After the Second Playthrough, the CP-Less Female Lead Kneels and Begs Me for Forgiveness [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 46

Siwan had mentioned that their pharmacy was called Miao Shou Si. It was very famous in the town, and everyone there knew of it.

Following the path described by the elderly woman, Shao Xibei and her companions successfully found the town. At the entrance stood a stone tablet engraved with the words: Lizi Town.

Shao Xibei, whose eyes could perceive the boundary between Yin and Yang, saw black energy swirling above the town the moment she reached the entrance.

Something is wrong with this town.

Despite this thought, Shao Xibei led Pei Xi inside. Along the way, they saw very few people. The ones they did encounter looked sickly; their internal vital energy was withered and weak, and they were covered in the same “ill luck” (huiqi) that Siwan and her friend carried.

Riding atop Little Gray, Shao Xibei stopped a young man in his early twenties who looked like a scholar. His face was unnaturally flushed. Shao Xibei could tell at a glance that his body had been invaded by malicious energy.

The young man took several steps back, terrified by the size of Little Gray. Shao Xibei patted the wolf’s head and smiled at the scholar. “Do not be afraid, sir. This is just a dog we keep at home; he is simply larger than average.”

Looking at Shao Xibei’s sincere smile, the young man was dazzled by her beauty. He thought to himself that such a beautiful lady must be telling the truth. He stopped retreating and nodded to Shao Xibei and Pei Xi. “Do you ladies need something?”

The young man’s gaze shifted to Pei Xi, but he immediately looked away—this woman’s aura was far too imposing.

Shao Xibei dismounted from the wolf and faced him. “Actually, we are looking for Miao Shou Si. Do you happen to know where it is?”

The young man nodded. “You must be going to see the doctor. It just so happens I am heading there as well. If you don’t mind, we can go together.”

Shao Xibei naturally did not refuse; it was a good opportunity to gather information. She winked at Pei Xi and then said to the young man, “Then we shall trouble you, sir.”

On the way, the young man introduced himself. His name was Liu Tie, a scholar from a nearby village. Two days ago, after returning from town, he began to run a fever. He initially thought it was a common cold, but the fever had worsened significantly over the last two days. Seeing more and more people falling ill with mysterious fevers, he assumed he had been “hit” by it as well, which was why he hurried to town to find a doctor.

After finishing his explanation, Liu Tie asked, “By the way, how should I address you two? Are you also going to see the doctor?”

Shao Xibei replied, “You may call me Miss Shao, and she is Miss Pei.”

The scholar nodded and continued, “No one knows when this illness started. I heard it was first discovered in Yuzhou City. Later, some people fled Yuzhou and came to the surrounding towns, and now these symptoms are appearing here too.” He sighed. “Once you catch this, your whole body feels like mush and you just keep burning up.”

The scholar was incredibly enthusiastic. Before Shao Xibei could even ask, he had revealed almost everything he knew, his eyes stealing glances at her from time to time. Shao Xibei pretended not to notice.

The streets were truly deserted; every household had their doors and windows tightly shut. Occasionally, they met a few people, all heading toward Miao Shou Si like the scholar.

After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they reached their destination. At a glance, the entrance to Miao Shou Si was crowded with people lying on the ground, with many more standing around. Siwan, Qing Sui, and several other doctors were busily working.

Liu Tie bid farewell to Shao Xibei and the others, saying he needed to go line up. Shao Xibei gave him a friendly wave, and they walked toward Siwan.

After settling a patient, Siwan looked up and saw Shao Xibei and Pei Xi approaching. She waved her hand in pleasant surprise. “Why have you come?”

“We came to take a look,” Shao Xibei said.

Siwan frowned again. “Many people are feverish lately. It is very easy to get infected if you come out like this.”

Shao Xibei smiled and shook her head. “It won’t happen.”

Now was not the time for idle chatter; there were too many patients. After a few brief words, Siwan went back to work. Shao Xibei and Pei Xi followed her, saying, “Siwan, Pei Xi and I can help as well.”

“It’s dangerous,” Siwan argued. “You could get infected, and besides, you don’t know medicine.” She went to the medicine cabinet, quickly grabbed several herbs, wrapped them up, and handed them to the patient in front of her. “Take one dose every night.”

Shao Xibei pointed to the people lying outside. “We are strong; we can help you carry people.”

