Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 71

Gu Xiyan seemed to notice the slight awkwardness and forced a smile at the corners of her lips. After a brief pause, she spoke gently, “Qinming, may I come see you?”

Ye Qinming was momentarily stunned, her brows furrowing slightly. She had intended to refuse, but looking at Gu Xiyan’s expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

She didn’t press for an answer right away. Instead, Gu Xiyan lowered her gaze. “I’ve put you in a difficult position.”

“No, it’s not that. I just don’t want you to come here. The battlefield is complicated, and I can’t always look after you. Besides, most people here know your identity. Some of them might try to bully you.” Ye Qinming was especially concerned about Liuli causing trouble. For now, out of respect for the Bird Clan, she couldn’t do anything to Liuli, and to be fair, Liuli hadn’t actually harmed Gu Xiyan. But her personal grudges ran deep—Ye Qinming worried that she might deliberately make things difficult for her little blind girl.

Gu Xiyan smiled and shook her head. “I’m not afraid. I won’t visit often, and I won’t make a spectacle of myself. Do you have a private tent?”

Ye Qinming teased her, deliberately provoking, “If I do, is Miss Gu planning to sneak in at night and offer herself as a pillow companion?”

Gu Xiyan blinked, then leaned in slightly, smiling warmly. “Would Your Majesty be willing?”

Ye Qinming felt her heart melt at those words and grumbled in dissatisfaction, “Who let you call me ‘Your Majesty’?”

Gu Xiyan found it amusing—how could she be so adorable?

“Well, does that mean you’ve agreed?”

Ye Qinming sighed, pretending to be helpless. “You’re coaxing and sweet-talking me—how can I refuse? But bring Mujin with you. That girl is tough. If anyone bullies you, she’ll make sure to get back at them for you.”

Gu Xiyan nodded with a smile. Seeing her so happy, Ye Qinming felt a deep softness in her heart, tinged with a bit of bitterness. Ever since Gu Xiyan had met her, she had never known peace, enduring countless hardships along the way.

“Wait for me at Thousand Leaf Palace tomorrow. I’ll come pick you up. No refusing.” Cutting off any chance for argument, Ye Qinming made the decision domineeringly.

Gu Xiyan knew this was her way of showing concern. While sweetness filled her heart, she also felt a trace of disappointment—she still wasn’t strong enough.

The next day, after getting ready with Mujin’s help, Gu Xiyan waited for Ye Qinming in the inner hall. She instructed Mujin to fetch some tea and sat in front of her dressing mirror, tying a strip of white silk over her eyes.

She still couldn’t see, but covering her eyes with the silk helped her avoid unnecessary trouble—it was a habit she had formed over the past eight years.

Just as she tightened the final knot, a powerful gust of wind surged toward her. In an instant, a figure appeared behind her. Gu Xiyan swiftly turned, spinning on the tips of her toes atop a stool. With a graceful flip, she dodged the forceful attack, while the decorative rack beside her was instantly shattered to pieces.

Bending her waist, she dodged a sweeping kick from her attacker, simultaneously raising her right hand to block. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged more than ten moves, each infused with spiritual energy—powerful yet precisely controlled, ensuring nothing around them was damaged.

As their hands met in a final clash, Gu Xiyan lightly pushed off with her toes, flipping backward and landing elegantly at a distance. But her opponent was relentless, immediately closing in again, the sharp gusts of palm strikes whipping through the air, making Gu Xiyan’s robes and long hair billow wildly.

This time, however, as the spiraling energy neared her chest, she didn’t try to dodge. At the last moment, her opponent shifted her hand, stopping just at Gu Xiyan’s right shoulder.

The woman wore a simple gray short robe. Her delicate lips parted slightly, full of frustration, but before she could vent, the blind young woman in front of her pulled her into a warm embrace, arms circling around her waist.

In an instant, all her pent-up anger dissipated, replaced by a helpless, indulgent softness.

“How do you always know it’s me? And you even refused to dodge on purpose just to provoke me.”

Gu Xiyan only smiled, leaning in slightly to take a deep breath before shaking her head. “I don’t like this scent—it covers up the fragrance of your tea.”

Ye Qinming sniffed herself and raised an eyebrow. “Your nose is too sharp. If I don’t use rosemary, you’d sniff me out the moment you stepped in. How else am I supposed to test your progress in cultivation?”

Saying this, she pinched Gu Xiyan’s nose. “So, if I don’t smell good anymore, you won’t like me? Have you really gotten so used to drinking tea that you’re treating me like one?”

Gu Xiyan was both amused and helpless at Ye Qinming’s sudden display of petulance. She sighed and said, “I simply like your scent. Even if you smelled like rosemary, I would still love it.”

