Chapter 115: Demon Realm Soul Seizure (Part 8)

“Shen Suwei.” The last time Shen Suwei fought against Chu Linfeng, You Yin was left with a very deep impression of him. “She is your junior sister—do you have such a close relationship with your fellow disciples?”

“Among the inner disciples of Penglai, it has always been this way.”
You Yin replied with an “Oh”: “She owes me money.”
Shen Suwei asked, “How much does she owe?”
“You don’t need to pay it back. She needs to repay it herself.”

Shen Suwei paused for a moment: “Alright, I will call her here. You can take it back now.”
You Yin felt an intense sense of pressure, which triggered his rebellious spirit. He furrowed his brow and smiled, “What if I don’t want to take it back?”
Shen Suwei responded, “Xu Qianyu is not someone you love. If you give her the mark of peach blossoms, wouldn’t it be a pity if you find someone you love in the future?”
Without thinking, You Yin answered, “I won’t have a lover in the future. I like being alone.”

“However,” he glanced at Shen Suwei, his tone light, “I’m unmarried, and she’s unmarried. We can try; how do you know she won’t be willing?”
Shen Suwei noticed the burning look in his eyes and immediately understood. This was meant to provoke him into action.
Normally, he would ignore it.

But this time, he grabbed You Yin by the collar and pulled him closer. You Yin quickly formed seals with his hands, chanting a mantra, and a golden character (peek) slowly appeared on his forehead.

But Shen Suwei’s spiritual energy was flowing too fast around him. The energy moved like smoke, enveloping his joints and blood vessels, making it impossible to see clearly. When You Yin tried to peer into it, the energy suddenly sharpened, turning into frost and snow, and it reversed the “peek” technique, infiltrating his limbs and causing excruciating pain like being pricked by needles.

It turned out that the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator was at this level. Just a wisp of their primordial spirit could crush him. Sweat appeared on You Yin’s forehead… At that moment, Shen Suwei coldly flung him downward, and with a loud crash, You Yin’s vision went black.

When he woke up moments later, he was lying on a shattered ice shell, his joints aching from the impact. He reached beside him and found a bottle of elixir that could warm the spiritual mansion.
Among the Four Great Sects, all revered the strong, but among the powerful, very few would oppress the weak. You Yin thought as he fumbled for the elixir, contemplating. He found Shen Suwei to be an interesting person and felt they could become friends. He planned to provoke his junior sister next time.

Xu Qianyu quietly slipped into a small cabin where the food was stored.
She had been curious about the ship’s interior for a while and now had the chance to explore. As Yin Xiangjun and Luo Shui had said, the common snacks were stacked on trays in three lavish tiers, free to be taken. The disciples on the ship had already picked the best ones, leaving the indications.

Xu Qianyu felt a chill behind her and turned to see Shen Suwei standing before her. “Senior Brother, did you win against him?”
Shen Suwei was silent as he gently lifted her sleeve, looking at the peach blossom mark on her arm.
Xu Qianyu had no visible injuries, so this peach blossom mark was the only trace left by someone else. Earlier, he hadn’t liked the way the Tianshan people marked things, but now he felt an intense sense of jealousy.

It was partially because he hadn’t protected her well.
He was just looking, but his gaze seemed to have warmth, making Xu Qianyu feel as though her arm was being burned. Her fingers twitched as she turned and hugged her senior brother, leaning against him.

Shen Suwei pulled her down to sit. In front of them was an embroidery tablecloth with dangling tassels. Shen Suwei leaned in, and in the closeness, it seemed as though he was inconspicuously smelling her face.

Xu Qianyu’s body was filled with a strange, intoxicating peach blossom fragrance.
Xu Qianyu quickly spoke: “Uh, I just entered the Peach Blossom Grove. But nothing much happened; we just fought a bit. I chopped down two of his trees and a pavilion.”
Her words suddenly stopped, her neck slightly arched, tense like a bowstring. Shen Suwei had bitten the side of her neck, causing her blood to rush backward and cold sweat to bead down her back.

But saying “biting” wasn’t entirely accurate. The pain wasn’t sharp; it felt more like grinding, but it was more dangerous than a direct bite.

Xu Qianyu’s pupils constricted, and in her field of vision, the embroidered flowers on the table seemed to blur into double images. She saw a spiritual butterfly flapping its wings and instantly freezing, dropping to the ground with a soft thud.
“I can’t take care of you right now,” Shen Suwei said calmly. “But if you keep it, I will be heartbroken.”

Xu Qianyu froze. This was the first time she had heard Shen Suwei speak so plainly about his feelings.
But his tone was so indifferent, as though being heartbroken was as ordinary as being injured in a fight. If she didn’t care, it wasn’t a big deal, and he would continue to endure it, just like a wound.

Xu Qianyu’s eyelashes fluttered. For some reason, a strange, suffocating pain bloomed in her chest, almost like guilt.

Shen Suwei slowly stood up and sat across from her, his black eyes unwavering as they locked onto hers.

