Chapter 141 Duan Lansheng, as supple as a boneless snake, rested his head on her…
As night deepened, the wooden window was suddenly blown open by the wind, slamming against the wall, the sound drowned out by the dense, indistinct rain.
Moonlight sank into the room after the rain, and only the outlines of the bed and chairs could be vaguely seen. Duan Lansheng held her wrist tightly, his fingertips taut, almost stiff, and their hot breaths mingled in the air.
"...I am indeed very angry."
Her throat wasn't dry, but it felt as if an invisible fire was burning inside. Lu Yuanyuan silently clenched her fists, involuntarily avoiding those eyes again, her lips moving slightly: "It's impossible for me to calm down so quickly."
"..."
"However, even though I'm angry, I wouldn't go so far as to see you fall to the ground and not come over to help you up."
In the darkness, Duan Lansheng remained silent, but his breathing suddenly became heavier, and his fingers curled slightly.
The wind and rain intensified, and thunder rumbled. The wooden windowpanes pounded against the window frame. Lu Yuanyuan pulled her hand back, rolled down her sleeve, and prepared to lock the window.
But before she could take a step, her waist tightened, and she was suddenly pulled back by a pair of arms. Duan Lansheng leaned forward, almost pressing his entire body against hers, his face buried in her lower abdomen, remaining completely still as if he didn't want anyone to see his expression.
His body was cold, the damp chill seeping into her skin through his clothes. Only her trembling, burning breath betrayed the intense desire churning within him.
Lu Yuanyuan stood still, letting him hold her without struggling. Amid the sound of rain, her gaze passed over Duan Lansheng's head and landed on the wall behind them.
There were two blurry shadows, one tall and one short, nestled together, like the most intimate lovers in the world, or like two intertwined vines, beginning a new deadly game in the silence.
Lu Yuanyuan slowly closed her eyes.
.
The next day.
Lu Yuanyuan opened her eyes, and the familiar beam came into view.
She was lying on the bed, fully clothed, with a soft pillow as her head. Her shoes were off and neatly placed on the floor beside the bed. She sat up and looked out; the window was open. A thick fog had descended on Mangshan Mountain, the sky was overcast, a light drizzle was falling, and the air was filled with the scent of damp grass.
"..."
Lu Yuanyuan pressed her aching eye sockets with the heel of her hand, rubbing them vigorously a few times to quickly wake herself up. Scenes from last night flashed before her eyes—
Duan Lansheng held her waist tightly, but was too weak to get up. She couldn't stand there with him all night, so in the end, she reluctantly sat down with him on the chair.
Duan Lansheng rested his head on her shoulder, his thick eyelashes drooping, and he held her hand tightly, seemingly fast asleep. But Lu Yuanyuan had a premonition that as soon as she pulled away, Duan Lansheng would immediately wake up from his light sleep.
Lu Yuanyuan didn't want to wake him, so she didn't move.
She needed this night to clear her mind and think about what to do next.
Exhausted, she drifted off to sleep in the middle of the night, listening to the patter of rain outside. When she woke up again, she had been moved to bed. It goes without saying who put her there.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open, and a person walked in.
Duan Lansheng changed into a clean set of clothes, his black hair draped over his shoulders. He had a long, slender neck and a tall, jade-like figure; even in such simple old clothes, he looked so handsome that it was hard to look away.
There were no screens or similar partitions in the room, and unexpectedly, their eyes met in mid-air.
Lu Yuanyuan's heart tightened, but before she could utter the opening remarks she had prepared, Duan Lansheng spoke first, his tone as usual: "You're awake."
Lu Yuanyuan looked at him and responded.
Unexpectedly, Duan Lansheng's attitude was very natural. She didn't mention anything about last night, as if it were all a dream. She even nodded gently and said, "The hot water is just boiled. I'll go get a basin for you to wash up."
Before Lu Yuanyuan could refuse, he closed the door and left. Not long after, he returned to the room carrying a basin of steaming hot water.
He didn't expect that in such a short time, Lu Yuanyuan had already dressed herself.
