bookcurios Chapter 1857
Chapter 1857
But looking into the vulnerability hidden deep in Qiu Zixian's eyes, he suddenly realized that he was no longer simply trying to "make amends"—
He admired her purity, felt sorry for her struggles, and was even more unwilling to see her continue to be Xia Jiuyou's "sacrifice".
Moreover, the little tower had reminded him that before reaching the Immortal King realm and merging with the Dao, cultivators of the highest level must resolve all karmic entanglements, otherwise it would affect the foundation of their Great Dao.
It's better to take the initiative now than to be passively dealt with later.
Qiu Zixian felt flustered by his gaze and subconsciously avoided looking at him, but couldn't help but meet his eyes again—his eyes were full of sincerity, without calculation or covetousness, only pure concern.
For a fleeting moment, she really wanted to nod in agreement, but reason quickly pulled her back:
"Are you just like other cultivators, only wanting to conquer the shadow of 'Xia Jiuyou'?"
Her gaze suddenly turned cold, as if it had been frozen solid. "You dare not provoke the real Xia Jiuyou, so you've settled for second best and chosen me, this easy target, as a substitute?"
She shoved Chen Xuan away abruptly, took two steps back, and the water splashed up at her feet, creating tiny, silvery sprays.
"I am not her replacement! I do not live for her! This matter was originally a conflict between you and Xia Jiuyou; I merely accidentally bore the brunt of her karma!"
After saying this, she turned her back, closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks, dripping silently onto the lake's surface.
"Don't look down on me like that. You have your own path to follow, and I have mine."
After saying that, she stepped on the water and walked step by step toward the exit of the cave.
The black veil fluttered in the moonlight, making the silhouette appear so frail that it seemed as if it might be blown away by the wind at any moment.
Chen Xuan stood there, watching the direction she had gone, his heart filled with mixed feelings—yes, twice they met, twice he had made advances towards her, why should he let her go with him?
Daoist partners? Friends? Both seem too far-fetched.
But then he thought, if a cultivator doesn't even dare to look directly at his own Dao heart, how can he talk about transcending tribulations to become an immortal and achieving eternal unity with the Dao?
He was always decisive, and now he didn't hesitate any longer, calling out to the beautiful figure under the moonlight, "Can you stay?"
Qianying stopped abruptly, her delicate body trembling slightly, but she didn't turn around. Her voice was choked with barely perceptible sobs: "I won't leave... Will you take care of me?"
no respond.
Qiu Zixian chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued walking forward—it was ultimately just his own delusion; how could he possibly be willing to raise a "witch"?
"I'll take care of you!"
The boy's voice suddenly rang out, not loud, but with a resolute determination, like a thunderclap that exploded in Qiu Zixian's ears.
She stopped abruptly, her fingertips gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, her voice filled with disbelief:
"You'll take care of me? I'm a witch, my hands are stained with blood, I'm feared by everyone and even ghosts!"
"I'll take care of you!" Chen Xuan's voice remained firm, without the slightest hesitation.
"I am Xia Jiuyou's clone, destined to bear her shackles. In the end, you will only end up with nothing!" Qiu Zixian's voice lowered, with a hint of pleading, as if she wanted him to back down.
"Then fight back!" Chen Xuan took a step forward, his voice full of youthful vigor. "I'll take care of you!"
Qiu Zixian's shoulders trembled violently. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer, turned around, looked at him with red eyes, and threw out her last line of defense:
"Then... if I go with you, what would my status be? What would our relationship be?"
She knew this question was enough to make him back down—a Daoist partner? Was she worthy of him when they first met?
Chen Xuan didn't hesitate at all and blurted out, "Cultivation partner, lover, long-term running buddy... whatever you want, you can have it!"
"Pfft!"
Startled by this string of unfamiliar words, Qiu Zixian slipped and nearly fell into the lake.
She steadied herself, both angry and amused, her eyes reddening even more. She muttered under her breath in Chen Xuan's direction, "You pervert!"
Chen Xuan stood still, not chasing after her, but simply watching her quietly.
He knew he had expressed his feelings completely, and the rest was up to her to decide.
The wind still blows across the lake, the lotus flowers still sway, and the moonlight is still gentle.