You're Still Not Up

An Yang stood silently in the attic, the candlelight flickering, but there was no sign of Nie Xiaoqian. Instead, he heard a rustling sound.

"Hm?"

He frowned and looked up at the ceiling above.

"Could it be that the dried corpse from the original plot has awakened?"

He quietly pulled out the talisman paper he had bought in Guo Bei County, thinking that in the original story, this thing could scare off Nie Xiaoqian, so it should be no problem dealing with ordinary dried corpses.

Before long, however, he realized the rustling wasn't coming from the roof at all—it was from behind the attic!

An Yang's expression shifted slightly as he suddenly recalled how the Thousand-Year Tree Demon appeared in the original plot: layer after layer of tongues coiled together, rubbing against each other with a rustling sound that sent chills down one's spine just thinking about it.

"Hiss... it couldn't really be the Thousand-Year Tree Demon, could it!"

Just then, he heard a faint, ethereal sound of a zither. Pushing open the door, he saw that a brightly lit attic had appeared in the distance, the music drifting from within.

"Xiaoqian!"

"What is she doing... is she trying to get me to go over there?"

An Yang's face darkened. He glanced back at the source of the rustling behind him and quickly left the attic.

He approached the brightly lit attic, where two imposing stone lions stood before it, and a slender silhouette was cast against the window.

"Creak."

The wooden door in front slid open a crack, revealing a figure in light-colored clothes. As soon as she saw him, she pushed the door open: "Come in quickly! You've been at Lanruo Temple for three days now, and Grandmother has already found you. She must be trying to harm you!"

An Yang's expression darkened. His arrival had indeed caused a butterfly effect. Despite being as careful as possible, he had unavoidably altered the plot. At least in the original story, the Thousand-Year Tree Demon hadn't gone to the Lanruo Temple attic to harm Ning Caichen. This change was undoubtedly unfavorable for him.

Nie Xiaoqian glanced worriedly into the distance and raised her voice a little: "What are you standing there for? Come in quickly!"

An Yang hesitated. He recalled that in the original plot, Ning Caichen had entered this room, but the difference was that Ning Caichen had followed the zither music unintentionally, while he had been deliberately lured here by Nie Xiaoqian. Ning Caichen had climbed a tree to get in through sheer persistence, whereas he was being urgently invited in by Nie Xiaoqian.

After Ning Caichen entered, the Thousand-Year Tree Demon arrived before he could exchange more than a few words with Nie Xiaoqian. If not for Nie Xiaoqian's quick wit covering for him, he would have died—and dragged her down with him. But precisely because of that, he had gained an incredibly tantalizing opportunity.

Under these circumstances, he couldn't be sure if the Thousand-Year Tree Demon would still come!

Nie Xiaoqian's voice grew anxious: "What are you doing! Hurry up and come in! Do you think I would harm you?"

An Yang looked up and, with a resolute decision, stepped into the room.

Though he was reluctant to give up a possible tantalizing opportunity, he was even more unwilling to put Nie Xiaoqian, who had been so open with him, in danger. Unfortunately, the Lanruo Temple attic was no longer safe either, and he had nowhere else to go.

He looked around, taking in the room's furnishings.

A tea table with embroidery needles and thread on it, a zither stand, a bathtub still steaming, a clothes rack with a white gauze hanging on it—everything was just like in the plot.

Nie Xiaoqian grabbed his arm, already forgetting his earlier hesitation, and said frantically, "Has Grandmother made a move on you?"

An Yang asked, "How do you know?"

Nie Xiaoqian grew even more worried and said, "I sensed it. That's why I used the zither to lure you here. This place is very dangerous—you can't come!"

An Yang knew this was the Thousand-Year Tree Demon's stronghold and frowned, "Then what do we do?"

"What do we do! I told you to leave long ago, but you wouldn't listen. If you die, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"

An Ran fell silent. Faced with a Nie Xiaoqian like this, he couldn't very well say he was here to complete a mission.

Nie Xiaoqian grew a bit frantic, pacing around the room a few times with her brows tightly knit. After thinking it over, she said, "Here's the plan: I'll go check if Grandmother is back. If she is, you leave immediately and let the Taoist at Lanruo Temple protect you. Otherwise, Grandmother will drain your essence dry!"

"Alright!"

"Then I'll go see Grandmother. You stay here and don't move, don't go anywhere!"

"I understand."

Just as Nie Xiaoqian turned around, she saw several shadows approaching outside the window. Her expression changed instantly, and she spun around, pulling An Yang toward the bathtub.

"It's bad—someone's coming!"

"Hide in the bathtub! Grandmother has a very keen nose, but if you're in the water, she won't be able to smell your scent!"

—Familiar dialogue.

An Yang wasn't as fussy as Ning Caichen. Without hesitation, he climbed into the wooden tub, while Nie Xiaoqian straightened her clothes, sat down sideways on the floor, and picked up her needlework to embroider.

The door opened!

A woman with a delicate face and a coiled bun, accompanied by two maids, appeared at the doorway. They bowed and called out, "Sister."

Nie Xiaoqian's expression remained calm and unchanged as she said, "Xiao Qing, I know Grandmother is growing impatient. I'll go out once I've finished dressing."

No sooner had she spoken than the wooden door was suddenly slammed open, and a dark figure rushed in, delivering a slap to her face!

"Bam... smack!"

"Ah!"

Nie Xiaoqian cried out in surprise, covering her face as she fell to the ground!

