Chapter 10

Hearing the Demon Lord ask if she wanted to cultivate, Xiao Xihe was instantly stunned. Though she didn’t know what had gotten into him, she certainly couldn’t refuse such an offer that fell right into her lap.  

So she nodded eagerly.  

Xie Zhaixing regretted the question the moment it left his lips, but seeing her shake her head like a fool about to snap it off, the corner of his mouth curled slightly. “Then come.”  

With that, he took the initiative to sit on the bed, leaning comfortably against the pillow.  

Xiao Xihe eyed the tent shaped like a burial mound and thought about suggesting they go to hers instead. But meeting Xie Zhaixing’s gaze, she wisely kept her mouth shut.  

It was New Year’s Eve, freezing cold outside. Even with countless fireworks lighting up the sky, they couldn’t add a shred of warmth to Shady Valley. As Xiao Xihe climbed onto him, she was just grateful they weren’t doing this the conventional way, sparing them the trouble of undressing in such frigid weather.  

“Focus.” Xie Zhaixing noticed her mind wandering and suddenly felt a surge of displeasure.  

Xiao Xihe snapped back to attention, meeting his narrow eyes abruptly.  

Previously, when they cultivated in her tent, it was always pitch black. Even if moonlight occasionally slipped through the window, it was hard to see anything clearly. But now was different. The tree canopy couldn’t block this patch of sky, nor could it obscure the dazzling fireworks above. The small space was as bright as dawn.  

She could see Xie Zhaixing’s features clearly—the veins at his temples, his thin pressed lips, the slightly disheaved collar of his robe, and the folds of fabric gathered at his waist… Xiao Xihe swallowed silently, belatedly feeling a wave of heat and awkwardness.  

Xie Zhaixing didn’t miss the flush at the corners of her eyes. The two locked gazes for a moment before abruptly looking away.  

…This cultivation method was so embarrassing. Who was the jerk who came up with this setting? Xiao Xihe wiped her tears and continued being a little boat rocking on the sea.  

After a long while, she sniffled and negotiated with Xie Zhaixing, “Can we hurry it up?”  

Xie Zhaixing fell silent for a moment.  

A moment later, Xiao Xihe wiped her tears, now a little boat about to be torn apart in a tsunami.  

When it was finally over, she trembled as she tried to get up, only for her knees to buckle immediately, sending her crashing back into Xie Zhaixing’s arms.  

Xie Zhaixing paused, then looked down at the person in his arms.  

The person lay there like a salted fish, unwilling to move a muscle. “Just throw me onto the bed.”  

“I’ll throw you on the floor,” Xie Zhaixing retorted, his voice still hoarse from exertion.  

Xiao Xihe resigned herself to fate. “Throw me in a ditch for all I care—I can’t move anyway.”  

She was too exhausted to lift a finger, her voice lazy and tearful, almost like she was whining. Xie Zhaixing stared at her for a long time before finally hauling her onto the bed.  

Xiao Xihe landed in whatever position she was tossed in and stayed that way, silently reciting the cultivation technique to absorb the Elixir Sun. Though they hadn’t cultivated many times over the past six months, each session had been effective. She could already feel the Joy Union Gu inside her weakening significantly. Given time, she was sure it would be completely eradicated.  

Life was truly beautiful… Once the cultivation ended, Xiao Xihe struggled to sit up, but before she could steady herself, she caught sight of the damp spot beneath Xie Zhaixing’s belt. Realizing what it was, her face instantly burned. “I-I’ll get you some Soap Dust Beads.”  

Xie Zhaixing was puzzled until he followed her gaze and saw the traces they had left behind.

He paused for a moment before refusing, “No need.”

“…I’ll still bring you a few. Washing them yourself is too troublesome. Wait for me, I’ll be back soon,” Xiao Xihe said as she got out of bed, supporting her waist and trembling on unsteady legs as she walked out.

Xie Zhaixing curled his lips slightly but didn’t stop her.

The same distance took Xiao Xihe twice as long to traverse this time. By the time she returned to Xie Zhaixing’s ‘burrow,’ he was already asleep.

The night had deepened, and even the Kunlun disciples had stopped setting off fireworks. Shady Valley returned to its dim state. Xiao Xihe looked toward the bed, barely making out his closed eyes in the darkness, unable to discern any details of his robe.

“So sloppy, falling asleep just like that. It’s like a male idol wearing red long johns—shattering all illusions,” Xiao Xihe mocked under her breath. Yet she quietly crushed a Soap Dust Bead, cleaning both him and the bed thoroughly.

As the scent of soapberries wafted from the sleeping Xie Zhaixing, Xiao Xihe felt satisfied and left, supporting her overworked lower back.

In the darkness, Xie Zhaixing opened his eyes, only to close them again after a long while.

Once New Year’s Eve passed, a new year began. From the first day of the year, Xiao Xihe had been eagerly awaiting spring, but by the end of the first month, just as February approached, Shady Valley was suddenly blanketed in heavy snow, pushing spring further away.

“…Why! Why is it still snowing in February?! When will my spring finally come?!” Xiao Xihe rolled a snowball and directed her grievances at it.

Across from her, Xie Zhaixing leisurely ate a candied hawthorn and replied, “Asking it won’t help. It can’t answer you.”

“Why?!” Xiao Xihe continued indignantly.

Xie Zhaixing glanced at her. “Because it’s just a snowball.”

“…No need to answer so literally,” Xiao Xihe sighed, flattening the snowball on the table, her frustration evident.

