Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 29

Ye Qinming wasn’t joking. While Gu Xiyan was unconscious, she had thought about many things. Though she still hadn’t fully grasped her feelings for Gu Xiyan, one thing was clear—she felt deeply for her, wanted to protect her. Seeing Gu Xiyan injured and in pain made her chest ache unbearably.

She was never someone indecisive. Though she had a habit of saying one thing and meaning another, she always had a precise grasp of the key points. And right now, she was certain—she wanted to take Gu Xiyan with her. Even if Gu Xiyan was just a mortal, she still wanted to shelter her. It was no longer just about protecting her as a food source.

Ye Qinming had lived for so long, but the number of regrets she carried could be counted on one hand. Most were grave miscalculations—such as trusting those gods, allying with the Immortal Realm, only to be betrayed in the end.

But today, seeing Gu Xiyan covered in wounds, barely clinging to life, she regretted it more than ever. She regretted sulking and not staying by Gu Xiyan’s side, regretted not reaching her in time to shield her from disaster.

And the taste of that regret was unbearable.

Gu Xiyan listened to her words, then slowly lifted her head, as if carefully considering their meaning. After a pause, she lowered her gaze. “I’m just a mortal. And a blind one at that. If you take me with you, I’ll only be a burden.”

Ye Qinming raised an eyebrow. “A burden? Gu Xiyan, have you forgotten your own abilities? I remember when I arrived, Ji Wuyan, in his fury, struck you. Do you know what you did?”

Gu Xiyan froze. She tried to recall the moment—she had been filled with both rage and despair, her mind a complete haze. Her body had felt both scorching hot and chillingly cold. Then… Ji Wuyan had suddenly released her before striking her with a palm.

“It all happened too fast. I didn’t have time to think. But now that I look back… I think I saw you unleash a burst of spiritual energy, cutting straight into Ji Wuyan’s abdomen.”

Gu Xiyan’s face showed unmistakable shock. “Spiritual energy?”

“That’s right.” Ye Qinming’s eyes gleamed as she fixed her gaze on Gu Xiyan. “Do you understand what it means for a mortal, one who has never cultivated, to be able to gather and release spiritual energy, harming others without even realizing it?”

Gu Xiyan looked dazed. “Are you saying… I can cultivate?”

Ye Qinming gave a small nod. “Yes. And not just that—you have an extraordinary gift. After all, you carry divine energy within you. You were always meant to be a god.”

Gu Xiyan pressed her lips together. “But… don’t you hate gods?”

Ye Qinming hesitated for a moment before answering. “I do hate them. But my hatred stems from their hypocrisy—the way they pretend to be righteous and pure while harboring just as much greed and ambition as anyone else. Likewise, humans fear the demon race. Most cultivators would rather exterminate demons than tolerate them. But you know, not all demons are evil. Since you trust me—a demon—why shouldn’t I trust you, a god?”

Gu Xiyan remained silent for a while. At last, for the first time in days, a faint smile appeared on her lips—though she quickly pressed them together again, as if trying to restrain it. “I’m not a god yet.”

Ye Qinming, seeing her smile, couldn’t help but smile as well. Then she furrowed her brows slightly. “Gu Xiyan, do you still want to go back?”

Gu Xiyan fell into a long silence. Then, with a distant look, she murmured, “What would be the point? In the end, I can’t stay by their side.”

“Won’t you at least see them one last time?” Ye Qinming could already guess what Gu Xiyan was thinking. She appeared indifferent, as if she could let go of anything, but in truth, she was deeply attached. Leaving her parents behind like this must have been heartbreaking for her.

Gu Xiyan said nothing, but the way she instinctively turned her head gave her away.

Ye Qinming considered for a moment before saying, “If you don’t return, they’ll assume the worst—that you’ve met some tragic fate. That kind of pain is far worse than separation. But if you’re worried about implicating them, yet can’t bear to leave them behind, then… I can spare you that sorrow.”

Gu Xiyan looked at her, surprised. “How?”

Ye Qinming smiled, then, noticing how dry and fatigued Gu Xiyan looked, changed the subject. “Are you hungry?”

Gu Xiyan frowned and shook her head. But then, recalling everything that had happened, she couldn’t stop herself from gagging.

Ye Qinming stepped forward to steady her. “What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell?”

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “No.” But her pale complexion told a different story.

Ye Qinming recalled that when she had arrived, Gu Xiyan had been dry heaving continuously, looking utterly miserable. As she thought back carefully—to the bloodstains on Gu Xiyan’s body and what she had vomited—an unsettling suspicion crept into her mind, making her expression darken.

Ji Wuyan had died far too easily, and that shadow had managed to escape!

She raised a hand and cast a protective barrier around them, then helped Gu Xiyan sit down. “I’m going to find you something to eat. Your lips are terribly dry—you need water too. I won’t go far, and I’ve set up a barrier for you. Just sit here and wait for me. There’s nothing to be afraid of, alright?”

Gu Xiyan, hearing her speak with such care and consideration, felt her face heat up for some reason. “I understand. I’m not a child.”

It was rare to hear her sound so bashful, almost sulky. Ye Qinming chuckled, amused. “When I get back, I’ll tell you my idea.”

The sound of fluttering robes filled the air as Ye Qinming left. Gu Xiyan slowly sat down, trying to process everything that had happened today. To her, it all felt like a descent into hell.

Even with Ye Qinming’s comforting words, the memories still made her chest tighten with pain.

