Night had fallen. Thunder rumbled across the heavens and earth, making even the window lattice tremble faintly.
Xue Zhi shivered slightly and opened her eyes. Beside her, Cold Smoke's breathing was soft and gentle; she seemed to still be dreaming.
Too many things had happened today. First, Cold Smoke had been ambushed by cultivators while returning to the painted pleasure boat to retrieve some personal belongings. Then Su Shuanghe had left the island for no apparent reason, claiming he had returned to the city to handle some matters. And immediately afterward, Yu Ci had entered meditation in the gardens for unknown reasons and had yet to awaken. Then...
The two of them sleeping together had been Cold Smoke's suggestion.
She had not known before, but over the past few days, following Su Shuanghe's orders, Xue Zhi had looked through all kinds of intelligence. She had learned that the Cold Smoke Lady at her side was Baiyi, a rather famous information broker around Ring Belt Lake. She had also learned what sort of proclivities Baiyi had. How could she not understand what this woman truly had in mind?
Yet she had suffered some sort of shock today and had been in low spirits. Egged on by Baiyi, she had drunk several cups of wine, supposedly to calm her nerves. It was premium liquor specially made for cultivators, intended to make one drunk. Once the alcohol rose to her head, muddled and half-persuaded, half-resistant, she had agreed.
Fortunately, Baiyi had been unexpectedly patient. She had not immediately acted recklessly—or perhaps she had never possessed such intentions, and Xue Zhi had simply judged her by a petty heart. The two had merely huddled together like ordinary close girlfriends, exchanging intimate words. At some point, Xue Zhi had drifted into a drowsy sleep, only