After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Sikong Xue instinctively shielded Ning Yuan behind her while the accompanying guards drew their blades to deflect the arrows flying from the forest.

Amidst her terror, Ning Yuan looked toward the stream in a panic and said, “Chiyun went to the stream alone; she won’t encounter any danger, will she!”

Yin Chiyun had shouted about assassins; being alone, she couldn’t have been captured, could she?

Sikong Xue said, “You two, go quickly and fetch Chiyun!”

Although Yin Chiyun knew some martial arts, these people were coming with aggressive momentum, and Sikong Xue feared she might meet with misfortune.

Just as the two were worrying, they saw Yin Chiyun running back, cradling a wounded fawn in her arms. She looked back as she ran, but fortunately, no one was pursuing her.

Ning Yuan blinked. These assassins seemed a bit… off?

Sikong Xue frowned. Seeing that the surroundings had returned to silence, she looked at the arrow that had fallen by her feet. The arrow was somewhat crude, not looking like it was made by official government smiths.

“Chiyun, the ‘assassins’ you mentioned—they couldn’t be local hunters living nearby, could they?”

Yin Chiyun sat down cradling the deer, panting heavily for a long while before finally gathering her wits. Just now, while she was washing her face by the stream, she happened upon this fawn drinking water. Yin Chiyun had originally wanted to pat the fawn’s head when suddenly a flying arrow shot toward them, frightening her into thinking she had encountered assassins.

Seeing the deer was injured, she picked it up and ran, not having the presence of mind to see how many people were around.

Yin Chiyun scratched her head and said, “I was just acting out of caution. What if it was someone sent by Yuchi Jin to test the waters?”

Ning Yuan saw that the deer in Yin Chiyun’s arms looked piteous. She took a pear to feed it and said, “It must be hurting terribly. If the hunters catch up, let’s just buy it from them.”

Yin Chiyun had someone bring the medicine chest from the carriage. She pulled the arrow from the fawn’s leg and gave it a simple bandaging.

Sikong Xue only wanted to say that if she and Sikong Zhi had encountered it today, they likely would have hunted the deer to roast and eat. However, seeing Ayuan was so kind-hearted, she nodded in agreement.

“Still, even if we buy it, we can’t take it with us on the road. Likely as not, it will just be captured again.”

In the time it took to speak, Yin Chiyun had finished bandaging the wound.

Yin Chiyun said, “Since we’ve encountered it, we’ll save its life. What happens from here depends on its own fate.”

The medicine Yin Chiyun used was of the highest quality. Since the arrow hadn’t injured the bone or tendon, the fawn was able to walk once placed on the ground. It staggered a few steps, twitched its ears, and nudged Yin Chiyun’s leg with its head as if in thanks.

Hearing footsteps approaching, the accompanying guards became alert once more. The fawn seemed to sense danger and nervously circled around Yin Chiyun.

“It’s over there. I clearly hit it just now, but someone snatched it away.”

“Who is so undisciplined as to dare snatch our prey!”

The hunters chasing their prey saw Sikong Xue’s group. Originally furious, they fell silent upon realizing the group had a powerful background; they didn’t dare ask further even though their prey was lost.

Yin Chiyun stepped forward, took out a silver ingot, and said to the lead hunter, “We are buying this deer.”

The woman holding the bow and arrow had never seen so much silver; she took the silver and thanked them repeatedly.

Yin Chiyun said, “Since you’ve taken the silver, you are not allowed to chase this deer anymore.”

The woman said, “What are the noble one’s words? This is enough for a year of our expenses. Since the noble one shows mercy, how could we break our word?”

After the hunters left, Yin Chiyun said to the wounded fawn, “We have urgent matters. Run away quickly, and don’t fall into their hands again.”

Ning Yuan said, “Since you are so uneasy, why not have someone send it back to your manor? It’s not far from the capital anyway.”

