Chapter Thirteen

Ling Da Chuanli stood in place and waited till Fuqing pasts him and turns the corner before coming out from behind the pillar. His expression was steel-like and his eyes weren't warm as he stared for a long time in the direction Fuqing had left. Such a persistent person. It is no wonder his master thought Fuqing was suitable to care for his junior sister. He would not abandon her even if she was unresponsive to his advances, but this type of person...For some reason, Da Chuanli's lip quirked up into a humorless smile. Master does not know, but his junior sister hated this type of person too, he could see from the way her brow would twitch or her fingers curl up in her sleeves she was only tolerating Fuqing for their master's sake. Da Chuanli walked towards her room and opens the door after knocking and hearing nothing. He was not like Fuqing who was gentle in his approach, he was older than the lovesick boy and more clear-headed. Da Chuanli knew he had no intentions towards the dangerously beautiful girl as he only saw her as his junior.

He knew there was only one way Lan Biyu would eat and recover from her daze. Even if he could not be someone close to her due to her multiple walls in front of him Da Chaunli could at least use the past against her. He opened the door abruptly and his expression stiffened making his smile awkward at the sight before him. Unknowingly Da Chuanli's heart raced and his eyes widen a fraction, this... he was speechless. Unlike what he was expecting to see the frosty girl was leaning her head against the side of her bed while sitting on the floor. Her eyes were closed and her robes were loose and even a bit askew. Her hair wasn't straight and tame, instead, it was more, loose and messy over her shoulder. The girl was sleeping peacefully while leaning on a large white snake that was staring straight at the intruder with a hiss on the tip of its tongue. It flicks its tongue at him but did not bear to hiss out loud and bare its fangs as it was afraid to awaken its master. But this is not what caught his attention, what did was the peaceful and quiet Lan Biyu who used this dangerous snake as a neck pillow.

He had never seen her actually asleep before, of course, there was the time she had been unconscious but this, this was new and baffling. Why is it so surprising that junior sister sleeps? He shook his head feeling annoyed with himself, junior sister was also just a young girl why would she not need sleep? Da Chuanli recovers then carefully and slowly headed toward her, by now, when he was within sight the girl would usually glare at him and crinkle her nose while menacingly sending him a warning look to not come closer. She would even let him see the hatred in her eyes without reserve, but now she was as quiet and as harmless as a mouse. Within two feet the girl finally stirred and Da Chuanli stops in place watching her with an unwavering stare. "Junior sister Wang? Are you awake?" The snake around her neck slithers off her neck and watches Da Chuanli from the sidelines in a wary manner. Surprising Da Chuanli even more, was that after she heard his voice the girl in an almost cute way rubs her eyes sleepily. She opens her eyes to look up at Da Chuanli with a dewy-eyed stare of confusion, her voice held no malice but only soft questioning. "Senior brother? "?" His breath got caught in the back of his throat and the young man almost stuttered from her soft address.

Wang Lan Biyu? The girl rubs her eyes a bit more and made to stand, her actions lethargic and slow. Da Chuanli knew something was wrong as soon as her body swayed to the side, his shocked expression becoming one of concern in an instant. "Junior sister!!" He quickly catches her before she could hit the floor and places his hand on her forehead, there is no fever. He hesitates but then seeing the girl was still in a daze quickly places two fingers on her wrist. The slow but not dangerous pulse made him even more worried. "Junior sister, are you ill? I'll get master so hold out until then." Sensing warmth Lan Biyu blindly curls up closer to this warm place and felt the chill in her body slowly fade away. Her dainty hands wrap around this furnace that warms her soul. Her brain lagged far behind her basic instincts that sought warmth in this cold and dangerous place. Lan Biyu took advantage of this warm pillow, her eyes fluttering close as she rubs her face into the furnace and she lets out a relieved breath.

