Xie Yu, the man who loves to dance on the criminal law the most in the entire cultivation world, was punished mentally for the first time.

Although he was a love-minded man with a halo of intelligence reduction, he could always taste a bit of teasing in the words of Ning Ning and Bai Ye, and after realizing this, he felt more and more uncomfortable, and soon ended this chaotic banquet in a hurry. Ning Ning was in

a good mood after scolding, and looked at her comrade Bai Ye, and the great revolutionary friendship grew like bamboo shoots after rain.

Looking at the people at the table again, Master Yonggui had planned to compose an impromptu piece of music. He was about to sing loudly, but the Demon Lord ran away with a black face. He had nowhere to vent his passion. He was shaking his head in distress and muttering non-stop.

Pei Ji sat obediently aside, silent from beginning to end, and the chopsticks in front of him were almost untouched.

Although this serious little apprentice brother was not much different from usual, Ning Ning could still tell at a glance that he was in a bad mood.

It made sense. Pei Ji's mother, who was tortured to the point of madness, had passed away a long time ago. Now he finally saw his biological father whom he had never met, but he had to watch Xie Yu's emotional entanglement with the other two women.

Especially with such a bloody plot that is hard to untangle.

Xie Yu could not recognize him, let alone remember his mother. The presence of this mother and son is so weak that they are not even minor supporting roles in the complicated grievances and hatreds of the Demon Lord.

It is as if they have never existed.

The most leisurely one is Meng Ju.

He sat not far from Xie Yu, and was leaning back in his chair with nothing to do. He raised his eyes and looked at the three people's backs. I don't know what he thought of, and his handsome eyebrows slightly wrinkled.

"Brother Meng," Bai Ye was very outgoing, and he approached him and asked, "What are you looking at? Have you noticed some cat stuff in the illusion?"

Meng Ju smiled, and his bony right hand was half-clasped on the table, and his index finger tapped lightly: "Do you think... Miss Zhou looks familiar?"

Ning Ning tried hard to recall after hearing this, and searched her entire mind, but she couldn't find a face that matched Zhou Yimei in her memory.

Bai Ye was also puzzled, and shook his head blankly and said: "I shouldn't have seen it - how come, from Brother Meng's point of view, who does she look like?"

This question did not get an answer.

Meng Ju rarely smiled, and his eyes followed Zhou Yimei's thin back all the way forward until the shadow was swallowed by the darkness and disappeared from the field of vision. When he turned his head to look at Bai Ye again, the young man's lips curled up in a nonchalant arc: "Maybe I recognized you wrongly, Daoist friend, don't worry about it."

He couldn't tell who Zhou Yimei looked like, so the matter had to be put aside for the time being.

Xie Yu arranged guest rooms for everyone in Zhou's mansion. Ningning was very tired and just wanted to close her eyes and have a good rest for a night. However, when she fell on the bed like a pancake, she suddenly remembered what Pei Ji said during the day.

- At that time, Bai Ye fell to the ground like a charred corpse. Pei Ji was silent for a moment and then told her: If you have a nightmare in the middle of the night and can't sleep, you can go to the bamboo forest next to Zhou's mansion to find him.

He is practicing swordsmanship there.

In fact, Ningning felt that this was more like a joke mentioned unintentionally.

After all, his tone at that time was as light as a feather, flat and without any ups and downs, and there was no sense of ceremony similar to the agreement.

Moreover, Pei Ji also consumed most of his spiritual power in the previous demon refining tower, and he should have a good rest in the room. In any case, tonight is not a suitable time to practice swordsmanship.

Ning Ning shivered in the cold wind, and thought seriously:

So I must have something wrong with my head for listening to his unintentional words and going to the bamboo forest obediently at night.

But if he doesn't come, thinking of Pei Ji sitting in the corner with his eyelashes drooping -

it's almost as if "I want to be comforted" is written clearly on his face! Even if there is only a one in ten million chance, if he really stays alone in the woods to practice swordplay...

there is always a pitiful feeling.

Ning Ning hated herself for being too soft-hearted. She didn't have nightmares nor was she bored, but she came to the bamboo forest with heavy tiredness.

