Roi céleste

Chapitre 24

"No, no, no, you're not fat, you're the thinnest—no, no, no, you're neither fat nor thin, you're the peach with the best figure in the world, the most beautiful peach in the world!"

The chubby peach spirit hummed smugly and said, "Of course."

"..."

I wiped my sweat, and before I could say anything more, I heard the fat peach spirit say, "You ate peaches during the day, didn't you? I can smell the blood in the peaches."

The peach still tasted blood... My stomach churned. Just as I was about to admit it, I suddenly thought, "I must have eaten the offspring of this fat peach spirit. What if it ate me again to get revenge?" I immediately denied it, shaking my head desperately and looking at the fat peach spirit with a look of fear.

The big, plump peach wrinkled its face. "You ate it, so why won't you admit it? Don't worry, the peach you ate isn't from my bloodline. I won't do anything to you."

Peaches even have different lineages...

Seeing my blank expression, the fat peach spirit looked at me with disdain, "You are really ignorant. Even the peaches you eat are terrible. You wait, I'll go to the other peach spirits and steal some delicious ones from you."

Without waiting for my reply, she hopped away, making the ground tremble as she landed, leaving me sitting on the ground, completely stunned.

It took a long time for the fat peach spirit to return. Since it had no hands, it carried the peaches on its head, came to me, and tilted them towards me. Before they hit the ground, they stood up again, and several peaches rolled into my arms.

I looked at the peaches in my arms; they were translucent, like jade carvings, emitting a strange fragrance that made my mouth water. I picked one up and started to eat it. Under the fat peach spirit's disdainful expression of "tsk tsk, what a way you eat!", I devoured the peaches in a whirlwind, finally leaning against the tree and patting my bulging belly with satisfaction.

"Look at you, it's just an ordinary peach, how can you eat it like this?"

I wasn't afraid anymore. I touched the fat peach spirit, looked up and asked, "What's the best peach?" As I spoke, an unprecedented fragrance filled my nostrils, and my mouth watered instantly.

“That’s naturally Ben—” The fat peach spirit, with its nostrils flared, stopped abruptly halfway through its sentence, “Why should I tell you, a mere mortal?” It looked down and saw me staring at its belly with wolfish eyes.

The chubby peach spirit jumped back a step, "You greedy human, how dare you covet me! I, I'll eat you! Ahhhhhh, it hurts—" Before she could finish speaking, I pounced on her and took a bite.

Fat Peach screamed in pain and writhed, eventually throwing me aside and bringing me back to my senses. I saw Fat Peach staring at her wounds with tears in her eyes.

A wave of guilt washed over me. I walked over, lowered my head, and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"You wicked human! I'll never help you steal peaches again!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, why don't you eat me too!" I suddenly raised my head, rolled up my sleeves, and stretched my arm out in front of the fat peach spirit.

The chubby peach spirit turned her head away with a look of disgust, "No way, it tastes awful."

I lowered my head in disappointment, "What should we do then..."

"Oh, it's not that serious," the chubby peach spirit said, probably because she couldn't bear to see my disappointed look. "The wound healed in no time. Everyone knows how delicious I am, so I don't blame you."

"Really!?" I looked up excitedly. "Fatty—no, Peach Blossom Spirit, you're so kind! I promise I'll never bite you again!"

"Of course," the plump peach spirit said smugly, her face beaming. "I'm a beloved peach blossom spirit who's cultivated for eight hundred years—"

"By the way, Peach Blossom Fairy, what's your name? My name is Qing Guyi. How about we become friends?"

"Friends? Would you humans be willing to be friends with us fairies? But fairies can't just tell others their names..." Fat Peach was both happy and troubled, and her peach skin wrinkled up again.

“It’s alright,” I waved my hand dismissively, “I’ll tell you whenever you want.”

"Really!? Then we're friends! Next time you come over, I'll go and get you the best peaches!" The chubby peach spirit jumped up excitedly, probably wanting to hug me, and leaned towards me, but she couldn't control her chubby body—

And so, I was flattened...

This is a classic example of how excessive joy can turn into sorrow...

I opened my eyes in complete darkness, still thinking about the dream I had just had, when I found someone sitting by the bed. I couldn't see their face clearly in the shadows, only their slender figure.

