Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Jiang Xiaochuan still most often stayed in Lu Xueqi's room. Sometimes they would simply sleep in each other's arms, and sometimes they wouldn't.

Beneath Lu Xueqi's cool and aloof exterior lies an unknown passion and persistence, and this is also true in certain matters.

She never said anything, but Jiang Xiaochuan could feel that silent, intimate possession.

He liked to stay by her side, even if it was just quietly holding her and smelling her cool, refreshing fragrance, which made him feel at peace.

Lu Xueqi seemed to tacitly approve of this, and even... liked it.

Occasionally, when Jiang Xiaochuan visited someone else, she wouldn't say anything the next day, but her aura would always be a few degrees colder. Only when Jiang Xiaochuan sidled up to her, held her hand, or brought her a bouquet of newly blooming flowers from the back hill would that the coldness slowly melt away.

She didn't say it, but Jiang Xiaochuan knew she cared. This care made his heart both tender and throbbing.

Next is Biyao.

Biyao is passionate and has strong likes and dislikes; she never hides her possessiveness towards Jiang Xiaochuan.

If she wanted to, she would just come and drag people away. Often, Jiang Xiaochuan would just come out of Lu Xueqi's room or be about to go back to his own room when she would "kidnap" him halfway.

Her room was always decorated warmly, with a touch of girlish playfulness, but once she got to the couch, she was like a different person, as passionate as a ball of fire, determined to burn him to ashes.

Afterwards, she always liked to curl up in his arms, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his heart, whispering trivial things, or saying nothing at all, just holding him tightly, as if he would disappear if she let go.

Jiang Xiaochuan sometimes felt that deep down, Biyao harbored an almost panic-like unease that needed to be repeatedly confirmed and addressed.

He then hugged her back and gently patted her back until she fell into a deep sleep, at which point the uneasy wrinkles between his brows completely smoothed out.

He also often went to Xiaobai and Linglong's place.

Xiao Bai possesses a different kind of charm—lazy, alluring, like the finest wine, carrying the wisdom gained through the years and a nonchalant provocation.

She seemed to enjoy this ambiguous relationship, not deliberately competing for him. But if Jiang Xiaochuan didn't visit for a long time, she would find an excuse, such as inviting him to admire the moon when the moonlight was perfect, or inviting him to taste some new fine wine. She always managed to keep him there without leaving a trace.

Once she stayed, it was a whole night of tender whispers and entanglements. She always had endless stories to tell and boundless charm, which captivated Jiang Xiaochuan and left him somewhat unable to resist.

Linglong is like water, gentle and tolerant; being with her brings peace of mind.

Playing chess, sipping tea, chatting idly, or simply sitting quietly and watching the clouds drift by.

She never asked for anything, but when Jiang Xiaochuan visited, the smile in her eyes was enough to warm one's heart.

When emotions arise, they are expressed with utmost tenderness, like spring water nourishing all things, silently enveloping one.

He visited Tian Ling'er and Jin Ping'er relatively less often.

Tian Ling'er still had some girlish shyness. Even though they were now husband and wife, whenever they were intimate, her face would turn as red as a ripe peach, which was incredibly cute.

Jin Ping'er was initially timid, filled with gratitude and humility, but gradually she opened up and occasionally showed a little temper, even... taking the initiative, which surprised Jiang Xiaochuan and felt quite novel.

However, she always seemed to feel inferior to others, and her attempts to ingratiate herself made Jiang Xiaochuan feel sorry for her and thus he felt even more pity for her.

That night, after dinner, Xiaobai leaned against the door, beckoned to Jiang Xiaochuan with her finger, her eyes sparkling, and though she didn't say anything, her meaning was crystal clear.

Jiang Xiaochuan touched his nose and, amidst Biyao's quiet muttering of "going to that vixen again" and Lu Xueqi's calm yet seemingly colder gaze, braced himself and went up to Xiaobai's room on the third floor.

Xiao Bai's room is always filled with a faint, sweet but not cloying warm fragrance, like a mixture of flowers and fruits, which makes one's bones feel soft and fluffy.

She had already prepared the wine, not strong liquor, but a mild fruit wine, served in a white jade cup, reflecting the candlelight and shimmering with an amber light.

"Come on, have a drink with your sister." Xiaobai pulled him down to sit, then tilted her head back and drank the entire glass, her snow-white neck forming a graceful arc, her throat bobbing slightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan also drank a cup with him.

The fruit wine was sweet and smooth, but it seemed to have a strong aftereffect; after a few cups, he felt a bit feverish.

Xiao Bai refilled his glass, but didn't drink any herself. She just rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with a smile.

The candlelight danced on her stunningly beautiful face, and her eyes, which were always brimming with spring-like tenderness, now seemed deep and unfathomable, as if they held many stories.

"Xiao Chuan," she suddenly spoke, her voice slightly unsteady, "tell me, what does a person seek in this life?"

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback, not expecting her to ask that. He thought for a moment and said, "Seeking peace of mind? Seeking happiness? Seeking... having people around you?"

Xiao Bai smiled, twirling a strand of her silver hair between her fingers: "I've lived too long, so long that I've almost forgotten what I initially wanted. Immortality? Freedom? Power? It seems I've experienced them all, yet... it seems none of them really mattered."

She paused, her gaze softening as she looked at Jiang Xiaochuan's face. "Until I met you, and them. These days on Qiyun Peak, with their bickering, jealousy, and trivial matters... it makes me feel like I've come back to life."

She leaned closer, her scent of wine brushing against Jiang Xiaochuan's face: "Tell me, isn't your sister pathetic? After living for over a thousand years, all I crave in the end is this tenderness, this... the warmth of everyday life."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her. In the candlelight, she was unrealistically beautiful, but her eyes and brows carried a faint trace of weariness and longing after experiencing the vicissitudes of life.

