Chapter 48: Plucking a Plum Blossom for Whom
“Good flowers are rare, and glass is fragile.”
For the latter half of the night, Yin Buran’s temperature had dropped, but she had still been in a deep sleep for a whole day.
During this time, Ning Ruoque had practiced her sword in the courtyard and made a few boxes of osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root in the kitchen.
Afraid that she would not be able to find her when she woke up, she even put the Sudden Rain sword under her pillow.
A sword cultivator’s sword and the sword cultivator were one. If the sword was there, the person was there.
Qingtong and Qin Jiangli had also come to visit. Seeing that she was not awake, they had sat for a while and then left.
Ning Ruoque saw that they were not surprised by this and guessed that this was probably not the first time Yin Buran had had a fever and fallen into a coma.
A disease that could not be cured even with the power of Azurefall Creek, it was hard not to think of it as a “punishment from the Heavenly Dao.”
Ning Ruoque recalled He Zhen’s bleeding bandages and her abnormal obsession with life and death. Her heart tightened, and she added another cotton quilt for Yin Buran.
She even carefully tucked it in a few times, tucking in every corner, afraid that she would be cold.
In less than half an hour, Yin Buran woke up from the heat.
She sat up with difficulty, smoothed her white hair behind her ear, and her sleeve slipped down with the movement, revealing a thin arm.
Then she frowned and tugged at her collar. “I want to take a bath.”
When she spoke, her voice was extremely hoarse, and she even coughed a few times.
Ning Ruoque brought her a cup of warm water, not daring to look around.
Yin Buran took a few sips from her hand and looked up. “A bath.”
This was clearly asking her for help.
Ning Ruoque’s gaze shifted, a little uncomfortable, but she couldn’t refuse her savior.
She asked tentatively, “Shall I carry you?”
Yin Buran’s expression was listless. “Mm.”
Ning Ruoque paused, then leaned over, wanting to first tie up Yin Buran’s clothes that had been rubbed open last night.
The silk inner garment was smooth and delicate to the touch. She held the tie and tied a knot in a few moves, then pulled it down a little.
But a certain person was not satisfied. She looked at the preheating tips of Ning Ruoque’s ears and asked lightly, “If you tie such a tight knot, how am I supposed to untie it later?”
Ning Ruoque did not understand her meaning and was completely bewildered.
So Yin Buran patiently explained again.
She hooked her finger on the tie and said slowly, “I said, untie it again.”
The sword cultivator understood this time and froze on the spot, at a loss.
Yin Buran turned sideways and propped up her cheek with one hand. “Weren’t you very decisive when you stuffed the pill into my mouth? Why are you so hesitant to help me untie my clothes?”
Ning Ruoque was stunned for a moment.
After she reacted, she broke out in a cold sweat, and even her pupils dilated a little.
Yin Buran actually remembers what happened when she had a fever!
Then last night, was she not as unconscious as she thought?
Seeing Yin Buran squint her eyes and about to lose her temper, Ning Ruoque quickly stepped forward.
She lowered her eyes and untied the knot she had tied. Because she was nervous, she even fumbled a few times.
A few strands of messy hair were tucked behind her red ears, and at first glance, she looked a little pitiful as if she had been forced.
The corners of Yin Buran’s mouth curled up, and she barely managed to suppress her smile.
As the clothes gradually loosened, most of Yin Buran’s collarbone was revealed, its shape slender and beautiful, like a butterfly about to fly. A small mole on it was like a drop of ink on a piece of paper.
Ning Ruoque’s gaze rested on the collarbone for a moment, then she quickly averted her eyes.
She carried Yin Buran in her arms, and the latter hooked her arm around her neck.
A cool hand rested on the back of her neck, and Ning Ruoque couldn’t help but think of the hot hug from last night.
She pressed her lips together and strode to the backyard. After passing through a round archway and turning past a screen, the view suddenly opened up.
As Qingtong had said, there was an artificial hot spring here.
The pool was paved with jade, and steam rose from it, like an immortal mist. A few peach trees in full bloom were planted by the spring.
The petals fell on the water surface, creating ripples. It must be a kind of enjoyment to soak in it.
Just as Ning Ruoque had placed Yin Buran on the chaise lounge to the side, she heard her lazily instruct, “The things I use for bathing are in the cabinet on the right. Remember to get me a set of inner clothes.”
Since she had already done this much, it was nothing to help her get a few more things.
There were all kinds of fragrant creams in the cabinet, and the soft towels for wiping her body were also ready.
There were even a few wine cups, and wooden carvings of small ducks and lotus flowers.
Ning Ruoque was dazzled and asked directly, “Which ones do you want?”
Yin Buran said casually, “I’ll use whatever you get.”
