Fate Trading System – Chapter 153

Plan A

Red Moon in the Barrier 17

Honesty

The locust tree can nurture ghosts. Mu Qi only took out a small branch, but because she had lived for so long, even a small branch was enough to let the ghost recover. However, once separated from the tree, the branch could only protect the ghost for seven days.

Qian Fengying remained in the branch as if unconscious. The ordinary-looking branch just lay there as Su Xin placed it on the table.

“Can she see and hear from inside there?”

“Yes.”

“She won’t be in danger while she’s in there, right?”

“Correct, I can guarantee that.”

Su Xin nodded and silently took the branch out of the room, placing it in the kitchen.

Since she could see and hear, and there was no danger in putting her outside, it would be better to keep some distance from her – otherwise, it would be inconvenient to talk.

Tonight’s moon was red again.

Su Xin didn’t know what kind of omen this was, but it certainly couldn’t be anything good.

The sun was setting in the west.

Ever since her non-human identity was revealed, Mu Qi became much more reserved. She no longer sneaked kisses every night, and at most would only give quick pecks, acting very timid.

Su Xin found it amusing, not understanding why a yao would be so timid about such things.

Sometimes her movements were so light that Su Xin didn’t even feel them, or perhaps she had grown accustomed to them, so she wouldn’t wake up at night. She only found out the next day when asking Fourteen.

Su Xin wasn’t a romantic person, especially not one to pursue romance while facing life-and-death situations. That’s why she hadn’t given any response before, being too preoccupied. She wanted to handle her own matters first before dealing with other things. Now that the main issues were becoming clearer, other matters could be discussed.

Mu Qi could sometimes go an entire day without speaking, which made sense since she was originally a tree, maintaining a very low presence. If not for Su Xin’s strong perception, she might have been overlooked before, but not anymore – she had grown too accustomed to her presence.

She had grown used to opening her eyes to find Mu Qi sleeping beside her, Mu Qi cooking for her, the two of them washing dishes together, doing laundry together, hanging clothes together – it felt like an old married couple.

Then when night came, Mu Qi would carefully and preciously place a light kiss on her lips – it was simply too silly.

The sun had set, and some time had passed since they finished dinner. It wasn’t getting dark as early as before, with some dusky light still lingering outside.

Su Xin first boiled water for Tong Qing to wash his face and bathe, then continued heating water for her own bath.

Bathing was done in the main hall [central room in traditional Chinese houses], with the tables and chairs moved aside. Su Xin hadn’t set up other facilities, but wasn’t worried about being seen in the room because of the curtain, and Tong Qing wouldn’t peek anyway.

Su Xin placed the wooden bathtub in the main hall, poured in the pot of hot water, and prepared to fetch cold water from outside.

“Let me get it for you, I’m faster. You go get your clothes first.”

Mu Qi hurried out to the well, and with her coming and going faster than Su Xin, quickly adjusted the water temperature in the tub.

Before Su Xin undressed, Mu Qi went into the room.

Su Xin leisurely finished her bath, sitting in the tub while speaking to Mu Qi in the room.

“Qiqi, I forgot to bring a piece of clothing, could you bring it out for me?”

Mu Qi had been pacing restlessly in the room, and had finally managed to settle down, sitting on the bed with a book she intended to read. However, she hadn’t turned a single page in quite a while, her mind filled with thoughts of the person bathing outside.

Hearing Su Xin’s voice, Mu Qi quickly snapped out of her daze and began searching for the mentioned clothing.

Not seeing it on the bed or chair, Mu Qi anxiously looked around, even checking under the bed, worried the clothes might have fallen there.

“Ah Ning, I can’t find it. Which clothes are you looking for?”

Mu Qi’s voice came from behind the curtain as Su Xin splashed some water on her arm, glancing at the complete set of clothes beside her.

“Just grab any undergarment from the wardrobe.”

“Alright.”

Mu Qi found suitable clothes in the wardrobe and walked out with a nervous heart.

“Qiqi, I’ll put your clothes on the chair.”

She couldn’t even raise her head, being so shy.

Yet despite being bold enough to do such things in the secrecy of night, she didn’t have the courage to look directly now.

“No rush, come help me scrub my back.”

The misty water vapor couldn’t block Mu Qi’s vision; as a yao, her eyesight was extraordinarily good, able to see through the misty veil to the pure white beneath.

Su Xin’s skin was whiter than her exposed hands, having been long hidden from light.

“Come on.”

“Okay.”

Mu Qi approached with trembling fingers, taking the wet towel handed to her.

“Don’t scrub too hard.”

“I know.”

