The Three Xiāo Fairies were usually either dignified, cool and aloof, or lively. Most of the time, they strictly observed the decorum expected of female immortals.
But the Great Dao Drunken Immortal Brew was simply too potent. Add to that their excellent mood today, and after a few bowls, their behavior gradually changed.
Bixiao was the first to succumb.
The girl loved her drink more than anyone. She thought the wine was sweet and delicious, so she kept pouring it down without knowing when to stop.
By now, her delicate little face was as red as a ripe apple.
Her usually clear, wide eyes were clouded with a dreamy haze. She was sprawled limply across the table, still clutching Ye Xuan's sleeve and refusing to let go.
"Dao... Daoist Ye..."
Bixiao hiccupped and giggled as she leaned closer to Ye Xuan, then poked his cheek with a finger.
"No, that's not right. I should call you... big brother now."
"Heehee, big brother, your eyes are so pretty. They have stars in them... Have another bowl with me!"
Even the usually aloof Qiong Xiāo had let down all her guard.
She propped her chin on one hand and gazed at Ye Xuan with unfocused eyes. A silly smile played on her lips, and every now and then she let out a soft giggle. She was nothing like her usual self, when she kept everyone at arm's length.
As for the eldest sister, Yun Xiao...
She had meant to stay sober and look after her younger sisters.
But seeing Ye Xuan and her elder brother drinking with such gusto, she hadn't wanted to spoil the fun, so she joined them for a few more cups.
Besides, Ye Xuan had previously swallowed a Yellow Middle Plum and refined the Chaos Bead. The fresh, pleasant aura of Chaos Origin clung to him, naturally drawing those who cultivated.
Under the combined influence of the alcohol and that aura, even this normally dignified and steady leader among the Interception Sect's female immortals unconsciously relaxed her tense mind. Her gaze grew remarkably gentle.
"Come on, little brother Ye. Cheers!"
Zhao Gongming raised his bowl to clink it with Ye Xuan's.
But halfway through lifting his arm, he suddenly swayed.
Thud!
A dull thump rang out.
The senior disciple of the Interception Sect's outer court had drunk the most, and at last he toppled straight onto the carpet beside them. Less than two breaths later, his thunderous snores filled the cave.
"Elder brother... Elder brother's asleep..."
Bixiao got unsteadily to her feet, but her legs felt as if she were walking on cotton. She stumbled and fell toward Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan had the body of a Great Emperor, but the wine had been brewed from an Innate Spiritual Root, and its potency went straight for the Primordial Spirit.
His head was spinning too, and his mind was hazy.
He reached out instinctively to catch her, only to lose his own balance along with Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiāo.
The four of them swayed together. Somehow, one tripped over another, and they all stumbled toward the enormous Cloud Bed deep inside the cave.
Since they were drunk, they might as well sleep.
None of them used their magic power to force the alcohol out of their system.
Cultivators had all the time in the world. It was rare to get drunk and forget one's troubles. If they had to cheat with magic even when getting drunk, what would be the point?
Three days later.
The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through a crack in the cave and fell across the broad Cloud Bed.
Ye Xuan's eyelids twitched.
His head felt so heavy.
That was the first thing he noticed upon waking.
Then he felt as though something heavy was pinning him down, leaving him unable to move.
His chest felt especially heavy and a little stifled.
A wonderfully sweet fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose.
It wasn't the smell of wine. It was a body scent, like a blend of orchids and musk, with several different fragrances mingled together.
"What happened...?"
Ye Xuan opened his eyes groggily as his awareness gradually returned.
When he saw what was before him, his pupils shrank. His scalp prickled, and his entire body went rigid.
On the Cloud Bed, which was large enough for several people, the four of them were sprawled in a tangled heap.
And he was lying right in the middle.
Bixiao was sprawled across his chest like an octopus. Both arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and one long, jade-white leg was brazenly draped across his waist. Her delicate face was buried against his chest, and she slept soundly, a little glistening trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.
On his left, Qiong Xiāo lay on her side, her hair mussed. One of her jade-white arms rested across Ye Xuan's lower abdomen, and half her body was nestled against him.
What shocked Ye Xuan most was the woman on his right.
The usually dignified Yun Xiao Fairy, who even observed strict propriety when walking.
Now she was resting her head on his right arm, curled up against him like a lazy kitten.