Due to the entrenched monsters, the Chongling Town was filled with dark demonic energy, quietly overflowing in the inky night, like the half-hidden and half-exposed shadows of ghosts and monsters.

A miserable white full moon hung alone on the top of the tree. Although this metaphor was not quite appropriate, Ning Ning always felt that it was like an expressionless dead face, just standing there above her head.

The bamboo forest was quiet and serene. The green bamboo leaves were like a spring flowing under the moon. The shadows on the ground swayed in the wind, like ripples from a pool of water.

At first glance, it felt like being underwater. Everything was so clear and unreal.

If Pei Ji wasn't here tonight, she would be so embarrassed.

No, that's not right.

Ning Ning started to have wild thoughts as she walked. Anyway, no one knew she was out in the middle of the night. What was the embarrassment of being alone? She could get over it after a good sleep.

She walked forward step by step without much hope in her heart. The bamboo leaves were blown away layer by layer, and the quiet moonlight rippled to both sides. The surroundings were dead silent, but suddenly a sword flashed by, knocking down a cluster of fallen leaves.

Ningning's heart skipped a beat.

She felt the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously, so in order not to appear too happy, she calmed down and tried to press the corners of her lips down.

Taking another step forward, she saw Pei Ji's shadow.

He had actually been practicing sword in the bamboo forest.

It was already quietly getting dark.

The bamboo shadows were swaying, and the moonlight was like flowing water, outlining the tall and slender back of the young man. The sword energy was as cold as ice, and the moment she approached, it was like flowing wind and returning snow, blowing towards her face together with the night wind.

The sword force, which was originally quite sharp, became exceptionally gentle and soft when it was wrapped in the quiet bamboo breeze and hit her cheek, like a lover's fingertips gently brushing across the snow-white neck, bringing an irresistible itch.

At the same time, Pei Ji turned his head.

The remaining sword light fell like rain, illuminating his clear face like white jade, and lighting a beam of cold light in his dark pupils.

Super beautiful.

"Wow! It's Ningning!" Cheng

Ying jumped up and couldn't help but grinning: "She actually came! It's worth it that you are exhausted and insist on practicing sword in the woods!"

Pei Ji responded coldly: "I'm not waiting for her."

"Yes, yes, you didn't wait for her, you didn't stay in the upper level of the tower exhausted and just wanted to rest, and you didn't keep looking towards the entrance of the bamboo forest."

Cheng Ying shook his head and sighed in a weird way: "You are obviously exhausted, but you still use your precious sleeping time to practice sword in the small bamboo forest. You really deserve to be a sword practitioner."

This voice was annoying and Pei Ji didn't want to pay attention to it.

The young man in black subconsciously pursed his lips, quietly erasing the small arc, and chose the simplest and most stupid opening line: "Did you have a nightmare?"

"No!"

Ning Ning glared at him: "I couldn't sleep at night, so I went out for a walk - but you, you are still practicing swords so late?"

Pei Ji lowered his head to look at her, and there seemed to be a very light smile in his eyes, which was barely detectable: "I couldn't sleep either."

Chengying: "Hehe."

He turned a deaf ear to Chengying's words, artificially shielding this voice completely, and then very familiarly put away the smile as much as possible, lowered his head to look for something in the storage bag.

Ning Ning was curious and blinked her eyes to look at him.

Pei Ji had just practiced swordplay, and his black hair was soaked with sweat, scattered in front of his forehead and temples, contrasting with his cold white skin. His face was illuminated by the cold moonlight, and the tear moles under his eyes were full, which was too beautiful.

His fingers were long and thin, and the protruding joints could be seen when he bent them. It didn't take long before a round object appeared in his hand.

It looked like a snack or a dessert, meticulously wrapped in white paper. The leisurely night breeze blew, bringing the scent of peach blossoms.

Pei Ji put his arm closer to her: "For you."

"What is this?"

Ning Ning took it defenselessly, raised her eyes and glanced at him quickly: "Can I open it now?"

Not sure if it was an illusion, Pei Ji held the sword a little tighter.