Seriously? First came the Purple Might, and now we're not expecting the Red Might and Green Might to appear? How is Tian Shu Palace, a major sect, doing its defenses properly...?

I was about to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep when the person next to the bed spoke up, "Hey young lady, you're such a terrible sleeper, drooling all the time, tsk tsk..."

A lazy, arrogant voice slowly reached my ears.

Thirty-two cups of Liu Lang wine

Liu Lang Wine - Do not refuse to send Liu Lang wine again, for I will repay him with a hundred bushels of bright pearls in the future.

...

As if in that instant the clouds parted and the moon appeared, a ray of clear light leaked in through the window, and a dragon painting on the corner of the eye of the person by the bed shone faintly in the moonlight.

I chuckled dryly. "Young Palace Master Yin, how have you been? But it seems you've come to the wrong place. Since you've come to Tian Shu Palace, Qing Jiu doesn't live here."

Yin Liuchuan seemed to smile as well, his voice still lazy: "I came here especially to visit the young lady."

"Young lady? I'm more like your second concubine!"

I rolled my eyes and suddenly said, "Speak, Young Master Yin, what will it take for you to let me go?"

"Why are you being so formal? You should call me husband."

“Yin Liuchuan… I know you’re selfish, only caring about your own fun and not caring about others’ lives, but this is going to be boring, and you don’t like me anyway.”

As my eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and with the addition of moonlight, I saw Yin Liuchuan squint and suddenly laugh, "Since we're talking about liking someone... I haven't tried it yet. It seems quite interesting to see how others like it. How about I try liking you?" He raised an eyebrow at me, his tone casual.

I didn't say anything, I just quietly looked at Yin Liuchuan, thinking that he was probably the only one in the whole world who could make people feel cold when he said the word "like," which should have warmed people's hearts.

As expected, they are all heartless people.

“Yin Liuchuan,” I stared at him intently, “even if you think you’ve fallen for someone in the future, it’s really just about indulging your feelings.” Including yourself, you don’t love anyone.

The other party laughed indifferently, "So what? Besides, I was just joking, why did you suddenly become serious, young lady?"

I rolled my eyes again, too lazy to talk to him anymore, and got out of bed to go out for a stroll. Before I could even put on my shoes, Yin Liuchuan grabbed my hand.

The force he used was just like his personality: domineering, brooking no resistance, and determined to leave a mark.

“Didn’t you ask me how I could let you go…” Yin Liuchuan looked up at me, and from my angle I could see his face clearly. In the cold moonlight, his smile was indifferent and cold. “If you still lose to me in two years, I will no longer be interested in you. Until then, I will keep a close eye on you.”

I shook off his hand, twisted my wrist, put on my coat, and walked outside.

"My husband will be sleeping in my wife's boudoir tonight. Please come back soon."

I walked out expressionlessly.

The moonlight poured down.

...

Tian Shu Palace is very large, and to avoid running into Qing Jiu, I only remembered one way out of the main gate. Today, I didn't want to go far, so I just wandered around the palace and got lost. I didn't really care.

There were many secret guards in the palace, so naturally they couldn't hide from me. I didn't bother to hide anything and just swaggered around. The secret guards were smart enough not to stop me.

I don't know what I want to do, but I just don't want to be idle, so I won't have any random thoughts. I feel restless, and I know it's not because of Yin Liuchuan.

Turning a corner, I entered a grove of trees. In the darkness, I couldn't see what kind of trees they were. I walked along the path, the shade of the trees was so dark that I could only find my way by the touch of my feet. Suddenly, I emerged, and the bright moonlight rushed towards me. It was as if a gap had appeared in the endless darkness. Stepping out, I was immediately transported to another flawless and beautiful world.

I blinked several times before my eyes adjusted, and in front of me was a long, narrow open space, with a cliff just ten steps away. So I had arrived at the rear of the Tian Shu Palace.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, I could faintly smell a scent—the aroma of wine.

I frowned, and subconsciously felt a wave of discomfort. I looked in the direction from which the smell of alcohol was coming, and sure enough, there was a person sitting on the edge of the cliff not far away.

I looked at the person's back. He had broad shoulders, yet he was also tall and slender. His black hair flowed down like water, inexplicably reminding me of a crane or bamboo.

It was just a glimpse of his back, but I knew who he was immediately.

