Free Web NovelChapter 426: Chapter 356: Dog and Cat
Karon.
With the tremor of the cabin, Ying Rushi realized she had entered the White Bone Ferris Wheel. She turned her head and saw Murong Hui in the cabin ahead, which also contained a strange puppet rolling with resentment. Murong Hui was seriously studying the transparent shell of the puppet. It seemed she wouldn’t be bored for these three quarters of an hour.
"I’m sorry," Yan Qing suddenly said.
Ying Rushi’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Yan Qing in astonishment, her voice trembling slightly: "Why... why are you apologizing?"
"Oh, so it’s not me then? Then I’ll ask Murong Hui to apologize to you later."
"Why is it that if it’s not you, then Hui has to apologize to me?"
"Because you’ve been ignoring us all day, so one of us must have upset you," Yan Qing said while checking the puppet card status in the wristband. "You’ve been acting strange since you woke up, and there was nothing wrong before you went to sleep last night... I get it. Did the little mean cat stick her toe in your nose? Tsk, it should have been just the two of us sleeping, and she alone."
"No!" Ying Rushi retorted loudly, then softly said, "It’s not your fault."
"Then why have you been so cold today? Could it be..." Yan Qing’s tone faltered slightly. "Oh, I see. I’ll ask Murong Hui to take care of you later, and you best avoid cold drinks and ice these days. After leaving tomorrow, just rest at the Thief’s House. Tonight I’ll see if I can make a bowl of brown sugar water... but a Third-Turn Messenger shouldn’t be that frail, right...?"
Ying Rushi didn’t know what he misunderstood, shook her head, "It’s not what you think. I just... didn’t sleep well."
"Okay, if you say so. Anyway, today is up to me and Murong Hui. You’ve been taking care of us these past few days, now it’s our turn to take care of you." Yan Qing looked at her, "You rest well."
Ying Rushi met his gaze, but her mind was filled with illusions of his water-glossed chest. She subconsciously licked her lips, quickly turned away, feeling like her mind was truly addled.
"Why aren’t you sitting with Hui?"
"The reason is similar to the mean cat," Yan Qing said casually. "If she had to choose between the two of us, she’d pick you, and so would I."
Ying Rushi didn’t want to hear anymore and brought the topic back, "What do you think of Hui?"
"Without opening , I’m not her match, her style is too sly. Even for items below Foundation Establishment, there will be stringent trigger conditions, and she combines multiple advantages of high speed, high damage, long-range group attack. Even if she hasn’t absorbed Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends, she remains invincible among Third-Turn Messengers, with few able to approach her." Yan Qing evaluated seriously, "A very high level of strength."
"Not that strong," Ying Rushi couldn’t help but feel a little unsatisfied hearing his praise. "I can avoid the Lightning Battle Saber and get close to her for close combat."
"I’m comparing her to ordinary Third-Turn Messengers. Why are you, a peerless talent wielding the Heaven-Swaying Sword and dealing tens of thousands of damage, getting involved?" Yan Qing glanced at her oddly. "She’s just a cat, why the fuss?"
A shade of blush climbed up Ying Rushi’s neck, wondering how she suddenly lost her composure.
"Actually, I wanted to ask... You’ve been with Hui for so long, what do you think of her as a person?"
"Hmm—" Yan Qing pondered, "Murong Hui... Although she seemed overly friendly at first, making one suspicious if she was pretending, after knowing her for a while, you realize it’s genuine, she truly acts that foolishly. Besides her occasional silliness and wild sleeping posture, she’s pretty great otherwise. Enthusiastic, cheerful, a bit willful, greedy but doesn’t hog food, enjoys joking but is considerate of others’ feelings, and she’s pretty. It’s hard not to be happy around her."
Although wholeheartedly agreeing with Yan Qing’s words, hearing him praise Murong Hui in front of her made Ying Rushi’s heart feel hollow, as if she had emptied it herself.
She collected herself and asked, "After leaving the Demon Gathering Land, do you have any plans with her?"
"Plans? I’m hoping she can establish her Foundation soon." Yan Qing tilted his head. "Otherwise she’ll soon fall behind us; engaging with us as Foundation Establishment Messengers would likely pressure her."
"Us?"
