Murmurs

Qi Xianqing had originally thought that since Yan Jue was a fox demon, she should at least know a little something about taking yang to replenish yin.

But she quickly discovered that Yan Jue really didn’t know anything at all.

Under the dim light, those amber phoenix eyes stared at her without blinking, the corners faintly tinged with red; she looked utterly terrified.

Qi Xianqing closed her eyes.

This was what she owed Yan Jue.

Qi Xianqing was a sword cultivator. Her spiritual power was pure and overwhelmingly yang; coupled with the Immortal Spirit Physique’s fatal attraction to demons and evil things, even getting close to her was enough to make Yan Jue lose control.

Yan Jue had never imagined that Qi Xianqing would teach her, hand in hand, how to cultivate this way.

Yan Jue kept feeling that this woman was deliberately seducing her.

Qi Xianqing seemed to have a natural kind of magic, especially when she held you from behind and whispered in your ear, “Do you still want to continue?”

She liked Qi Xianqing too… She simply had no way to refuse her.

These past few days had been pure torture for Yan Jue, something caught between hell and heaven.

The cave was dimly lit.

Yan Jue lay on the ground, her fair cheeks faintly flushed. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, instinctively biting down on her back teeth, and could only feel the sweet scent of the Immortal Spirit Physique surging into her nose in wave after wave, sending shivers through her again and again.

She wanted to cry; it was the kind of feeling one had only when tasting the finest delicacies in the world.

By the end, Yan Jue’s expression was completely beyond her control.

But no matter how fiercely she glared at Qi Xianqing, Qi Xianqing only patted her back and soothed her in a soft voice.

By the time dawn came the next day, it was already over.

Yan Jue slept for a brief while and slowly lifted her heavy eyelids.

Because the fragrance of the Immortal Spirit Physique was so clear and sweet, the first thing Yan Jue did upon opening her eyes was lean toward Qi Xianqing’s neck.

Qi Xianqing’s eyes were half-closed; she was still asleep.

Her sleep was very light. Sensing Yan Jue’s movement, she opened her eyes.

Yan Jue frowned. Lacking encouragement, she grew timid again for a moment, until Qi Xianqing’s soft hand pinched the back of her neck and gently patted her back.

Qi Xianqing: “It’s fine. Just do it the way you did yesterday.”

Her tone seemed to hold endless patience.

Yan Jue sat up, turned over, and pressed Qi Xianqing down before taking a deep breath.

After a day of adjustment, she had already grasped the essence of this method of cultivation, drawing in the excess spiritual energy that overflowed from Qi Xianqing and gradually merging it with her own meridians.

Qi Xianqing slowly closed her eyes; a faint flush rose to her cheeks, and even her breathing grew heavier.

Yan Jue’s mind went blank for a moment.

Too comfortable.

No wonder there were so many fox demons in this world who were willing to survive by absorbing human yang energy.

What’s more, this was the yang energy of a sword cultivator with an Immortal Spirit Physique, pure and untainted.

This was only a superficial taste. Yan Jue vaguely felt that true dual cultivation should not be this gentle, but for her, this was already enough.

This was the female lead’s yang energy; it was the scent of the person she liked…

Emotion and reason were tearing wildly at each other inside her heart, and in the end, reason collapsed.

Yan Jue finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She buried her face in Qi Xianqing’s embrace and cried softly.

“Why are you crying?” Qi Xianqing was slightly taken aback, seeming unable to understand.

Then she reacted and asked in a soft voice, “Are you still hungry?”

Qi Xianqing leaned against the rock wall, her gaze patient and indulgent as her arms circled Yan Jue’s waist, her palm gently patting her back.

Yan Jue opened a pair of eyes shrouded in misty tears and looked at Qi Xianqing. Their gazes met briefly in the darkness; then Yan Jue slowly opened her mouth and instinctively bit down on her neck.

Qi Xianqing froze slightly. Her waist softened involuntarily, and her whole body pressed tightly against the rock wall, nearly unable to sit steady.

That skin, clear and white as snow, was soon covered by a thin layer of red.

This fox was biting people now.

When it was still a fox, it had never bitten anyone.

The cave had already been sealed off with a temporary formation; no one could detect the aura inside.

After Yan Jue finished taking in Qi Xianqing’s energy, she was unquestionably full.

Once she had eaten and drunk her fill, she collapsed at once on the ground and didn’t want to move.