Sikong Xue had felt since childhood that the things Yin Chiyun liked were different from ordinary people. She spent her days fussing over herbs, insects, and snakes; even the Court Physician couldn’t succeed in acting as a matchmaker for her.

Seeing Yin Chiyun being so good to the fawn, Sikong Xue couldn’t help but say, “Ayuan is right. You might as well raise it at your manor. Perhaps if you feed it more medicinal herbs, one day it might cultivate into a human form to be your wife.”

“What nonsense.” Yin Chiyun patted the fawn’s hind leg and said, “Go quickly. If you don’t leave, be careful of certain people catching you to roast.”

Yin Chiyun felt that Sikong Xue was much more dangerous than that group of hunters. If Ning Yuan hadn’t been here today, Sikong Xue might well have eaten venison.

It was strange, too. In the past, Yin Chiyun would go hunting with Sikong Xue. But seeing this fawn, she truly couldn’t bear to harm it. Previously she didn’t believe in ghost stories or gods, but if Ning Yuan could return in another’s body, it wasn’t impossible that a small beast of the mountains could cultivate into a spirit.

Seeing the fawn look back every three steps, Yin Chiyun also felt it possessed some spiritual intelligence.

“If you truly can cultivate into human form, you must give Sikong Xue a sound beating for me.”

Ning Yuan saw Yin Chiyun and Sikong Xue bickering like this and couldn’t help but laugh. The two being so close was just like when they were children. If those events hadn’t happened back then, they likely would have been able to stay carefree like this forever.

After the group rested, they headed toward the post station in the next town. Ning Yuan sat in the carriage and whispered to Yin Chiyun, “How much more of the past have you secretly told Sikong Xue?”

Yin Chiyun said, “Eldest Miss, don’t wrong me. Sikong Xue wishes she could be with you every single day; where would I find the time to tell her anything?”

It was only that one time, when Sikong Xue had made Ning Yuan cry and wanted to coax her but didn’t dare, that Yin Chiyun feared they would miss each other like that and spoke of the events of that year.

“Then…”

Ning Yuan looked outside the carriage, hesitant to speak.

Yin Chiyun guessed what Ning Yuan wanted to ask. she said, “Over these five years, everyone wished Sikong Xue would forget you sooner; how would I dare mention the past in front of her? The feelings in your hearts—you must eventually realize them yourselves.”

Ning Yuan clutched the handkerchief in her hand, unsure whether to feel fortunate or sad.

No wonder when she was sent as a tribute to the Great Hall, Sikong Xue had taken only one look at her before disregarding all decorum to remove her own robe and drape it over her. No wonder when she was carried into the carriage by Sikong Xue, Sikong Xue had been so heartbroken to see her bare feet. No wonder when she had tried to use her body to entice Sikong Xue just to see her family, Sikong Xue had been so angry and sad.

Upon arriving at the post station, the moment the carriage stopped, Sikong Xue impatiently helped Ayuan down. Seeing Ayuan’s solemn expression, Sikong Xue thought she was unwell.

“Ayuan, can you still hold on? If you can’t endure it, I will send you back.”

Ning Yuan got off the carriage with Sikong Xue’s support. The moment her feet touched the ground, she impatiently threw herself into Sikong Xue’s arms. The more she knew of Sikong Xue’s past feelings for her, the more Ning Yuan pined for her. It was all her fault for being too concerned with “face” in the past, saying she didn’t want to be betrothed to Sikong Xue.

Sikong Xue was stunned for a moment, realizing Ayuan was overthinking. she patted Ning Yuan’s back and said, “Whatever you have to say, say it in the room. Don’t stand out here in the sun.”

“In… in the room?”

After entering the post station, Ning Yuan finally realized she was to share a room with Sikong Xue. Ning Yuan looked around and whispered, “There are so many rooms in the post station; can’t we stay separately?”

Although the two had been like that before, she was drunk then. Now that both were sober, staying in the same room again was truly… What if they couldn’t restrain themselves?

