She Said That Kisses and Hugs Are Needed for Redemption [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Nian Ci let out a soft sigh, choosing not to press the matter further. With a final warning, “You’d best tread carefully” she turned and left.

A streak of light flashed across the sky as the imposing elder departed. Bai Qingyuan immediately grabbed Long Qian’s sleeve, urgency in her voice. “Sister Cen can’t have gone far yet. Senior Brother, take me to find her!”

Her mind was a tangled mess, but returning to Qingqiu to ask for answers wasn’t an option. Finding Sister Cen was her only hope.

Long Qian patted the back of her hand, calming her agitation. “We can’t.”

Then, gazing at the now-serene sky under Bai Qingyuan’s anxious stare, he lowered his voice. “Haven’t you noticed? Not long after we met Senior Sister Cen, Elder Nian showed up as if she’d caught wind of it.”

“You mean?” Bai Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat as she murmured in dawning realization, “They might have planted tracking charms on us? They’re using us to find Sister Cen?”

Long Qian shook his head. “It’s not just us. Everyone sent out on this mission probably has them.”

The moment this possibility took root, Bai Qingyuan’s face paled. Even with her limited understanding of worldly affairs, she knew that if the elders were going to such lengths to bring Sister Cen back, it couldn’t just be about punishment.

There might be some deeper scheme at play, one far beyond her reach.

No wonder, Sister Cen had fled Qingqiu in such a state, refusing to return and face whatever awaited her.

So, what was it that she didn’t know? And was her own sister truly forced to take Sister Cen’s place in the Heavenly Realm, like a duck driven onto a perch?

The more she thought, the more her mind spun into chaos, a dull ache throbbing in her temples.

A cool palm rested atop her head, dispelling some of her unease. She looked up to see Long Qian’s expression soften. “Let’s do as we did before keep Elder Nian and the others off guard while we investigate in secret.”

Smoothing the crease between Bai Qingyuan’s brows, he reassured her, “I’ll help you.”

After a long moment of contemplation, Bai Qingyuan agreed to quietly leverage the Dragon Clan’s influence for information. If she used her own connections in Qingqiu, Elder Nian would surely catch wind of it and that would only alert their enemies.

Months passed in a blur. Qingqiu’s search yielded no trace of their target, turning the matter into a peculiar tale whispered across the realms.

But recently, another event had seized public attention. After lying dormant for millennia since the Demon Lord’s sealing, the demonic tribes, once confined to the Demon Realm had begun reappearing in the open.

First, an entire village in the Northern Wastes was slaughtered by demons, leaving no survivors. Then, a minor sect in the Southern Wastes was infected with demonic seeds, transforming its members into monsters that ravaged the surrounding lands.

One incident after another forced the Heavenly Realm to take action, dispatching envoys to investigate.

Yet as reports of demonic disturbances multiplied, panic spread like wildfire. Whispers grew that the ancient seal was weakening that the malevolent Demon Lord might break free any day.

The mortal realm trembled under the weight of unease, its people fearing the sudden resurgence of demons would shatter their fragile peace.

Night fell.

A full moon hung on the horizon, surrounded by thick, dark clouds that seemed to block its cold, silvery light. The moonlight that should have bathed the ground had vanished without a trace, leaving the surroundings in utter darkness.

The occasional gust of wind was bitingly cold, lashing against their faces like the sting of a knife.

Fu Lancen glanced back at the endless night behind her, pausing for a moment to wipe the clammy sweat from her forehead. Breathing lightly, she said, “We’ve shaken off those people. Let’s rest for a bit.”

Just that morning, she and Lu Xi had been resting in a city thousands of miles away, only to be discovered by those who had caught their scent. Fortunately, Lu Xi was quick-witted and had used a diversion to evade them.

But they could no longer stay in that place, so she had followed Lu Xi’s suggestion and fled north toward the desolate wilderness.

By now, they had traveled thousands of miles, and she could no longer sense their pursuers. Finally, she could relax a little.

Yet she found it strange. After spending so many days together, she had guessed that Lu Xi’s cultivation must be quite profound after all, how else could she repeatedly detect the movements of the Qingqiu clan and slip away right under their noses? Only someone with extraordinary abilities could manage that.

But Lu Xi never fought back, only avoided confrontation. It was puzzling.

Fu Lancen stole a glance at the woman beside her through the sheer fabric of her sleeve, only to meet a pair of deep, rippling eyes that seemed to stir endless waves within her. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze.

“There’s a village ahead. Should we ask for shelter and rest properly for the night?” Lu Xi still disliked camping in the wilderness. Noticing Fu Lancen’s inexplicable stare and sudden turn away, she raised an eyebrow and casually made the suggestion.

Her heart still racing, the young girl barely registered the words and simply nodded in agreement.

The two pressed forward a little farther until they reached the village. A few households still had their lights on, and the scent of cooking fires lingered in the wind. The murmurs of family conversations drifted faintly from within, mingling with the chirping of insects in the fenced fields, a picture of tranquil village life.

