After I Lost My Memory, I Was Coaxed into Marriage by a Yandere - Chapter 19

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The sound of knocking echoed again.

“Eldest Miss, are you inside?”

Eldest Miss?

Chi Wei, who was currently embracing Xiao Yanyi, immediately straightened up at the sound. She grabbed Xiao Yanyi’s cuff and whispered, “Could it be your family looking for you?”

Xiao Yanyi patted the back of her hand gently. “Not necessarily. Perhaps they have the wrong room. Wait here; I will go take a look.”

“I will go with you!”

“Be good.” Xiao Yanyi’s fingertip tapped lightly against Chi Wei’s temple. “Is your head no longer dizzy?”

Chi Wei had not felt dizzy, but at that light touch, she felt a momentary trance and sat back down, supporting herself against the edge of the table.

“I am going to check on Xiao Tan. I will be back soon,” Xiao Yanyi said. Outside, the knocking started again. Without waiting for Chi Wei to respond, she pushed the door open and stepped out.

Upon seeing Xiao Yanyi, the person outside felt their pupils shrink suddenly. A flicker of joy crossed their face, followed immediately by a frown. “Eldest Miss, where is Chi Wei? Is she not with you?”

Before the words had fully left the person’s mouth, Xiao Yanyi’s gaze turned cold. Her fingers clamped onto the newcomer’s neck like iron pincers. In the next instant, the world blurred; the two were already standing in the dense forest outside the inn.

“Who else knows you are here?”

“Cough, cough. No one. Our group is scattered everywhere; I am the only one who came to this place. Just now, when I saw you heading upstairs with a bowl of noodles, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I did not expect you to actually be here.”

Xiao Yanyi narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening. She had already developed a murderous intent toward this uninvited guest.

“Wait! I know this person!” Xiao Tan panted as she rushed over, shouting for Xiao Yanyi to stop before she dealt a fatal blow.

“What if you do?”

“Her name is Xie Yao, and she has a fairly good relationship with Chi Wei.” Seeing that Xie Yao was already gasping for air under Xiao Yanyi’s grip, Xiao Tan hurriedly added, “It is not that kind of relationship, but as a friend, she has helped Chi Wei a lot.”

Xiao Yanyi gave a cold snort and flung the limp body away. She turned back toward the inn.

“Break her legs and throw her into the deep mountains. You know what to say. Do not let it be like last time with Xin Rong.”

Xiao Tan nodded repeatedly in agreement. After showing mercy to Xin Rong last time, she never expected that in such a vast world, the two would meet again. She did not dare make the same mistake twice.

Once Xiao Yanyi had walked far away, Xiao Tan picked up the unconscious Xie Yao and walked quickly into the depths of the forest.

Reaching a secluded spot, she set the woman down and tied her up, but she began to fret as she looked at those legs. She truly could not bring herself to perform such a bloody task.

As she hesitated, Xie Yao unexpectedly groaned and woke up.

“Chi Wei treated you well; is this how you treat her junior sister?” Xie Yao’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to speak. “Back in the Valley, I even helped hide your identity from the Valley Master. Little Fox, you cannot return kindness with such enmity.”

Xiao Tan bit her lip, pacing in circles around the bound Xie Yao.

Xie Yao had been Chi Wei’s right-hand assistant in the Valley, and the two did seem to have a great bond. If Xiao Tan really broke her legs today, Xie Yao would undoubtedly make her life difficult in the future.

But if she failed to follow Xiao Yanyi’s orders again and ruined her plans, Xiao Tan feared for her own legs.

“Why on earth does the Eldest Miss want to kill me?” Xie Yao shrunk back, her voice filled with grievance and confusion. “I went through great hardships to find this place. Everyone in the Valley is worried sick; I have been constantly concerned about you and Chi Wei.”

Xiao Tan’s expression stiffened. Who said anything about killing you? Though it is good you think so.

“This, actually, it is because Chi Wei has gone mad. Chi Wei kidnapped Xiao Yanyi and insisted on forcing a happy marriage with her. Everyone in the Valley knows how much she used to obsess over Xiao Yanyi.”