Ning Ruoque first took two boxes of fragrant cream and went back to the room to find a set of cotton and linen inner clothes.
On her way back, she passed by the wooden cabinet, hesitated for a while, and finally put a small wooden duck on the tray.
The sound of splashing water came from the pool. She lowered her head and placed the tray on the low table by the chaise lounge, staring at the floor the whole time.
Just as she was about to leave, a cool, thorny voice came from behind her.
“It’s one thing to force-feed me bitter medicine, but why are you also stuffing me with toys?”
Ning Ruoque: “…”
Yin Buran stirred the water surface, and the small duck bobbed up and down with the waves. That wooden duck face looked as dazed as the sword cultivator outside.
She snorted lightly. “I’m not that childish.”
After speaking, she slapped the duck to the shore with a wave of water.
The poor little duck was slapped left and right, spinning around, and finally fell headfirst on the shore.
Only then did Yin Buran withdraw her hand in satisfaction.
Apart from being clingy when she was sick and uncomfortable, Yin Buran was still terrifyingly vengeful.
Seeing that this matter would not be over for a while, Ning Ruoque had no choice but to not answer her and sulked behind the screen, sitting down cross-legged.
She did not take this opportunity to cultivate, but just silently wiped her sword.
She could recite the Heart Calming Mantra backwards, but as long as Yin Buran was there, it was useless no matter how many times she recited it.
Ning Ruoque could smell the sweet fragrance that emanated with the steam. It just so happened that this place was warmer than other places, and the scent made her drowsy.
She shook her head and decided to talk about serious matters to wake herself up.
“Yin Buran, when did we meet?”
She remembered Yin Buran saying that her memory of their first meeting was actually not right.
The sound of water behind the screen stopped. Yin Buran was silent for a moment, then let out a soft breath.
“Much earlier. You saved my life.”
Her voice was like a flower petal, falling into Ning Ruoque’s ear, but it exploded like thunder.
This answer was completely unexpected, and Ning Ruoque was speechless for a moment.
She had saved too many people. Could Yin Buran be one of them?
She pressed, “How long ago was this?”
Yin Buran leaned against the edge of the pool, casually playing with the wooden duck in her hand. “Before you became a sword cultivator.”
Having gotten the answer, the doubts in Ning Ruoque’s heart did not decrease but increased.
Before she became a sword cultivator, she was still struggling in the mortal world, brushing past death several times.
At that time, Yin Buran should still be the young lady of a wealthy family.
And the Yin family’s medical skills were exquisite and highly favored by the various feudal lords.
Even in that chaotic world where the people could not live in peace, they could still live better than most people.
She waited for Yin Buran to talk about their past, but the latter only said, “Forget it. You won’t remember even if I tell you. Why should I waste my breath?”
“As for the evidence, the human emperors have changed several times, and the history has been lost. The matter between you and me is only a few words on paper, and the old friends and old things have long since ceased to exist.”
As Ning Ruoque listened, she always felt that there was a hint of an imperceptible loneliness hidden in the other’s tone.
But as the “culprit” who had made her sad, she did not know how to comfort her.
Ning Ruoque fell silent.
The sky gradually darkened, and night fell. The side of the hot spring became more and more humid.
Yin Buran had not heard any movement from the other side of the screen for a long time and tilted her head.
She simply got up from the water. “Light a lamp for me. Remember to put it a little closer. I’m going to get dressed.”
Ning Ruoque did not think and obediently lit a lamp, manipulating her spiritual energy to send it to the side of the pool.
The lamplight illuminated a corner of the hot spring, and the screen reflected the rippling water, the scattered peach blossoms, and a faint human figure.
Without the cover of the wide robes and long sleeves, Yin Buran slowly lifted her long hair and put on her clothes, her exquisite figure in full view.
Ning Ruoque was caught off guard and saw it all, and her mind instantly went blank.
Her foot slipped on the wet floor, and she almost fell backwards.
She stabilized herself in a disheveled state and shrank into a ball with her back to the screen. Her face was red and her heart was racing, as if she were about to evaporate along with the steam.
A few muffled laughs came from the side of the pool. The figure on the screen covered her mouth with her sleeve, as graceful as a peach blossom.
Ning Ruoque then knew that Yin Buran had done it on purpose, just to tease her.
That person even laughed, “So easily shy?”
Ning Ruoque was at ease when facing swords, but if she were gently hugged, she would start to panic, and her first reaction would be to run away.
But Yin Buran could understand.
She slowly got dressed, then lay on her side on the couch. “Come and dry my hair.”
Ning Ruoque was still frozen in the distance. When she heard Yin Buran cough a few times, she finally woke up as if from a dream and walked over in a daze.
