The rain gradually lessened.
From torrential downpour to gentle drizzle, the mountain night was still cold but no longer windy.
The dead branches in the fire burned with crackling sounds. Though it was just a small pile, the warmth filled the entire cave.
The person beside her nodded her head bit by bit, like a chicken pecking at rice. Finally, as if she couldn’t hold on anymore, her head tilted and leaned against the young man’s shoulder.
Gu Baiying glanced sideways slightly.
The woman nuzzled his shoulder, seeming to find this corner of his clothing soft and comfortable to lean on. The dark marks on her cheeks became blurred in the dim firelight. With her eyes closed, she wasn’t as annoying as during the day—she looked quiet and gentle.
She was the culprit who had stolen the Qin Chong seed; her cultivation wasn’t particularly high, yet she was supposedly the “destined person” who could save all people from fire and water. This sounded ridiculous, but…
But…
His gaze fell on the two rough clay figurines in his palm.
But at least tonight, her presence made this moment seem less lonely.
The fat cat snored drowsily by the fire. Gu Baiying reached out to push her head away, but just as his hand was about to touch her hair, he caught sight of the cloth strips on her palm.
His movement froze. After a long moment, he withdrew his hand and let the woman sleep soundly, leaning on his shoulder.
In the night, the young man looked toward the cold, lonely mountain ranges in the distance.
Perhaps she was right—fire was warmer than talisman paper, life had more partings than meetings, and he was just a bit unluckier than others.
Life was always like this.
……
Zanxing slept through the night until dawn.
When she woke up, sunlight had already passed through the grove at the cave entrance, making her eyes ache. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, seeing Gu Baiying walking in from outside. His brocade clothing was neat as new—he must have gone to use cleaning techniques or something. Zanxing asked: “Martial Uncle, what time is it?”
“What do you think?” After Zanxing’s careful guidance last night, this person seemed completely recovered and was back to his disdainful manner: “If the sect were full of disciples as lazy as you, I think Taiyan Sect would sooner or later become the shame of the cultivation world.”
Zanxing yawned while getting up and tidying herself with cleaning techniques, saying: “I haven’t been idle these past few days. In the painted realm, I was beaten black and blue by your mother. Of course you’re fine, but my waist still hurts…”
Qinghua Xianzi was truly beautiful, and her strikes were truly ruthless.
Just as Gu Baiying was about to speak, he suddenly heard excited shouts from outside: “Junior Sister! Seventh Martial Uncle!”
It was Tian Fangfang’s voice.
Zanxing looked over with surprise and saw Tian Fangfang running toward them from near the cave, carrying his golden axe, with Meng Ying and the others behind him.
“You are here!”