Chapter 70
He gulped down the medicine, feeding it all into Xie Wen's mouth. He held her down, and the warm, bitter medicine flowed down her throat, choking her until tears welled up in her eyes. He patted her back, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "If you don't drink it next time, this is how it is."
Xie Wen grunted, but before he could utter a rebuttal, Chu Xianyue captured his lips with hers, saying something muffled. Chu Xianyue somehow understood what he was saying and managed to reply to Xie Wen, "No."
Xie Wen said, "Then I'll drink it myself, and you're not allowed to kiss me."
Xie Wen was both amused and exasperated, enveloped by his burning breath, a dense trail of kisses winding downwards, leaving a wet, warm patch on his neck. His collar was ripped open, his clothes disheveled and bunched up in front of him. Seeing that he was about to move further down, Xie Wen suddenly said softly, "Didn't you just say that I was still injured?"
Chu Xianyue paused, remembering his own pretentious words that had just gone mad.
He was the one who blamed Xie Wen for being too anxious earlier, and now he's the one who's impatient too.
Speechless after Xie Wen's words, he licked his lips, looked up again at Xie Wen's flushed face, and his clear eyes were already showing a hint of infatuation.
That being said, he couldn't just start a fire and then turn around and leave.
Chu Xianyue raised his hand and wiped his lips with his fingertips. He then lifted her up with one hand and laid her flat on the bamboo mat. He then placed a soft pillow under Xie Wen's waist, being careful not to touch her wound. In fact, Xie Wen's wound had also scabbed over, but fortunately, the puncture had not penetrated very deeply.
But he was still afraid she might aggravate her wound, so he touched her upper body very carefully. Xie Wen tilted her head back, one arm over her eyes, not looking at anything. In Chu Xianyue's eyes, she truly seemed to be letting him do as he pleased.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes reflected her blushing face beneath him.
Xie Wen covered her eyes; in her dark world, all her senses were magnified infinitely.
She instinctively heard the sound of rain. Outside the window, in the twilight, a light rain began to fall, which was blown by the cold wind and landed on Xie Wen's cheeks, feeling icy cold.
The fine, dense rain fell, and the humid heat flowed; she felt both comfortable and a little uncomfortable, tilting her head back.
The crisp air turned sultry, and the only sounds in the air besides the pattering of rain on the bamboo forest were the sounds of intermittent breathing.
After a long while, Xie Wen opened her dazed eyes and was lifted up by a hand again. He pressed her onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her for a long time. In the rainy evening, it was hard to tell whether the sweat or the rain was on Xie Wen's forehead, but it slid down alone in the cold rain.
The rainy night was humid and sweltering, making Xie Wen feel a little breathless.
Chu Xianyue held her and kissed her for a while, then picked her up and carried her to the bathroom, patiently wiping away every red mark.
Xie Wen was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping. She was half awake and half sleepy, and she felt her body sinking down into a gentle embrace.
She didn't remember how she washed herself, got dressed, and was carried to bed by him, falling into his warm embrace. It seemed to have been raining all night outside, the pattering rain echoing in Xie Wen's ears along with his even breathing, making her feel very at peace.
Xie Wen mumbled in a daze, "Chu Xianyue, it's raining, did you close the windows properly?"
Chu Xianyue opened his eyes and pulled Xie Wen closer to him until his chin was against her head and he could feel her breath on his chest. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, lower his head and kiss Xie Wen's forehead, and whisper, "Close the window."
Xie Wen slept soundly, offering no response. The room was silent; it seemed as if the only sounds in the world were the rain outside and the two people embracing each other.
Before he knew it, the sound of rain had stopped, and the morning light shone through the window paper. A hand pushed open the window frame, and Chu Xianyue looked out the window. After a night of rain, the road was muddy, and every bamboo leaf was bright green after being washed by the rain. In the morning light, the raindrops on the bamboo leaves were round and lovely, sparkling with a bright light.
The person in his arms suddenly shifted twice. Chu Xianyue looked down and met a pair of hazy eyes. Xie Wen had his eyes open and was looking at him.
Xie Wen felt that no matter what position she changed throughout the night, she would eventually fall into his arms. He let Xie Wen rest her head on his arm and chest. Xie Wen got up and asked him, "Isn't your arm numb?"
Chu Xianyue shook his head, "You're very light." She fell into his arms, like a kitten lying on him.
Xie Wen couldn't help but smirk, "Aren't you getting up?"
Chu Xianyue pulled Xie Wen into his arms again, hugging her with obvious affection before letting go. After he got up, Xie Wen remained on the bed. She reached out a hand to Chu Xianyue, who grasped it instinctively. In the next instant, he pulled her up abruptly with such force that she lost her balance and nearly bumped into his chest.
Fortunately, he caught her in his arms in time. Xie Wen looked up at Chu Xianyue reproachfully; no one would believe he hadn't done it on purpose. Chu Xianyue seemed unwilling to argue, his eyes clearly saying, "I did it on purpose, so what?" Xie Wen angrily punched him. Chu Xianyue, however, just laughed.
