Chapter 209 Stealing a kiss is just like any other act.
In less than half an hour, two fish were hooked.
Shen Lixia tied the two grass carp together with a thin rope and carried them in her hand. She put away the fishing rod and said triumphantly, "Lunch is taken care of."
“By the time we get to the inn, it will probably be dinnertime.” Simmons shook her head with a smile. “But it’s still better than sitting all day and getting nothing. Fellow Daoist, you are truly an expert in these things.”
Shen Lixia didn't respond to her, but simply smiled and quickened her pace.
It is only natural for birds to catch fish.
She has excellent eyesight, and even in the slightly clearer water of winter, she can see the scene below clearly, making it easier to know when to move the fishing rod to attract fish to bite the bait.
When they returned to town, the scattered sunlight had all receded, leaving only a clear, white sky. They found an inn, booked four rooms, and asked the innkeeper to have the kitchen staff kill the fish and cook two dishes before they went to rest.
As we began to eat, the sky was already beginning to darken. The surroundings were filled with a quiet and gentle glow, illuminating the dishes on the table with a warm and vibrant color, making them quite appetizing. One dish was chopped chili fish, with small red chilies stuffed into the crevices of the snow-white fish meat, exuding a spicy aroma; the other was made into fish soup, which was perfectly paired with winter bamboo shoots fried in cured oil, garnished with shredded mushrooms, and simmered to create a rich and flavorful broth.
The fish soup was placed in a pot, with a fire blazing underneath, the broth bubbling and steaming.
The other two dishes were side dishes.
"Sure enough, the further south you go, the better the food gets." Simmons picked up a piece with her chopsticks. "Although it's a bit spicy, what more could you ask for than a meal like this in winter?"
Su Jiang was already engrossed in her battle with the rice and dishes, without even looking up.
Qiao Yanshen poured the fish soup over the rice, then picked up a piece of fish covered with millet peppers and put it in her mouth. It was said that the chili peppers here were extremely spicy, but she didn't flinch. Shen Lixia thought to herself, "Senior Sister can still handle spicy food so well."
While eating, Simmons said, "We're setting off like this, without having thought about where to go next. We just wanted to come here first to see how Ba Huifu is doing. Are you going to the South China Sea, or heading straight for the Snow Plains? After delivering the sword, where are you planning to go next?"
At this moment, the shopkeeper brought out two jugs of wine and set out four small cups, the cups decorated with blue and white lacquer patterns and the white porcelain shimmering softly. She poured wine for the four of them and said with a smile, "This is freshly brewed winter wine. I originally planned to drink it for the New Year, but there's too much of it. There are only a few of us here, and my daughter can't drink all of this, so I'll share some with you."
After pouring the wine, the woman went back behind the counter. Few people come at night now; winter is a rare time for travelers.
The wine has a milky white color. When you swirl the glass slightly, it releases a strong, sweet aroma, like the finest wine at a banquet.
Qiao Yanshen put down his chopsticks, wiped the oil stains from his lips with a silk scarf, picked up the wine and took a sip. "I heard from the neighbors that the harvest has been quite bountiful recently, and there is a lot of surplus from brewing wine. This is probably wine that they sealed and brewed a few years ago. It should be a bit intoxicating, so be careful not to overindulge."
Many of the drinks they used to drink, apart from those brewed by the elders of the clan, had very low alcohol content from a modern perspective, and were roughly no different from beer, except that they tasted slightly spicy and sweet.
"That's good wine!" Simmons excitedly picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp. "Wow, it really is good wine."
Shen Lixia tapped the rim of her bowl without any politeness, "No talking while eating, no talking while eating." She still remembered her senior sister's rules, so she didn't speak at all while eating.
To her surprise, Qiao Yanshen looked up at her, curled his lips, and said softly, "It's alright, there's no such rule now."
Shen Lixia looked at her with slight surprise.
