Chapter Four, Long Live the Senior Brother
Feigning madness and foolishness? I scoff: "You wouldn't want to reveal your true self in front of your husband, would you?"
I foolishly allowed him to manipulate me, and in the end, I was completely unaware.
"How impressive..." I asked, patting my chest with lingering fear, "Senior Brother, you weren't serious just now, were you?"
At last, on the garden path, I encountered Ye Mingyue. She smiled gently at me, and I turned my face away to scratch the tree.
As the other party was on the verge of collapse, the senior brother calmly delivered the final blow: "As for my father, you need not worry. I will erase his memory and give him half a fox pelt to get through the winter."
"Movement or stillness?" Xiao Bi shook her head
The Sixth Senior Brother retracted the spiritual power gathered on the talisman paper, and the thousand-year-old fox demon covered its face and departed
The expression on my face instantly shifted from reverence to disillusionment
The sixth senior brother ignores my banter.
"It is of no use." Sixth Senior Brother interrupted her impatiently, "The things you worry about will never happen to me. Instead of wasting your breath on empty words, you might as well think about how to arrange the aftermath."
Gazing at the half-exposed lotus arm from the pink sleeve, as well as those fair and delicate fingers, I couldn't help but roll my eyes in my heart. The allure surpasses that of a human, it's infuriating. If I had even half of Ye Mingyue's charm, perhaps... Sixth Senior Brother might consider it...
The water of Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep, and at that time, I did not push Bai Ye down, which was truly a great tragedy. Even more tragic was that I returned home with a pale face, and when Sixth Senior Brother asked me questions, I dared not say anything, holding back tears that streamed down my face. I was so heartbroken that I could not recover for an entire month, and my entire disposition changed drastically.
Out of envy and jealousy, I spoke rather rudely: "Madam Qu, let us speak frankly. Humans and demons are on different paths; even if one tries to present oneself in a refined manner, one's true nature will not change."
So, Madam Qu, do not struggle any longer, set out on your journey early, and may you be well, I be well, and everyone be well. If you find suicide difficult, let us agree on a time, outside of Jinling, and I will assist you with my Soul-Cutting Blade.
Her tears fell: "No one ... ... can understand my feelings. If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't come to the bustling city ... ... I just don't want to live ... ... in solitude in a place where he cannot see me ... ... "
In the morning, the maid Xiaobi, who brought me hot water to wash my face, called out to me several times before finally pulling me out of the enchantment of the white night
Senior brother, isn't it inappropriate to be here...?
The sixth senior brother held up the transformation talisman and said to Ye Mingyue: "I detest loquacious women the most. If you refuse to cooperate, then let the people of the Qu family come and see what you truly are. The experience of being reverted to your original form as a mixed-breed female fox is somewhat lacking, but if I skin you and sew a garment to keep warm, I won't be at too much of a loss."
... ...
Ye Mingyue said: "I do not understand what Miss Ji is saying."
"... ... Can you bear to see your father's child die together with me?" Ye Mingyue asked in disbelief, pressing her slightly protruding abdomen.
In one's youth, when one is naive and ignorant, one is bound to commit some foolish acts, and upon reflection, one may regret them deeply. Although I have not committed many such foolish acts, each one has been quite significant.
Madam Qu is magnanimous, and I cannot help but be even more magnanimous. I smiled and said, "What are you talking about, Madam Qu? You are being too formal. Given my relationship with Senior Brother Liu... Senior Brother's family is my family, how could I possibly take such a trivial matter to heart?"
I sighed and said: "What use is it to ask me? Who is Qu Qingning? You must have heard of him."
"Miss Ji, please spare me a way to live." Her eyes, deep and serene, resembled purple grapes submerged in water, stirring the heart of anyone who gazed upon them. Yet I have become numb, having witnessed too many monsters kneeling in supplication. No matter how many times one feels compassion, it cannot alter their fate.
Perhaps when the matters and pains of others do not occur to oneself, one feels indifferent
Uncle Qu shivered, stood up from the wall, adjusted his clothes, and looked at me with a loving expression, saying: "... you heard wrong"
A series of coughs suddenly came from outside the door
Unexpectedly, Ye Mingyue, upon seeing that the soft was being bullied, actually took the initiative to confront the hard.