Sikong Xue said, “Ayuan, don’t think too much. I’m only afraid I won’t be able to protect you in time if assassins appear.”

“Then…” Ning Yuan looked at the bed, which could only fit one person lying down. If the two stayed in one room, they would likely have to hold each other tightly.

Ning Yuan pressed her lips together, unsure if it was anticipation or something else. Sikong Xue saw Ayuan was nervous and said, “Don’t think too much; tonight I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“How can that be? The floor is hard and cold, and even a bit damp. You’ll be uncomfortable sleeping on the floor.” Ning Yuan said, “You’ve had to drive the carriage all this way and are already tired enough; how can I let you sleep on the floor. How about… I sleep on the floor instead.”

Sikong Xue said, “But what if there are bugs on the floor?”

Sikong Xue remembered Ayuan was most afraid of bugs. As she spoke, Ning Yuan’s expression indeed changed.

“Then let’s just sleep on the bed together.”

Sikong Xue pretended to be troubled: “But the bed is so small; I’m worried about crowding you.”

“Sikong Xue!” Ning Yuan glared at her. She had already said so much, yet this Sikong Xue still…

“Then you just sleep on the floor; I won’t care about you at all!”

After dinner, Sikong Xue didn’t know what to do for a moment. She had the post station staff send another quilt, but she didn’t truly want to sleep on the floor. Thus, when it was time to blow out the candles, Sikong Xue was still lingering there.

If she laid out the floor bed too early, she really would have to sleep on the floor tonight. And likely not just tonight—in the days to come, if Ayuan got used to it…

Ning Yuan was already lying on the bed with her back to Sikong Xue, pretending not to care. Sikong Xue looked at the teapot on the table, thinking to herself: Should I pretend to spill the water? But wouldn’t that be too obvious? Ayuan was so smart; she would surely see through her thoughts in an instant.

Actually, being in the same room as Ayuan and being able to look at her was enough for her. Although there was a fan in the room, if the two squeezed into one bed, she feared Ayuan would get too hot.

Just as Sikong Xue was about to dejectedly accept the fact that she had to sleep separately from Ning Yuan, she heard the person on the bed say, “Sikong Xue, aren’t you getting in bed yet?”

Sikong Xue said joyfully, “Ayuan, what did you say?”

Ning Yuan clutched her nightclothes and said, “You walking back and forth like that is so noisy I can’t sleep properly!”

She moved to the side, making room for Sikong Xue on half the bed. This blockhead if I don’t let her in bed, she really won’t get in? She’s usually not this obedient.

Before Ning Yuan could turn over, Sikong Xue squeezed in beside her, holding her firmly in her arms.

“Ayuan, I knew you cared for me.”

Ning Yuan said, “Who cares for you? I just feel it’s a bit cold at night.”

Sikong Xue’s lips curved as she held her even tighter. Feeling the fragrance on Ayuan’s body, Sikong Xue couldn’t help but draw closer. She wanted to kiss Ayuan, wanted to be even more intimate with her. Knowing it wasn’t the right time, yet once close, she found it difficult to restrain herself.

“Ayuan… can I?”

“No, no, no.” Before Sikong Xue could say anything else, Ning Yuan turned over to face her and covered her mouth.

Ning Yuan felt that the post station wasn’t like the manor; if someone heard any strange noises, she feared she wouldn’t be able to show her face again. No matter what Sikong Xue said, she wouldn’t agree.

Her cool hand pressed against Sikong Xue’s lips; Sikong Xue took the opportunity to kiss Ning Yuan’s palm. An itch spread through her, and Ning Yuan pulled her hand back, whispering, “I said it’s not allowed!”

Sikong Xue’s hand held Ayuan’s waist. Feeling each other’s heartbeats, she boldly drew closer and lightly tasted Ayuan’s lips.

Feeling the person in her arms grow short of breath, Sikong Xue said, “Ayuan, what did you say just now… was not allowed?”

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