Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 59

After this experience, the heaviest cloud in Gu Xiyan’s heart finally dissipated. If their previous words had been a confession, then what had just happened truly solidified their feelings. The barriers that had once stood between them seemed to vanish in an instant.

After their moment of intimacy, though her face felt a little warm, the atmosphere between them was unusually harmonious. Gu Xiyan’s lips remained slightly curved in a smile, making it obvious to anyone that she was genuinely happy.

Dinner had already been brought in. As Ye Qinming ate, she kept glancing at Gu Xiyan. Seeing her so happy, she couldn’t help but feel joyful as well. It was an indescribable feeling—she had never realized that her happiness could be so simple. Just looking at this little blind girl filled her heart with delight.

Mujin, however, felt a little aggrieved. When Ye Qinming wasn’t around, she had always been the one keeping Gu Xiyan company. But now that Ye Qinming had returned, her lady no longer needed her. As she cleared the dishes, Mujin turned to look at the two of them. On Gu Xiyan’s face, she once again saw that same expression—the very one she used to wear when reminiscing about that special person from her past. Except now, it was even softer, even more tender.

Mujin pouted but then sighed in relief. It seemed that her lady’s long-lost person had truly returned. Seeing Gu Xiyan this happy, she felt happy for her too.

Ye Qinming sat with Gu Xiyan for a long while. As the sky darkened, it was finally time to rest. Gu Xiyan hesitated for a moment before speaking. “It’s time to sleep.”

Ye Qinming nodded. “You’ve had too many emotional ups and downs today. You must be exhausted—you should rest early.” With that, she leaned in to check Gu Xiyan’s forehead, gently touching it before finally standing up to leave.

Gu Xiyan’s fingers twitched slightly, but in the end, she found her thoughts too difficult to voice, so she said nothing.

Ye Qinming noticed something off about her. Studying her carefully, she suddenly broke into a smile. “Are you hoping I’ll stay?” Gu Xiyan’s expression froze, and almost immediately, the tips of her ears turned pink. Ye Qinming couldn’t hold back her laughter. She slid smoothly back in front of Gu Xiyan, grinning mischievously. “You’re embarrassed! Come on, tell me—do you want me to stay with you? Hmm?”

She circled around Gu Xiyan, pressing her for answers. Gu Xiyan turned her face away but couldn’t escape. In the end, she could only whisper, “Stop making trouble.”

“I’m not making trouble. Your face is red, Gu Xiyan, and you’re still trying to pretend.” Ye Qinming reached out and brushed her fingers against Gu Xiyan’s flushed earlobe, her eyes full of teasing amusement.

Gu Xiyan looked completely helpless. She grabbed Ye Qinming’s restless hand, pulled it down, and held it tightly. In a low voice, she said, “I want you to stay.” She spoke with sincerity. Though a trace of shyness still lingered, there was also an undeniable earnestness that made it impossible to refuse.

Ye Qinming’s playful smile froze. Then, a deep blush spread rapidly across her face, far more intense than Gu Xiyan’s.

Her sudden silence made the corners of Gu Xiyan’s lips curve up slightly. She realized that the woman she loved was someone who evoked an intense tenderness in her.

Stripped of her lofty title as the Demon Emperor, Ye Qinming’s true nature was one of carefree arrogance, yet at her core, she was kinder than most. And now, as the person she loved, she was just like any other girl—capable of feeling shy. That realization filled Gu Xiyan with an inexplicable fondness and affection.

Before, when their feelings had been unclear, Ye Qinming had harbored a subtle hostility toward her, one that neither of them could fully explain. Even though she had wanted to treat her well, to cherish her, she hadn’t known how, fearing she might anger her instead.

But now, she was certain that Ye Qinming liked her. There was no longer any need to hold back. She could tease her, make her happy, and care for her without hesitation—because all of this was a privilege that Ye Qinming had given her.

