A Secret Vigil by the Sea

They were staying at an inn by the sea. Gu Yan’s room was right next to Su Xiaoxiao’s, offering a clear view of the ocean from its window.

After several days of arduous travel, they finally found a comfortable environment to rest. Once they finished their wontons, Gu Yan and Su Xiaoxiao returned to the inn.

The wind began to pick up, and the crimson glow of the sunset painted the sea a magnificent, beautiful red.

Su Xiaoxiao sat by the window, chin propped in her hand, watching for a long time.

It was rare for her to feel such tranquility, gazing at the ocean and the fading light.

As night descended, the wind intensified. Just as Su Xiaoxiao had anticipated, rain began to fall, pattering against the windowsill and splashing onto her hand. Only then did she reluctantly rise, intending to close the window.

Yet, as she looked out, she saw Gu Yan leaving the inn without an umbrella.

Su Xiaoxiao started to call out, but Gu Yan was too swift, vanishing from sight in an instant. Su Xiaoxiao had no choice but to abandon the thought.

The inn’s attendant brought up a bathing tub and water, then left. Su Xiaoxiao gratefully shed her clothes and immersed herself in the bath.

Just days ago, in the Demon Realm, she often found sleep elusive at night. Now, perhaps due to her relaxed state, after a short soak in the water, yawns began to escape her, and her eyes felt too heavy to open, even though dusk had only just settled.

Her body felt heavy, making it difficult to rise. Su Xiaoxiao moved with extreme caution, one hand supporting her belly, the other gripping the edge of the bed as she slowly pulled herself out.

Her hair was dripping wet, but she didn’t even have time to dry it. Naked and utterly exhausted, she collapsed back onto the bed.

After days of relentless travel, finally reaching a bed, Su Xiaoxiao was simply too weary. She clutched her pillow and instantly fell asleep.

****

Meanwhile.

Xiyue had been hiding outside the window, watching Su Xiaoxiao through a never-quite-closed crack.

‘Gu Yan was right,’ she thought. ‘I shouldn’t have come. These past few days, Su Xiaoxiao has finally lowered her guard, unlike the first day when she was so tense and afraid she dared not even rest.’

‘If she were to discover me by accident, she might think I’ve come to drag her back. In her panic, she might even do something dangerous.’

Xiyue knew…

She knew it all, yet she had never imagined that the vast Demon Palace would become so desolate just from Su Xiaoxiao’s absence.

From the very first day, even cultivation felt dull. Her temper grew increasingly volatile, not like she was troubled by inner demons, but rather as if Su Xiaoxiao’s absence was the sole cause.

Xiyue had dismissed the lesser demons who usually attended to Su Xiaoxiao, leaving only Chitang to diligently watch over the turtle, flowers, and trees in Su Xiaoxiao’s courtyard.

That night, Xiyue neither went to the cold springs behind the mountain for healing and cultivation, nor returned to her own main palace. Instead, she lay on Su Xiaoxiao’s bed, eyes wide open, through the entire night.

The bed still carried Su Xiaoxiao’s faint scent. Xiyue inhaled it again and again, her throat dry, almost overcome by desire.

She had so many thoughts. ‘How is Su Xiaoxiao doing now? Did she experience any discomfort on the journey with Gu Yan? Has the demonic seed in her belly been troubling her? Has she taken her medicine? Has she eaten?’

This was not Xiyue’s usual temperament; such behavior was strangely uncharacteristic.

Yet, her thoughts were uncontrollable, her worry relentless. She couldn’t stop wondering if her ‘little fish’ would be alright.

The current situation was unstable. She had killed that Demoness, even flaying her. She had also injured the Demon King, nearly shattering their alliance with the demon race. If the Ghost King hadn’t intervened, Xiyue, under the influence of her inner demons, might truly have slain the Demon King and annihilated the entire demon race.

Xiyue regretted it.

Despite everything, she still couldn’t stop thinking of Su Xiaoxiao.

After her inner demons spiraled out of control once more, Xiyue actually left the Demon Realm, rushing towards Su Xiaoxiao’s location.

Only when she fully regained her senses did she realize she had pursued her all the way to the coastline.

She seemed afraid to disturb Su Xiaoxiao, hiding by the window like a thief. Especially when she saw Su Xiaoxiao struggling and laboring, clutching her belly, Xiyue’s heart inexplicably tightened, and her breath hitched. This lasted until Su Xiaoxiao had safely finished her bath, without even drying her hair, and still completely unclothed.

She watched as her ‘little fish,’ eyes barely open, with wet hair and no clothes on, collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted, and fell asleep.

Xiyue’s clothes were soaked by the rain, yet the flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder didn’t stir Su Xiaoxiao awake.

Xiyue couldn’t fathom how utterly exhausted she must be, to fall asleep so defenselessly, still clutching the towel she’d used to dry her hair.

Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a booming rumble from the horizon.

‘It’s raining again,’ Xiyue thought. ‘My clothes are soaked, sticky and uncomfortable. Surely it wouldn’t be too much to just go inside and shelter from the rain, would it?’

In a mere instant, Xiyue was at Su Xiaoxiao’s bedside.

The candlelight still flickered, casting Xiyue’s shadow upon the wall.

Xiyue, as if unable to resist, reached out and gently touched Su Xiaoxiao’s fair, smooth cheek. Her movements were so incredibly light that Su Xiaoxiao, deep in slumber, didn’t notice a thing.

Su Xiaoxiao was frail now and prone to illness. Xiyue carefully dried her still-wet hair and then gently removed the damp towel from her hand, placing it on the table.

She then pulled the nearby quilt over Su Xiaoxiao’s naked body, meticulously covering even her small feet.

These slight movements made Su Xiaoxiao hum softly in her sleep, her brows furrowing slightly as she shifted, as if uncomfortable.

Xiyue instantly froze, holding her breath, terrified that Su Xiaoxiao might open her eyes and see her.

Thankfully, it was a false alarm. Su Xiaoxiao merely found a more comfortable position and drifted back to sleep.

Xiyue subconsciously exhaled, then stood there quietly, patiently watching Su Xiaoxiao sleep.

In the middle of the night, Su Xiaoxiao likely felt a chill, curling her body into a shrimp-like shape.

Xiyue, emboldened, actually climbed onto the bed. Daringly, she embraced Su Xiaoxiao through the quilt, pouring all her effort into warming her body. She even forgot that her own injuries hadn’t healed and that she should conserve her energy for the impending Heavenly Tribulation.

It was a night like a dream. Xiyue didn’t leave until dawn, when she saw Su Xiaoxiao was about to awaken.

Just as she exited through the window, she encountered Gu Yan, who was greeting her from the adjacent windowsill.

Gu Yan, lowering her voice, said with a hint of exasperation, “So worried? If you knew this would happen, why did you let her leave in the first place?”

Xiyue’s expression was stern. “Watch over her carefully,” she commanded.

Without another word, Xiyue departed. Gu Yan shook her head, finding Xiyue’s recent remark grating.

Gu Yan murmured, “Like a ruffian, climbing into someone’s bed in the middle of the night. Aren’t you afraid Su Xiaoxiao would wake up and be startled?”

She gazed at the sea after the downpour, filled with regret. ‘Ugh, I should have teased Xiyue more just now! I actually forgot!’

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t wake until nearly noon.

Despite the rain last night and the relatively thin quilt, Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t felt cold.

Instead, after a full night’s sleep, her usually pale cheeks were flushed, a delicate pink radiating from her skin. She looked much more vibrant and even more strikingly beautiful.