Sisters Sharing Their Hearts, Whispering Their Inmost Feelings

The bonfire flickered like a snake's tongue. After the hostess left, You Su was surrounded by a group of snake women in the center of the dance floor, like a little white rabbit being hunted, with the sound of silvery laughter filling her ears.

Wearing a bright red gauze dress, Hong Xiao squeezed to the front of the crowd, smiled, and curtsied to You Su: "I didn't expect Young Master You to be so skilled in sword dance. But how can you come to my snake clan and not dance the snake clan's dance? How about I teach Young Master You a dance?"

Just as You Su was about to decline, he saw Xiao Ling hiding behind Hong Xiao, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling. "Young Master You... just dance one... we all want to see..." Before she could finish speaking, the girl's ears were already bright red.

Even the usually bold Xiao Jin joined in, her hands already restlessly draped over You Su: "Young Master You, please don't refuse. Our snake clan's dance is quite beautiful, why don't you dance with us?"

Surrounded by these enthusiastic snake women, You Su was momentarily overwhelmed. Just as she was wondering how to respond, a dark green figure suddenly broke through the Rouge Formation.

"You all, don't make things difficult for Young Master You." Liu Yinyin smiled kindly, subtly stopping the women from taking You Su's place.

You Su was pleasantly surprised by Liu Yinyin's help and quickly gave her a grateful smile. However, upon seeing this, the elders all started to tease him, "Elder Liu is right. How dare you instruct Young Master You with your mediocre skills? Elder Liu was a master dancer in her youth. Why don't you perform a dance first, so we can learn from you?"

"Yes, yes, we've never seen Elder Liu dance before!" the women echoed.

In the firelight, a blush instantly spread across Liu Yinyin's face. She glared at the elders who were egging her on, only to find their eyes full of mischievous smiles.

These elders were only half a generation younger than her, and before becoming elders, they all privately called her "little sister." They clearly knew that she was the least skilled dancer, yet they still made fun of her.

Her former authority vanished in front of these younger sisters, and the reason was obvious: they were blaming her for running away...

She was too ashamed to reprimand them, yet she was also emboldened by the enthusiasm of her juniors, leaving her in a dilemma.

You Su noticed her predicament and subtly stepped in front of Liu Yinyin:

"Elder Liu's cultivation level is unstable, so he cannot move drastically. Elder Hua said that Elder Liu's dancing skills are superb, but I think your dancing skills are graceful and probably no less than Elder Liu's. Why don't you perform a solo dance?"

Elder Hua's beautiful eyes flickered slightly. She was initially flattered, but then she saw Elder Liu secretly glance at the young man's back and a hint of tenderness flash across her face. She immediately realized that the young man's praise of her was fake, and that his true intention was to protect this old woman who had regained her youth.

Complaining about You Su's favoritism, she lost interest in dancing alone and clearly wasn't going to let this selfish Sister Liu off the hook. "Does Young Master You think Elder Liu is a frail little woman? It's just dancing, it's not like it'll break your bones. But since Young Master You wants to see it, how about I dance with Elder Liu?"

Liu Yinyin's heart tightened, and she felt a surge of anger, but she really didn't want to spoil the joyous and celebratory atmosphere. Just as she was about to agree, a clear voice rang out—

"I can't refuse your kind invitation, Elder Hua. Please don't make things difficult for Granny Liu. How about I dance with you instead?"

The girl walked straight through the crowd, her bare feet glistening beneath her crimson gauze skirt, and her blue scale earrings gleaming with a cold jade-like luster.

You Su's eyes lit up when she saw her junior sister return, and Liu Yinyin felt as if she had been granted a pardon.

Elder Hua's smile froze. How could he possibly steal You Su's dance partner in front of her? He could only say awkwardly, "Second Young Lady is too kind. Since it's a grand celebration, everyone should join in the festivities. Come on, let's continue the music and dancing!"

As she spoke, she twirled her long sleeves again and began to dance gracefully, like a fairy. Seeing their mistress return, the surrounding snake women naturally dared not continue to pester You Su, and instead joined Elder Hua in singing and dancing lightly.

You Su smiled knowingly, took the initiative to approach, and grasped the slightly cool, soft hand in her own.

Ji Lingruo's fingertips tightened subconsciously, and she glanced at Liu Yinyin like a wary Xiao Lu.

Liu Yinyin hadn't thought anything was strange, but that glance jolted her awake. She immediately raised her eyebrows as if realizing something, gave the returning "Second Young Lady" a gentle smile, and then hurriedly withdrew from the dancing crowd.

