Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 115

On the night of Qin Suliu’s eighteenth birthday, Yue Tingxi found herself suffocated by the rowdy, alcohol-soaked banquet. Unable to stomach the chaotic celebration, she swiped a jar of fruit wine from Qin Chuhan’s stash and slipped away to drink in solitude.

For girls in their realm, turning eighteen marked the official transition into adulthood. It was the age when one could finally get engaged, form political alliances, and rightfully bind their life to a beloved mortal or demon as Dao companions.

Logically speaking, none of this should have concerned her.

Ever since she learned about the young girl’s feelings for her twelve years ago, Yue Tingxi had deliberately avoided the subject. She had kept their relationship strictly within the safe, unmoving boundaries of friendship.

She truly believed that Qin Suliu shouldn’t waste her life-defining love on a demon who had merely captivated her during a chance encounter in her childhood.

Besides, while Yue Tingxi wasn’t a bad person, she was hopelessly dense when it came to romance. Even when she flipped through the spicy romance novels Chanying enthusiastically described as “excellent meat in a savory broth,” she couldn’t feel a single thing.

“Romance” and “vows of eternal love” were concepts she simply couldn’t comprehend…and what she couldn’t understand, she could never give.

Just like that, twelve whole years flew by. She watched the little girl grow into a formidable woman capable of standing on her own. Over time, their bond grew so deep that even though they weren’t Dao companions, they seemed more inseparable than any married couple.

Once, when Qin Suliu was away, Yue Tingxi had actually sought counsel from Qing Wu, asking her why things had turned out this way.

Qing Wu told her it was simply habit.

She had grown accustomed to having this specific person in her life. They ate together, lived together, matched each other perfectly in martial sparring, and never ran out of things to talk about.

Even if their interests didn’t always align, whenever one spoke with passionate excitement, the other would listen intently from beginning to end, never offering a dismissive reply.

Yue Tingxi felt the master of Qingyu Mountain made perfect sense, but the explanation only left her more bewildered.

…If they were this incapable of leaving each other, what did the future hold for them?

Would they really just remain friends for the rest of their lives? Like the master of Qingyu Mountain and Lord Xie Zhi?

“…I think you need to understand one thing: the two of us can hardly be called simple friends anymore,” Qing Wu had stressed with a frown at the time. “It’s not like you have to bow to Heaven and Earth just to be considered Dao companions.”

Qing Wu had regained her past memories, and she intentionally avoided any formal rituals to remind herself and Xie Zhi of what had happened back then…something she still found hard to forgive.

As for their current dynamic… Xie Zhi liked to call them “hate-sex companions.” Qing Wu couldn’t be bothered to correct her, so she just let it be.

And so, Yue Tingxi had carried on living with that lingering confusion.

It wasn’t until Qin Suliu’s eighteenth birthday banquet, as she sat alone drinking away from the crowd, that a sudden realization struck her: they really needed to cut ties.

No matter what their past lives held, that belonged to who they used to be. There was absolutely no need to force a continuation of an old flame just for the sake of “past sentiments.”

Twisted melons are never sweet, and even if two incompatible people are tightly bound together, the rope will eventually snap.

A dull creature like herself would only get in the way of Qin Suliu finding her true match.

Yet, for some reason, the mere thought of distancing herself from Qin Suliu made her chest ache with a sudden, suffocating prickle, as if a thousand ants were biting at her heart.

“Tingxi-jie?”

Before she could even finish half her jar of wine, Qin Suliu’s voice drifted over.

Yue Tingxi instinctively shuffled over to make room. It took her a moment to snap out of it, staring blankly at the girl who had just sat down directly across from her.

Before she could speak, Qin Suliu asked softly, “Is the food not to your liking today? Or did some rude guests say something to upset you? If it’s the latter, Sister has already kicked those gossips out, and the villa won’t be associating with them ever again. If it’s the former…”

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Yue Tingxi cut her off.

“Really? Because I don’t think you’re fine at all.” Qin Suliu gazed intensely into her slightly flushed eyes. “This is my home, yet I’ve let you feel wronged. It’s entirely my fault.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, how is any of this your fault!” Yue Tingxi countered instinctively. “Today is your birthday, it’s supposed to be a joyous occasion.”