The dark figure transformed into a woman in a luxurious black robe, neither fully male nor female, with a fierce expression. She grabbed Nie Xiaoqian by the hair and yanked her up, grinding her teeth as she said, "You little slut! How dare you ruin my plans!"

Nie Xiaoqian said in panic, "Grandmother, what are you talking about? I don't know!"

The Thousand-Year Tree Demon threw her to the ground and pointed at her, saying, "You still want to deny it? That man has been at Lanruo Temple for three days, and you haven't delivered him to me to eat. Today, I went myself, and you used your zither to lure him away. Tell me—have you fallen for him!"

Nie Xiaoqian said, "I didn't!"

Beside her, Xiao Qing wore a look of schadenfreude.

An Yang hid in the wooden bucket, holding his breath with all his might, listening to the Thousand-Year Tree Demon's voice—sometimes male, sometimes female—and thinking of Nie Xiaoqian suffering at that very moment, a flicker of pity passed through his eyes. But constrained by his lack of strength, he could only stay hidden here.

The Thousand-Year Tree Demon took out a whip and lashed it fiercely across Nie Xiaoqian's body, drawing a cry of pain.

"Crack!"

"Ah!"

"You wretched slut, have you forgotten how I torment you? If you dare disobey me again, I'll destroy your ashes and make you vanish into nothing!"

Only after beating Nie Xiaoqian until she was covered in wounds did the Thousand-Year Tree Demon drop the whip.

"Tonight, you must find me a living victim to replenish my vitality. I'll let this first offense slide and give you a chance. Xiao Qing, fetch some medicine to treat your sister's injuries!"

Nie Xiaoqian staggered over, glanced at the wooden bucket, and casually pulled down a white gauze from the nearby clothes rack to cover the bucket hiding An Yang.

Soon, Xiao Qing arrived with a tray of wound salve and began applying it to her injuries.

The Thousand-Year Tree Demon walked up to her and said, "I've already betrothed you to Black Mountain Lord. In three days, you'll be wed..."

Just as it spoke, a bubble suddenly rose from the wooden bucket. A flicker of doubt crossed Xiao Qing's eyes, and she was about to look toward the bucket when Nie Xiaoqian stopped her.

She furrowed her brow, her suspicion deepening.

The Thousand-Year Tree Demon continued, "Xiaoqian, try on this dress. It's what you'll wear on your wedding day."

Nie Xiaoqian acknowledged, but saw Xiao Qing quickly glance at the wooden bucket. Her heart jolted, and she silently thanked the white gauze for blocking the view.

Just as she stood up to change clothes, Xiao Qing reached out to lift the gauze. Nie Xiaoqian's expression shifted, and she quickly grabbed Xiao Qing's hand. "Come help me look it over too!"

Nie Xiaoqian slowly shed her clothes and put on a long, bright red robe. She untied her hair bun, letting her black tresses cascade down, the robe fluttering around her, making her look utterly beautiful.

All the while, An Yang held his breath. If his physique hadn't already far surpassed an ordinary person's, he could never have lasted this long.

Soon, the Thousand-Year Tree Demon and Xiao Qing left.

Nie Xiaoqian let out a sigh of relief and hurried to the bucket, pulling An Yang up.

"Hurry, they're finally gone."

But just then, Xiao Qing, who had reached the door, grew more and more convinced something was off about Nie Xiaoqian. Hearing the sound of splashing water from inside the room, she hesitated, then decided to turn back.

Seeing the shadow outside the door, Nie Xiaoqian's heart leaped again. She quickly pushed An Yang back into the water, but she knew well that Xiao Qing had always been suspicious and had never gotten along with her—there was no way she'd be fooled so easily.

After a moment's hesitation, she gritted her teeth, stripped off her clothes, and stepped into the bath bucket!

"Splash..."

An Yang's eyes went wide underwater. He felt a smooth, tender body enter the water, its silky, cool skin pressed tightly against his own. He could even sense the perfect curves of certain places, nearly losing his composure. He quickly steadied his mind and focused on holding his breath.

Nie Xiaoqian used her own body to shield An Yang. Despite the intimate contact, she had to maintain a calm facade as she said to Xiao Qing, "What's the rush? In three days, when I'm married, this room will be yours anyway."

Xiao Qing glanced at the bath bucket, snorted coldly, picked up the wound salve she'd forgotten earlier, and left.

Only then did An Yang lift his head from the water, taking a deep breath. Looking up, he saw Nie Xiaoqian completely naked—her skin, like congealed fat, so delicate it seemed it might break, radiating a fine, ivory-like luster. He was instantly stunned.

What a beautiful body!

Unfortunately, several bloody wounds crisscrossed her body, ruining more than eighty percent of that beauty.

"What are you looking at..."

Nie Xiaoqian turned her head shyly, covering her chest with her hands.

An Yang stared intently at her wounds, sighed, and gently reached out to touch one. It made Nie Xiaoqian flinch slightly.

"What are you doing..."

Nie Xiaoqian turned back, about to scold him for his audacity, but meeting his gaze, she froze. All words died in her throat, and her eyes quickly softened.

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't..."

There was pity in An Yang's eyes.

Nie Xiaoqian felt a little embarrassed under his gaze, but remembering the Thousand-Year Tree Demon's words, her expression dimmed.

"An Yang, aren't you going to get up?"

An Yang looked down. A pair of jade-white, slender, and shapely legs were resting against him, so dazzling he could barely keep his eyes open.

"If you don't get up, how can I?"