Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

The days at Qingyun Mountain passed by little by little.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt like a sandwich, being pushed and kneaded by several invisible hands. It was sweet, but a little choking.

That day, Lu Xueqi took him to see the Kui Niu as promised.

The forbidden area behind Tongtian Peak is even more secluded than I imagined.

Ancient trees reach for the sky, vines intertwine, and the air is filled with the moist scent of grass and trees, as well as a kind of... subtle, unsettling pressure.

The deeper you go, the stronger the oppressive aura becomes, accompanied by subtle, crackling electric arcs that make your skin feel numb.

After passing through a dense, strange forest of lightning-struck trees, the view suddenly opened up before us.

It is a huge valley surrounded by mountains.

The valley was shrouded in mist, and a huge, bluish-gray figure could be vaguely seen lying in the center of the valley, surrounded by visible, constantly flickering blue lightning.

Each breath produced a deep, rumbling sound, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

It was a Kui Niu.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood at the entrance of the valley, gazing at the legendary primordial beast in the distance, his mouth slightly open.

It was huge, bigger than any animal he had ever seen in the zoo, it was like a small mountain.

Shaped like a blue ox, but with only one leg, which is curled up under its body.

The single horn pointed skyward, gleaming with a chilling metallic luster.

What's most terrifying is the lightning power emanating from its body. Even from this distance, you can feel the violent electric ions in the air, and your hair even stands on end.

"This...this is the Kui Niu?" Jiang Xiaochuan swallowed and asked Lu Xueqi beside him in a low voice.

"Hmm." Lu Xueqi's expression was calm, as if the person in front of her was not a ferocious beast, but a domesticated dog.

"Still getting used to it, a bit impatient, don't get too close."

As soon as the words were spoken, as if sensing the presence of a living person, the enormous creature in the valley suddenly moved, turning its huge head and looking towards the valley entrance with its copper bell-like eyes.

Those eyes were dark gold, vertical pupils, devoid of emotion, only possessing the coldness and oppressive aura unique to prehistoric beasts.

Jiang Xiaochuan's legs went weak when he was swept by that gaze. If this were released, it could probably wipe out a small to medium-sized sect, right?

"Don't be afraid." Lu Xueqi noticed his body tense up instantly, took half a step forward, and silently blocked his side.

Although this action seemed somewhat ridiculous in front of the Kui Niu, Jiang Xiaochuan felt a warmth in his heart.

He saw Lu Xueqi raise her hand and wave gently in the direction of the Kui Niu, as if she were greeting it.

Two streams of white steam crackling with electricity shot out from the giant nostrils of the Kui Niu. It snorted and its gaze lingered on Lu Xueqi for a moment, its indifferent eyes seeming to soften... by a tiny bit.

Then it glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan again, its eyes devoid of emotion, as if looking at a stone, before slowly turning back and continuing to lie there, feigning sleep, the electric light around its body subsiding somewhat.

"It...knows you?" Jiang Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a sense of wonder.

This big guy actually listens to Lu Xueqi?

"I helped it escape from Liubo Mountain, and it came back with me." Lu Xueqi said succinctly, without mentioning the bloody "submission" obtained through killing.

"It understands human nature, so as long as you don't provoke it, it's fine."

Looking at the enormous body of the Kui Niu and the terrifying aura it exuded, Jiang Xiaochuan thought to himself, "If this thing were taken for a stroll around Tongtian Peak Square, it would probably scare a whole bunch of disciples to death."

A thought inexplicably flashed through his mind: If Zeng Shushu were here, he would definitely jump up excitedly, and might even dare to go over and study how hard the Kui Niu's horns were, how thick its skin was, and what kind of strange magic weapon could be made from its saliva...

"You're thinking about Zeng Shushu." Lu Xueqi's voice suddenly rang out, clear and cold, without much inflection, but certain.

"Huh?" Jiang Xiaochuan was surprised. How could you have guessed that? "N-nothing..."

"You've thought about it." Lu Xueqi turned to look at him, her eyes calm. "Do you feel that if he were here, he would be happy?"

