"Are you afraid I'll capture her too?" Xuan Ye approached, his voice somewhat ethereal: "Don't worry, she's just a Sable Demon, a living creature, while I only capture evil spirits."
Ban Xia lowered her head, stroking the little creature's fur. The texture felt strangely familiar, and she suddenly realized it was actually a sable.
"Your name is Hu Po?" she asked.
Hu Po nodded, apparently unable to speak. She lifted her little face, eyes shimmering with faint light, as if you were her last refuge in this world.
Such an adorable little creature even softened Ban Xia's heart. She examined the wound on its leg: "So you were the one who sent me the text message? How did you manage that?"
Hu Po narrowed her eyes, resting her head in the crook of Ban Xia's arm. After a moment, the cave unexpectedly echoed with another sweet "Love chocolate~".
"All things possess spirit, as long as you know how to communicate with them."
The phone displayed these words.
Ban Xia was astonished: "You mean you can communicate with a... a mobile phone?"
Hu Po nodded again, perhaps wanting to say more, but the damned phone chose that moment to beep, indicating low battery.
Typical Korean phone problem - ridiculously short battery life. Ban Xia cursed inwardly and pressed the power button to shut it down.
"Let's go. I can treat illnesses. We can find medicinal herbs back home to treat Elegant Confinement and... her wounds." Chi Xue urged from nearby.
Ban Xia nodded, thought for a moment, and placed Hu Po in his arms.
"You go first. I'll meet you at the inn later." After saying this, she turned and quickly drifted into the back cave.
"Well, you see... my current appearance really isn't suitable for viewing. There's no need for such concern from a beauty."
As soon as Ban Xia entered the back cave, You Huang began to shrink back, covering the huge hole in his chest.
"Does it hurt?"
Ban Xia crouched down, looking at the wound that had already begun to slowly heal.
"Of course it hurts! It hurts so much I don't want to live. That damned Xuan Ye, may he die a thousand deaths."
"Do you hate him?"
"Of course I hate him! Given the chance, I'd definitely crack open his skull to see if what's inside that stubborn head is all stone!"
"Then why did you save him? When you heard he was in trouble, your expression and movements were like someone had ripped your heart out."
You Huang fell silent, fiddling with his hair and rolling his eyes, trying to change the subject.
"Do you like men?" Ban Xia pressed closer, her tone sinister, leaving him no room to maneuver.
"Of course I like women! Big-breasted, slim-waisted, delicate beauties... With so many beauties waiting for me, why would I like those dry, stick-like, rigid men?!"
"But you like Xuan Ye."
You Huang's eyes widened, seeming utterly unwilling, but he ultimately didn't refute it.
"So you like men. It's fine, boys' love isn't shameful." Ban Xia extended her hand: "Congratulations, from today onward we're love rivals."
"You like him too? That stubborn fool?"
"I'm glad you used the word 'too'."
You Huang was speechless again.
"I LIKE WOMEN!!! BUT I HAVE TO LIKE HIM!!!!!!"
Finally, he spoke these words with an expression of unbearable emotional conflict, struggling to stand up regardless of his appearance, then staggering and disappearing into the night wind with a "whoosh".
Back at the inn, Chi Xue was indeed treating Xuan Ye and Hu Po's wounds.
Xuan Ye appeared extremely weary, leaning against the headboard, his complexion faintly ashen.Quite naturally, Ban Xia approached, took a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his temples, then rested her hand on the back of his.
Xuan Ye was somewhat startled, turning his face to look at her, his eyes shimmering with emotion.
"I think, I should be..." Ban Xia began without hesitation, though she was considering how to phrase her next words more smoothly and movingly.
"After all that happened today, you must be tired. You should rest early."
But Xuan Ye spoke first, his tone still gentle yet firmly cutting her off as he turned away to feign sleep.
Dawn was approaching. Ban Xia extinguished the candle and decided to go to bed.
Falling for someone—this wasn't particularly difficult for Miss Ban.
Just then, there came a knock at the door, "tap, tap, tap," polite and cautious.
Having been awake all night, Ban Xia was in a foul mood and reluctantly went to answer.
The door opened to reveal an unfamiliar young woman dressed in white, with a sharply pointed chin. She stood there smiling before speaking, gazing at Ban Xia in a friendly manner.
"Hu Po?" Ban Xia ventured.
Hu Po nodded and stepped inside, acting as if they were old acquaintances.
"What do you want?"
