Chapter 162: The Ghost Wife and the Ice Lump

Autumn sun hangs high, and a faint scent of osmanthus drifts over the Fengyi River.

Xie Jinhuan, clad in a white brocade robe, held a stick of malt candy with only the stick left in his mouth, waiting outside the two-story building, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

After all, he had come here not knowing how many times and failed to find her.

Could she have run off to the Lin family to look for him again...

Ye Hongshang stood beside him, not holding her small umbrella, but leaning against the door with arms crossed over her chest. Though still dressed in a red skirt like fire and peerlessly beautiful, the sleeves of her arms crossed over her chest had slipped down slightly, revealing her snow-white wrists.

A red jade bracelet adorned her wrist, with a golden dragon coiled inside, so beautiful it seemed not of this mortal world...

Ugh~ that damn competitive spirit of the ghost...

Xie Jinhuan was indeed thinking of the ghost wife, but the jewelry he bought for Ah Piao could only be worn on his own head, so there was simply no way to give it to her.

After waiting such a long time, Ye Hongshang glanced over first:

"Oh my~ it seems that young lady doesn't want to see you."

Xie Jinhuan turned to look and saw a black shadow flash past the riverside thick with autumn colors, vanishing behind the building. He immediately turned and knocked on the door:

Knock knock~

Whoosh...

The sound of a sliding door opening came from the second floor, followed by footsteps approaching from afar until they reached above. The window pushed open, revealing that high-pressure, ice-mountain face, eyebrows slightly furrowed, eyes like a cold female CEO looking at a yellow-haired thug who had tricked her into a rental house the day before:

"What are you doing here?"

Xie Jinhuan raised his right hand, holding a small medicine bottle:

"I brought you medicine. Don't you want it?"

Even though Nangong Ye's Yang poison was in a calm phase, she constantly felt a burning heat within her body. Seeing the divine medicine that could relieve it, she clearly still wanted it, and she stepped aside to clear the way:

"Yesterday's matter is in the past. If you harbor any ulterior motives, then our bond ends here."

"You said not to take it to heart, yet Miss Mu seems to still dwell on it."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan lightly leaped, entering the second floor through the window and landing in the spacious living room:

"I have found a way to detoxify. In at most three to five days, I will have it in hand. I guarantee it will cure the poison."

Nangong Ye's eyes shifted slightly: "What method?"

"I am having a friend refine the medicine. She said it works, so it absolutely will. You have tried the Yin-Yang Mocking Powder; her craftsmanship is absolutely reliable."

Nangong Ye knew that the Great Immortal Zisu had acted again. Because internal troubles and external threats were imminent, a bit of expectation arose in her heart, and she turned to walk toward a small table:

"Every medicine has three parts poison. What is the downside?"

Xie Jinhuan sat down opposite her:

"Anyway, it is better than dying. It should be acceptable."

Nangong Ye felt that yesterday's incident was already a price too hard for her to bear, and she said with deep gravity:

"There are many things in the world heavier than death. I am not a woman who will do anything for the sake of a life."

"Understood."

Xie Jinhuan felt that Bing Tuozi was a bit too distant today. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small box:

"Yesterday, I passed by Changle Street..."

Huh?!

Nangong Ye sat up straighter. Her phoenix-shaped beautiful eyes first showed shock, then, like an ice-mountain ancestor seeing through everything, carried a touch of disdain:

"I guess this is a bracelet, and it matches my skin tone well?"

Xie Jinhuan was stunned: "Are you stalking me again?"

"..."

Nangong Ye could no longer stand this yellow-haired thug who kept flirting with her and treated her, her disciple, and even his red-haired confidantes all the same. She raised her finger and pointed toward the terrace:

"Young Master, please return. I will count to three. One..."

"If you were stalking me, you wouldn't have guessed."

Xie Jinhuan looked slightly smug and opened the small box:

"This is a clay xun, produced in the Jiangzhou Ceramic Town. Su Boyu is also skilled in this. I saw you have many musical instruments in your room, but none of this kind. Is it that you cannot play, or is there another reason?"

"?"

Nangong Ye glanced into the box and indeed found a black clay xun inside, decorated with golden paint depicting flying immortals, very beautiful.

The xun is an essential instrument for Daoist music; she could not possibly not have one, but the one she owned bore the Mount Zihui emblem, so she had hidden it away.

Discovering that Xie Jinhuan judged people by their status and possessed extraordinary insight, noticing what was missing after just one visit to the room, she could not help but frown slightly, thinking inwardly—so this is boldness, carefulness, and thick skin...