But he still nodded expressionlessly.

After opening the layers of wrapping paper, the refreshing aroma became more and more intense.

The faint scent of trees and peach blossoms in the bamboo forest wafted over, and the moonlight illuminated the surprise that was meticulously packed inside.

It turned out to be a fresh flower cake.

There was no such food in the world of cultivation. When she discussed the recipe with He Zhizhou, she had specifically mentioned the possibility of getting rich by selling fresh flower cakes.

Unfortunately, the two tried to make it several times later, but they all failed without exception, and the matter has been left unresolved since then.

She just mentioned it to Pei Ji once inadvertently and very casually.

"The taste may not be right."

His voice was extremely tense: "I don't know how to make it."

That's right.

She had never told Pei Ji anything. He knew nothing about the raw materials, production methods and process procedures. The only thing he knew was a simple sentence "crispy cake wrapped in flower petals."

But Pei Ji made it anyway, and wrapped it carefully in layer by layer of paper, and gave it to her seriously.

Ning Ning looked at him again in a daze.

The black-clothed swordsman had a cold look in his eyes. The scene of flying branches and leaves and shining swords was still in his mind. However, even such a Pei Ji would stay in the kitchen, pick up pots and pans, and think about the cooking methods of flower petals and starch over and over again.

...Does Pei Ji also wear an apron?

No, there should be no aprons in ancient times.

She was thinking wildly, bubbles popping up in her head uncontrollably, and she rubbed her cheek with her free left hand.

This was too foul.

Ning Ning didn't dare look at him again, she lowered her head holding the peach blossom cake, opened her mouth and took a bite.

The pastry was soft and crumbled layer by layer between the lips and teeth. The starchy fragrance and the sweet peach blossom intertwined, incredibly gentle.

It was sweet.

So sweet, so sweet that she couldn't help but feel happy.

Pei Ji said nothing, and the moment he saw the girl take the first bite, he clenched the hilt of the sword, his knuckles faintly white.

Then Ning Ning grinned and raised her head, her whole pair of pupils were full of undisguised smiles: "Delicious!"

The whole heart relaxed.

His throat moved slightly, and he turned his face away and responded softly: "Yeah."

In the awkward silence, Pei Ji heard her voice again: "By the way, are you...are you okay? After meeting Xie Yu."

Ning Ning asked carefully, and he never showed any expression of sadness. Hearing this, he said in a deep voice: "No problem."

After a pause, he hesitated and said: "Didn't I tell you about my mother?"

Ning Ning suddenly raised her head and narrowed her eyes.

"That's not a very important story."

Pei Ji's tone was very calm, as if he was discussing today's weather. When he mentioned the past, he slightly curled his lips, and there was a sneer of sarcasm in his eyes: "She was born into a noble family. One day, she saw injustice on the road and saved a seriously injured and unconscious young man. The two fell in love with each other and ate the forbidden fruit."

The young man should be Xie Yu.

Ning Ning did not interrupt and listened quietly.

"Unfortunately, that man was not a good match. He was just trying to get close to her and steal the family's skills. When she risked the world's condemnation and stole the skills from the family's forbidden area--"

He paused slightly here, and the self-mockery in his pupils became stronger: "The demons then attacked the city. In just one night, her family, wealth, and skills were all gone. The only thing left was the unborn bastard in her belly."

Bastard.

Ning Ning's heart shuddered and she frowned slowly.

This was a sentence that Pei Ji had never told anyone else.

He was strong-willed and stubborn. He never bothered to show his scars to others, but at this moment, he wanted Ning Ning to know for the first time.

Pei Ji couldn't explain what he was thinking.

His strength was so insignificant that he was powerless against the wanton humiliation from the outside world. He could only grit his teeth and not let himself beg for mercy, enduring day after day.

Over time, the boy gradually got used to living in contempt and rejection. He could grit his teeth and get through pain, punishment, and life and death without any help, relying only on his own strength.

—— Pei Ji should have gotten used to it.

But Ningning threw out candies one by one, and he tasted the sweetness and wanted more. In the darkest corner of his heart, a voice was clamoring for more.

