Chapter 89

Yan Qing was so angry that her teeth itched. She wanted to argue with her, but seeing that Bai Jun was clearly in a good mood while drinking, she gave up on the idea. After all, as long as her teacher was happy, nothing else mattered.

Unable to drink, Yan Qing had to leave his seat temporarily, ran to the living room to get a few oranges, and sat back down to continue peeling oranges for Bai Jun. He had heard that oranges could help with hangovers, and he wanted to offer Baijun a token of his respect as a disciple once Bai Jun stopped drinking.

"Yan Qing, if you don't mind, would you like to talk to me?"

At this moment, Yu Kong, who was also bored and sitting alone drinking in silence, Yukong a conversation with him.

"Of course, does the Helmsman have any instructions?"

Yan Qing responded while continuing to peel the orange.

"Don't be so formal, this is just a casual chat. I'm just a little curious, you call Bai Jun 'teacher' so happily every day, doesn't Jing Yuan get jealous?"

Yukong seemed a bit tipsy, and asked a question that had been buried in his heart for a long time, almost jokingly.

"Hey? But a general is a general, and a teacher is a teacher. That kind of thing... shouldn't happen, right?"

The act of peeling the orange came to an abrupt halt, Yan Qing's amber eyes showed some trouble, presumably because this was the first time she had faced such a problem.

Those in the know understand that Yan Qing was raised by Jing Yuan. Whether it was martial arts or strategy, Jing Yuan taught him everything he knew as if he were his successor. Even without saying it, everyone tacitly regarded Jing Yuan as Yan Qing's master.

But from some point onward, a person named Bai Jun appeared in Luofu, and behind him grew a little tagalong named Yan Qing, who constantly followed Bai Jun around calling him "Teacher, Teacher..." After a while, even Yukong couldn't help but become curious: what exactly happened between these two?

Yan Qing's hesitation quickly subsided as the emotions in his eyes calmed. He thought about it carefully and replied, "To me, Bai Jun is more than just a teacher; he's also my savior and the one who taught me many important lessons. In every respect, I should call him my teacher. The general has never said anything about it; he even encouraged me to learn from him."

He felt gratitude towards Bai Jun, as if he were both a rescuer and a recipient of rescue, and also respect for Bai Jun as a mentor and a recipient of mentorship. More importantly, Bai Jun had always treated him as an equal, even though he was so much stronger and more mature than him. Yet, Bai Jun was still willing to treat him as a friend. In this respect, Yan Qing had long regarded Bai Jun as someone as important as Jing Yuan.

"I see... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sow discord between you and the general. If I offended you, please don't take it too seriously. I was a little drunk, Yan Qing, just take it as an old man's joke."

"Please don't say that, Helmsman. You are still very young."

The customs of the Xianzhou are different from others. The Xianzhou native have a long lifespan, but there is still a limit. Moreover, the death that the Xianzhou native face is far more severe than that of other species. Therefore, the Xianzhou native are actually very concerned about their lifespan. This lifespan does not refer to their age, but to the concept of "old age", which has even reached the point of being taboo.

Upon hearing Yukong's words, Yan Qing immediately shook her head in denial, while Yukong did not respond, but simply smiled and looked at Bai Jun and Tingyun on the other side.

"Hey, my benefactor, is it delicious? You seem to be enjoying it so much!"

"Hmm, it's alright. It's fine to drink like this once in a while."

Tingyun smiled and poured Bai Jun another glass. This was the seventh time she had poured him a glass, and the red wine was almost empty.

Bai Jun said he was fine, but his face was slightly flushed under the light, and his deep blue eyes also had a slightly tipsy look.

The wine tastes spicy, bitter and astringent at first, but after swallowing, it transforms into a warm, burning sensation that spreads from the stomach to the limbs.

Bai Jun's sense of taste wasn't that sharp, and he couldn't tell the difference between the drinks. The only thing that stuck with him was probably the different feeling of vomiting uncontrollably while leaning against the wall after drinking too much of different drinks. Although they were all quite uncomfortable.

I feel very dizzy, and things around me are a bit blurry.

My feet felt unsteady, and the ground didn't feel real. The lighting was dim and unclear, casting ambiguous shadows.

He was probably drunk, but that was unlikely, since the effects of alcohol could disappear instantly if he wanted to. That's the downside of being strong... no, should we call it a privilege?

In Remembrance past life, Bai Jun hated drinking. Even though he would vomit uncontrollably afterward, he had to force himself to swallow the alcohol for endless social obligations. Over time, Bai Jun's impression of alcohol plummeted.

However, in this life, things are completely different. At some point, drinking became a consensual activity. Although Bai Jun still doesn't like alcohol, he has to admit that getting drunk occasionally feels quite nice.

"My benefactor, are you drunk? If you're drunk, you can't drink anymore~"

Tingyun said things to urge him to drink, but her words were clearly meant to add fuel to the fire.

"Are you kidding me? I can really hold my liquor."

"So, my benefactor, you're very brave!"