The furnace stiffens and his hands around the girl froze in place instantly, since he felt her wrap her arms around his waist. His expression was a mixture of turmoil and regret, if his master could see his face Minglan would no doubt laugh and point at this strange mix on the usually calm and noble-looking young man. Da Chuanli dared not move or push her away, his dilemma was a strange one as he never expected to be able to be close enough to touch this junior sister of his who always kept him an arms-length and further away. He took a peek down at her and could see why most people say they go blind looking at this junior of his for so long. Close up he could see her lips were as soft as silk and her skin was as white as milk, her lashes were long and delicate looking.

When her face was not paralyzed into a cold mask she appears even more lovely and addicting to look at. Seeing her so peacefully sleep while hugging him, Da Chuanli did not know if he should laugh or cry. His smile looked rather ugly as well "Junior sister this-, do you know what you are doing?" When he received no answer his smile became stiffer and he carefully tries to pull away from her in case she woke up from her daze suddenly and in her anger and embarrassment stab him. "Junior sister if you are tired, you should not sleep on the floor, I will take you to your bed."

When he made to remove her she did not fight it but she did something that Da Chuanli knew he would never forget or unsee. When he could see her face again, Lan Biyu lethargically opens her eyes which were sleepy and sad looking, the corner of her eyes red. With such beautiful features, the pain in his heart tripled when meeting those vulnerable fox-like eyes that stole hearts with each glance and flutter of her lashes Da Chuanli again understood Fuqing's yielding of the girl's dismissive behavior. Although he knew he should look away before he became enchanted he felt if he did look away he would never get the chance to see this once-in-a-lifetime beauty cry so beautifully ever again.

Lan Biyu had rendered even this steady and astute person speechless, shattering all walls he had built up over the years in this brief moment taking his breath away. "Senior brother...It's cold..." It was sweet and soft but in it, he could sense weakness and dependence. When he couldn't answer staring down at her with a troubled look her hand pulls at his robes lightly with a tiny desperate plea. Her voice trembles, it was not a complaint but a statement. "It's cold here..." Da Chuanli chokes on his next words all over again staring down at this lovely and pitiful Lan Biyu in his arms.

Her eyes that always held hatred for him were now full of fear of the cold and a plead for his help his heart could not refuse. Without thinking Da Chuanli finally spoke with difficulty "Alright, senior brother will get you something to warm up with." To this Lan Biyu was obviously appeased, her eyelashes fluttering as she stares up at him obediently though she did lower her head and mumble faintly to herself. "I still won't like you." The corner of his mouth twitches but he nevertheless guides Lan Biyu to her bed in a gentle and patient manner where her snake was still giving him a long stare. He was not sure but, he had a strange feeling that this snake was looking at him with shock and bewilderment.

If it was human he was sure its jaw would have dropped as well as it doesn't even flinch in its stare while he settles Lan Biyu under her blankets. Da Chuanli pulls out something from his spacial ring with no expression and gently coaxed Lan Biyu who was deep in her sheets. "Junior sister, wear this, this jade was harvested from a fire qilin's heart and can warm the body of the person who wears it." The girl's lashes shook yet she pitifully buries her face further into the blankets he warmed using his qi. Seeing and hearing no response he helplessly ties the precious red jade around her neck for her. When her expression eases and the circular jade pendant faintly glows before settling beside her Da Chuanli's tense muscles also relax. He stood beside her bedside for a bit, looking down at Lan Biyu with a complicated look on his face. He kept recalling the fear in her eyes, the way she told him she was cold. It was not longing, it was fear, straight fear. Fear of being abandoned?

Fear of what? He knew that it was not as simple as the fear of the cold. After all the room when he walked in was normal temperature and there were no spells or talismans that could affect the temperature of the room as well. He had done a thorough check-around while she settled in her bed. Da Chuanli shook his head and glanced at the snake who had also quickly slithered under the blankets to coil beside its master watching him with sapphire eyes. "Watch over your master well." The snake flicks its tongue at him making the young man finally smile. Leaving the room and making sure it was properly closed in case anyone had any ideas about his junior sister and wanted to take advantage of her as she rests. Da Chuanli began to stroll back toward his master's room with a frown.