Under the dim light, Yan Jue’s inner robe was drenched in sweat. Habit made her want to curl up and digest for a while, but the next instant Qi Xianqing pulled her into her arms, hooked damp strands of hair behind her ear, and asked, “Want more?”

Yan Jue instantly felt insulted and glared at her fiercely.

Qi Xianqing had only ever learned the fox demons’ method of taking in and replenishing from a few books, and she had never experienced anything like this herself.

Just now, she had been teaching by pure guesswork.

She hadn’t expected this little thing to be so gifted; after stumbling through it a few times, she had learned.

Qi Xianqing herself was also in rather a sorry state.

Yan Jue had bitten her arm several times, and her collar had been tugged open during the collisions.

Yan Jue closed her heavy eyelids and burrowed around in her embrace, rubbing her face against the palm of her hand.

That was completely the instinctive behavior of a little fox.

Even in such an unsightly moment, Yan Jue was still able to control her actions.

Qi Xianqing looked down at her and suddenly felt that she could unconditionally indulge the person before her.

But then Qi Xianqing frowned again.

In a certain sense, Yan Jue didn’t even really count as hers yet.

How was she supposed to tell her what she was thinking?

Yan Jue, drowsy from the fragrance of the Immortal Spirit Physique, was still a little unable to tell whether she was a fox or a human right now. Her narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she whispered to Qi Xianqing, “I like you, but I’m scared…”

Qi Xianqing’s heart stirred, and she immediately asked, “Why are you scared?”

Yan Jue closed her eyes. “You hate demons.”

Then Yan Jue began to cry. “What am I supposed to do…”

“Little fox baby.” Qi Xianqing smiled a little and lowered her head to look at her. “But I don’t hate you.”

Qi Xianqing’s voice had always been clean and clear; now that she was speaking in such a soft, gentle way, Yan Jue was quickly soothed.

Yan Jue closed her eyes and fell asleep with peace of mind.

Qi Xianqing’s fingertips lightly traced Yan Jue’s delicate face, a rare glimmer of greed flashing in her eyes. Then the talisman at her waist suddenly trembled.

Qi Xianqing had already recovered her Divine Sense a few days ago, so now she could sense the message within the transmission talisman.

She had delayed going to find her master for so long; she hadn’t expected her master to come looking for her first.

Qi Xianqing sighed inwardly, stood up, and was about to go out, but Yan Jue’s arms tightened around her waist.

Yan Jue had her eyes closed; her black lashes were somehow already wet with tears, and she was making a terrible fuss. “Can’t you not leave?”

Qi Xianqing couldn’t help but laugh. This little thing was really clingy.

-

When Yan Jue woke again, she felt much better.

Not only was her body comfortable; even her whole being felt lighter than ever before.

For a moment, Yan Jue even thought she was lying on the little bed in her Five Dragons Sect dormitory.

She moved her eyelids and opened her eyes, only to find the surroundings pitch-black.

The Spirit-Transforming Pearl was placed in the center of the cave, silently illuminating the entire space.

Yan Jue widened her eyes slightly and stared at the pearl in silence.

Her consciousness gradually returned.

Though she had been fuzzy these past few days, she had not reached the point of amnesia. Recalling the hellish experiences of the last few days, her world seemed to collapse at once.

A few days ago, her spiritual energy had been greatly depleted, and she herself had been too muddled to be fully aware, but now that she was clear-headed and thinking carefully…

Just what, exactly, had she done?

It seemed that in this cave, she had absorbed Qi Xianqing’s yang energy.

She had actually done such a beastly thing to Qi Xianqing…!

Yan Jue was suddenly plunged into an ice cellar; all the blood in her body seemed to run backward.

Suddenly, the crisp sound of water reached her ears.

Yan Jue slowly turned her head, and when the corner of her eye caught sight of the direction of the sound, she couldn’t help but freeze.

Qi Xianqing wore a white robe and a pale blue jade hairpin. She was kneeling beside the small, naturally formed stream in the cave, cupping clear water to wash her face.

A ray of sunlight seeped in from outside the cave, with water droplets rolling down the girl’s fair face.

Her skin was as crystalline as snow, and the slender neck beneath it still held a blush of red.

Bite marks.

After a period of deliberate training, Qi Xianqing’s Divine Sense had long since recovered to its strongest state. If anyone were staring at her, she would detect it in an instant.

Qi Xianqing lifted her peach-blossom eyes; her clear gaze met Yan Jue’s.

Yan Jue immediately shut her eyes.