“That was before she was adopted as the Valley Master’s daughter and before she practiced the Severed Strings technique! She is emotionless and desireless now; what happy marriage could she possibly want? Xiao Tan, do not be too ridiculous with your lies.” Xie Yao was dumbfounded. She knew that the cultivation technique Chi Wei practiced caused one’s temperament to become cold and detached.

“Tsk! Do you want to die, or do you just want a broken leg?” Xiao Tan glared at Xie Yao, frustrated by her lack of cooperation.

“You, you are willing to save me?”

Xiao Tan leaned in closer, her tone urgent. “Listen, you know Xiao Yanyi once studied immortal arts at Penglai, right?”

“Of course. Chi Wei went to fetch her back to the Valley, which is when they both went missing.”

“Then do you know that her current cultivation is already far beyond that of the Valley Master?”

Xie Yao froze. The Valley Master’s power had reached a miraculous level, ranking among the top ten in the world. How could the Eldest Miss be even more powerful?

Xiao Tan rapped Xie Yao on the forehead. “What kind of place is Penglai Island? It is a place for immortals to meditate. Xiao Yanyi was supposed to cultivate there and join the immortal ranks in a hundred years. But she did not; she defied her master’s orders and escaped even though she was gravely injured. Everyone in the Valley knows her temperament. If someone gets in her way, she shows no mercy.”

“But I was only following orders to find you; I did not offend her,” Xie Yao’s voice weakened.

If Xiao Yanyi was truly so volatile, and Xie Yao had not offended her, surely the Eldest Miss would not strike. She was only tasked with finding her whereabouts.

Xiao Tan rapped her on the head again. “You are so stupid. She escaped this time specifically for Chi Wei. I will not go into the details, but just remember: when you return to the Valley, say that Chi Wei committed an act of insubordination. Say she coveted Xiao Yanyi’s beauty and body, and kidnapped her.”

“Those words are a bit too crude; I cannot say that.” Xie Yao’s ears turned red.

“Do you want your dignity, or your life?”

“I will say it.”

Xiao Tan stood up and tossed a box into Xie Yao’s lap.

“This medicine is specifically for broken bones. I will strike lightly. Use the medicine to heal yourself quickly, but you must wait two months before returning to report. During this time, stay at the inn at the foot of the mountain. I will write to you.”

Xie Yao nodded. “Alright. Thank you, Xiao Tan.”

A shrill, agonizing scream suddenly rang through the forest.

A moment later, Xiao Tan emerged from the woods grimacing, rubbing her chilled arms.

“Yikes. Just hearing it makes me hurt.”

On the other side, Chi Wei retracted her head from the window and closed it. “Who is screaming like that in the middle of the night? Could something have happened? Should we call the authorities to check?”

Xiao Yanyi paused while spreading the bedding. She turned back with a radiant smile. “Perhaps someone just has a peculiar hobby. Let us ignore it. If the screaming continues, it will not be too late to call the guards then.”

“That makes sense.” Chi Wei yawned and walked toward the bed. She stopped in her tracks when she saw only one quilt laid out.

“What? Are you unwilling to share a bed with me?”

She truly was not prepared to stay in the same bed as Xiao Yanyi. Not for any other reason than she was not used to it now that her sight had returned.

“I will go get another quilt, then.”

Chi Wei remained silent.

“Or I can go out and open another room.” Xiao Yanyi reached out, her hand sliding up Chi Wei’s sleeve to feel her arm. “It is just that your body is so cold. It was never like this before; I am a bit worried.”

Chi Wei turned her head. Seeing Xiao Yanyi’s slightly lowered eyes and her undeniable disappointment, Chi Wei felt a dull ache in her heart. “Stay. After all, we are wives, are we not?”

Chi Wei touched her own neck; it felt quite warm. On the contrary, Xiao Yanyi’s palm was icy cold.

She had heard that snakes hide in burrows during winter, seeking warm places to coil. It had rained during the day, and the night chill was seeping in. It had been very cold when she closed the window.

Chi Wei remembered that when she was blind, Xiao Yanyi’s feet were always terribly cold at night and took a long time to warm up.

Since they were already wives, why make her face this long night alone?

But, why was Xiao Yanyi not making any move to get another quilt?

Fearing she might upset the other, Chi Wei did not dare say more. She silently climbed into bed, covered herself with the quilt, and waited for Xiao Yanyi.

