Chapter 29: Sweet and Heartwarming

The two walked together, detouring by Clear Moon Pavilion to pick up the ledgers, and along the way, they stopped here and there, purchasing quite a few things. Only when the sun gradually set did they return to the Luo Residence by the same route.

"—Let's part ways here."

Tanxiang stopped at the entrance of the Luo Residence, glancing sideways at him. "It would be best for you to stay at home more these days. After all, Xiang Tianlin has not yet been apprehended, and his whereabouts are unpredictable."

Yang Shifei nodded slightly. "Rest assured, if there's nothing else, I'll stay at home and focus on my cultivation."

Tanxiang was silent for a moment, then abruptly added, "Your three meals will continue to be delivered."

With that, the servant girl turned and walked into the Luo Residence, gently closing the main gate behind her.

Yang Shifei couldn't help but smile.

Although her attitude was still chilly, her heart was indeed warm.

Not long after, Yang Shifei returned to his own home.

He placed the newly bought bedding in a room and was just pondering which guest room to sleep in tonight when his shoulder was suddenly poked.

Yang Shifei quickly turned his head and met Yue Rui's bright, smiling eyes.

"You… were out for a long time."

"I spent most of today wandering around the city."

Yang Shifei smiled with great interest. "But you, you didn't go back for a second sleep?"

This was a first since he had known her.

Looking again, the little girl had even changed her clothes today. A plain white gauze skirt clung to her slender, delicate figure, her fragrant shoulders slightly exposed. Beneath her exquisite collarbones, small pouches pushed out the fabric of her bodice, creating a slight curve. Paired with her flawless, porcelain-jade-like pretty face, she was truly endearing.

"Didn't want to sleep." Yue Rui shook her little head, and the small tuft of hair on her head swayed along with it. "Couldn't sleep today."

"You're having insomnia at your age?"

Yang Shifei was amused. "Why?"

This girl slept all day, and when she woke up, she liked to look at the moon. Her heart was so limpid and clean; he hadn't expected her to have little worries too.

"You… weren't here."

"…"

"Really?"

"Mm."

The little girl's straightforward words made Yang Shifei's smile abruptly freeze.

Meeting the young woman's direct gaze, he inexplicably felt as if he had done something to betray her trust.

"Ahem, I've also been running around outside before. Why would you feel unwell today?"

"…It's different."

Yue Rui fiddled with the hem of her skirt, her head slightly bowed.

She hadn't minded before either.

As long as she could stay here and sleep peacefully every day, 'dual cultivate' with Yang Shifei a bit before bed, and occasionally eat some tasty food, she would be perfectly content.

But last night, she had listened in for a long time. Although she couldn't understand what was so fun about lips rubbing against each other, hearing the strange sounds continuously coming from the room, a trace of displeasure had gradually welled up in her heart, and she felt inexplicably a little angry.

Of course, she hadn't willfully made a sound to interrupt, nor had she stopped Yang Shifei from going out today. She had only waited until he returned home before she couldn't help but…

"What's wrong?"

Yang Shifei bent down slightly and said half-jokingly, "Could it be because I wasn't home, so you felt a bit lonely and deserted?"

Yue Rui suddenly leaned close, pressing against him and wriggling her little nose, as if sniffing something.

Yang Shifei quickly lifted his sleeve and sniffed himself; there shouldn't be any strange odor.

"What is it?"

"A woman's scent." Yue Rui's cheeks puffed out slightly as she mumbled, "It's that woman again."

Yang Shifei: "…"

This nose is really sharp. Is she actually a cat?

Yang Shifei soon smiled helplessly. "I work under the Luo Residence and am also Miss Luo's fiancé. It's normal to pick up some fragrance of rouge."

Saying this, he placed his hands on Yue Rui's fragrant shoulders and led her out of the room together. "If you don't feel like sleeping today, how about I make you dinner?"

"Okay!"

Yue Rui's beautiful eyes lit up. "I want noodles again, with a little bit of sour and spicy would be even better!"

Indeed, a simple-minded little girl is easy to coax. Her mood changes like a weather forecast.

Looking at the young woman's pure and radiant smile, Yang Shifei couldn't help but smile as well.