As Gu Xiyan basked in this sweetness, Ye Qinming finally recovered. Though her face was still flushed, she stubbornly huffed, “Just because you want me to stay, doesn’t mean I have to. It’s not that simple.”

Gu Xiyan chuckled but still indulged her, saying gently, “I was too impatient. Don’t be angry.”

Ye Qinming felt as if she had been completely won over by this little blind girl. It was embarrassing, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but enjoy it. That contradiction made her feel incredibly awkward.

In the end, Ye Qinming still didn’t stay. Though they were now certain of their feelings for each other, sleeping together so soon seemed a bit too improper. At this moment, the Demon Emperor conveniently forgot that, as a demon, she had always delighted in breaking conventions and rejecting the constraints of worldly etiquette.

Gu Xiyan truly was exhausted. The emotional turbulence of the day had drained her completely. After experiencing both sorrow and joy in such extremes, her mind and body were fatigued. However, perhaps because she had been through too much, even in her exhaustion, she didn’t fall asleep right away. She lay there, tossing and turning for a long time before finally closing her eyes.

Half-asleep, she caught a faint, familiar scent. Still in the hazy state of drifting off, she thought she must be imagining it. She unconsciously sniffed again, and the fragrance only grew stronger.

As her mind slowly cleared, she became aware of the subtle sounds nearby. Someone had entered her room.

Gu Xiyan was now fully awake, her hand beneath the covers gently clenching… pressing down on the smile she could hardly suppress.

The person who had entered hesitated, as if trying to determine whether Gu Xiyan was asleep. After moving closer, they furrowed their brows in slight frustration and whispered, “Gu Xiyan, weren’t you tired? Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

At that, Gu Xiyan couldn’t hold back a muffled laugh. Ye Qinming felt both exasperated and amused, so she simply pounced on Gu Xiyan, pinning her down. However, her right hand supported her own weight to avoid crushing her, while her left hand covered Gu Xiyan’s mouth. “No laughing! You’ve gotten mischievous, pretending to be asleep. What if it had been some monster sneaking in instead of me? You’d have been eaten without a trace left behind.”

Gu Xiyan’s body trembled slightly with laughter under her hand. Then, she reached up and gently pulled Ye Qinming’s hand away, her voice brimming with amusement. “Alright, I won’t laugh. I did fall asleep, but I’m a light sleeper. As for whether it was you or someone else, I’ve told you—I remember your scent. The moment you came near, I caught the fragrance of tea. It only made me happy, never afraid.” She spoke cheerfully, her features still tinged with drowsiness, yet the joy in her expression was undeniable.

“This is bad,” Ye Qinming muttered. “Now I can’t even sneak in and mess with you anymore.”

Gu Xiyan’s heart melted at her words, filled with a sweet warmth. Holding Ye Qinming’s hand, she asked, “Why didn’t you rest? Why sneak back into my room?”

Ye Qinming stiffened slightly, her gaze darting away. Then, realizing Gu Xiyan couldn’t see her expression, she quickly steadied herself. “I… I was worried some clueless monster might set its sights on you, so I came to check.”

Of course, she couldn’t admit that she had been too happy today, that lying in bed only made her think of Gu Xiyan—her words, her smile, her very presence. She simply couldn’t resist sneaking back to see her again.

Gu Xiyan, well-acquainted with her beloved’s little stubborn pride, nodded solemnly. “I see. I’ve been feeling uneasy at night too. So, did you come to sleep with me?”

“Ahem. I’m a demon; it doesn’t matter if I rest at night or not. I can just keep watch and…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Gu Xiyan’s arm slipped around her back and gently pulled her down. The all-powerful Demon Emperor, renowned for her strength, was effortlessly drawn into an embrace by a woman who had only been cultivating for eight years. The warm, lingering fragrance enveloped them both.

“How audacious!” Ye Qinming felt utterly embarrassed, but with her face buried in Gu Xiyan’s arms, even her indignant words sounded muffled and adorably flustered.

