Chapter 30 (1/2)

30 – Ye Zhen and Qi Qiqi

She opened her heavy eyelids and woke up.

A dim wooden ceiling was reflected in her eyes. When she moved her gaze a little, she could see a white bed curtain embroidered with cyan floral patterns.

This is my room. Xue Qilin's blurry consciousness gradually converged, and then she realized that something was wrong. She felt heavy. There was something pressing on her belly.

She propped her upper body up and looked down. There was long pitch-black hair scattered on the quilt and a beautiful face in front of her eyes.

The long eyelashes were slightly raised, the delicate nose was contracting and expanding, the cherry lips were slightly opened, the warm breath seemed to be visible, and the most pleasing part – the cheeks were slightly rosy.

The owner of these exquisite features was naturally Qi Qiqi. Using Xue Qilin's belly as a pillow, she slumbered peacefully.

“Why is Little Seven sleeping here…”

“… the Palace Master has been taking care of you for the past few days. After we returned to the palace and settled you down last night, the Palace Master didn't return to her quarters. She stayed here all night.”

Is that so… A tender feeling sprang up in her heart, and Xue Qilin gently pushed the strands of hair that fell on Qi Qiqi's face aside.

Then, looking at Qi Qiqi's smooth nose, she couldn't help but poke it, and the nose wrinkled.

That's a little cute! Xue Qilin couldn't help poke again.

“Anyway, Little Zhen… can you announce your presence beforehand? If it was someone else, you might have scared them to death.” As she grumbled angrily, Xue Qilin gently circled Qi Qiqi's face with her fingertips.

Be that as it may, she has actually noticed Ye Zhen's presence the moment she woke up. Without concealing their aura, a Heaven Realm expert was just like a sun, and any martial pract.i.tioner who reached the Human Realm could sense their aura.

“… martial grandnephew will pay attention next time.”

Xue Qilin nodded with satisfaction.

Suddenly, she noticed that her arms were still wrapped in white cloth, but there was no blood on it. The blood should have stopped at an earlier time. Xue Qilin moved her wrist for a while, but didn't feel particular pain. After the circulation of true qi was returned to normal, her body's self-healing ability has increased significantly, which was why the discomfort caused by her injuries has lessened greatly.

It was too tiring to prop her upper body up. Xue Qilin found it embarra.s.sing to wake Qi Qiqi up, so she just lied back down.

She looked sideways at the black-robed Ye Zhen and asked softly:  “How long did I sleep?”

“It's been three days.”

“That so…” Xue Qilin looked at the ceiling, “At that time, you were the one who lured Hua Tianji away?”

“Yes.” Ye Zhen responded flatly, showing no desire of taking credit.

“Sorry for troubling you.” Xue Qilin's face turned a little red, and she thanked Ye Zhen in an uneasy tone.

“Young Ancestor, you flatter me. It's what I should have done.”

“It was also hard on Little Seven…” Xue Qilin suddenly thought of the cyan figure, “Right, where's Little Qing.”

Normally, Luo Qing would definitely stay guard by her side, but Xue Qilin hasn't seen her until now.

Did she go to take a rest? Inexplicably, Xue Qilin felt a little uneasy.

“… Martial Niece Luo hasn't returned yet.”

“What?!” Forgetting about Qi Qiqi slumbering on her belly, Xue Qilin suddenly sat up. Qi Qiqi's head slid away from her belly, and then…

“It hurts!” Rubbing her forehead, Qi Qiqi looked at Xue Qilin with tears in her bright red eyes, “You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, can't you warn me before you get up?!”

Xue Qilin scratched her head awkwardly and laughed coa.r.s.ely: “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention for a moment. “

“You did it on purpose! Scoundrel! And I took care of you for the past few days!” Enraged, Qi Qiqi denounced Xue Qilin.

Perhaps he couldn't stay by idly and watch, but Ye Zhen eventually defended Xue Qilin: “Palace Master, it's not the Young Ancestor's fault. She just learned that Martial Niece Luo hasn't returned yet. Startled, she forgot herself for a moment.”

Ye Zhen's voice prompted Qi Qiqi's shoulders to shudder suddenly, and she turned her head stiffly. When she saw Ye Zhen, she spoke embarra.s.sedly: “So you were here, Uncle Teacher…”

“I've been here a while now. I was going to take a look, but then I woke the Young Ancestor up, and had a chat with her.”

“That…” Qi Qiqi shrunk back and then went on, ashamed: “You don't have to explain yourself.”

Ye Zhen was stunned, and then revealed a wry smiled: “Palace Master, didn't you say that if I don't explain myself, you won't understand…”

“Well, I seem to have…”

Seeing Qi Qiqi's face getting redder and redder, Xue Qilin couldn't help but think – Little Seven has really thin skin.

Then, the both of them went silent at the same time, and the mood became a bit awkward.

Xue Qilin looked strangely at Qi Qiqi and saw the latter bit her lower lip, looking embarra.s.sed. Then, she looked at Ye Zhen, and found out that his expression was rather strange, as if he had accidentally run into something awkward and was embarra.s.sed to make a sound. The situation was similar to a father walking into his daughter's room, only to find her changing clothes.

Xue Qilin burst into laughter. At the same time, she wondered whether something has happened between the two.

“Little Seven, why hasn't Luo Qing returned yet?” She was more concerned about Luo Qing's safety than the change in relations.h.i.+p between the two.

“Uncle Teacher, have you told the Young Ancestor?” Qi Qiqi's expression stiffened, and she questioned Ye Zhen with a tone laced with ill intentions, “The Young Ancestor will learn sooner or later, so why hide it?”

The more she heard, the more Xue Qilin felt like something wasn't right, and she frowned unwittingly, “Little Seven, what's going on?”

“This…” Qi Qiqi looked rather hesitant.

What is she hesitating about? No, she's worried about me! When she saw the worry in Qi Qiqi's eyes, Xue Qilin concluded as such. Therefore, she uttered in a soft voice, which felt both soothing and pleading: “Tell me.”

In a daze, Qi Qiqi's eyes widened. Xue Qilin smiled back.

“Okay.” Qi Qiqi's expression relaxed, “Senior Disciple Sister Luo stayed behind to block the pursuers, she has yet to return…”

When she reached here, Qi Qiqi took a deep breath, “Uncle Teacher Ye said that it doesn't bode well for Senior Disciple Sister Luo…”

When she heard Qi Qiqi's answer, Xue Qilin was dumbfounded.

After she heard that Luo Qing has yet to return to the palace, she had a bad premonition, but she didn't expect Ye Zhen's conclusion – “doesn't bode well”.

Luo Qing's smile flashed in her mind, forcing Xue Qilin to steady her turbulent heart, “… Did you send people to look for her? Why doesn't it bode well for her?”