AUOF - 85

Sang Li barely spoke to Ji Hengyu along the way.

When they were nearing Gui Xu, she awkwardly handed over Big Eyes to him. They exchanged no more than three sentences during the entire journey, her intent to avoid him was obvious.

Fortunately, the year-end was busy. One of them had to go to the Demon Suppression Palace to learn the basic rules of the Demon Suppressors, while the other was occupied with tasks piling up at hand. After separating, they hardly met, giving Sang Li some time to adjust.

In seven days, it would be New Year’s Day.

Gui Xu had changed its scenery; red lanterns hung between pavilions, their glow reflecting off the snow, creating a festive atmosphere that even diluted the ominous aura of the four dragon columns.

Every New Year’s Day, the evil spirits below would also behave more peacefully, making these days rare quiet times for the Gui Xu Palace.

Aside from the disciples on duty, the rest went out to find entertainment. With nowhere to go, Sang Li sought refuge with Peony, enjoying food and drink or helping her take care of the plants.

She was bored.

So Sang Li asked Peony for some crafting skills and used trinkets collected during her training to make delicate New Year gifts for her friends.

For Yue Zhuqing, a sword cultivator, she polished a piece of jade marrow into a jade sword ornament and personally crafted a beautiful green tassel as a sword decoration; celestial maidens didn’t lack weapons but enjoyed rare or exquisitely crafted trinkets.

As for rare items, she didn’t have any.

Sang Li decided to prepare homemade ointment. The box was hand-carved from fragrant sandalwood, with a small rabbit carved on the lid, similar in shape to the rabbit-shaped flower lantern given to her. Peony knew how to blend scents, so the gift was considered a joint effort.

Peony longed to see the mortal world, which Sang Li couldn’t fulfill, but she gifted her some newly developed recipes and a box of jewelry, much to Peony’s satisfaction.

Since all the girls received New Year gifts, others couldn’t be neglected either.

For Qi, it was a new mask; for Ningxi, a sword accessory; as for Ji Hengyu...

Sang Li hesitated.

During this time, she had automatically blocked out his name, and now recalling it, the first thing that came to mind was the burning sensation on her cheek.

He kissed her.

Though kissing on the cheek wasn’t a big deal, ...

“Peony, if a man kisses you and you don’t hate it, does that mean you like him?”

The two were nestled in a small courtyard making things, the table cluttered with miscellaneous items.

Peony, busy embroidering a handkerchief, trembled upon hearing this, almost pricking her finger with the silver needle. She paused, seemingly contemplating, then shook her head: “We lesser immortals can’t be so extreme. Not hating doesn’t necessarily mean liking. You have to consider if he’s good-looking, what his character is like, and his family background.”

Sang Li recalled Ji Hengyu’s appearance and nodded solemnly: “Good-looking.”

As for character...

He couldn’t even be considered human, let alone having a character.

“His character is okay.” Sang Li unconsciously defended Ji Hengyu, “His family background is decent too, just lives far away.”

Beyond the horizon, indeed far away.

Hearing this, Peony became interested and teased: “Actually, those are secondary. If you want to know if you like someone, why not kiss him again? If your heart flutters, you like him; if you feel disgust or indifference, you don’t.”

Kiss him back?!

Even with tenfold courage, Sang Li wouldn’t dare!

“Wait... wait a bit.” Sang Li felt guilty, shrunk her shoulders, and continued pretending to work.

Peony couldn’t help but laugh: “So who is this person?”

“No one!” She denied vehemently, panicking and grabbing a newly brewed bottle of winter plum wine from the table and guzzling it down.

Peony was speechless.

She quickly got up, “I’ve been delayed here for days. Let me return to the Demon Suppression Palace first, I’ll come back later.”

With that, her sleeves billowed like clouds, and she disappeared like a breeze outside the villa.

She wandered aimlessly, not knowing where to go. Spotting the entrance to the Moon Forest, she remembered Ji Hengyu placed Big Eyes inside and turned to enter.

The plum wine made Sang Li dizzy.

She didn’t dare venture deep into the forest, blew a whistle, and a mass of black fog dashed over, transforming into sparrow size, tumbling into the ground by her feet.

With its head buried deep, Big Eyes wiggled its butt for a while before pulling its head out, sitting there happily looking at her.

Sang Li hadn’t seen Big Eyes for many days. Seeing it in good spirits and even plumper, she knew it was doing well here.

She was reassured, and her hanging heart finally settled.

Sang Li petted its head and took out a garland necklace from her storage bag, hanging it around its neck.

The necklace was enchanted to change size with the wearer’s body, very convenient.

“This garland won’t wither; Big Eyes can wear it forever.”

Big Eyes tilted its head, about to roll in joy when it suddenly sensed movement. Before Sang Li could react, it spread its wings and firmly shielded her behind its back.

She didn’t move forward, suspiciously peeking out.

