“I wasn't running around. I was looking for you.”
Song Yao walked over to the table with practiced ease and sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea. “I saw the Black Bird and thought I'd save it. I figured it might lead me to you.”
There was no barrier around the nameless peak, and the weather was cold. The tea had been sitting in the courtyard for a while, blown by the wind, and had gone somewhat cold.
Before she could drink it, Zhu Zhao took the cup from her. Spiritual energy flared in her palm, warming the tea before she handed it back. “Why were you looking for me?”
Song Yao had intended to get straight to business, but seeing her rare, considerate gesture, she couldn't help but feel a playful itch. “Can't I look for you even if there's nothing wrong?”
Zhu Zhao choked slightly on her words and glanced at the Black Bird, which was taking up most of the courtyard.
The Black Bird: “...”
Fine.
Message received.
It would beat it.
Feeling extremely aggrieved, it flapped its wings, let out a screech at Song Yao, and turned to fly into the woods.
With the courtyard now empty, Zhu Zhao looked down at her and took half a step closer.
The sense of pressure and her sheer presence were a bit too strong. Song Yao paused with the teacup at her lips, blinking as she reminded her, “We're on the same side now, you know. If you beat me to death, you'll lose another helper...”
Before she could finish, a sudden warmth draped over her shoulders.
A snow-white cloak was draped over her head, wrapping her tightly in its crisp scent of pine.
Zhu Zhao leaned down, quickly tying a neat bow at her chest, and pulled the oversized hood over her head as well. “The weather hasn't warmed up yet,” she said flatly. “If your body is weak, wear more clothes.”
Song Yao froze, feeling as though she had discovered a whole new world.
Why did it feel like Zhu Zhao's temper had improved by leaps and bounds since she returned from her rebirth?
Now she was actually worried about her catching a cold?
In the past, wouldn't she have wished for her to freeze to death in the snow?
Finding this incredibly novel, she gulped down the water in her cup. Pushing her luck, she poured another and held it out to Zhu Zhao. “More.”
Zhu Zhao took it, warmed it to the perfect temperature, and handed it back.
Song Yao: “!”
So submissive and obedient?
Could there be a conspiracy?
She bit the rim of her cup, thought for a moment, and probed, “On such a cold day, I'd like some warm wine. Do you have any?”
Zhu Zhao's brow furrowed slightly as if in hesitation. After a moment, she actually turned back into her room and brought out a small flask. She heated it casually, then poured it into a small porcelain cup. “Alcohol clouds the mind. Just two cups. Don't overindulge.”
Song Yao: “!!”
She really was this easy to talk to!
She gave an appreciative hum and took two sips of the warm wine. “Then... then I want some peach pastry. I'm hungry.”
Zhu Zhao pursed her lips, seeing right through her intentions.
Was she testing how far she could push her indulgence?
In the past, she would make outrageous demands, asking her to hand over all her money for her to spend, or to capture a few great demons for her to play with. She would never make such trivial, harmless requests.
What on earth had happened to make her so gentle and cautious?
Zhu Zhao couldn't wrap her head around it. She left in silence, returning a short while later with some pastries, which she set on the table. “Resources are limited, and we can't go out. I couldn't buy from your favorite shop. These were made by Fifth Elder's husband earlier.”
Song Yao: “!!!”
Zhu Zhao had definitely been bewitched!
She was literally giving her whatever she asked for!
She opened the food box, took out a piece of the peach pastry, and began to munch on it.
Seeing her obediently eating the peach pastry, Zhu Zhao felt an even deeper sense of frustration and sorrow swell within her.
It shouldn't be like this.
She shouldn't have had to suffer so much.
Zhu Zhao hesitated, wanting to ask if there was anything else she wanted or wanted to do. After wavering for a long time, she finally spoke: “Song Yao...”
Just as she spoke, Song Yao finished her piece of peach pastry and looked up at her, eyes sparkling with anticipation as she beat her to the punch: “Zhu Zhao, can you and Fourth Junior Brother do a double cliff-dive for me to watch?”
Zhu Zhao: “?”
A moment later, Song Yao huddled pitifully and regretfully on the soft couch in the corner of the room, reaching out from inside the heavy cloak to rub her pinched, reddened cheek.
Oh well.
She had gotten too greedy this time.
Zhu Zhao hadn't been bewitched.
And she wouldn't just agree to anything.
Had she known, she should have taken it step-by-step and asked her to jump off a building first.
Jumping off a cliff was still too extreme.
Let alone a double cliff-dive.
Zhu Zhao stepped back inside and closed the door. As her spiritual energy seeped out, the chilly room instantly grew much warmer.
She cast a cold glance at Song Yao. “What are you still doing here? Aren't you going back to the Pill Pavilion?”
Seeing that their hard-won progress in their relationship had taken a step backward, Song Yao sat up straighter and pulled down her hood.
Her naturally cold, somewhat aloof face now had a bit of color in it.
She sighed, adopting the tone of an elder. “Are you really in such a hurry to chase me away just because of a joke, Zhu Zhao? You've pinched me several times now, so we're even. Besides, you didn't actually jump. We're in a life-and-death partnership now, relying on each other. How can we just bicker and fall out like we used to? How about this...”
She looked up at her, tilting her face with utmost sincerity. “I'll take a loss and let you pinch me a couple more times.”
Zhu Zhao looked down, her gaze catching the faint red mark on Song Yao's pale skin, her moist eyes beneath long eyelashes, and her slightly pink, soft lips glistening with a trace of tea.
Her breath hitched slightly. Instantly averting her gaze, she turned to walk toward the door, her voice stiff. “I don't have time. You can owe me.”
Seeing her about to leave, Song Yao quickly called out, “Hey, wait! I haven't even told you the important thing yet.”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
After rambling for so long, she actually had serious business.
Her steps paused, and she withdrew her hand from the door. “Speak.”
Song Yao stood up and walked over to her. “You're teaching the Beiyao Sect disciples techniques, and you had me follow them to the Pill Pavilion. Is it to drive a wedge between the Taiqing Pavilion and the Beiyao Sect?”
Zhu Zhao nodded. “More or less. They made the request, and we simply went with the flow.”
Song Yao: “So you're waiting for them to turn on each other, then you'll find an opportunity to reclaim control of the Nine Saints Hall?”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
She paused, appearing to hesitate over whether to share, before replying succinctly, “Yes. We are waiting for Ye Chongguang to make his move.”
Song Yao had no intention of interfering too much, nor did she press any further. She gave an understanding nod. “In that case, I might have just moved your plans up.”
Zhu Zhao was taken aback. “What?”
Song Yao cleared her throat and recounted what had just happened. “The Taiqing Pavilion cultivators staying in the Nine Saints Hall have already found out what the Beiyao Sect is up to, and they've already contacted the Second Elder of the Taiqing Pavilion. I eavesdropped on them for a bit. From the looks of it, they'll probably make a move very soon. If you have a plan, you might want to start getting ready so you're not caught off guard.”
Zhu Zhao's attention, however, completely drifted. Her brow furrowed deeply. “You followed them all by yourself just now?”
Song Yao nodded and smiled. “Of course. If we're going to sow discord, shouldn't we infiltrate deep inside and pick a big target?”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
Rate on N.U.
