Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 70

Ye Qinming sat in the main hall for a long time, unable to calm her mind. During this time, Zhijin came out to deliver tea. Seeing her still pale face, Ye Qinming said gently, “You’ve worked hard this time. Go and get some rest.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m fine. But… did you have a fight with Miss Gu?” Zhijin couldn’t resist asking. Both of them seemed troubled and weighed down by their thoughts.

Ye Qinming glanced at her and shook her head but then couldn’t help asking, “How is she? Is she tending to her injuries?” Zhijin hesitated, carefully considering her words, but before she could answer, Ye Qinming abruptly stood up, frowning. “Never mind, I’ll go check on her myself.”

She strode toward the inner chamber but hesitated at the door. Only when she heard the sound of muffled coughing from inside did she immediately enter.

Gu Xiyan was covering her mouth, trying to suppress a cough, while Mujin hurriedly took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. Hearing Ye Qinming’s approach, Gu Xiyan casually placed the handkerchief in her palm.

Ye Qinming quickly sat beside her and took her hand. Gu Xiyan struggled slightly and said softly, “I’m fine. It’s your injury I’m worried about—drink some of my blood.”

Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed in anger. She grabbed Gu Xiyan’s right hand—the one clutching the handkerchief—and said through gritted teeth, “Gu Xiyan, do you think you’re made of iron? You’re already coughing up blood, and you still want to feed me yours? Do you think you have too much to spare?”

Gu Xiyan remained silent, bitterness welling up inside her. If she were Zhuoqing, everything Ye Qinming was suffering now was because of her. Even if she gave up her life, it could never make up for the pain of being imprisoned for a thousand years.

Ye Qinming’s eyes turned red. Unable to hold back, she pulled Gu Xiyan into a tight embrace. Mujin had already slipped away quietly, leaving only the two of them in the inner chamber, their breathing heavy with suppressed emotions.

In a choked voice, Ye Qinming said, “Gu Xiyan, I know what you’re thinking. I admit my heart is in turmoil, but I don’t remember the entanglements of our past lives, and you’re not the Divine Lord anymore. All I know is that right now, I like you—I care about you. Even if I know you’re her reincarnation, that won’t change. Let’s stop torturing ourselves, alright?”

Held in her arms, Gu Xiyan couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was the first time Ye Qinming had spoken so plainly about her feelings. Lowering her head and struggling to hold back her tears, she choked out, “But I feel guilty toward you.”

“Then treat me better from now on—don’t always make me angry. All I did was treat you like a blood supply for a little while, and you keep using that to upset me,” Ye Qinming grumbled childishly, pouting slightly.

Gu Xiyan couldn’t help but smile through her tears. “I… I’m just worried about you.”

Feeling the warmth of her tears on her shoulder, Ye Qinming lifted her head to look at Gu Xiyan, her heart aching unbearably. Gu Xiyan’s usual smile was faint and distant like the moon, and she rarely revealed her emotions. So when she smiled, Ye Qinming cherished it like a precious treasure, but when she cried, it pierced her heart like a knife.

Gently wiping away her tears, Ye Qinming said with frustration, “Stop crying—you’re making me feel awful. Don’t overthink things. All I ask, Gu Xiyan, is that you never betray me.”

That last sentence carried a trace of unease that even Ye Qinming herself didn’t realize—an earnest plea that struck Gu Xiyan’s heart sharply.

Gu Xiyan reached out to stroke Ye Qinming’s face, her expression pained. Then, word by word, she said, “Qinming, if I ever betray you again, may I never find peace for all eternity…”

Ye Qinming frowned and immediately covered her mouth. “Why are you swearing over nothing? Words alone mean nothing.”

Gu Xiyan said nothing more, only murmuring a soft “Mm.”

Although Gu Xiyan’s true identity had been revealed, Ye Qinming’s unwillingness to let go meant that their feelings for each other remained largely unaffected. However, the shadows lingering between them did not fully dissipate. At least, not in Gu Xiyan’s heart.