She sat in the wicker chair by the window, tilting her head back and gazing absently at the raindrops dripping from the eaves. From his direction, he could only see her slender profile.
A light drizzle fell outside, shielded by the eaves, preventing it from seeping into the house. He and she were only a few steps apart. But for some reason, for a moment, Duan Lansheng felt as if the person before him had merged into that distant world outside the window, far removed from him. He couldn't discern where her heart lay.
Duan Lansheng stopped in his tracks, his brow twitching slightly. An inexplicable unease, like a fish gliding under the awning, stirred within him.
At that moment, Lu Yuanyuan seemed to hear his footsteps and turned around.
Upon meeting her gaze, Duan Lansheng smiled nonchalantly, his expression unchanged: "The water is ready."
Lu Yuanyuan shook her head: "Don't bother with anything else. Come here, let's talk."
Duan Lansheng's fingertips tensed slightly. After a pause, he lowered his eyes, readily put down the basin of water, and strolled closer. However, instead of sitting next to Lu Yuanyuan as usual, he squatted down in front of her, looked up, and asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?" At the same time, his hands subtly pressed down on both sides of the chair, using a subordinate position to trap her between his own bodies.
He had just showered this morning, and was very clean, his hair still slightly damp at the ends. They were already quite close; could she smell the scent of soap on him?
But perhaps it was that fish from earlier that was causing trouble, stirring up the water, and he still felt it wasn't close enough.
If only he and Lu Yuanyuan could be sewn together with invisible, unbreakable needle and thread, that would be wonderful.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do that. He didn't want Lu Yuanyuan to think he was abnormal.
In the blink of an eye, many unspoken thoughts raced through his mind. Fortunately, Lu Yuanyuan seemed unaware of his secret and strange intentions.
Her gaze fell, staring at his flat stomach for a while, as if she had finally made up her mind. She looked up again and said, "Let Tangyuan come out so I can take a good look at him."
Duan Lansheng was suddenly stunned and looked up.
Beneath her lashes, her eyes shimmered like water, a hint of surprise in them.
Last night, when Lu Yuanyuan saw him lying on the ground, she softened and helped him up, even letting him lean against her to sleep through the night. This far exceeded his expectations. However, he wasn't optimistic enough to believe that this would continue indefinitely.
After all, when people are subjected to shock, it is difficult for them to think things through before reacting.
He was prepared for Lu Yuanyuan to retract her pity from the previous night and deny everything as soon as she woke up. Therefore, he wasn't too surprised to hear her say "let's talk."
He just didn't expect that Lu Yuanyuan would take the initiative to ask about Tangyuan's situation.
Seeing the other person staring blankly at her, Lu Yuanyuan pursed her lips and whispered, "Is it inconvenient?"
Duan Lansheng snapped out of his daze, a surge of emotion coursing through his chest. The long-lost joy made his mouth dry, and he almost stammered, "You... want to see? Of course you can."
Lu Yuanyuan seemed a little unaccustomed to the change in their way of interacting. She responded sullenly, turned her head away, and moved aside to make room for him to sit down.
After a rustling sound of clothes, a warm body came close to her, and Duan Lansheng sat down next to her.
This time, Lu Yuanyuan finally witnessed the process of Tangyuan appearing—white light dots swirled in the air, gradually taking on the shape of a little fox. The phantom gradually filled in and gained color. Suddenly, a chubby little fox tumbled down and landed on Duan Lansheng's lap.
When Lu Yuanyuan sat in the rattan chair, her thighs were parallel to the ground. Duan Lansheng was much taller than her, with longer legs and knees that were inevitably higher. Tangyuan's fox fur was glossy and smooth, and her nine tails were spread out like flowers. She didn't even have a firm footing before sliding down Duan Lansheng's thighs, like she was playing on a slide.
Just as the fox was about to tip over, Lu Yuanyuan was startled and quickly reached out to catch it. At the same time, another hand reached out from the side, and the two of them made the same move simultaneously. She was faster, and the little fox rolled solidly into her palm, the force of which caused her hand to slam down and into Duan Lansheng's hand.