"..." Jiang Xiaochuan was speechless.

Does this woman have mind-reading abilities?

"Stay away from him," Lu Xueqi said calmly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible disdain. "He's not serious."

Jiang Xiaochuan instinctively retorted, "I... I'm not exactly serious either..."

He wanted to slap himself as soon as he finished speaking. What kind of talk is that?

Lu Xueqi stopped in her tracks, turned around, and faced him directly.

The wind in the valley blew the hair across her forehead, revealing her smooth forehead and clear eyes.

She looked at him intently, then tilted her head slightly, a faint, almost questioning expression seeming to flicker across her cool face.

"Are you being indecent?" she repeated, then took a small step forward, getting closer to him.

"You're being indecent... Let me see?"

Her voice was very soft, with a hint of barely perceptible curiosity or inquiry.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and she stared straight at him, as if she was really waiting for him to act inappropriately.

Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat when she looked at him, his face flushed, and his eyes darted around, unable to meet her gaze.

Show her something inappropriate? How is it inappropriate?

Several random thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but he quickly suppressed them.

"I'm going to die, I'm going to die! When did Lu Xueqi learn to say such things?"

And he said it with that innocent, aloof expression!

"I...I was just kidding..." He took a half step back, his back hitting a thick, ancient tree, with nowhere left to retreat.

Lu Xueqi took another step forward, almost touching him. She raised one hand and braced it against the ancient tree trunk beside his ear.

The familiar, oppressive feeling, carrying the crisp scent of plum blossoms, descended once again.

Come again?

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine. He wanted to hide, but there were trees behind him and she in front of him; there was nowhere to hide.

He looked at her face so close to his, his heart pounding like a drum.

Lu Xueqi didn't give him much time to think.

She leaned down, cupped his face in her other hand, and gently pressed her lips against his, forcing him to lift his head.

Slightly cool, soft, and carrying her unique scent.

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind went completely blank. His eyes widened as he stared at Lu Xueqi's trembling eyelashes, which were so close to his face.

The sensation on the lips was so distinct.

Time seemed to stand still.

The wind in the valley, the low growl of the Kui bull, and the faint chirping of birds in the distance all disappeared.

All that remained was the cool, soft touch on her lips and her shallow breaths.

It's unclear how much time passed, or perhaps just a moment, but Lu Xueqi stepped back.

Her face remained expressionless, except for a very faint, almost invisible blush rising around her ears.

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, who was still in a daze, her eyes calm, her tone matter-of-fact:

"You are my husband. This kind of thing doesn't have to be improper; we can do it."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..."

He opened his mouth, as if to say, "I'm not."

I want to say, "We're not married yet," and I want to say, "Why are you like this?"

But as the words reached his lips, he looked into Lu Xueqi's clear yet stubborn eyes and at her slightly swollen lips.

All the words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one.

He suddenly felt that there was no point in arguing anymore.

From the first time she said "You are my husband" to everything that followed.

He seems to have... acquiesced, or rather, is powerless to change this "fact".

Is it just a habit?

Or... deep down, is it that you're not actually opposed to it?

He was startled by his own thought.

Lu Xueqi watched his changing expressions, a smile flashing in her eyes, like the first melting of ice and snow.

She lowered her hand from the tree trunk and gently took his wrist instead, her fingertips feeling slightly cool.

"Let's go back," she said, taking his hand and turning to walk out of the valley, as if she weren't the one who had just given him a forceful kiss. "We've seen the Kui Niu too."

Jiang Xiaochuan was led around like a puppet, his mind still a complete blank.

The cool, soft touch seemed to linger on my lips.

He secretly glanced at Lu Xueqi's profile beside him. She was still as aloof as jade, but the blush on her ears didn't seem to have completely faded.

She...can be shy too?

This discovery calmed the panic and inexplicable emotions in Jiang Xiaochuan's heart, and even stirred up a strange ripple that he himself did not realize.

Back at Dazhu Peak, before the enchanting yet awkward atmosphere had even dissipated, Jiang Xiaochuan bumped into Xiaobai.