She still couldn’t believe that her past self would have treated Ye Qinming so cruelly. If it was truly for the sake of protecting the world, then from what she had seen, Ye Qinming—despite her reckless indulgence—was undeniably kind at heart. She showed no mercy to her enemies, but she never bullied the weak or killed indiscriminately.

More importantly, Ye Qinming mentioned that the Demon Realm and the Immortal Realm had already formed an alliance, and that her relationship with her past self had been quite close. Since Ye Qinming had never harbored any intention of destroying the Immortal Realm, how could her past self have been so cruel and heartless toward her? Yet, everyone said the same thing—even the only memory Ye Qinming retained was of her shattering her demon core. She had no choice but to accept it, though she hated herself for it.

If she was truly that kind of person, she did not deserve the deep affection Ye Qinming showed her. But she couldn’t let go. Even knowing she was unworthy, she could not bring herself to leave. Every step forward felt like tearing herself apart.

In the following days, Ye Qinming was also extremely busy. Her hasty departure from the battlefield had come at a heavy cost. Guiche was injured, one of his top generals had fallen, and the demon clans were filled with rage and grief. She had to avenge these losses on behalf of the Demon Realm to quell their anger—otherwise, resentment toward Gu Xiyan would only grow stronger.

Yet, to Gu Xiyan’s surprise, while the lower demons were furious, Guiche and Feidan did not share Liuli’s intense anger. In fact, they showed no inclination to seek revenge on Gu Xiyan at all.

When Ye Qinming visited Guiche, she couldn’t help but ask, “Guiche, don’t you blame me for keeping her alive—even at the cost of your beloved general and your own severe injuries?”

Guiche was momentarily stunned, but his serious expression remained unchanged. He shook his head. “If it were anyone else from the Immortal Realm, my liege, I would have killed them without hesitation. But if it’s Divine Lord Zhuoqing, I…” His face grew conflicted as he continued in a low voice, “If not for the fact that you nearly died at her hands, Divine Lord Zhuoqing would be regarded as a benefactor of the Demon Realm—and a deity we hold in the highest esteem. Since you have already forgiven her, I have no right to harbor resentment.”

Ye Qinming was taken aback. “Why do you say that?”

Guiche seemed equally surprised. “Your Majesty, have you forgotten the Chaos Calamity twenty thousand years ago? At that time, the Taotie beast, born of chaos, broke free from its seal and led a rampage of demon beasts across the Three Realms, throwing everything into turmoil. The Demon Realm, being the site of its seal, suffered the most—it slaughtered all who refused to submit. In the end, it was only through your combined efforts with Divine Lord Zhuoqing that the Taotie was defeated.”

As he spoke, a trace of admiration flashed across Guiche’s face. In his lifetime, there were only two people he held in the highest regard—Ye Qinming and Zhuoqing. He would never forget that day. 

Zhuoqing had appeared in the Demon Realm dressed in simple white robes, holding the Hongmeng Sword. Bloodied and battered, the demons had been on the brink of collapse, but she had spoken just two words—”Stand back”—a voice as clear and divine as heaven itself.

Because of this, even when everyone else insisted that Zhuoqing had killed Ye Qinming, he couldn’t believe it. When Ye Qinming returned, he had sought her out personally to ask if it was true.

Ye Qinming, of course, had no memory of this, nor did she ask for more details. In her mind, perhaps it was better to forget. Yet in the days that followed, she often regretted that Guiche had not said more and that she herself had not been more honest. If she had known the truth back then, perhaps everything that followed could have been avoided.

***

When Taiyi learned that Jiuying had been defeated, his expression grew dark. He knew Jiuying’s power well—if Ye Qinming had been able to suppress him so easily, it meant her strength had likely returned. For him, this was nothing less than a disaster.

“Her demon core was shattered back then and she endured a thousand years of hellfire and lightning tribulations in the Abyssal Prison of Demons. She’s only been out for such a short time—how could she possibly have recovered to this extent?” Fire God Yanyang, who had previously fought Ye Qinming, found the idea absurd. It simply didn’t make sense.