Not knowing what Xiao Yanyi was busy with, Chi Wei was too nervous to turn her head. After all, she had already been caught red-handed peeking at the other undressing for a bath; it was far too embarrassing.

“Hold this for me.” Chi Wei sat up and took the candle Xiao Yanyi handed her.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yanyi suddenly raised her hand and pulled the collar of her white nightgown down. A large patch of snow-white skin on her left shoulder was suddenly exposed in the candlelight. Chi Wei’s heart leaped, and she hurriedly turned her face away.

“Now you are acting shy?”

“I did not see you being this well-behaved before.”

“Are we looking at the wound?” Chi Wei turned her head back sheepishly. She avoided Xiao Yanyi’s smiling eyes and focused on her shoulder.

Where the nightgown had partially slipped off, the lines of her arm were lean and elegant, but a wound about an inch long slashed across it. The flesh was slightly turned outward, looking particularly gruesome in the candlelight.

Chi Wei’s chest tightened. This wound was sustained for her sake back at the ruined temple.

While Chi Wei gazed at the wound, Xiao Yanyi was quietly watching her.

The goal of making Chi Wei feel distressed had been achieved, but Xiao Yanyi felt it was not quite enough.

Supporting her injured arm against the edge of the bed, she moved closer to Chi Wei. The already loose nightgown slipped further, barely hanging off the curve of her arm.

The night was cold and the dew heavy. Fearing she would catch a cold, Chi Wei instinctively looked up, her fingertips pinching the thin fabric to pull it up.

However, that one glance made her breath hitch.

Usually, she thought Xiao Yanyi was slender, but she had not expected the area softly illuminated by the candlelight to be so full. The rounded curves rose and fell slightly in the dim yellow glow, trembling gently with her breath.

Chi Wei’s ears burned. She blinked hurriedly and forced her gaze away, her hands fumbling as she pulled the clothing up slightly.

“Does, does it still hurt? Let me apply medicine for you.”

“It hurts. It hurts terribly.” Seeing that Chi Wei’s neck had turned pink again, a triumphant smile played at the corners of Xiao Yanyi’s mouth. She handed the medicine bottle to Chi Wei.

The candle returned to Xiao Yanyi’s hand. Chi Wei knelt on the bed, picked up a piece of gauze, and carefully sprinkled the medicinal powder from the bottle onto it before applying it to the injury.

As Chi Wei focused on the task, her gaze became clear again. Xiao Yanyi, dissatisfied with this, leaned into her ear and blew a soft breath. “Why is your neck so red? Is it too hot in the room?”

“Ah? Is there?” Chi Wei felt the heat that had been receding flare up again. She tried to change the subject. “Does the wound still hurt?”

“Why do you not blow on it for me?”

Chi Wei froze.

Blow on it? Would that work? Is that not a trick for coaxing children?

But seeing the other’s slightly furrowed brows, Chi Wei leaned down anyway.

She moved her face close to the gauze-wrapped wound. The surrounding skin was as delicate as jade. Holding her breath, she carefully exhaled a puff of air and looked up at Xiao Yanyi. Seeing her nod, Chi Wei blew again gently.

“It seems it is still not enough.” Xiao Yanyi’s voice softened further, like a feather brushing against the heart. “Why do you not kiss it?”

Chi Wei’s entire face flushed deep red. How could she not understand that this was a matter of bedroom intimacy?

In these matters, Chi Wei felt like a young child just entering school, while Xiao Yanyi was like a top-ranking scholar whose every word left her flustered.

Seeing that she did not move for a long time, Xiao Yanyi gave a low sigh, her tone drifting into melancholy. “In the past, you would never treat me like this. If I had a bump or a bruise, you would not wait for me to find you before remembering to apply medicine. Even in our daily life, you would not make me take off my clothes and beg for a kiss.”

“Do not, do not say anymore! I will kiss it!”

If she let Xiao Yanyi continue, there was no telling what other heart-pounding things she would say.

Chi Wei closed her eyes, lowered her head, and gently pressed her lips against that small patch of intact skin.

It was very soft.

Within the warmth, there was a faint scent of medicine and the unique fragrance of her body. With just that one touch, the tip of her heart trembled, and a trace of timid longing to explore deeper began to grow.