The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 6
by Little PandaHiding a Beauty?
The air fell silent. Song Linlin felt she was being looked down upon. Good heavens] how could she see an eye-rolling expression on a snake?
The next moment, the silver snake on the bed vanished, and Chi Qianning appeared on the bed, sitting cross-legged at the edge, her silver-white hair falling down, scattered across the bedsheet.
Song Linlin was very close to her; just raising her head, she could see that devastatingly beautiful face. Different from before, Chi Qianning’s complexion was even paler than their last meeting, making one suspect she might faint from weakness onto the bed at any moment.
Those red eyes showed no emotion, yet clearly carried exhaustion. She only gave Song Linlin a bland glance before closing her eyes again, not wanting to waste energy.
How could she look even more drained than herself?
Song Linlin silently withdrew her finger, stood up and retreated to the table, sitting back in her previous chair.
For a moment, no one spoke in the room, creating an awkward atmosphere. Song Linlin felt that just sitting there wasn’t the solution, so she tentatively asked: “Um… would you like some water?”
Chi Qianning opened her lightly closed eyes, saying nothing, but not refusing either. Song Linlin took a clean cup, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup of clear water.
“Here, though the water is cold.”
The other party took the cup, taking a light sip, only drinking half to moisten her throat before handing the teacup back. Chi Qianning let out a soft breath, appearing somewhat more energetic.
Noticing Song Linlin’s constant observing gaze, she asked flatly in return: “What? Think I’m about to die?”
“How could that be? Not at all.” Song Linlin withdrew her gaze.
“Is that so? Then put away that look,” Chi Qianning closed her eyes, likewise not looking at Song Linlin, speaking only in an icy tone: “Though my condition isn’t good, dealing with you little ghosts is still nothing.”
Song Linlin was speechless. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have given this fellow water – let her die of thirst! Taking kindness for granted.
She let out a sullen “oh,” crossing her arms across her chest, and muttered at the heartless silver-haired beauty: “But this is my bed, and I want to sleep.”
“I never said you couldn’t come up.”
“Huh?”
Song Linlin looked at her, then at the bed. This was a sky-grade [倩εε | tiΔn zΓ¬ xΓng | highest grade] sized room, and naturally, the bed was large enough to sleep three or four people.
Chi Qianning sitting there only occupied a small portion, and there would still be plenty of space if she lay down. Thinking carefully about what the other had said, Song Linlin realized she had a point.
It was her bed to begin with, why should she be afraid to get on it just because someone else was sitting there?
However, she was currently dirty all over. Song Linlin didn’t want to fill the warm bedding with dust and grass debris. She remembered Ye Tingran had asked someone to tell the inn’s waiter [ε°δΊ | xiΗo Γ¨r | traditional term for restaurant/inn server] to prepare hot water for her.
Just as she was thinking this, there was a knock at the door, and the waiter’s voice came through the wooden door: “Miss, may I come in? This humble one has brought your hot water.”
“Wait a moment!”
Song Linlin shouted toward the door, then turned to look at Chi Qianning, leaning close to whisper: “Someone’s coming in, do you want to hide?”
“No need, mortals cannot see me.” Chi Qianning shook her head.
“Alright then.”
Since she couldn’t be seen by others, Song Linlin stopped worrying about her and jogged to open the door, now only wanting to take a bath and go to sleep.
Behind the inn’s waiter were several other attendants, each carrying steaming buckets of hot water. Song Linlin made way for them to enter.
After filling the large wooden bathing tub in the room, Song Linlin tested the water temperature. Finding it suitable, the group withdrew from the room, and indeed, none of them had seen Chi Qianning throughout.
Song Linlin dug out her change of clothes and looked at Chi Qianning on the bed. This fellow was also in tattered condition, so she politely offered: “Would you like to wash too?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Song Linlin realized her foolishness – to others’ eyes she was alone, why would she need to bathe twice?
Fortunately, Chi Qianning shook her head, “I know the Cleansing Technique.”
“Good.” Song Linlin sighed in relief, “Then I’ll go wash. No one should disturb us after this.”
She hugged her clothes and retreated behind the folding screen on the other side of the room. Her removed clothes were carelessly thrown on the floor. After putting up her hair, Song Linlin finally sank into the warm water.
After such an exhausting night, soaking in the hot bath felt like her soul was being liberated. Song Linlin leaned back, not wanting to move even a finger.
Misty vapor rose and spread, and as she relaxed, she unconsciously fell asleep.