Qing Sui, who had just come in from outside, heard this and said, “Wanwan, Miss Shao is right.”

Siwan thought about it and realized it made sense. With the increasing number of patients, some people would suddenly faint while standing. There wasn’t enough room inside, so they had no choice but to lay them outside. All the doctors in town had come to her place to help—there was no other way, as she was the only one who could understand the illness even slightly. But there were too many people in the town for her to handle alone, so she had requested help from the other doctors.

Siwan finally agreed.

The group worked tirelessly. As the sun began to set, Siwan sent off the last patient of the day. Strangely enough, the patients cared for by Shao Xibei and Pei Xi seemed to wake up much sooner than the others.

The other doctors had also worked all day. They helped without asking for anything in return, purely out of concern for the townspeople, which was why they hadn’t hesitated when Siwan asked for their aid.

That night, Siwan brought Shao Xibei and Pei Xi to her residence in town. It was a modest four-way courtyard. In the center of the yard was a massive peach tree, with a table and chairs set beneath it. Herbs were arranged all around, bearing a striking resemblance to the residence in Hetou Village.

Qing Sui said, “Wanwan, I’m going to prepare dinner.”

Siwan nodded, then turned to Shao Xibei and Pei Xi. “What brought you to town so suddenly?”

Shao Xibei had no intention of hiding the truth. She said bluntly, “We plan to leave this place.”

Siwan was struck by realization. “So that’s it? You came specifically to say goodbye to me and Qingqing?”

Shao Xibei didn’t deny it but changed the subject. “By the way, all those patients today seemed to have the same illness.”

Siwan sighed. “Yes, they are all the same. It has reached the level of a plague; the infection rate is too high. I don’t know if the City Lord has reported this to the higher-ups.”

Suddenly, Siwan pulled out the talisman Shao Xibei had given her the day before. “Miss Shao, the talisman you gave me yesterday turned black for some reason.” She handed it to Shao Xibei.

Shao Xibei looked at it; the surface was completely covered in blackness. “It’s useless now,” she said.

Siwan tilted her head, not understanding.

Shao Xibei sighed. She opened her palm, and the talisman suddenly burst into flames. In moments, only paper ash remained.

Siwan’s jaw nearly dropped at the sight. Her voice trembled, “Wh—what just happened?”

Shao Xibei didn’t want to hide it. Though they hadn’t known each other long, she knew both Siwan and Qing Sui were good people. She said, “Actually, Pei Xi and I are Taoist practitioners.”

Siwan was silent for a moment. She asked, “Are there really ghosts in this world?” She did not doubt Shao Xibei’s words.

Shao Xibei nodded. “Only a very few people can see them.”

Siwan’s eyes sparkled. She whispered excitedly, “Wow! I actually saved two Taoist masters! That’s amazing!” She had always thought the ability to see things others couldn’t was incredible. She had met “Taoists” before, but they were all frauds. She believed Shao Xibei implicitly.

Siwan couldn’t help but lean closer to Shao Xibei, wanting to see if there was anything different about her eyes. However, just as she got close, a hand appeared in the middle to block her advancing head.

It was Pei Xi.

Siwan sat back awkwardly. She had forgotten about her benefactor’s possessiveness.

Shao Xibei continued, “In fact, I observed the patients today. Those with fevers aren’t actually sick; they are infected with huiqi—what you might call ‘evil energy.’ When evil energy enters the body, it causes a lingering illness that can’t be cured by medicine.”

Siwan slapped the table. “No wonder! I couldn’t find anything physically wrong. I could only prescribe fever-reducing medicine, but it only suppresses it for a day or two before the fever returns even stronger, leaving them weak and dazed.”

“This afternoon, I briefly removed the evil energy from the bodies of the patients I touched.”

Siwan nodded. “No wonder their fevers broke and they woke up.” She reached out and grabbed Shao Xibei’s hand on the table. “Miss Shao, do you have any other way to save them? People in town have already started dying from this.”

Pei Xi frowned at the hand holding Shao Xibei’s. She was not happy; she had failed to block that move just now.

Shao Xibei nodded. “I will draw some evil-expelling talismans later. You can burn them, mix the ashes into water, and give it to the patients.”

Siwan nodded repeatedly without a hint of doubt.

