Dawn was breaking.
"Young Lord, this young lady is in good health. A good night's rest will be enough. But isn't it somewhat improper to let her stay in your side room? As for the Lord..."
"It's fine. Miss Qiu saved my life. It's only right that she should sleep here," a gentle, refined voice replied.
"Well... yes."
Footsteps followed.
Where am I? Xu Zhiqiu opened her eyes groggily. Pain shot through the back of her neck, instantly clearing much of the haze. Naraku!
She sat up just as someone slid the door open and walked inside.
Their eyes met.
Xu Zhiqiu saw that Naraku wore a deep blue top and grayish-white riding hakama. His seaweed-like hair hung loose, his formerly red eyes had turned black, and his blue eyeshadow was gone. His whole face seemed to belong to someone else, yet somehow remained the same. Only now, the man before her looked weak and frail, like a delicate male beauty.
Why is my heart fluttering a little?
Ahem. Xu Zhiqiu shifted her gaze away and gripped the quilt. Beneath her lay soft, comfortable bedding that wouldn't leave her back and waist aching after a night's sleep. She lowered her eyes. "Naraku."
After closing the door, Naraku came over and sat beside Xu Zhiqiu, leaning against the wall. His black eyes turned red again as he stared at her. "Qiu, how are you feeling?"
Xu Zhiqiu suppressed the emotions stirring inside her and looked up at him, only to find that he had returned to his original appearance. The sight of his red eyes and blue eyeshadow no longer made her heart race as it had moments ago. Instead, she calmed down. "I'm perfectly fine, except the spot where you hit me hurts."
Naraku chuckled. "Heh. If I hadn't done that, how could I have brought you here as my guest?"
Xu Zhiqiu's face darkened. He wanted to invite someone over, so he simply knocked her unconscious? How utterly overbearing. She looked down and noticed that her original outfit had been changed. Now she wore only a white garment.
Noticing her movement and recalling what had happened, Naraku gave a cold snort. "What, are you still thinking about that outfit you had some strange man buy you? It accidentally got dirty when I carried you back, so I had someone take it away and throw it out. You'll never be wearing it again."
Xu Zhiqiu was utterly bewildered. What madness has gotten into him?
Xu Zhiqiu pressed a hand to her forehead. "I bought that with the money I earned washing hundreds of plates, and you just threw it away? If it was dirty, you could have washed it and let it dry, then it would have been perfectly wearable. That was my only outfit. Without it, what am I supposed to wear?"
Naraku's gaze shifted slightly, his fingers rubbing against his knee.
Xu Zhiqiu chose to keep quiet as well, waiting for his answer.
"Whatever clothes you want, I'll buy them for you," Naraku said.
He'll buy me clothes? Xu Zhiqiu frowned, weighing whether he meant it. She crawled closer to him and studied his eyes. "Are you telling the truth or not?"
Naraku looked at the woman so close to him that he could see her flawless cheeks at a glance. "Why would I, Naraku, need to lie to you?"
People like you are the best liars of all.
Xu Zhiqiu didn't say it aloud, only muttering it inwardly. She shifted backward to put some distance between them, then held out her palm and looked at the man before her.
Naraku frowned, not understanding what she meant by that gesture.
Xu Zhiqiu said bluntly, "Didn't you say you'd buy them for me? Give me the money, and I'll buy them myself."
Understanding dawned on Naraku. He glanced at Xu Zhiqiu. "Oh? Buy them yourself, then seize the chance to run away?"
Xu Zhiqiu withdrew her hand, shrugged, and sat in the other corner. "You can have a servant buy them instead. I like light blue clothes and ones with more floral patterns. The fabric has to be top quality. I also want rouge, face powder, and things like that. The more expensive, the better."
"Oh, all right." Naraku stood and headed toward the door.
Just as he was about to leave, Xu Zhiqiu called him back.
"Wait."
Naraku turned to look at the woman behind him. Her red lips moved as she said, "Prepare a tub of hot water for me, at a comfortable temperature. I want to bathe."
Naraku froze for a moment, but in the end, he walked out without a word and closed the door behind him.
Once he was gone, disbelief spread across Xu Zhiqiu's face. Did I just meet a fake Naraku? He was actually so obedient. I thought he'd at least make a few remarks. His pleasant attitude left her feeling rather overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
Xu Zhiqiu leaned against the wall and raised her bare wrist. Where had her Jade fallen? Why had she been brought here, while the Jade had disappeared?
Naraku, the young castle lord, was highly efficient and had excellent taste in clothes. They were delivered in no time.
After closing the door, Xu Zhiqiu picked out a light blue outfit and set it beside the bathing tub. Then she took off her clothes and lowered herself into the water. Its warmth seeped through her body, drawing a soft sigh from her as her eyes narrowed in comfort.
The sound of splashing came from next door. Although it was faint, Naraku's hearing magnified it endlessly. He sat on his bed with his knees raised, watching the blurred figure in the adjoining room, his red eyes shifting from time to time.
He covered his chest and sank into thought, unsure whether the problem lay with Onigumo's heart or with himself. He had actually obeyed that woman's every demand. That was nothing like his usual nature.
The seaweed-like locks over his forehead concealed his brows, and coldness radiated from his red eyes.
After her relaxing bath, Xu Zhiqiu dried herself and changed into the silky clothes. Barefoot, she walked over to the dressing table and carefully dried her damp hair with a towel while studying herself in the mirror.
Her skin was even softer and dewier, and her black hair was thick, glossy, and lustrous.
Is this what sleeping for so many years does?
Xu Zhiqiu poked her cheek with her index finger, and a faint flush immediately appeared. She frowned, and the person in the mirror frowned with her.
Hmm, I'm pretty good-looking. Looking this beautiful, who knows which handsome guy will get lucky someday?
No, a true beauty stays a noble, distinguished singleton.
After admiring herself for a while, Xu Zhiqiu opened the exquisite box of rouge and face powder. Each compartment held a different rouge or powder, and when she lowered her head, she could smell their natural botanical fragrance.
She closed the box, the corners of her lips lifting. It seemed Naraku had put some thought into this.
She even boldly entertained the idea of fleecing him thoroughly while he still had money. Money, delicious food, clothes, cosmetics, weapons, a grand residence of her own-she wanted them all.
Her stomach growled. Xu Zhiqiu knew it was time to eat, but no one had brought her any food. She slid open the door, glanced down the quiet corridor, then headed toward the room next door.
Sliding its door open, she looked at the man inside and called, "Naraku."
Before you continue