When Chi Qianning opened her eyes again, the sun outside the window was high in the sky, and the street was full of bustling crowds, various noises filtering through the window.
For someone accustomed to quiet environments, this place was far too noisy.
She formed a hand seal, lightly flicking it, and the room fell completely silent, not a sound from the outside world penetrating anymore.
Chi Qianning got off the bed, slowly walking to the tea table nearby. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of clear water.
The water in the cup was drunk in one go. As her fingers caressed the teacup, Chi Qianning belatedly remembered Song Linlin saying she was going to bathe, and then there had been no movement since.
Her own appearance was truly disheveled, the red dress tattered at the edges without a clean spot anywhere. After casting another Cleansing Technique on herself, Chi Qianning stepped toward the folding screen.
She seriously doubted whether this person, who was as weak as an ant, might drown herself while soaking in the water.
To Chi Qianning, who possessed longevity and immense power, humans at the Foundation Establishment stage were like fragile flowers in wind and rain – they might wither away from a mere breeze, without any external interference.
Before finding another solution, Song Linlin shouldn’t die just yet.
As Chi Qianning’s footsteps drew closer, she gradually saw the clothes Song Linlin had carelessly scattered across the floor. Her expression remained unchanged, merely glancing once before looking away.
Walking to the folding screen’s edge, with nothing blocking her view, she saw Song Linlin’s head resting against the wooden tub’s rim, eyes tightly closed, her face slightly flushed from the steam, breathing steadily – clearly fast asleep.
Chi Qianning found herself momentarily speechless, though thinking carefully, it was within expectations. Looking at the sleeping person, Chi Qianning leaned against the folding screen and spoke blandly: “Song Linlin.”
Soaking in the water, Song Linlin hazily heard someone calling her. She opened her eyes, mind not yet clear, vaguely seeing someone standing nearby watching her, and instinctively asked: “Mm… who are you?”
When Song Linlin finally recognized the other party’s appearance, she instantly became alert. She immediately covered her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible, somewhat flustered:
“Wah! You… you… how could you just walk over without any warning?”
Chi Qianning watched her panicked state without any intention of looking away, her expression unchanged as she spoke: “I have no interest in human bodies.”
“I just wanted to check if someone had drowned herself. Unexpectedly, you had fallen asleep.”
The other party was so matter-of-fact that Song Linlin felt even more embarrassed. She only showed her eyes, the lower half of her face hidden behind the wooden tub, watching Chi Qianning.
Only then did she notice the other party had changed clothes, her originally tattered red dress replaced by a simple moonlight-white [ζη½θ² | yuΓ¨ bΓ‘i sΓ¨ | elegant white with a subtle blue tinge] robe. Though simple, the clothing wasn’t ordinary, embroidered with dark patterns Song Linlin couldn’t understand, and wearing such attire only added to Chi Qianning’s cold elegance.
Song Linlin couldn’t help but look at her for a few more seconds before stammering: “Alright… th-then you go back first, I need to change clothes.”
The water temperature had already dropped, only retaining some residual warmth. Fortunately, Chi Qianning had come to call her; otherwise, staying in any longer might have made her ill.
Chi Qianning didn’t say much more. True to her word, she had only come to check, and after confirming Song Linlin wasn’t dead, she turned and left.
Only after the other party disappeared from view did Song Linlin reach for her prepared change of clothes. After dressing properly, she was too lazy to deal with the dirty clothes on the floor, just leaving them there.
Song Linlin walked back to the bed where Chi Qianning was already sitting in the innermost position, eyes closed in meditation. Song Linlin didn’t have such good energy; having just slept a while, she was still exhausted.
Since the bed was large and the other party had said she didn’t mind, Song Linlin quickly removed her shoes and climbed onto the bed, lying on the outer side. She pulled the covers over herself completely, and thus the two peacefully shared one bed.
Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a gentle female voice from outside: “Shimei, are you awake? It’s already noon [εζΆ | wΗ shΓ | traditional time period around noon], I’ve brought lunch up for you.”
Song Linlin was awakened by the voice. She poked her head out from the warm bedding, looking at the bright sun outside the window, still somewhat confused.
It was already noon? Why hadn’t there been any noise from outside?
No time to think about that – she sat up abruptly, her hair still disheveled. Someone was knocking at the door, but she wasn’t alone in her bed!
Afraid the other party might suddenly push open the door, Song Linlin hurriedly shouted toward the outside: “Alright, Shijie, wait a moment! I’ll come open the door right away!”
