Bao Gu nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with joy. Seeing Bao Gu so happy, Yu Mi couldn’t help but smile slightly as she continued setting up the tent. This tent was borrowed from Little Martial Aunt. When Little Martial Aunt was learning artifact refining, she often crafted all sorts of strange items, and this tent was one of her practice creations.
Though not a magical artifact, it was made from the skin and bones of demon beasts, equipped with concealment and defense formations, making it very sturdy. Additionally, the bottom was lined with a thick blanket, and it had adjustable supports, making it usable even on uneven mountainous terrain.
In no time, Yu Mi had the tent set up and crawled inside.
Bao Gu happily followed Yu Mi into the tent. Inside, there was a six-foot-wide bed, the floor covered with thick snow leopard fur, and a small table with low stools set up on the left side of the entrance.
Yu Mi took out some demon beast meat she had previously prepared and stored in her storage jade bracelet, placing it on the small table. She said, “You haven’t reached the stage of fasting yet, just drinking spirit wine won’t do. Eat something and then rest.”
Bao Gu cheerfully sat down and said, “Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Yu Mi said, “After eating, rest early!” With that, she got up and walked out of the tent.
Bao Gu looked at Yu Mi with longing and asked, “Senior Sister, aren’t you going to rest?” She understood in her heart but couldn’t help but hope a little.
Yu Mi shook her head and said, “I don’t need to rest.” She walked outside the tent and sat cross-legged in meditation.
Bao Gu sat on the stool by the small table, watching Yu Mi’s sculpted back, her gaze slightly focused. A hint of disappointment flashed through her heart, but she quickly smiled it away. Her senior sister didn’t like her and was at the late stage of the Golden Core, naturally not needing to rest with her. She understood that her senior sister was on the path of cultivation, and fewer distractions were beneficial for her practice.
Cultivating to become an immortal was too distant for Bao Gu. She had never seen a true immortal; the most powerful person she had seen was Nanshan Yijian, and the highest cultivation level she had witnessed was the dragon corpse demon. Becoming an immortal seemed unreachable to her, so it was more important to take care of everything in front of her and protect those around her.
Bao Gu ate some demon beast meat, drank a few cups of second-tier monkey wine, washed up simply, and went to sleep.
Yu Mi’s strength far surpassed Bao Gu’s, and her divine sense was very powerful. Although she didn’t turn around, everything about Bao Gu fell clearly within her perception range, even the slightest movement or glance.
Bao Gu lay on her back on the bed, her long black hair spread out casually, her hands folded on her abdomen, her sleeping posture very proper. Perhaps due to the nourishment of spiritual pills and treasures, Bao Gu had grown increasingly beautiful. Her eyelashes were long and curled like a fan, her delicate nose was straight and sharp as if carved, her lips were translucent and glossy, her skin was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg, and her features were as exquisite as jade, gradually blossoming like a rose in the morning sun.
Yu Mi suddenly realized that in a short time, the frail and unremarkable little girl had unknowingly grown into a bright and charming young lady.
Bao Gu suddenly opened her eyes and turned to look at Yu Mi sitting at the tent entrance, asking, “Senior Sister, are you spying on me?”
Yu Mi was startled, her face instantly turning red, stammering, “No… no!” She suddenly realized that her cultivation level was much higher than Bao Gu’s, so how could Bao Gu sense her divine sense watching her? To cover her guilty conscience, she coldly said, “Are you tricking me?”
Bao Gu pursed her lips and said, “Do I need to trick you? That gaze fixed on me came from your direction!” She turned over and lay on her stomach, staring straight at Yu Mi, saying, “Senior Sister, if you want to look at me, just come over openly. I’m not stopping you.”
Yu Mi snorted heavily and said, “Are you saying I was spying on you?”
Bao Gu said, “Sitting with your back to me but using divine sense to peek, if that’s not spying, what is?”
Yu Mi was speechless, unable to refute. She could only shout, “Aren’t you tired? If not, get up and practice!” Her tone shifted, “Your cultivation level is much lower than mine, how can you sense me watching you?”
Bao Gu glanced at Yu Mi with amusement and said, “The monkey wine can’t be drunk for free! The spiritual treasures can’t be eaten for free!”
