Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping

Chapter 111

The fox—its bewitching face flashed through my mind. I desperately tried to back away, but Xi Lan's grip tightened, one hand even threatening to slide downwards. My heart ached, not only because of the fox, but also because of Xi Lan at this moment. When his hand touched my chest, I couldn't hold back any longer. I frantically pinched him, pushed him, and kicked him.

“Weimian…” His voice was filled with longing and desire, and there seemed to be a hint of a sigh.

Xi Lan, Xi Lan, the celestial Xi Lan in my heart, the one who was always gentle and kind, the one who always treated me with tenderness—now his hands were roaming over my body, which was only covered by a bodice, his lips and tongue entwined with mine. My heart ached terribly, a pain even similar to when I saw Xi Lan lying motionless on the bed in the wooden house outside Wangzhou City. As his hand reached inside my bodice, I finally couldn't hold back anymore. I don't know where the strength came from, but I pushed him away violently and shouted at him, "Tian Xi Lan!"

A sudden chill ran through me; I realized the clothes were still in his other hand. His eyes were lowered, his gaze seemingly lingering on my chest. My face flushed, and I rushed forward, grabbing his shirt with both hands, screaming, "Xi Lan, Tian Xi Lan, wake up! Xi Lan, Xi Lan, I don't want this Xi Lan… Xi Lan, Xi Lan, remember, don't do this… I don't want this Xi Lan, Xi Lan…"

As she spoke, she became incoherent, then threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, and wept bitterly. Xi Lan, Xi Lan…

Clouds Drunk and the Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Beauty and a Young Man, Entangled by Past Lives, A Hidden Melancholy and Resentment.

Chapter word count: 7583 Update time: 08-12-24 12:59

A beautiful woman, a young man, entanglements sown in a past life

"Weimian, you can finally speak." He held me tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to meld me into his body, so tightly that it was suffocating.

My heart clenched at his words, unsure whether to feel joy or pain. Just now, I felt as if I had actually spoken. He gently pushed me away and began to dress me, piece by piece, with the clothes in his hands. As he did this, his expression was utterly natural, as if he had done it a thousand times before. His eyes regained their clarity, devoid of any lust. I suddenly felt confused. Was Xi Lan's behavior just now genuine, or was it an attempt to provoke me into speaking? I was also confused that Xi Lan now seemed exactly the same as before he lost his memory.

I stood there, my back to the hot spring, waiting for Xilan to finish her bath so we could go back together. In this place, I couldn't possibly run away alone, especially since it was surrounded by dense forest; I didn't have the guts. Suddenly, I remembered I could speak again, and my heart leaped with joy. Finally, I was rid of my mute years—a tremendous joy for me. Putting all my worries aside for now, my illness was gone, my body was healthy, I could speak again, and I was so close to Longyao. Although it was dark around me, the moon overhead was large and bright. Feeling relaxed, I squatted down, idly drawing lines on a small twig, humming a little tune.

"The vermilion gate is half-closed; whose courtyard is this? I ride my white horse past the gate."

A pipa melody pierced the bright sunshine.

Whose young lady, waiting to be married, plays the zither so sweetly that it touches my heartstrings?

I long to see her again, and I fly kites in front of her door every day.

However, in the vast sea of people, a chance encounter could lead to unexpected success, no matter how hard one tries.

In an instant, I was destined to fall for you between your brows.

The entanglement between the beautiful woman and the young man in their past lives

The red thread of fate invites you to walk side by side through life.

..."

The song was by Wei Chen, and I sang it again in a male voice, especially loving the line, "Destiny, the red thread, invites you to walk side by side in this world." As for the rap section that followed, I don't remember it clearly. I sang it over and over again until I felt a gaze fixed on me. I turned around and saw Xi Lan standing two meters behind me.

Oh, the immortals! They make no sound when they bathe, no sound when they get out of the water, no sound when they get dressed, and even no sound when they walk. Luckily, I'm used to it, otherwise, if I saw a white figure appear behind me in the moonlit forest, wouldn't I scream and then faint?

I threw away the branch in my hand, gathered my long, still damp hair, and looked at the long, dark hair in front of me, which was also loose. Although I couldn't see it clearly, I could imagine that the ends of the hair were still dripping with water. I chuckled awkwardly and said, "Xi Lan, you're done so quickly?"

He was only wearing his undergarments, and he was still holding the outer robe that had just dried the water off me. He took two steps closer, and before I could even cry out, he had wrapped his robe around my long hair and started wiping it.

"Xi Lan, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Her heart softened, and though she had a thousand words to say, in the end, she could only say "I'm sorry."

He didn't speak, but continued to gently wipe my hair with his outer robe. After a while, he touched my hair, seemingly to make sure it was mostly dry, then took my arm and leaped back down from the dense forest. The night wind blew, carrying a chill. Xi Lan was still only wearing her inner garment, and when a strand of her long hair fell to my cheek, the cold touch of her wet hair sent a shiver down my spine.

