Chapter 21: Entering the City

Conditioned by reflex, Kunlun averted her eyes. She then swept her gaze around the spacious carriage interior and found there was nowhere to escape the bright gleam, so she simply stayed where she was.

It was Chuci who, seemingly noticing her slight discomfort, quickly scooted over and asked what was wrong.

Truthfully, after being dazzled for so many years, Kunlun was thoroughly used to it. She didn’t consider it much of a problem. If she loved shiny, glittering things, then let her love them; she just had to look out for herself a bit. So she smiled and shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

Chuci, perhaps bored, or perhaps wanting to show off her cleverness, periodically lifted the curtain to command the driver. In truth, the official road stretched long, and they had no fixed destination, going wherever the road took them.

The stated purpose was to descend the mountain and search for Zhong Mountain’s Primordial Spirit Fruit Tree. In reality, the two of them—specifically, Chuci—wanted to see the world below. She was conveniently dragging along Kunlun, this block of boring stone. It seemed, in this respect, it had nothing to do with whether her memories were missing.

Earlier, Jiang Yang had asked if she often experienced memory lapses or soul instability. Indeed, she did, though that was something from long ago. Chuci didn’t place much importance on it.

She had never been one to fret over trifles. Soldiers come? Send a general to block them. Water floods? Build a dam of earth to contain it. What would come, would always come. If the time wasn’t right, what use was forcing things? The only thing before her eyes was Kunlun. So she would focus on this one thing first.

Perhaps due to the damage to her primordial spirit, the current Chuci, though her fundamental nature hadn’t drastically changed, had already deviated from her past self in certain matters. The deviations weren’t large, but enough to send her actions in opposite directions. Before, she was a sharp sword whose blade must see blood. If she learned of this matter, she would cast everything aside, wait until she regained the power over all beings, and the divine consciousness up in the sky exemplified this. But now, wandering aimlessly by the reins, with no memories came no worries. Kunlun was joyful, and so was she. Who could say if this was good or bad?

After being flashed for the one hundred and first time, Kunlun finally began resting with her eyes closed.

Chuci scooted closer, laying her palm over Kunlun’s eyes. The warmth was so cozy that Kunlun couldn’t rest properly. Luckily, she hadn’t truly been trying to rest. Beneath Chuci’s palm, her eyes blinked and blinked, eyelashes brushing against the skin and tickling.

“Kunlun…” Chuci’s voice suddenly became soft, as if coaxing.

This was how she was: the more joy she felt, the gentler she became. No matter how much steel was in her bones, it all melted into softness. And besides, Kunlun was no steel; she was a stone with warmth. It seemed only in these moments that one could perceive, in someone who looked nothing like a demon, a hint of a beguiling, nearly demonic charm.

Kunlun found her other hand at her waist and interlaced their fingers, lacing them tightly before answering lowly: “Hm?”

“Kunlun…” Chuci rested her head on Kunlun’s shoulder, rubbing and nuzzling.

“Hm?”

Chuci stared through the gap in her sight at their clasped hands and said, “Your hands are prettier than mine.”

Kunlun: “Mm.”

Chuci propped her chin on her shoulder and prodded Kunlun’s shoulder blade. “You shouldn’t agree with me. You need to refute me. That way, it shows I have good taste.”

Kunlun: “Alright, mine are prettier than yours.”

Chuci responded noncommittally: “Mm.”

“Kunlun…” Her voice was practically cotton candy now.

Kunlun felt a tingle run down the back of her neck. She asked patiently: “What is it?”

Chuci stared at her profile—the straight nose bridge, lashes even thicker and darker than her own, not inferior even to a Nine-tailed Fox King of the Demon Clan. She thought from the bottom of her heart that no other stone under heaven could have grown into something like her.

Kunlun’s neck was long and graceful, delicate as porcelain. Chuci nuzzled the tip of her nose against her skin, feeling an indescribable fragrance lingering around her nose, appearing and disappearing, indistinguishable from an illusion.

Kunlun’s neck tingled from the nuzzling. Having her eyes covered instead sharpened her other senses, allowing her to feel every tiny, downy hair. Then, a soft, cool, slightly wet sensation—different from before—was pressed against the side of her neck.

Very light, like a swan feather brushing past, fleeting and gone.

Kunlun’s back instantly stiffened, becoming so upright that no one could be more stone-like than her.

“Kunlun… Kunlun…” She started calling again, her voice softer and softer, right next to her ear.

Kunlun couldn’t even speak anymore. She found it a little strange. Clearly, she’d been out of practice for years. Why was Chuci’s skill even greater than before? Her magical power hadn’t recovered yet; it shouldn’t be some unseen technique she was using. Had her own senses become heightened after being left untouched for so long? Or had Chuci learned some new trick from the Fox Clan?

Chuci said, “Kunlun, why won’t you look at me?”

“You’re… covering… covering my eyes.”

“Oh.” Chuci moved her palm away. “If you’d told me to put it down earlier, I would have.”

The sudden influx of light took Kunlun a good while to adjust to. Then, she immediately looked into Chuci’s eyes. A light brown shade, clear and limpid, sparkling as they gazed at her. Only, there was no dazzling gold, not even a trace.

Kunlun’s expression suddenly became a bit complicated. She asked, “Why did you call me like that just now?”

“I wanted to call you, so I did. Your name sounds nice.”

“Why did you kiss my neck?”

“I wanted to kiss you, so I did. I felt happy.” Chuci asked, puzzled, “Didn’t you like it?”

“No, I liked it very much. I just…” Kunlun held her forehead in her hand. “The carriage is bumpy. Yes, I want to calm down for a bit.”

“Then lie down on me.”

“No…” Before her “no” was fully out, Chuci had already pulled the person over, letting her lie fully on her body. Then, she transformed into her original form with the white fur. Kunlun was now sleeping right on her belly.

The large dog, a bit bigger than a human, curled its tail over to cover her and coaxed, “Sleep now.”

And astonishingly, Kunlun actually fell asleep, a deep, dreamless sleep.

When she awoke, the sun had already half-set, swaying precariously in the west, while the carriage had just entered the city.

“Awake?” Kunlun was picked up and settled upright by Chuci.

Through the carriage curtain, the clamor outside was muted, as if one were amidst a bustling market yet still in a secluded haven.

When Kunlun lifted her eyes, she found Chuci had changed her clothes. Still white, but no longer the white fur. The fox tail trim around the collar was all removed. The cuffs bore only plain silk embroidery. The craftsmanship was naturally unparalleled, but it wasn’t that conspicuous anymore.

She’d also applied a not-very-advanced but sufficient-for-mortals minor spell. Her face could now, at most, be called delicate and pretty, unnoticeable in a crowd.

“Chuci, your clothes, how…”

“That one, I’m not wearing it anymore. Didn’t it just flash your eyes? Goes to show Silver Dragon Thread is just flashy but useless. Next time, I’ll figure out if it can be improved.” Chuci was the first to jump down from the carriage. She extended her hand. “Come, give me your hand.”

“Then your white fur robe?”

Chuci tilted her head, as if it were incomprehensible: “I wore that especially for you to see. Why would I show it to base mortals?”