Living up to you Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The light of the spring happened to be right. Suddenly, the spring rain fell and moisture the new green grass and washed the new tender leaves. The spring flowers bloomed wildly and the fields clumped together. The shepherds shouted and drove the flocks into a circle. Groups of two and three children were running on the grass. They run or play in a group game until when the sky was getting darker and only the smoke of the kitchen had left an outline in the sky. The rain got heavier and fell on the window frame.

This was the mortal realm. Even if there was no light from the sky, no sounds and the it rained heavily, it let people be at ease.

Ling Xi thought that perhaps she belonged to the mortal realm. Stay here without any trouble, get old, get sick and die.

“Oh, miss, you have awakened?” A woman in a headscarf carefully pushed the door open and was very surprised when she saw that Ling Xi had opened her eyes.

Ling Xi tried hard to lift up her body. She half-sat on the couch and was about to answer. That woman smiled and said, “Miss, quickly lay down and don’t move. No wonder that young master rushed out. It’s fine that you have woken up.”

Ling Xi wanted to speak. Her breathing wasn’t stable and she coughed twice.

“Aiyo, why isn’t the window closed? It is warm during the day here, but it is cold at night. Miss’s body is so weak. It wouldn’t do without the window closed.” The woman quickly entered the house and closed the window that faced Ling Xi. “It’s easier to catch a cold today because it had rained.”

After the woman closed the window, she looked at Ling Xi as if she wanted to say something. She said nothing in the end after hesitating for a while. Then, she slapped her head and said, “Aiya, look at my brain that isn’t working. Miss, you have been sleeping for so many days, you must be hungry, right?”

Ling Xi nodded slightly. The woman quickly said, “I will bring something to eat for you!”

Ling Xi lay back on the couch. She tried to sigh in secret but her breathing was still not even.

She didn’t know where here was and how she got here. She only knew that when she woke up, she was in Nan Zhi’s arms. He held her and his body that had always been cold got some warmth. The pair of quiet eyes seemed to be sealed by ice. His eyes were so dark that nothing could be seen through and they were as cold as hell. When she opened her eyes, she took that darkness and coldness into her eyes as if his eyes had been rendered by the emotion of desperation. However, the next moment, she saw that the ice was broken and replaced by redness. Then, she was taken into Nan Zhi’s arms and embraced tightly by him.

Her head still felt groggy. She thought about the twenty-four Soul-Suppressing pearls and the dragon pillar that had crushed down on her. She wanted to open her mouth to ask but was stopped because of the pain. She had to ask Nan Zhi in her heart, “Where is here?”

Nan Zhi’s body trembled undetectably but he didn’t answer.

“What about the Soul-Suppressing pearls?” Her purse of tail feathers was not around her waist.

Nan Zhi hugged her even tighter and still didn’t answer her.

“How long have I been in coma?” Ling Xi was already a bit anxious.

Only now did Nan Zhi reply, “Three days.”

Ling Xi tried to gather her energy and sat up. She discovered that all her cultivation had been blocked. She turned and looked at Nan Zhi, but Nan Zhi avoided her gaze.

Eventually, she said that she was hungry. Nan Zhi put her down and hurried out.

When Nan Zhi returned, he brought a bunch of newly bloomed wildflowers. Tiny flowers with purple petals. They looked a bit like the lotuses on Cangjia Mountain.

He had just returned when the woman also happened to come in. She brought two dishes, a bowl of rice and a bowl of congee. She trembled a bit as she smiled, “Miss had just woken up. It is more comfortable to eat congee.”

Nan Zhi took over the meal. The woman went away in a hurry.

Ling Xi guessed that Nan Zhi’s cold face must’ve scared her.

“Nan Zhi, I will take you to the market tomorrow, alright?” Ling Xi suddenly asked. Her voice was hoarse, but her face was full of smiles.

Nan Zhi was surprised. Then, the corners of his mouth raised slightly and he nodded.

The next day, the sunlight was very bright. The sky was blue and the flowers were fragrant.

Nan Zhi got up very early and went out. He was still expressionless, but he was clearly in a good mood. After one more night of sleep, Ling Xi felt a lot better and was more energetic.