His hands were large, a stark contrast to hers, and he completely held her hands in his.
Lu Yuanyuan froze. Duan Lansheng lowered his eyes, not only not pulling his hand away, but also reaching out his right hand to wrap around her hand, lifting the little fox onto her lap, and whispering, "You can hold it."
Tangyuan seemed very sleepy. She had almost rolled to the ground earlier, but now that she was safe, she snuggled into her arms. Her eyelids were still closed, and her belly rose and fell with her breath.
Lu Yuanyuan remained motionless, cradling his little fox head in her hands, looking down intently at him, her emotions a complex mix that defied description. It was a mixture of tenderness, bitterness, regret, and guilt.
In her past life, this child came and went quietly. In this life, she personally took his life. Yet, after many twists and turns, he still came to her.
The feeling and impact of him existing only in her imagination versus lying in her arms are completely different.
...However, she knew very well that the child was not enough to sway her decision about whether or not to go home.
The little fox ears trembled in her palm. Lu Yuanyuan gently squeezed them, a hint of doubt rising in her heart. She asked, "Why is he sleeping with his eyes closed the whole time?"
Suddenly, recalling past events, she looked up, her eyes widening, and asked somewhat nervously, "Come to think of it, I've seen Tangyuan disappear into thin air more than once. What's going on? Is he very weak? Should we give him some kind of elixir to nourish him?"
Duan Lansheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he explained patiently in a gentle tone, "I used my power and flesh to create Tangyuan's body. He cannot survive on his own without my nourishment. If I am not in good condition, he will also be affected, lacking energy and even unable to maintain his physical form. But don't worry, as long as I am here, he will be fine."
He meant no harm in his words, but Lu Yuanyuan took it to heart. Her nerves immediately tightened.
What did Duan Lansheng mean by those words?
If anything were to happen to him, it would result in the death of both him and his unborn child.
The item used to send her home, the "Soul-Crossing Thorns," requires Duan Lansheng's demon core as flower mud to absorb its power. If there's another living being inside him at the same time, will the two clash?
Lu Yuanyuan blurted out, "When will Tangyuan be able to be like a normal child, no longer needing to rely on your flesh and blood for nourishment?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Lansheng paused for a moment.
Lu Yuanyuan turned her face away, not letting him see her expression: "Don't overthink it. I'm not worried about your body taking it. What I mean is, this method sounds too sinister. I don't think it's a good idea."
In her haste, she hadn't quite managed to conceal her true feelings. Not wanting Duan Lansheng to realize her ulterior motives, she deliberately made this clumsy gesture, hoping he would believe she genuinely cared about his health but was simply being hypocritical.
As expected, after a pause, Duan Lansheng's voice softened even more: "I know, I won't overthink it."
As if seeing through her attempt to conceal something, he still went along with her words and gave her a way out.
However, even after that, he still did not give a definite timeframe for the initial question, only saying "soon".
Lu Yuanyuan pressed her tongue against her lower teeth, suppressing the urge to ask further questions.
Duan Lansheng didn't give a direct answer; if she kept pressing the issue, it would seem too deliberate. She could only try to probe indirectly again later.
Lu Yuanyuan changed the subject, scratched Tangyuan's chin, and asked, "What can I do to make Tangyuan stronger?"
Duan Lansheng gave a soft "hmm": "You can touch him more, hug him more, and make him happy."
"Anything else?"
"Talk to him more and make him happy."
As he spoke, Duan Lansheng leaned down without making a sound, like a soft, boneless snake, resting his chin on her shoulder. His right arm had somehow moved to the right side of Lu Yuanyuan's body, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, silently invading her space. He lowered his head and looked at the little fox in her arms with her.
Of course, his physique and the firm feel of his body beneath his clothes make it impossible to associate him with the phrase "soft and boneless".
Lu Yuanyuan nodded thoughtfully, then hesitated, "What you're saying isn't difficult to do, but he can't appear all the time, can he?"
“If he’s not here, you can touch me and hug me, and he can feel it.”