The spiritual butterfly struggled desperately to escape the ice shell and flew out from behind him, frantically splashing a bucket of water over his head. Shen Suwei closed his eyes and quietly accepted it, not chanting a stopping spell, letting the water pour over him.

Xu Qianyu was startled, her mind a mess of thoughts. It seemed that her senior brother truly could not resist the Spirit Butterfly of Tianshan Mountain.
She lowered her eyes and saw her reflection in the water. Suddenly, she reached for her neck and was shocked to find a dark red mark there. Her collar couldn’t conceal it; it was even worse than the peach blossom mark, which could be covered by her sleeves. She hurriedly said, “You must help me get rid of this.”

But despite her repeated requests, Shen Suwei exuded a cold aura, remaining unmoved.
Water droplets fell from his temples and eyelashes. His clothes were soaked, but he didn’t appear dejected. Instead, there was a rare vulnerability, like a flower immersed in water, exuding a decadent beauty. He looked at her coldly, and his lips moved slightly. “Kiss me.”

His voice was soft and short, and Xu Qianyu suspected she had misheard. She stood frozen, stunned.
However, her mind quickly jumped to conclusions—if she pleased him, he would fulfill her wish. Xu Qianyu immediately cupped his face and pressed her lips against his, rubbing back and forth.

Shen Suwei was like a tightly closed clam, and she couldn’t pry it open. Just as her tongue brushed against the crack in his lips, the Spirit Butterfly sprayed her face with water.
Xu Qianyu closed her eyes and wiped her face. Suddenly, she found the scene somewhat amusing and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, holding her face as she chuckled. When her fingers moved away, her eyes, bright as though washed clean, turned defiant. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
Let the butterfly spray, then.

When she practiced swordplay, she never avoided the rain.
Perhaps the water was too cold, but as their lips met, Xu Qianyu gradually felt a warmth, a sense of dependence. Then, she belatedly recalled her senior brother’s words and said, “I’ll have him take it back. I didn’t want to keep it anyway.”

She clumsily kissed the corner of his lips, then, as she kissed him, she looked up at him and said, “I don’t want to make you sad.”
Xu Qianyu did indeed desire him, but it was no longer the same as her usual longing for some toy. She didn’t want Shen Suwei to be like the ragdoll she had torn and dropped in the world. That scene made her uncomfortable. Rather than that, it was better for him to stay whole, like the bright moon high in the sky, untouched by her.

As this thought took shape, she felt bittersweet enlightenment.
Xu Qianyu hesitated, her words unusually sincere despite their simplicity.
Shen Suwei silently touched her face.
In that touch, Xu Qianyu felt as if a spring breeze had passed through her, and everything, even her tumultuous and chaotic heartbeat, was gradually soothed and forgiven.
Xu Qianyu thought to herself, So this is what it feels like to be liked. It feels so good.
Shen Suwei’s fingers traced the side of her neck, erasing the mark. He also shook their clothes dry.

Xu Qianyu felt a bit hungry, washed her hands, and reached for a plum blossom cake from the plate. But her hand was intercepted.
She looked at Shen Suwei’s expression and cautiously asked, “What’s wrong?”
The plum blossom cake became transparent like ice under Shen Suwei’s fingertips, revealing a coral-red insect egg inside.

Xu Qianyu immediately felt a chill. “This… is it the poison of Tianshan Mountain’s ‘pupating poison’? Did she leave it here?”
Shen Suwei glanced at her, seemingly surprised by her imagination. “No, it was always like this.” He placed the cake back on the plate. “Each one is like this.”

Xu Qianyu was stunned. “Why would you put poisonous insects in the food for the disciples?”
“This is a spiritual insect, harmless to the body. It just needs to obey the insect master at certain times.”
Shen Suwei explained, “It’s not just this time. The spring dishes are always like this. Most of the disciples on the ship are Jidan (Golden Core) and Yuan Ying cultivators, but the judgments are only here with their Yuan Shen (Primordial Spirit). If the disciples band together to resist the judgments, they might not be able to win. So precautions need to be taken.”
No wonder her senior brother told them not to eat random food.

Xu Qianyu looked again at the delicate, lavish food in the cabin but had no appetite. Her opinion of Lingyue Sect Leader and the judgments plummeted, and she just wanted to finish the task and return to Penglai.
Shen Suwei said, “Be more cautious when traveling.”

Much of his knowledge came from his past experiences in the demon realm, but it wasn’t something he could share too freely.

Her senior brother didn’t allow them to sleep together, so Xu Qianyu didn’t bring it up again and just returned. As they reached the stairs to part ways, Shen Suwei suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a small room separated by a gauze curtain. “Don’t want to go back?”
Xu Qianyu nodded eagerly.

Shen Suwei touched her wet hair and said, “I’ll meditate with you outside, but this doesn’t count as sleeping together.”
Xu Qianyu secretly rejoiced. “Okay.”
Shen Suwei had already taken out a comb from the mustard seed gold pearl and told her to turn around and sit, undoing her hair to redo it.