The Moon Forest was perpetually shrouded in mist, with a vague silhouette faintly visible within the thick fog.

He walked slowly.

Big Eyes bared its fangs, its scarlet vertical pupils full of killing intent.

Soon, the person’s face became clear.

Black clothes, long hair, draped in a python-patterned cloak, walking calmly through this perilous Moon Forest.

Ji Hengyu.

Sang Li’s heart skipped a beat. Big Eyes still oddly guarded, refusing to let her out.

Unaware of anything unusual, she circled around from behind it to the front.

Ji Hengyu approached step by step, about to reach Sang Li when Big Eyes suddenly pulled her sleeve, dragging her backward.

“Big Eyes?” Sang Li felt puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

“Ji Hengyu” eyes flickered, “It wanted to see you, but I didn’t allow it, so I used some means.”

Sang Li suddenly understood; it must have been beaten.

“Gurgle... bad... gurgle.”

Big Eyes struggled to explain, but Ji Xun effortlessly put a silence spell on it and sealed its spirit veins.

With a thud,

The miniaturized Big Eyes fell to the ground, its big eyes full of confusion and crisis.

Without obstacles, Ji Xun calmly approached her.

Big Eyes still tried to pounce and bite, but with its spirit veins sealed, it couldn’t fly, only flapping around like a little chick. In Ji Xun’s eyes, its feeble attempts were negligible, so he ignored it.

“Why are you here?”

After drinking, Sang Li slurred slightly.

She tilted her face, trying to look at his features. Her eyes were flushed like peach juice, a streak of crimson, and her cheeks abnormally rosy due to feverishness.

Ji Xun could barely control his heartbeat.

He leaned closer proactively, “I went looking for you. Someone said you came this way, so I thought you must have come to the Moon Forest to see Big Eyes.”

“Mmm.”

Not deliberately, just didn’t know where to go.

Her vision blurred, Sang Li lowered her head and rubbed her sore eyes hard, her body swaying unsteadily.

Looking somewhat clumsy, she resembled a fox that had secretly drunk alcohol.

Ji Xun’s brows softened, imperceptibly kicking away Big Eyes biting his long boots. He took out a prepared gift from his sleeve.

“What is it?”

Sang Li’s vision was blurry, so she had to get close to see.

Ji Xun helplessly supported her shoulders, carefully lifting his right hand to prevent her from being poked by the object, “It’s a congratulatory gift for successfully entering the Demon Suppression Palace, and since it’s the New Year, it can also count as a New Year’s gift.” He paused, “I made it myself, I hope you like it.”

It was a hairpin carved from Flowing Cloud Jade.

The craftsmanship was meticulous, adorned with a small red hibiscus flower. Each petal was delicately crafted, lifelike, and because it was Flowing Cloud Jade, the pin shimmered with a crystalline brilliance like flowing clouds.

Sang Li examined it for a while and smiled, “Much better than the rooster hairpin you gave me.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Xun’s expression changed, then he steadied his trembling fingertips, “That one was inelegant, discard it.”

“...But it was also a gift from you.” Sang Li shook her head, “I’ll keep them all.”

A fleeting shadow of desolation passed through his eyes, quickly replaced by warmth: “Let me put it on for you.”

“Okay~” Sang Li’s tone was soft, her unsteadiness increasing.

She was heavily intoxicated, closing her eyes and swaying, about to fall asleep.

Ji Xun stabilized her with one hand, gently threading the hairpin through her hair with the other.

Adorned with the red hairpin, her misty hair looked even more beautiful.

Ji Xun stared entranced, but apart from gazing, he didn’t dare make any extra movements.

Before Ji Xun could act, Sang Li buried her head into his chilly embrace.

After months of working at the desk, ink and bookish air had almost permeated his body.

Breathing in that faint scent, Sang Li leaned her entire weight on him, pressing her head tightly against his firm chest, her cheek squished out.

With her eyes closed, Sang Li mumbled, “That day you kissed me, I didn’t dislike it, but I’m not sure if I liked it.” Using the alcohol to voice her recent distress, “Peony told me to kiss you, but I want to wait until your engagement is canceled... to confirm, like we discussed that day.”

“If you and I truly have feelings for each other, let’s be together.”

Having said this, she fell sound asleep.

His heart ached fiercely, bitterness intertwining with palpitations, an unbearable loneliness surfacing in his eyes.

Ji Xun’s eyes reddened, jealousy hard to suppress.

The silkworm curse made him hate her beloved.

Inside Ji Xun’s body was a strand of Ji Hengyu’s soul; they were originally one, yet at this moment, in this dim, lightless foggy forest, the puppet harbored resentment towards his master.

Ji Xun gently embraced Sang Li.

The heart in his chest thumped, his lowered eyes staring blankly at the fine hairpin in her hair.

He couldn’t help but think—

One hairpin could replace another.

If he could... take his place?