She was half-lying in the bamboo forest behind the mountain, on the large blue stone where he often sat, basking in the sun.

Her silver hair was spread out on the bluestone like flowing moonlight.

The moon-white dress was slightly loose, with the neckline slightly open, revealing her delicate, jade-like collarbone.

She propped her head up with one hand, her peach blossom eyes half-closed, and with the other hand she casually twirled the ends of her hair, her posture as languid as a satiated fox.

Seeing Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi return side by side, she didn't even fully open her eyes, only letting out a snort through her nose: "Oh, back from your date? Had fun watching the livestock?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed, and he tried to pull away from Lu Xueqi's hand (but failed...), stammering, "W-what date! We just went to see the Kui Niu!"

"Your lips are swollen from looking at the cows?"

Xiao Bai slowly sat up, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Xiaochuan's obviously unnatural lips.

He glanced at Lu Xueqi's still aloof face, but with a hint of softening in her eyes and brows, and chuckled.

"Junior Sister Lu, not bad. You're quick."

Lu Xueqi held Jiang Xiaochuan's hand tightly. Upon hearing this, she merely glanced at Xiaobai and said indifferently, "Xiaobai, you're joking."

"Are you kidding?" Xiaobai stood up, walked barefoot on the grass, and walked over step by step, circling the two of them as if examining something rare.

"I don't think you're joking. Little Chuan Chuan, come here, tell your older sister, are Junior Sister Lu's lips soft? Are they sweet?"

"You!" Jiang Xiaochuan's face turned bright red, both ashamed and angry, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xiao Bai had already moved closer, almost touching his other side, her warm breath brushing against his ear, her voice low and alluring: "Sister's is soft too, want to... try it?"

"Xiao Bai!" Jiang Xiaochuan jumped away like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. This time he finally broke free from Lu Xueqi's hand and hid to the side, his face so red it could bleed.

Lu Xueqi frowned almost imperceptibly, stepped forward, and stood between Jiang Xiaochuan and Xiaobai, looking calmly at Xiaobai: "Xiaobai, please have some self-respect."

"Self-respect?" Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, laughing heartily.

"Why should I be so self-conscious about being close to my husband?" She emphasized "my husband" and "my little husband" more.

Lu Xueqi's eyes turned slightly cold, and her aura seemed to drop several degrees.

Jiang Xiaochuan was caught in the middle, feeling like his head was about to explode.

One is aloof and assertive, the other is charming and unrestrained; when these two collide, it's like experiencing two extremes of ice and fire.

"You guys... stop arguing..." he said weakly.

"Who's making noise?" Xiaobai glared at him, then suddenly reached out and, with lightning speed, pecked him on the other cheek, making a soft "pop" sound.

"!"

Jiang Xiaochuan was completely petrified.

Little White, having successfully ambush her opponent, grinned like a cat that had just stolen cream. She turned and walked out of the bamboo forest, her silver hair and skirt tracing graceful arcs in the air. Her voice drifted back from afar: "Sister is going back to catch up on some sleep. Little Chuan Chuan, remember to come back for dinner tonight~"

Jiang Xiaochuan was left standing there, covering his cheek where he had been kissed, completely stunned.

Lu Xueqi stood beside him, her face growing even colder. She stared in the direction Xiaobai had left, and after a long while, she finally looked away, her gaze landing on the faint, almost invisible lip print on Jiang Xiaochuan's face.

She didn't speak, but silently took out a plain white handkerchief, dabbed some morning dew from the bamboo leaves beside her, and then raised her hand to vigorously wipe the spot where Jiang Xiaochuan had been kissed.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Jiang Xiaochuan came to his senses, covered his reddened cheek, and looked at Lu Xueqi with a wronged expression.

Lu Xueqi paused, looking at his expression. The coldness in her eyes faded, replaced by a hint of helplessness and... annoyance.

She folded the handkerchief, turned her face away, and said in a muffled voice, "Dirty."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..."

He glanced at Lu Xueqi's slightly red ears, and then thought of Xiaobai's smug look when he left. Suddenly, he felt that he was probably the "happiest" and the "most miserable" person on Qingyun Mountain.