"You've come." You Su's face was filled with undisguised joy.

Even though the angle of the green snake hairpin in her hair was exactly the same as the one her junior sister had inserted, You Su still recognized her.

The girl's little finger was slightly bent in her palm, a subtle gesture that Miss Xue Ruo made when she was nervous.

He hadn't expected his junior sister to use what she had just learned, just like she had used on Yu Xiaoran, to pull off another "switcheroo," allowing the two sisters, who already looked identical, to switch identities again, so that Xue Ruo could also fulfill her little wish to dance with You Su.

"I went to drink some water because I was thirsty, what are you standing there for?" Her raised eyebrow was exactly like Lingruo's, only the restrained heat in her eyes betrayed the truth. "Weren't you satisfied with the dance just now? Shall we dance again?"

"Long-cherished dream"

Suddenly, the campfire burst open, sending sparks flying You Su seized the opportunity to pull her into the dance floor.

The heartbeat of the person in my arms was unusually fast; I could feel the heat surging beneath their skin even through the gauze.

He subconsciously continued to perform the sword dance he had just performed with the Mandarin Duck Sword, but forgot that the girl in his arms was no longer his junior sister who was skilled in swordsmanship. She stumbled and bumped into his arms after only a few steps.

The snake women around them also danced gracefully, but they kept an eye on the handsome man and beautiful woman out of the corner of their eyes. When they saw that the two had suddenly lost their perfect coordination and made a mistake, they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

But then they saw the young man holding the blushing "Second Young Lady" tightly, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. The intimate scene between the young couple made all the young snake girls, whose hearts were fluttering with love, extremely envious. No one thought it was a mistake anymore; instead, they believed that Young Master You had done it on purpose, taking the opportunity to get intimate with his sweetheart.

The snake women secretly thought that this Young Master You was really bold, but none of them complained about his naked display of love. They only felt that the Second Young Lady's shame and embarrassment were a kind of happiness that they longed for but could not have.

"Nobody noticed... I'll jump a little slower this time." The boy's breath turned Ji Xueruo's ears completely red.

Ji Xueruo gently broke free from You Su's embrace, her cheeks flushed crimson, yet her eyes still held a confident upturn.

"The Serpent Clan's Moon Dance, you dance with me."

You Su was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Ji Xueruo thought he was hesitating, so she pursed her lips and said reproachfully:

"As a member of the snake clan, how can I not dance the snake clan's traditional dance?"

A member of the snake clan? You Su's eyes lit up with surprise and delight. He said with satisfaction:

"It seems my identity as a son-in-law of the snake clan is finally confirmed."

Ji Xueruo lightly stepped on his toe. "Let's see how you do."

As soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for You Su's reply, the girl took the lead in dancing.

You Su was in a good mood and also felt it was a wonder. Although the two sisters looked exactly alike, their personalities were completely different, and even the way they expressed their affection was different.

My junior sister can definitely dance the snake clan dance too, but she only dances the sword dance with him, a dance that only they know. This way, he doesn't have to bother learning a new dance, and it also satisfies the girl's pursuit of a unique romance. She will always be that adorable junior sister who calls out "senior brother" to him.

Miss Xue Ruo wants to dance with him, but she won't compromise herself to please him just for the sake of a dance. She is a flower hanging on a branch; if you want her, you can pluck her yourself. However, the so-called "depending on your performance" is just empty talk, because she is willing to bloom in front of him, already waiting for the day he will pluck her.

You Su took a deep breath, feeling incredibly fortunate to possess both of these beautiful things that were similar yet different.

Without further hesitation, he followed Ji Xueruo's steps.

The Serpent Clan's Moon Dance emphasizes the waist as the axis. The arch of her slender neck, tilted back, resembles a crescent moon. The scales flow between the billowing sleeves. Although it is not a complex dance, it is as if a dragon is soaring through the clouds. Every step is to the ancient drumbeats, yet her waist is so supple that it can bend into the moonlight—this is the rhythm etched into the blood of the thousand-year-old Serpent Clan, completely different from the hidden sharpness of the sword dance.

You Su was fortunate to have practiced swordsmanship since childhood, giving him excellent control over his body. Unexpectedly, he was also a natural dancer. On his first attempt at the Moon Dance, he was able to keep up with Ji Xueruo's agile steps. When he danced the same poses, he lacked the feminine grace but gained a masculine strength, giving the Moon Dance, which had been passed down from ancient times by the snake clan, a unique charm.