Yu Mi: “??” She recalled that when they were transported out of the demon realm, there was a powerful demon spirit watching them in secret, which Bao Gu sensed, but she didn’t. The monkey wine she drank was two or three tiers higher than Bao Gu’s, yet she wasn’t as sensitive. She got up and walked to Bao Gu’s bed, carefully examining her, feeling that Bao Gu was somewhat peculiar.
Bao Gu raised her delicate face, letting Yu Mi look at her openly, her lively black eyes staring at Yu Mi, her long eyelashes fluttering, her eyes carrying a faint smile.
Yu Mi lifted Bao Gu’s delicate chin and gently pinched it, saying, “Don’t look at people with those eyes, be careful not to become a seductress.” Too captivating!
Bao Gu chuckled and said, “Senior Sister, you’re blushing.”
Yu Mi’s pretty face turned cold, saying, “Go to sleep!” She turned and walked towards the tent entrance.
Bao Gu lay back on the bed, lying very properly, and said slowly, “Senior Sister, I can’t sleep with you watching me.”
Yu Mi: “…” Why did she feel like strangling Bao Gu! She coldly asked, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Bao Gu chuckled softly and closed her eyes to sleep again.
Yu Mi saw Bao Gu’s ambiguous smile and thought to herself, “Why do I find your smile so annoying!” She turned and sat at the tent entrance, but found herself restless, unable to even enter the simplest meditation, feeling surrounded by the presence of Bao Gu sleeping on the bed behind her.
In her restlessness, Yu Mi heard Bao Gu slowly say, “Senior Sister, your heartbeat is quite erratic, calm down, be careful not to go into qi deviation.”
Yu Mi: “…” She wanted to strangle Bao Gu!
Bao Gu opened her eyes and gave a bright smile, sitting up and looking at Yu Mi with a smile, saying slowly, “Senior Sister, the way of nature, let things take their course.”
Yu Mi looked at Bao Gu with a mix of anger and amusement, saying, “Oh, are you preaching to me?”
Bao Gu said with a bit of pride, “I consider my temperament better than yours.”
Yu Mi wanted to strangle Bao Gu again. She walked back to Bao Gu’s side and asked, “How is your temperament better than mine?”
Bao Gu said, “Honest! Dare to act and admit, no deceit or concealment, and no self-deception.”
Yu Mi: “…” She snorted, “Are you saying I’m self-deceiving?”
Bao Gu said, “Who is restless and unable to meditate at night, occasionally using divine sense to scan me?” She slowly uttered, “Senior Sister, you’re moved!”
Yu Mi coldly said, “Bao Gu, I really want to strangle you.”
Bao Gu chuckled and said, “Senior Sister, there’s no killing intent in you.”
Yu Mi honestly said, “Bao Gu, sometimes you’re quite annoying.”
Bao Gu gently smiled and said, “Senior Sister, those who hate me definitely outnumber those who like me.” A hint of dimness flashed in her eyes, and the smile on her lips couldn’t hide the loneliness in her eyes. She smiled lightly and said, “Someone like me has no friends.” After saying that, she was about to lie down to sleep, but Yu Mi stopped her.
Yu Mi asked, “What do you mean by someone like you has no friends?” This statement sounded so harsh to her, and for a moment, she felt Bao Gu was lonely and pitiful.
Bao Gu smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Yu Mi stared at Bao Gu, then sighed softly, saying, “Your mind is deep, they all fear you, and I fear you too.”
Bao Gu said, “I’ve never schemed against you.”
Yu Mi was silent. Her heart ached slightly, inexplicably.
Bao Gu said softly, “If I could live easily, who would want to scheme and be cautious about everything?” She smiled self-deprecatingly, not wanting to continue.
Yu Mi gently embraced Bao Gu, saying, “Stop smiling, rest if you’re tired. Seeing you smile makes me uncomfortable.”
Bao Gu nestled into Yu Mi’s embrace, softly asking, “If I can’t smile, you won’t let me cry, right?” She inhaled deeply, taking in Yu Mi’s scent. Being so close to Yu Mi, embraced by her, she felt like she was melting, at least her heart was. Even if she were to die now, she would die with a smile.