Just then, Qing Sui called out from the kitchen, “Wanwan, come and help carry the dishes!”

Siwan jumped up immediately. “Coming, Qingqing!”

Pei Xi moved from Shao Xibei’s left side to her right. She reached out and took hold of the hand that Siwan had just been touching.

Shao Xibei was stunned for a moment. “What are you doing?”

Pei Xi whispered lowly, “I don’t like it.”

Shao Xibei understood instantly and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Pei Xi was literally showing her distaste because Siwan had touched that hand.

After a simple dinner of four dishes and a soup, Siwan asked, “Miss Shao, is it convenient to ask where you are headed?”

Shao Xibei had no intention of hiding it. “To Yuzhou City.”

Siwan frowned. “But Yuzhou City has been sealed off. Many of the people who first developed the fever have already died. Though, that’s just what I’ve heard from others; I don’t know the exact situation.”

Knowing Siwan was genuinely worried, Shao Xibei smiled and said, “It’s alright. Your benefactor and I are quite capable.”

Shao Xibei’s voice always carried a convincing power. Siwan decided not to dwell on the matter further.

She had originally intended to arrange two guest rooms for them, but to her surprise, Pei Xi said one would be enough. Siwan blinked and turned her gaze toward Shao Xibei. Shao Xibei pressed a hand to her forehead, but ultimately nodded in agreement with Pei Xi’s suggestion.

And so, tonight, Pei Xi once again successfully climbed into the same bed as Shao Xibei.

Now that the “window paper” had been poked through (the truth was out), Pei Xi became even bolder. Without a word, she reached out and pulled Shao Xibei—who was lying with her back turned—into a tight embrace.

“Push me away if you hate it,” Pei Xi whispered. She said it, but she held on so tightly it was as if she were afraid Shao Xibei would run away.

Shao Xibei found herself completely unable to deal with her. This almost tacit acceptance caused Pei Xi’s breathing to grow heavy. She began to vent all the frustrations she had felt throughout the day. “I was very unhappy when you spoke to that man named Liu today. You even smiled at him. Do you have any idea that his eyes were practically glued to you?”

Nighttime always seemed to awaken another side of a person’s heart.

“And when Siwan touched your hand, why didn’t you pull away?” As she spoke, Pei Xi knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t control herself.

Shao Xibei sighed. She turned her body around to face Pei Xi directly. Reaching out, she caressed Pei Xi’s cheek. “Pei Xi, don’t overthink things.”

Pei Xi buried her head in the crook of Shao Xibei’s neck. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I like you too much. Please don’t hate me.” Her voice was low and magnetic, sounding almost like she was acting spoiled.

Who could resist a pouting puppy? Certainly not Shao Xibei. She proactively hugged Pei Xi back. “How could I ever hate you?”

After they embraced for a while, Pei Xi lifted her head from Shao Xibei’s neck. Shao Xibei pulled back slightly, but their distance remained incredibly intimate. Nose to nose.

Pei Xi could feel her breath right there. Just a little closer, just a little more, and she could capture those lips that looked so soft to the touch. Shao Xibei felt the ambiguous tension as well. Meeting Pei Xi’s burning gaze, her heart began to beat erratically. Perhaps she did have feelings for Pei Xi; the changes in her heart couldn’t lie.

Suddenly, Shao Xibei’s eyes widened. Before her were Pei Xi’s long, thick dark lashes, and on her lips was the warmth of Pei Xi’s mouth.

Pei Xi was kissing her.

The realization sent Shao Xibei’s mind into a chaotic whirl. But Pei Xi immediately pulled back. Her ears and cheeks were flushed red as she opened her eyes. “Do you hate it?” Pei Xi asked.

Facing Pei Xi’s anxious eyes, Shao Xibei’s mouth moved faster than her brain: “I don’t hate it.”

Pei Xi’s eyes suddenly erupted with a brilliant light. She asked cautiously, “Then… can I kiss you again?”

Shao Xibei fell silent. How was she supposed to answer? She admitted she felt a spark for Pei Xi, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the “System.” Tsk, whatever, Shao Xibei decided to throw caution to the wind. She had almost separated the System from Pei Xi anyway. If Pei Xi recovered her memories later, then so be it. At worst, she’d just have the System seal off these feelings.