Xie Wen suddenly asked Chu Xianyue seriously, "Where exactly is this place?"
Apart from the bamboo forest, there are mountains and scattered fields of fertile land and vegetable gardens. In the distance, you can vaguely see a few lonely little houses standing amidst the distant mountains and misty clouds.
"The land of Youzhou," Chu Xianyue replied.
This is the only place that exists independently of both the Immortal Capital and the Dynasty. This small world is dotted with hills, and as far as the eye can see, there are endless mountain ranges. It is the farthest from the Immortal Capital and the Dynasty, located in the most border area.
Xie Wen asked, "How did you find such a place?"
Chu Xianyue: "I had this idea before, but I never knew if you were willing." Would you be willing to start over with me here, incognito?
Xie Wen opened his mouth, "How far is this from the city center?"
Chu Xianyue's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "It's not far. We'll arrive in a quarter of an hour by flying on our swords."
Xie Wen glanced at Chu Xianyue, thinking he would take her to some remote place, but they ended up causing trouble after only a quarter of an hour on his sword? It wasn't exciting at all.
Chu Xianyue asked, "What's wrong? Do you think it's far?"
Xie Wen pursed her lips, of course she couldn't let her down. She shook her head and said, "Perfect, let's go buy some groceries."
"What do you want to eat for lunch? Are you going to cook for yourself?" Xie Wen suddenly thought of some unpleasant memories, recalling the pain of being tortured by scrambled eggs in the past. This time, she said decisively, "I don't want to eat scrambled eggs anymore."
"Okay," Chu Xianyue readily agreed.
Xie Wen then asked, "Can you do anything else?"
Chu Xianyue answered very frankly this time, "No."
"If you don't know how, you can learn. Cooking is just a meal, what's so difficult about it?"
Xie Wen disagreed. Remember Chu Xianyue's words now.
Instead of using their swords to travel to town, they took a passing oxcart. Several farmers also traveled with them to the market. Chu Xianyue sat on the very edge of the oxcart, his arm around Xie Wen, completely encircling her. The oxcart was covered in weeds and mud; sitting there, there was no need to worry about appearances.
Moreover, when the carriage started moving, it was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and it was always shaking, making Xie Wen's buttocks suffer. Chu Xianyue looked at Xie Wen with a half-smile and silently put some dry grass under Xie Wen's buttocks.
There was no use in regretting it now. Xie Wen had suggested that since they were to start over, they should abandon everything from the past and stop using spiritual power. How about just being two ordinary people?
Chu Xianyue had no objection.
However, nowadays, when the oxcart went over the mountain road, the ground was covered with mud and dirt, making it very slippery. Several times, the jolts nearly threw the people on the oxcart off. This made Xie Wen really regret getting on the oxcart.
An elderly woman with a hunched back almost fell into the mud pit, but Xie Wen was quick-witted and managed to pull her out and steady her.
Chu Xianyue was wholeheartedly devoted to Xie Wen.
The old woman held Xie Wen's hand and thanked him repeatedly. Xie Wen scratched his head and said it was no need. The old woman still looked like she was still shaken. After a long while, Chu Xianyue silently took Xie Wen's hand from the old woman's. Xie Wen looked at Chu Xianyue, who had his eyes downcast and said nothing.
The others then noticed the couple. Since they all lived in the surrounding area, people in small towns often knew each other. Now that two unfamiliar faces had appeared, they couldn't help but ask, "Are you two new here? Where are you from?"
Xie Wen replied, "Yes, I just moved here and I'm not familiar with the area yet. I live in the bamboo grove area."
"Oh, is that so? Are you a newlywed couple? Are you going to town to prepare things? If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
Upon hearing this, Xie Wen didn't know whether to nod or shake her head. Logically speaking, she and Chu Xianyue were not yet married, so how could they be considered husband and wife? But if they weren't husband and wife, what were they?
Chu Xianyue then gripped her hand tightly, pinched the base of her thumb, and said softly, "Yes, she's still a little shy."
Xie Wen smiled at Chu Xianyue, whose expression remained unchanged, as if they had truly been married. At that moment, the oxcart jolted, and Xie Wen uncontrollably leaned into Chu Xianyue's arms, which he readily embraced. It was all so natural, and everyone else witnessed it. Now they were even more certain: what else could these two be but husband and wife?
Moreover, these two didn't look like people from the deep mountains at all; instead, they had the air of cultivators from the rumors. Both were also quite handsome, a perfect match, and didn't look like farmers at all. They simply assumed the young couple had come to experience life.
After getting to know this elderly woman, she became very welcoming. She said that we could just call her Aunt Zhao, that's what everyone in the surrounding villages calls her.
After getting off the bus, the two parted ways with several kind and enthusiastic elderly women. Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue strolled around the market. Xie Wen felt that they lacked everything and wanted to buy everything. "Hey, do we need this pillow? We only have one pillow at home. It's not good for me to keep sleeping with my head on your arm."
