Chapter 62 A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and the tree that perches on it is fortunate to do so…
The two clasped hands, and what they sensed even before their spiritual energy was the warmth of their hands.
Qiao Yanshen's hands seemed colder than usual, like holding a piece of fine snow in the sweltering summer heat. Shen Lixia frowned and tightened her grip, wanting to warm them for her. Worry manifested in the spiritual energy flowing from her meridians the next moment; the scorching aura, upon sensing Qiao Yanshen, almost impatiently stirred, wanting to intertwine with him.
This yearning naturally couldn't escape the two who were now opening their minds and merging their thoughts. Shen Lixia knew that their dual cultivation was different from those in the novels; it wasn't about physical intimacy, but a true fusion of all aspects. Apart from the most secret parts that they didn't want the other to know, everything else could be perceived, building a very special bridge invisibly. This bridge guided them to gradually coordinate and synchronize their qi and energy circulation, ultimately allowing them to jointly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It was as if they had transcended their physical contact, leaving only their spiritual power and souls intertwined and entwined.
It was like performing a dance.
Qiao Yanshen was always the one leading this dance, and this time was no exception. The spiritual energy she emitted was delicate and subtle. Although Shen Lixia had tried many times before, she still couldn't achieve that level of delicacy in front of the person she was imitating. Despite being blind, she could sense this spiritual energy like a spider web in her sea of consciousness, silently spreading and covering everything. Anyone who touched it would feel a fluctuation, and then it would suddenly recede.
If she weren't holding the other person's hand right now, Shen Lixia would almost think she was the prey in this net, a butterfly caught in a spider's web, a bird entangled by a snake. The cold touch slid and gently caressed the spiritual energy that reached out to her, even winding its way into her sea of consciousness, just like the fine scales of a snake rubbing against her skin.
She bit her lower lip, trembling slightly and almost imperceptibly. Qiao Yanshen noticed the tremor, opened his eyes slightly to see the change in her expression, and then caught a glimpse of a dark blue flowing within the vibrant aquamarine glow on her body. He immediately closed his eyes again, suppressing the chilling aura that had unconsciously seeped out.
Recalling what the demon had said earlier, Qiao Yan knew that this was a sign of "falling into demonic possession." This was the first time she had used her spiritual power since the last confrontation, and she hadn't expected it to appear so quickly.
She didn't know the specific process of a cultivator falling into demonic possession, but his temperament was currently undamaged, even calmer, unlike the frenzied descriptions she had seen, suggesting he still had a way out. If the dark aura was demonic energy, then it seemed quite docile, immediately retreating when she deliberately suppressed it, and the chilling sensation also disappeared.
Sensing the increasingly tender emotions emanating from her soul, Shen Lixia's tense body relaxed. Guided by Qiao Yanshen, she perceived the myriad changes around her. Qiao Yanshen's spiritual energy was as fine as rain, and she transformed into the fine rain, outlining the contours of every flower and tree; his spiritual energy condensed into needles, quietly seeping into life, and she followed suit, instantly grasping the rhythmic breath of living beings.
This is indeed a dance that belongs to them.
Qiao Yanshen's every move guided her actions, sending her spiritual power and divine sense sweeping across all things around her. Her previously cramped and dark vision suddenly opened up, taking everything in and presenting a hazy, indistinct scene. Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingled, and their warmth fell on their faces, completely unaware of the distance closing in on them.
The scenes in my mind's eye were different from what I saw in daily life; they were wonders that could not be seen with the naked eye. The rhythm of life, the changes of each moment, and even the distant clamor of voices were all reflected in, rising and falling.
Shen Lixia suddenly felt overjoyed. The divine fire ignited once more, this time not in pain, but representing the tender yet ardent emotions of a young man. The woman before him was like a tree in full bloom in the wilderness, and he was the lucky traveler who had found this amazing miracle and was no longer able to wither.
The drab colors came alive.
She gripped Qiao Yanshen's hand tightly, as if announcing something important, and then immediately put it into practice, catching Qiao Yanshen off guard. But after understanding, a slight smile appeared on his lips. The dance had been interrupted halfway through by the bright and fierce young man, and now she was leading Qiao Yanshen to touch all things. Touching was inappropriate; it was burning—like fire sweeping across, wildly engulfing everything, faster than a net, outlining the vibrant, exuberant beauty of all things, mottled colors colliding in this moment.
Just like fire and pure water.
In that instant, she finally understood Shen Lixia's emotions. It wasn't reckless impulsiveness; her ability to focus solely on the present was a kind of open-mindedness, more like a resilience that faced pain head-on than someone who hadn't experienced it. The unruly young man before her was indeed like a raging fire; only by gently brushing aside the burning exterior with her fingertips could she touch the fragile yet inextinguishable flame at its core.
Nine parts water and one part wood, the latter being the source that prompted her to reach out. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and the tree that perches on it is fortunate to do so.
These intense colors spread through her mind, almost stunning her. Her dormant heart came alive again, pounding, telling her about unfamiliar feelings she had never noticed before, but they were fleeting and left no trace.
The spiritual energy spread out and then converged, separating and reluctantly returning. The two opened their eyes at the same time, looked at each other, and smiled.
Shen Lixia nuzzled against Qiao Yanshen, the fine strands of hair rubbing together and causing an itch, like a furry little animal expressing its affection.
"So this is what Senior Sister usually sees..."
"I never imagined that everything I saw in summer would be so beautiful."
