IVYSCP - Chapter 12
Chapter 12
"The physician said you have a slight fever and prescribed a few doses of medicine."
Ling Qingyue sat beside the bed holding the freshly brewed medicine. When she looked up at Pei Si's somewhat weary expression, a faint frown crossed her brow.
It was her fault. She had been running around outside all these past few days and hadn't paid much attention to Pei Si.
With only one gate and one acupoint open, Pei Si was far more affected by the Emotion Transference. Ling Qingyue could not suppress the impulse rising within her. Her hand resting on the quilt stirred, her fingers shifting to brush against Ah Xi's leg.
"Ah Xi."
Ling Qingyue's throat bobbed. She answered with some difficulty, her fingers tightening little by little around the spoon.
Pei Si looked at her, tone soft and coaxing. "Feed me."
Ling Qingyue's hand suddenly trembled. "…Ah?"
Had this been the Immortal Realm, she would have been laughed at. A proud sword cultivator, once called the Little Sword Venerable, a role model for so many of the younger generation—and now she couldn't even hold a spoon without shaking.
Pei Si did not repeat herself. Her gaze drifted lightly toward the bowl of medicine.
Ling Qingyue nodded somewhat dazedly. "Oh. Oh, oh, alright."
She scooped up a spoonful of the pitch-black medicinal broth and moved to deliver it, only to hear the woman's petulant, gentle reproach. "It's very hot. Aren't you going to blow on it?"
"Oh, oh, right, blow on it."
Ling Qingyue's face instantly flushed with heat, mortified by her own foolishness. She brought the spoonful to her own lips and blew until it felt cooler, then carefully delivered it to Pei Si's lips.
The whole time she dared not lift her eyes to meet Pei Si's gaze. She only watched those pale pink lips take small, careful sips, the lips growing moist and faintly glossy where the medicinal broth touched them.
Ling Qingyue pressed her own lips together without thinking. Her mind slipped beyond her control, drifting back to that earlier moment when Pei Si had held her close, had moved to kiss her.
Soft lips brushing against her cheek, fragrant and sweet.
A kiss that had merely grazed past yet lingered so deeply in memory. If it had truly landed—what would that taste have been like?
"Ah Xi?"
A gentle call pulled Ling Qingyue back to herself. Her idle fantasy collided with reality, and in an instant, a chill spread through her entire body.
Her movements stiff, she continued feeding the medicine, no longer daring to entertain any reckless thoughts.
Once the medicine was finished, Ling Qingyue helped Pei Si lie back down, tucked the covers around her, lit a stick of calming incense, and urged her to rest well. Only then did she leave the bedchamber, deliberately softening the sound of the closing door.
Her mind a muddled mess, she walked to the pavilion in the corridor. Pei Si's usual paper and brush still lay on the stone table. Ling Qingyue sat down and looked at the writing before her. The very first thought that surfaced was: Pei Si's calligraphy was very beautiful.
She lifted a hand to cover her face, hardly able to believe herself.
She drew a deep breath and muttered to herself, "Ling Qingyue, you are utterly shameless. Who is Pei Si? She is Ah Xi's wife. You've already taken over someone else's body—must you refuse to leave their wife alone too?"
"Ling Qingyue, you're despicable! You're vile! Are you even human anymore?!"
After ruthlessly cursing herself out, Ling Qingyue couldn't help but lift a hand and rake through her hair.
She was already at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. Once she reached the ninth, she would be able to sense her soul and prepare to separate from this physical form. Then she would return this body to Ah Xi, leave Linshui Town, and go back to the Immortal Realm.
She exhaled deeply, rose, and headed toward the woodworking shed.
Pushing open the door, one glance inside told her that the wooden table now held an additional spirit stone along with that bloodstained wood carving.
She placed the carving she had brought back together with the one that had been damaged earlier, then set to work on the wood carving she meant to give Pei Si today.
Today's piece was a plump, round little peach.
Every so often, Ling Qingyue would go check the bedchamber to look in on Pei Si, and seeing that she slept peacefully, would quietly withdraw again.
That evening, Ling Qingyue made a simple congee. Afraid it would be too bland, she added a bit of sugar.
Pei Si had slept through the afternoon. Her complexion had improved considerably, the cool aloofness between her brows softened by this touch of illness. Her eyes followed the person before her, brimming with undisguised delight and attachment.