One of her hands was unconsciously clutching the front of Ye Xuan's robe. Her sleeping face looked peaceful and serene.
One in each arm.
And another sprawled on top of him.
This scene...
"Gasp—"
Ye Xuan sucked in a sharp breath.
If Tongtian Jiaozhu saw this, would he bring out the Four Immortal Slaying Swords and chop his newly appointed Guest Elder to pieces?
What a tangled fate he had gotten himself into!
Just as Ye Xuan's mind went blank and he tried to think of a graceful way to extricate himself...
Yun Xiao in his arms and Bixiao on top of him both stirred almost at once.
"Mmm..."
Bixiao nuzzled against Ye Xuan's chest. The "pillow" felt springy and wonderfully soft, so she unconsciously reached out and squeezed it twice.
Hmm?
Wait.
Why was it warm? And why was it beating?
Bixiao opened her eyes in confusion, and her vision slowly came into focus.
When she realized that what she was lying on wasn't a pillow but Ye Xuan's handsome face, she froze solid.
A breath later—
"Ah—!"
Her high-pitched scream shattered the morning silence.
As if she'd been jolted by a shock, Bixiao sprang off Ye Xuan, her face burning red. She hurriedly straightened her rumpled clothes, her wide eyes darting everywhere as she refused to look at him.
Her scream woke Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiāo completely.
Yun Xiao's lashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.
When she realized she was curled up in Ye Xuan's arms, with her head on his arm, the mind of this senior sister of the Interception Sect short-circuited.
In an instant, her pale, jade-like ears turned visibly red.
She snatched her hand back as if burned and tried to sit up, but she moved too quickly and nearly knocked her chin against Ye Xuan's.
"Dao... Daoist..."
Yun Xiao forced herself to sit upright and composedly reached up to smooth the stray hairs at her temples. But her fingers trembled slightly, betraying the panic and embarrassment she felt.
As for Qiong Xiāo...
After waking up, she glanced at the situation on either side of her and said nothing.
She simply sat up in silence, turned her back to everyone, and remained quiet.
But Ye Xuan clearly saw that her neck, which had been so fair, was now as red as a boiled prawn.
Awkward.
Mortifyingly awkward.
It was as though pink bubbles filled the air, making it difficult to breathe.
None of the four said a word. No one knew how to explain the absurd night they'd spent together.
Their clothes were all still on, and nothing had actually crossed the line.
But sleeping in the same bed and being so physically close was still a tremendous shock for immortals of this era.
Just as the atmosphere was about to freeze over...
In a corner of the main hall outside...
The figure everyone had forgotten suddenly rolled over.
"Snore..."
Zhao Gongming smacked his lips twice and mumbled sleepily:
"Good wine... Little brother Ye... Pour me another bowl..."
His sudden bit of sleep-talking broke the deadlock.
Phew—
Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Thank goodness!
Thank goodness that human floodlight was still asleep! If he saw this, there'd be no explaining it!
Zhao Gongming's interruption eased the suffocating awkwardness a little.
As the eldest sister, Yun Xiao had nerves of steel.
She took a deep breath. Some of her usual dignity returned to her face, though her eyes still darted about and she couldn't bring herself to meet Ye Xuan's gaze.
"Ahem... Well, the wine was too strong."
"I hope you won't hold it against me, Daoist."
Ye Xuan quickly seized on the opening and sat up, laughing awkwardly. "Yes, exactly. Brother Zhao's wine really lives up to its reputation. Even I blacked out. Haha... Haha..."
Though they said that, all four of them knew the truth.
After spending the night in the same bed, their relationship had changed in a fundamental way.
The invisible barrier of polite distance between them had been broken.
A strange affection had quietly begun to take root among the four of them.
Ye Xuan looked at the three fairies, who were shy and flustered. Though part of him wanted to linger in their tender company, he knew this wasn't the place to stay.
If Zhao Gongming woke up and asked where everyone had slept last night, the thought was too mortifying to bear.
Besides, his heart could only take so much excitement.
"Um... Yun Xiao Fairy, and you two younger sisters."
Ye Xuan stood and straightened his robe before speaking seriously.
"I've been away from the human race for a long time, and I'm worried about their safety. Now that I've paid a visit to the Interception Sect, it's time for me to go back and see how things are."
Before you continue