He looked at me with a gaze as if I were an idiot: "When has our Esoteric Buddhism ever had a spell to erase people's memories?"
This fox demon is not foolish; it knows who it cannot offend
For example, after being rejected, feeling too ashamed to face others, disregarding the master's roar of "The good water should not flow to outsiders; I will take charge for you," they packed their things and ran away from home
The fox's paw rested on my arm, and I began to understand the feeling of Second Senior Brother being lightly teased by the tiger demon
That's good. I lost two candlesticks in my frustration while chasing after Bai Ye, and it wouldn't be easy to explain if someone found out.
The doctor prescribed a sedative, and after resting for a night, her complexion has greatly improved this morning. The lady mentioned that she was feeling unsettled yesterday and accidentally slipped, which had nothing to do with Miss Ji. Xiao Lan misjudged the situation, and she kindly asks the young lady not to take it to heart
What exactly happened that night, I have no memory of it, I only vaguely heard Bai Ye whispering in my ear: "It really comes without any effort..."
For example, write a love letter to the Sixth Senior Brother
He casually found a woman outside, and he will definitely not come home anymore. What is there for me to be happy about? No, I do not agree. I want to break them apart
The hand pouring the tea trembled slightly, spilling half a cup of water.
How is your lady doing
Miss Ji, would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea
I leaned out of the window, smiling as I greeted Uncle Qu: "Good morning, Uncle Qu, who do you want to separate?"
You have said enough; if you continue, I will be reduced to ashes.
I hope I heard wrong
She hurriedly said: "Miss Ji, my Uncle Qu and I are truly in love! Marrying him is a blessing I have earned over several lifetimes. I have no ulterior motives other than to live a peaceful life. I beg you to show mercy and not let him know my identity..."
I am not afraid of death; I am afraid that after I disappear, he will not wait for me to come home
What has happened is irretrievable, and time can reveal everything. I comfort myself by saying that if one walks too much at night, one will inevitably encounter ghosts; I might as well consider it a case of being pressed down by a ghost.
The young master has finally come to his senses; you should be pleased, my lord
I shook the soul-capturing bell as he instructed, yet he used illusion to control my mind and spirit
"Ye Mingyue, you have sought the wrong person." As the shadows of the trees swayed, the Sixth Senior Brother slowly emerged from behind her. He confidently informed Ye Mingyue of a fact: "The one who decides when you die and how you die is not her—it's me"
Everyone has something they cannot let go of, but that is not a reason to seek sympathy. When you are killing and harming others, have you ever considered their feelings? A newlywed wife waits at the door for her husband to come home, yet you drain her husband of life and abandon his body in the wilderness... Mrs. Qu, it seems you have no right to complain that I do not understand your feelings
What I did not expect was that someone not only lingered on but also constantly brought up the events of that day, mentioning phrases like fleeting spring breezes, dew-drenched fates, and one-night couples...! The choice of words was never repetitive! As for me, I could neither argue with him nor fight him, and I even dreamt of him calling me "Little Pear" over and over again. If this continues, it is only a matter of time before I die from coughing up blood
Miss Ji? Miss Ji!
Gently wiping away the tears from her cheeks, Ye Mingyue sobbed, "In that case, even if you give me three thousand more years of life... it would still hold no meaning..."
I apologize. I do not need to understand
Persuading a monster to take its own life is a technical endeavor; to this day, I have not succeeded, but the process cannot be overlooked.
... ...
A monster indeed; one might as well admire the portrait of Sister Bai instead of her
To give up the opportunity to become an immortal and stay by the side of a loved one indeed requires immense courage. I admire such courage, but I cannot empathize with it.
Consider yourself fortunate for being spared this time, but dare to commit an offense under his very nose, heh heh
Yes, I can be quiet now
It is one thing to not receive gratitude for good intentions, but later I learned that the aphrodisiac effect of "Peach Blossom Charm" is simply not on the same level as the "Ecstasy Elixir." When one is affected by the Ecstasy Elixir, it is imperative to seek a woman to resolve the issue. However, if one is under the influence of Peach Blossom Charm and there are no women around, what should be done? The solution is simple: a bucket of cold water to wake one up.
