Ha, Karma! – Chapter 34

Sit steady.

Fu Lianxue sat on Chu Zhaoqiu’s lap, one hand playing with her silky hair, the other caressing her lips.

They maintained this intimate position, unchanging.

The glossy black hair slipped through her fair fingers, leaving behind a faint fragrance.

Her rosy lips, soft to the touch, yielded to the gentle caresses.

Her bright eyes gazed unblinkingly, filled with nothing but thoughts of her.

At this moment, the fragrance of affection grew stronger, like an uncontrollable quickening heartbeat.

Fu Lianxue was immersed in the moment, thoroughly enjoying herself, her features growing more alluring.

Thanks to Chu Zhaoqiu, she always left feeling well-“fed”.

In good spirits, she curved her eyes into a smile, her bold fingers no longer lingering just on the lips.

She began caressing her face, tracing along her features.

She gazed at her eyes with a mix of playfulness and seduction, like a cat skilled at tugging heartstrings, a bewitching enchantress.

She saw the soft lips part, and Chu Zhaoqiu’s voice fell upon her ears:

“Do you remember?”

Remember the past, the intimate moments, all they had shared?

She seemed to always ask this question.

Fu Lianxue snorted softly: “Of course I remember.”

She asked again: “Want to hear? Since you’ve fed me so well, I’ll graciously tell you about your past.”

“I want to hear,” Chu Zhaoqiu said, looking into her eyes.

She wanted to hear of her existence in her story.

She was also curious about how she appeared in her memories.

Fu Lianxue lowered her gaze to look at her.

Her expression was sincere, somewhat docile, like an obedient puppy.

This comparison surfacing in her mind inexplicably pleased Fu Lianxue, making her more willing to tell the story.

“Alright, then jiejie will tell you.”

Then Chu Zhaoqiu lifted her up in her arms.

She lifted her with ease, her breathing remained steady.

Their eyes met.

Fu Lianxue: “What are you doing?”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “Finding you a more comfortable place to sit, and getting you some water.”

How thoughtful.

But Fu Lianxue refused to accept the kindness.

“No! What’s wrong with sitting on your lap, Chu Zhaoqiu? I want to sit on your lap, I insist!”

She wrapped her arms around her neck and started making a fuss, like an unreasonable child.

“Fine, fine, fine, sit on my lap.”

Chu Zhaoqiu carried her back to their original position and sat down.

Fu Lianxue only settled down after being back on her lap.

As a charm demon, she refused ordinary chairs, insisting on sitting on Chu Zhaoqiu’s lap!

“Then you…”

After setting her down, Chu Zhaoqiu’s hands hovering at Fu Lianxue’s waist clenched and unclenched.

Finally, she gently placed her hands on Fu Lianxue’s waist, steadying her.

“Sit steady.”

This time she didn’t meet her eyes.

Fu Lianxue glanced at her ear tips, raised an eyebrow, and leaned in with a mischievous smile: “Young Master Chu, you weren’t this hesitant when you picked me up earlier.

“My, my, those movements were quite smooth~”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

These two situations… were quite different.

She was momentarily speechless, unsure how to explain herself.

But she knew if she dwelled on this matter, the topic would never end.

“Let’s not discuss this.”

Fu Lianxue felt two light pats on her waist.

“Tell me about the past.”

Fu Lianxue was amused.

This one’s face wasn’t as thick as expected.

She wrapped both arms around Chu Zhaoqiu’s neck, deliberately speaking in a coquettish tone: “Alright, let’s talk about the past, jiejie will tell you a story~”

The memories from those years surfaced in her mind—

She started following Chu Zhaoqiu after spraining her ankle.

Even limping, she followed, having set her mind on her.

Chu Zhaoqiu was about to leave then, but seeing her condition, had to turn back and take her up the mountain to heal.

She even stayed personally to look after her.

Because she wouldn’t let her leave.