With that thought, Shao Xibei felt a sudden sense of clarity. Future matters could wait for the future; for now, she couldn’t refuse Pei Xi.

Pei Xi watched as the person in front of her slowly nodded. In that instant, Pei Xi moved with the speed of a hungry wolf. She had been unable to wait to kiss Shao Xibei’s lips again. She took those soft lips into her own, licking them and slowly tracing their shape with her tongue.

Shao Xibei felt her scalp go numb from the kiss. How is this kid so good at this? In reality, Pei Xi was simply acting based on the descriptions she had read in a certain book last time.

Shao Xibei felt a bit breathless and instinctively opened her mouth to speak. That single move allowed Pei Xi’s tongue to slide inside. The moment their tongues touched, both felt a jolt.

Shao Xibei felt numb all over. Pei Xi felt it even more; she had never imagined kissing someone could be like this. From the tip of her tongue to the bottom of her heart, everything felt incredibly itchy with desire. She couldn’t bear to pull away.

Shao Xibei felt the “soft snake” invading her mouth was incredibly flexible. It first brushed the tip of her tongue, circled it, and then gradually pushed deeper—the soft flesh on the sides, the roof of her mouth, her teeth—not a single spot was missed by Pei Xi’s tongue.

Seemingly finished playing with Shao Xibei’s tongue, she withdrew slightly but continued to hold Shao Xibei’s lips, licking, tracing, and lightly nibbling. It was as sensual as could be.

Caught up in the kiss, Shao Xibei couldn’t help but rub her legs together. She reached out and gave Pei Xi a gentle push. Pei Xi reluctantly pulled away, her voice husky as she asked, “You don’t like it?” Her eyes began to fill with anxiety again.

Shao Xibei was too embarrassed to say she was overwhelmed by the kiss. Even though Pei Xi was only eighteen, Shao Xibei felt a rare surge of adult pride. She steeled herself and said, “It’s not that.”

Pei Xi asked again, “Then, do you like it?”

How could she answer that? Seeing Shao Xibei’s silence, Pei Xi continued, “You won’t answer? Perhaps it’s just because you find it hard to refuse me, Sister Shao. Are you just trying to comfort me?” Her tone was dejected, and even her pale eyes dimmed.

Shao Xibei hadn’t realized Pei Xi was so silver-tongued. She really had no defense against her. She said very seriously, “Pei Xi, I like it.”

The moment the last syllable fell, her lips were captured again. Her teeth were pried open, and that soft tongue reached its destination once more. Shao Xibei simply closed her eyes and let herself sink into Pei Xi’s embrace.

Pei Xi kissed deeply and held her tightly. Shao Xibei felt as if she had fallen into a great net, but she didn’t want to break free; she only wanted to be wrapped tightly within it. It felt so good to be held like this. Ever since she realized Pei Xi was the System, her state of mind had changed. She had completely categorized Pei Xi as “one of her own.” And every time she was held in Pei Xi’s arms, she found she could no longer view her as a child. With Pei Xi acting like this, it was only a matter of time before she surrendered completely.

Shao Xibei lifted her tongue, no longer just letting Pei Xi take the lead, but becoming proactive. Feeling the response, Pei Xi’s body began to tremble. Her tongue stopped moving. Shao Xibei sensed something was wrong—she tasted something salty.

She immediately pushed Pei Xi away, propping herself up on one arm to check on her. She saw Pei Xi’s eyes were red and she was shedding tears. Shao Xibei’s heart skipped a beat. She asked hurriedly, “Pei Xi, why are you crying?”

Pei Xi’s tears were falling fast. She said with a trembling voice, “I—I’m too excited. You… you responded to me.”

Shao Xibei was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. She cupped Pei Xi’s face with both hands and pressed her lips to Pei Xi’s eyelids, kissing them gently until the tears stopped.

Shao Xibei looked up and asked, “Still excited?”

Pei Xi nodded honestly.

Shao Xibei furrowed her brows. “If you’re this excited just from kissing, wouldn’t you faint if we did something even more extreme later?”

Upon hearing this, Pei Xi’s mind went blank. Her heart nearly stopped. Even… more extreme? The illustrations she had seen flashed through her mind one by one. Instantly, she turned red from her face all the way down to her neck.

She looked at Shao Xibei with her eyes still damp from crying and asked, “So… what is our relationship now?”

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