Love & Redemption
Chapter 225 - 5 Phoenix Flowers Bloom - 32 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (5)

Chapter 225: 5 Phoenix Flowers Bloom Chapter 32 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (5)

Having gotten some distance from Buzhou Mountain, Xuanji suddenly slapped her hand and exclaimed, "Oh no! I promised Linglong I would go to the Netherworld to check on Wu Tong’s situation. But I forgot!" She turned her head, wanting to go back, but Yu Sifeng stopped her and frowned, "Why do you need to visit Wu Tong? Why would Linglong let you see him?"

Xuanji hesitated, looking at him unsure of what to say. Yu Sifeng continued, "So, your earlier claim of going to the Netherworld was for this matter. Has something happened to Linglong?"

Xuanji had no choice but to repeat the situation of Linglong having nightmares every day, suspecting that Wu Tong’s restless spirit was haunting her. Yu Sifeng listened, frowning silently, while Wuzhiqi, stroking his chin, laughed and said, "Stop the nonsense. The man’s been thrown into hell; what power does he have to bother the living in the human world? Otherwise, in my thousand years, I would have planted countless dreams! This has nothing to do with a roaming spirit; clearly, it’s all psychological!"

"That shouldn’t be the case. Linglong seems genuinely frightened. It could really be Wu Tong causing trouble. You go ahead, I’ll take a quick look and be right back," Xuanji said, waving her hand, only to be stopped again by Yu Sifeng who said in a deep voice, "Don’t go, it’s a waste of time."

"What do you mean a waste of time!" Xuanji was somewhat annoyed, her face flushing as she glared at Yu Sifeng. He started to speak, then hesitated, frowning, until Zi Hu pondered aloud, "Xuanji, I really don’t think this has anything to do with Wu Tong. A true unrestful spirit wouldn’t just send dreams, and a soul punished in hell has even less capability to do so. Besides, look here, with Shen Tu and Yu Lei guarding, and each layer of hell has its Yin Cha watchmen, Wu Tong isn’t as powerful as Wuzhiqi; he couldn’t possibly escape. There’s a saying, ’What one thinks about in the day, one dreams of at night.’ I believe Linglong is simply overthinking. Wuzhiqi is right; it’s a mind issue."

"But..." Xuanji was still not entirely convinced when Yu Sifeng firmly took her hand and said, "Let’s find an inn to settle in first. I’ll tell you about it tonight."

Since none of her companions supported her going back, Xuanji could only obediently follow them away.

Having been imprisoned for a thousand years, Wuzhiqi found everything – a tree, a blade of grass – novel, and started shouting and carrying on with excitement from the moment he reached the wilderness, not quiet for a single moment. When they arrived in town and he saw the bustling crowds and neatly lined shops and buildings, his eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he finally quieted down.

Once inside a tavern, Xuanji kept her promise and bought three or four jars of fine wine. She tossed one in front of Wuzhiqi with a laugh, "Come on, let’s drink!"

At that moment, his eyes shone brighter than the sun itself.

Although Wuzhiqi had a craving for food, he wasn’t like Tengshe who would stuff himself to death. Instead, he savored his drink and food leisurely. Everyone chatted and laughed, discussing the changes in the outside world, quickly finishing off a jar of Pear Blossom Wine. Wuzhiqi, holding his wine cup, leaned against the second-floor railing, looking down at the bustling market below and sighed with a smile, "The outside world really has changed a lot. A thousand years ago, where could you find such mellow fine wine or such exquisite small buildings? Houses back then were made of stones, decorated with human face patterns..."

After saying this, he picked up a delicate pastry, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed with gusto, mumbling, "Mmm... delicious! Who would have thought that a thousand years later, life outside would be even more comfortable than in Heaven! The Heavenly Emperor must be jealous in Heaven, watching us mortals enjoy ourselves like this."

"Oh? Have you lived in Heavenly Court?" Xuanji asked curiously.

"Of course!" Wuzhiqi laughed, "I’ve stayed there quite a while! People brought me food every day, fearing my temper, trying different things to please me, but it was all tasteless!"

