Chapter 44: Just Leaning for a Bit, Really
Chen Yin’s voice held a hint of melancholy.
But hearing those words, Yu Xiang felt a pang in her heart.
She wanted to tell him that his Junior Sister never blamed him, never thought he was a bad person.
He was always her most important family, her most beloved Senior Brother.
…But now, she didn’t know what identity she could use to say those words to him.
She hesitated several times, then finally withdrew her hand, hugging her knees and curling up on the rock.
“…I envy your Junior Sister.”
“Why?”
“Even if her Senior Brother is as bad as you say, at least he loves her.”
“Well, she’s my Junior Sister.” Chen Yin shrugged. “Who else would I dote on if not her?”
“But many people aren’t as lucky as her.”
Yu Xiang murmured softly, “There are countless people in this world who have nothing.”
“No family, no friends, their existence erased. Sometimes, even they themselves forget that they exist.”
“But even then, they don’t even have the right to die. They live every day in a hellish nightmare, for years and years.”
“Are those people pitiful?”
Chen Yin didn’t know how to answer. But Yu Xiang continued, as if talking to herself:
“Of course they are. But what can they do?”
“The idyllic world of loving masters and supportive fellow disciples, no matter how beautiful and dreamlike, doesn’t belong to them.”
“Sooner or later, they still have to return to that dark and hopeless swamp. Find a place where no one can find them and slowly rot away.”
The evening breeze grew colder, and Yu Xiang shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
Chen Yin listened to her words with his head lowered.
He engraved every word in his heart.
So this was how Xiang’er had been living all these years?
Changli Palace. The demonic path. The Mist Spirit Sect.
Chen Yin suddenly felt an urge to leave immediately, to confront these three parties and find out what had happened.
To find out who had caused Xiang’er so much pain.
But a soft voice interrupted his thoughts:
“Can I… lean on you for a bit?”
Chen Yin turned his head. Yu Xiang’s cheeks were flushed, her voice slightly awkward.
“Don’t you mind this philandering scoundrel anymore?”
“As long as you don’t move, I’ll just pretend I’m leaning on a warm rock.”
“What if I can’t help but move?”
“Then I’ll cut off your “microphone”.”
She said with a playful glare.
Chen Yin shrank back, intimidated, and remained perfectly still.
Yu Xiang hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved closer to Chen Yin, resting her head on his shoulder.
The wind softened, and the air grew quiet.
Chen Yin’s shoulder seemed to have a magical quality. The moment Yu Xiang leaned against him, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over her.
She knew she couldn’t fall asleep in front of Chen Yin, but she was reluctant to leave his warm and comforting embrace.
“…Mmm.” She let out a soft sound, like a sleepy child refusing to get out of bed.
Chen Yin coughed lightly and asked tentatively, “If you’re uncomfortable leaning like this, I wouldn’t mind holding you while you sleep—”
Clang! A slender sword plunged into the ground, inches away from Chen Yin’s crotch.
Yu Xiang’s voice was laced with resentment and annoyance. “Can you stop having those dirty thoughts?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Yu Xiang shifted into a more comfortable position and continued leaning against him. She suddenly blurted out:
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just a little tired.”
“I’m really… just leaning for a bit, okay?” she whispered.
Chen Yin didn’t expose her lie and nodded softly.
“It’s okay. Lean on me as long as you need.”
Silence returned. Yu Xiang closed her eyes and rested for a long time before suddenly asking:
“What… are your plans?”
“Once Senior Sister Shen Shuanglian recovers from her injuries, we’ll naturally leave this place as soon as possible.”
Chen Yin said half-jokingly, “But I imagine the outside world is in an uproar right now. I might have become a villain in the eyes of the public, accused of colluding with the demonic path.”
“Hopefully, we won’t be caught when we get out. Haha.”
Yu Xiang remained silent for a long time, then whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all my fault…”
“You don’t have to blame yourself. I told you I did it willingly.”
Chen Yin looked up and said slowly, “You know, you’re very similar to my Junior Sister.”
Yu Xiang’s body trembled slightly.
“My Junior Sister, she’s also a bit shy and introverted. On the surface, she’s always smiling, carefree and cheerful. But she always keeps things bottled up inside, refusing to tell anyone.”
“That’s why she’s always so worrying.” Chen Yin shook his head helplessly.
Yu Xiang was silent for a long time before finally saying:
“Maybe… your Junior Sister has her reasons.”
“Then she’s just being silly.”
Chen Yin said seriously, “Her Master is one of the most powerful Grand Clarity Realm Immortals in the cultivation world, Immortal Yu Ling. And her Senior Brother is the most handsome man in the cultivation world, me.”
“With two such powerful backers, what problem can’t be solved? Why keep it all bottled up inside?”
Yu Xiang bit her lip gently, then said weakly, “Maybe things aren’t as simple as you think.”
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
Chen Yin sighed helplessly. “As her Senior Brother, I can only wait patiently for the day she’s willing to tell me.”
…As if.
I’ll find the answers myself.
Before you, you silly girl, do something stupid.
Yu Xiang’s gaze drifted, fixated on the flowing water.
The moonlight was clear and bright, the stream flowed gently, and the Purple-Whiskered Thunder Mane Tiger by the bank licked its paws leisurely.
As the evening breeze brushed past, Yu Xiang felt a wave of irresistible drowsiness, her eyelids growing heavy.
Seeing her sleepy, cat-like expression, Chen Yin said, “If you’re really tired, just sleep for a while.”
“Mmm… I can’t.”
“Why? Afraid I’ll do something inappropriate?”
“No… I just can’t sleep.”
“No matter what important things you have to do, you need to sleep to regain your strength.”
Yu Xiang thought for a moment, then nodded softly. “Okay, but you’re not allowed to take off my veil.”
“Don’t worry.”
“No touching.”
“No problem.”
“And you’re not allowed to leave secretly.”
Chen Yin froze, then noticed the playful tone in Yu Xiang’s voice. “Don’t overthink it, I just don’t want to wake up freezing in the middle of the night.”
“Just let me sleep peacefully tonight. Okay?”
Chen Yin was silent for a moment, a gentle look flashing in his eyes.
“…I promise.”
The moonlight swayed in the breeze, and soft breathing sounds filled the air.
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