How far had the story progressed now?
Xu Zhiqiu lowered her eyes, watching the scenery along the road.
She followed the group back to Inuyama Castle. It had only been about half a month since she had last seen it, but now the weather was foul, and everything lay beneath a gloomy pall.
Xu Zhiqiu held her sword against her chest, lost in thought.
"I never expected you to know the healing arts as well, my lady. I'm sure the Lord will be delighted to see you."
This subordinate clearly had his master's interests at heart.
Xu Zhiqiu entered the castle lord's residence. As she headed toward Naraku's quarters, she turned to the people behind her. "Thank you for your efforts. You can go attend to your own business. I'll go see Indara myself."
"Yes!"
Two servants stood guard outside Naraku's room. When they saw Xu Zhiqiu, they called out, "My lady." But they barred her way, refusing to let her inside.
"You won't even let me in?" Xu Zhiqiu demanded, her tone sharpening.
They exchanged wide-eyed looks, then let Xu Zhiqiu through after all. She was their lady, after all. Surely the Lord wouldn't throw her out.
Once Xu Zhiqiu went inside, they quietly left together, leaving the Lord and his lady alone.
The man lying on the mattress opened his eyes. His red gaze shifted toward Xu Zhiqiu, his face visibly haggard. "Qiu, I thought you weren't coming back."
Xu Zhiqiu walked over and sat beside him, setting her bundle and sword to one side.
"I was only gone for half a month. How did you get so weak?" Xu Zhiqiu reached out and stroked his long, seaweed-like hair. Even his hair felt a little dry.
"Some things happened. I miscalculated," Naraku admitted.
"Oh? Even you can miscalculate?" Xu Zhiqiu was amused, but seeing his complexion, she held back her laughter.
Her tone left Naraku feeling distinctly put out. "Qiu, don't you care about me at all?"
"Didn't you bring this trouble on yourself?" Xu Zhiqiu withdrew her hand and reached for her bundle. As she opened it, she said, "Let me see the Shikon Jewel shards you've collected."
Naraku hesitated for a moment. When he saw Xu Zhiqiu take three Shikon Jewel shards from her bundle, he brought out the half of the Shikon Jewel in his possession.
Xu Zhiqiu took the half jewel, already stained with black miasma, from his hand. She joined it with the shards she had collected and used her spiritual power to fuse them together.
"I was wounded by an arrow shot by that priestess's reincarnation. I never expected her reincarnation to have the power of the Purifying Arrow," Naraku said, lowering his head. Being struck by that arrow still rankled.
"She is her reincarnation, after all. They share the same soul. Though her innate spiritual power isn't as strong as Kikyo's, she still has a fair amount of strength. You'd better stop underestimating them."
Xu Zhiqiu opened her hand. The shards had fused with the larger piece. She took Naraku's hand and placed the Shikon Jewel in his palm.
Naraku looked at the purified Shikon Jewel. "Qiu, your spiritual power seems to be growing stronger."
"It has gotten stronger. I've noticed some changes myself."
As Xu Zhiqiu answered, she took a deep-purple embroidered men's kimono from her bundle and spread it out before Naraku. "This cost me quite a bit of money. Try it on and see if it fits."
Seeing how delighted she was, Naraku's pupils contracted to pinpoints once more. He looked at the garment as an unfamiliar emotion began to sprout in his heart, breaking through the soil. "Why did you buy me clothes, Qiu?"
"Didn't you buy some for me before? Courtesy calls for courtesy in return. I happened to have some money, and I happened to see a nice outfit. I thought you'd look really handsome in it, so I bought it. If you don't like it, then you don't like it."
Despite her words, Xu Zhiqiu was still a little anxious inside.
Naraku reached out and pulled both her and the garment toward him. In an instant, he had pinned her beneath him. Looking straight into her clear eyes, he stroked her smooth cheek with his well-defined fingers. "Qiu."
Xu Zhiqiu found herself pressed against the hard floor. She blinked and was just about to tell him that her back hurt when his already close face drew closer still.
Cool lips brushed hers, burying every word Xu Zhiqiu had been about to say. Her eyes widened at the man's actions, and her lips parted slightly, giving him an opening.
He plundered her mouth, marking the woman beneath him with his presence.
Xu Zhiqiu's hands, which had rested against his chest, gradually relaxed. Then she hooked her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and eagerly responded.
As they gradually explored deeper, Naraku stopped.
Xu Zhiqiu opened her eyes, a watery sheen in them. Her lips pressed together slightly, and a trace of confusion appeared in her gaze.
Naraku covered her eyes. "That priestess's reincarnation shot me through the body. I've only barely recovered my human form. I still need to absorb stronger demons to stabilize my body."
"Then why are you covering my eyes?" Xu Zhiqiu's voice was soft.
Naraku's tone turned teasing. "I'm afraid I won't be able to resist making another move on you."
"But you can't perform, so how could you..."
Before Xu Zhiqiu finished, she realized what she was saying and hurriedly shut her mouth. Then she pleaded pitifully, "It was my fault. Please forgive me, Nara."
Naraku gave a low huff but did nothing more. He lay down beside her and gathered Xu Zhiqiu into his arms, stroking the long hair trailing down her back.
Xu Zhiqiu nestled against him, surrounded by his presence. She had spent half the day traveling without a chance to rest. Now, lying there enveloped in that familiar aura, she soon fell asleep.
Naraku lowered his head to look at the woman sleeping soundly in his arms and called softly, "Qiu."
When Xu Zhiqiu woke, she instinctively reached out to feel beside her, only to find it cold. She opened her eyes and discovered she was lying beneath the covers. Naraku was gone.
Xu Zhiqiu threw back the covers and got up, then spotted Naraku sitting to one side. His eyes seemed a little vacant. Thinking she must have been mistaken, she asked, "Naraku? How many days have I been asleep?"
"One day," Naraku replied calmly, dressed in pale purple.
"Huh." Xu Zhiqiu crouched in front of him and rubbed his face. "Why are you acting a little strange today?"
"Heh. It's only a puppet."
"Then where are you really?"
"I have something to do."
"Oh." Xu Zhiqiu restrained the urge to rub his face again.
She stood and straightened her clothes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the figure seated on the floor get up and lie back down beneath the covers.
Xu Zhiqiu clicked her tongue, left his room, and returned to her own.
Her room still held a large wardrobe full of clothes, along with rouge and face powder.
Entering the room, Xu Zhiqiu opened the chest and sighed in relief when she saw that her clothes were still there. She picked an outfit in a color she liked, changed into it, then took her sword and went out.
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