Chapter 14: Bashful
“Come on, eat.” Qu Weiyin said with a gentle smile, elegantly picking up a steamed bun with her delicate fingers and offering it to Qiongqi, who ignored her and continued to groom itself. Qu Weiyin’s expression suddenly turned fierce as she shouted, “Eat!”
Startled, Qiongqi let out a whine and scrambled away, clumsily trying to dive onto the bed. Its massive head nearly pushed Luo Jinxiao into the wall.
The impact nearly made Luo Jinxiao cough up more blood. She clumsily stumbled off the bed, clutching her chest as she said, “Demon Lo— I mean, Junior Shishu, it’s a Qiongqi, not a dog. It eats raw meat.”
Qu Weiyin glanced at the steamed bun in her hand, then at Qiongqi, who was now pointedly facing away from her. “Oh,” she said, turning to leave the room.
Before stepping out, she tossed the basket of steamed buns to Luo Jinxiao. “Then you eat them.”
The door slammed shut with a bang, leaving Luo Jinxiao holding a basket of meat buns, feeling rather helpless.
She reached out and stroked Qiongqi’s fur, pushing her messy hair out of her eyes with a sigh. Forbidden techniques really shouldn’t be used lightly. I almost lost my life this time.
And to think, with her level of talent, she actually managed to summon an ancient spirit beast. Even now, it felt like a dream. Luo Jinxiao poked Qiongqi again, then slowly sank into a chair to rest.
It was said that ancient spirit beasts were so rare, one might not appear for thousands of years. The one Qu Weiyin had in her past life was snatched from the distant Eastern region. And looking at its fur and droopy red eyes… it really did look like the same one.
Could it really be…? Luo Jinxiao frowned.
She hadn’t bathed in days and felt uncomfortably sticky. Picking up a basin, towel, and some soap, she was about to head out when she remembered that this was Qu Weiyin’s room. She couldn’t fly on her sword in her current state, so how was she supposed to get down?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, she noticed a large wooden tub in the center of the outer room, filled with steaming hot water. A set of clean clothes was neatly placed beside it, presumably Qu Weiyin’s.
Flower petals were scattered in the water, giving off a pleasant fragrance that was distinctly Qu Weiyin’s. Luo Jinxiao’s heart stirred. Whether it was the steam or her weakened state, she felt a flush creep up her cheeks.
So the Demon Lord is quite prepared.
She undressed and slowly eased herself into the hot water. The petals danced around her as she sank into the warmth, her stiff joints relaxing instantly. Luo Jinxiao sighed softly, leaning back against the edge of the tub with a contented smile.
The water was so comfortable that she couldn’t help but linger. Finally, she reluctantly climbed out and wrapped herself in the towel.
Just as she did, the door swung open. Qu Weiyin, with a large piece of fresh beef skewered on her sword, walked straight in.
Their eyes met. For a moment, they both froze. Suddenly aware of the chill, Luo Jinxiao quickly pulled the towel higher, about to offer a friendly smile, when she saw Qu Weiyin’s lips press into a thin line. The Demon Lord promptly turned and left, slamming the door shut with a bang.
Luo Jinxiao blinked, unsure what to make of Qu Weiyin’s reaction. Deciding not to dwell on it, she reached for the clothes and began to dress.
Outside, Qu Weiyin paused to compose herself, the image from moments ago seared into her mind. She scoffed, mocking her own reaction. To think I would be flustered by the sight of a child bathing.
The girl’s body was different from hers—her limbs long and delicate, her shoulders slender. Her face was flushed from the steam, her eyes bright and moist. Her lips, however, were a vibrant red, and the smile that played on them held a dazzling, innocent charm.
Qu Weiyin squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, her usual indifference had returned. She pushed the door open again.
Luo Jinxiao was now fully dressed. The skirt was a little short for her, revealing a sliver of her pale ankle.
Qu Weiyin’s gaze lingered there for a moment before she turned and quickly walked into the inner room.
“Junior Shishu, how do we clean this up?” Luo Jinxiao asked, following barefoot behind her with a cheerful smile. Before she could finish her sentence, Qu Weiyin lifted a hand. The messy scene instantly reverted back to its original pristine state, as if nothing had happened.