Lu Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help turning her head and glaring at him: "Stop talking nonsense, how can these be the same..."
Turning her head, she realized that Duan Lansheng was so close to her. Her lips were almost touching his cheek.
Duan Lansheng noticed her gaze, but instead of getting up, he merely twitched his eyelids slightly and turned his eyes toward her.
The shadows of eyelashes fluttered, and the bright light was deep and mysterious, as if luring the scholar closer to the monster within.
No, that's not right. This was originally a fox demon.
Lu Yuanyuan felt a chill run down her spine and was about to back away when the little fox, who was fast asleep in her arms, suddenly emitted a faint white light. In the soft light, its body gradually became transparent, and the light points quickly floated into Duan Lansheng's body.
Lu Yuanyuan was stunned. She clasped her hands together, but only grasped a wisp of air.
"Don't worry, he's just temporarily back in my body." Duan Lansheng finally straightened up slowly and turned to look at her: "The matter you asked me to handle had some setbacks the other day, and I spent some energy resolving it. So, Tangyuan can't stay outside for too long for now."
Lu Yuanyuan realized he was referring to Yue Hong, and her expression turned serious: "There were some setbacks? Is Yue Hong alright?"
Duan Lansheng raised his hand and plucked a fox hair from her knee. Usually, the mention of Yue Hong would bring a gloomy expression to his face. This time, however, it was different. He seemed to be in a good mood, and his reply was remarkably good-natured: "I won't let you down, just as I promised."
Lu Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and coming back to her senses, she seemed to only then realize that he was still very close to her. Finally, she couldn't help but reach out and push his chest away: "Don't get so close to me, I..."
She bit her lower lip, her face unusually showing a hint of struggle and confusion: "I'm not used to it."
"..."
"To be honest... I never thought I would become a parent, nor did I ever think Tangyuan would still be alive... But when I found out he was still alive, my first thought wasn't that he was a monster, but rather that I was happy and relieved. At that moment, I was truly happy."
"..."
"My mind is a mess. I don't know what I want to say or do. You...you give me some time. I need to think about it, to think it over carefully."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Duan Lansheng stand up from beside her and return to his original position.
He knelt on one knee in front of her, looking up at her as if he didn't want to miss any of her expressions. From last night until now, this was the first time Lu Yuanyuan had seen his eyes so bright and spirited. He took her hand, his attitude changing from before to somewhat cautious: "Okay, take your time thinking about it, we won't rush you."
Because of the change in posture, Lu Yuanyuan was now slightly taller than him and couldn't avoid his gaze. A fire rose in her throat, and Lu Yuanyuan used an excuse to pull her hand away and turn away from him: "...Alright, alright, I don't want to talk about this anymore, and you shouldn't bring it up again. I need to wash my face."
She deliberately and abruptly changed the subject, not seeing Duan Lansheng's expression. She only heard his voice, which seemed to carry a faint smile: "Okay, the water's cold, I'll go boil another pot."
Duan Lansheng got up and left.
Once the room was empty, Lu Yuanyuan slowly loosened her fist, her fingertips trembling slightly.
In her mind, she had already roughly formulated a plan—a plan to trick Duan Lansheng into consuming the Soul-Crossing Thorns, and then have Duan Lansheng lead her, a powerful immortal, to the battlefield to slay the Ghost Emperor.
To lure prey, you have to throw out a sufficiently heavy bait.
Duan Lansheng still likes her and wants to reconcile with her.
She discerned Duan Lansheng's thoughts, which meant she had grasped his weakness and found bait to attract him.
However, you can't release all the bait at once; you need to find the right balance.
She only learned of Tangyuan's existence last night. If she could simply forget everything and completely change her attitude after a night's sleep, it would seem too fake. But she could use this opportunity to break the ice, taking it step by step, first sending out a subtle signal that her awkward attitude was softening.
She wanted to give Duan Lansheng hope, to lead him by the nose, so that he wouldn't become suspicious because the windfall was too big.
Just now, after she did that, every reaction from the other party was within her expectations.
Duan Lansheng... took the bait.
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