"Why do you give a bracelet to your red-haired confidante, but give me this?"

Xie Jinhuan looked slightly surprised:

"Giving bracelets and hairpins is a declaration of love; giving musical instruments is an exchange between those who share the same passion. If Miss Mu wants a bracelet? Then I will later..."

"I did not mean that."

Nangong Ye realized she had been tricked and raised her hand slightly:

"You and I are merely strangers who met by chance. The slight entanglement between us was also against our will..."

"I know. We are purely discussing music theory."

As Xie Jinhuan spoke, he picked up the clay xun:

"Woo woo~ woo~~~"

A distant and gentle melody rang out within the plain white living room.

Nangong Ye had originally been sitting on pins and needles, but this tune was somewhat pleasant and unfamiliar to her, so she fell silent first. Only after the song ended did she pick up the water kettle and pour water for Xie Jinhuan:

"What tune is this?"

"Love of a Lifetime."

"?"

Nangong Ye took back the water cup he had handed over and took a sip himself:

"Are you discussing a tune?"

Xie Jinhuan urged forth the icy cold qi mechanism to help Bing Tuozi, who was somewhat restless, discharge her fire:

"That is the tune's name; there is no other meaning."

You do!

Nangong Ye knew Xie Jinhuan was crazily flirting with her, but as time passed, the Yang Poison grew increasingly restless. Facing the coldness rushing at her, she poured the Ruomei San into the water cup, drank it down in one gulp, closed her eyes, and silently absorbed the icy cold qi mechanism.

Hoo hoo~

Seeing that Bing Tuozi had stopped speaking, Xie Jinhuan did not disturb her either; he picked up the clay xun:

"Woo woo~ woo..."

The distant melody echoed in the living room, and time flew rapidly toward noon.

Nangong Ye kept her eyes closed, silent and speechless. The melodious tune soothing her soul and spirit echoed in her ears, yet she could not calm her mind at all; everything in her mind was about yesterday's events.

And the person who had damaged her Dao Heart was right here, within arm's reach...

I can withstand the Yang Poison; how could I compromise so easily...

This fellow ran over early this morning, first picking out gifts and then playing the tune; he must have intentions of pursuit in his heart...

Even if he does not know my identity, he should still let feelings arise but stop at propriety when dealing with women. If he cannot control his impulses and dares to hold my hand again, do not blame me for striking heavily...

What is he doing?

Why has he been playing the tune continuously without making a single move...

"Woo woo~ woo..."

While circulating his cultivation technique, Xie Jinhuan played the tune, his gaze fixed on the center of the living room.

Inside the spacious hall paved with red wooden floors, the Ghost Wife, whose desire to win was extremely strong, perhaps jealous again, had now transformed into a set of bright red Phoenix Immortal embroidered clothes, covered by a loose gauze skirt. Through the light, one could faintly see the suspender stockings...

That aside, red silk ribbons hung down from above the living room. The ghost with naturally seductive bones twirled around the ribbons, hanging on them and performing a "Flying Immortal from the Heavens" in rhythm.

Her long legs kicked up the skirt hem; the jade feet wrapped in red silk occasionally swung past her face. Her entire body radiated astonishing seductiveness...

Xie Jinhuan did not deny that Bingshan was very good-looking, but since she sat silently with her eyes closed circulating qi, he also did not dare to disturb her.

As the Ghost Wife hung on the silk ribbon and arched her back, she said:

"Sister, do I look good?"

Xie Jinhuan had almost forgotten someone was sitting beside him and nearly blurted out, "Good, good."

After watching for a while like this, Big Bing Tuozi perhaps felt neglected and moved her hand slightly.

?

Xie Jinhuan turned his head to look; seeing that Bing Tuozi was not rewarding him, he continued to accompany the Ghost Wife.

And Nangong Ye was obviously a bit puzzled.

Under the dual effects of the icy cold qi mechanism and Ruomei San, her divine consciousness remained clear. By listening to Xie Jinhuan's breathing, she could tell whether Xie Jinhuan's heart was as still as water.

Your heart-lake is unstable; why are you still playing the tune so seriously, without the slightest impropriety...

Could it be that you know the limits? Yesterday you helped me save face because I truly could not withstand it; being shy and hesitant would have been harmful and of no benefit...

And today you do not act recklessly because I can withstand it, so even though it is very uncomfortable, you let feelings arise but stop at propriety, not driven by lustful thoughts to do what should not be done?

Thinking of this, a few threads of hesitation appeared in Nangong Ye's heart-lake, which was as solid as ice.

