeping her head down and not coming out for a long time.

Zhuang Jinfu was puzzled: "Disciple, sleeping with your head down isn't good for your breathing." Ling Shu didn't respond or move. Zhuang Jinfu thought her injury had flared up again, so she hurriedly turned to the side and lifted the blanket. Suddenly, Ling Shu pounced over, squeezed into her arms, and looked up, muttering, "Master, can you hold me while I sleep?"

Zhuang Jinfu's eyes flickered with panic for a moment, and the hand clutching the corner of the blanket froze in mid-air. Ling Shu said, "Master, it's cold." Only then did Zhuang Jinfu realize that he had been lost in thought. He quickly put the blanket down and tucked it in. As he withdrew his hand, Ling Shu said again, "Master, you're the only one left by my side."

Zhuang Jinfu raised his hand and then lowered it, pulling her close through the blanket.

Zhuang Jinfu's hand didn't land firmly, but rather rested loosely on the blanket. His indifferent eyes, which seemed to see everything indifferently, were fixed on Ling Shu's thin shoulder. After a sudden silence, he said, "Getting closer to me will only make things colder. It's better for you to stay away from me."

"I need your coldness."

Upon hearing these words, the withered tree in her heart was suddenly watered with spring water by Ling Shu, nourishing its decaying roots. People respected her nobility and feared her coldness, sincerely protecting her while also taking from her. The altar built of expectations enshrined the one true immortal. The endless murmurs under the incense ash were all as heavy as Mount Tai. And what about you?

How should I view you?

Ling Shu rested her head against her chest, glancing sideways at the hand resting on her body. Her heart pounded with barely concealed excitement. Ling Shu could only lower her head, hiding her blushing face, and inhaling the cool fragrance emanating from her body. She controlled her hand, which might wander according to her heart's desires, and leaned against her.

"Go to sleep." Zhuang Jinfu's clear voice came from above, his tone as calm and even as ever, like a straight line.

"Uh-huh."

After a long, long time, Ling Shu finally dared to look up at the face that had long existed in her mind. She moved her body, but Zhuang Jin Fu did not move or change his posture. He was still loosely embracing her through the blanket.

"Master?" Ling Shu called softly, but received no response.

Zhuang Jinfu's breathing was steady, her eyelashes were long and thick like fans, and her dark willow-leaf eyebrows were slender and curved. Although her eyelids were closed, one could still glimpse the extraordinary, cool, and distant look in her eyes from between her brows. Below her high, straight nose was a pair of lips that were red even without lipstick. Ling Shu stared at her, and as if possessed, she reached out and gently touched them with her finger. Beneath her fingertip was a temperature as cool as her.

Ling Shu tilted her head back, brought her lips close, took a few breaths, and finally moved her head down to the collar of her neck.

In an instant, her face turned as red as if it were dripping blood. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Ling Shu quickly buried her head in the blanket, cupping her burning face in her hands. The pounding of her heart was like the loud pounding of a door.

Her ear was close to Zhuang Jinfu's heart, and her heartbeat contrasted sharply with Zhuang Jinfu's, the latter perfectly embodying the meaning of calm and composure.

It took Ling Shu a long time to calm her racing heart. Outside, all was quiet, not even the sound of falling snow. The pillow was filled with Zhuang Jin Fu's cool fragrance. If you sniffed closely, you could smell her faint body scent, a fragrance different from the cool scent, mixed in with the cool scent, like the little warmth that Zhuang Jin Fu left for Ling Shu amidst her indifference to the world.

Embraced by this fragrance, Ling Shu gradually drifted off to sleep and slowly fell into a dream.

The owner of the collar lay motionless beside the pillow, her delicate eyebrows framed by fluttering eyelashes. She slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of clear and bright eyes.