Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

As evening falls, Tongtian Peak sheds the hustle and bustle and scorching heat of the day, with only a faint crimson glow remaining on the horizon.

It looked as if someone had casually smeared a line on a velvety deep blue curtain with a brush dipped in gold powder.

The wind carried a cool breeze, which, when it blew on my body, finally dispelled some of the day's restlessness and the turmoil in my heart.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't return to his overcrowded dormitory on Dazhu Peak, nor did he seek out a secluded place to meditate.

He sat alone on the edge of Yunhai Square, on a secluded cliff edge where few people were, with his legs dangling in the air.

Beneath my feet was a surging sea of ​​clouds, gradually turning inky black with the twilight.

Unconsciously, he held a small piece of dry twig in his hand, breaking it into even smaller pieces, bit by bit.

Then throw them down, watching them be swallowed up by the sea of ​​clouds in an instant, without a sound.

My mind felt like it was stuffed with a wad of hemp thread that had been scratched by a cat.

The scene from earlier that day—Tian Ling'er's anger, Lu Xueqi's coldness, and the way "Xiao Yu" was on the verge of tears, hiding behind him…

Their eyes, their words, those piercing gazes and buzzing chatter, replayed in my mind again and again.

Tired, indescribably tired.

It's even more tiring than fighting three matches in a row.

He looked up and watched the last glimmer of light disappear on the horizon, as the stars popped out one by one, hanging there coldly and forlornly.

My heart feels empty yet heavy, as if it's filled with something, yet also as if I haven't grasped anything at all.

I don't know how long I sat there, until the night breeze had completely cooled me down.

The wind made him shiver, and he slowly stood up, patted the dust off his Taoist robe, and dragged his slightly numb legs back.

I don't want to go back to the dorm, and I don't want to see anyone.

He subconsciously headed towards the back of Tongtian Peak, towards a more secluded area with few lights.

Passing by a sparse bamboo grove, the moonlight was fragmented by the bamboo leaves, casting swaying, ghostly shadows on the ground.

Suddenly, a person emerged from behind a thick bamboo stalk—no, a white shadow.

It's a newbie.

She simply crossed her arms and leaned against the bamboo.

Her silver hair shimmered like mercury in the moonlight, and her exquisite face wore a half-smile as she looked at him, as if she had been waiting for him for a long time.

"Hey, our busy man, are you done shopping?" Xiaobai said lazily, with a hint of teasing.

Jiang Xiaochuan paused, looking at her. The restlessness and emptiness in his heart seemed to have found a temporary foothold, but he also inexplicably became wary.

"You... what are you doing here?"

"If I'm not here, where else could I be?"

Xiao Bai straightened up and walked up to him.

She was indeed taller than him, probably by more than half a head. In the moonlight, he had to tilt his head slightly to see her eyes clearly.

The warm, sweet fragrance emanating from her was particularly clear in the cool night breeze.

"You look like you've had all your energy drained by those fairies. What happened? Were you worn out by those two, and that new junior sister who just showed up today?"

She reached out and gently poked his forehead with her cool fingertips. The touch was light, yet it carried a certain intimate familiarity.

"Is that all the ambition you've got?"

Jiang Xiaochuan leaned back slightly, feeling a little embarrassed, and muttered, "None of your business."

"If I don't care about you, who will?"

Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow, then suddenly reached out and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him into her embrace.

Her embrace was warm, soft, and incredibly elastic, with that familiar fragrance that instantly dispelled the chill of the night wind, but also made him stiff.

"You...you let go!"

Jiang Xiaochuan struggled, his hand pressed against her chest, touching something warm and soft. Startled, he quickly withdrew his hand as if burned, his face turning red.

"Don't move."

Xiao Bai's voice rang out above his head, and his arms tightened even more, almost embedding him into his body.

She rested her chin on the top of his head, gently nuzzled it, and whispered a sigh.

"I'm exhausted after a long day, let me hug you for a bit. Just for a little while."

Her tone lacked its usual playfulness and teasing, and instead carried an indescribable, almost weary tenderness.

Jiang Xiaochuan's struggle suddenly weakened.

He leaned stiffly against her chest, his nose filled with her scent, his cheek pressed against the delicate, slightly cool skin of her neck, and he could feel her steady heartbeat.

The position was actually a bit awkward. He was shorter than her, and being completely encircled in her arms like this made him look like a giant doll.

But this embrace was too warm and too soft; at this moment, when he was exhausted, it was like a tempting, warm trap.

He slowly relaxed, his body was no longer so stiff, but his ears were still bright red and his heart was beating abnormally fast.

My mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts. What exactly is that old monster, Xiao Bai, up to?

It's always like this, sometimes hot, sometimes cold, sometimes close, sometimes distant, like I'm teasing him.

But every time he was at his most vulnerable and helpless, she would always appear and "pick him up" in this strong yet...gentle way.

What I couldn't do in my past life?

What past life?

The thought vaguely flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

It's definitely just Xiaobai talking nonsense again.

But... what exactly does this intimacy she shows me mean?

Love between a man and a woman?

That's impossible. She's lived for thousands of years. In her eyes, I'm probably no bigger than a tiny ant.

Maybe they were just... bored and looking for something to have fun?

Or, like getting a pet?

This realization left him feeling somewhat stifled, and also a little self-deprecating.

Forget it, why think so much? I can't break free anyway.

In despair, he buried his face even deeper into the crook of her neck and closed his eyes.

At once……

A little while later...

Xiao Bai sensed his obedience and dependence, and a triumphant smile flashed in her eyes, along with a deeper, indescribable satisfaction.

She held him, her hands gently stroking his back through his thin Taoist robe, again and again, as if soothing a cat that had finally calmed down after its fur had been standing on end.