Yu Mi held Bao Gu, listening to her soft words, feeling a bit at a loss, her heart pounding with nervousness.
Bao Gu pressed her ear against Yu Mi’s chest, listening to her rapid heartbeat, a smile slowly spreading in her eyes. She knew her senior sister had feelings for her; otherwise, she wouldn’t react this way. Bao Gu bit her lip, hesitated slightly, took a deep breath, and extended her arms, intending to wrap them around Yu Mi’s neck to kiss her. But she feared Yu Mi would kick her away in embarrassment and anger, so she could only look at Yu Mi with longing, her lips slightly parted, wanting to ask, “Senior Sister, can I kiss you?” but dared not voice it. She only saw Yu Mi looking at her with a complex expression, until after a long time, she sighed and said, “Senior Sister, you always risk your life to protect me, but if I were to die for you, I wouldn’t hesitate, I’d die with a smile.”
Yu Mi frowned and said, “What are you talking about!” She felt something was wrong, and sensed that Bao Gu was different tonight. She wanted to let go, but felt reluctant, indecisive. Bao Gu, who usually had a deep mind, was now opening her heart to her without reservation. She feared pushing Bao Gu away would hurt her, and also feared making Bao Gu sad. She had seen the matter between Little Martial Aunt and the demon saint, so she had no qualms about two women being together, but she… Bao Gu was too young, and she didn’t want too many worldly attachments. She was on the path of cultivation and didn’t want to end up like Nanshan Yijian…
Yu Mi released Bao Gu, saying softly, “I’m sorry.” She turned to leave.
Bao Gu raised her hand to grab Yu Mi’s wrist, looking at her, calling, “Senior Sister!”
Yu Mi said again, “I’m sorry.” She said softly, “I’m sorry, Bao Gu, I’m on the path of cultivation. If life has an end, and life is gone, what else is there to talk about?”
Bao Gu nodded gently, saying, “I understand.” Her heart ached, ached deeply. She said softly, “Senior Sister, you have feelings for me, why not face your own heart?”
Yu Mi looked back at Bao Gu and said, “Bao Gu, cutting off emotional ties with a wise sword is also a part of cultivation.”
Bao Gu was struck as if by lightning, shocked, asking, “Senior Sister, would you really cut off emotional ties with a wise sword?”
Yu Mi replied, “If the day comes, I will.”
Bao Gu felt as if someone had stabbed her heart with a blunt knife, the pain was indescribable, making her face turn pale. She nodded gently, saying, “I understand… I understand, you told me before. I used to think you didn’t like me, now I realize you do, but… we want to walk different paths, so we can’t be together, Senior Sister, I understand.” She understood, but couldn’t suppress the pain in her heart.
Yu Mi said softly, “I’m sorry, Bao Gu.”
Bao Gu shook her head vigorously. She feared the tears in her eyes would fall, so she said, “Senior Sister, it’s late, rest.”
“Mm,” Yu Mi responded, taking large strides out of the tent. She stopped at the entrance and said, “I’ll go further away, if you’re upset, I… I won’t hear anything, don’t hold it in and hurt yourself.”
Bao Gu replied, “Mm, I’m fine! I’m fine! Senior Sister, don’t worry about me.”
“Mm,” Yu Mi nodded lightly and left.
Bao Gu told herself, “What’s wrong with me? It’s not the first time Senior Sister has rejected me.” But she understood that her senior sister’s rejection had nothing to do with love or not, it was because they chose different paths. Two people, walking different paths, couldn’t be together. Maybe one day, she would reach the end of her life and turn into a pile of yellow earth, while her senior sister, having achieved cultivation, would still roam the world, perhaps occasionally remembering her junior sister, or perhaps, if she loved deeply, when she reached that level of cultivation, she would cut off emotional ties with a wise sword and forget her completely.
Bao Gu suddenly realized that cultivation was a cruel thing, at least for her. For a moment, she felt disheartened.
Without a loved one to accompany her, what was the point of becoming an immortal? You just ended up as a lonely person. Her mother was dead, her father lived in such pain, and when he died, he felt he could reunite with her mother, and he left with a smile. Between dying with a smile and living with tears, she would choose to die with a smile like her father.