“But if I don’t figure out why my dearest, closest friend is hiding out here drinking alone, I won’t be able to celebrate today at all!” Qin Suliu insisted.

Yue Tingxi knit her brows. She still hadn’t figured out how to break things off, let alone what to say, so she simply bit her lip and averted her gaze.

To make matters worse, the alcohol was starting to hit her, and drowsiness settled in. Feeling a yawn coming on, she tried to force it down, only to let out a sudden hiccup. Then came another, and another…she tried thumping her own chest, but nothing worked.

Qin Suliu quickly moved closer to pat her back, pouring her tea and fumbling around for a sobering pill.

As if possessed, Qin Suliu didn’t place the medicine in front of her as she usually would. Instead, she fed it directly to her lips.

And Yue Tingxi, surprisingly, didn’t point out the impropriety. She simply took the pill straight from the girl’s hand, her wine-slicked lips brushing lightly against Qin Suliu’s fingertips.

Qin Suliu couldn’t restrain herself any longer. She stood up, stepping directly into Yue Tingxi’s personal space.

Their eyes locked. After a tense few seconds, Qin Suliu spoke up: “I want to make a big decision. Will you help me think it through?”

Expecting the closed-off Tingxi-jie to make the first move was impossible; she had to seize this moment herself.

Yue Tingxi gave a barely audible murmur of agreement.

“If I were to get engaged tonight for my eighteenth birthday, would you be willing to be my Dao companion?”

Before Yue Tingxi’s brain could even process the first half of the sentence, the second half struck her like a physical blow. Her heavy, sleepy eyelids flew wide open in sheer shock.

“…Why would you make such a reckless decision?”

A second later, she asked back, completely bewildered.

It wasn’t that Yue Tingxi had never imagined Qin Suliu getting married one day, but she never expected this girl to still be pinning after her!

What on earth was there about her that was worth pining for?!

“If twelve years of devotion feels reckless to you, Tingxi-jie, then you can just call me rash, ignorant, and utterly fearless,” Qin Suliu said with a soft smile. “But I am entirely sincere about wanting to bind my life to yours.”

This time, without giving Yue Tingxi a chance to question her further, she leaned down and gathered her into an embrace. She pressed a tender kiss against Yue Tingxi’s brow, and then against her cheek.

“Let go of me…” Yue Tingxi felt as though her entire body had been struck by a heavenly tribulation; even her voice shook violently.

But what truly terrified her was the realization that Qin Suliu wasn’t using any spiritual artifacts, spells, or medicine to restrain her. Even the arms wrapping around her were holding her with very little force.

If she wanted to, she could easily push Qin Suliu away.

But she didn’t.

It was as if her pressure points had been struck or a binding spell had been cast on her; she simply stayed frozen, letting Qin Suliu hover over her.

She didn’t even notice at what point the lower half of her body shifted into a long snake tail… Perhaps it was because Qin Suliu had whispered that she was in a terrible mood and just wanted to be held, so Yue Tingxi had habitually complied.

But tonight, things felt different. Maybe it was the alcohol, but she vaguely noticed that where her serpentine scales pressed against Qin Suliu’s purple robes, a certain… slick, heavy dampness began to bleed through the fabric.

“It’s okay, Tingxi-jie,” Qin Suliu comforted her, her voice incredibly gentle, showing no sign of blame. “Do you need my help? I’ve never done this before, but if you trust me, I promise to be very careful.”

Dazed and completely overwhelmed, Yue Tingxi gave a muddled nod. By the time her mind drifted back to consciousness, her chin was resting softly on Qin Suliu’s shoulder, and her upward gaze met layers of sheer, pure white bed curtains.

The surroundings were dim, and she realized it was time to sleep.

But if she really cut ties with Qin Suliu tonight, she would have to sleep alone from now on. When she opened her eyes in the mornings…whether at Xishan or the Kongming Villa…Qin Suliu would no longer be lying beside her, looking peaceful and serene in her sleep.

“…Don’t go.”

She wasn’t even sure if she actually voiced the words, but before the alcohol dragged her under completely, she kept repeating those two words over and over like a mantra into the quiet night.

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