"Alright, I'll go make you some noodles to eat right now."

The two went to the kitchen amidst cheerful banter. As cooking smoke gradually rose, a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup was soon brought out.

Yue Rui sat at the table holding her chopsticks, her eyes seeming to sparkle like stars, her small feet dangling and swaying under the table, her chubby little legs faintly visible.

When a bowl of beef noodles was placed before her, her face instantly lit up with delight. "So sumptuous!"

"Right?"

Yang Shifei brushed the cooking fumes from his sleeves and sat opposite her with a happy expression. "We didn't have much to eat at home before. Today, I happened to buy a lot of seasonings and side dishes, so the noodles naturally taste better. For example, the freshly rendered lard… Uh."

Before he could introduce much, Yue Rui had already put down her noodle bowl with a look of utter satisfaction—it was already spotless.

The young woman's mouth was smeared with grease, and her little face was slightly flushed from drinking the spicy oil, looking exceptionally cute and rosy.

"So delicious!"

"…As long as you like it."

Yang Shifei's expression relaxed, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face.

This girl ate at an unbelievably fast speed; he really didn't know how her stomach was built.

However, seeing her eat with such gusto, he also felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Your mouth is all oily. Don't forget to wipe it."

"Mmhmm, help me wipe it~"

Yue Rui suddenly darted over and sat down obediently.

Her petite body leaned forward slightly, and at the same time, she tilted up her flushed little face, her eyelashes half-closed, looking every bit like a pliant flower ready to be plucked.

"…"

Seeing the young woman deliberately pouting her dewy lips, Yang Shifei's heart trembled, and he silently cursed himself twice for his thoughts. He also couldn't help but wonder, this girl seemed particularly close to him today?

"When did you become such a child, needing me to help wipe your mouth?"

Yue Rui tilted her little head and pointed to her lips. "Then, a little slurp-slurp?"

Yang Shifei quickly took out his handkerchief and wiped her mouth. "You mustn't be so mischievous next time. I can't handle this kind of stimulation."

Only then did Yue Rui let out a delicate, sweet giggle, allowing him to wipe her mouth with exceptional obedience.

But just as Yang Shifei was about to withdraw his hand, the young woman grabbed his wrist.

"Awu~"

Soft cherry lips suddenly enveloped his index finger.

Yang Shifei's breath caught, his eyes widening involuntarily.

Yue Rui gently cradled his hand, looking up with moist, beautiful eyes like a small animal, her lips moving with soft, suckling motions.

Looking at the young woman's innocent gaze, Yang Shifei suddenly felt his mouth go dry. This was the first time he had discovered that this little girl, with whom he had lived for several days, possessed such a bewitching and seductive side, almost like a little demoness luring one to fall.

He soon also felt a light, teasing sensation at his fingertip, as if being gently scratched by a cat, tickling him deep in his heart.

"Wait, girl, you…"

Before he could finish his sentence, Yang Shifei's face contorted in pain.

A burst of cold energy suddenly surged from his fingertip, and the familiar aching, tingling numbness spread throughout his entire arm, completely snapping him out of his reverie.

Damn it, so absorbing cold energy doesn't just work with my own mouth, it works with this girl's mouth too?!

The circulation of cold energy this time lasted only a few breaths.

Yue Rui peeked at the lingering fear on Yang Shifei's face and couldn't help but gently flick her tongue, as if trying to soothe that trace of pain.

"Al-alright."

Yang Shifei withdrew his right hand, his expression peculiar.

When did I become so charming? Does this girl really like me that much?

Could it be that she really considers me her 'dual cultivation partner'?

Yue Rui pressed her cherry lips together, a mischievous smile playing in her beautiful eyes.

Seeing the young woman's sweet and delicate appearance, Yang Shifei couldn't resist reaching out and patting her head.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Mm~" Yue Rui smiled sweetly. "You go get busy~"

Seeing Yang Shifei return to the kitchen with a strange expression, only then did she touch the top of her head where he had just patted her. Her smile faded slightly, but her little face had, at some unknown point, flushed a delicate pink.

"So… this is what it feels like…"

Night gradually fell, and a cool breeze gently blew.