“You caused me to sprain my ankle, and now you want to abandon me with strangers, how could you!

“What if I’m harmed, what if I die? Wouldn’t your conscience hurt at all?!”

Chu Zhaoqiu was quite speechless at the time.

“You’re a demon, it’s good enough if you don’t harm people first.”

She paused, then went along smoothly: “Indeed, what would you do if I harmed them to death?

“How would you explain to your parents about letting a wolf into the house?

“And how would you face your ancestors?”

“Isn’t my analysis quite reasonable?”

After a long while, Chu Zhaoqiu finally uttered: “Silver-tongued.”

And so she stayed to accompany this silver-tongued demon.

When this talkative demon had recovered, she still couldn’t shake her off.

When she returned to her sect, the demon followed beside her.

Bouncing along, perfectly healthy.

Chu Zhaoqiu asked why she was following her, asked why she wouldn’t go home.

She said: “I have no family or relations, no ties or attachments, I come and go freely between heaven and earth, I have no home.”

Chu Zhaoqiu fell silent.

She added: “Besides, I’ve never seen the glory of your Xuanmen, I want to see it, is that not allowed?”

Chu Zhaoqiu remained silent.

She snorted: “How stingy.”

Chu Zhaoqiu wordlessly stepped forward, continuing ahead.

Fu Lianxue followed closely, never leaving her side.

They didn’t exchange another word until Fu Lianxue discovered at their destination that it was Chu Zhaoqiu’s sect.

It was grand and imposing, with several mountain peaks under their sect’s control.

The spiritual energy was abundant, with countless rare flowers and unusual herbs.

Chu Zhaoqiu said: “You’ve seen it, you can leave now.”

She said: “No.

“I want to follow you, I just like following you.”

After speaking, she transformed into smoke and quickly hid in Chu Zhaoqiu’s sleeve.

No matter what Chu Zhaoqiu said, she wouldn’t come out.

Chu Zhaoqiu cared about face and wouldn’t remove her robes in public, so she could only endure it.

Thus, she successfully clung to her.

This person had caused her, a demon, to sprain her ankle and even said she didn’t look very smart – how could she swallow this?

She had already marked Chu Zhaoqiu as her seduction target.

She wanted to see if this Xuanmen disciple could withstand her test!

Later… she actually didn’t know how Chu Zhaoqiu managed to bring her in.

Along the way, she clearly heard Chu Zhaoqiu talking with the elders, but not a single elder pulled her out from Chu Zhaoqiu’s clothes, as if they hadn’t noticed her.

In any case, she successfully followed Chu Zhaoqiu back to her residence.

After arriving, she discovered this Xuanmen disciple was quite extraordinary.

Chu Zhaoqiu lived at Wenxuan Peak, which was Elder Tianxuan’s territory.

In their sect, those who could live on the mountain with the elders were exceptional disciples, also future successors to the elder positions.

And there were usually two successor disciples.

Elder Tianxuan’s two successor disciples were Chu Zhaoqiu and her shijie Ji Hanyan [霁含雁 | Jì Hán Yàn].

Fu Lianxue felt even better about her taste.

This was someone chosen by an elder – if she corrupted her dao heart, wouldn’t that prove she was an extraordinary charm demon?!

With few disciples on the mountain, living quarters were plenty, Chu Zhaoqiu and Ji Hanyan each had their own rooms.

Fu Lianxue stayed in Chu Zhaoqiu’s room, forcibly turning the single room into a double.

Though she wasn’t particular, she didn’t insist on sleeping in the bed.

She could sleep anywhere – in trees, grass, or on large rocks.

Only when trying to seduce this Xuanmen disciple would she get in bed, lying beside Chu Zhaoqiu.

But this tactic had little effect on Chu Zhaoqiu.

That person was like a block of wood, unmoved by the beauty presenting itself.

—Hmph, can’t recognize quality.

She inwardly sneered at Chu Zhaoqiu’s taste, sometimes spitefully stealing her blanket while sleeping.