I felt I should turn around and leave immediately, even if it was because of that awful drink, but I just couldn't move my feet.

I remember someone saying that the body is often the most honest indicator. Thinking about that, I suddenly wanted to laugh at myself, but I didn't even have the strength to raise the corners of my mouth.

The man didn't turn around, but easily called out my name, "...Gu Yi".

Then he turned to look at me, his dark hair cascading down his shoulders, shimmering with a faint glow. He was smiling at me, but his eyes were somewhat dim.

At that moment, soft light shone on his profile.

The moonlight was dazzling.

She was also stunningly beautiful.

...

Qingjiu smiled and waved to me, and I, as if possessed, went over and sat down.

He dangled his legs, swaying in mid-air; it seemed this wasn't the first time he'd done this...

"...Not long ago, we were sitting on the edge of the cliff just like this," the person next to him said, though their voice sounded a little unsteady.

"……Um."

"But then I made you angry again, so Gu Yi stopped talking to me." Qing Jiu took a sip of wine, tilted her head back, and said sullenly.

I was startled, realizing that this was completely unlike the cold and ruthless style of the Grand Palace Master Qing. I turned my head and looked at her for a long time before sighing, "Grand Palace Master Qing, you're drunk."

Under the moonlight, Qingjiu's cheeks were flushed with a drunken blush. He tilted his head childishly to look at me, his eyes somewhat unfocused, his shimmering phoenix eyes blinking as he murmured, "You promised me you would call me Qingjiu."

I took a deep breath. "...Qingjiu, you're drunk. I'll take you home; it's dangerous here." I reached for his arm, but he grabbed my hand and held it in his palm. It was a little cold, but then warmed up.

I looked down at our clasped hands, frozen in place. Qingjiu spoke again, "Guyi, have you eaten the peaches I gave you?"

"Qingjiu... I'm telling you, you shouldn't drink anymore."

He stared at me blankly, his eyes bright, his phoenix eyes slightly upturned, gleaming with a light, his cheeks flushed, and even his lips were crimson. He frowned, and after a long while, he stammered, "...You're not answering my question."

I feel like I'm going crazy. Seeing the dignified Palace Master of Tian Shu Palace drunk and acting like a child, I suspect I'll get a sty tomorrow...

"...I ate it, it was delicious."

"I knew it!" Qingjiu raised the corners of his mouth triumphantly and waved his hand, even though my hand was still in his palm. "Guyi, Guyi, how about we transplant lots and lots of peach trees into Tian Shu Palace next spring?"

"Qingjiu, you're really drunk. You're already eighteen..."

“Right there!” Pointing to the woods behind us, “There you will have a peach grove. In spring we can sit under the trees and enjoy the blossoms, and in summer and autumn we can eat peaches.”

"That's not bad—pui pui, Qingjiu, you're really drunk. Stop talking and let's go back, okay?" I pulled my hand out of his palm, stood up, and tried to pull his arm again, but was pulled down instead.

I stumbled into the arms of the completely drunk man in front of me, stiffly lifting my head, my nose brushing against his. I immediately covered my nose and tried to stand up with my other hand, but Qing Jiu grabbed my shoulder. He stared at me and suddenly asked, "What will it take for you to forgive me?"

"...I don't blame you, and you didn't do anything wrong."

Qing Jiu forced a smile, a forced and ugly one: "Gu Yi, I know you're angry that I tried to kill you after you saved me. I'm sorry, I'll never hurt you again. You don't believe me, right? Then let's do it again, save me one more time..."

Suddenly he pushed me away, and with a quick movement, he jumped off the cliff!

My eyes widened, my heart clenched as if gripped by something, the pain shooting through my entire body. In the nick of time, I managed to grab Qingjiu, whose body was half-suspended in mid-air, and dragged him up, slamming him to the ground. I was so angry I could have teeth in my mouth. I pointed at his nose and roared, "Qingjiu, you're a damn bastard! You old scoundrel! If I catch you drinking again, I'll castrate you!"

The old scoundrel completely ignored what I was saying, and instead reached out and grabbed my fingers, smiling at me with his eyes crinkled in a carefree manner: "...Guyi, your head hurts so much from hitting the ground."

I convulsed, stared at him for a long time with a contorted face, and then... gave in.