The horse carried us, and I sat in front of him, this time facing him at my request. I didn't speak, but took the robe from his hand and carefully wiped his hair, not daring to look at his face. He didn't speak either, but I knew his gaze was fixed on me, letting the horse beneath him carry us slowly back to camp as if it knew the way.

It was late when we got back to camp, and I was starving. When I saw the freshly served food on the table, I practically pounced on it. I sat down, picked up my chopsticks, and took a bite. But as soon as I put the first bite in my mouth, I realized that Xi Lan hadn't eaten yet. I hurriedly put down my chopsticks and stood up, but I didn't know whether to spit out the food in my mouth or swallow it. All I could do was give him an silly smile.

"Let's eat." He approached, pulled me to sit down, handed me the chopsticks, his smile warm and his voice clear and gentle.

A flood of emotions overwhelmed me. I took the chopsticks, smiled at him, and then lowered my head to eat. After the meal, Xi Lan returned to his command seat, studying the map and military strategy. I sat opposite him, playing a game of "finger twirling" with my hands in front of me, my thoughts drifting away. Qing Lin, will I see you tomorrow? Fox, when will we reunite? Brother, are you doing well in Xiuruo? Yao Yao, have you returned to Xiuruo?

“Xi Lan…” I looked up at him.

He looked up at the sound of my voice, smiled at me, and his clear eyes gestured for me to continue.

"Xi Lan, call me Qian Qian." I took a deep breath and mustered my courage to say, "Actually, I am not Yun Yue, nor tide Yue Zui Yue. My name is Qian Qian, Lin Qian Qian."

This man in white, about to go to the battlefield again, this man who may have lost his memory, or who may still remember me—from this moment on, I should no longer lie to him about anything.

"Lin Qianqian?" he asked hesitantly, his eyes slightly closed, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

I smiled and nodded. Having made up my mind to stop lying, the guilt and heartache in my heart seemed to lessen considerably when I faced him: "This is my name, my real name. Xi Lan, I know you used the name Yue Weimian when you first met me at Lan Cai Pavilion, but that's not my name."

"Why Lin Qianqian?" He suddenly looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

My face immediately fell. Sigh, being honest is a good thing, but my honesty might be seen as an unbelievable deception by the listener, right? 555, I just wanted to tell them my name, but now, do I have to tell them everything?

"Does Xilan believe in ghosts and gods?" I asked somewhat timidly. He's a fake immortal, so his ability to understand and comprehend should be stronger than that of ordinary people.

But this fellow shook his head after hearing what I said.

"Why don't you believe it?" My voice suddenly rose. This kid was so disappointing. Although I didn't believe in these things before, the facts are right here, and I can't help it even if I don't believe it.

"If ghosts and gods truly exist, why hasn't my mother come to see me all these years?" He suddenly became sad, looking at me with eyes full of sorrow. I sighed heavily in my heart. In Xi Lan's heart, if gods and ghosts existed, her mother must be in heaven, transformed into a fairy.

"Xi Lan, Consort Duan is watching you from heaven right now, but there's a boundary between the mortal and the divine, so you can't see her. You are the person she worried about most in her life, so you must live well and live happily. That way, Consort Duan will be comforted when she sees you from heaven. If you really can't let go of the bitterness and hatred in your heart, then go ahead and do it, just don't lose your true nature. I think Consort Duan, like me, hopes that after Xi Lan finishes what needs to be done, she will still have a soft and grateful heart." I have never been a person who accepts things passively. If some things become thorns in your heart, then why let this pain accompany you for a lifetime? Pulling out this thorn may cause blood to flow for a while, and there may be moments of unbearable pain, but I believe that the heart has the ability to heal, and I believe even more that Xi Lan's heart, after healing, will still be that sincere heart.

He looked at me, his eyes clear and focused, and after a long while he said, "Not Wei Mian, not Yun Yue, is Qian Qian also from the heavens?"

I almost burst out laughing, completely lacking in class. At first, I mistook Xi Lan for a goddess; now, it seems Xi Lan sees me as a celestial being descended to earth. The world is truly wondrous. Anyway, my situation is hard to explain, and saying it would probably scare children. Besides, I truly don't belong here. My soul may have really flown a long way through the heavens to get here, so what he said isn't entirely wrong, is it? So, suppressing my laughter, I nodded very seriously and earnestly, saying, "Xi Lan, actually, I don't belong to this world, or rather, I wasn't born in this world. I come from another world. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Weimian!" He suddenly reached out, crossed the table, and pulled me into his arms tightly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Xi Lan..." I called his name in a muffled voice in his arms, not understanding why he still called me "Wei Mian" even though I had been so honest with him.

He held me tightly, so tightly it was suffocating, his face buried in my hair, whispering again and again, "Weimian, I don't want to forget you, I don't want to forget you."

I was startled, not understanding what Xi Lan meant. When I looked up again, he had regained his composure, his mind clear and bright. He smiled and pulled me up, leading me to the other side of the tent. His voice was gentle and soothing: "Go to sleep early. We'll enter the pass early tomorrow morning."