A hint of amusement flashed in Qi Xianqing’s eyes. She slowly stood and walked toward her at an unhurried pace with her hands clasped behind her back.

The wind lifted her skirt; Qi Xianqing had an extraordinary bearing.

They always said the person being taken by dual cultivation would suffer a great loss of spiritual energy, but Qi Xianqing looked to be in excellent spirits.

She was like an immortal maiden, stepping on lotus flowers with every stride.

Yan Jue grew frightened, and the scene from several days ago flashed through her mind like a film reel, vivid and indecent.

Qi Xianqing was coming over. What was Qi Xianqing going to do?

Kill her?

Yan Jue remembered that in the last moment before her consciousness collapsed, Qi Xianqing seemed to have called her, “Little fox baby.”

How had Qi Xianqing found out? It didn’t matter. Yan Jue felt she had hidden herself very well; as long as she denied it to the death, Qi Xianqing would not…

Back then she had only cared about her own pleasure. Had she forced Qi Xianqing?

Forcing the female lead—this was the sort of thing that would bring heavenly punishment.

As Yan Jue was thinking, she suddenly heard Qi Xianqing beside her clear her throat.

Yan Jue couldn’t help but feel her nose sting.

“Junior Sister, there’s no need to be nervous.” Qi Xianqing sat down beside her and lowered her head to look at her. “I only want to ask you one question.”

One question…

Yan Jue looked up, her amber phoenix eyes glaring at her. “What question?”

Qi Xianqing looked at the tips of her ears, already red, and asked leisurely, “A few days ago, you used so much of my yang energy.”

Yang energy… Yan Jue nearly wanted to cry. She hugged her head and shrank into the corner; sure enough, she was going to bring this up. Since Qi Xianqing had already said it out loud, that meant her identity was no longer a secret.

Qi Xianqing had really discovered who she was.

“Junior Sister Yan.”

To Yan Jue, Qi Xianqing had always been a very forceful person.

Just as Yan Jue covered her head and wildly imagined how Qi Xianqing would denounce her with righteous indignation, Qi Xianqing suddenly lowered her eyelids and, unexpectedly somewhat weakly, said, “You took liberties with me.”

Yan Jue’s movements froze.

Qi Xianqing asked seriously, “Aren’t you going to take responsibility for me?”

The cave was very quiet. Qi Xianqing’s voice wasn’t loud, but it burst like thunder beside Yan Jue’s ears, exploding her brain into fireworks.

Yan Jue stared at Qi Xianqing, first making a quick effort to confirm whether the other woman was joking before she stammered, “You’re just making fun of me…”

In any case, Qi Xianqing had already discovered her identity and hadn’t shown any obvious intent to kill her. That meant she was safe.

There was no point hiding anymore, either.

It was just that when she thought of all the foolish things she had done to Qi Xianqing while she was a little fox, Yan Jue wanted to slam her head into the rock wall and die on the spot.

“Hm?” Qi Xianqing lightly kicked her lower leg. Her tone was soft and ambiguous. “I’m asking you a question.”

Yan Jue’s eyes darted around, not knowing how to answer. “Ask another one.”

Her voice was a little hoarse, carrying a nasal tone.

Qi Xianqing heard it and her heart softened before she steadied herself, speaking slowly, “Junior Sister is a Pure Yin Physique, while I possess the purest sword intent. Our physiques are naturally compatible; if used properly, it will be very beneficial to cultivation.”

Then Qi Xianqing asked again, “Is Junior Sister Yan willing to dual cultivate with me?”

Another thunderclap exploded over Yan Jue’s head.

Qi Xianqing’s expression was exceptionally serious. Yan Jue only glanced at her once before immediately looking away.

What the heck; could it be that when Qi Xianqing was being taken by her, she had been thinking about this the whole time?

Was this the brain circuitry of a top student?

She had already taken in Qi Xianqing’s energy. How intimate a thing was taking in and replenishing, after all?

Even if Yan Jue didn’t understand much, she still knew the most basic common sense.

Looking at Qi Xianqing now, she didn’t seem like she had been forced; instead, she looked almost willing.

Could it be that Qi Xianqing also…

Yan Jue didn’t dare think further.

She turned her already-red face away and muttered, “I’m not willing. I’m a demon; how can a demon dual cultivate with a human?”

She liked Qi Xianqing too. After taking Qi Xianqing’s yang energy, Qi Xianqing’s words sounded more seductive than ever.

But Yan Jue wasn’t a child; of course she couldn’t just leap up happily and go dual cultivate with Qi Xianqing because of a single sentence.

