Chapter Sixteen: Memories of Years Past

The once lively room fell abruptly into silence. Only one stood at the doorway, the other sprawled upon the bed; their gazes met, locking together in a moment of wordless connection.

Jiang Yao watched Qin Yi from afar, her mind echoing those three words again and again. She had come to Cloud Island today to seek Qin Yi, driven by a faint unwillingness in her heart. Never had she imagined that this Qin Yi would be the same one she knew. Now, the tiny hope she had cautiously harbored had been realized, leaving her stunned, unable to believe it.

No one understood better than her the suffering Qin Yi had endured in his previous life, right up until his death and the dissolution of his soul. Thus, even though she had hoped fervently that he had not perished, she dared not let herself believe it.

She had forgotten how many times, throughout the past year—every night except for the fifteenth day of the lunar month—she had thought of him, her eyes blurred with tears. She remembered well how, during their years of wandering, Qin Yi had always cared for her meticulously. Whenever she felt helpless, he was always there.

Qin Yi looked at Jiang Yao, slumped on the bed, then walked over gently and pulled her—much larger than himself now—into his not-so-broad chest. With a teasing smile, he said, “What’s wrong? Snotty Yao has grown up, and her courage has swelled as well.”

Jiang Yao had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed Qin Yi at the door. Now, coming to herself, she found she was already in his arms, her clothes torn in places. Embarrassed and angry, she snapped, “Qin Yi, you... what are you doing?”

Yet, held fast in his embrace, she was caught off guard, her words faltering. She realized she was completely powerless, unable to break free from Qin Yi’s hold. All she could do was lie quietly in his arms. Suddenly, she found this was rather nice; at least, in this way, her heart and body felt immeasurably warmer.

“Your poison...?” Qin Yi asked, covering her with a warm quilt.

“As you guessed, it’s Linglong,” Jiang Yao murmured softly in his arms, her tone calm, as if recounting a commonplace event.

Though Qin Yi had already suspected the answer, hearing Jiang Yao say it herself still surprised him. In their previous life, Linglong hadn’t been close to them, nor to Ji Yunyang and the others; she occupied a middle ground in their group.

He recalled that the pursuit of witchcraft and the position of Saintess of the Witch Tribe had been her lifelong goal.

“What happened a year ago?” Qin Yi pressed again. Although the general outline was clear, he couldn’t help wanting to know the finer details.

Jiang Yao didn’t answer immediately, but lifted her head and smiled alluringly at Qin Yi. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she said, “If I told you everything that happened a year ago right now, I doubt you’d finish listening before my master chopped you to bits.”

“Heh, that’s true.” Qin Yi chuckled, not pressing further. Their identities were clear now, and the future was long.

“No matter the reason, if someone has hurt you, they will pay for it.” In the next moment, Qin Yi’s gaze turned icy, his words devoid of warmth.

Jiang Yao merely responded with a soft sound, not bothering to mention that he was now weaker than she was.

“Hmm? What’s this hard thing pressing against my back?” Jiang Yao suddenly asked, curiosity in her voice as she looked up at Qin Yi.

Hearing this, Qin Yi’s face flushed red, but after stammering for a while, he couldn’t utter a single word.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yao immediately understood. Blushing, she tried to move away, but only managed half an inch before she realized Qin Yi was holding her tightly, refusing to let her leave his embrace.

“You...” Jiang Yao glared at Qin Yi, embarrassed and angry. Qin Yi continued to hold her, his eyes burning as he gazed at her. The intensity in his gaze made Jiang Yao blush even deeper.

She thought to herself, after a year apart, how did Qin Yi’s personality change so much? She vaguely remembered that in the past, whenever something so awkward happened between them, Qin Yi would flee before she even had a chance to.

Seeing Jiang Yao’s embarrassed face, Qin Yi felt a wicked fire rise from his lower abdomen. He looked at her delicate lips and, in a flash, kissed her.

“Mmm...!” The sudden kiss startled Jiang Yao. She tried to break free, but the more she struggled, the more deeply she seemed to sink into his grasp.

“Not bad at all.” After a moment, Qin Yi released her, looking down at her with an amused smile.

“If you hadn’t called me by my childhood nickname, I wouldn’t believe you’re Qin Yi,” Jiang Yao said, angry and doubtful. Yet, despite her words, she knew in her heart that only Qin Yi knew that nickname.

“But what’s with you now?” Jiang Yao asked curiously, noting that Qin Yi was now shorter than she was.

Qin Yi looked at his own body with a helpless smile. “You might not believe it, but I don’t know how it happened either. Maybe... I’ve been reborn?”

“Reborn? Is that even possible?” Jiang Yao exclaimed in surprise. In all her years of cultivation, she had only heard of seeking immortality, never of someone being reborn. Still, it seemed the only explanation for everything before her.

Just then, Qin Yi glanced toward the doorway. He had felt someone watching him, the sensation sending a chill down his spine. Sure enough, standing there was none other than Jiang Yao’s master, Xue Songmei, the head of Snowy Peak.

“Master...” Jiang Yao saw Qin Yi’s odd expression and followed his gaze. Instantly, she was terrified, her voice trembling as she called out to her master. She quickly escaped Qin Yi’s embrace, wrapped herself in the quilt, and stood up, saying nothing more.

“Qin Yi greets Master Aunt.” Qin Yi saluted Xue Songmei as a junior, his tone calm.

“A year apart, your cultivation hasn’t improved, but your courage certainly has,” Xue Songmei said coldly, her words laced with sarcasm.

“Master Aunt is too kind. I’m nowhere near as bold as my master,” Qin Yi replied with a smile, ignoring the comment about his cultivation.

Just then, Master Zixuan appeared beside Xue Songmei. Seeing that Qin Yi and Jiang Yao seemed unharmed, he sighed in relief. It seemed his task for today was complete.

“Junior Sister, what do you think...” Master Zixuan said awkwardly to Xue Songmei.

“Hmph!” Xue Songmei snorted, clearly uninterested in dealing with the situation any further. She turned and flew away from Jiang Yao’s residence on her sword.

Master Zixuan did not follow her. Instead, he turned to Qin Yi with a smile. “Come on, don’t think that just because your Master Aunt left, you can come and go here as you please—she keeps an eye on this place!”

“Alright! Jiang Yao, remember to come to Cloud Island tomorrow morning,” Qin Yi replied, then said a final word to Jiang Yao before flying off with Master Zixuan.

Jiang Yao watched Qin Yi’s departing figure. She didn’t ask what he was going to do; there was no need. She knew it must concern her poisoning. As for whether Qin Yi could resolve the world-famous incurable poison, she no longer cared.

So long as Qin Yi was by her side on every day the poison flared up, she would be satisfied. Perhaps, in her eyes, the warmest place in the world was nothing more than the not-so-broad chest of a young man.