Lu Xi glanced at Fu Lancen walking beside her and, seeing her exhaustion, led her toward the nearest house.

Knock, knock, knock. The gentle rapping sounded abruptly in the silent night, and for a moment, the house fell quiet.

After a pause, an elderly voice called out, “Who’s there?”

Lu Xi softened her voice. “My sister and I are passing through the village. The night is deep, and the cold wind is harsh we fear we won’t last the night. Might we trouble you for shelter to escape the chill?”

Silence followed her words.

Lu Xi tilted her head slightly, listening. Inside, hushed whispers could be heard.

“Old man, who’s outside?”

“Travelers. They’re asking if we can take in two sisters for the night.”

“At this hour? How could there still be young girls wandering outside. Could they be demons that feast on human essence?”

“That’s why I haven’t opened the door yet.”

Hearing the old couple’s murmurs, Lu Xi sighed softly and turned to look at the thinly dressed girl beside her. When her fingertips brushed against the delicate back of Fu Lancen’s hand, she felt a coldness like ice.

After carefully constructing an almost invisible wind barrier around them, she gently knocked on the door again. “Elders, I am a cultivator, though my cultivation is not yet profound enough to withstand the cold wind. I only seek shelter for the night.”

Hearing this, the hushed whispers between the two elders immediately ceased.

Listening to the rustling sounds of insects around them, Fu Lancen felt drowsy. She tugged at Lu Xi’s wide sleeve and whispered softly, “It’s too late. Let’s not disturb them any further. Why don’t we just make do for the night?”

As a fox, she wasn’t particularly averse to sleeping outdoors. She knew Lu Xi disliked staying overnight in the mountains, so she had always let her lead them to rest in various towns before. But now, it was indeed very late, and the elderly inside were likely frightened. It was better not to trouble them.

They could manage outside for one night. If Lu Xi didn’t want to sleep on the grass, she could revert to her original form and let Lu Xi rest against her soft fur.

The girl’s moist fox-like eyes shimmered like a lake bathed in moonlight. With every flutter of her long, curled lashes, ripples seemed to form, scattering the moonlight into countless dazzling stars.

Lu Xi was utterly captivated, once again marveling inwardly at the supporting female character’s breathtaking beauty so unique, so utterly mesmerizing.

Remembering the task at hand, she took a deep breath and raised her hand to cover Fu Lancen’s eyes.

“Shh.” Leaning close to the ear that had quietly turned pink, she whispered, “Don’t worry, they’ll open the door.”

With each word, warm breath brushed against Fu Lancen’s ear, reminding her again and again of how close she was to Lu Xi at that moment.

Just as her mind went blank, the faintest sound of footsteps came from inside the house. After a brief pause, the door creaked open.

Fu Lancen instinctively looked over and saw a gaunt-faced elder standing cautiously by the door, eyeing her and Lu Xi warily.

“Which of you is the esteemed cultivator?” the elder asked, though his gaze settled firmly on Lu Xi.

Lu Xi nodded slightly. “That would be me.”

The elder scrutinized Lu Xi for a long moment before gritting his teeth and stepping aside to let them in. “There’s only my wife, our grandson, and me in this house, so we only have two beds. You are honored guests, but I’m afraid you’ll have to share.”

“We are deeply grateful for your kindness in sheltering us from the cold wind all night,” Lu Xi said, leading the increasingly drowsy Fu Lancen inside.

With a soft chuckle, she opened her palm and extended a jade pendant toward the elder. “A small token of our gratitude. Please do accept it.”

The old farmer, who had spent his life tilling the land, had never seen such a flawless and lustrous piece of jade before. Flustered, he hastily pushed Lu Xi’s hand away. “No, no! This is far too valuable! Just letting you stay the night doesn’t warrant such a gift!”

As the jade in her palm grew warm, Lu Xi paused for a moment before firmly pressing it into the elder’s hand.

“Please take it,” she said, her expression unchanged. Smiling warmly, she greeted the elderly woman, who had risen to her feet, looking uneasy. “This is just an ordinary piece of jade, not worth much. Please accept it without worry.”

In this way, the two elderly folks could hardly say anything more. Seeing that both women appeared delicate and frail, with clear, bright eyes that didn’t resemble those of evil beings, they let down their guard and felt much more at ease.

Warmly inviting the two to sit at the table, the old couple bustled about in the neighboring kitchen for a while before returning with several bowls in hand. A fragrant aroma of home-cooked food soon wafted into the noses of the two women.

“You two sisters must have had a hard journey, with little chance to eat anything warm, right?” The elderly pair set out the bowls and chopsticks, then pushed two small dishes of side dishes toward them.

The two simple home-style dishes looked fresh and appetizing. Though the women had no need for such mundane fare, they didn’t wish to disregard the kindness of their hosts and ate a little.

As they ate, they chatted idly, and Lu Xi learned quite a bit from their conversation.

“So, demons had already come here several months ago?” Lu Xi’s tone was calm as she listened quietly to the old man’s recollections of the past.

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