Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 343 330: Ji Xichan Knocks at Midnight

Before nightfall, Pei Yuhang had pacified Yueqiu, telling her that after leaving the Mirage Dragon Illusion Realm, he needed to rest and wasn't in any condition to be... exploring the Great Dao.

In the end, under the young woman's somewhat resentful and dissatisfied gaze, Pei Yuhang left her room.

Back in his own room, Pei Yuhang let out a long sigh of relief.

He'd refused Yueqiu's attempts to make him stay, but it certainly wasn't because he couldn't perform after fulfilling his duties with Qianqian.

It was because he wanted to be with Yueqiu in a... purer state.

He had just come from fulfilling his "official duties" with Qianqian, and even though he had bathed, it still felt wrong. Being with an innocent girl like Yueqiu like this felt like a betrayal, a defilement.

Of course, he wouldn't be this patient with every woman.

When it came to seeing a vicious woman like Shang Miaoyan, for instance, he couldn't care less if he smelled of Liyuan's perfume, much less worry about Shang Miaoyan's feelings.

When the time came, he'd just close his eyes, lie on the bed, and spread his legs.

It would be up to Shang Miaoyan whether she wanted to join him or not.

'It's been a while since I've contacted Liyuan with the Transmission Token. I wonder how she's doing...'

Pei Yuhang hadn't forgotten his worries for his Dao Companion just because he was on a Spiritual Ship with two beautiful women vying for his attention.

He had let Ye Liyuan know he was safe right after he'd gotten out of the Mirage Dragon Illusion Realm.

For some reason, however, his Dao Companion still hadn't replied, which made Pei Yuhang a little worried.

Before he'd left the sect, his Dao Companion had told him she intended to face her tribulation alone.

Pei Yuhang knew just how severe the aftereffects of Liyuan's Celestial Tribulation could be. Both he and the other young women of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion made a point to choose locations far away from Liyuan when crossing their own tribulations.

How could Pei Yuhang possibly rest easy knowing his Dao Companion was now facing the raging Celestial Tribulation all by herself?

Just as Pei Yuhang took out the Transmission Token to contact Liyuan, there was a sudden knock on his door.

'Is that Yueqiu?'

Without a second thought, Pei Yuhang went and opened the door. Standing there was a charming young woman in a black dress.

Her features were as cold and stunning as frost, her brows slightly arched with a subtle hint of arrogance. But when she looked at Pei Yuhang, her glistening eyes couldn't hide a fiery passion, like the first thaw of winter giving way to the surge of spring.

"Ji Xichan?"

Pei Yuhang froze. His brow furrowed slightly, and a complicated emotion flickered in his eyes.

He instinctively raised a hand to shut the door, as if he could block out both the young woman and the turbulent emotions she brought with her.

But before the door could close, a smooth, slender leg shot into the gap, wedging it firmly open.

"Sword Immortal Pei, what's the rush? Aren't you going to let me come in for a bit and hear what I have to say?"

Pei Yuhang's brow twitched, and he spoke in a low whisper.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"It's the middle of the night. Whatever you have to say can wait until tomorrow."

At his words, Ji Xichan leaned forward slightly. The hem of her black dress swayed with the motion, like a rare orchid blooming in the night.

"Are you afraid of Xichan, Sword Immortal Pei?"

"Or are you worried Lin Qianyan and Qing Yueqiu will see? Relax, they should be asleep by now."

"This standoff right here in the doorway is far more likely to get us caught."

"So, how about we go inside and talk?"

The tip of her foot, still wedged in the door, tensed slightly, a clear sign she wasn't backing down.

Pei Yuhang gripped the door, his gaze falling on the angry red mark the door had pressed into the pale, delicate skin of her leg. His resolve finally softened, and he slowly pulled the door open.

The moment Ji Xichan saw Pei Yuhang's grip hesitantly loosen, she slipped into his bedroom like a nimble fish, terrified he would change his mind and shut her out again.

CLICK—

Pei Yuhang closed the door softly, afraid of making any sound that might disturb Yueqiu and Qianqian in the next rooms.

He turned back and frowned, seeing the young woman in the black dress calmly sitting on his bed.

"Get off my bed!"

"What's wrong, Sword Immortal Pei? I'm just sitting on your bed. Why be so petty?"

Ji Xichan said in a soft, sweet voice, hoping her cuteness would persuade Pei Yuhang to drop the issue.

At the same time, a profound sense of crisis welled up inside her.

'A bed is a person's most private territory. In the past, she could sit and play on his bed whenever she wanted, a sign of his indulgence and resigned acceptance. But now, the same action provoked such a strong, negative reaction. It meant he was growing more and more distant from her... And there was no way she, Ji Xichan, was going to accept that!'

Ji Xichan took a deep breath, then produced an exquisite blue-and-white porcelain flask.

"Sword Immortal Pei, once we're back at the sect, you'll probably cut ties with me for good, won't you?"

"So... how about we share a drink before we go back?"

"A drink?"

Pei Yuhang frowned. 'He was wary of accepting drinks from outsiders, especially women. It was too easy for them to be drugged.'

"Let's just forget about the drink. You're only going back to Chen Tiansheng. It's not as if we'll never see each other again."

Pei Yuhang demurred, hoping to brush her off and get her to leave his room quickly.

'If Qianqian and Yueqiu saw her here, it would be a huge mess.'

Sensing that Pei Yuhang was trying to get rid of her, Ji Xichan let her emotions well up. Her beautiful eyes began to glisten and her eyelids reddened, as if tears were about to overflow at any moment.

Her lips trembled slightly. Her voice, choked with a sob, was a soft, pleading whisper.

"Sword Immortal Pei, you won't even spare me enough time for a single drink?"

"I know I was wrong now. After all the terrible things I did to you... I'm begging you, please forgive me... Please don't hate me so much..."

Ji Xichan's voice broke into a whimper as tears finally streamed down her cheeks. The teardrops fell one after another, like pearls from a broken string, dampening the front of her dress and falling onto Pei Yuhang's bedsheets, where they bloomed into dark stains.

Pei Yuhang looked at Ji Xichan's heart-wrenchingly pitiful expression. The young woman's eyes were filled with pleading and remorse, making her look like an abandoned little animal trying with its last ounce of strength to win back its master's pity.

Her delicate shoulders trembled slightly, and her voice sounded broken, as if every word were being forcibly wrung from the depths of her heart.

In the end, Pei Yuhang couldn't resist the young woman's "sincere" tears.

He sighed and produced a bottle of Spirit Wine of his own.

"I'll have a drink with you... Just please stop crying, okay?"

Ji Xichan looked at the Spirit Wine Pei Yuhang had taken out and raised a hand to wipe the tears from her pretty face.

"Sob... You won't drink my wine, Sword Immortal Pei. Is it because you think Xichan would drug you?"

Pei Yuhang replied, his face devoid of expression.

"...Are you drinking or not?"

"I am!"

The young woman nodded vigorously, as if terrified Pei Yuhang would take back the offer.

"After the drink, you go straight back to your room and get some sleep."

As Pei Yuhang spoke, he turned to get some cups. At that very moment, a faint smile touched Ji Xichan's cherry-pink lips.