148: Chapter 148 Darkening?

[The pitiful sobs continued for an unknown duration before gradually weakening.]

[Miao Qianqian let you hold her, but her thoughts were already a tangled mess.]

[When she finally came back to her senses and looked down, she found that the person in her arms had cried herself to sleep at some point, leaning against her defenselessly.]

[Miao Qianqian hesitated for a moment, then finally raised her hand and gently wiped away the tear stains from the corners of your eyes with her fingertip. As her fingers touched your devastatingly beautiful face, a soft pity involuntarily welled up in her heart.]

["It shouldn't be like this."]

[She lowered her eyes and murmured softly, her voice filled with unconcealed melancholy and wistfulness.]

[Her mother's early death was an eternal pain in her heart.]

[Later, her father also gradually became taciturn, especially after being promoted to Clan Chief. He was constantly entangled in clan affairs, and even meeting him became a luxury.]

[Therefore, all her aspirations for love were deeply etched in her distant childhood.]

[In her memory, the scene of her parents harmoniously playing music and accompanying each other with love became the most unforgettable and most desired warmth in her life.]

[She had also secretly hoped in her heart that her future love would be as pure and warm as that...]

[However, the harsh reality ultimately pulled her back to sobriety.]

[The things she yearned for didn't seem so beautiful now.]

[Miao Qianqian lowered her eyelids, concealing the complex emotions swirling in her eyes. She silently leaned down and very gently laid you flat on the soft bed, then carefully tucked in the quilt for you.]

[After doing all this, she gave you a deep look, then turned and quietly exited.]

[A moment later, you slowly opened your eyes, your gaze falling on the closed door, and you secretly chuckled:]

[Oh, confused maiden~ With such a top-tier birth, you're still thinking about trivial love all day. Cultivating Immortality with your elder sister is the Righteous Path!]

[That night, Lin Bufan slept on the floor all night, utterly bewildered...]

[...]

[For the next month, everything seemed unchanged, yet somehow different.]

[Lin Qianqian would pass by your courtyard every day.]

[At first, it was just a fleeting glance, but then she would stop outside the door to watch you practice swordplay.]

[In the past few days, she simply entered the courtyard directly, sat openly on the stone stool, and watched you intently.]

[Until today, Miao Qianqian finally spoke first, but her very first sentence almost made you burst out laughing.]

["Senior Sister Qingyu, how did you become so blind as to fall for Cousin Bufan?"]

[The maiden's eyes were still gentle, but an indescribable sense of oppression quietly emanated from her.]

[You stopped your dancing long sword in confusion, your face unconsciously turning red.]

[Miao Qianqian's eyes narrowed slightly, a dark and unclear light flashing within them.]

[She stood up and quickly came before you, then extended her slender index finger, gently pressing it against your chin, and with an undeniable force, slowly lifted it upwards.]

[The faint, elusive fragrance on the maiden's body wafted into your nostrils as she drew closer. Looking at her delicate face, so close you could almost touch it, you felt a strange dryness in the back of your throat.]

[The other party was a head shorter than you, but her assertive attitude still made you cooperate and lift your face.]

[After all, this was different from your first meeting at the Lin family. This was Miao Qianqian's home turf, and as a defenseless young woman, you truly dared not resist.]

[Come on! Maiden, elder sister won't resist anything you want to do!]

["You... why don't you join my Miao family? There's no future in following Cousin Bufan."]

[???]

[You took off your dress... no...]

[You lowered your eyes at her words and found that there seemed to be something chilling hidden in the maiden's eyes.]

[Black... blackened?]

[You remembered that you hadn't done anything excessive, just slept in her arms, right?]

[However, at this moment, neither refusing nor accepting was the best choice.]

[Your eyelashes trembled slightly as if startled, and you pursed your lips as if you didn't know how to speak, but this adorable, put-upon look still made Miao Qianqian's fingertips tremble slightly.]

[She took a deep breath, stepped back, and looked at you with a serious expression.]

["My words just now are still valid. If you think it through, you can come find me anytime."]

[After speaking, Miao Qianqian turned to leave, but as she was about to step out of the courtyard gate, she spoke again:]

["I'll give you seven days to consider, otherwise you won't get the Nine-Turn Returning Spirit Gu."]

[You rubbed your chin, watching the maiden's retreating figure, but your heart felt a faint sense of loss.]

[And... it seems she really got to your weak spot.]

[Are you going to have to make Xiao Fanzi suffer again? You stood rooted, lost in thought...]

[...]

[That night, after the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.]

["Junior Brother~"]

[Your voice was slightly hoarse as you spoke lazily, making Lin Bufan shiver, almost getting excited again.]

["What's wrong?"]

[He suppressed the restlessness in his heart and gently stroked your long hair.]

["I want to stay here to Cultivate."]

[Since you had made a decision, given your current relationship, there was no need to beat around the bush.]

[A son of luck like Lin Bufan couldn't stay in one place for too long; he needed constant tempering to grow rapidly.]

[After all, besides you, he had many other burdens on his shoulders.]

[His mother's mysterious background, the entrustment of his teacher's high hopes...]

[Hearing this, Lin Bufan was silent for a moment before slowly speaking:]

["Then I'll help Senior Sister obtain the Gu worm before leaving."]

[He didn't ask why you wanted to stay here. During this time, he had actually weighed it repeatedly in his heart, knowing that given his current situation, it was indeed not suitable to stay with you for long.]

[Cultivating until now, Lin Bufan had vaguely sensed that something was amiss; it seemed that every time he went out, he would inevitably be caught up in various troubles and murderous intentions.]

[Therefore, until his own strength was sufficient to protect everything, a temporary separation was the best protection for you.]

[And the Miao family, with Cousin Qianqian in charge, was naturally the best choice.]

["Junior Brother, no need. Qianqian promised to help me obtain the Nine-Turn Returning Spirit Gu."]

[You snuggled closer into his arms, feeling even more satisfied with Xiao Fanzi.]

[Learn from this, everyone; good friends should be so open and honest when they part!]

["Mm..."]

[Lin Bufan's voice lowered a few notches.]

["Eh?"]

[Just as you were curiously about to look down, your body spun, and you were once again pressed beneath him.]

["Senior Sister, let's Cultivate properly again!"]

...