Dugu Linglong slowly withdrew her gaze.
The fingers clenched tightly beneath her sleeve loosened a little without her noticing.
"Jiang Che."
"Hmm?"
Dugu Linglong fell silent for a while before slowly speaking. Her voice was still cool, but less hoarse.
"Thank you."
"No one has ever said those things to me before."
Her voice remained cool.
Yet the aloofness in her tone, the distance she always kept between herself and others, quietly faded a great deal.
Jiang Che looked at her and smiled warmly.
"Then remember them."
"Don't keep taking the blame for other people's mistakes."
Dugu Linglong nodded gently.
As the self-reproach between her brows gradually dissipated, the heavy, oppressive atmosphere finally eased a little.
Jiang Che glanced at the gravestone, as though something had suddenly occurred to him.
"If you really must thank me, how about cooking me a meal yourself once everything is settled, Perfected One? A little reward for my efforts."
A trace of surprise appeared in Dugu Linglong's eyes. She had never expected Jiang Che to make such a request, and answered with complete honesty.
"I can't cook."
Jiang Che froze for a moment, then couldn't help chuckling.
"That straightforward?"
"I've practiced abstaining from food for years."
Dugu Linglong explained earnestly, "Even when I do eat, I only make plain porridge. It probably won't taste very good."
Seeing how utterly serious she was, Jiang Che's smile deepened.
"That's fine."
"I'm not picky."
Dugu Linglong failed to catch the faint teasing note in his voice.
After a moment's consideration, she finally nodded gently.
"All right."
"Once everything at the sect is settled, I'll cook for you."
At that moment, a simple meal seemed to become an unspoken promise between them.
Jiang Che did not mention Chu Xuan again.
Nor did Dugu Linglong continue to dwell on