Chapter 5 Endless Night

Zhang Xiaofan hesitated for a moment, about to speak. However, Lu Xueqi preemptively anticipated his move and initiated a surprise attack. Standing on tiptoes, she closed her eyes with a hint of affection, pecking lightly with her red lips. Lu Xueqi's appearance, like a shy and adorable little bird, shyly approached Zhang Xiaofan's handsome face.

Her cheeks, as red as a calm lake, were suddenly struck by a force that stirred up ripples that couldn't settle for a long time, completely different from her usual cold and lonely demeanor. At this moment, Zhang Xiaofan felt Lu Xueqi's unique fragrance gradually becoming stronger. With just a slight breath, it easily entered his nostrils. Before Zhang Xiaofan could react, Lu Xueqi's moist and soft lips had unknowingly touched his cheek, causing Zhang Xiaofan to exclaim in surprise like a startled bird.

Caught off guard by Lu Xueqi's sudden deep affectionate kiss, Zhang deep and his mind momentarily blanked out, his heart racing, and he stood still, staring at Lu Xueqi, who was half a head shorter than him, with eyes that had a hint of shy admiration.

Years ago, he had also fallen in love at first sight with Lu Xueqi, but after experiencing so much, he buried these feelings deep in his heart, isolating himself from others. Who would have thought that Lu Xueqi would quietly unlock his shackles today, gradually melting his frozen heart? Love runs deep, and wounds run deeper. After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xiaofan gradually regained his senses and reached out to touch the place where Lu Xueqi had kissed him. In his indifferent eyes, there began a profound transformation, with a hint of shy admiration.

Lu Xueqi frowned when she saw Zhang Xiaofan silent, wondering if she had acted too rashly and scared him silly.

Zhang Xiaofan gradually came to his senses and smiled brightly. "Xueqi, I understand your feelings, but now is not the right time. After all, I haven't figured out the matter with Fox Ridge yet, which may be related to Bi Yao."

Before Zhang Xiaofan could finish speaking, Lu Xueqi interrupted him decisively: "I'll wait for you!" Lu Xueqi no longer suppressed her innermost feelings, stepped forward decisively, and, with all her strength, hugged Zhang Xiaofan tightly.

With a burst of tears and pear blossoms with rain coming suddenly, this was her most vulnerable moment, as well as her most real side. Since the death of Senior Shuiyue, she has been suppressing not only her body and mind but also her feelings towards Zhang Xiaofan. Whenever she couldn't understand, she would dance with her sword under the moon on the moon-viewing platform, expressing the bitterness of lovesickness.

Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. The pair of weathered hands couldn't resist any longer and slowly moved towards Lu Xueqi, who was dressed in white like snow.

A rich fragrance wafted over. It was Lu Xueqi's unique scent. As soon as his hands touched Lu Xueqi's back, he realized that her slender figure was single-handedly supporting the heavy burden of the entire Great Bamboo Peak, just like a small body was supporting the entire affairs of the sect. Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but embrace Lu Xueqi, his clean chin gently resting on her shoulder.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xiaofan chuckled and said, "I'm here too."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi's already flushed cheeks and ears became even more vivid and attractive. Tears streamed down like rain as her slender body pressed tightly against Zhang Xiaofan's. This was the first man Lu Xueqi had ever relied on in her life.

After years of waiting, she finally received a response. She no longer had to worry about him leaving without a word one day. She no longer had to continue torturing herself with the insurmountable thread of love in her heart. Now, she could confess openly. The stone that had been suppressing her heart for so long finally let go, and her tightly wound inner world suddenly loosened, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Under her exquisite makeup, her long eyelashes were adorned with glistening tears, as beautiful as a water lily.

The damp tears fell on Zhang Xiaofan's broad chest, trickling down like a small stream but also like the Yellow River flooding, unstoppable. Zhang Xiaofan clearly felt her tears, as tender as pear blossoms, and felt heartache. His warm hands began to gently stroke Lu Xueqi's fragile back, carefully comforting her.

Her sobbing cries, like divine music, seemed to have a penetrating power, striking every inch of Zhang Xiaofan's skin and limbs, allowing Lu Xueqi to vent and speak her heart out.

And so, Zhang Xiaofan held the crying Lu Xueqi tightly, enjoying their happy time together as time passed by. The two of them sweetly leaned against each other, standing amidst the moonlight in the mountains and seas.

A gust of cool wind blew jubilantly, causing the three thousand strands of hair between them to flutter. A chill brought them closer together. The bamboo forest beside them was dark and swaying in the wind, rustling like the stirring of hearts, witnessing the symbolism of their love.

As Zhang Xiaofan embraced Lu Xueqi, a pair of exquisite white-embroidered shoes caught his eye, with a pink pearl embroidered on the toe, blending with the mandarin duck embroidery on the shoe's surface, exquisite and noble. Standing in the corner, Wen Min was infatuatedly watching the two in front of her; her watery eyes were somewhat red, and a few transparent teardrops had already fallen on her clothes.

Although she couldn't hear their words, it wasn't difficult to guess what had happened between them. After all, the two were inseparable, and as a mother, Wen Min was even more experienced in the love and hate between men and women. Seeing them like this, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed. The stone that had been suppressing her heart for so long was finally let go, no longer worrying. Xueqi's junior sister finally saw the light after enduring for so long and fulfilling her wish!

Finding true love for herself, Wen Min was genuinely happy for her, knowing that lovers would eventually be together. Then, breaking her usual demeanor, Wen Min smiled brightly, her smile intertwining with the tears in a charming way.

Eventually, Wen Min disappeared into the corner, leaving only a faint fragrance that vanished with time. Only the couple remained, embracing each other under the pavilion. The moonlight gradually hid behind the clouds, and the lanterns swayed gently, the dim yellow light replacing the moonlight. The two kissed and embraced each other, inseparable and filled with deep affection.

Lu Xueqi had stopped crying, and although her voice still trembled slightly, she knew that the man in front of her was someone she couldn't do without.

After calming her emotions and returning to her usual cold demeanor, she spoke to Zhang Xiaofan with extraordinary gentleness: "Xiaofan, I remember that Senior Brother, the Sect Leader, once inquired about a disappearance. Several hunters who went up the mountain saw two suspicious figures running out of a mysterious crack near Fox Ridge, with a black, unidentified object chasing after them. However, the weather was not very good at the time, and visibility was low. They couldn't see their appearance clearly, and they fainted on the ground shortly afterward. At that time, Senior Brother didn't pay much attention to this news; after all, ordinary mortals without any cultivation—how could they survive until now? If it were other monsters, they would have been exterminated long ago! But the only clue is that mysterious black thing!" Zhang Xiaofan frowned, seeming to need to make a trip to Fox Ridge.