But whether Chu Zhaoqiu had grown used to her presence or decided to accept her test, she surprisingly tolerated her mischief by her side.

As for her, she had principles:

Only bothering Chu Zhaoqiu;

Hiding when others came, never actively going to crowded places.

Conveniently, Elder Tianxuan was traveling at that time, so their coexistence remained peaceful.

Later, she discovered Chu Zhaoqiu often visited Ji Hanyan.

Before Ji Hanyan, Chu Zhaoqiu was like an obedient child, always quietly listening to shijie, seriously completing the homework shijie assigned for shifu [師父 | shī fù | master], then waiting for shijie’s evaluation.

She seemed… to really like this shijie.

Realizing this, Fu Lianxue inexplicably became unhappy.

How was she inferior to this shijie, why wasn’t Chu Zhaoqiu so attentive to her?

Wasn’t this shijie just taller than her, gentler than her, spoke more pleasantly than her, and better than her as a person?

After the comparison, she fell silent.

Ji Hanyan was a good person, she admitted that.

Because she had also received a small kindness from Ji Hanyan… a very sweet, crisp, and delicious peach.

Then she had an idea.

If her current appearance couldn’t attract Chu Zhaoqiu, surely Ji Hanyan’s appearance would work!

Having been in the human realm so long, she understood the meaning of “catering to one’s preferences”.

That night, Chu Zhaoqiu sat cross-legged meditating in her room, as usual.

Fu Lianxue locked the door, skillfully climbed into her lap, nestled against her, playing with her belt between her fingers while saying coquettishly: “Stop cultivating, come play with me.”

Chu Zhaoqiu gently opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

Fu Lianxue gave her a smile.

She closed her eyes again.

“Don’t make trouble.”

She said.

Fu Lianxue patted her: “Hmph, looks like I’ll have to use my trump card.

“Open your eyes again and see who I am.”

Chu Zhaoqiu was quite obedient, obligingly opening her eyes.

This time, she saw her gentle-as-water shijie sitting in her lap, with alluring eyes.

She froze.

Fu Lianxue had transformed into Ji Hanyan’s appearance while sitting in her lap.

Her hand slowly traced up along her arm, eyes fixed on her, seductively full of desire.

“Shimei [師妹 | shī mèi | junior female fellow disciple]…”

Even her tone and voice were identical.

Catering to her preferences – surely Chu Zhaoqiu would take the bait now!

Then she saw Chu Zhaoqiu suddenly grip her wrist, brows furrowed, voice cold: “Change back.”

—She seemed angry.

This thought suddenly popped into Fu Lianxue’s mind.

She obediently changed back to her original form.

Chu Zhaoqiu said again: “Get down.”

She obediently left her embrace.

Only then did Chu Zhaoqiu release her hand, closing her eyes again, as if not wanting to speak with her anymore.

She dejectedly rested her chin in her hands, watching Chu Zhaoqiu.

Chu Zhaoqiu had a cold aura around her, making people afraid to approach.

She had sat in her lap so many times before, but she’d never reacted like this, only today was different.

Fu Lianxue frowned deeply, watching her without blinking.

She seemed to have touched the most sacred place in Chu Zhaoqiu’s heart, thus angering her…

It seemed she really liked her shijie, liked her so much she couldn’t bear to see others take her form.

Neither spoke, the room’s atmosphere turned ice-cold.

After a while, Fu Lianxue couldn’t bear it and yielded first—perhaps she really shouldn’t have involved Ji Hanyan, after all, she had given her that peach.

Fu Lianxue reached out, carefully poking Chu Zhaoqiu twice: “I was wrong, please don’t be angry?”

Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t respond.

Fu Lianxue simply leaned over, hugging her arm: “I won’t transform into your shijie anymore, really, don’t be angry with me, okay?”

Chu Zhaoqiu remained unmoved.

Fu Lianxue began coaxing and wheedling, acting coquettish while leaning on her shoulder.