They spoke softly, and finally the boy couldn't help but laugh. The ambiguous distance became clear, and the two realized this, a blush rising to their cheeks, and they quickly separated.
Why does the eldest sister always say things like that? It's not the usual language people use in conversation, but it just happens to come out of her mouth. It's like she's always being candid, not hiding anything, which makes her seem much more reserved.
Feeling it was unfair, the boy took her hand and placed it on his cheek, gently holding her slender wrist, and said with a smile, "When Senior Sister says things like this, my heart always beats very fast, as if the best thing in the world is right here."
As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that Qiao Yanshen intended to back down. She didn't think her words were too ambiguous; she only wanted to retaliate, so she gripped her hand tightly, preventing her from pulling it away. The regret of not being able to see resurfaced, much stronger than before.
Until Qiao Yanshen's voice, so low it was impossible to discern any emotion, came: "Li Xia... stop teasing me."
The boy took this as an admission of defeat and loosened his grip. The other person's hand lifted from her cheek and moved to her forehead, gently stroking her hair. "It's too long, let me cut it for you."
“Okay.” Shen Lixia nodded, becoming obedient now. Strands of hair in her bangs curled slightly, which Qiao Yanshen picked up and stroked, his knuckles occasionally brushing against her trembling eyelashes as she blinked, like a raven feather lightly brushing against her.
She deftly brushed aside the topic, but the flush on her face didn't easily dissipate. Qiao Yanshen lowered her eyes, secretly thinking how fortunate Li Xia was that she couldn't see and there was no one else around, otherwise, how embarrassed she would have been. In her nervousness, she could even smell the bitter medicine on her body, and the strength in her hands hadn't returned, reminding her that she should go back.
They had been there for a long time, and now that dawn had broken, the sun was shining warmly on them. They walked for a while longer, holding hands tightly, as if afraid that one of them might suddenly disappear or get hurt if they didn't, slowly strolling through the woods.
A little while later, they went back down the stairs of the inn and happened to run into Simmons.
The woman, dressed in a long navy blue robe, carefully examined them upon seeing them. Only after confirming they were unharmed did she narrow her fox-like eyes. "Oh, I was just wondering where everyone had gone. Turns out you were in You—"
Before she could finish speaking, Qiao Yanshen coughed lightly, interrupting her, "We're fine, fellow Daoist, you can rest assured. Do you have any scissors?"
“Of course,” Simmons replied lightly, taking out a delicate little item from his storage bag. “I am known as the Treasure Bag, and I am happy to serve you, fellow Daoist.”
Qiao Yanshen took the things she handed him and was slightly surprised—they were not ordinary scissors, but were made very finely, making them very suitable for hair trimming.
Shen Lixia complained from the side.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you pulled out your phone one day..."
"Mobile phone? That's a very unfamiliar word."
"Oh dear, I'll explain it to you later! But you'll probably dream about it too, won't you?"
After thanking each other, the two returned to their room. Knowing that Qiao Yan was very particular about cleanliness, Shen Lixia first performed a hand seal to cleanse herself before sitting on the edge of the bed, closing her eyes and letting her bend over and fix her bangs.
Qiao Yanshen pressed her hair down against her skin, and only after making up his mind did he release it. He then picked up a section and carefully combed and trimmed it. At this distance, the boy's delicate eyebrows and long eyelashes were so close that they always stirred her heart. She had to bite her lip, force herself to concentrate, and not let her hands tremble so as not to hurt him.
The scissors weren't sharp, and certainly not weapons for cultivators, but Qiao Yanshen seemed to forget that at this moment. He treated the boy's face as the most fragile piece of jade, to be held gently in his hands, ensuring no wounds were inflicted. A soft, rhythmic snip echoed between them, a gentle, almost imperceptible sound as the scissors moved. Qiao Yanshen's eyes were calm and still, reflecting the boy's slightly tense expression, like a apprehensive yet expectant puppy.
In fact, this moment was not easy for Shen Lixia either. It was a very subtle feeling. Feeling the other person's gentle breath, warm and soft, on her face, brushing her eyelashes, her heart was itching even more than her skin. It kept trembling. She didn't know if it was due to nervousness or something else, but she couldn't calm down. Her thoughts were all over the place. She took a deep breath, trying to catch her breath, but couldn't find a time to exhale. She felt suffocated and uncomfortable.
Qiao Yanshen noticed this and couldn't help but chuckle softly. This laughter made Shen Lixia even more uneasy, and she even wished the scissors would slit her skin—but what then? After the reckless harm, when the blood flowed, how would she face her senior sister's apology? Her fingers unconsciously intertwined and tightened; she suddenly didn't know what to do.
"Leave summer behind, relax."
The hand that had been holding her hair moved down, and two fingers gently lifted her chin. If it were anyone else, this gesture would have been extremely frivolous, but for Qiao Yanshen, it was just a tender reassurance, making her feel less stifled and a little more relaxed.
What on earth is going on? The boy thought to himself, feeling troubled. For a moment, he found the feeling sweet, but unfortunately, it was too sweet and turned bitter and cloying, leaving him in a dilemma.
It didn't take long. Qiao Yanshen finished trimming her hair, put away the scissors, cleaned up the stray hairs that had fallen into his palm, and then used his fingers to brush away the parts that were stuck to the boy's face before clapping his hands.
"Okay." She straightened up, smiling with her eyes crinkling.
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Author's note: Happy Lunar New Year's Eve and Happy New Year! New cover!
May everything go smoothly for everyone in 2025!
Before I knew it, this chapter was all about emotional shifts and struggles...
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