A young man of eighteen or nineteen, having had some skin-to-skin contact yesterday, would surely be full of expectations today.

But since I did not agree, he sat with me in his lap without disorder, forcibly suppressing himself from offending; this is also worthy of praise...

I am suffering greatly from the Yang Poison within me; he also suffers greatly suppressing his desires...

What happened yesterday could quickly suppress the Yang Poison; I would feel better, and he would feel better too...

A win-win or a lose-lose...

Nangong Ye's heart was in a tangle...

"Woo woo~ woo woo..."

Xie Jinhuan looked at the thousand charms and ten thousand graces of the ghost; while playing the tune, he felt a sense of self-forgetfulness. Just as he was enjoying it, he suddenly noticed something was wrong. Looking down, he saw that Big Bing Tuozi seemed to have had her reason scrambled by the Yang Poison.

He wanted to take a look, but the Ghost Wife's desire to win was extremely strong. Realizing he was performing seriously and his gaze could be drawn away by other sisters, her dance moves became even more fiery; it was almost as if she were spinning while wearing magical artifacts.

Holy crap...

Xie Jinhuan's tune even went off-key; his gaze jumped back and forth, and he was somewhat unable to attend to everything at once.

But fortunately, Bing Tuozi was also very doting on him!

Nangong Ye discovered that Xie Jinhuan's heart-lake was clearly severely unstable, yet he forcibly suppressed himself from offending; she truly felt a bit soft-hearted.

A gentleman judges by actions, not by thoughts; being able to restrain himself to this extent, what more could one say...

Yesterday, when I was nearly dying, I asked him for help; today, since he can hold back, he sticks to his original heart and does not yield. This is not called a Dao Heart as iron; this is called caring only for oneself...

If I were also nearly at my end today, would I not be a Dao Heart as iron and compromise again?

Isn't this the selfish and self-serving witch of the Wu Sect...

Thinking of this, Nangong Ye gently inhaled, forcibly suppressed the Yang Poison, opened her eyes a little, and looked at Xie Jinhuan:

"Xie Jinhuan, are you in great pain?"

"Hmm?"

Xie Jinhuan felt quite proud and somewhat bewildered:

"Am I uncomfortable?"

Seeing Bing Tuozi's eyes darting left and right, Nan'gou Yiguang knew his heart-lake was unstable. He sighed inwardly, said nothing, maintained an aura of ice sealing a thousand miles, and took out a black gauze scarf to cover his eyes.

Rustle-rustle~

Xie Jinhuan froze, then turned his head:

"Heroine Mu, what are you..."

"I know what you're thinking. Yesterday you saved me; today I return the favor. From now on, we owe each other nothing."

"Ah?"

Is he really that considerate?

Xie Jinhuan was flattered and surprised. He wanted to say something more, but noticed the black-clad heroine kneeling beside him, her expression showing a touch of restraint and a tiny bit of disdain, had moved closer.

The Ghost Wife narrowed her eyes slightly and stopped dancing.

Xie Jinhuan hurriedly continued playing the tune, feeling a bit trapped between two ends. His gaze involuntarily turned toward the ice block kneeling beside him.

Seeing that even the dance couldn't suppress the situation, Ye Hongshang's competitive spirit rose. She landed, shifted her lotus steps, sat on Xie Jinhuan's right side, slipped from under his arm into his embrace, and breathed like orchids:

"Husband~ Is it comfortable?"

Oh my god...

Xie Jinhuan looked at the ghost leaning against his chest, then glanced toward the ice mountain big vehicle, seeing it sitting far away with its head turned aside, not at all joyful. He put down the clay ocarina and reached out to pull.

Thump~

"You?!"

Nan'gou Ye, eyes covered, leaned against him unexpectedly. He tried to rise, but an arm had already wrapped around his neck. A clear voice sounded by his ear:

"Your body isn't feeling well. Let me support you for a bit. I'll keep playing the tune. Wu-wu~~..."

Playing it like driving a train...

Nan'gou Ye fell into his embrace. His willow eyebrows shot up, revealing a hint of chill, but he noticed this rascal wasn't pushing his luck. After a moment of silence, he remained silent and continued returning the favor.

Xie Jinhuan looked left and right, feeling his whole body was about to burst with blood qi. In this realm of supreme bliss, a demon Daoist wouldn't even need to use drugs to refine him instantly!

But why reward me?

I'm playing "A Lifetime of Love," not "Double Happiness Arrives"...

Never mind. Let's just have joy first...

————

Begging for monthly tickets or 2!

(End of this chapter)