Chu Xianyue didn't make a statement, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but Xie Wen had a gut feeling that Chu Xianyue didn't really want it.
Why does he like to hold her while sleeping so much?
She never imagined that Chu Xianyue would be so clingy.
Xie Wen decided to give up on that idea and didn't buy a pillow in the end, but he still bought a lot of other things, all of which were carried by Chu Xianyue. He followed behind Xie Wen, taking care of carrying the things and paying for them.
When the two finally arrived at the market after a long and arduous journey in an oxcart, it was almost noon. They decided to find a noodle shop by the roadside and have a bowl of noodles for lunch. Although the roadside stall was inconspicuous, the noodles were very delicious. Xie Wen slurped up his noodles, while Chu Xianyue ate wontons. Xie Wen looked up through the rising steam at Chu Xianyue's focused eating, putting wontons into his mouth one by one. With his stunningly handsome face, it was a truly pleasing sight for Xie Wen to watch as he ate.
He suddenly raised his hand and wiped Xie Wen's lips. "There's soup in it."
Xie Wen subconsciously licked her finger, accidentally touching Chu Xianyue's finger. She smiled at him. Chu Xianyue was stunned for a moment, barely suppressing the urge to kiss her.
After finishing their meal, the two strolled around the market for a while, buying many things that Xie Wen found useful. As the sun set, the market vendors began to pack up, and there were few pedestrians as everyone rushed home for dinner.
Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue then boarded the oxcart to return home, and the journey was bumpy again. When they returned, it was just the two of them.
Xie Wen, carrying the large and small bags she had bought, lay back on the oxcart. The trees and houses receded into the distance, and the setting sun shone on her face, illuminating every single hair on it. Chu Xianyue suddenly leaned closer, lay down as well, and subtly kissed her cheek.
He asked, "What are we having for dinner?"
Do you cook?
"Um."
"Whatever you want."
"good."
The two didn't reach the cottage in the bamboo forest until the sun had completely set and the stars had come on.
Chu Xianyue was cooking, while Xie Wen was in the courtyard taking stock of the things they had bought. He was figuring out where to put the comb and bronze mirror, where to put the teacups and teapot, and the vase...
Xie Wen happily put everything he bought back in its place, making it look just like he was decorating a new house. After Xie Wen finished tidying up and stepped outside, he immediately smelled an unpleasant burning odor. Looking towards the kitchen, sure enough, thick black smoke was rising into the sky again…
Xie Wen rushed to the kitchen to rescue Chu Xianyue. The two coughed loudly in the courtyard. Xie Wen said, "This house is not like the house in Feiying Pavilion. It can't withstand your antics. You'd better take it easy."
As soon as he finished speaking, a pair of people carrying torches and buckets of water suddenly emerged from the woods not far away. They poured water down the fire, turning the kitchen, which had been filled with flames and black smoke, into a charred mess.
"Good heavens, it's you! You scared us half to death this late at night." It was Aunt Zhao, whom we had met during the day.
Xie Wen scratched his head and said, "I'm sorry, his cooking is indeed a bit over the top. It's alright, thank you all."
Aunt Zhao understood immediately. The two looked like they'd only recently married, so it was normal for them to be unfamiliar with many aspects of life. "Newlyweds," she said, "everything's new to them, that's normal. If you don't understand anything, you can ask Aunt Zhao. Don't be shy, Aunt Zhao lives on that hilltop, not far away." She pointed in a direction.
Xie Wen looked over and could indeed vaguely see a few fireflies-like faint lights on the dark mountainside.
Aunt Zhao suddenly became serious and said, "Oh, by the way, it seems there's been some kind of evil spirit around here lately. Didn't something strange happen in the Immortal Capital not long ago? I heard the barrier was broken, and the evil spirits have all come out, causing trouble everywhere. I heard that some immortal lords used water from that river to flood every household, so that if they hid in the water, they wouldn't be afraid of the evil spirits. I wonder if it's really that magical? But our place is too remote; we don't have any running water. We just have to be careful..."
After giving them many more instructions, Aunt Zhao and the others left, carrying their torches, and went home.
Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue exchanged a glance. Chu Xianyue immediately knew what she was thinking. Chu Xianyue said, "No rush. It looks like a little evil spirit. I'll go with you tomorrow."
Xie Wen said, "Okay."
Hearing what Aunt Zhao said, she couldn't help but think of what happened in the Immortal Capital, and asked Chu Xianyue, "Is everything peaceful in the mortal realm and the Immortal Capital now? Is Jin Huaran really dead?"
She seemed unable to completely let go of everything from the past, and couldn't help but worry.
"I took you away after everything stabilized. Don't worry, that person is really dead. I saw it with my own eyes." Chu Xianyue hugged Xie Wen, pressed her against his chest, and rested his chin on her forehead, nuzzling her gently to comfort her. Xie Wen's anxious heart finally calmed down a little.
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