—I came to thank you.
She wrote this on paper; it seemed that although she could take human form, she still couldn't speak.
"Oh." Ban Xia replied indifferently, "It's nothing. It was just a coincidence; I didn't go out of my way to save you."
—I want to help you.
Hu Po wrote again.
"Help me with what?"
—Help you finish what you didn't get to say today.
"Huh?"
—Actually, he likes you too. I can sense it.
The ink on the paper carried a faint fragrance. Hu Po smiled, as if she understood everything.
"You can help me? How?" Ban Xia remained skeptical.
—In matters like this, just a little push is needed, and it will unfold as naturally as a flower blooming.
Hu Po finished writing with a rustle, then turned to look at Ban Xia before pointing a finger at the hibiscus plant placed in the room.
Miraculously, the hibiscus, which had only been in bud, burst into full bloom under the gaze of her amber eyes, instantly filling the room with its fragrance.
The next day.
Nightfall by the lake on Jade Island, with the autumn breeze whispering.
Everything was so perfect.
Ban Xia took a deep breath, feigning innocence as she dipped her hand into the lake water and flicked it, saying, "The water's still quite chilly now."
"Mm." Xuan Ye replied honestly, "I'll go with you tomorrow to buy some warmer clothes."
"The wound on my neck has healed."
"Mm."
"But I want to stay." Ban Xia murmured, "Although you're very capable, you always falter at critical moments. I think you really need an assistant."
Hearing this, Xuan Ye smiled, apparently understanding what "faltering" meant.
The atmosphere between them began to soften, the feeling truly like a bud ready to bloom, waiting only for a gentle breeze to coax it open.
The white birch trees by the lake began to rustle, moving without wind, as if keeping time to some mysterious, ambiguous rhythm.
Hu Po's magic was beginning to take effect.
Understanding the cue, Ban Xia slowly leaned her head over, resting it lightly on Xuan Ye's shoulder as if listening to the wind and gazing at the moon.
Xuan Ye didn't pull away.
"Such a fragrant scent, do you smell it?" Ban Xia whispered against his shoulder.
Indeed it was fragrant—an indescribable, enchanting aroma.Under the moonlight, the various flowers and plants seemed to come alive at this moment, stirred by Hu Po's psychic energy, releasing just the right amount of fragrance, perfectly blended—subtle yet slightly alluring. Slowly, like a pair of aphrodisiac hands, it seeped into the souls of Ban Xia and Xuan Ye.
Xuan Ye's face flushed slightly, just a faint hint, an exquisitely beautiful wavering.
The aphrodisiac scent began to take effect.
Almost unconsciously, their faces drew closer, breaths like a breeze brushing against each other's lips and teeth.
Ban Xia saw Xuan Ye's eyes—jet-black pupils filled with unmistakable, genuine emotion.
Their lips were already touching, less than a millimeter away from a deep, lingering kiss.
"I'm not worthy."
At the very last moment, Xuan Ye actually retreated, inexplicably uttering four words.
On the brink of success yet failing, Ban Xia sighed inwardly, feeling deeply wounded as she looked at him.
"I'm not worthy of your affection." Xuan Ye lowered his head again.
"Why?"
"Because I will ultimately betray you." Xuan Ye replied swiftly and vaguely, as if even he couldn't face this answer.
"The night is deep and the dew is heavy, let's go back."
After that, he added, accompanying Ban Xia on the return journey. The entire way was spent in silence, and he didn't even glance at her again.
It was past midnight when they returned to the inn, yet Ban Xia still couldn't sleep.
The taste of rejection was not pleasant.
Outside, the moon was full, so she simply threw on her clothes, rubbed her temples, and stepped out.
There was a rustling sound behind her, as if someone was following.
"Sorry you couldn't help me."
Ban Xia continued forward, assuming it was Hu Po.
The person didn't speak, slowly approaching and placing a hand on her shoulder.
Ban Xia glanced sideways slightly and saw the little finger of that hand, immediately sensing something was wrong.
It was a man's hand—strong and rough, definitely not Hu Po's.
"Ah..." the person behind her mumbled, sounding like a mute who couldn't speak.
Ban Xia pressed a hand to her chest and slowly turned around.
"Ah..." the person uttered again, his face slightly contorted as if he wanted to ask something. His mouth half-opened, revealing only a small stump of a tongue. After a few muffled sounds, blood immediately gushed like a waterfall, dripping profusely down his lower lip.
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