Bai Jun seemed to be angered by her flippant and teasing tone. He reached out and roughly ruffled Tingyun's hair, messing up her carefully styled hair, and then pinched her pretty face, which she hadn't yet reacted to.

"I'm super brave!"

Tingyun's delicate face showed surprise, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she was genuinely happy. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked tenderly at Bai Jun's somewhat childish expression, her eyes hiding a secret sense of satisfaction.

Yan Qing and Yukong laughed in unison.

It turns out that Bai Jun, who is usually calm and strong, also has weaknesses, a childlike side, worries about things, and has a temper just like me. His usually perfect image becomes more complex and three-dimensional in my heart.

A flash of lightning streaked across the window, followed by a short clap of thunder, and the long-suppressed rain finally began to fall, wetting the balcony glass and blurring the night view.

Looking at the misty, rainy world before him, Bai Jun couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He should have gone back earlier if he had known this would happen, then he might not have gotten soaked in the rain.

The rain continued without any sign of stopping. Fortunately, the rain was very light, a gentle drizzle. Even if they continued to wait, it was unlikely that the rain would stop, and Bai Jun was even less likely to stay overnight at someone else's house.

Thinking of this, Bai Jun gave up waiting and refused Yukong and Tingyun's attempts to keep him. He took out two oil-paper umbrellas from the entrance and stepped into the rain with Yan Qing.

There were very few pedestrians on the street, indicating that it had been raining for some time.

Since that's the case, there's nothing we can do about it. Maybe coming out earlier wouldn't have made any difference.

Yan Qing's house and Bai Jun's house were in completely opposite directions, so the two only walked together for a short distance before saying goodbye at an intersection.

The rain was getting heavier, and the edges of the oil-paper umbrellas gradually drooped.

The fine rain felt cool on his skin, but Bai Jun was in a really good mood today. Perhaps it was because he had just drunk some alcohol. The cool rain felt comfortable on his hot body, giving him a refreshing feeling.

Even so, the damp shirt, clinging to his skin with a wet feel, was still quite unpleasant, Bai Jun quickened his pace to get home.

As he got closer to home, the thought of soon being able to return home, take a nice hot bath, and go to bed filled him with a sense of relief.

However, as he passed a crossroads near his home, a sudden unease arose in his heart, like a button being fastened incorrectly, and his gaze unconsciously drifted towards a certain spot.

Two streetlights cast a dim, yellowish light in the rain, outlining the interplay of light and shadow in the raindrops. And beneath those veiled raindrops, under the streetlights, stood a girl in white, seemingly unconcerned about getting soaked.

The girl stood quietly in the rain, her wet hair falling straight down, her soaked clothes clinging to her skin, and her stockings white. As if sensing Bai Jun's arrival, her beautiful crimson eyes lit up in an instant.

"Xue Yi?"

Gazing at her figure under the streetlight, Bai Jun murmured to himself in a daze. Suddenly, all the effects of the alcohol wore off, and he quickly ran to her side, holding an umbrella.

"You're back. I... I just wanted to come see you..."

Unable to contain her emotions, Xue Yi rushed over as soon as she heard Bai Jun's voice in Jade Omen.

However, the lights in Bai Jun's house remained dark, just as they had been every day when she passed by. This made Xue Yi feel both sad and reluctant to leave, and she had been standing there waiting for so long without realizing it.

But now, looking at the young man so close to her, Xue Yi felt that he was too dazzling, so much so that she couldn't take her eyes off him.

Because he was so dazzling.

Do I, a sinner, truly have the right to touch the Sun?

Caught in the center of the curse's chaotic vortex, am I even worthy to stand beside him?

Her conflicted emotions caused her to slowly lower her arm, which she had raised halfway. Xue Yi's eyes also dimmed. A certain habit deep in her heart made her want to cry, but her current doll body no longer had that function.

"Now that you're alright, I can finally relax and go back to tell my little sister and Huo Huo the news..."

She silently lowered her head, letting the raindrops fall from her face.

Bai Jun didn't know what had happened, but the scene before him seemed familiar. He remembered that when he went on a date with Xue Yi, she had shown the same expression. At first, Bai Jun didn't notice anything on her indifferent face, which showed no emotion, but now he finally noticed.

She was very sad.

So Bai Jun took her hand; although it was a little cold, he could still feel a slight warmth from her body.

Can you tell me what happened?

"Do I, a sinner of the highest order, a hateful person eternally bound within the Ten Lords Bureau to atone for my sins, truly deserve to stand beside you?"

Xue Yi gripped Bai Jun's hand tightly, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I've hurt many people before—family, friends, neighbors... The closer someone is to me, the more they've been hurt."

The girl stood in the wind and rain, with thunder rumbling overhead. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she spoke in a forlorn voice about a past she had never mentioned before.

She loathed her identity as a sinner, believing herself to be both a victim and a perpetrator of that disaster.

The rain streaked across the sky and grew heavier, and her heart sank into an abyss along with Bai Jun's long silence.

