Chapter 37 part 1
The heavy snow fell again in the middle of the night and fell down like cotton wool. After a while, the dark world was wrapped in white and appear to be bright. The window of the house that was already not warm enough was opened wide. Snowflakes drifted in and soon accumulated.
When the sun broke through the clouds, the snow floor was stained with red. The whole village seemed like the cheeks of shy girl; warm and quiet. A girl was asleep sitting on the couch and leaning on the bed rail. The thick long eyelashes covered the pale face. Her lips were pale and her breathing short.
When the man in black entered the room, his body was not stained with frost. When he saw that she was leaning against the bed rail only dressed in thin clothes, he frowned. He was at her side in a blink of an eye. He took her into his arms and the room immediately warmed up.
Ling Xi had a very long dream. In the dream, big brother had never left, eldest senior brother had never died and Nan Zhi had never become a devil. All that she loved and all the people who loved her were all ordinary people. They lived happily in a paradise-like village. She prayed in her dream repeatedly to never wake up again, but she still woke up.
When she woke up, her while body was warm. Warm lips covered her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she saw Nan Zhi’s deep eyes and stared at her scorchingly.
He said something to her, but she couldn’t hear it. She smiled and nestled in his arms.
When it was near noon, Mrs. Li warmly brought her child over to help shovel the snow. Ling Xi shoveled and suddenly it turned into a snowball fight with the child. The two happily chased after another with snowballs. The child’s nickname was Dong Gua (winter melon). She was lovable and cute and spoke in a childlike voice. Ling Xi liked her very much.
However, Dong Gua was playing happily, but Ling Xi couldn’t run anymore. She put her arms on her hips and smiled, “I’m going to cook. Not playing with you anymore.”
Dong Gua made a funny face at her. She grabbed a snowball and continued to throw it at Ling Xi. Mrs. Li casted her a glance of blame, “Niu er, stop.”
Ling Xi smiled and said that it was fine. She patted the snow from her body and entered the kitchen. Dong Gua also followed her.
It was rare for outsiders to be on the dining table. Nan Zhi was still expressionless and ate quietly. Ling Xi also felt helpless and had no choice but to find something to talk about with Mrs. Li.
“This year is really strange. I heard people say that it is something ominous when it snows for so long. I am afraid that the sky will change.” Mrs. Li stopped after only a few bites.
Ling Xi kept her smile and asked, “All the people say that?”
Mrs. Li sighed, “This year, it was either demons or monsters, causing people to be panic-stricken for a while. Didn’t they say that a few months ago a big devil had come out? it was the talk of town. In fact…”
Mrs. Li was speaking when she felt a -chilling to the bones- eyes swept over her. She felt like she was cut sharply by a blade. The rest of her words froze in her throat.
At this time, Dong Gua was bored from playing outside and flew into Ling Xi’s arms. She exclaimed, “Wow, the dishes that big sister Ling Xi made looks delicious.”
While she said that, she picked up the spoon on the table, scooped a spoonful of hibiscus tofu and put it in her mouth. Afterwards, winter melon’s face turned into a bitter gourd’s face, “Big sister Ling Xi, does your salt not cost money? So bitter…I want to drink water.”
Dong Gua slipped from Ling Xi’s legs.
Mrs. Li looked embarrassed at the two (LX&NZ). Ling Xi glanced at Nan Zhi. She saw that his expression didn’t change and he continued to eat. So, she also lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Time became slower under Ling Xi’s friction. She no longer slept the whole day and seldom went out. Occasionally, she would cook a meal or two. The heavy snow fell one after another. The light of the spring couldn’t be seen reappearing. The rattan chair in the backyard couldn’t be sit on anymore. Instead, Nan Zhi made a low couch for her by the window. Ling Xi often nested there and looked at the boundless snow.
She didn’t know if Nan Zhi had become aware of her abnormality. Perhaps, he didn’t have time to attend to her abnormality. After the night that he didn’t return, he became slightly different.
Occasionally, he would touch the corner of her eye. She would inadvertently dodge it. Occasionally, he would touch her cheek when she smiled. She smiled in front of the mirror and looked at the two faintly discernible dimples. He no longer stayed by her side every day all day long. She doesn’t remember how many times it had been that when she woke up, it was empty beside her.
