Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 62

Ye Qinming was feeling dizzy from the kiss. When Gu Xiyan brought up the topic, she immediately felt guilty, turned her head away, touched her nose, and spoke in a soft, delicate voice, “My wound hurts. Blow on it for me.”

Gu Xiyan’s heart ached for her. Even though she knew Ye Qinming was trying to change the subject, she still carefully supported her with her right hand, helping her lie down properly before bending over to gently blow on the wound. The cool breeze brushed against the burning pain, creating a ticklish sensation. Though the pain remained, Ye Qinming’s focus shifted to the tingling feeling. Before long, she squirmed slightly, unable to endure it. “Xiyan, it tickles.” The sensation seemed to seep from her back into her heart, an unbearable itch.

Gu Xiyan was incredibly patient. Hearing Ye Qinming say it tickled, she immediately stopped and gently rubbed the edge of the wound. “Does that feel better?”

Ye Qinming, already flustered, blushed even more. She quickly responded, “It’s fine now. I just need to remove the residual spiritual energy myself. Let me sit up.”

Upon hearing that, Gu Xiyan reached out to hold her shoulders, intending to help her up. However, the moment she touched Ye Qinming’s skin, its smooth coolness was magnified by her sharp senses. It felt as if her hand had been burned, and her body froze. Gu Xiyan turned her head slightly, took a deep breath, and only then calmly helped Ye Qinming sit up.

Ye Qinming was not faring much better. Her face was flushed red, and she let Gu Xiyan move her without a word. She bit her lip and stole a glance at Gu Xiyan. Gu Xiyan’s expression was calm, as if nothing had happened, but her ears were so red they looked like they might drip blood. Ye Qinming, feeling both shy and amused, couldn’t help but laugh. She really was adorable.

“You… You need to change your inner robes too.” Gu Xiyan sat up straight and spoke softly.

Ye Qinming’s gaze landed on the wardrobe in the sleeping quarters. With a slight wave of her hand, a set of white inner and outer robes floated into her grasp. She glanced at Gu Xiyan awkwardly and said, “Go to the outer room. I’ll change myself.”

Gu Xiyan blinked, then curved her lips into a smile. Without saying anything, she obligingly stood up and walked toward the outer room. Just as she reached the door, she turned back with a teasing smile. “I can’t look. You don’t have to be shy.”

“When was I ever shy? I just don’t like changing in front of others,” Ye Qinming retorted, flustered and annoyed.

Gu Xiyan nodded and disappeared behind the beaded curtain, but her soft laughter still drifted back into the room. Ye Qinming was both exasperated and amused. In the end, she puffed up her cheeks and chuckled as well.

The pain in her back wasn’t as unbearable as before. After dressing, Ye Qinming touched her lips. Gu Xiyan’s spiritual energy had an astonishing effect on her, even exceeding her expectations. She couldn’t help but recall the strange reaction in her dantian when Gu Xiyan fed her blood last time. Falling into deep thought, she wondered—what exactly was lurking inside her? There was no reason it should be connected to Gu Xiyan, yet that day, it had clearly absorbed Gu Xiyan’s blood.

Thinking of this, Ye Qinming closed her eyes and examined her dantian. Within it, a jade-green demon core glowed with a faint golden hue. Upon closer inspection, however, she noticed numerous cracks on its surface, evidence that it had once been shattered.

Ye Qinming couldn’t help but wonder—was there anything in the Three Realms that could restore a shattered demon core? Or had she misremembered? Was her core merely damaged rather than completely broken? Otherwise, she couldn’t fathom who would go through the trouble of repairing it for her. And why?

Unable to find an answer, she set the thought aside and instead examined the milky-white mass of energy lingering in the corner of her dantian. Strands of pure spiritual energy flowed within it. Previously, it had been lifeless, but ever since Gu Xiyan’s blood had merged with it, it had come alive. Even now, she could feel it continuously channeling energy toward her demon core, as if it was helping her recover.

Her past injuries and hidden ailments had healed so quickly, and this mysterious energy had certainly played a role. The great battle from a thousand years ago remained vivid in her mind, but she couldn’t recall exactly how she had died. Only the excruciating pain of a sword piercing her body lingered with haunting clarity, filling her with an unresolved hatred that still festered inside her.

As her thoughts darkened, her eyes turned blood-red, and a murderous aura swirled around her. Just then, a voice from outside interrupted.

“Your Majesty, Lord Guiche and General Bai request an audience.”

Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed deeply, and her fingers clenched instantly, suppressing the violent energy within her. At that moment, Gu Xiyan had already stepped inside, looking slightly worried. “Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”

Ye Qinming shook her head. “I’m fine. I was just thinking about the past, and it unsettled me.” She knew Gu Xiyan had likely noticed her change in mood, but she didn’t want these matters to burden her.

She stood up, took Gu Xiyan’s hand, and guided her to sit down. In a low voice, she said, “Wait here for me. I have something to take care of.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Gu Xiyan replied.

Ye Qinming smiled faintly, but the moment she turned around, all traces of warmth disappeared from her face. Sharpness filled her gaze, and every step she took exuded authority.

When she entered the grand hall, she didn’t spare a glance at Guiche and Bai Shisan, who were bowing respectfully below. With a graceful flick of her robe, she settled herself onto the throne. Her eyes, tinged with a faint chill, rested squarely on Bai Shisan.

Guiche had already learned the general situation from Bai Shisan and now stood with a tense expression. Bai Shisan, on the other hand, barely dared to breathe.

Although anger swirled in Ye Qinming’s heart, she did not press too hard. Instead, she spoke in a low, commanding voice, “Bai Shisan, do you know why I summoned you?”

Bai Shisan immediately knelt down. “I have failed in my duty.”

Ye Qinming’s expression grew colder. “Who ordered you to leave?”

Bai Shisan hesitated, glancing at Guiche before gritting his teeth and replying, “It was Lord Jiuying who sent someone to summon us. I… I did not dare disobey. I never expected it would delay Your Majesty’s affairs and nearly cause harm. Please, Your Majesty, do not hold it against me.”

Ye Qinming’s eyes turned icy. With a sudden lift of her right hand, a blast of demonic energy sent Bai Shisan flying ten meters across the hall. He let out a muffled groan, and before he could rise, Ye Qinming’s figure flashed before him. She crouched down to his level, her voice cold and mocking.

“What? Do you think I can’t keep you in check anymore? Are you planning to pledge allegiance to Jiuying instead?”

The pressure of her presence was so intense that Bai Shisan’s very soul trembled. Coughing up blood, he crawled back to his knees, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. With his forehead pressed heavily against the floor, he pleaded, “Your Majesty, spare me! I know my mistake—I would never dare!”

Ye Qinming rose to her feet and turned back toward the throne. As she walked, her voice rang out, clear and unyielding. “I choose not to fight—it does not mean I lack the power to do so. If anyone dares to cross my bottom line, I will show no mercy. Remember this, Bai Shisan—there is only one ruler in the Demon Realm. Make your choice. I am giving you one last chance.”

Bai Shisan bowed low, his voice trembling with conviction. “Your Majesty will always be the sole ruler of the Demon Realm. I would never waver in my loyalty.”

“Good. You are dismissed.”

Ye Qinming’s familiar smile returned, though it did not reach her eyes. Bai Shisan, feeling as if he had been granted a reprieve from death, staggered out of the hall in relief. How foolish he had been to forget—this was the same ruler who even the Heavenly Emperor feared.

“Your Majesty… why are you in such a rush this time?” Guiche asked hesitantly, watching Bai Shisan leave.

Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed briefly before smoothing out. “Before returning to the Demon Realm, I encountered the fire god and High God Qujing from the Heavenly Realm. They came specifically for me.”

Guiche froze. He hadn’t even known that his liege had left for the human world—how could the Immortal Realm have arrived so quickly? A sudden thought crossed his mind, and his expression turned cold. “Your Majesty, are you suggesting that someone leaked your whereabouts?”

Ye Qinming nodded slightly. “How is the current battle situation?”

At the mention of this, Guiche’s face darkened with concern. “Since learning of Your Majesty’s return, the Immortal Realm has intensified their assault. Even the wind god and fire god have joined the battlefield. Casualties on our front lines are severe—Underworld Water is on the verge of falling.”

Ye Qinming fell silent for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking. “If I’m not mistaken, Jiuying must blame my return for the Immortal Realm’s aggression. No wonder…”

“Your Majesty, if Jiuying cannot be subdued, he will become a significant threat,” Guiche warned, his tone filled with worry. After a millennium, he knew all too well the depths of Jiuying’s ambition and cunning.

“I know.” Ye Qinming absentmindedly rubbed her fingers together, her thoughts heavy.

“One more thing, Your Majesty—Liuli has learned of your return and is already on her way back from the Desolate Lands,” Guiche added.

At the mention of that name, a faint ripple passed through Ye Qinming’s otherwise composed expression. After a brief pause, she asked, “Has she not returned to the Demon Capital in all these years?”