Really? Xuanji’s gaze turned admiring. Zi Hu snorted and rolled his eyes, "Don’t listen to his boasting! He must be talking about the time he was locked up in the Heavenly Prison. It’s already generous that the people of Heaven didn’t kill him, so to feed him as well?"

"Agh, let me tell you, Kunlun Mountain is much more scenic than Heaven. Those immortals must be so tired putting up such righteous appearances, their hearts must be complaining. Next time I meet the Heavenly Emperor, I’ll ask him: Do you know how many immortals think about descending to the human world every day? I guarantee it’ll embarrass him!"

After some drinking and revelry, even Liu Yihuan loosened up and took turns drinking with Wuzhiqi, cup for cup. The night ended with a drunken revelry, everyone laughing and helping each other to the guesthouse to stay. Feeling the effects of the alcohol, Xuanji found the room stuffy, and as she was going downstairs to get water for washing up, she heard Zi Hu’s giggling from the backyard, a sweetness in her voice.

She had drunk the most today since she had to maintain a human appearance in the human world, disguising herself as a beautiful woman in purple. As the drinks took their toll, her fox ears and tail slipped out, nearly exposing her. Concerned that she might feel unwell from drinking too much, Xuanji walked over, only to see Zi Hu wrapping herself around Wuzhiqi like an octopus, her hair in disarray, her face flushed, her drunken allure was truly irresistible.

Xuanji quickly stepped back, not wanting to disturb their intimate moment. Zi Hu’s giggles continued for a while when she suddenly said softly, "Wuzhiqi, do I look beautiful as a human?" Her voice dripped with sweetness; even from a distance, Xuanji felt her heartbeat quicken.

Wuzhiqi replied with a smile, "Beautiful, my Little Fox is naturally very beautiful."

Zi Hu’s laughter shook like blossoming flowers as she suddenly hooked his neck, her eyes seductive as silk, and whispered, "Then kiss me. Don’t you like me?"

Xuanji felt it was inappropriate for her to stay, and as she turned to leave, she overheard Wuzhiqi say in a low voice, "You’re drunk, go to sleep." His voice was cold and clear, devoid of any bewilderment. Zi Hu continued to laugh for a long time before saying softly, "If you kiss me, then I’ll go to bed."

"Stop being silly," Wuzhiqi patted her head as if she were a capricious little pet, "Go to bed."

Zi Hu’s smile faded, and she slowly let go of him, standing still before him, quietly watching him. Wuzhiqi remained stoic, locking gazes with her without a frown. Suddenly, she curved her lips into a smile and said softly, "Alright, I’m going to bed. Wuzhiqi, make sure you get some rest as well, have sweet dreams, and remember to dream about me~"

Dismissing her with a wave, Wuzhiqi said, "Sleep! Enough with the chatter."

Only then did Zi Hu giggle and swayingly leap to the top of the wall, pushing open the window and jumping in.

Their situation doesn’t seem right at all. Xuanji silently returned to her own room and sat there in a daze. She had always listened to Zi Hu’s one-sided complaints about her feelings for Wuzhiqi, thinking that the two of them were a couple. That time when they went to the Netherworld, it was Wuzhiqi who had asked Zi Hu to stay; it turned out to be a case of unrequited love.

Zi Hu is so beautiful, why doesn’t Wuzhiqi like her?

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and Yu Sifeng walked in carrying a tray with tea. Seeing Xuanji sitting on the edge of the bed daydreaming instead of sleeping, he couldn’t help but chuckle, "What’s the matter, still mad at me about Linglong’s affair?"

Xuanji jumped up, threw her arms around his neck, hesitated for a moment, then looked up and said, "Si Feng... kiss me."

Yu Sifeng still had the tea tray in his hands and was caught between laughter and tears by her request, half-smiling he said, "So you’re not mad but daydreaming of love." Before he finished speaking, he was already lost in the tangle of their lips. He kissed her passionately, and although the result pleased her greatly, but—

"Stop... it’s not even dark yet!" Xuanji scrambled to resist his forward hand, panting heavily, and it took some effort to get him to behave. Yu Sifeng put the tea tray on the table and lifted her up by the waist, smiling bitterly, "Do you have to torture people like this?" Xuanji, feeling ashamed, continued to cling to his neck and whispered, "Alright, we’ll talk about it tonight... tonight." Her voice trailed off to almost inaudible, her face flushing red with embarrassment.