Staying by the hot spring for too long would be very stuffy. She carried Yin Buran to the front courtyard.
She took out a light green outer robe from the room and put it on for her, and even deliberately put a fur blanket on her.
The hot tea and osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root were placed by Yin Buran’s hand.
After busying herself for a while, she finally lifted a handful of white hair and carefully dried it with her spiritual energy.
The night wind was as gentle as water. Yin Buran looked up at the flowers in the light of the lamp.
The lamp shadow swayed, and the flower shadow also swayed.
“Speaking of which, this crabapple tree can be considered a witness.” She bit a piece of glutinous rice lotus root and spoke with her mouth full.
“Back then, I wanted to seal the flowers you gave me in glass and make them into a wind chime to hang on it, but I didn’t have time.”
Ning Ruoque frowned, hesitating to speak.
Needless to say, even if she had really given Yin Buran many flowers, they would have all withered into mud by now.
Yin Buran sized up her beloved flower tree.
For a hundred years, the things Ning Ruoque had given her had been destroyed one after another. Some were because they could not be stored for a long time, and some were because of various strange accidents.
In the end, apart from that strand of sword qi, not a single thing was left.
She touched the jade bracelet on her hand. “Fortunately, I didn’t have time. Otherwise, I’m afraid this tree of mine would also be struck by lightning.”
Ning Ruoque’s heart trembled slightly. When she looked up, the lamplight was dim, the flower shadow danced with the wind, and the white crabapple blossoms fell all over Yin Buran.
If it weren’t for the sweet taste of the tea and osmanthus being so real, all of this would have been like a bizarre dream.
She couldn’t help but call out, “Yin Buran…”
“Hmm?”
Yin Buran looked up and saw Ning Ruoque staring at her foolishly, a little amused. So for a moment, she couldn’t hold back and ruffled Ning Ruoque’s head.
She said calmly, “What’s past is past. It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember.”
“Good flowers are rare, and glass is fragile.”
“I only fight for the present.”
Ning Ruoque heard the comforting meaning in Yin Buran’s words.
Her eyes reflected Yin Buran’s beautiful face, and she hadn’t had time to sort out her complicated thoughts.
She heard her change her tune, “So when are you going to marry me?”
Ning Ruoque: “…”
How did she think of this again?
She was about to refuse righteously, but her storage bag flashed. Ning Ruoque subconsciously opened it, and a transmission talisman drilled out.
Chu Xuan’s voice resounded throughout the entire courtyard, “Is Yin Buran better? I’ve made an appointment with Si Mingyue. Do you have time to chat?”
Yin Buran’s small face instantly fell.
So fast. Doesn’t Chu Xuan have anything else to do? She hasn’t had enough time with Ning Ruoque yet.
However, contrary to what she thought, Chu Xuan had been so busy these past two days that her feet hadn’t touched the ground.
She was dispatching her subordinates to trace the source of the secret letter, and also investigating where He Zhen had learned her demonic arts.
She was writing reports to send to the Immortal Alliance while sending transmissions to Si Mingyue from time to time.
She could even find time to forge, and made a small thing that could bite people’s butts, preparing to give it to her friends.
A model of abundant energy.
Yin Buran casually hummed a few times, no longer smiling, and listlessly gathered her fur blanket. “There’s a projection device in my study.”
A projection device could project the user’s image and voice to another connected device, which was much better than a transmission talisman.
But the device required spirit stones as an energy source and could not be carried around, so it was not as popular as transmission talismans.
Ning Ruoque carried Yin Buran to the study, found the device and started it, and drew a few formation patterns with her spiritual energy.
The space rippled like water.
After a few breaths, a human figure appeared out of thin air and gradually became clear.
The person was dressed in intricate purple clothes, with layers of thin gauze overshirts embroidered with constellations.
Her thick white hair, which reached her ankles, was braided into several long braids with a silk ribbon.
Her eyelashes were as white as snow, and her eyes were an extremely rare light purple, so beautiful that it was almost demonic.
The difference from Yin Buran was that she was an albino, and her hair and eye color were like this from birth.
She was afraid of the sun and could not be exposed to it, but she was skilled in deducing the celestial phenomena and divining good and bad fortune.
The current Palace Master of Heavenly Eon Palace was rumored to be the favorite of the Heavenly Dao.
Every judgment she made came true. The opportunities that countless cultivators scrambled for were just a matter of a simple calculation for her.
It was just that Si Mingyue lived in the Star Observation Platform all year round, and the world knew very little about her. All sorts of rumors flew around, and they could be bound into a book.
Before long, the image completely stabilized.
The corners of Si Mingyue’s mouth turned up, and she smiled softly at the group.
“Good morning, everyone. Have you all eaten?”