He was really despicable. He couldn't cross the chasm between the two of them, so he had to rely on poison to quench his thirst. He used such a despicable and humble method to try to make her look at him more.

Even he found it ridiculous.

Pei Ji lowered his eyelashes and didn't look at her.

His voice was also very low: "Those things have nothing to do with me, you don't have to give me sympathy."

After a pause, the boy

's voice was inexplicably hoarse: "...I am not pitiable." Xie Yu's love-hate relationship with that woman really had little to do with him, but Pei Ji revealed so many secrets, and the only thing hidden was his own story.

For example, he endured his mother's hatred for Xie Yu, and lived in a dark cellar every day, covered with wounds;

for example, he wandered around after his mother died of a serious illness, and was once hit on the forehead by a street thug because of a bun;

for example, he inherited the strong demonic energy of the Demon Lord, and was regarded as an untouchable monster by others, and suffered countless humiliations and indifference.

The woman named him "Ji".

How could a mother give such a name to her own flesh and blood? It was clearly a curse that could not be escaped for eternity. From the moment he was born, he endured endless hatred.

Sometimes Pei Ji would wonder, what on earth is he?

Hated by his biological mother and abandoned by his biological father, he had no place to stay in the world. Except for the sword, everything in the world seemed to have nothing to do with him.

He didn't care about others, and no one would care about him.

These were things he didn't want Ning Ning to know.

Like a fish that left the water and was about to drown, he had been very desperate in his life.

But even so, there was something he wanted to hold on to, the last bit of his shattered dignity.

Only her.

Pei Ji didn't want to be looked down upon by Ning Ning.

There was silence in the bamboo forest for a moment.

He was afraid of hearing a tone that sounded like comfort or compassion, and a rustling sound came from his ears. It turned out that Ning Ning lowered her head and kicked the bamboo leaves piled on the ground with her feet.

The faint noise went straight to Pei Ji's heart.

She spoke as if she was muttering in a low voice: "I won't sympathize with you."

Pei Ji clenched the long sword in his hand, and felt his heart beating wildly for some reason.

"Because you are very good. Excellent people don't need other people's sympathy."

Ning Ning looked up and looked at him. Her clear voice echoed slowly under the hazy moonlight, and there was an inexplicable magic that bewitched people's hearts: "Our Pei Ji is so good. He can cook, exorcise demons, and make many beautiful toys. Who else can be better than you? I can't even admire you enough."

... How could she say such words in a normal tone.

The boy who has always been alone has never heard such straightforward words. Even though he knew that she was comforting him, he was still at a loss and his ears were burning.

"Besides," Ning Ning paused, and kept her gaze on his face for a long time, then smiled to herself, "Pei Ji is very handsome, much more handsome than many, many people."

The moonlight made all emotions visible.

A leaf fell slowly, and the boy's fair face was dyed pink like peach blossoms.

He suddenly wondered for no reason whether the peach blossom cake was too sweet.

The moonlight scattered all over the ground, quietly intertwined with the boundless night, and blurred the cold thin smoke like cold water.

Pei Ji held his breath, turned his head and looked away, but he never realized that doing so was just covering his ears and stealing the bell, and he couldn't avoid that sight.

Ning Ning saw his shyness, and felt quite curious for a moment, as if it was a prank, and moved closer.

Her eyes moved down a little on his face.

Like a ball of burning flame.

And there was a heartless voice with a smile on it, speaking word by word, with the ending tone rising in a very vicious way.

"Eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth--"

People who are usually cold are the most interesting when they are shy. Ning Ning was originally laughing, but she was caught off guard and suddenly met a pair of dark eyes.

—— Pei Ji turned his gaze back and fixed it on her face without blinking.

His Adam's apple rolled up and down, his eyes were filled with moonlight, and his long eyelashes trembled slightly.

His pupils were dark and swollen.

Ning Ning's faint smile froze at the corner of her mouth. She was obviously the one who took the initiative to tease, but her heart was pounding because of his look.

Ning Ning touched her nose, bowed her head and shuddered, her voice much lower than before: "... they are all very beautiful."