As the drumbeats grew more urgent, Ji Xueruo suddenly pulled away and retreated swiftly. You Su understood and grabbed her fair wrist, using the force of the pull to lead the girl through the air over the three-zhang-high bonfire, and upon landing, she resumed the broken dance steps without any mishap.

This thrilling and exquisite coordination caused Elder Hua to forget to sip her wine, Elder Chi silk ribbon to fall to the ground, and even Liu Yinyin unconsciously loosened her grip on her snake-headed staff—they had never seen such a free and unrestrained moon-walking dance before, as if the dance was created for these two by nature.

As the final cymbal shattered the night, You Su, with his arm around Ji Xueruo's waist, froze in the "Snake Gazing at the Moon" pose.

"How was your first time dancing?" You Su in a low voice, but couldn't hide her slight pride.

Ji Xueruo smiled faintly, leaning close to You Su's ear, causing the surrounding snake women to blush and feel their hearts flutter. Only You Su's smile instantly froze.

"Your first time dancing? But I seem to remember... you dancing quite happily with that Yu Die at the Jade Ring Pool, didn't you, Young Master You? Or am I mistaken?"

"That was just for show, it doesn't count..." You Su's little scheme to get praise was shattered, and she was immediately embarrassed.

Seeing the boy's awkward expression, Ji Xueruo smiled mischievously, "But for a second time dancing, it's passable."

The girl's reserved smile, tinged with an irresistible sweetness, captivated You Su.

"A mediocre performance is not enough. Would Miss Xue Ruo be willing to dance another piece?"

In the flickering glow of the campfire, You Su's fingertips gripped Ji Xueruo's wrist, refusing to let go.

She turned her head away with feigned modesty, but her hand instinctively wrapped around his arm, and she whispered, "Then I'll teach you one more time..."

Before he finished speaking, the young man had already pulled her into the center of the dance floor, their black robes and crimson gauze skirts intertwining like two snakes coiling in the firelight.

At the entrance of the Serpent Ancestor's Hall, Ji Lingruo, watched with satisfaction as her senior brother and sister danced together, while covering the stammering mouth of Nian Su in her arms.

Nian Su is always playful. Although she is exceptionally intelligent, she is not immune to punishment for her improper attitude. She was only allowed to attend the banquet after making up for the lessons she missed. However, she saw her father dancing with her fake mother and real aunt. She insisted on joining in the fun. Fortunately, Ji Lingruo a close eye on her and prevented the matter from being exposed. So, she had to use all kinds of delicious food to shut Nian Su up.

That night, the bonfire blazed and laughter filled the air as the snake women sang and danced, celebrating their rebirth after the ordeal.

As the dance reached its climax, someone brought out all the food and wine from the hall. When everyone got tired of dancing, they leaned against each other and drank chilled ale. Once they were tipsy, they went back to dancing. Without the orderly seating at the banquet, everyone drank with whomever they wanted. You Su and "Second Young Lady" naturally became the main targets of toasts, one cup after another, one dance after another, completely forgetting themselves.

The liquor mingled with the women's fragrant sweat, flowing through the night, and then evaporated into an even more intoxicating mist by their passionate and unrestrained dancing.

Before they knew it, everyone was a little drunk, and the party ended under Liu Yinyin's supervision.

By the time the banquet ended, the night sky was already studded with stars.

On the path in front of Ji Lingruo's courtyard, a young boy and girl held hands. You Su with a firm step, while Ji Xueruo, still dressed as her younger sister, walked slowly, as if hesitant.

Her cheeks were flushed, not only from shyness but also from being tipsy.

She glanced back discreetly, then quickly looked away. Behind her were several little snake girls who had come to join the fun, much like the well-meaning maids who escort newlyweds to their bridal chamber.

They hid in the shadows, watching from afar. She couldn't catch them, nor could she run away. Unable to find her sister to change her clothes, she had no choice but to go along with the situation and be led back "home" by You Su.

"Not only them, but I'm afraid several elders are watching too. To avoid being exposed, 'Junior Sister' would be better off going home obediently." You Su deliberately emphasized the words "Junior Sister," her eyes gleaming with the cunning of a cat that had just stolen some fish.

Ji Xueruo pinched his palm hard, "You're pretending to be obsessed with dancing, just to deliberately keep me from leaving!"

You Su's face was as thick as a city wall. "'Junior Sister' misunderstands. The atmosphere is like this, the whole clan is celebrating, how can we say we're stopping?"

Ji Xueruo gritted her teeth in anger, but felt dizzy and couldn't utter a rebuttal.

While still dazed and confused, he suddenly felt his body spun around and he was pressed against the door by You Su.

