The Gift

The moon shone bright and the stars were sparse. With the search and rescue efforts concluded, the Xu Manor had grown far quieter. Among the ruins, Xu Yuan saw countless corpses covered in white sheets laid out across the open ground. Densely packed, several hundred in all. Under the flickering torchlight, the crimson blood seeping through the white cloth looked eerie and grim. Returning to the courtyard before his attic pavilion, Xu Yuan pushed the sights he had just witnessed to the back of his mind. He let out a long sigh, adjusted his frame of mind, and pushed the door open. His room was vast, but equally empty—most of the valuable furniture and antique pieces had already been pawned off for silver. The moment he stepped inside, Xu Yuan's sensitive intent-soul immediately sensed the near-liquid Source Qi in the room swirling like a vortex toward a single spot. Stepping past an embroidered folding screen, Xu Yuan saw the vortex's destination. Ran Qingmo sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed in serene cultivation. Moonlight cascaded like a waterfall; her black clothes were as dark as ink. Her stillness possessed a breathtaking beauty. As he drew closer, Ran Qingmo dispersed her cultivation arts and slowly opened her eyes. After several breaths of mutual silence, Xu Yuan asked with amusement, "Didn't I tell you before I left that you could sit on the bed? Why sit on the floor?" Ran Qingmo answered truthfully in a low murmur, "The bed... has a scent." Hearing this, Xu Yuan felt a flash of surprise and subconsciously glanced down at himself. Seeing this, Ran Qingmo shook her head. "Not yours." "Not mine?" Xu Yuan murmured, then froze. If it wasn't his, it was most likely Su Jinxuan's. Though he had never let her stay the night, that little succubus possessed a natural, heart-bewitching scent of roses. It was only normal that some traces lingered behind. With that in mind, Xu Yuan glanced at Ran Qingmo again. *This big block of ice sure has a sharp nose.* After hesitating for a moment, Xu Yuan still offered an explanation: "It's probably Su Jinxuan. I originally wanted to introduce you two." "Mm." "Her physique helps me cultivate my intent-soul. She would visit this room occasionally, so it was probably left behind during cultivation." "Oh." "..." Amid the silence, Ran Qingmo turned her gaze to stare at the pillow on the jade bed. Noticing this, Xu Yuan looked over as well. Ran Qingmo continued staring without saying a word. "What is it?" Xu Yuan asked softly. "Xu Yuan, there seems to be something she left for you under there," Ran Qingmo said, her voice flat and utterly devoid of ripples. "..." Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised. That mysterious Origin Realm expert had appeared so suddenly—did that succubus really have time to leave something for him? However, thinking about it for a second, much of Xu Yuan's surprise faded. Before the plan was executed, Su Jinxuan had deliberately lingered to warn him that Qin Mo would likely come to rescue her, telling him not to stay with her lest his life be in danger. In the midst of a cataclysmic battle between three Grandmasters and a Saint's remnant soul, Su Jinxuan—as an ordinary mortal who had never cultivated—naturally could not judge who would win or lose. If their Chancellor's Manor lost, she would inevitably be taken away. Under the circumstance that she might be taken away, leaving something for him was hardly surprising. Once his surprise faded, curiosity took its place. Xu Yuan wondered what that succubus might have left for him. A letter? Or something else? In the silence of the room, Xu Yuan stepped around Ran Qingmo, walked up to the jade bed, and reached out to pull back the cold jade pillow. The moment the cold jade pillow was lifted away, the corner of Xu Yuan's eye twitched uncontrollably. The item was very familiar, very pretty, and very eye-catching. Despite possessing the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique, Su Jinxuan preferred plain, modest attire. But as their cultivation deepened, her clothing had undergone subtle shifts; whenever she visited at night, she would occasionally don gear that boosted "attack speed." Food and lust were human nature. Since she was willing to wear it, Xu Yuan was more than happy to openly appreciate such beauty of the world. And that succubus didn't seem to mind his gaze at all; in fact, she seemed to rather enjoy his look of longing—the kind that showed he wanted to do her in, but couldn't lay a finger on her. Now that she was gone, she had actually left something like this on his bed. Was he supposed to praise the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique for living up to its name? Staring in silence at the strip of white silk fabric for a few breaths, he suddenly realized there was another person beside him, looking along with him. "..." Xu Yuan. Turning his head, he met the young woman's serene, quiet eyes. "..." Ran Qingmo. Inconspicuously slipping the item Su Jinxuan had left behind into his Sumeru ring, Xu Yuan asked calmly, his face neither blushing nor flinching, "What is it?" "..." Ran Qingmo shifted her gaze to stare fixedly at his Sumeru ring. Xu Yuan cleared his throat and abruptly changed the subject. "Right, earlier when I went to see Xu Changge, I already spoke with my father about your matter using the communication crystal." Sure enough, Ran Qingmo's attention was immediately hooked. Looking at Xu Yuan, her beautiful eyes flickered with a faint, nervous anticipation. "Um... you, what did your father say?" "..." Having spent day and night together for so long, it was rare to see such an expression on this big block of ice's face. The Sword Sect truly was of paramount importance to her. Pondering slightly, Xu Yuan said in a low voice, "He refused." "..." The light in the big block of ice's beautiful eyes visibly dimmed. Seeing this, Xu Yuan shifted his tone: "Though it wasn't a complete refusal." Ran Qingmo's eyes lit up again. Xu Yuan suppressed the urge to tease her further, turned around, and walked over to sit in a chair by the window lattice. Ran Qingmo silently followed behind him. Xu Yuan looked up at the silent young woman standing before him and pointed to the chair beside him. "Sit." Ran Qingmo sat down obediently. Xu Yuan weighed his words carefully. "First, getting my father to terminate his plan is impossible. Just as I told you back in that ruined temple, he won't change his decision just because you kidnapped me." "..." Ran Qingmo pressed her lips together. "However, I can offer you another path." "Tell me." "It's simple. Have the Tianyuan Sword Sect stand together with my father." Thinking for a moment, Ran Qingmo asked, "Xu Yuan, do you want me to persuade Master?" She was not stupid at all. "You could understand it that way," Xu Yuan nodded. "But Master won't listen to me," Ran Qingmo said, downcast. Looking at her downcast eyes, Xu Yuan reached out and gently patted her shoulder to draw her attention back. "He might not listen now, but that doesn't mean your master won't in the future. The choices a person makes at different times can be polar opposites." Saying this, Xu Yuan offered her a crinkling smile. "Besides, I'll help you." "..." Looking into his earnest eyes, Ran Qingmo's eyes widened slightly. Under her gaze, Xu Yuan withdrew his hand and slowly rose. "Alright, I'm going to rest. You..." Halfway through, Xu Yuan glanced through the window lattice at the ruins outside, gave a soft cough, and changed his tune: "Um... you keep cultivating here." In any case, it wasn't the first time they had shared a room; there was nothing to make a fuss about. Of course, tonight he would still sleep on the bed, while she would cultivate on the floor.