Xie Zhaixing ignored her, focusing on his candied hawthorns.

After a long silence, Xiao Xihe asked, “When does Shady Valley usually warm up in previous years?”

“March or April,” Xie Zhaixing answered.

Xiao Xihe was shocked. “So we have to wait another month or more?!”

Her tone was so aggrieved that Xie Zhaixing finally gave her his full attention. “Why are you so eager for spring?”

“Because spring is when everything revives, full of life—perfect for outings and picnics. But winter,” Xiao Xihe glared at the flattened snowball, “is lifeless, dull, and freezing!”

Xie Zhaixing seemed thoughtful and was about to speak when two plump rabbits and their five offspring hopped past them.

After a pause, Xie Zhaixing remarked, “Winter is actually quite lively.” This winter, the rabbits had multiplied to the point of becoming a nuisance.

Xiao Xihe also noticed the rabbits and sighed. “Shady Valley is such a strange place.”

“It wasn’t like this before,” Xie Zhaixing stated matter-of-factly.

Xiao Xihe smirked. “Are you saying it became strange because of me?”

Xie Zhaixing studied her for a moment before replying, “You probably don’t have that kind of influence.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Don’t think I didn’t notice your hesitation.

The two continued sitting by the table—one still fuming, the other still eating candied hawthorns. Only after finishing the last one did Xie Zhaixing look at Xiao Xihe again. “Make lunch.”

“There are leftovers in the Cosmos Sack, pick whatever you like to eat.” Xiao Xihe said listlessly as she trudged toward the tent. “The head chef is in a bad mood today and has decided to go on strike.”

Xie Zhaixing twitched the corner of his mouth but still retrieved two plates of leftovers from the Cosmos Sack.

That night, Xiao Xihe still didn’t cook, and Xie Zhaixing continued eating the leftovers. He thought he’d finally get fresh meals the next day, but when he came to the stream in the morning, he found Xiao Xihe still lying in bed.

Awake, but lying there like a numb salted fish, too lazy to even turn over.

After a long silence, Xie Zhaixing asked, “How long do you plan to keep striking?”

“Don’t know. Maybe until spring comes,” Xiao Xihe replied lazily. Thanks to her cultivation over the past few months, even if she didn’t practice for a while, the Joy Union Gu wouldn’t act up immediately, so she had plenty of time to slack off… or rather, to wallow in melancholy.

She sighed again and, seeing Xie Zhaixing still hadn’t left, gave him a pitiful look. “Painful times always feel so long, don’t they, Demon Lord?”

The Demon Lord turned and left without a word.

Xiao Xihe instantly relaxed, rolled over, and continued lying in bed, secretly grabbing a couple of snacks from the small box under her pillow.

When she heard yesterday that spring was still over a month away, she had indeed been disheartened, which was why she told Xie Zhaixing to handle lunch and dinner himself. But after lying around for so long, her sadness had long faded, replaced by the joy of slacking off—

Cooking three meals a day was just too time-consuming. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to laze around all day. Now that she finally had the chance to enjoy it again, she wasn’t about to let it slip away.

“Bliss…” She buried her face in the goose-down quilt, marveling at how humans were such ungrateful creatures. When time was short, they always wanted to run and jump, filling every minute to the brim. But once they were sure they’d live a long life—or longer—all they wanted was to idle away their days doing nothing.

In Xiao Xihe’s plan, she intended to slack off for at least half a month before putting on a brave face and reappearing before Xie Zhaixing, pretending she was ending her “grieving period” early for his sake. She’d then trade a lavish meal for another cultivation session.

She had even rehearsed what to say and do when the time came. But on the morning of the third day, Xie Zhaixing appeared in her tent again.

Xiao Xihe had to manufacture sadness on the spot: “Ahem, I said I’d wait until spring—”

“Spring is here,” Xie Zhaixing interrupted flatly.

Xiao Xihe choked. “No way…”

“Come out.” Xie Zhaixing gave her a glance before turning to leave.

Xiao Xihe thought back to the heavy snowfall three days ago, which had turned the entire Shady Valley into a vast expanse of white. She couldn’t believe spring had arrived so quickly. Skeptical, she followed Xie Zhaixing outside, but the moment she stepped out, a delicate fragrance filled the air.

She froze, then looked up—the snow had vanished. The forest was now tinged with green, and countless wildflowers bloomed vibrantly. Most were tiny, no bigger than a coin, splashing color across her vision.

Spring in Shady Valley was more beautiful than she had imagined.

“Is this the spring you wanted?” Xie Zhaixing leaned lazily against a tree.

Xiao Xihe blinked, then laughed. “What kind of question is that? If I said no, could you change it for me?”

Xie Zhaixing glanced at her but remained silent.  

Xiao Xihe gazed at the beautiful scenery before her, feeling a little regretful that her vacation had vanished just like that. Yet the moist air inexplicably lifted her mood… Well, overall, she was in good spirits.  

Seeing her standing there foolishly, Xie Zhaixing spoke unhurriedly, “Do you know what you should be doing?”  

Xiao Xihe plucked a small flower and tucked it directly into his collar. “I know—go cook.”  

“Wrong,” Xie Zhaixing said as he removed the flower and idly twirled it in his fingers. “We’re going for a spring outing.”  

Xiao Xihe froze for a moment before snapping back to attention and standing straight to salute. “Thank you, Demon Lord!”  

Xie Zhaixing curled his lips slightly and tossed the flower back at her.