Volume 1: Phoenix Hidden in the Northern Domain Chapter 17: Accompanying Him Afterwards

  "When did you... come?"

  Tang Nian's eyes fluttered slightly, and the face of Si Ling Gu Yun was right in front of her. Because it was too close, she clearly saw the tenderness and affection in his eyes, like a gentle spring rain that never seemed to end.

  Si Ling's face was expressionless, and the air around him seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature.

  Tang Nian's anger towards people was always more sensitive than his kindness, and with a slight stiffening of his tired body, he called out in a soft, pleading tone: "Gu Huang, Gu Huang, Gu Huang..." He kept calling until the person's face gradually softened, their body relaxing as well, staring at him with misty eyes.

  The lonely goose in the graveyard let out a silent sigh.

  This breath seemed to have released all his anger and coldness, leaving only a gentle feeling.

  "Think about it."

  "En." Tang Nian's spirit was strong and she responded seriously.

  Cui Ling's swift departure from the icy valley was like a lone goose leaving behind a trail of wind. It wasn't until then that Tang Nian realized it had gotten quite late, and more than an hour past noon had already passed; apparently she had been too engrossed in her alchemy to notice the time.

  "Almost crossed the line." said Si Ling Gu Hong.

  Tang Nian's lips pursed, and her round eyes sparkled with unceasing ripples.

  "I just don't know when I came here, and I didn't even feel it, did I?"

  "Yes."

  The lonely goose's cry was as gentle as ever, but it didn't allow any nonsense: "From now on, I'll accompany you in cultivating the medicine."

  "What?" Tang Nian's voice was stuck in her throat as she froze.

  Cui Ling tightly grasped her hand, adding a bit of strength, as if to show his determination. He lightly kissed her smooth forehead, "Nian Nian, just now has already proven that I won't disturb you again."

  Tang Nian still had some lingering thoughts and a hint of regret, with a trace of the heavenly demon poison remaining on her forehead.

  "Really." Ci Ling's eyes were hurt, and he asked in a low voice: "Are you so unwilling to let me stay by your side?"

  Tang Nian's eyes flashed with a hint of conditions, then she opened her mouth, but fell silent again.

  A tranquil silence spread between the two, and Si Ling Gu's eyes grew increasingly dim as they arrived at Mei Lin's bedroom. He personally helped Tang Nian remove her shoes and put her on the bed, then lay down beside her. With one arm wrapped around Nian's waist, Si Ling Gu looked at her with a pained expression: "Nian, I secretly accompanied you, but you couldn't even notice me."

  "I won't let you practice alchemy alone again." Si Ling Gu Yun's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes hidden deep in the dark green shadows, his voice calm and low like a clear and bottomless spring water, impervious to any sharp words that might try to pierce it, flowing directly into one's heart. "Nian Nian, I don't want to deceive you."

  Honestly, I don't want to cheat you...

  Tang Nian's heart skipped a beat, and she came back to her senses, asking in confusion: "So you mean you won't punish me?" She had just been stunned because of this, thinking that this time's obvious foul would be punished, but didn't expect him to only say he'd accompany her?

  Si Ling was taken aback for a moment, then smiled lightly, looking at Tang Nian's lucky and shining eyes, suddenly rising with a playful thought, nodding, "You have to be punished."

  Tang Nian's eyes were dim and not as bright as before, but she felt that this was normal.

  "Today, you'll be punished by resting here until your body recovers," said Si Ling, holding her in his arms.

  What kind of punishment is this? Tang Nian's eyes fluttered, and she inexplicably felt a sweet softness in her heart that was hard to express. She couldn't help but glance away from the person in front of her, whose eyes were as sincere as water. She whispered softly: "This is truly the most relaxing punishment I've ever had."

  "Sleep tight." The sound of Si Ling Gu's voice was gentle, like the warm sun on a winter day, with snowflakes falling gently, but somehow it landed in the heart, making one's spirit feel relaxed.

  Tang Nian had exhausted his medicinal and physical strength, and for the sake of his own safety, he had been holding on until now. At this moment, hearing this extremely gentle voice, it was as if he had been hypnotized, and his eyelids drooped down powerlessly, falling asleep in an instant. As usual, he buried himself into Ciling Yu's embrace, rubbing against him to find the most comfortable position, not realizing that he had already subconsciously become accustomed to Ciling Yu's embrace, and even more so, liking the clear and quiet aura surrounding him.

  Xie Ling's lone swan lay sideways, her white jade-like fingers gently threading through her beautiful hair, slowly stroking, her eyes fixed intently on the peaceful sleeping face in her arms, her expression soft and subtly complex.

  "Ah..." This low, soft call contained endless complex emotions.

  From just now, Ciling Guhong was actually afraid. He was afraid that he could not control the overbearing treatment of Tang Nianian, making her reject him and move further away from him. He did not want to see Tang Nianian's disgusted gaze, but at the same time, he could no longer let Tang Nianian have accidents in places where he couldn't see her.

  If Tang Nian's previous attitude was really angry, rejected him and even hated him because of his decision, he might not compromise, and even produce a hint of evil thoughts.

  No matter what, he wouldn't let her go, even if it meant death...

  The voice of the devil grew in his mind, causing his fingertips to tremble slightly.

  In the world, ordinary people only know that Si Ling Gu Yun is a cold-hearted and ruthless person. The few people who are often with him at Xue Ying Mountain Villa also know that he is actually a carefree and simple-minded person. Behind his calm and dust-free face like an immortal, no one has ever been able to guess what he is thinking.

  However, only people like Zhu Miaoqi, who have been watching him grow up since he was a child, know some things that others do not.

  Siling Guhong actually has a possessive desire that can be called paranoid. From an early age, he didn't like his things to be touched by others, which was not only because of his physical condition but also due to his nature.

  Especially for things he likes, no one is allowed to touch them. In his childhood, he once raised a pet beast, and everything from eating and drinking to washing was done by him personally, without allowing anyone to touch it. However, the consequence was predictable, and even though he was extremely careful, the pet beast still died of poisoning within half a month. Later, he raised other pets, but none of them were able to escape disaster and survive. From then on, his facial expressions became fewer and fewer, and there were no longer any living creatures close to him.