The woman brought her water to wash her face, some congee and steamed buns.

“Thank you…” Ling Xi didn’t know how she should call the person in front of her.

“You can call me Mrs. Li.” Mrs. Li smiled kindly.

“Thank you, Mrs. Li,” Ling Xi smiled.

“Mm!” Mrs. Lu responded and said cheerfully, “It had been a long time since someone called me that. It’s so sweet to hear.”

Ling Xi also laughed and asked, “Mrs. Li, where…where is here?”

Mrs. Li answered, “Here is the northern border.”

“The northern border…,” Ling Xi murmured.

Mrs. Li glanced at the things on the table and smiled a but shyly, “Miss, do you like these candies?”

On the table were the candies Nan Zhi bought when she said she was hungry last night. Ling Xi wondered how Nan Zhi would know about the candies of the mortal realm…

She replied, “I like them.”

“Hehe, my Niu er also likes them very much. Every day, she would say that she is hungry and pester me to go buy them.” Mrs. Li smiled, “That young master looks like someone difficult to get close to. I didn’t expect him to be so attentive.”

• Er: term of endearment

Ling Xi chuckled, “Is Mrs. Li a bit afraid of him?”

Mrs. Li was a bit embarrassed and nodded, “When he just brought you here, he was furious. The moment he saw an empty couch, he put you there and didn’t let anyone get close.”

When Mrs. Li spoke about it now, she was still a bit afraid. At that time, she saw this cold man bring in a girl and held her for few days on the couch. The two didn’t move for a few days. She thought that he was hugging a corpse…

“I have troubled you these days,” Ling Xi said guiltily.

Mrs. Li was about to answer when Nan Zhi pushed the door and came in. She smiled and went out quickly.

The northern city was located on a plateau. It was sparsely populated but didn’t reduce the liveliness of the morning market. Ling Xi ate another bowl of noodles after having eaten breakfast. She pulled Nan Zhi and got him to also eat a bowl. The whole way, the two bought many things. Ling Xi’s face was pinkish and she always wore a smile. She bought a hairpin for herself and wanted to buy a belt for Nan Zhi. Unfortunately, they choose for a long time, but it was still the black one on his body that suited him the most.

Ling Xi felt helpless and happened to see the ornaments for belts.

“This one!” Ling Xi singled one out and smiled, “Nan Zhi, this one suits you the best!”

Nan Zhi glanced once at it and turned his head away without any expression.

Ling Xi pursed her lips. Such a cute little black turtle. The workmanship was exquisite and it was beautifully carved. It was so much like the him of the past…She put it down and was ready to leave. Nan Zhi picked it up again, silently paid for it and hung it on his waist. Then, he pulled her away.

At noon, the people in the morning market gradually dispersed. The two found a restaurant. While they ate, they watched a play.

When she was young, Ling Xi liked to let big brother take her to watch a play the most. Watching the scene open and close, the people on the stage applauded excitedly and the people on the stage made various tunes, even if she didn’t understand what they were saying, she was very happy.

Now, she could understand every word and every sentence, but she no longer was happy as before.

Today’s play was about the love of a human and god. The beautiful girl of the god realm fell in love with an ordinary folk of the mortal realm. Unfortunately, humans and god beings were different. The god realm couldn’t tolerate that and eventually broke up the lovers.

The audience was moved to tears. Ling Xi was also indignant and muttered, “What human and gods are different? If it was me, I would cultivate into an immortal and ascend to become a god after a thousand years!”

After muttering, she looked up and saw that Nan Zhi was looking at her. There seemed to be undercurrent in the eyes that were deep like a pond.

“What about you?” Ling Xi asked.

“Cultivate into a human.” Nan Zhi’s slender fingers clasped the teacup. His long silky hair swayed gently with the breeze. He lowered his eyes and said quietly, “And stay by your side.”

The setting sun on the plateau wasn’t as beautiful as on Cangjia Mountain. The sun blushed and sank a bit by bit under the embrace of the vast land. The breeze smells of grass and unknown floral fragrances. Not far away, there were children running with laughter. While they were running, they looked at the paper kite in the sky and pulled the thread in their hands.