Yang Shifei practiced the Mountain Treading Art alone in the courtyard for over an hour, then went through several sets of the Forest-Piercing Triple Layer Art.

Only after his entire body was sweating did he stop his evening practice with satisfaction.

Although there had been a little 'mishap' after returning home in the evening, with Yue Rui having gone back to her room to sleep, he had calmed his agitated mind and refocused his attention on his own cultivation.

In his view, since he had this golden finger of absorbing Filth, he naturally had to seize the opportunity to train hard.

East City seemed calm now, but undercurrents were likely surging beneath the surface. Moreover, if he were to marry into the Luo family in the future, he needed the strength to protect himself; he couldn't afford to slack off just because he had a bit of talent.

Yang Shifei quickly washed up and changed his clothes, then picked up a candlestick, preparing to stay in the adjacent guest room for the night.

Walking through the deserted courtyard, he occasionally swung his arms, making a few gestures, his mind still reviewing the essentials of the Mountain Treading Art.

Although this martial art was for nourishing life and tempering the body, the more he pondered it, the more he could feel its subtlety, containing profound principles of the martial way.

Compared to it, the Forest-Piercing Triple Layer Art felt rather superficial; only its force exertion techniques were worth further study.

Lost in thought, Yang Shifei pushed open the door to the room, took off his outer robe, blew out the candle, then turned and sat on the bed. While mentally rehearsing the martial arts, drowsiness gradually overcame him, and he fell asleep.

But in his sleep, he vaguely felt a soft, heavy weight pressing down on him.

A sweet fragrance lingered by his nose, as if he were deeply immersed in a veritable haven of tenderness. His neck was gently embraced, and he could faintly hear light, sweet, mischievous laughter by his ear, like that of a cat.

Unwittingly, sunlight from outside the window shone on the bedside, bringing a trace of warmth.

Yang Shifei woke up as usual, feeling that he had slept particularly comfortably and pleasantly last night. Just as he was about to turn over and get out of bed, his movements abruptly froze.

"…"

He stared blankly at his left side. A petite young girl was lying there, turned on her side, her nightdress slightly disarrayed, her sleeping posture very well-behaved and peaceful.

Yang Shifei almost thought he had gotten drunk and made some terrible mistake…

But on second thought, he hadn't drunk any alcohol last night, and there was no one else in the room!

He focused his gaze and looked carefully again, only then realizing it was Yue Rui, who should have been sleeping next door.

"When did this girl sneak over?"

Confirming that both their clothes were intact, Yang Shifei breathed a slight sigh of relief, though his expression was somewhat complicated.

Although this girl was mysterious, in the few days they had spent together, she was indeed well-behaved and cute, always making one feel a sense of affection for her.

"…Saying she's here as a servant girl, it's more like I've adopted a cute little kitten."

Yang Shifei shook his head and chuckled to himself, then carefully got out of bed and tucked the young girl back in properly.

He hurriedly changed his clothes and went out of the room, only to see a graceful figure already seated in the courtyard, making his heart instantly tighten.

"Miss Luo?"

Yue Rui is still lying in bed.

"Good morning, Young Master."

Luo Xian'er sat with dignified posture at the stone table, her waist-length hair swaying gently in the wind.

Her fair, jade-like face was still without makeup, yet her celadon-white floral dress further enhanced her transcendent, peerless beauty.

Yang Shifei put his hand behind his back and closed the door properly. "Miss Luo is truly early today. Why didn't you call me sooner?"

"Young Master has been diligently practicing martial arts recently and needs proper rest."

Luo Xian'er gestured to a bamboo basket beside her. "Tanxiang has already prepared today's breakfast for you."

"Ah, good. I'll go wash my face first."

Yang Shifei ran to the well, drew a bucket of water, and washed up thoroughly.

"Young Master, I have a matter I wish to discuss."

Seeing him return after drying his face, Luo Xian'er said softly, "This matter… is of great importance."

Yang Shifei was just about to pick up his chopsticks to get some food when he heard her words, his face showing puzzlement. "Has some accident happened in the city?"

"Not within the city."

Luo Xian'er took out a letter from her sleeve. "According to a secret message from Chief Constable Tie, they have discovered Xiang Tianlin's movements, as well as… the location of enemy ambush troops."