Her eyes widened as she watched the boy's lips press against hers, and sure enough, she heard gasps of surprise coming from the shadows.

It wasn't until You Su lingered for a while before reluctantly letting go, and she was already panting. Before she could even question him, the young man preemptively spoke:

"This is what they've been following all this way to see; only then will they leave satisfied."

Ji Xueruo, those once bright and alert eyes had indeed dispersed considerably.

"Brazen!"

She spat at You Su, inwardly cursing these shameless little snake girls, but still half-heartedly let the boy pull her into the courtyard.

The moment the carved wooden door creaked shut, You Su grabbed her retreating figure, his warm breath brushing against her ear:

"Xue Ruo escapes back to her bedchamber now, she'll probably be caught red-handed by the elders."

"You... you think I don't know?" Having witnessed the situation unfold, whether You Su had planned it all along or it was a fluke, she knew she had no choice but to play along. "I was afraid my sister would give herself away..."

"Even the elders didn't realize that the clan leader was actually my junior sister in disguise during those days, Miss Xue Ruo can rest assured."

A sudden night breeze swept through the courtyard, its rustling sound masking a barely audible sigh:

"Let's just consider it... a day's exchange with my sister... After we're done, I'll go and switch back with her..."

You Su smiled and nodded vigorously.

Meanwhile, in Ji Xueruo's palace, Ji Lingruo, disguised as the clan leader, was resting her chin on her hand, looking troubled.

"I only asked you to dance once... and you keep going on and on..."

She mumbled as she brought the wine in her glass to her lips, and the blush on her cheeks became even more vibrant.

Ji Xueruo didn't find an opportunity to change her clothes back, and she also pretended to be very accommodating by not taking the initiative to look for her. Ji Xueruo was never one to indulge in playful activities, so she returned to her sister's palace before the banquet ended, drinking alone in silence, afraid that an elder would come looking for her sister and expose their secret of switching identities.

She had already conceded, but to her surprise, her sister hadn't come to her to change it back after the banquet ended, clearly intending to continue down the wrong path.

The thought of her sister currently occupying her man in her own home made Ji Lingruo feel increasingly suffocated.

Although the older sister deserves the most credit in this battle, she also contributed significantly, okay? Why should she have to give up her senior brother to the older sister? She was the one who met him first!

She felt she had been too kind, never expecting her sister to be such a greedy person.

She's so considerate of her hardships, why doesn't she think of her feelings more?

"No!" She hiccuped, feeling more and more aggrieved the more she thought about it, and the more aggrieved she felt, the more she drank, and the more she drank, the more she thought.

Her body grew increasingly hot, and she felt that it was about to begin, and by then it would be too late for her to back out.

Unable to tolerate this outcome, she stood up abruptly, clearly determined to win her senior brother back.

She blew out the candle and then carefully climbed out of the window that was never closed.

Anyway, everyone's probably drunk tonight, and since no elders have come looking for my sister after waiting so long, no one will find the palace empty...

With that thought in mind, she concealed her presence and ran quickly towards her home.

Reaching the door, she was already trembling with shame and indignation, her legs clenched tightly together. She was only thankful that she had arrived any later, otherwise she wouldn't even have had the strength to climb over the wall.

Seeing that it was late at night and no one was around, she nimbly leaped over the wall, but almost collapsed when she landed.

Through the dark window frame, she vaguely heard seductive moans coming from inside. A sour feeling mixed with the smell of alcohol welled up in her throat, and she angrily knocked heavily on the door.

A sudden rustling sound of clothes filled the room, You Su's voice rang out first. "It's Junior Sister!"

Ji Xueruo's exclamation carried an unusual air of disbelief. "Lingruo? Why are you back...?"

Before Ji Lingruo answer, she was pulled inside by a thieving hand reaching out from within.

"Come in and talk." It was You Su who pulled her in without further ado.

Upon entering the room, the air was filled with the scent of agarwood, which Ji Lingruo recognized as her sister's usual incense seal.

"This is my home, why can't I go back?" Ji Lingruo deliberately emphasized the word "home" and domineeringly lit the candle.

The room suddenly brightened, Ji Lingruo looked at her sister's figure curled up on the bed—her gauze robe had not yet been tied tightly, revealing half of her body, which shimmered with a pearly luster in the night, while the tips of her ears were redder than candlelight.

Ji Xueruo that she wanted to die. She was also embarrassed by her sister's words. Without caring about anything else, she turned around and tidied her dressing case, only thinking about leaving as soon as possible to return her lover to her sister.

