Volume 2 Chapter 75 / Chapter 163: Li Qianjin Wants a Home
Unbeknownst to her, the sun had risen to its peak, and the silent courtyard was now filled with the sound of cicadas.
Zhi la, zhi la—
Li Qianjin lay on the couch, her rosy skin glistening with beads of sweat. Her hair and white long dress were completely soaked, making her resemble a ripe autumn peach, exuding a refreshing fragrance.
She didn’t know how much time had passed. She vaguely remembered fainting several times, only to be forcibly awakened by Senior Ye pinching her philtrum. A dizzy feeling enveloped her entire body. She felt completely weak, unable to even lift her hand, yet inexplicably comfortable, as if she were floating in a sea of cotton.
The treatment process by Senior Ye seemed both very long and very short.
Recalling her previous sensations, she initially felt tense and scared, but under Senior Ye’s soothing words, these emotions gradually dissipated. What followed was an escalating pain, intense and unbearable, causing her to scream out loud.
She could feel Senior Ye’s spiritual sense traveling through her body, a strong sense of intrusion. In the midst of this pain, her perception of time seemed infinitely prolonged.
However, just as she was about to break down, a sudden change occurred. Her body seemed to adapt to the pain, transforming it into a warm, flowing sensation of comfort.
Unfortunately, this comfort didn’t last long before she passed out.
Now, as she regained consciousness, she found herself strangely addicted to the experience, even yearning to feel that final moment of comfort again.
In three words, it was “wanting more.”
Compared to the initial pain, the comfort at the end seemed insignificant.
Suddenly, a youthful feminine voice, like a gentle knock on the door, sounded in her ear:
——”Awake? Here, take this pill.”
Ye Anping, seeing her move slightly, walked back to the bed with a pill bottle, took out a Gathering Spirit Pill, and placed it between her lips. Startled, she shrank back but then relaxed, swallowing the pill.
“Gulp—”
Then, Ye Anping helped her sit up on the couch beside him, lifted her wrist, and checked her pulse. After confirming everything was fine, he explained how to activate the “Eye Symbol Treasure” within her.
“Focus your spiritual sense inward, gather spiritual energy in your eyes, and channel it to the Jingming, Tianyin, and Taibai acupuncture points, which are located—”
Ye Anping used his fingers to point out the locations of the acupuncture points.
Li Qianjin listened attentively but felt a bit strange. The strangeness wasn’t about her eyes but about the familiar feel of the arm supporting her.
The skin was smooth yet firm, just like Senior Sister Xiao’s.
A few days ago, when she bathed with Xiao Yunluo in the spirit pool, the arm she leaned on felt exactly like this one.
Could it be that she wasn’t leaning on Senior Sister Xiao’s shoulder but on Senior Ye’s shoulder, and she didn’t recognize it because he stayed silent?
If that’s the case, did she bathe naked with Senior Ye and lean on each other?
This—
Why didn’t Senior Sister Xiao tell her back then?
Or perhaps, Senior Sister Xiao’s build is very similar to Senior Ye’s, and she just got it wrong?
——“Young Mistress Li?”
“Ah—” Li Qianjin’s thoughts were interrupted by Ye Anping’s voice, bringing her back to reality. “What?”
“Did you remember what I said?”
“Mm…”
“Then try it.”
Li Qianjin dismissed her distracting thoughts, deciding she must have been mistaken. She focused, following Ye Anping’s instructions, channeling spiritual energy to the acupuncture points around her eyes.
In an instant, a faint glimmer of light appeared in the boundless darkness that enveloped her.
Though the light was faint, it was somewhat dazzling.
——“Alright, slowly open your eyes and get used to it.”
The rough but warm touch on the back of her hand, along with the calm and reassuring voice, encouraged her to lift her eyelids. Two symmetrical Eye Transfer symbols illuminated faintly in her once murky gray eyes.
The side hall was dark, with no candles lit, and the windows and doors were tightly shut, but she could see.
She could see the intricately carved dragon-patterned silk screen in front of her, the beams supporting the ceiling, her own hands, and the large hand holding her left hand…
The screen was so exquisite…
The palace ceiling so vast…
The totem of the Dragon Palace so majestic…
The things her father and maids had described to her as a child were so different from what she had imagined…
Li Qianjin’s lips parted slightly, as if something was stuck in her throat, and a wave of bitterness surged in her heart, making her nose tingle.
“Inhale—”
Sitting beside her, Ye Anping also breathed a sigh of relief. He extended his right index finger, signaling the young phoenix perched on his shoulder to jump onto his finger, then placed it on Li Qianjin’s shoulder, saying:
“Young Mistress Li, the young phoenix on your shoulder now is your eyes. You are seeing through its eyes. In the future, you can acquire more spirit pets and use them as your eyes by attaching the Eye Transfer symbol.”
“… …”
“There are many sects in the Western Regions specializing in beast mastery. You can combine the path of the Dao with beast mastery for your cultivation. Although different from your father’s swordsmanship, it is the most suitable for you.”
“… …”
“The Eye Transfer symbol is not a permanent cure; it’s a compromise I thought of. It should last for thirty years. In other words, every thirty years, you’ll need to come back to me to have the symbol re-inscribed.”
… …
Ye Anping, like a doctor after treatment, explained the precautions and maintenance methods for her eyes, sharing solutions to potential problems he had anticipated.
But Li Qianjin wasn’t listening. Through the eyes of the young phoenix on her shoulder, she gazed at the handsome young man beside her.
This was the first person she had ever seen.
Though not related by blood and only meeting a few times, he treated her with such gentleness.
Previously, she had mentioned wanting to marry Ye Anping, but that was just a feeling, thinking he was a righteous and kind person.
Now, it wasn’t just a feeling or a guess—it was a fact.
“Hu—” Li Qianjin covered her chest, lowered her head, and remained silent for a moment. While Ye Anping continued explaining the precautions, she took a deep breath, interrupted him, and said, “Senior Ye…”
“—What is it?”
“I want a home.”
“… …”
She gently lifted Ye Anping’s hand, turned to face him, and smiled with narrowed eyes:
“You and me, let’s make a home together.”