After speaking, she turned to look at Chi Qianning, only to find that Chi Qianning hadn’t moved at all, still sitting in the same place, now staring at the freshly awakened Song Linlin.
“Why are you still sitting there?”
Song Linlin muttered under her breath, frantically grabbing the blanket and pushing Chi Qianning down onto the bed. Chi Qianning was visibly stunned, not expecting the other party to suddenly pounce on her, and for a moment was actually pressed down onto the bed.
“Shh!”
Song Linlin pressed against her, the two of them very close. Chi Qianning’s silver-white eyelashes blinked, her red eyes staring at the person before her, the other’s black hair falling onto her face, causing a slight tickle.
“Hide for a moment! It’ll be quick!”
Song Linlin whispered, and without waiting for the other party’s response, she threw the blanket over Chi Qianning’s face, hurriedly gathering up her silver-white hair to hide it under the covers.
After finishing all this, Song Linlin immediately ran off the bed, put on her shoes, and pattered [ε ε ε | dΔ dΔ dΔ | onomatopoeia for rapid footsteps] to the door, pulling it open.
When the door opened, standing outside wasn’t Ye Tingran, but rather Zhiyu-shijie. Zhiyu gave Song Linlin a gentle smile, saying softly: “Song-shimei needn’t be so flustered, it’s no trouble for me to wait outside a while longer.”
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Shijie.” Song Linlin smiled politely back at her. Afraid the other might notice something unusual about the bed, she reached out to take the tray from Zhiyu’s hands, “Zhiyu-shijie, I can take it myself!”
“No need, let your Shijie carry it in for you.”
Zhiyu didn’t let go, walking past Song Linlin into the room. Her tone remained gentle: “Shimei, you were attacked last night, surely you haven’t recovered yet. Please rest well first.”
“Thank you then, Shijie.” Song Linlin hurriedly followed her steps, trying to block the view of the bed.
After placing the tray on the table, just when Song Linlin thought she would leave, Zhiyu didn’t immediately depart. She looked at Song Linlin’s neck and took out two jade bottles from the pouch at her waist.
“This morning, Ye-shijie told me about Shimei’s neck injury and asked me to bring you some medicine. Looking at it now, this wound is rather strange…” Zhiyu lowered her eyes in thought, saying uncertainly:
“Looking at it now, the wound appears to be from a snake bite.”
Song Linlin’s heart jumped at these words: Was it that obvious?
With Chi Qianning currently awake and lying on the bed, Song Linlin didn’t dare speak carelessly. She covered her wound and smiled awkwardly, “Shijie must be joking. I’m fine, the wound will heal in a couple of days.”
“Please use this ointment, Shimei, or it will leave a scar. It wouldn’t look good to have a scar in such a visible place.”
Afraid Song Linlin might be too modest to accept, Zhiyu considerately added: “Don’t worry, I have plenty more.”
Unable to refuse further, Song Linlin could only nod and accept the two jade bottles, “Thank you then, Zhiyu-shijie.”
Zhiyu continued explaining: “The other bottle contains Qi Recovery Pills. Song-shimei, you fought with bandits last night and must have depleted much of your spiritual power. We don’t know if there might be another ambush, so you can take these pills directly to recover your spiritual power.”
At these words, Song Linlin’s eyes lit up. Her spiritual power had just been drained by Chi Qianning, so this was perfectly timed. Due to her constitution, her meditation recovery speed was too slow.
And without spiritual power, if she encountered danger, she wouldn’t even be able to run away.
“Zhiyu-shijie, you’re such a good person!” Song Linlin couldn’t help but praise.
“It’s nothing, fellow disciples should look after each other. Song-shimei, rest well. I’ll take my leave now, and servants will come later to collect the dishes.”
“Alright, goodbye Shijie!”
After seeing Zhiyu off and successfully avoiding any discovery of abnormalities, Song Linlin finally breathed a sigh of relief, strangely feeling the excitement of hiding a beauty.
She closed the door and turned to see Chi Qianning had already sat up, her silver-white hair somewhat disheveled, probably from Song Linlin’s earlier hasty actions.
Seeing those red eyes fixed on her, Song Linlin sat in the chair, equally disheveled in appearance with messy hair, feeling somewhat guilty: “What is it? Why do you keep staring at me?”
Chi Qianning smoothed her hair, “I told you, others cannot see me.”
“Next time… don’t do that!”
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