Chapter 1442: Chapter 152: Exorcising Evil and Dispelling Misfortune_2
The sound of the gentle, silver bell-like stream seemed to cleanse her soul like celestial music. The icy heart of Xuan Yue seemed to show signs of melting. Her body moved uncontrollably, step by step, toward the direction of the flowing water.
As the scenery before her gradually shifted, Xuan Yue realized she hadn’t made a mistake; this was the place from years ago!
Nothing had changed. The pond was still crystal clear, the creek still seeping out from the cracks of the nearby mountain, converging into a small pool that occasionally emitted soft, tinkling sounds. The clear springs within the pond flowed gently downward, nourishing the surrounding life. Memories swept over Xuan Yue’s heart again and again, making her feel as though she’d been transported back to that very moment four years ago.
......
"Amazing! I’m going to take a bath." Xuan Yue leapt off Ah Dai’s back and darted toward the pond. With a splash, she jumped into the crystal-clear water that was only knee-deep. The icy spring water refreshed her body, as if washing away days of exhaustion in an instant. She kept splashing the pond water, releasing a melodious laughter.
Ah Dai stared blankly at Xuan Yue playing joyously in the pond, momentarily entranced. In his eyes, Xuan Yue looked like a radiant angel, captivating beyond words.
Xuan Yue also realized her uninhibited behavior, letting out a startled cry and quickly crouching in the water. Two crimson clouds blossomed on her charming face as she snapped at Ah Dai, "What are you staring at? Annoying! Turn around, now."
Ah Dai jolted out of his daze, stammering an agreement, and hastily turned away. He and Yan Shi retreated downstream.
"Ah Dai, so what exactly did you see just now? I think I saw your nose bleed—was it too stimulating for you? Lucky I didn’t see anything, or I’d have gotten eye sores." Yan Li teased mischievously, nudging Ah Dai’s side.
"Ah! I-I didn’t see anything!" Ah Dai stammered out an unconvincing explanation. The icy spring water didn’t seem to cool the heat in his chest, and even now, he couldn’t calm himself.
Suddenly, a startled cry came from the pond above. Ah Dai immediately sprang up reflexively and sprinted toward the direction of the pond, his face full of worry. He leaped high into the air, landing just above the pond. But when his eyes took in the scene before him, he could no longer control himself, falling with a splash into the water. Bright red blood continuously streamed from his nose, creating rippling blushes in the pond.
It turned out that what greeted Ah Dai when he arrived was the sight of Xuan Yue completely naked, her alluring figure on full display. After days without bathing, Xuan Yue had desperately wanted to cleanse herself of the accumulated grime. Confident that Ah Dai and the others wouldn’t sneak a peek, she had boldly stripped off her restraints and bathed freely. The startled cry a moment ago was caused by a small white fish bumping into her from the water bomb, which had surprised her. She hadn’t anticipated that her cry would draw Ah Dai over. Realizing that he’d seen her entirely exposed, Xuan Yue immediately crouched in the water with utter embarrassment, using her arms to cover her "critical areas." Ah Dai crawled out of the water, his eyes tightly shut as he called out, "Yue Yue, Yue Yue! Are you alright?"
With her head bowed, Xuan Yue trembled as she replied, "Y-you leave! I’m fine. Just... go!"
Hearing that Xuan Yue was alright, Ah Dai turned to flee as though his life depended on it. Unfortunately, he forgot that when he fell into the pond earlier, his direction had already shifted, and with his eyes closed, his escape led him directly toward Xuan Yue.
Amid Xuan Yue’s startled cries, Ah Dai collided straight into her, and both of them tumbled together into the pond. In his panic, Ah Dai suddenly felt his hand grasp something soft. Shocked, he wanted to cry out but ended up swallowing a mouthful of cold spring water, choking and coughing incessantly.
Xuan Yue was overcome with humiliation. What Ah Dai had grasped was none other than her... She forcefully shoved him aside, furious as she shouted, "What are you doing?"
......
Recalling Ah Dai’s foolish expression, the awkwardness in his eyes when he saw her, his shyness when he accidentally touched her, and that sudden nosebleed, Xuan Yue’s charming face reddened. Her beautiful eyes softened with a hint of gentle laughter. Unknowingly, she had walked to the edge of the pond.
Slowly crouching down, she scooped up a handful of cool, transparent pond water, immersing her flushed, warm face into it. The icy refreshing sensation spread throughout her body in an instant. Xuan Yue felt her heart enraptured, completely indulging in the wonderful feeling. Since she had parted ways with Ah Dai in the Elf Forest, she hadn’t experienced such relaxation. For a long time, Xuan Yue remained on the ground, unwilling to stand as she savored the peculiar coolness, while Ah Dai’s figure repeatedly appeared in her mind. Over the past three months, she had buried herself in endless work and cultivation to numb her senses. But now that she was here, with her mind quiet, her deepest emotions surged forth—her longing for Ah Dai had never waned. Time hadn’t diluted the feelings rooted in her heart.
Slowly standing up, Xuan Yue combed her blue hair behind her back. A gentle breeze caressed her, causing the red ritual robe she wore to sway lightly. Staring into the distant horizon, Xuan Yue murmured, "Ah Dai, where are you now? Have you still not understood my feelings for you? A year... Can you come back to me within a year? As long as you return, I won’t care about anything else." She sighed softly, taking one last, lingering glance at the beautiful scenery before her. Then, with her figure lifting gracefully, she flew into the depths of the Tian Gang Mountain Range, bathed in golden light.
