Zhu Zhao had looked for her because of what happened in the afternoon.
This person had clearly just promised not to run around, yet she had shown up at the main peak in the afternoon, almost getting spotted by the Beiyao Sect cultivators.
She had come to demand answers, only to find no trace of Song Yao on Wangyun Peak.
Upon asking around, she learned that Song Yao was confined to Qiangua Peak and was scheduled to enter the Pill Pavilion tomorrow. So, she had come to take a look and give her a few more words of caution.
But she never in her wildest dreams expected that the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she would see Xie Zhou holding Song Yao in such an intimate posture.
She knew Xie Zhou had always been clingy with Song Yao. Before Song Yao left, both Xie Zhou and Wen Tang would constantly follow her around like shadows.
Even though she was incredibly mischievous and even though she only led them into doing wicked things, the two still chased after her, even taking an intense dislike to each other because of it.
Back then, Zhu Zhao had found it utterly absurd.
For two disciples who were otherwise quite obedient and sensible to turn against each other just to vie for a single glance from a little troublemaker was childish in the extreme.
But when she witnessed today's scene with her own eyes, she suddenly found herself harboring the very same childish thoughts.
How could Xie Zhou?
How did Xie Zhou dare?
And to put on such a pitiful, innocent act, desperately trying to win her sympathy.
Frustration and resentment swirled in her heart. Looking up, she saw Song Yao propping up her chin by the desk, looking so pitiful with her clear, bright eyes shrouded in a misty glaze. Zhu Zhao's knuckles cracked unconsciously, her gaze turning two degrees colder.
With a flick of her wrist, Yuanshan Fengming let out a sharp, piercing shriek. A touch of murderous intent flared in her eyes as she turned her head and said, “Rest for a bit. I'm going out.”
She didn't manage to leave.
Song Yao grabbed her sleeve and looked up at her. “Zhu Zhao, do me a favor, will you? Have a drink with me, okay?”
Zhu Zhao's gaze slid downward uncontrollably once more, landing on her lips.
The broken skin there had already formed a thin, light-brown scab, which looked exceptionally jarring against her reddened lips.
Her throat tightened inexplicably, and she suddenly found it laughable.
Was she angry at Xie Zhou for kissing Song Yao, or was she angry that she wasn't the one kissing her?
Zhu Zhao suppressed the urge to give Xie Zhou a thorough beating, turned around, lifted the curtain, and walked out the door.
When she returned, she was carrying two jars of wine, which she set on the table. “Under the circumstances, I could only get green plum wine.”
Song Yao nodded, eagerly waiting for her to pour the wine. “That's fine, that's fine. Green plum wine works too.”
The porcelain cups clinked with a crisp ring, and the sweet, tart aroma of the wine filled the entire room.
Though the green plum wine looked clear, its alcohol content was deceptively high. Song Yao downed several cups in a row, and a light blush quickly bloomed on her cheeks as she lowered her eyes in silence.
Zhu Zhao looked at her slightly tipsy state, her brow furrowing slightly.
It was rare to see her like this, and it was actually because of Xie Zhou.
What right did he have?
And why did she indulge him?
Even though her cultivation had somehow regressed, she definitely still had plenty of trump cards. If she really fought back, she could easily make Xie Zhou suffer.
Was she afraid of hurting Xie Zhou?
It was the same back at Black Cloud Mountain; she had constantly let Wen Tang have his way.
Since when had she decided to be a good senior sister?
In that case, could she also be a good junior sister?
But given the current situation, Zhu Zhao inexplicably couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.
With her junior brother acting like this, she probably didn't feel good either, which was why she was drowning her sorrows cup by cup.
Zhu Zhao pinched her porcelain cup. After a long moment, she let out a sigh, her expression softening. She was just weighing her words, preparing to coax her with a few gentle remarks, when before she could even speak, Song Yao suddenly looked up.
Her eyes were sparkling, devoid of even a trace of sadness or depression. She even patted Zhu Zhao's shoulder with great satisfaction. “This wine is great! Did you steal it from Master's treasury? Can you go steal two more jars for me? This isn't enough to drink.”