You Su couldn't bear it and wanted to persuade her, but Ji Xueruo only gave him and Ji Lingruo a guilty look:

"Don't come looking for me, spend the night with your sister..."

Ji Lingruo somewhat dazed. She felt that she had never seen her sister so frail before, which made her anger just now vanish instantly, as if she were the villain who forcibly separated the lovers.

She suddenly grabbed Ji Xueruo's wrist, her Ji Xueruo, and asked, "Where are you going, sister?"

Ji Xueruo's eyes darted away. "I'll go back to my own palace. You're drunk... get some rest..."

Upon hearing this, Ji Lingruo felt even more aggrieved. She unconsciously increased her strength, which even caused Ji Xueruo some pain.

"Why does my sister always avoid me?" Ji Lingruo her lip, on the verge of tears, her voice filled with boundless grievance.

Ji Xueruo's eyes widened in surprise, but a bitter taste rose in her throat. "I didn't..."

"How could there not be? Ever since my senior brother went into hiding with the snake clan, my sister has always looked at me with evasive eyes, and even when she speaks to me, she always keeps a haughty air about her. There are no more times when we sisters confide in each other in private..." Ji Lingruo let go of my hand and staggered back to the window. "I don't know what's wrong with my sister. I want to repair our relationship, but I don't dare to open my heart to her like this. I'm often worried and afraid, but I'm just so greedy. I don't want to lose my senior brother, and I don't want to lose my sister either. But I've already shared half of my senior brother with you, so why are you still avoiding me? We have a closer connection now, so why is our relationship not as good as before?"

Looking at her younger sister's nose, red from drinking, Ji Lingruo suddenly felt overwhelmed with guilt. The little sister who used to call out in her childish voice, "I want to be with my sister forever," had grown up.

She sighed and pulled her younger sister into her arms, gently stroking her slightly disheveled hair. "I wasn't avoiding you... I was afraid you'd think I was greedy, afraid you'd regret giving him to me. So I only dared to pretend nothing happened, secretly hiding away to steal the candy my sister kindly left for me... I've been wanting to go find you and get it back, but the elders and sisters keep circling around us. I'm sorry, I have to leave now..."

"I will never regret it!" Ji Lingruo suddenly looked up and hugged Ji Xueruo tightly. "Sister is willing to give me anything, and I am willing to give sister anything in return. It's not that I resent sister for not coming to me to exchange it back, it's that I'm afraid sister only has eyes for senior brother and not for me."

Looking at the two sisters entangled together, You Su felt a bittersweet tenderness welling up in her heart.

Ji Lingruo whispered in Ji Xueruo's ear, her voice tinged with sobs at the end. Ji Xueruo's fingertips gently caressed her waist, as if soothing a ruffled little animal, but her eyes were already red.

"It's all my fault." He took a half step forward and pulled them both into his arms. "I was too greedy..."

Ji Xueruo's cheeks flushed red, and she tried to struggle, but Ji Lingruo grabbed her wrist. "Of course it's your fault! But... but I'm also at fault. I wanted to possess it all to myself, but I also wanted to share it."

Looking into her sister's shining eyes, Ji Xueruo felt her heart melt. "Lingruo... I... I was wrong too. I was timid and not frank enough."

"Since we've both made mistakes, let's be honest with each other tonight and apologize!"

You Su felt the two soft bodies in his arms stiffen simultaneously, then gradually melt in the warmth of his palm.

"Sister...?"

"Well..."

"You're getting off easy! If you ever dare to treat your sister badly again, I'll castrate you!"

"Lingruo, did you hear me?! If you dare to treat Lingruo badly, I... I'll do the same to you!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, You Su readily agreed.

Ji Xueruo's eyelashes brushed against the back of his hand, and Ji Lingruo's fingertips hooked around his belt. Their breaths intertwined, pulling him into a warm mist.

You Su suddenly recalled the murals he had seen in the Snake Ancestor Temple— the High Antiquity snake clan used the intertwining of two snakes as a totem, with two giant pythons coiled together, swallowing and spitting out the sun, moon and stars.

The candle, which had just been lit, eventually went out.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, weaving a silvery-white veil across the bed.

Ji Lingruo voice mingled with Ji Xueruo's low breaths, dispersing into a tapestry of sisterly affection in the night.

You Su heard the two names mixed in with her hoarse voice, as if she were chanting an ancient incantation, to plant these twin flowers in her bloodline forever.

Twin lotus – two flowers blooming side by side on the same stem. People say they are competing for beauty, but they don't know that their roots are already tangled in the soil.