Fearing that Ye Mingyue might flee in fear of punishment, I spend my days guarding the Qu residence. When she waters the flowers, I pick them; when she admires the moon, I gaze at the stars; when she bathes, I... I secretly watch her bathe
I can't stay calm; they really have something going on! Hmph, senior brother and junior sister, it is obvious that their relationship is not normal...
During this period, Uncle Qu tirelessly added various additives to the meals of the Sixth Senior Brother. The Sixth Senior Brother had made some progress in his fasting techniques, consuming only a small bowl of porridge each day, with just a hint of a substance called "Half-Step Madness" treated as a seasoning. He remained oblivious to the affairs outside his door, closing it to meditate, but this caused me great distress
Ye Mingyue trembled into a ball, and I followed suit with convulsions
Don't mention Ye Mingyue, I'm almost turning green with embarrassment: "Senior brother, the purple fox is very precious, please don't be like this..." A scruffy mother fox or something, that's just too cruel
Having dismissed the servants around her, Ye Mingyue personally brewed a cup of Yuhua tea for me
Ye Mingyue let out a chilling smile: "You do not understand my feelings at all"
At that time, I was naive and did not understand the malice of human nature. The person with the surname Bai said that if no one helped him with the antidote, he would die, and I believed him
... ...
Ah, thank you, I can manage on my own. After grinding my teeth all night, I asked listlessly, "Did you hear any noises last night?"
Am I really destined to die? Ye Mingyue's face was as pale as paper
To speak frankly, Ye Mingyue has bright eyes and white teeth, her skin is whiter than snow, and her every frown and smile does not carry the air of a courtesan; instead, she is charming and lovely, radiating beauty. Not to mention men, even I find her pleasing to the eye, but once I meet her eyes that shimmer with a purple light, I become dispirited
It is unclear how much time has passed, but before the Sixth Senior Brother pressed the transformation talisman onto her forehead, Ye Mingyue said hesitantly: "Tomorrow, I will go out... to pay my respects... at the hour of the rat, at the ten-mile slope in the eastern suburbs, I will accompany you..."
You promised to help me fulfill my wish, yet the fox spirit has come to provoke me, and you, with the surname Bai, not only do not try to find a solution, but you have also disappeared without a trace! ... You deceive me, deceive me, deceive me ...
Touching the demon-exorcising talisman at my waist, I nodded heavily.
She has already been given three days, so she should have thought it through by now
Answer her, it is a transformation symbol
She let out a mocking laugh, stood up, and said to the Sixth Senior Brother: "You are right, the heavens' net is vast and intricate, nothing escapes it. I have surpassed my limit, and I deserve to die. However, have you ever considered that if one day you were to meet a fate like mine, you—"
In the mournful gaze of Uncle Qu, I shamelessly stayed at their home for three days
I know that you have a thousand years of cultivation, and that you can fight with all your might against your senior brother, leaving room for the possibility of victory. But what comes after that? There will be even more powerful sorcerers who will come, and you will not be able to escape.
Silently parting the leaves, I advised gently: "Since you truly care for Uncle Qu, do not make it difficult for his son. He has allowed you to roam freely for twelve years; now it is time for you to repay that kindness. You can choose between hanging yourself or dying from a premature birth; make your choice. For Uncle Qu's sake, my senior brother and I will ensure that you maintain your human form after death..." He has allowed you to roam freely for twelve years; now it is time for you to repay that kindness. You can choose between hanging yourself or dying from a premature birth; make your choice. For Uncle Qu's sake, my senior brother and I will ensure that you maintain your human form after death..."
Calm down, my lord
Of course not. Dropping the talisman in his hand, the sixth senior brother let out a breath.
For instance, during the first experience of running away from home without any prior knowledge, one inadvertently wandered into the Peach Blossom Valley and encountered Bai Ye, who was afflicted by the "Peach Blossom Charm"
Qu Qingning! Ye Mingyue let out a low roar, her eyes wide with anger
I know that Sixth Brother does not care about me at all, but at least I still hold a glimmer of hope. After that incident, I told myself that it would be best not to even have any fantasies.