The sight of that gaze stabbed at Ling Qingyue's heart, sour and aching. Pei Si was looking at Ah Xi. Her affection was for Ah Xi. It had nothing to do with her.
"Tonight… can you not go to the woodworking shed?" Pei Si caught her hand, her voice pleading. "Stay with me."
Ling Qingyue could not refuse. As "Ling Qingyue" she could not refuse. As the current "Ah Xi," she could not refuse either. Pei Si was ill, fragile and in need of someone. Leaving her alone in the bedchamber would be far too cold and heartless.
"Alright. I won't go."
Once she had tidied herself up, Ling Qingyue brought over the wooden tub and hot water, laid out the clean inner garments Pei Si would change into after bathing, then retreated behind the folding screen. She excused herself by saying she needed to go over the wood-carving shop's accounts.
The soft rustle of shifting fabric was startlingly clear in the quiet room. Ling Qingyue sat with her back to the screen, silently reciting the Heart-Purifying Mantra. Her ears burned bright red, and her hands, resting on her knees, clenched tighter and tighter.
"Ah Xi."
Ling Qingyue jumped, flustered. "Wh-what? What is it?"
Why call for her all of a sudden?
"Come over here."
Ling Qingyue's eyes went round.
Go over there?! How could she go over there?! Pei Si was still undressed!
"I-I haven't finished the accounts yet. Is something the matter?"
Pei Si's voice was lazy. "The accounts can wait. I don't have the strength—I can't reach my back. Help me wipe it."
Ling Qingyue's hands began trembling again. She drew two deep breaths, tightened her fists, and rose with agonizing slowness.
She rounded the screen, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the floor the entire time.
In an instant, the moisture in the air thickened, carrying with it a startlingly vivid cold fragrance. Ling Qingyue felt lightheaded, her mouth dry and tongue parched.
She hurriedly took the soft cloth Pei Si handed over. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a pale, powder-white arm beaded with droplets. Ling Qingyue sucked in a sharp breath and promptly choked on the air, coughing twice.
"What's wrong?" Pei Si started to turn around.
Ling Qingyue hurriedly stopped her. "It's nothing! Don't move!"
Pei Si stilled. Ling Qingyue let out a breath of relief.
One hand braced against the wooden tub; the other dipped the soft cloth into the hot water, then reached out, groping blindly through the air, to wipe her back.
Even an accidental brush of her little finger was enough to set Ling Qingyue's heart pounding. She dared not dwell on the sensation against her fingertips. That would only make her feel like a thief, secretly coveting someone else's wife.
"There. Done."
The words were barely out before Ling Qingyue fled, rising and making straight for the door. She did not even wait for Pei Si to speak before opening it and escaping the bedchamber.
Once outside in the courtyard, Ling Qingyue gulped down great breaths of the cool night air. Yet that cold fragrance, belonging to Pei Si, still seemed to drift faintly about her, impossible to shake.
She stayed outside until she had calmed down somewhat before finally going back in to tidy up.
Mindful of Pei Si's health, Ling Qingyue put out the lamp early. But sleep would not come. Pei Si was pressed against her, one hand draped over her waist, her head resting against her shoulder.
She had only realized her own restless feelings earlier that very day, and now they were lying body to body like this at night.
Once again Ling Qingyue could not help but curse herself inwardly. Once that was done, she no longer dared even to apologize to Ah Xi in her heart. She was too ashamed.
"Sleep."
Pei Si spoke the single word softly. Ling Qingyue murmured in answer, and to her own surprise, truly drifted off amid the lingering light fragrance.
After she had fallen asleep, Pei Si slowly propped herself up and brushed aside the strands of hair by her ear. She clearly saw the faint red mole behind the ear. It was strikingly similar to the one on her own neck, only much lighter in color.
The Emotion Transference was taking effect.
Once the red mole had fully shifted onto Ah Xi, she would then execute the Supreme Detachment Art. At that moment, she would be able to completely forget that person—and that love.
Emotionlessness, detachment, deep passion—all were paths of the emotion Dao. To walk the path of emotion was to be unable to avoid the love tribulation. Emotion Transference was an extreme method: to give one's love with clear awareness, and to withdraw precisely when that love burned brightest.
The backlash from this method was enormous. At best, one's cultivation level would plummet. At worst, body and Dao alike would be destroyed.
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