Su Xin’s attitude was casual, but Mu Qi, harboring other thoughts, couldn’t help but overthink.

Her fingers touched the smooth skin and felt the warmth from the hot water. Mu Qi stared intently at Su Xin’s back but found she still couldn’t steady herself.

A few water droplets slid down from the shoulders, some lingering on the spine, reflecting a gentle glow in the dim light.

Mu Qi’s mind wandered while scrubbing, though her hands remained diligent.

“A little to the left… ah… up a bit more… mm-hmm, right there, harder.”

Su Xin’s words were perfectly normal, but the listener couldn’t help but think otherwise.

“Done?”

When you don’t understand what longing and solitude are, watching people pass by and grow old together doesn’t stir much emotion. But when you experience it yourself, you realize those bitter and sentimental words in books aren’t false at all.

Mu Qi felt she had developed the seven emotions and six desires, despite being just a piece of wood, she couldn’t help but overthink.

This was sweet torture, afraid that if she stared at those water droplets any longer, touched that back any longer, she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

Just like all those days and nights, bearing the torment of love alone, leaving lingering kisses on her lips.

“Mu Qi.”

“Hmm?”

Su Xin suddenly stood up from the water, causing ripples in the tub. She turned to face Mu Qi.

Mu Qi instinctively held her breath, her gaze moving from Su Xin’s water-darkened lips to her soft, upright form.

“Are you really a yao? Why are you so timid?”

They were very close, only a plank’s width apart. Su Xin reached out and held the back of Mu Qi’s head.

Mu Qi was confused, then shocked the next moment.

She breathed in a faint fragrance, felt the warmth of skin against her cheek, a softness she hadn’t dared imagine.

Mu Qi took a sharp breath and pulled back from the water-beaded chest, her voice mixed with panic.

“Ah Ning… you… I…”

“Did you think I didn’t know about you sneaking kisses every night?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

Mu Qi apologized awkwardly.

“Didn’t mean to?”

Su Xin’s voice lowered, carrying anger.

“No, no, no, I did mean to.”

Mu Qi struggled to explain, completely flustered.

“Tell me, is this situation what you wanted?”

“Yes.”

“I’m happy, are you?”

Su Xin had always hit straight balls [meaning: direct and frank], simple and decisive, never beating around the bush.

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Su Xin crooked her finger at Mu Qi, who gazed at her in a daze.

The watery hue spread between their lips, adding a different color to this spring night.

“Carry me inside, I trust you have the strength, right?”

Su Xin opened her arms, though of course they couldn’t do such things here – her brother was inside, and the soundproofing wasn’t very good.

Mu Qi fully demonstrated her supernatural strength, carrying Su Xin princess-style with ease.

“Wait, I’m still wet. If I lie on the bed directly, I’ll get the blankets wet.”

Su Xin didn’t know why she was still worrying about such things, but the next moment she discovered all the water droplets on her body had vanished.

This kind of ability too?

“Well… my clothes are still outside.”

Su Xin meant to tease her, but the next moment long branches appeared from nowhere, extending outside to retrieve the clothes.

This was truly a breathtaking move.

Mu Qi looked anxiously and impatiently at Su Xin, as if saying to get everything else out of the way so they could move on to more important matters.

“One more thing…”

“What?”

Mu Qi was very eager.

“Kiss me.”

Mu Qi appeared inexperienced, but seemed to have abundant theoretical knowledge – having lived so long, what wouldn’t she understand?

Su Xin had confidently thought about dominating this beautiful girl, but considering the difference in their strength, she couldn’t take much advantage.

She thought fingers would be the extent of it, but Su Xin had clearly forgotten something – what was Mu Qi? A tree spirit.

Tentacle play was inevitable.

It seemed to shake her entire worldview. Su Xin felt she needed to reorganize her thoughts and consider whether future encounters were necessary.

“Don’t be angry… I didn’t mean to…”

Mu Qi smiled apologetically.

“Say that again? I don’t like when you’re dishonest.”

“Okay, okay, I meant to do it.”

Mu Qi said honestly, then thought of an idea.

“Should I tie myself up?”

Soft branches bound Mu Qi’s hands as she blinked, proving she could be good, very good.

Was this a form of carrying thorns to ask forgiveness [meaning: traditional way of showing remorse]?

Well, not exactly, but who cares – the meaning was conveyed.

Su Xin took a deep breath and rubbed her temples.

“Go empty that tub of water outside. Now, immediately, at once.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Are you making a promise with me now? I will acknowledge you for a lifetime. Even if you become a ghost, I won’t let you go.”

Mu Qi said seriously, her expression showing childlike stubbornness.

Foolish child, my soul doesn’t belong to this world.

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