The moonlight gently shone on the two people embracing, and the bamboo forest rustled softly.

For hundreds of years in her past life, she watched him and Lu Xueqi be deeply in love and watch Biyao wait for him with unwavering devotion, while she could only occasionally bask in warmth as a fox, like an outsider.

It's not that I don't want to, it's just that the time isn't right, and I have too many concerns.

In this life, she arrived earliest and occupied the longest time. She wanted to do all the things she wanted to do but didn't in her previous life.

It's not just about hugs and kisses, but also... keeping him firmly by your side, so that no one else can be in his eyes or his heart.

Even... to have a few little fox cubs to play with?

This thought deepened the curve of her lips.

She held him for an unknown amount of time, until Jiang Xiaochuan was almost asleep in her warm embrace, before Xiaobai finally let go of his arms and took his hand instead.

"Let's go back. There's another tough battle tomorrow."

Her hands were slightly cool, her fingers slender, yet she gripped them tightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan was dazed as she led him back, stumbling along, his mind still lingering on the warmth of her embrace and that inexplicable flutter in his heart.

As they approached the accommodation area, at the other end of the path, a figure in moonlight stood silently, seemingly blending into the moonlight. It was Lu Xueqi.

She didn't know how long she had been waiting there. The moment she saw him and Xiaobai walking hand in hand, her cold eyes suddenly narrowed, and her aura turned icy.

Xiao Bai saw her too, but instead of letting go, she gripped Jiang Xiaochuan's hand even tighter. She even deliberately raised their clasped hands slightly, meeting Lu Xueqi's cold gaze with a provocative smile.

Jiang Xiaochuan jolted awake, fully waking up. He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Xiaobai held it tightly. He looked awkwardly at Lu Xueqi, opening his mouth to speak, "Junior Sister Lu..."

Lu Xueqi didn't look at him, but stared at Xiaobai, her voice devoid of emotion: "Let him go."

"Why should I?" Xiaobai chuckled, her fingers still lingering suggestively on the back of Jiang Xiaochuan's hand.

"He's tired, so I'll take him back to rest."

"Is there a problem, Senior Sister Lu?"

"I'll let you go."

Lu Xueqi stepped forward, her gaze finally turning to Jiang Xiaochuan. Her eyes were deep and calm, yet they carried a stubborn possessiveness that startled Jiang Xiaochuan.

"Xiao Chuan, come here."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine. He looked at Xiaobai, then at Lu Xueqi.

Xiao Bai held his hand tightly. Lu Xueqi's gaze was like an icicle, piercing him.

He was caught in the middle, unable to move forward or backward.

"I..." His throat went dry.

Just as he hesitated, Lu Xueqi suddenly moved!

Her figure flashed, so fast that only a blur remained, and she instantly appeared in front of Jiang Xiaochuan. She stretched out her right hand and grabbed Jiang Xiaochuan's left wrist, which was being held by Xiaobai, with precision and force!

Her fingers were icy cold, yet incredibly strong, with an irresistible determination as she yanked hard!

Xiao Bai seemed not to have expected her to suddenly attack, or rather, she deliberately didn't put in much effort to resist.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a sharp pain in his left wrist, followed by a strong force. He was involuntarily pulled away from Xiaobai by Lu Xueqi and stumbled into her arms.

Lu Xueqi took the opportunity to loosen her grip on his wrist and instead held his hand tightly.

She used all her strength to interlock her fingers with his, holding them tightly together, her fingernails almost digging into his flesh.

Then, she looked up and coldly stared at Xiaobai, declaring with her actions: This person is mine.

Jiang Xiaochuan's hand was gripped tightly by Lu Xueqi, causing him pain, but he couldn't break free.

Lu Xueqi gripped his hand so tightly, as if she were using all her strength to crush his bones and turn them into one.

He looked up at her and could only see her beautifully shaped jawline, her tightly pursed, bloodless lips, and the turbulent, almost obsessive undercurrent in her eyes.

This Lu Xueqi made him feel both intimidated and... strangely excited.

Xiao Bai looked at their hands, which were tightly clasped together and their knuckles had turned white.

Then look at Lu Xueqi's cold expression that says, "No one can touch what's mine."

Suddenly, he burst out laughing, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night, carrying an undisguised mockery.

"Okay, okay, it's yours, it's yours."

She waved her hand, looking like she couldn't be bothered to argue, but her gaze fell on Jiang Xiaochuan's face.

Her eyes held a knowing and playful tone that said, "Look, that's how domineering she is," along with a deep-seated bitterness that only she knew.

"Little Chuan Chuan, it seems someone 'needs' you more tonight. I won't bother you then. Goodnight~"

As she spoke, she winked at Jiang Xiaochuan, giving him a charming and alluring look.

Then he turned around leisurely, and with a flash of white, he blended into the shadow of the bamboo forest beside him and disappeared, as if he had never been there.

Jiang Xiaochuan watched the direction she disappeared in. The slight emptiness in his heart caused by Xiaobai's departure was quickly covered by the increasingly clear pain in his wrist and the cold aura emanating from Lu Xueqi beside him.

Lu Xueqi still held his hand tightly, showing no intention of letting go.

She pulled him along, turned around, and headed towards the more secluded back mountain, opposite to the accommodation area for the female disciples of Xiaozhu Peak.

His footsteps were quick and hurried, carrying a suppressed anger and a certain urgency.

"Junior Sister Lu, where are you taking me? My hands hurt..."

Jiang Xiaochuan stumbled as she pulled him, his wrist aching terribly, and he couldn't help but whisper.

Lu Xueqi paused, her grip loosening slightly, but still holding on tightly.

She didn't turn around, her voice tight and trembling almost imperceptibly: "Don't speak, come with me."