Ripples spread across the wine, causing the crescent-shaped light to tremble. The young woman's eyes, even in the dim light, appeared profound, as deep as the sea, only gently swaying under the soft lamplight. She possessed eyes of many facets; different people saw different scenes within them, sometimes cold, sometimes serene.
Only towards one person does he overflow with tenderness.
Shen Lixia felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she was gazed upon by that gentle yet tender gaze. Qiao Yanshen neither turned away nor moved closer to her, yet she felt, for some reason, as if she had been lightly kissed by that gaze.
“I think it’s a good time to speak,” Qiao Yanshen smiled, “It’s very heartwarming.”
She used to think it was impolite, and her mother had raised her to think that way since she was little. But now, surrounded by friends, she finds the conversation quite amusing.
She realized that she actually enjoyed the noise.
Especially when eating with her junior sister—she liked being with Shen Lixia, whether it was listening to the sizzling sound of ingredients going into the pot while cooking, or the clanging of bowls and plates and the sound of water washing hands.
I even really liked her slightly muffled voice when she spoke.
So there's no need to worry about any rules.
Shen Lixia quickly looked away, feeling a heat rising in her eyes. The suppressed emotions suddenly surged up, and she began to think again that if everything could stay at this moment.
This sudden surge of passion came fiercely and aggressively; she knew it was because she liked the person in front of her so much that she didn't know what to do.
She bit her lip, barely managing to restrain herself, and changed the subject: "We could go to the South China Sea, but I'm afraid the journey is too far. How about Tianchi? It's warmer there."
Tianchi is a country in the southwest of the Nine Regions, located in the Second Region. It is said to have a mild climate like spring all year round, making it a good place to spend the winter.
“Sure, but there are a lot of snakes and insects, so we’ll have to bring some supplies before we go.” Simmons nodded. “I heard that’s the site of the Xihe Palace, and maybe some mythical birds still inhabit there.”
It is said that Tianchi is named after the large lake in the many water systems. Many exotic birds live by the lake, and since birds fly south there, there is always a chorus of warbling birds.
Shen Lixia suggested going here not only because of the warm climate, but also for another reason.
Taiyin Temple is also located there.
Just as Xihe Palace dared to use the name of the Vermilion Bird because it had tamed many birds with the bloodline of the divine bird and possessed some ancient artifacts related to Lingguang Jun, Taiyin Temple must be the same.
She wanted to find traces of Si Yue.
With the wine empty, Simmons put down her chopsticks and prepared to clink glasses with them one last time. She seemed both drunk and sober, her eyes hazy, yet her hands remained steady without trembling.
Shen Lixia and Qiao Yanshen went along with her wishes, raising their glasses with smiles. Su Jiang hesitated for a moment, then, noticing that the woman's expression was unchanged, carefully picked up her glass and clinked it with theirs.
She hesitated, but ultimately decided not to spoil the mood of the others and kept her words to herself.
Back in the Kingdom of Garan, she knew what to say and had no reservations. People called it a childlike sincerity, and even her mother said it was good, saying...
He has made amends for the regrets of his past life.
But she didn't know what her past life was.
After finishing their meal, they all went back to their rooms to rest and rinse their mouths and cleanse themselves with water.
The lights flickered in the night, casting a soft, golden glow. Shen Lixia changed into thin clothes and dried her slightly damp hair.
The wooden clogs clattered across the floor, sounding somewhat out of place in the silence.
She sat on the bed, but didn't really want to rest.
Even though I've been running around all day, I don't even want to lie in bed right now.
Restless.
After much thought, I realized I only had one idea.
She tiptoed out of the room, closed the door behind her, and stood in the hallway. A light was still on downstairs, and she could vaguely hear conversations; they were probably changing the guard of the front hall.
Shen Lixia turned around and walked towards a certain room.
Before she even got close, she heard a soft cough coming from behind the door.
Shen Lixia frowned, then suddenly stopped restraining herself and deliberately stomped her feet firmly on the ground. The wooden clogs made a soft sound, and upon hearing this, the coughing inside the door stopped abruptly.
really……
She knocked on the door and heard the young man inside clear his throat and say softly, "Come in."