Xu Qianyu sat cross-legged, feeling the soft and patient touch of his fingers on her hair, thinking how she did the same every day in Penglai. But without a mirror here, she couldn’t know how it turned out.

When she felt that her hair was mostly done, she leaned back into his arms, which smelled of pine and snow, and was enveloped by a gentle warmth.
It was so safe and comfortable.
Shen Suwei allowed her to rest in his embrace but reminded her, “I just finished your hair.” He gently pressed it down.

Xu Qianyu’s chin shifted slightly, and the comb’s butterfly wings lightly brushed his neck, making her feel a bit itchy, but she remained silent.
Shen Suwei was quiet for a moment before lowering his eyes. “It seems it’s been a while since I’ve tested your skills. Let’s test your Water Control Technique, the third chapter.”

Xu Qianyu:?
“What did you say?” Her drowsiness vanished instantly as she turned around.
Shen Suwei looked at her seriously, not joking. “As your senior brother, I should be responsible for you.”

“…”
They silently tugged at each other for a while. Xu Qianyu’s thoughts were pulled back to the books Xu Binglai had given her. The last volume was the Wind and Water Control Techniques, and she hadn’t finished testing them due to the rushed trip.

Fortunately, she had an excellent memory. Once her senior brother reminded her, she recalled the rest. Shen Suwei occasionally pointed out mistakes.

By the time she had recited the entire chapter, she felt a subtle heat rise within her. Shen Suwei looked at her, suddenly slapping the bottom of the ship, causing a large hole to appear in the deck.

Xu Qianyu plunged straight down, her shoes touching the cold seawater. In a moment of panic, she quickly formed a hand seal for the Water Mastery Technique, summoning a golden bubble from her spiritual realm. It enveloped her, gently lifting her up and sealing the crack, preventing the seawater from flooding the ship’s cabin.

“Good,” Shen Suwei murmured as he lightly pulled her up, giving a brief comment, “Do it again.”
He then used the sword sheath to widen the crack even more. Xu Qianyu leaped down again, expanding the bubble with her hand seal, ensuring it completely sealed the ship’s hull.
They repeated this back and forth until the bubble became large enough to hold five or six people, mastering the Water Mastery Technique thoroughly.

Xu Qianyu felt refreshed from the practice, then circulated her qi through two small cycles within her body. Finally, she lay down on the ground, content, while the sea breeze outside the porthole ruffled her hair, red ribbons, and sleeves. She felt as if her senior brother had placed an outer garment over her stomach.

Xu Qianyu moved her fingers slightly, a little regretful, realizing that meditation together really meant true meditation.

*
In the middle of the night, You Yin opened his eyes and, by some strange force, saw the spiritual butterfly.
Mu Xiu smiled and said, “Oh, didn’t you say it was sent by mistake?”
“It was indeed sent by mistake. So boring,” You Yin replied, striking the butterfly to the ground with the sword sheath.

After a moment, he heard Mu Xiu’s snoring and quietly turned over, picking up the butterfly to look at it. Lin Shuyue had invited him to the deck to enjoy the moonlight, with three letters in total.

Quite the attentive one.
But You Yin thought that Lin Shuyue must have encountered something sad again and had purely turned to him as a confidant. Thinking this, a surge of irritation rose within him: “Not going. Don’t disturb my sleep.”
The butterfly never flew back.

You Yin tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He thought of how miserable Lin Shuyue must be, and he wondered what would happen if he scared her into jumping into the sea. Life was about accumulating good relationships, so he got up.
“You’re here,” Lin Shuyue smiled at him from the deck. The moonlight shone on her amber-colored eyes, like flowing honey, unexpectedly sweet.

You Yin was stunned, thinking that a woman’s face really was like the weather, changeable. He sat beside her. “Aren’t you sad anymore?”
Lin Shuyue said, “Does it mean I can’t find you when I’m not sad? I’m waiting for something good today, and I’m happy to be here with you. I will definitely remember tonight.”

Lin Shuyue then said, “I see you’re not in a good mood. Look over there.”
She pointed a finger.
As soon as her words fell, a meteor streaked across the sky like a fish’s tail, glittering and cascading down from the heavens, the silver light weaving into a net.

You Yin looked up at the dazzling sky, then turned his gaze back to Lin Shuyue’s smiling face, feeling somewhat uneasy and shifting his gaze away. He thought about Xu Qianyu, whom he had just fought fiercely with earlier that day, and he realized the gap between female cultivators was truly vast.

Lin Shuyue smiled happily. She gazed at the heavens, knowing tonight was a perfect opportunity to catch fish.
The sea breeze was gentle on the deck, and the soft clicking sound nearby grew clearer. You Yin casually remarked, “The weather does feel a bit stuffy.”

Lin Shuyue turned around, only to find that the silver mask had been taken off at some point and was now resting between You Yin’s fingers. The young man beside her was gazing up at the stars, his delicate neck and fair skin illuminated by the radiant light, his eyes sharp and rebellious, reflecting the brilliant glow.

Lin Shuyue couldn’t help but gaze at him for a while, quickly removing the names of the other two male cultivators from Tianshan from her list.