Until she heard her breathing change, her attitude seemingly softening.

Though she still wouldn’t speak.

Fu Lianxue held her arm, chin resting on her shoulder, just watching her.

After a while, Fu Lianxue spoke: “If you stay angry and won’t talk to me, I’ll kiss you.”

As the words fell, she felt the body she was holding stiffen.

Chu Zhaoqiu clearly hadn’t expected her to say such things.

But Chu Zhaoqiu still ignored her.

Fu Lianxue’s eyes rolled playfully, and she directly kissed her cheek.

Caught off guard, Chu Zhaoqiu instantly opened her eyes, instinctively turning to look at her.

As a result, she saw her suddenly lean in and kiss her again—this time on the lips.

The soft lips, sudden contact, it all left her at a loss.

The teenage Chu Zhaoqiu, encountering this situation for the first time, had her coping abilities completely collapse, not even knowing how to speak.

“You—”

“Still angry? Then I’ll continue kissing you.”

The brazen spirit matched words with actions, pressing her whole body against her, offering her lips, tempting her to pluck.

Fu Lianxue boldly kissed Chu Zhaoqiu twice more.

Then she was caught by the hands.

“I’m not angry anymore!”

Chu Zhaoqiu turned away, almost shouting these words, her entire face impossibly red.

“Stop making trouble!”

Fu Lianxue blinked: “Really?

“But your whole head is so red, isn’t that from anger?”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

Fu Lianxue ended her reminiscence, looking down at the greatly changed old acquaintance before her.

How did that Xuanmen disciple who got angry with her, who became flustered after just two kisses, turn into today’s accommodating Young Master who grants her every request?

Is this the power of love?

Chu Zhaoqiu rested her chin in her hand, quietly listening to her speak, a faint smile on her lips—who knows what she found amusing.

“What are you smiling at?” Fu Lianxue pushed her, “You were so fierce then, saying you weren’t angry, but still red-faced and fuming at me, so untrustworthy!”

Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t irritated even after being pushed.

Instead, she found it even more amusing.

She raised her eyes to Fu Lianxue, asking: “Did you really think my red face then… was from anger?”

Fu Lianxue froze.

After thousands of years, she finally understood, even slower than the person involved.

“…” Fu Lianxue crossed her arms, arrogantly lifting her chin, “So what, that was so long ago, what does it matter to me now!”

“As for you,” she skillfully changed the subject, “how did that face-saving brat from back then turn into what you are today?”

Could that year’s Chu Zhaoqiu have predicted she would one day fall in love with that troublemaking demon?

Could she have predicted becoming so honest, no longer hiding her affection?

Could she have predicted granting her every wish, even no longer caring about shijie?

Everything that came after seemed to have escaped their control…

As Fu Lianxue pondered while examining Chu Zhaoqiu, she saw her smile slightly.

“Perhaps after experiencing so much, I felt I couldn’t live that way anymore, or I’d lose many things.”

Her voice was gentle yet weathered, full of stories.

Fu Lianxue hurriedly cupped her face, examining it closely.

A question rolled to the tip of her tongue—have you remembered?

But seeing Chu Zhaoqiu’s confused expression, she didn’t ask.

Of course, after thousands of years, how could she have only reincarnated once?

And after reincarnation, how could anyone guarantee their personality would remain the same in every life?

So she was right, she must have experienced much—and it was those experiences of seasonal changes and human nature that forged this life’s version of her—more steady, more mature, and more open-hearted.

Besides, if Chu Zhaoqiu had remembered, she definitely wouldn’t react this way.

She would surely feel surprised, shocked, even hatred at falling in love with her!

So she hadn’t remembered.

She had just grown up, become different.

They both had grown up.

But she would remember someday.

She would wait for that day.

“How boring.”

She listlessly released Chu Zhaoqiu’s face.

Chu Zhaoqiu was bewildered, completely confused: “?”

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