She nodded.
Even though she couldn’t see, that didn’t mean she was truly blind—having a ghost spirit nearby helped a bit.
Xue Baihua saw that Ah Fu was almost done tidying up, so she quietly walked up behind her, stretched out her arms, and pulled her firmly into an embrace from behind, burying her face into Xi Fuhong’s neck.
The touch of skin made her feel completely satisfied.
“Hua’er?” Xi Fuhong was holding the last piece of clothing, but Xue Baihua clung to her so tightly she couldn’t move.
“I’m not done hanging the laundry yet, let me go first, okay? Hua’er, let me go.” No matter how much Xi Fuhong pleaded, Xue Baihua stuck to her like glue.
Xi Fuhong had just let out a sigh when suddenly a warm embrace came from the front—Xiao Qiyu had pulled her into her arms. Now Xi Fuhong was caught in a double hug: Xue Baihua behind her, Xiao Qiyu in front, still holding the dripping wet clothes, her face awkward.
What was going on? It wasn’t even cold yet—wasn’t it a bit early to be huddling together for warmth? Xi Fuhong tried to twist away, but Xue Baihua just tightened her grip around her waist, holding her even closer, while Xiao Qiyu chuckled softly and smoothed Xi Fuhong’s long hair.
“Let me go.” Xi Fuhong grumbled, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
“Just a little longer…” Xiao Qiyu said softly, her breath brushing Xi Fuhong’s ear, a little teasing.
“Just for a moment…” Xi Fuhong’s cheeks flushed red, not sure whether to move or stay still.
After a while, Xiao Qiyu finally let go and stepped back.
When Xi Fuhong looked up, she saw Xiao Qiyu smiling gently at her, a warmth in her eyes that felt strangely familiar, though Xi Fuhong couldn’t quite place where she’d seen it before—or maybe she’d seen it a long, long time ago?
“I should get going now.
Miss Xi, could you guide me out?” Xiao Qiyu said quietly.
Xi Fuhong nodded and was about to take a step, but Xue Baihua still wouldn’t let go.
Guide her? Did the top disciple of Bi Xuan Palace really need someone to guide her? Xue Baihua narrowed her eyes, clearly unhappy.
She knew Xiao Qiyu was just making excuses to spend more time with Ah Fu, and now she even wanted to hold Ah Fu’s hand? Hmph!
“Hua’er, let me take Miss Xiao out of the valley, okay? If you keep holding me like this, I can’t move.” Xi Fuhong said helplessly, turning her head with a bit of a pleading look.
Even though Xue Baihua was a thousand times unwilling, she couldn’t resist Ah Fu’s request.
She pouted and slowly let go.
Finally free, Xi Fuhong stepped forward and took Xiao Qiyu’s hand, and the two of them walked toward the entrance.
Behind them, Xue Baihua bit her lip as she watched them leave, feeling miserable.
She knew Ah Fu was just leading Xiao Qiyu out, but seeing them walk away together was still a painful sight.
Could it be that Ah Fu liked Xiao Qiyu? Why did she smile at her so gently? How could Ah Fu smile so beautifully at anyone else?
Her chest tightened, and Xue Baihua squatted down in pain.
She didn’t want to see Ah Fu smile at anyone else! Didn’t want to hear Ah Fu talk to anyone else! …But she didn’t have the right to have Ah Fu all to herself…
After Xi Fuhong saw Xiao Qiyu out, she hurried back to the small house, only to find Xue Baihua squatting on the ground, looking unwell.
Frowning slightly, Xi Fuhong went over to help her up, but Xue Baihua deliberately avoided her, either sulking or just not wanting to get up.
She grabbed a stick and quickly wrote on the ground.
“Do you like… Xiao… Qiyu…” Xi Fuhong read out the words Xue Baihua had written, one by one.
Like Xiao Qiyu?
“…I don’t dislike her.” Xi Fuhong shook her head.
Miss Xiao had just arrived and hadn’t done anything to offend her, so of course she didn’t dislike her.
Besides, Miss Xiao was gentle and considerate—it was hard to dislike her.
But to say she liked her… that seemed a bit much.
Other than knowing each other, there was nothing else between them.
But Xue Baihua clearly wasn’t satisfied with that answer.
She pointed at the word “like” on the ground, then pointed at herself.
“Hua’er,” Xi Fuhong looked at her and suddenly smiled, “Hua’er is such a crybaby.”