Taiyi’s face remained calm, but his eyes were cold and calculating. After a long silence, he said slowly, “I also thought it was impossible. But it’s happened nonetheless. If Ye Qinming hasn’t simply defied the heavens, then there’s only one other explanation.”

The fire god was still processing his words when the wind god, lounging nearby with a faint smile, drawled, “Your Majesty means Divine Lord Zhuoqing?”

The fire god frowned. “But even if she is Divine Lord Zhuoqing, she’s just a mortal now.”

The wind god chuckled. “Oh, come on—you underestimate the Divine Lord. She was the head of the gods across the Three Realms, the last surviving deity of the ancient pantheon. If she could restore the shattered demon core of the Demon Emperor, what else is beyond her reach? I wouldn’t be surprised if forcing His Majesty to spare the Demon Emperor’s life and imprison her in the Abyssal Prison of Demons was part of a larger scheme all along.”

Before the fire god could respond, another voice cut in coldly, “And yet, despite knowing Divine Lord Zhuoqing’s divine status, you still mock her with such veiled contempt. Do you even understand who you have to thank for being able to stand here today?” 

Fengshuo had entered quietly but wasted no time in delivering her scathing retort to the wind god’s sarcastic remarks.

The wind god’s smile faltered, his expression darkening slightly. He lowered his voice and said, “High Immortal Fengshuo, how bold of you to speak so insolently to your superiors.”

The water god slowly opened his half-closed eyes and said calmly, “Since High Immortal Fengshuo holds the Divine Lord in such high regard, the wind god should understand and not take offense. Moreover, Divine Lord Zhuoqing is the revered deity of the Immortal Realm. She sacrificed herself to avert the calamity of heaven and earth—both emotionally and rationally, she deserves our respect. The wind god should choose his words carefully.”

Taiyi furrowed his brows upon hearing this and said coldly, “Such unruly conduct in the main hall—what kind of decorum is this? Quiet down! I summoned you all to discuss how to deal with the Demon Realm and how to bring her back. Fengshuo, do you have any ideas?”

Fengshuo lowered her head respectfully and replied, “I do not. The Demon Realm is no longer what it once was—entering it is as difficult as ascending to the heavens, and we have already alerted them.”

Taiyi remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said one thing, “At any cost—even if it means drawing on the power of the Four Directions Demon-Slaying Array ahead of time—we must destroy the Demon Realm.” The water god was startled, but before he could speak further, Taiyi waved a hand and said, “I understand your concerns—I will not destroy the human world. If it truly comes to that, I will ask Doumu Yuanjun to establish a barrier to protect the human world for several hundred years. Even if those demons and devils escape, the Mortal Realm will remain safe.”

(T/N: Doumu Yuanjun is a revered deity in Chinese myth and Daoist belief. She is known as the Primordial Lady of the Dipper or Doumu Yuanjun, the mother of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper.)

“But if those demons and devils escape, both the Demon and Immortal Realms will face endless troubles. The countless beings on the hidden immortal mountains and spirit islands will suffer calamity without cause—Your Majesty must show mercy to them,” the water god insisted.

Taiyi sat behind his imperial desk, the jade ornaments on his crown casting shadows over his eyes. After a while, he stood up and slowly walked down from the dais, his gaze fixed on the water god.

“I know you care for the lives of all beings, and this is indeed the last resort. For a thousand years, I have suppressed the Demon Realm in various ways but never sought their total annihilation. I refrained because I did not want to plunge the Three Realms into chaos. Otherwise, when Ye Qinming was executed, I would have invaded the Demon Realm directly. In hindsight, my mercy has only led to greater disaster. Since it must be done, I entrust the task of eradicating demons and devils to you.”

Xuanming remained silent for a moment before bowing low and answering softly, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

***

For seven days straight, Ye Qinming did not return to the Thousand Leaf Palace while dealing with matters along the Underworld Water. Each day, Gu Xiyan could only catch glimpses of her during her rest through the Water Heart Mirror Ye Qinming had left behind.