Ye Qinming? Just thinking about her brought a faint warmth to Gu Xiyan’s heart. That person was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted—awkward in her own way. She had originally claimed she wanted to use her as a spirit pill, and even after letting her go, she had said she would extract spiritual energy from her. But…

Gu Xiyan did the math carefully.

Ye Qinming had saved her twice, helped her countless times, and had only taken her spiritual energy three times. The first time, she had even ended up giving her some in return.

Thinking of this, Gu Xiyan couldn’t help but smile.

She had been severely injured today, her whole body aching terribly. Her self-inflicted wrist wound and broken nails had all healed completely. There was no doubt—Ye Qinming had healed her.

Ye Qinming had been incredibly good to her. Gu Xiyan lowered her eyes, feeling both grateful and puzzled. Why was Ye Qinming treating her so well? As she pondered this, her thoughts, seemingly beyond her control, drifted back to that kiss.

She could still remember the sensation—the heat, the sweetness. Her ears turned crimson in an instant. Flustered, she shook her head vigorously, trying to rid herself of the memory that made her heart race.

At that moment, a familiar voice, rich and pleasant, rang beside her.

“What’s wrong? Why are you shaking your head like that?”

Gu Xiyan instinctively tried to stand up quickly. But being blind, her sense of balance was weak. Rising too fast, she stumbled to the side.

Ye Qinming, one hand holding a bundle of fruit and the other carrying water, saw her about to fall and instantly teleported, catching her in her arms.

Gu Xiyan crashed into Ye Qinming’s embrace. Reflexively, she reached out to steady herself, but as soon as her palm made contact with something soft, she yanked her hand back in shock, leaning even closer into Ye Qinming’s chest.

Ye Qinming glanced at the water and fruit she was holding before looking at Gu Xiyan’s flushed face with a teasing smile. “Did you hurt yourself? Can you stand up on your own?”

Gu Xiyan murmured an apology and tried to get up. Noticing her awkward posture and struggle, Ye Qinming gently extended a thread of spiritual energy from her fingertips, lightly pulling her upright.

“Are you alright?”

Once she was standing steadily, Gu Xiyan answered softly, “Mm… thank you.”

“Here, drink some water first.” Ye Qinming cupped a handful of spring water in a large leaf and brought it to Gu Xiyan’s lips. “Just drink from my hand.”

Gu Xiyan took a few sips of water. The spring water was sweet and refreshing, carrying a familiar hint of tea. She looked up, slightly surprised. “This water… it has your taste.”

As soon as she said it, she felt the words sounded a bit strange and hesitated. Ye Qinming chuckled. “I knew you were sharp. You caught on quickly. Your body is still weak, so I added some spiritual essence from tea.”

Gu Xiyan was stunned for a moment. After a long pause, she said with a complicated expression, “You don’t have to be so kind to me. I already owe you too much.”

Ye Qinming blinked. “Mm, that’s true. I must be the first demon to raise a human meant for my alchemy this well.” She teased her before continuing seriously, “Earlier, I mentioned that I could help you avoid separation from your family. But that only applies to your parents. If you’re worried about dragging them into this, you must ensure you can protect yourself. Now that the boundary between the Mortal and Demon Realms has been destroyed, demons will only become more frequent in the human world. At this moment, you’re still not strong enough to handle it.”

“As long as I can prevent them from grieving, that’s already the best outcome.” Gu Xiyan’s expression lightened as she waited for Ye Qinming to continue.

“I can use puppet magic to create a puppet of you. As long as the caster has enough skill, the puppet will have the same temperament, voice, and appearance as you—indistinguishable from the real thing.”

Gu Xiyan’s expression grew complicated. She lowered her head in silence for a moment before smiling. “That’s certainly a good method. But even with your abilities, wouldn’t it consume a great deal of spiritual energy?”

Ye Qinming let out a soft laugh. “Are you underestimating me? Though my strength has been greatly reduced due to certain circumstances, techniques like this are still effortless for me.”

Hearing that, Gu Xiyan pursed her lips and smiled faintly. “I never doubted your strength. But… why were you injured and left in my family’s tea garden back then?”

At the question, Ye Qinming’s expression darkened slightly, her gaze turning solemn. “I’ve told you before—I despise the gods. It’s because I once trusted them. We formed an alliance, agreeing not to interfere with each other. But in the end, they feared the Demon Realm. They went back on their word and set me up, nearly killing me. I barely escaped, but my spiritual power was severely damaged.”

From Ye Qinming’s words, Gu Xiyan grasped the general situation. The gods had schemed against Ye Qinming out of fear of the Demon Realm. That meant Ye Qinming must have been someone powerful in the Demon Realm. Now that she had fallen to the human world, she likely wanted to return.

“So, you want to restore your spiritual power and return to the Demon Realm?”

Ye Qinming looked at her. Gu Xiyan’s expression remained calm, though her lips were pressed together slightly. “Yes.”

Gu Xiyan didn’t say anything more. Ye Qinming handed her a freshly washed fruit. “Eat something first. After you rest for a while, I’ll take you to see your parents.”

Gu Xiyan took the fruit and slowly bit into it. The juice was abundant, a pleasant mix of sweet and sour. She felt grateful but didn’t know how to express it. As she ate, she added, “My body is actually quite strong.” Ye Qinming was briefly stunned, not understanding what she meant. The girl munching on the fruit spoke again. “If you need to, you can take more energy from me.” Then, as if making a serious observation, she added, “I think drinking blood seems to work better for you.”

Ye Qinming: “…”

She usually wasn’t picky about her meals, so how did she end up with such a willing source of food?

Of course, years later, Ye Qinming would always wish that this delicious “meal” would be as eager to feed her as she was now.