His heart softened, and he took her hand that was twirling her hair: "This is good. Sister Xiaobai, this is good."

Xiao Bai let him hold her hand, then stroked his face with her other hand, her fingertips slightly cool: "Yes, it's very good. So..."

Her eyes suddenly turned dangerous, like a fox eyeing its prey. "Tonight, you must keep your sister company and help her relax."

They were indeed talking during the first half of the night.

Xiao Bai talked a lot, about running in the mountains and fields when she was a child, about the hardships of her cultivation, about the people she met and the things she experienced, some of which were bizarre and some were plain and warm.

Jiang Xiaochuan mostly listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two.

Xiao Bai's voice gradually lowered, becoming tiring. Finally, she leaned on his shoulder, her breathing even, as if she was about to fall asleep.

Jiang Xiaochuan had also drunk some wine and listened to her talk for a long time, so he was also getting drowsy.

Just as he was thinking of helping her to the bed, the person on his shoulder suddenly moved.

Xiao Bai raised her head, her eyes now completely brimming with moisture, captivating and mesmerizing.

With a gentle flick of her finger, Jiang Xiaochuan's belt loosened.

"We've talked, we've drunk," she whispered in his ear, her breath sweet and her voice soft and seductive, "it's time to get down to business, my dear brother."

Jiang Xiaochuan jolted awake, his drowsiness almost gone. What happened next was no longer up to him.

Having lived for thousands of years, Xiao Bai's knowledge and skills in certain areas are far beyond what a young man like him can handle.

But she was also extremely good at flirting, always managing to ignite passion at just the right moment, yet remaining aloof and elusive, driving people crazy.

"Good sister...please spare me..." Jiang Xiaochuan pleaded repeatedly, his voice trembling with sobs.

Xiao Bai lay on top of him, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall, obscuring their intertwined figures.

She chuckled softly, her laughter sweet and seductive: "Spare you? This is nothing! The night is still long..."

In the latter half of the night, Jiang Xiaochuan was almost asleep. His last vague memory was of Xiaobai licking its lips contentedly, like a cat that had just stolen some fish, then pulling him into its arms, patting his back lightly, and humming an unknown tune.

He was fast asleep and naturally didn't know that his door was gently pushed open just before dawn.

Biyao slipped in, intending to check if he was sleeping well, but the lingering sweet, warm scent of Xiaobai emanating from him instantly infuriated her. Not daring to wake Jiang Xiaochuan, she could only glare angrily at his sleeping profile, tuck him in, and storm off.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she encountered Xiaobai, wearing an outer robe, leaning lazily against a pillar in the corridor, seemingly waiting for her on purpose.

"Oh, Biyao, so early?" Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, smiling charmingly.

When Biyao saw her, she became even angrier and lowered her voice, saying, "You vixen! What did you do to him again last night? He was so exhausted!"

"What can I do?" Xiaobai shrugged, her clothes slipping down slightly to reveal an ambiguous red mark.

"Between men and women, it's just that kind of thing. What, are you jealous, Sister Biyao? It's your fault for not coming last night."

"You!" Biyao stomped her foot in anger, but afraid of waking the people inside, she could only glare at her fiercely. "Don't be so smug! Wait until he wakes up, and see how I deal with you!"

"Take care of me?" Xiaobai chuckled, leaning closer to Biyao, her voice lower and more provocative.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to handle me, and you'll end up getting yourself into trouble. The commotion someone made the other night was quite loud; I could hear it..."

"Shut up!" Biyao's face turned bright red, and she reached out to cover Xiaobai's mouth.

Xiao Bai easily dodged, and the two stunningly beautiful women, like ordinary young girls, began to mock and shove each other in hushed tones in the dimly lit corridor.

It wasn't until Lu Xueqi's door creaked softly that the two of them fell silent instantly, as if someone had grabbed their necks. They glared at each other, went back to their rooms, and pretended nothing had happened.

When it was Tian Ling'er's turn, Jiang Xiaochuan was actually a little nervous. Last time, Ling'er had learned some "tricks" from somewhere, using her amber cinnabar silk... well, let's not talk about that.

The feeling was... indescribable.

However, this time, Tian Ling'er seemed to have forgotten about that.

She simply talked to him casually, chatting about interesting things at Dazhu Peak and her cultivation experiences. As they talked, she snuggled into his arms, tilting her little face up and looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Xiao Chuan," she suddenly called out, her voice low.

"Um?"

"I miss Mom a little." Tian Ling'er buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.

"How about we go back and visit in a few days? Just the two of us... or we can invite Sister Xueqi along."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a sense of relief, followed by a surge of warmth.

He stroked Tian Ling'er's hair and said softly, "Okay, of course. I miss Master and Mistress, and Senior Brother and the others too. Let's go back and visit them, and take a few days to 'rest and recuperate'."

He emphasized the word "health preservation" with a touch of irony.

Tian Ling'er understood the implication in his words, blushed, and lightly punched him: "You're being silly! I really mean I'm going back to see my parents!"

"I know, I know," Jiang Xiaochuan said with a smile, grabbing her hand.

"Go back and visit your master and mistress, and... get some rest for a few days."

At Qiyun Peak, his "rest" time was really not much.

Tian Ling'er was finally satisfied and snuggled closer to him. Before long, her breathing became even and she fell asleep.

Jiang Xiaochuan held her close, feeling at peace. This was good enough, this warm and ordinary feeling was just right.

A few days later, Jiang Xiaochuan took Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er back to Dazhu Peak.

Biyao returned to the Ghost King Sect, Xiaobai said she needed to catch up on sleep, Linglong wanted to teach Nianchuan, and Jin Ping'er stayed behind to look after the house. The group was quite peaceful.