She still knew what dual cultivation meant.

Qi Xianqing was the chief senior disciple of the righteous immortal sect, while she was a demon. If the two of them really dual cultivated, they would be taking on enormous risk.

“Do the old books say that demons can’t dual cultivate with humans?” Qi Xianqing looked toward the sunlight outside the cave and said casually, “I only know that compatible spiritual roots can dual cultivate; people with twin swords can try dual cultivation; and those who share mutual feelings can dual cultivate.”

Before she even finished speaking, Yan Jue asked back, “Do we share mutual feelings?”

“Do I like you?”

Her tone was sharp, but Qi Xianqing faced the question without the slightest panic. Instead, the corner of her mouth lifted. “That was acknowledged by Junior Sister a few days ago, personally.”

Yan Jue really wanted to swear. Back when she was so lost in passion during the taking in and replenishing, of course Qi Xianqing could ask her anything and she would answer honestly.

This old fox.

Qi Xianqing turned back and looked at her seriously. “Junior Sister, I like you too.”

Qi Xianqing added, “Maybe you’ve already known that for a long time.”

But it was also possible that she hadn’t.

In the quiet cave, only the sound of water droplets falling and the murmur of the stream could be heard.

Outside, the sunlight was bright.

Qi Xianqing’s voice was especially light, like a sword repeatedly striking Yan Jue’s heartstrings.

“My feelings for you are not the kind of feelings an elder sister has for a junior sister.”

Qi Xianqing paused, seeming to be talking to herself. “Maybe it was the first time you saved me that I developed this feeling. You didn’t give up acting righteously just because your cultivation was low; that is a rare and precious quality. That’s how I came to be drawn to you. Or maybe it was because you always stood before me with such an equal bearing.”

Qi Xianqing: “I’ve never seen anyone so much like me.”

Qi Xianqing’s voice was very low, carrying a trace of a girl’s clear softness; it was the same tone she usually used when chatting with her little fox baby. Although Yan Jue had lived for a long time in human form and had already spent a great deal of time with Qi Xianqing, she still found herself most used to Qi Xianqing speaking to her like this.

Without realizing it, the wariness in her heart toward Qi Xianqing had also faded quite a bit.

“Can we do this?” Qi Xianqing lowered her eyes to look at her; her heartbeat was beginning to speed up uncontrollably as she finally said the words she had kept hidden in her heart for so long. “I ask Junior Sister to dual cultivate with me.”

Yan Jue was stunned by her suddenly solemn tone and stared blankly at her.

Qi Xianqing hesitated. “I’ve never dual cultivated with anyone before, so I don’t have much experience. I’ll try to learn.”

She paused, then murmured, “Actually, maybe there’s no need to learn… I know the basics.”

“I’ll be good to you.”

Qi Xianqing looked at Yan Jue, whose eyes had widened slightly, and spoke with earnest gentleness. “Let’s try for one month first. If I make you uncomfortable, or if there’s anything at all that makes you unhappy, you can tell me to stop.”

“From then on, I’ll never come bother you again.”

Yan Jue still didn’t say anything for a long while, and Qi Xianqing seemed to think this was not very convincing either.

Little foxes were so afraid of her; they probably wouldn’t be very willing to dual cultivate with her, would they?

Qi Xianqing knew that Yan Jue cared most about cultivation. Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought it over, then added, “Anyway, in Junior Sister’s eyes, the most important thing in life is cultivation. Actually, I am too.”

“Since I was young, I’ve felt that cultivation is life itself. As long as it benefits cultivation, anything is fine.”

Qi Xianqing’s tone was calm and measured, as if she were patiently discussing it with her.

Yan Jue had always been a person with principles. If Qi Xianqing’s tone had been even a little more forceful, or if her attitude had been less gentle, Yan Jue would have kicked this person away from her side at once.

But now, she had never known that the usually composed and self-possessed Qi Xianqing could be so clumsy with words.

Qi Xianqing: “If the two of us dual cultivate, and both our cultivation levels can rise by a whole major tier in a short time, wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds—”

Before she could finish, her body suddenly stiffened in a rare way.

Yan Jue lifted a hand, hooked it around her neck, and gently hugged her.

In the damp cave, the girl’s embrace was warm and soft, as though it carried the temperature of sunlight itself.

“Senior Sister.” Yan Jue held Qi Xianqing, rubbing her chin against Qi Xianqing’s shoulder as she murmured softly, “I like you too.”