Actually, she didn’t dare to sleep anymore, but Nan Zhi didn’t know. Sometimes, she would pretend to be asleep. Nan Zhi would think that she was really asleep and left quietly. She didn’t know where he was going, but she also didn’t want to open her eyes. The room with only one person was so cold and her heart felt empty. She was afraid that when she opens her eyes, the coldness would go into her heart and consign her to eternal damnation.
It was another afternoon. The sky cleared up after the snow. Occasionally, the wind would bring the fresh fragrance of snow water.
The two made paper lanterns together. Nan Zhi painted and Ling Xi would take bamboo branches to shape the lantern. Only the last step was left when her in front of her eyes suddenly dimmed. A bamboo stick pricked into her palm and she exclaimed in a low voice from pain.
Nan Zhi put down the brush and took her hand. Seeing her palm bleeding, he frowned. He swept over the bamboo branches on the floor. Those bamboo branches became ashes.
Ling Xi couldn’t see clearly and obediently let Nan Zhi use spells to heal her injury and took her to sit on the low couch.
“I will do it,” Nan Zhi said.
Ling Xi grabbed his hand, “I’m tired.”
Nan Zhi turned around and sat down. He carried her and put her on his lap. He gently stroked her long hair. Ling Xi closed her eyes halfway and stared at him.
Despite the veil and dim light in front of her eyes, she was able to outline his current appearance in her mind.
He was never someone of many words. His lips must be pressed tightly together and the corners of his lips was in a slight arc. His facial features were deep and he didn’t like to have any expression more than necessary. It must be cold as a stone sculpture without any temperature at this moment. However, when he faced her, there would always be an undetectable warmth on his face and the occasional fleeting smile. His black eyes were often as thick as ink which make people unable to see till the bottom of his eyes and not dare to look directly at him. However, when he stared at her, his eyes were clear and there were feelings hidden in his eyes.
Ling Xi stared at Nan Zhi for a long time and then laughed humorously. The slightly raised lips had been kissed; gentle and inseparable. There was no distinction between their lingering emotions. Gradually, it became overbearing like taking cities and seizing territories. Ling Xi’s cheeks were red because of the kiss and was almost unable to breath before they reluctantly separated.
Ling Xi closed her eyes and slowly calmed down her breathing. She asked softly and inadvertently, “Nan Zhi, they said that you were once a god?”
Nan Zhi was silent for a while before answering, “Mm.”
“Then, you have lived more than ten thousand years?”
“Mm.”
“Then, why didn’t you tell me when you were a Chinese rose?” Ling Xi pretended to be angry.
“At that time, I don’t know.” Nan Zhi was calm as ever.
Ling Xi laughed, “Last time you said that you couldn’t remember some things of ten thousand years ago. Now…have you remember them all?”
Nan Zhi was silent. Ling Xi put her arms around his neck, looked at him and feigned anger coquettishly, “Have you remembered?”
Nan Zhi’s eyes flickered and said, “Mm.”
“Then, is there anything interesting in those memories?”
Ling Xi eyes had returned to clearness and stared at him scorchingly as if she was afraid to miss any emotion in his eyes. She clearly saw the dim luster in his eyes and he avoided her gaze. Her heart sank and she stopped asking.
She closed her eyes for a long time. She asked faintly, “Then, why…did you like me?”
There was no response.
—
The first clear sky of March. The snow began to melt, but the weather became colder instead. Nan Zhi took out the thick fur coat that she had bought a few days ago and carefully put it on her.
Ling Xi smiled slightly. She let him brush her hair and tie her belt.
“I…,” Nan Zhi was stumped for words.
Ling Xi laughed, “Are you going out again?”
“Mm.”
“Alright.”
Perhaps, he didn’t expect Ling Xi to answer so quickly. A flash of surprise appeared on Nan Zhi’s face. Then, calmness quickly returned (to his face).
“Wait for me.” He pulled Ling Xi over and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Wait.” Seeing that he was about to turn his body, Ling Xi grabbed his hand and took something out of her purse of tail feather, “It was this thing that made you wake up in the past. I will be more at ease if you bring it with you.”
Nan Zhi’s mind blanked for a moment. He looked thoughtfully at Soul Attractor.
Ling Xi put the Soul Attractor in his hand. In the end, Nan Zhi took it, hugged her for a long kiss. He then turned and left.
Ling Xi stared for a long time at the place where the black figure had disappeared. She lowered her eyes, took out Bingling sword and left on the sword.
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