His voice was hoarse and a little dry, and under the dim light, his fur was soft and rustling.
Shen Lixia pushed the door open and then bolted it shut. Inside the room, the young man sat leaning against the bed, his long hair falling naturally, shimmering with a faint light, cascading over her shoulders.
Qiao Yanshen turned to look at her, his face showing slight weariness. His wide sleeves slipped down, revealing her forearms, which were as white as the moon in the flickering candlelight.
This should have been a peaceful scene, but Shen Lixia's brows furrowed even more.
Her face looked even paler than usual.
Qiao Yanshen lowered his eyes and asked in a light tone, "Why did you come over?"
Shen Lixia stared at her intently, and she smiled slightly.
"Is that all you want to do, just stare at me like this?"
"Yes." Shen Lixia nodded. "I wanted to see my senior sister, so I came."
She glanced at the few pieces of paper scattered on the table next to her, then sat down in a chair and picked up the ones with writing on them to read. Qiao Yanshen didn't stop her; upon hearing this, his smile deepened.
She yawned softly, burrowed deeper into the covers, and whispered:
"After you've finished watching, go to bed early."
Shen Lixia didn't know if Qiao Yanshen was referring to the papers with ancient characters written on them or to herself.
If it's the latter, there probably won't be a day when I can finish watching it all and have enough of it.
She sighed, her movements unconsciously softening as she turned the pages. Qiao Yanshen had been acting strangely these past few days… she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
My senior sister used to be very gentle with me, but these past few days she seems to have been too gentle.
It made her...very uneasy.
Several months have passed since they left the sect. At first, they were somewhat dazed, but they didn't feel the distance they have now.
The more anxious you are, the less you can calm your mind.
After an unknown amount of time, she put down the papers, setting aside the ancient characters she could no longer decipher, and slowly walked to the bedside.
The person on the bed had her eyes closed and was breathing steadily. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, with a faint smile still on her lips.
Shen Lixia held her breath and gazed at her silently for a long while. Her gaze traced the familiar features, and time seemed to lose its boundaries. Only the soft sounds of breathing and heartbeats echoed between them.
She thought back to when they were in the temple, her senior sister had also stolen a kiss from her.
No, it's two times.
Now that she's sneaking a kiss back, there's nothing wrong with it; it's perfectly normal.
Thinking of this, Shen Lixia bent down, brushed aside her stray hairs, and gave Qiao Yanshen a light kiss on the forehead.
Her restless heart seemed to settle slightly at the warmth of his lips. After stealing a kiss, she didn't run away like a thief, but simply lay on the edge of the bed, blinking as she watched Qiao Yanshen.
As she looked around, her eyelids began to droop without her noticing.
The sleepiness that had just vanished suddenly returned, making her feel weak and heavy all over, with no desire to move.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Yanshen's voice suddenly rang in her ear:
Aren't you going back?
She paused, then chuckled softly.
"If you're not going back, then stay here. I'm not used to sleeping alone."
Shen Lixia was taken aback. "Why are you awake? Did you have a nightmare?"
"I didn't have a nightmare." Qiao Yanshen blinked. "Hmm... How did I wake up? Naturally, it was because someone secretly kissed me, which startled me awake."
The boy's face flushed red, and he began to stammer.
Qiao Yanshen put away his joking thoughts and, before she could say "I'm sorry," whispered:
"I sleep very lightly when you're not around. It's cold outside, come inside quickly."
She moved back a little to make room.
The bed wasn't large, so after Shen Lixia crawled under the covers, the two of them could only press tightly together.
It wasn't very warm inside, but after another person crawled in, it suddenly became crowded and gradually warmed up.
Qiao Yanshen closed his eyes and said, "I'm a little cold, Junior Sister, hold me."
Warm arms wrapped around her, and their legs intertwined, ankles pressed together.
Qiao Yanshen has a cold constitution, and his hands and feet get cold in winter.