Once again, she felt Gu Xiyan’s chest tremble lightly—this little blind girl was laughing again! She couldn’t help but give Gu Xiyan a light smack. “You’re still laughing!”

Gu Xiyan’s laughter abruptly stopped, and she let out a muffled hum of protest.

“Hmph, serves you right,” Ye Qinming huffed, but her hand still instinctively rubbed the spot where she had smacked her. “Don’t tease me. If I really hit you, you wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Gu Xiyan suppressed another laugh and earnestly replied, “Yes, I understand. I won’t dare do it again.” She spoke obediently, but at the same time, she shifted slightly, lifting the blanket to wrap Ye Qinming inside.

Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed—just like that, she had been coaxed into bed?

She was about to speak when Gu Xiyan let out a dainty yawn, clearly sleepy again. Seeing this, Ye Qinming closed her mouth, reached out, and gently covered Gu Xiyan’s eyes. “Go to sleep.”

Gu Xiyan chuckled. “I can’t see to begin with.”

Ye Qinming didn’t respond. After a brief hesitation, Gu Xiyan softly suggested, “You’ll be more comfortable if you take off your outer robe.”

Ye Qinming pressed her lips together and didn’t move.

Gu Xiyan, who had been momentarily carried away by Ye Qinming’s cuteness, now found herself flustered. Lying together like this, a nervous shyness started creeping up on her. She shifted slightly to the right and whispered, “I… I won’t look.”

Ye Qinming couldn’t help but laugh. She removed her outer robe and casually tossed it aside. The fabric floated lightly before catching onto a screen. Then, she teased, “You’d have to be able to see for that to matter.”

Still, Ye Qinming didn’t make a fuss over it. The two of them lay side by side in bed. Initially, they had been embracing, but now there was a full person’s width between them.

Glancing at Gu Xiyan, who was lying stiff as a board, Ye Qinming found the situation amusing. Strange—after getting together, even she had started acting reserved.

Eventually, both of them drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning, Gu Xiyan and Ye Qinming woke up almost at the same time. Though Gu Xiyan couldn’t see, she quickly realized that she was holding someone in her arms. The body was soft and fragrant. She paused for a moment before remembering—Ye Qinming had rolled into her embrace during the night.

Meanwhile, Ye Qinming stared at the beautiful face right in front of her, then glanced down at herself. She immediately placed a hand over her forehead.

Gu Xiyan was lying on the outermost side, while Ye Qinming was completely clinging to her. There was a large empty space on the left, leaving no doubt that Ye Qinming had rolled over in her sleep.

The two of them lay there in a daze before finally turning over and sitting up. Gu Xiyan’s ears turned red again. After some thought, she took the blame upon herself and softly said, “I must have been restless in my sleep and disturbed you.”

Ye Qinming cleared her throat lightly. “No, I…” She didn’t know what to say. How had she, the mighty Demon Emperor, become so flustered and reserved? It must be this little blind girl’s fault—so proper and dignified, like a true gentleman, making her hesitant to act too brazenly.

Shaking her head, Ye Qinming frowned. The atmosphere had been so good yesterday, but now this awkwardness made them seem distant. Resolving herself, she straightened her posture. “You were about to fall off the bed, and yet you call that restless? I just found it comfortable holding you, so I rolled over.”

Gu Xiyan turned her head in surprise. Ye Qinming, now fully dressed, remained calm. “Why do you look so shocked? We’ve already confessed our feelings, kissed countless times, and even slept together last night. A hug is nothing.”

The redness that had just faded from Gu Xiyan’s face surged back again. After a moment, she relaxed her brows and smiled. “I was being too rigid. I won’t be anymore.”

With that, Ye Qinming handed her a robe and reached out to help her dress. Gu Xiyan lowered her eyes and let her do as she pleased. Seeing her so obedient, Ye Qinming huffed lightly. “You? Rigid? If you were really rigid, you wouldn’t have dragged me into bed last night.”