Ling Xi happily handed the paper kite to Nan Zhi. He would let it go and she would hold the thread.

Nan Zhi’s handsome face seemed especially soft under the sunset. As he held Ling Xi’s hand, he took over the paper kite and spread it. The two wounds in her hand had crusted, but there was still some blood. He frowned slightly and took the silk thread from Ling Xi.

Ling Xi was happy as she watched him took over the thread. He took the paper kite and ran awkwardly. The paper kite didn’t give him face. Every time he let go, it fell on the ground. He had to pick it up and try to make it fly again. It went so back and forth for a few times.

“Idiot Nan Zhi! You have to run against the wind!” Ling Xi sat on the grass and shouted, “Let go! Let go! Not allowed to use spells!”

Ling Xi had never seen such a Nan Zhi. He was running with a smile like an ordinary person. Black clothes, black hair, under the blue sky and white clouds, he appeared like a silhouette.

The paper kite finally flew. Only when Nan Zhi saw that it floated stable in the sky did he hand Ling Xi the thread. The two lay on the grassland and faced the blue sky and the flying paper kite.

Ling Xi used a hand as pillow and looked up the sky.

The wings of the paper kite trembled in the sky. The blue sky gradually darkened and the evening wind became stronger.

Such a day, a day that she had quietly stolen was finally over.

“Let’s go back,” Ling Xi said.

Nan Zhi sat up and planned to carry her.

“I said let’s go back, Nan Zhi.”

The laughter of the children on the grassland gradually went away. The sun had completely disappeared. The weather also had become colder.

“I heard it all.” After a while, Nan Zhi said, “What you said in hell.”

Ling Xi wanted to hug him, but he stood up and faced her with his back. He looked at the last tinted red of sunset that hasn’t dissipated yet and said, “Are you unhappy today?”

“I was very happy, Nan Zhi,” Ling Xi said.

“Or do you like this?” Nan Zhi chanted a spell. The grassland suddenly turned into the appearance of Xuwang Cliff.

Ling Xi looked at him helplessly.

“Or this?” Nan Zhi beckoned with his hand and Xuwang Cliff turned into Tianmai Peak.

Ling Xi shook her head, “Nan Zhi, listen to me…”

“Or is this better?” Nan Zhi’s body turned into Feng Shu’s appearance.

Ling Xi suddenly froze. The anger rose in her heart and she scolded, “Enough, Nan Zhi!”

All the illusions disappeared. The grassland was still a grassland and Nan Zhi was still Nan Zhi, dressed in black with a cold expression.

“Remove the seal on me,” Ling Xi said coldly.

Nan Zhi didn’t move.

“Give me the purse of tail feather.” Ling Xi took a step to him.

Nan Zhi still didn’t move.

“Nan Zhi, you can’t be so self-willed!” After a day’s delay at the Eastern Sea, she was in coma for three days. With today, only five days were left before she had to return the Soul-Locking water. If she didn’t go back now, all would be for nothing!

Nan Zhi turned and left.

“Stop! You a Chinese rose that doesn’t know anything!” Ling Xi was very angry, “Do you know who gave me my name? Do you know who brought me to Cangjia Mountain and who taught me spells? And whose soul had scattered because of me?”

Nan Zhi stopped. His dark hair rose in the dim sky.

“I thought that you would never wake up again.” He suddenly said. His low voice echoed quietly on the grassland, “Except for your hands, there were no injuries on your body. However, there wasn’t a trace of living energy on you.”

“I thought that you would never wake up again…”

Ling Xi suddenly saw despair on Nan Zhi’s face. He was pale-faced as he said while looking at the grassland that he thought she would never wake up again.

All her anger flew away and was replaced my sourness and heartache. Ling Xi walked slowly to him and hugged him. She tightly attached herself to his chest. The Chinese rose fragrance seeped in her nose and the steady heartbeat could calm her down.

It turned out that he was not the only one that was indispensable.

“Nan Zhi, let’s send the Soul-Locking water and Soul-Suppressing pearls to Donghua Mountain. We will leave immediately as soon as we see eldest senior brother wake up.” Ling Xi whispered, “Nan Zhi, we can’t live while harboring guilt…”

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