"Yeah." Yan Qing pointed to the distant Skeleton Document Square, "Though I can’t have you join activities in the Demon Gathering Land like me, once I establish Foundation, I’ll surely find a Foundation Establishment Pill for you; at least Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends won’t be scarce. With your comprehension, your life’s Martial Dao, your wisdom to reach the skies, your unparalleled talent, there shouldn’t be any issue establishing Foundation, right?"
Ying Rushi’s face went completely dark upon hearing this and couldn’t help but punch him lightly, "How am I that impressive? I’m embarrassed if you’re not."
She paused, "You... you really want to help me establish Foundation?"
"Of course, how will you keep up with me without it? Upcoming tasks will definitely be Foundation level; you promised earlier to walk with me all the way, so I’m counting on you guys in the coming tasks." Yan Qing said, "Don’t think of slacking; my future plans have a place for you."
Ying Rushi originally thought after last night’s illusion, she had a heart as cold as a fish-killing knife, but Yan Qing’s casual words unexpectedly made her chaotic once more. Leaning against the railing pretending to look at the outside Demon Gathering Land, she spoke with a calm tone, "In your future... there’s a place for me?"
"Yes."
Yan Qing’s hands also leaned against the railing. His left hand first pressed against Ying Rushi’s right hand, then slowly climbed up and squeezed tightly through her fingers.
"I’ve already invited you into the ’Cataclysm Organization’, even if you use me to leave the Demon Gathering Land and discard me, I’ll catch up and bring you back." Yan Qing hummed, "I won’t let go."
Ying Rushi pursed her lips tightly, and impulsively asked, "What about Black Wolf and Red Snake?"
Yan Qing blinked and pressed her hand onto his chest, "Regardless, I just won’t let go."
Ying Rushi had tears in her eyes, but her lips were full of smiles, she laughed and cursed, "You shameless pervert dog."
Her fingers intertwined tightly with Yan Qing’s fingers. At this moment, their cabin reached the peak of the White Bone Ferris Wheel. The Demon Gathering Land unfurled before her like a long scroll, above was the Demon Dragon’s Fierce Flame, below were millions of lights in the Demon Gathering Land, not exactly bright, but reflected in her tear-blurred pupils, it felt warmer than the sun.
...
...
After an indisputable discussion, Ying Rushi secured the right to guard the night tonight. As a messenger, staying awake for a day and night posed no problem. That Murong Hui, being unable to endure the night shift, was rare among messengers. After they applied mutual medicine, Yan Qing tried persuading once more. Seeing her resolute, he let her be.
Ying Rushi sat on the windowsill, thinking as long as she endured tonight, it would be okay.
No matter how powerful the illusion, once back at the Thief’s House, it wouldn’t harm anyone.
The sound of rustling in the hall was likely the friction of pajamas against blankets.
Ying Rushi tried hard not to turn and look, knowing even without illusions, darkness itself was the biggest illusion. After the influence of illusions, Ying Rushi could easily imagine how they undressed each other under the cover of darkness, how they made each other’s hearts race, how they ventured together into Wushan... You see, no need to look, merely sharing a room was enough to incite malicious thoughts.
Rustle.
Ying Rushi clearly heard someone sitting up, her heart sank slightly. Even without sleep, would she still fall into illusions?
"Little Fox."
Murong Hui came over to hug Ying Rushi. Her nightgown slipped, revealing her fragrant shoulder, with caramel-colored skin glowing mesmerizingly in the dim light. No underwear beneath the nightgown, spring colors were unhidden. She just slept this way with Yan Qing. But despite Murong Hui’s allure, Ying Rushi felt nothing, gently stroked her head, "Can’t sleep?"
Murong Hui shook her head, hugged Ying Rushi’s waist tightly, "I want to stay with you."
"I’m okay."
"But you need me here." Murong Hui insisted sincerely, "When Little Fox needs Sister Hui, Sister Hui will know."
"Later in the night, let me guard instead." She snuggled in Ying Rushi’s embrace, "I know you’re scared... But you still have us, Yellow Dog also said we’d take care of you."
"Don’t be afraid... We’ll stay with you."
Murong Hui spoke as she fell back asleep. She truly couldn’t stay up. Ying Rushi placed her on her lap, feeling a serene tranquility.
The warm light from the Demon Dragon’s Fierce Flame outside the window bestowed a hint of warmth upon the long night.
