In a bamboo forest, leaves rustled, a bubbling brook tinkled, and several large boulders weighed down a shiny piece of jade. Qingfu could hardly breathe. Her face reddened as she tried to fly again, and then suddenly, the weight lifted.
She thought her training had finally paid off and was about to celebrate when a familiar voice came to her. Instantly, her body froze and she wished she was a regular rock and had never known that person.
“Hey, how did you get all these rocks on top of you? You should thank me for saving your life!”
What the . . . ?
Qingfu reverted to human form and turned around. A bright flash of red appeared in her vision.
The red came first, followed by the fragrant scent of wine as the goblet was held high and wine poured slowly into Wuzui’s throat. Qingfu was very rarely impressed by beauty, probably because she had known Wuzui since childhood. When such a beautiful man influenced one’s aesthetic, one became harder to impress . . .
Wuzui’s almond-shaped eyes were half-closed and a little moist; the pupils, as bright as stars, stared at the wine. The smooth as jade skin looked flush in his red gown. His tall nose looked more delicate than a woman’s, yet not without angles; more bad boy than feminine. He was stunningly beautiful, but still a masculine, like flowers fallen in the wind, tender but pa.s.sionate.
The wine flowed along his throat into his gown.
It was indeed Wuzui, the fox spirit and her master. Qingfu stared at him. “Who said I needed saving?”
“You were almost crushed by those rocks, and this is how you thank me for saving you?” Wuzui looked playful.
Qingfu gritted her teeth. “I was practicing to fly with a heavy weight. Even if I was dying, I’d not need help from you!”
He shrugged. “I just missed you for a while, and now you’re in the heavenly realm. You’re not worried about heavenly guards making a stool out of you?”
Qingfu"s brows rose with pride. “Remember my dream?”
“Your dream?” Wuzui frowned and thought for a second before realizing what she meant. “You mean being Tianhan’s ride?”
Qingfu nodded with self-satisfaction. “I’m now Fairy Lord Tianhan’s ride, and next . . . I’ll invite you to the wedding, a.s.suming you’re not gonna mess up my plans.”
“Wait . . .” Wuzui frowned, his eyes showing a dangerous glint. “You’re saying you were . . . ridden already?”
Qingfu nodded.
Isn’t this how it’s supposed to be?
Wuzui"s expression grew stormy as his face darkened. “d.a.m.n it. You’re saying the jade rock I used as a pillow is now someone’s ride?”
“My precious head used to be on something used for a seat?”
Qingfu regretted ever talking to him.
Why would she ever believe Wuzui would act normal?
Qingfu rolled her eyes. “It’s better this way. You won’t torture me by putting your heavy head on my body again, and act like I was taking advantage of you.”
“You’re the one taking advantage!” Wuzui gritted his teeth. “Why won’t you admit it? It’s an honor to touch my head!”
Qingfu turned to leave.
Before she took two steps, her body felt lighter and lifted halfway into the air; she was flabbergasted. She turned and asked, “What are you doing?”
Wuzui wore a slight smile. “I’m taking you back to the fairy realm. How could my jade be someone’s ride, being humiliated like this?”
Qingfu remained silent.
She was no stranger to Wuzui’s narcissism. She didn’t have problems dealing with him; plus, he could afford to act this way. He may just be a fox spirit, but he was well liked by the fairy king.
Qingfu"s staying alive for this many years in the fairy realm in spite of her personality was mostly thanks to Wuzui’s credentials.
But to leave this opportunity and go back was not possible. Qingfu shook her head resolutely. “I’m not going back. I’m staying here.”
Wuzui"s eyes squinted, a glimmer of threat within.
Qingfu was a bit wary but insisted. “I’ll self-destruct if you make me go back.”
Wuzui seemed to have a different tactic. “It’s okay to not go back.”
What? What is he plotting?
Qingfu was sure he had some difficult but not impossible conditions attached to this compromise. He had always been like this.
Indeed.
He smiled. “Let me use a trapping spell on you, and you can go anywhere you want.”