Goodnight, Lu Bang

Clapping echoed throughout the dining hall. The audience was completely taken by the acting of every actor and actress that graced the stage. The theater that hoped to make it big in Haiyang was already making it big in the ship. No one knew why they showed them the real tale of the Bride of Corpses, but the audience enjoyed the show nonetheless.

Sun Yin and Lu Bang had escaped the dining hall when they were busy cheering. The maiden felt rather devastated as she had to relive through the horrors of the past. One could say it had been a century since it took place, and yet the memories bled into her mind like her marriage was yesterday.

She made her way to the cabin without taking dinner. Lu Bang managed to eat a few during the show, but he was only using one hand since the other held Sun Yin. The maiden then lay on the bed and shoved her face against the mattress. Lu Bang would lecture her, but he could only take the circlet off of her head, as well as the laces that tied her braids around her head.

Her long pitch-black hair sprawled on her back. One of her hands crawled to feel the curve of her head as if unaware of what Lu Bang did earlier.

"Like I said—"

Sun Yin rose from the bed. She roughly pulled on the sash and strings that tied her clothes. She was not in the mood to play with the man in her room. However, Lu Bang just took the clothes that she shed before folding them neatly. He gazed at her bare back exposed by her dudou and by those snowy legs left alone by her short skirt.

Lu Bang took the blanket and pulled it to her nape. "You shouldn't have finished that show."

She whispered through the pillow, "They made it spectacular."

"You weren't looking most of the time." Lu Bang dealt with his own clothes. He folded them neatly next to hers before climbing into his side of the bed. He could only fit if he lied on his side since Sun Yin took most of the space. "Goodnight, Sun—"

He felt hands crawled to his chest as soft mounds pressed against his back. He only took a deep sigh as he realized the short woman was trying to spoon him. Her breath warmed the area near the back of his neck. He was still wearing his inner robes so the warm air did not kiss his skin directly.

"Do you want to move a little? I feel like you're pushing me off the bed..." For the first time, Lu Bang did not go with what he first thought of doing.

Sun Yin pulled back, giving him more space; but her hands were still on his chest like she was trying to pull him close. Then again, she gave no energy to it.

The male only flattened his back on the bed, pulling her arms out of the way. He folded them before her, inevitably taking a glimpse of her. Her black hair almost created a frame emphasizing her pretty face. Her long lashes stayed as her eyes kept closed. Her reddish-pink lips had a very inviting color. Her cheeks were indeed rosy without cosmetics, but it was stricken by tears.

His gaze panned down to her smooth knuckles. There were no lines on her hands even though she was using them a lot with her hand seals. Even the curves of her wrists were perfect and unbelievably sculpted as if unused. The shape of her arms complemented her rather thin frame like she was a doll.

Then again, this doll was breathing. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily, countering the sobbing that she made earlier. With her arms both before her, the dudou curved outward, rather showing more skin from the angle of his eyes.

Lu Bang turned to the ceiling. He missed turning to breathing exercises whenever he needed to calm down—to think about it, he had not much alcohol these days. Was it a good thing? He frowned and closed his eyes as he pinched his forehead. His head was starting to hurt from his own thoughts.

Hands flew to his chest again, but this time, she was consciously feeling him up as if he was asleep. The man turned his head to her, but her eyes were still closed. There was this smile on her lips though.

"What do you want?" Lu Bang frowned at her.

"Be careful of what you ask me," she spoke in a slurred manner. "How come you're so strong? You don't even fall into my traps and temptations..."

"You aren't trying hard enough," was not the answer he should give, but that was what came out of his mouth. He just turned to the ceiling again and closed his eyes. He kept his frown as if he was too irritated to sleep.

Sun Yin opened her eyes. She scooted closer and found his arm nearest to her. Then again, he moved it away, but upwards as if letting her get closer. The bride moved next to him, pressing the crook of her neck against the side of his chest. As they fit like puzzle pieces, Sun Yin placed her arm on him, as well as her leg intertwining with one of his.

She got too close; that was what he thought. He did not plan for her to be that close. However, he chose to let her get comfortable. They were out in the sea after all; it began to get cold as the ship entered the colder regions of the world. However, they were barely a fourth of their journey.

To be honest, he was just being kind to the pained woman. If the play did not pull on her heartstrings that hard, he would not let her be skin to skin with him. Wait, what was he thinking? He had an inner robe on him. Was she that warm that he forgot he was still wearing clothes.

Or was it him that had gotten warmer than usual?

A loud huff came from Lu Bang at the same time laughter came from Sun Yin. A blush ran across his face as he realized she was aware of what was happening. He pinched his forehead again. "Can you read minds now?" He repeated a question previously left unanswered by the maiden.

"A spirit is extremely perceptive. Once you become one with them, you will learn to peer into a person's thoughts." Sun Yin tried to explain while giggling. Her hand started traveling around the contours of his chest left by his heavy training, but his hand—from the vacant arm—caught hers and refused to let it go and roam free.

"You don't use to do that. Was it the Storm Snake?" Lu Bang glared at her through the ceiling and his closed eyes. It only showed since his frown went deeper and his tone changed.

Sun Yin also had her eyes closed, but she could imagine his glare through his voice. "Yes." She shifted closer as if getting hungry for warmth. What felt better was that Lu Bang's hand was on hers. Even though his purpose was different from what could have been romantic, she still enjoyed it.

His big hands had thick fingers that hers could barely handle lacing together. However, it was firm and solid like it would protect her. Protecting the Bride of Corpses? No one was stronger than the Bride to protect her; or that no one actually even cared to do so.

Even though she was a world-tier villain to the cultivation world, she was still a human at heart. Her feelings could be crushed as much as how she crushed those who oppose her. Years had passed in her life, and none had ever tried to protect her. Even if Lu Bang could try, how would he?

"Lu Bang?" She heard him grunt a 'yes.' "When all of this is over, are you going to stay with me?"

"Depends on how it ends. Given a happy ending, I should be the one asking you that. Isolation and sleeping forever did not stop them from taking your power." He answered as if those words had always been on his mouth. "After everything is over, Sun Yin, are you staying with us?"

He probably felt her breath huffed. She only moved her head against his chest some more.

"Goodnight, Lu Bang," she whispered with the softest voice she could make.

"Goodnight, Sun Yin."

The silence that followed had disappointed the maiden. Just as soon as she felt her consciousness fading into slumber, there was this certain strange warmth on her forehead. She could hear Lu Bang's voice weaving words, but she was too sleepy to make them out.

In contrast with the Bride sleeping, Lu Bang had his eyes open. He had his head turned to the woman, his lips almost pressed against her forehead. His mellow eyes blinked as he moved his hand to bring her hand back to her chest. He even moved to lie on his side, placing an arm over the woman, collecting the blanket that was supposed to hide them from the cold.

"Why do I have to do your job for you?" he whispered to the blanket before pulling it to their shoulders. As it failed to bring warmth, Lu Bang had to pull her closer.