The Endless Ache of Parting - Chapter 3

By the time Yin Li arrived, I was already asleep, drool running all over the Left Guardian’s forehead.

The Left Guardian sat bolt upright, not moving a muscle.

Yin Li took off his armor, carefully lifted me down, and laid me on the bed.

I opened my eyes to find him with his hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing a close-fitting robe, a brocade sash wrapped around his firm waist. He looked so good.

I caught hold of his sash. Startled, he fumbled to pry my hand away, so I caught his hand instead.

Then I nuzzled his palm.

“Damn it, she’s so cute. Heh heh heh.”

His ears bright red, Yin Li rubbed my hair with a foolish grin.

Then something seemed to occur to him, and he looked rueful.

“I’ve gone and sworn again.”

“Your spiritual consciousness is clouded. It’s bad for your cultivation, so I went to the Southern Sea and stole… found you a piece of Heart-Clearing Jade.”

He took out a piece of translucent jade strung on agate beads. Light shimmered through it. It was beautiful.

Somehow familiar, too.

The moment he placed the jade around my neck, a cool sensation washed over me, dispelling much of the restless agitation in my body.

Delighted, I threw myself into his arms, only to catch the faint scent of blood on him.

Was he hurt?

Yin Li noticed my expression. He dismissed the Left Guardian and rolled up his sleeve.

A winding wound lay open to the bone, its flesh turned outward.

“It’s fine, Tiaotiao. Just a scratch. Just a scratch.”

I cradled his hand and blew gently on it, making up my mind.

With my sharp teeth, I bit into my wrist and let my blood drip onto his wound.

He hurriedly circulated his spiritual energy to heal my injury, only to find his own arm healing at an unnatural speed. Not even a scar remained.

Meanwhile, my eyes closed and I fainted.

All I could think was: now that he had discovered my value, what would he use me for?

I had never liked owing anyone a debt of kindness. The Heart-Clearing Jade was guarded by the ancient dragon of the Southern Sea.

It couldn’t have been easy to obtain. The sheer pressure of an ancient divine beast’s power could crush an entire city.

When I opened my eyes again, he was still beside me.

There was anger on his face.

I understood. Master wore that same expression whenever he saw me wasting blood. Was Yin Li angry that I had hidden my ability from him for so long?

“Don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Don’t let anyone discover what you can do.”

His face grave, he stroked the tooth marks on my wrist. He was actually afraid someone would exploit me.

“There’s something else. We ought to start arranging our wedding. I’m not sure how you do things in the celestial realm.”

I stared, a little dazed.

Disappointment flashed through his eyes at my expression.

“If you don’t want to, forget it. It’s not as though I can’t afford to keep one tiny little thing like you.”

As he spoke, he turned away, his voice muffled and sulky.

“You’re so sweet. You ought to find yourself a handsome husband.” He thought I minded his scars.

“Let’s make it a lively one.” My eyes curved with my smile. I wanted people to bless me and cheer for me too.

His low voice reached me slowly, as though it came from deep in his throat.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Liar’s a puppy.”

And just like that, the wedding was settled. Yin Li consulted several divination masters to choose an auspicious date.

The Right Guardian thought I was too thin and pale. She went to the human world, bought a few cookbooks, and began studying them in earnest.

The Left Guardian really was clever. He combined human recipes with ingredients from the demon realm.

For instance, he made human-style hot-and-sour wontons using fleshy lingzhi and vermilion bird eggs for the filling.

White sesame seeds gleamed against the bright red broth. It smelled spicy, hot, and delicious.

Ignoring the scalding soup, I picked one up and stuffed it into my mouth. The wonton skin was as thin as a cicada’s wing, yet still had the springy chew of good dough.

The fleshy lingzhi burst with juice in my mouth, mingling with the tingling heat of Sichuan pepper. Wonderful beyond words.

Bits of celery floated in the broth, crisp and refreshing, cutting through its richness.

Not to be outdone, the Right Guardian stewed a pot of beast meat. It was silky and fragrant, rich without being greasy, and melted in my mouth.

The two Guardians came to blows over whose food I should eat first.

I had never known such cheerful commotion. I felt a little more alive myself.

The demon realm didn’t suit immortal peach trees. They began to wilt. After much thought, Yin Li kidnapped a few minor immortals to feed the trees spiritual energy.

The immortals sighed and looked miserable. Feeling guilty, I gave each one a bag of spirit stones.

Then I noticed one male immortal watching me from a distance, his gaze cold and clear.

My heart jolted. I knew that look all too well. It was Master. He had come in disguise.

His cold voice sounded beside my ear. “Tiaotiao, there isn’t much time left.”

Pretending I hadn’t noticed him, I turned to leave, but he stopped me around the corner.

“Don’t actually fall for him. Do you think he could truly love you?”

A trace of mockery hid in his almost-smile.

He whispered something in my ear that plunged me into ice.

What Yin Li loved most about me was my eyes.

And my eyes were his mother’s.

No wonder Master had made me fall from the Immortal-Execution Terrace, using my suffering to seduce Yin Li.

He knew there was a bottomless chasm between Yin Li and me.

We could never love each other without reservation.

I had devoured his parents’ beast cores.

Now I had to devour Yin Li’s as well.

Then use my blood to nourish Yuheng.

“Tiaotiao, your face has filled out,” Master said abruptly.

He reached out, as though to pinch my cheek.

I dodged his hand and fled.