Guiche sighed. “A thousand years ago, the Immortal Realm spread news of Your Majesty’s death, and Xuanshui disappeared without a trace. Liuli, along with several of Your Majesty’s attendants, left the Demon Capital and have been wandering ever since. After your return, I announced it across the Demon Realm. If they hear the news, they will surely come back.”

At the mention of Xuanshui, a dull ache settled in Ye Qinming’s chest. She noticed Guiche hesitating as if he wanted to say something and frowned. “What is it you want to ask?”

Guiche cupped his hands and asked cautiously, “Forgive my boldness, but… was it truly Divine Lord Zhuoqing who harmed Your Majesty a thousand years ago?”

In his memory, Ye Qinming and Divine Lord Zhuoqing had shared a deep personal bond. Despite being the ruler of the Demon Realm, Ye Qinming rarely remained within its borders. Most of the time, she was either sharing tea and playing chess with Zhuoqing or traveling across the Three Realms together. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine that Divine Lord Zhuoqing would be so ruthless.

“Yes.” Ye Qinming’s expression darkened. Though she had long erased the image of that so-called Divine Lord from her memory, the scene of that sword piercing through her remained painfully vivid. Guiche’s question struck a nerve, sending sharp, bone-deep pain surging through her chest and reigniting the hatred buried in her heart.

Noticing her terrifying expression, Guiche dared not press further. It was clear—the rumors were true. And worse still, this was a wound that cut deep into her heart.

After Guiche left, Ye Qinming sat alone in the grand hall for a long time. She wasn’t sure what she was thinking—only that a stifling heaviness weighed on her chest. In this state, she had no desire to visit Gu Xiyan.

***

Meanwhile, Gu Xiyan sat quietly in the bedchamber, waiting. Ye Qinming had been gone for a while now, and Gu Xiyan worried about her injuries—and even more so about her sudden loss of control earlier. That feeling… Ye Qinming had once looked at her the same way before. An unsettling anxiety crept into her heart.

So, the moment Ye Qinming returned, Gu Xiyan stood up immediately. As she approached, she frowned slightly. “Who did you fight with?” Ye Qinming was both surprised and a little guilty. Gu Xiyan sighed softly. “Focus on healing first. Let the other matters wait. By the way, where is Mujin now? She can’t see me—I’m worried she’ll cause trouble.”

When they first arrived in the Demon Realm, Ye Qinming had been injured, and Gu Xiyan hadn’t had the chance to pay attention to Mujin. Now that things had settled slightly, her concern returned.

Ye Qinming pulled her down to sit beside her, her voice warm. “I’ll arrange for someone to bring her here. They’ve only just returned to the Demon Realm and need to be registered, so she hasn’t come by yet. Don’t worry.”

After a brief silence, Ye Qinming spoke again, her tone softer. “Xiyan, there’s still something I need to take care of. For the time being, you’ll have to stay here and avoid going out too often—there are certain people who mustn’t know of your existence.”

There was guilt in her voice. She had promised to protect her, but if the situation with Jiuying wasn’t handled properly, it would pose a grave danger—to both Gu Xiyan and the entire Demon Realm.

Although Gu Xiyan was powerful in the mortal world, the Demon Realm was full of formidable beings. It was far too risky to expose her. Keeping her hidden was the only way to keep her safe.

Gu Xiyan, of course, heard the guilt behind Ye Qinming’s words. With a gentle smile, she said, “What’s there to feel guilty about? I’m blind—I’ve always stayed indoors. At most, I would visit the tea garden and tend to my tea plants. Most days, I just listened to Ah Qi read to me while brewing my own tea—it was a simple, peaceful life. Unless you’re telling me there’s no tea or books here?”

Ye Qinming couldn’t help but smile, though she tried to keep her tone serious. “I’m a rough person—all I know is fighting. I don’t read books or play the zither. As for tea, didn’t you once say… I am tea. Who would dare bring tea here? Doesn’t that make things less pitiful?”

Hearing this, Gu Xiyan tilted her head slightly, feigning disappointment. “That does sound rather dull.” But her disappointment faded quickly, replaced by a radiant smile. “Still, even without those things, there’s something far more interesting here—so it’s fine.”

“What’s interesting?” Ye Qinming asked casually.

“You,” Gu Xiyan said, her voice soft and sincere. “Compared to everything else, I’d much rather be near you. No matter what, you always feel right to me.”

She wasn’t joking. The corners of her lips curled up, carrying a warmth that lingered like ripples on still water.

Ye Qinming’s heart softened at those words. Her gaze fell on Gu Xiyan’s eyes—eyes that no longer reflected light. Yet, in those dim, sightless depths, she still saw herself.

So, this was what it meant to truly love someone. Even when they could not see, they would always find you.