However, the next second...

The oil-paper umbrella fell onto the bluestone ground, splashing up a few tiny water droplets.

Bai Jun took a step forward and pulled her into his arms tightly.

I don't care.

She could feel the body in her arms tremble slightly, but it quickly calmed down, and she buried her face deeply in his chest. Xue Yi quietly enjoyed this warmth that shouldn't belong to her, and suddenly made a casual request.

"Bai Jun, could you please lower your head?"

Bai Jun obeyed her and lowered his head.

The raindrops gently fell on her face, cool and refreshing. The girl tiptoed and lightly kissed them, soft and warm.

"Next time, watch the rain with me again."

Her already damp black hair was smooth, and she wore a simple and innocent smile. Her coral-red eyes were filled with only one person.

On the other side of the street, a woman with long gray hair bit her thin lips, her leaden eyes still trembling, stirring up turbulent eddies, stubbornly trying to draw a last bit of pity from the tightly embracing scene.

"Elder sister..."

Chapter 118 Still Needs Practice

It's six in the morning, and the vast city is slowly waking up from last night's rainy night.

The first rays of light slowly peeked out from the horizon in the distance, with a few drops of mist swirling around the upper floors.

Because it had rained last night, most of the buildings were wet, and everything in sight sparkled in the sunlight.

The towering buildings, standing side by side, reflected the afterglow of the morning sun, blurring the sharp angles of the entire modern architectural complex. From a distance, the city cluster seemed to be floating in a golden sea, bathed in a dreamlike, hazy fairyland.

Bai Jun listened to the cries of the feathered beasts outside the window, gazing at the scenery outside, somewhat lost in thought.

Today is a lovely sunny day. Freed from the shackles of dark clouds, the clear sky, resembling a blue sapphire, truly has a hint of summer.

The events of last night's rainy night were still vivid in his mind. Bai Jun pushed open half of the window, sighed softly, and rubbed his furrowed brows in distress, as if trying to ease the mess in his heart.

"A sinner...?"

Rather than being troubled by Xue Yi, Bai Jun was more perplexed by her profound words.

He had known Xue Yi for quite some time, but Bai Jun seemed to know nothing about her past. Although the identity of the Judge was a very sensitive matter in the Xianzhou, he didn't want to see Xue Yi looking heartbroken again, even more than the risks involved.

If inquiring about the judge's identity is problematic, then surely it shouldn't be a problem if he asks his sister about his older sister, right?

So I'll go see Hanya these next couple of days and subtly probe into the sisters' past.

After making up his mind, Bai Jun could finally relax. Fortunately, there was nothing to do today. On his first day back, he only needed to report to the Earth-Balance Commission. He would have to go to work tomorrow.

Staring at the scenery outside the window for too long can get a bit boring. Bai Jun was just about to close his eyes and take a nap when he was woken up by a noise outside the door.

"Bai Jun Bai Jun Bai Jun Bai Jun!!!"

The rare peaceful morning was quickly broken by urgent knocking and shouting from outside the door.

Standing outside the door was none other than the kind and enthusiastic Miss Sushang, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts.

The young lady had her hair tied up in pigtails today, revealing her fair and beautiful neck. Her pale yellow long-sleeved dress and the delicate lines of her waist accentuated her charm. The skirt was long enough to cover her slender, fair legs, which were adorned with leg rings. Her face was flushed with excitement, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Good morning, Sushang. It's been a long time.

When Bai Jun saw the girl's innocent little face, he seemed to be infected by her emotions and couldn't help but smile as well.

"Good morning..."

Seeing the gentle smile spreading across the young man's handsome face, Sushang was momentarily lost in thought.

A month might be important for Short-lived species, but for Long-lived species like them, a month is far too short, so short that they wouldn't normally care about it at all.

Strangely, this time Sushang felt that a month was too long. She was incredibly bored during Bai Jun's absence. Her daily life consisted of nothing more than accompanying Guinaifen on live streams, going out to fight crime in the streets, and returning to the Cloud Cavalry to be scolded and trained...

There was something strange about it, as if something was off.

This strange feeling only dissipated after hearing that Bai Jun had returned last night. Sushang was very excited, and the night, which should have been a peaceful one, became exceptionally long. She couldn't wait to get through the night until morning.

"Want to go out for morning exercise again? I don't mind, I don't have anything planned today, I'll go with you for a bit of exercise... Sushang?"

After seeing the Xuanyuan Sword behind Sushang, Bai Jun knew without a doubt why she had come. However, noticing that she was staring blankly at him, he curiously reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes.

"Hey? Ah... Ah! Right, let's go exercise together, Bai Jun!"

The girl snapped out of her daze, blushed, and quickly waved her hand to indicate that she was alright.

"... That's a bit suspicious, but it's alright. Just wait a moment while I tidy up; it won't take long, maybe two or three minutes."

Although Bai Jun could tell that Sushang was hiding something, he didn't ask any further questions. He simply went back to his room to get his coat.