Yu Sifeng kissed her gently on the forehead, carried her back to the edge of the bed, and they sat down side by side, pouring and drinking tea. After a long moment, Xuanji said, "Si Feng, tell me, if you don’t like someone, you wouldn’t want to get close to her, right?"

Yu Sifeng, ever so clever, knew what she was referring to by her expression, and smiled, "Zi Hu is indeed very good, but no one will fall in love with someone just because they are good. Maybe they have known each other for too long, become too familiar, and so it is impossible for them to become lovers."

"Who says? Linglong and Sixth Brother grew up together from childhood, and aren’t they married now? Linglong’s heart is filled with Sixth Brother, and Sixth Brother’s heart also only has Linglong."

Yu Sifeng put down his teacup, played with her slender fingers, and said softly, "Whether Min Yan only has Linglong in his heart, I’m not sure. But I’m certain that Linglong’s heart doesn’t only belong to Min Yan."

What does that mean? Xuanji looked at him with confusion.

He smiled, then said, "It’s not good to interfere in other people’s affairs. But a woman’s mind is always meticulous and sensitive. What she thinks, she herself knows best, so whatever is between her and Wu Tong and what caused her heartache, that’s her own business."

"I... I still don’t understand," Xuanji muttered, "Are you implying that Linglong likes Wu Tong? That’s impossible. He is nothing but a villain."

Yu Sifeng took her hand softly and said, "Xuanji, look, the hand has a palm and a back, like a person, divided into a surface and an inner layer. Our surface is mostly guided by reason, right and wrong—the world has already set the rules. For Linglong, Min Yan represents the best choice on the surface: growing up together, childhood sweethearts, sharing everything, and liking each other. Could there be a better choice than him?"

Xuanji shook her head.

"But the heart’s inner layer doesn’t conform to reason, not even to our own control. It’s totally free to expose the darkest, most taboo thoughts within us. Wu Tong exists in Linglong’s inner world. She is completely unfamiliar with him, everything about him is mysterious. Perhaps during the time she was imprisoned, something we don’t know about happened between them, causing her to develop unusual feelings—clearly, she knows this man is completely different from Min Yan, presenting her another choice. Once the conflict between the surface and the inner layer arises, the reaction of all people is to cover up the inner heart, because the surface layer is strictly bound by countless rules, and those who resist don’t end well. One side is a childhood sweetheart, the other a mysterious and unpredictable enemy, which should she choose?"

Xuanji still shook her head.

Yu Sifeng chuckled softly, "Xuanji, I’ll tell you, no matter which she chooses, she will regret it. The world is cruel, often placing two equally tempting things before you. Choosing one means losing the other. Now, it’s her inner heart that is crying for Wu Tong, so, it’s not something we can interfere with or related to Wu Tong at all, it’s entirely her own heartache."

"Then... what should I do?" Xuanji gazed up at him earnestly while in his arms, her clear and distinct eyes as if looking at the god in her own world, her faith full of love and devotion.

Yu Sifeng couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her, murmuring, "You don’t need to do anything... time is the best healer... hold me tight, Xuanji."

His kiss was so intoxicating, she couldn’t help but turn over and cling to his neck, her touch was already on hot, bare skin. In her daze, she still couldn’t understand when exactly their clothes had been shed, and then, before it was dark... the words she wanted to blurt out fell, one by one, beneath the flames he had ignited.

*********

Introduction to "Three Thousand Smiles of Beauty": In the rounds and rounds of reincarnation, the pact is never forgotten.

In the cycle of reincarnation, the person before me is now a disciple in front of Buddha within the Immortal World, watching me, this obsessed Little Demon, "So many years have passed, have you not let go?"

"I see you have some affinity with Buddha. If you let go of this obsession, I will guide you to enlightenment, how about that?"

"Why not pursue enlightenment?" But the outcome may not be as you wish, for I want to see, in the end whether you will betray me, or betray the one called Buddha. Book number: 1037166 (To be continued... To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, where Chapters are updated more frequently, support the author, support genuine reading!)