Ye Qinming, though unwilling to admit defeat verbally, had laughter in her eyes. Hearing Gu Xiyan’s words, she leaned in and grabbed Gu Xiyan’s collar, sniffing around her neck as she muttered, “Let me smell what scent you have.”

The action, along with her words, was undeniably flirtatious. Gu Xiyan’s face flushed red, but she did not avoid her, allowing Ye Qinming to nuzzle under her chin as she pleased.

Ye Qinming’s warm breath brushed against her neck, her nose occasionally grazing Gu Xiyan’s skin. Gu Xiyan pressed her lips together, a hint of restraint visible in her expression.

At first, Ye Qinming was simply playing around. But Gu Xiyan’s body carried a faint, lingering warmth, a gentle fragrance that seeped into her senses. There was a subtle sweetness to it—just like the taste she always found when they kissed. Ye Qinming’s heartbeat began to quicken.

Gu Xiyan’s fair, delicate neck was completely exposed before her, utterly defenseless. She was so gentle, so trusting, that she never showed even the slightest resistance toward her lover. Ye Qinming, who had only been loosely grasping her collar, slowly slid her hands down, wrapping her arms around Gu Xiyan’s slender waist.

A low, restrained exhale broke the quiet atmosphere, echoing through the dimly lit Thousand Leaf Palace as dusk cast its long shadows.

***

By the time the two of them finally emerged from the hall, hand in hand, Mujin, who had been waiting in boredom, shot forward like an arrow—only to be blocked mercilessly by Ye Qinming.

Mujin huffed in frustration and glared at Gu Xiyan with displeasure. “My lady, did she bully you? She took so long to bring you out. Are you hurt anywhere?”

If this were in the past, Ye Qinming would have immediately snapped back. But this time, upon hearing the word “bully,” she glanced at Gu Xiyan—realizing that, well, she had kind of bullied her a little just now. Still, she wasn’t that reckless—she wouldn’t have gone so far as to actually hurt Gu Xiyan, right?

“Don’t make such a fuss. Do you think everyone is as reckless as you?”

“You’re one to talk! Look at my lady’s face—it’s all red! And there—why does it look like she was bitten…?”

“Mujin,” a voice interjected. “We should prepare to leave. Her Majesty moves quickly—if we don’t keep up, she’ll leave us behind with ease.” Weaving through the awkward atmosphere, Zhijin dragged the clueless Mujin away.

Gu Xiyan was not a timid or overly reserved woman. She was always elegant and composed, never rigidly conservative. However, having such an intimate moment with Ye Qinming so blatantly exposed in front of others still made her feel deeply embarrassed.

“Has it not faded yet?” she murmured, touching her neck with some exasperation.

Ye Qinming cleared her throat. “It’s barely noticeable now. I used spiritual energy to erase it—no one will see.”

Gu Xiyan shook her head, helpless. “Ah Jin doesn’t even understand these things yet.” This petty little thing—she actually used this to tease Mujin.

Ye Qinming, of course, refused to admit it. Instead of responding, she bent down and lifted Gu Xiyan into her arms, turning into a streak of light as they swiftly headed south.

***

Ahead, the Underworld Water stretched endlessly, its ominous energy surging skyward. Thick clouds blanketed the sky, and countless wandering spirits from the Three Realms gathered there. Shattered souls, stripped of consciousness, howled and roared ceaselessly.

Above the Underworld Water, demon soldiers and celestial warriors clashed in a brutal battle. The wounded and the dead alike plummeted into the abyss, where vengeful spirits tore them apart, turning them into new ghosts. The air was filled with the endless sounds of screams and wailing. Even though Ye Qinming had intentionally placed Gu Xiyan at a distance, she could still hear everything clearly.

“Qinming, is that the Underworld Water?” Her voice was subdued, her brows slightly furrowed with sorrow.

Ye Qinming, noticing her expression, gently squeezed her hand. “We do what we can and leave the rest to fate. Everything happens for a reason—cause and effect. The River of the Dead guides souls to the afterlife, while the Underworld Water extinguishes all life. The sins and karma accumulated over thousands of years cannot be resolved overnight. Only by ending this war swiftly can someone accumulate enough great merit to help them pass on.”

Ye Qinming’s heart ached as well. Her soldiers fought desperately, giving their lives without hesitation—only to become trapped in the cycle of death and struggle within the Underworld Water. But she could not back down. If they retreated, the Demon Realm would lose its last line of defense, and peace would never return.

Gu Xiyan took a deep breath, steadying herself. She was not here to add to Ye Qinming’s burdens. If these things could not be changed for now, there was no point in dwelling on them. They would have to wait until peace was restored.

The tent arranged for Gu Xiyan was not in Ye Qinming’s main camp. As the commander, Ye Qinming had to remain close to the battlefield. To ensure Gu Xiyan’s comfort, she had temporarily set up a barrier, allowing her to rest further away from the conflict.