However, the effects of the cultivation provided some relief, preventing her from waking up in the middle of the night from the cold or curling up involuntarily. But the boy in her arms was like a flame, warmly enveloping her, and her hands and feet slowly warmed up as well, as if she were being immersed in a warm and bright lake bathed in the midsummer sun through her burning skin.
A moment later, the hand that was wrapped around her waist moved up and covered her back, rubbing against her through the thin fabric, causing a ticklish sensation. Qiao Yanshen felt a little ticklish from the touch and moved closer, his breath brushing against Shen Lixia's neck.
"What are you doing?"
Shen Lixia placed her hand on her back and whispered, "Check."
"Inspection?" Qiao Yanshen opened his eyes.
"Hmm, I want to see if the scars have healed well." She had thought about it before when she came back from Shen Yuan's Secret Realm, and she didn't want Qiao Yanshen to have any more scars on his body.
It's not that I find it ugly, I just hope the marks of pain can disappear.
Qiao Yanshen raised his hand to unbuckle his belt, opened his collar, and smiled, "Then why don't we just touch it directly? What can we feel through the clothes?"
“Senior Sister…” Shen Lixia pursed her lips, her hand pausing, unsure of what to do. She couldn’t speak, only looking at her pitifully with her bright golden eyes, like a little animal that didn’t know what it had done wrong but was sad.
The kiss suddenly landed.
A crisp breath parted her lips and teeth, softly hooking her tongue and gently licking it. Shen Lixia was caught off guard and her breath caught in her throat as she was kissed, forgetting how to breathe.
Even though it wasn't her who was undressing, a surge of heat rose within her, and a blush spread all the way down to her neck.
Sour, slightly bitter, or whatever else it was, all melted away in that deep kiss.
Hearing her gasp for breath, Qiao Yanshen turned his face slightly to let her breathe for a moment before kissing her again.
Her hands were a little cold, and they slowly slid down to rest on Shen Lixia's waist, gently stroking it repeatedly.
Her actions caused Shen Lixia to tremble slightly, feeling a gentle pleasure coursing through her body as her blood flowed.
After the kiss ended, the two breathed softly and remained silent.
A moment later, Qiao Yanshen's fingertips landed on Shen Lixia's face, gently stroking her soft lower lip and stopping at the corner of her lips.
She seemed to have discovered something interesting and said softly, "I've noticed that my junior sister can't help but laugh when she looks at me."
Shen Lixia was pulling Qiao Yanshen's robes tighter when she heard what she said, and realized that she hadn't been able to help but smile slightly again. She lowered her eyes, feeling the warmth of the other's fingertips, and said awkwardly, "Am I being silly?"
“It’s so cute,” Qiao Yanshen said softly. “At first I didn’t quite understand, but when I look at you later, I can’t help but smile, and I feel quite happy. So I think… this is probably how people look when they look at their loved ones.”
Her eyes were as deep as a still pool, yet brimming with tenderness.
Shen Lixia was slightly lost in thought.
She looked away, but no matter what, she would meet those eyes again.
I couldn't help myself.
Finally, she called out, "Senior Sister."
"Hmm?" Qiao Yanshen seemed to have something to say to her as well, so even though it was late at night, he still didn't close his eyes.
“Just now…” Shen Lixia paused, “there was the smell of blood.”
In the lingering kiss, everything tasted as sweet as honey, even the faint smell of blood had a sweet and fishy taste.
"You've been acting strangely lately..."
Shen Lixia's voice weakened, leaving only one sentence, which seemed to be a sigh escaping from her lips.
"Don't... hide it from me. I'm very worried about you."
Qiao Yanshen silently stroked her face, so gently, as if wanting to drown her in the boundless warmth of her palm.
She sighed and said, "There is something."
She hugged Shen Lixia tightly. At this moment, their hearts were pressed together, a soft mass, as if they could feel the emptiness on the other side being filled by the other's heartbeat.
So close, yet so far.
Let's separate for a while.
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Author's note: I went to revise the text for my sister-in-law's book today, which took up a bit of my time.
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