Bathed in sunlight, Xi Fuhong seemed to glow with a soft golden light, so warm and dazzling it was hard to look at her directly.
Her smile was beautiful—so beautiful it made Xue Baihua’s heart flutter.
Hearing herself called a crybaby, it felt like a nickname only lovers would use.
Her heart filled with sweetness, her cheeks flushed, and she slowly stood up, feeling weak and light.
She reached out, one hand holding Xi Fuhong’s, the other pointing at her own cheek.
Seeing this, Xi Fuhong’s ears turned red too.
She blinked, hesitated for a moment, then quietly leaned in.
Under the setting sun, their shadows softly overlapped.
That afternoon felt like it was drenched in honey—even the breeze carried a hint of sweetness.
Author’s note: Zhuozhuo can write sweet stories too!!! It’s not all just crazy smut, sadomasochism, and messy angst!!! Was that sweet enough, dear readers~? Can you look forward to a happy ending this time? (smack)
☆ Chapter 75: Total Defeat
A yellow oriole paused on her slender finger as Lu Xiangyin smiled and teased the bird.
The grand hall was silent.
Five men knelt on one knee, none daring to speak.
Only the bird’s melodious song and Lu Xiangyin’s occasional laughter broke the quiet.
Xiao Qiyu stood beside Lu Xiangyin, hands behind her back, her expression calm and distant.
Her status was unique—she helped the Demonic Sect, but wasn’t one of them.
The top disciple of Bi Xuan Palace, now acting as a strategist here, blatantly defying her master’s orders—yet not a trace of confusion could be seen on her face.
All of this, she did willingly.
“You’re saying…” The oriole fluttered away, and Lu Xiangyin looked back.
“Chen Tanghe is hiding Luo Qingcheng?”
Her tone was lazy, not the least bit surprised, as if she were discussing the weather.
The man in the hall, hearing this, cupped his fists, his burly body suddenly rising, face full of grief and anger.
Just thinking of the current alliance leader, Chen Tanghe, made him grit his teeth, wishing he could roar at the sky.
“That hypocrite! Useless coward! He knows Luo Qingcheng killed my sect’s disciples, yet he dares to shelter a murderer!”
When he mentioned his disciples, the man couldn’t help but sigh, then raised his brows and shouted, “The Righteous Path is weak—we might as well join the Demonic Sect! Please, Sect Leader, avenge my disciples! Catch that demoness and tear her apart! Make her taste death!”
The man shouted so fiercely that spit flew everywhere.
The oriole circled the hall a few times before landing on Lu Xiangyin’s shoulder.
She narrowed her beautiful eyes, seeming lost in thought.
With a wave of her delicate hand, a young maid immediately stepped forward to help her sit up straight, as Lu Xiangyin yawned sleepily.
“I want you to do something…” Lu Xiangyin casually pulled a dagger from her waist and tossed it in front of the man.
“Kill a few more people—pick some well-known ones if you can.
If they’re from the Jianghu, even better.
Then spread the rumor that Miss Luo has gone mad and kills without blinking an eye.”
“But Luo Qingcheng is being hidden by Chen Tanghe.
I’m afraid no one will believe it…” The man frowned, confused.
Lu Xiangyin laughed, her voice like silver bells—pleasant, but chilling.
“Do I need your advice on how to do things?” Her expression turned cold and commanding.
“Just do as I say.
Pin more wrongful deaths on Miss Luo.
I want her to take the blame, gather enemies from both sides, and when the time comes, let the mantis stalk the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”
The man quickly shut his mouth and bowed in agreement.
Lu Xiangyin frowned slightly and waved her hands, signaling the servants to escort the men out.
She was tired of their hot-blooded bluster—she much preferred the delicate oriole, or the gentle, smiling Xiao Qiyu at her side.
Turning, Lu Xiangyin shifted her gaze to the beauty beside her.
“Miss Xiao, I want you to find Luo Qingcheng…” She paused, then said lightly, “and then let her go.”
A prey that knows how to run is worth hunting.
Now that Luo Qingcheng was already being blamed, adding a few more rumors wouldn’t hurt.
The Righteous Path turns to the Demonic Sect, the Demonic Sect shelters villains, and the villain is actually wronged—round and round, like a dog chasing its own tail, dizzy but going nowhere, all for nothing.
It didn’t matter.
That was the Jianghu—no matter how evil, it just meant a few more people died.
Xiao Qiyu accepted the order,