As usual, Gu Xiyan sat early in front of the Water Heart Mirror, closing her eyes as she waited. Sensing a ripple of spiritual energy, her eyelashes trembled slightly before she immediately opened her eyes and picked up the mirror.

“Qinming, are you well?”

There was no immediate response. Gu Xiyan frowned slightly and called again, “Qinming?”

At that moment, Ye Qinming appeared in the mirror, wearing only a simple green robe. She gazed quietly at Gu Xiyan, who, on the other side, looked slightly worried. Unable to see what was happening, Gu Xiyan tilted her head slightly, listening carefully. The sight made Ye Qinming’s heart ache.

“I’m fine—don’t worry. Every time you see me, you ask the same thing. Aren’t you tired of it?” Ye Qinming teased with a faint smile.

Gu Xiyan’s tense expression softened as she shook her head. “As long as you are well, nothing else matters.”

Ye Qinming fell silent, pressing her lips together as she rested her cheek on her hand and watched the person in the mirror. “Gu Xiyan, how can you speak so sweetly without hesitation? You’re too bold.”

Gu Xiyan chuckled softly in the mirror, tilting her head slightly in an endearing manner. “I never speak lightly of such things. But if you want sweet words, then I should say…” She paused deliberately, making Ye Qinming’s eyes widen in anticipation as she pricked up her ears, eagerly waiting for what would come next.

Gu Xiyan stopped smiling, sat upright facing the Water Heart Mirror, and lowered her voice, making her words sound especially tender and lingering.

“I think of you while walking, I think of you while sitting.”

It was clearly a line from the human world, saccharine to the point of being cloying, yet Ye Qinming still blushed upon hearing it. She clicked her tongue softly, pretending to be annoyed. “Don’t start quoting old books at me—it’s too sappy. I talk to you every day, so what’s there to miss?”

Still as stubborn as ever. Gu Xiyan, helpless but patient, revealed a hint of indulgence in her expression. Yet, her tone remained earnest as she said, “Over the past seven days, though I’ve heard your voice every day, I haven’t been able to see you. I can’t touch you as I usually do, can’t catch your scent, can’t hold you—how could I not miss you terribly? Qinming, don’t you… miss me?”

Her voice dropped slightly on the last sentence, soft and plaintive, causing Ye Qinming’s heart to tremble uncontrollably. That single word—no—was impossible to say. She could only stammer, “I… I do.”

The woman in the Water Heart Mirror seemed satisfied, her eyes filled with laughter that softened Ye Qinming’s gaze in return.

“Have you been bored these past few days without me around?”

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “Not at all. Ah Jin and Miss Zhijin kept me company, and you left me plenty of books, so I haven’t felt bored.”

Ye Qinming couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sourness in her heart. With others keeping her entertained, perhaps she herself wasn’t that important.

As if sensing her thoughts, Gu Xiyan added softly, “Only, I’ve missed you too much… it’s been hard to keep my mind at ease.”

Ye Qinming’s lips curled into a smile she couldn’t suppress, though she tried to hide it. Pressing down her amusement, she said, “Gu Xiyan, you’re not allowed to sweet-talk me anymore—I won’t fall for it.”

“I’m not sweet-talking you. Every word comes from the bottom of my heart.”

Ye Qinming could hardly stand it. Gu Xiyan always looked so composed and restrained, yet when she said such affectionate things, it didn’t feel frivolous—it made her heart flutter uncontrollably.

In a moment of carelessness, Ye Qinming blurted out, “Who would’ve thought that after Divine Lord Zhuoqing’s reincarnation, she’d turn into such a romantic—”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Gu Xiyan’s smile faded, and she fell into silence. Ye Qinming immediately stopped talking as well, and the atmosphere turned subtly tense.

Author’s Note:

Didn’t see that coming, did you? Help me up—I’ve still got sweetness to deliver!

Green Tea is quite rational. Although she hates Zhuoqing, she has forgotten that hatred, and since those feelings are lost, there is no love either—without love, there’s no deep-rooted resentment. But you know… if she ever remembers…