“...”
Half of Zhu Zhao's body went numb from the pat, and she forced the words of comfort right back down her throat.
Song Yao was probably starting to feel the alcohol. She pouted and continued to act shamelessly. “I was just bullied by Fourth Junior Brother, so I'm incredibly pitiful right now. Zhu Zhao, don't be so stingy. Besides, we don't even know where Master is right now. Since he can't drink it, I'm drinking it for him. Isn't that quite filial of me?”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
Fine.
So after all that fuss, grabbing her sleeve and begging her to drink together wasn't because she felt wronged or frustrated at all—she was purely scamming her for wine.
She should have known.
Song Yao had always loved to flirt and leave a trail of broken hearts behind her. The people who hated her numbered in the thousands, and those who fell for her were just as countless.
Yet she remained careless and unconcerned, never truly caring for anyone, nor ever sparing them much attention.
Right now, being kissed by Xie Zhou was probably no different to her than getting into a fight with someone.
She tolerated everyone, yet she never let anyone truly get close to her.
Zhu Zhao felt a strange sense of pity for those people, but on second thought, she seemed to be among them as well.
No.
Perhaps she was slightly better off than the others.
At least...
Song Yao only had her as a senior sister.
Zhu Zhao felt dizzy from her shaking. After a moment, she took the cup from her hand, poured her another, and said coldly, “Last cup. You can't have any more.”
Song Yao let out an “ah,” propping up her slightly dizzy head as she looked at her. “Zhu Zhao, you miser, Master's wine isn't your wine anyway... Fine, fine, don't look at me like that. I'll leave after this cup.”
She threw her head back and drank it in one gulp, the sweet and tart liquid sliding down her throat with a lingering kick.
She set down the porcelain cup and stood up, swaying as she raised her foot to walk out.
She didn't make it. Zhu Zhao stopped her and casually carried her back to the bed in the inner room. “Where do you think you're going?”
Song Yao thought about it sluggishly for a moment.
The main peak was currently occupied by the Beiyao Sect, Wangyun Peak was still hunting for the person who blew up the main hall this afternoon, and as for Fourth Junior Brother's place...
...it was definitely not a place fit for humans to live.
And she couldn't exactly go straight to Feng Qing and ask to move into the Pill Pavilion ahead of schedule, could she?
Calculating it this way, she really didn't have a stable place to stay right now.
She let out a yawn and simply fell backward, her head burying into the bedding in a rather shameless display of taking over the nest. “Then I'll sleep at your place tonight. Since we're from the same sect, Second Senior Sister shouldn't mind, right?”
Though her tone sounded like she was asking for permission, her eyes closed, and in the next instant, she drifted off into a deep, groggy sleep. Her breathing stabilized, having already treated this place as her own home.
Zhu Zhao: “...”
How could she fall asleep so trustingly?
What if she herself were like Xie Zhou?
What if she also did something to her?
Would she cry when she woke up?
Zhu Zhao stood by the bed, her gaze falling on her face. Inexplicably, a trace of impulse really stirred within her.
In the past, Song Yao would always hold her sword with a beaming smile and say, “What should we do, Second Senior Sister? If I beat you until you cry, it's going to be really embarrassing, you know?”
There were several times when she had indeed been nearly driven to tears of rage, swearing to hack Song Yao into a thousand pieces.
Now, the opportunity was right before her.
An opportunity to make Song Yao cry.
An opportunity to make Song Yao beg for mercy.
She stood there for a long time. In the end, she merely let out a soft sigh, went out to fetch a basin of water, and returned to wring out a cloth to wipe Song Yao's face clean, applying a little more force when she rubbed over the mark on her neck.
Probably feeling some discomfort, Song Yao let out a couple of soft groans and grabbed her arm, complaining in a mumble, “Zhu Zhao, be gentler...”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
If she found even this too rough, she really would cry if it were that.
The magnificent number one of the sword path—how did she become so delicate now?
Zhu Zhao had no choice but to soften her movements. She then helped her take off her outer robe and tucked her neatly under the blanket.
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