Spotting the meat, Qiongqi rushed over and snatched it up, retreating to a corner to devour it happily.
“Come here.” Qu Weiyin said without looking at Luo Jinxiao. After speaking, she gracefully sat on the bed with a commanding presence.
Luo Jinxiao froze, instinctively straightening her back as she walked obediently towards Qu Weiyin.
“Recklessly using forbidden techniques, do you have any idea how dangerous that was? If I and the other Elders hadn’t been there, with your level of cultivation, you’d be meeting the King of Hell by now.”
Qu Weiyin’s expression barely changed as she reprimanded Luo Jinxiao, but her low tone and sharp gaze were enough to send chills down one’s spine.
“If you really want to die that badly, there’s no need for such trouble. Just say the word, and I’ll grant your wish.” As she spoke, Qu Weiyin flicked her wrist. The Crescent Star Sword shot into the air, stopping just inches from Luo Jinxiao’s throat.
Luo Jinxiao’s pupils contracted, but she didn’t flinch. For some reason, she didn’t believe Qu Weiyin would actually kill her.
As expected, the sword hovered in front of her, the tip a hair’s breadth from her skin.
Surprise flickered in Qu Weiyin’s eyes. It seemed she hadn’t expected Luo Jinxiao to be completely unafraid.
“But if I hadn’t used it, wouldn’t you have been hurt?” Luo Jinxiao muttered stubbornly, feeling unconvinced.
Qu Weiyin was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by her words. She stared at Luo Jinxiao for a moment before relaxing her grip. The Crescent Star Sword slowly drifted back to its original position.
Silence descended upon the room. Luo Jinxiao kept her head bowed, while Qu Weiyin’s gaze lingered on the girl’s still-damp hair. A strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest.
It felt like something was melting.
She coughed, diverting her gaze, and then asked, “Where did you learn that forbidden technique?”
“From a book Elder Liu gave me.” Luo Jinxiao answered honestly.
“Bring it to me.” Qu Weiyin started, then shook her head. “Forget it.”
Pushing herself off the bed, she walked over to the Crescent Star Sword. With a light tap, a red glow enveloped the sword, and a little figure with a flowing red hair materialized on its hilt.
“What do you want with me? Qu Weiyin, oh Qu Weiyin, I am a noble sword spirit, and the divine Crescent Star Sword! And you dare use us to pick beef?” The little figure stamped her foot, fuming.
“Go to her room and bring me that book.” Qu Weiyin said.
“You’re treating me like a servant now?” The little figure jumped a foot in the air.
Nearby, Qiongqi, having finished its beef, sniffed the air and headed towards the sword spirit. As it pounced, the sword spirit was startled and leaped onto Luo Jinxiao’s head, clinging on with its tiny legs as it shrieked.
“You scared me to death! What is that old thing doing here?! I thought it was dead!” The sword spirit exclaimed, its jaw practically on the floor.
Qu Weiyin’s frowned. She coughed sharply, and the sword spirit, realizing its slip-up, quickly clamped its mouth shut.
“Hurry up, or I’ll use you to chop vegetables from now on.” Qu Weiyin said coldly.
Without another word, the sword spirit vanished.
Luo Jinxiao, who had been listening intently, glanced at Qu Weiyin, a thought flashing through her mind. But Qu Weiyin seemed to avoid her gaze, her eyes fixed elsewhere.
How did the current sword spirit know that the Qiongqi served under the Demon Lord two thousand years in the future?
Old thing… That sounds familiar.
“Your spiritual roots are damaged. You need to rest and recover properly. Don’t even think about using forbidden techniques or spiritual energy for the next few days, or even the gods won’t be able to save you.” Qu Weiyin said, her gaze falling on Qiongqi. A flicker of longing crossed her eyes.
“But if I can’t use spiritual energy, what if someone bullies me? What should I do?” Seeing Qu Weiyin’s conflicted expression, a mischievous thought occurred to Luo Jinxiao.
“I’ll protect you.” Qu Weiyin said without thinking, immediately regretting it as a blush crept up her neck.
She cleared her throat again, quickly looking away. “You really are useless. You can’t even fight back when bullied. Hopeless.”