Gu Xiyan was caught off guard and coughed a few times. The two of them, who claimed not to be rigid, were both blushing harder than ever—without realizing it.

After freshening up and having breakfast, Gu Xiyan lowered her head in thought for a moment before saying to Ye Qinming, “Qinming, your presence has already drawn a lot of attention. The cultivators are aware of you now. You can’t stay in the Mortal Realm for long. I fear they’ll send people down immediately once they find out.”

Ye Qinming didn’t respond right away. After a pause, she said, “I know. But, Xiyan, have you really thought this through? If you go with me, you’ll be truly isolated. There will be no other humans where I am.” Her gaze flickered with hesitation, filled with both unease and uncertainty.

Gu Xiyan’s unseeing eyes remained fixed ahead, listening carefully to Ye Qinming’s words. When Ye Qinming finished, a warm smile appeared on her face, shining under the sunlight with an almost otherworldly grace.

“Apart from my parents, I have no one else now. It makes no difference where I am. But now, I have you. I may not be able to stay with my parents, but I want to be with you. Besides, how could I be isolated when I have you?”

Ye Qinming’s heart trembled. She grasped Gu Xiyan’s hand and said in a low voice, “I will do everything I can to protect you. But, Xiyan… my enemy is no ordinary foe—he is the ruler of the Immortal Realm. If you stay with me, you will be standing against them. I’ve told you before: you are the reincarnation of an immortal. Even if you fail in this life, in the next, you will return to the heavens, worshiped by mortals. But if you choose me, you won’t just face demons—you’ll also have to fight against the gods. I’m afraid… I’m afraid that if I fail to protect you…”

She finally said it—those two words. She was truly afraid. She didn’t know how, but in just a few short days, Gu Xiyan had come to mean so much to her. It was as if there had once been a fog in her heart, keeping Gu Xiyan at a distance. But now, the fog had lifted, revealing that Gu Xiyan had long since taken root in her heart. Pulling her out would tear her apart, leaving only raw, bleeding wounds.

Gu Xiyan understood Ye Qinming well. For her to say the word “afraid”—how difficult must that have been? And yet, because of her, Ye Qinming had said it.

Slowly, she tightened her grip around Ye Qinming’s hand and lowered her gaze with a gentle smile. “Silly. It may be reckless of me, but more than being protected by you, I want to stand beside you. I won’t always rely on you. And no matter what the future holds, just hearing what you said now is enough for me.” Then, as if something came to mind, a playful smile appeared on her lips. She placed a hand over her heart. “Besides, I remember someone once saying that if I ever became an immortal and turned against her, my life and death would be at her mercy. I’d like to live a few more years with her, so I don’t dare ascend and join the Immortal Realm.”

Ye Qinming felt as if something was lodged in her throat, and even her nose started to sting. But then, she was also amused by Gu Xiyan’s words. Looking back at her own past actions, she regretted them—always being stubborn and sharp-tongued, even nearly causing Gu Xiyan’s death. The more she thought about it, the more afraid she felt. There had been so many times when Gu Xiyan had almost…

“I’m sorry.”

Gu Xiyan was startled. After a moment, she shook her head. “You don’t need to apologize. You’ve never done anything to wrong me, truly.”

Ye Qinming gazed at her, wanting to pull her into an embrace. She lifted her hand but hesitated midair. At the same time, Gu Xiyan suddenly turned her head, tilting her ear toward the outside.

Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed, and her gaze instantly turned sharp. The next moment, she swiftly grabbed Gu Xiyan and leaped away.

A raging firestorm blasted through the rooftop, smashing down exactly where they had been standing. In an instant, the floor, furniture—everything—was reduced to ash, leaving behind a massive crater.

Dirt and debris scattered everywhere, passing right before Ye Qinming’s eyes, reflecting in her deep, chilling pupils. A deadly aura surged from within her.

They were here.