The moment Gu Xiyan stepped inside, she sensed the careful effort behind the arrangement. Warmth welled up in her chest, and she murmured softly, “You’re worrying about me again.”

Ye Qinming pinched her cheek lightly. “What nonsense? You’re my wife. If I don’t worry about you, who else would I worry about?”

Gu Xiyan tilted her head and chuckled. “Your Majesty, you and I have neither bowed to heaven and earth, nor formed a bond as lovers. We have not cultivated our spirits together, nor consummated our union. I am not your wife.”

Ye Qinming had been about to give some last instructions to Zhijin before leaving, but upon hearing those words, she narrowed her eyes dangerously and leaned in to whisper, “Oh? We were just one step away before. Once I conquer the Underworld Water, we will form our bond, cultivate together—nothing will be missing.”

With that, she turned and walked out, her steps light, her bearing filled with an unrestrained and valiant charm. Gu Xiyan listened to the sound of her departure, the smile on her lips lingering for a long time before slowly fading. A sense of unease stirred in her heart. The reason she had insisted on coming was because, for days, she had been restless, as if something major was about to happen.

But in her heart, the one she worried about most was Ye Qinming. As long as she was safe, everything would be fine.

***

Even though Gu Xiyan was in the camp, Ye Qinming could only return for a little over an hour each day due to the intensity of the battle, and it was uncertain when she would be able to come back. However, Ye Qinming soon realized that no matter what time she returned, she would always find Gu Xiyan quietly waiting for her.

She always sat there so gently, and the moment Ye Qinming stepped inside, she would immediately rise to greet her, checking for any injuries before offering her a warm pot of tea, its fragrance soothing and comforting.

That day was no different. As Ye Qinming ate some pastries and sipped her tea, she couldn’t help but ask, “You always have these ready when I return. Do you keep them prepared at all times?”

Gu Xiyan’s hand paused slightly, but she remained composed as she poured herself a cup of tea and replied warmly, “I enjoy it myself, so of course, there is always tea. As for the pastries, Zhijin prepares them. Whether you get to have some depends on your luck.”

Ye Qinming nodded with great seriousness, then suddenly leaned in to place a quick kiss on the corner of Gu Xiyan’s lips, grinning. “With a wife like this, how could my luck be bad? Good wife, pour me another cup—I’m so thirsty.”

Gu Xiyan pressed her lips together but still reached out to refill her cup, saying nothing. Ye Qinming assumed she was feeling shy, her eyes filling with a deeper, more tender amusement.

Just as Ye Qinming reached out to take the cup, Gu Xiyan suddenly pulled it back and, quite seriously, said, “Call me that again.”

Ye Qinming blinked in surprise before letting out a deep laugh. She leaned in and playfully whined, “If I don’t, you won’t let me drink?”

Gu Xiyan pondered the question seriously for a moment, then shook her head and handed over the tea.

Ye Qinming found it both amusing and utterly endearing. Just as she was about to give in and call her again, she felt Gu Xiyan’s soft hand covering her own, tightening around the cup.

The next moment, the serene and elegant face before her rapidly closed in, and warmth enveloped her lips.

When Gu Xiyan finally released her, she whispered softly, “I’ll take it myself instead.”

Ye Qinming was caught off guard by her sudden boldness, her face heating up. She coughed lightly and muttered, “You’re getting less and less reserved.”

Gu Xiyan, once again looking as if she was seriously contemplating something, finally responded with a sentence that left Ye Qinming at a loss for words.

“I think you like me better this way.”

“Gu Xiyan! Give me back my shy little blind girl! Were you possessed? Why are you saying such shameless things?”

Gu Xiyan only smiled. Why be reserved? She simply felt a growing need to let Ye Qinming know how much she cherished her. There was no longer any reason to hide it. Everything about this was too precious, and far too fragile.

After Ye Qinming finished her tea, Gu Xiyan asked gently, “You must be exhausted today.”

Even though she was far from the Underworld Water, she could still sense the ominous and violent energy coming from that direction. The battle there was surely brutal.

Ye Qinming’s gaze darkened slightly. Taiyi had sent people multiple times to openly demand that she hand over Gu Xiyan, even stirring the flames by bringing up how, a thousand years ago, Zhuoqing had plotted against her beyond the Nine Heavens.

Although she harbored resentment toward Zhuoqing and no longer remembered their past, she still felt a vague sense of injustice. After all, Zhuoqing had sacrificed herself for the Three Realms. Now, that act was being used as leverage to turn the Demon Realm against her reincarnation.

Glancing at the woman before her, Ye Qinming felt a complicated mix of emotions.

That person’s reincarnation had become someone so gentle and kind. But before—when she was a Divine Lord, a deity worshipped by all beings in the Three Realms—what kind of person had she been?