A Warm Lamp and a Cold Bed

A single bright lamp illuminated the room, casting a warm glow over Su Mo. Outside, the wind howled, yet within the small, cluttered cottage, she found a measure of peace.

Perhaps she had hesitated moments before, but observing the old woman’s unique knack for organization, Su Mo was reminded of her own grandmother back home.

“It sounds like there are two of you; both have some tea,” the old woman said, her back to Su Mo as she bustled about.

Taking the somewhat murky tea, Su Mo immediately offered it to Gongzi.

“Gongzi, please have some tea,” she murmured softly.

“…”

Only after seeing him drink without any ill effects did Su Mo feel confident enough to accept her own cup.

The adage, ‘one must always guard against others,’ was deeply ingrained in Su Mo’s memory. Ah? There was a preceding phrase to that, which she hadn’t heard before.

She took a sip; truthfully, it was far from pleasant. Bitter and astringent, with a rough texture that seemed to scratch her throat. ‘Were those dried leaves?’ Su Mo found it quite novel.

The old woman was quite loquacious; once they were seated together, she launched into an endless stream of chatter.

After a night fraught with fright, Su Mo was utterly exhausted. Nevertheless, she patiently listened to every word the old woman had to say.

She gathered that over two decades ago, the old woman’s husband and son had vanished without a trace, leaving the blind woman to live alone all these years. The villagers often lent her a hand, and she, in turn, used her modest ‘shamanic abilities’ to heal many. Perhaps it was that unresolved matter, a deep-seated obsession, that had transformed her into an old woman who waited for someone late into the night?

“You must be tired, my dear, listening to an old relic like me prattle on for so long, aren’t you? Never mind, there’s water heating in the backyard. Go and wash up.”

Her eyes lit up; a hot bath was the last thing Su Mo had expected.

Hastily leaving the seemingly lifeless Gongzi lying on the floor, Su Mo went in search of the bathing area.

The cottage, built against the mountain, occupied a secluded corner of the village. It was a simple enclosure: three walls, a thatched roof that let in the wind, and one side left open, likely intended to be blocked by large wooden planks.

Perhaps the old woman typically bathed ‘openly,’ for the large wooden planks were thick with dust, leaving Su Mo’s hands grimy when she touched them.

Clang. After arranging the planks to form an enclosure, lighting a lamp, and testing the water temperature, Su Mo smiled contentedly.

Within the cramped space, a single lamp cast its light. Though everything looked rudimentary and humble, the prospect of a hot bath left her with no cause for dissatisfaction.

‘Though I’m poor now, things will get better,’ Su Mo thought, gazing at the old wooden bucket, its sides still trickling water. ‘If I don’t hurry, will the water run out first?’

She quickly shed her long dress, sighing as she observed its tattered hem. ‘At least I have a few more clothes in my storage ring,’ she muttered, reaching into the folds of her long dress.

Yet, apart from a few pieces of silver, she couldn’t find her storage ring anywhere. Having fled from constant pursuit, she had hidden all her jewelry, floral dresses, and valuables within her storage ring, daring not to wear them. ‘It was safely tucked into my dress; how could it be gone now?’ ‘Could it have fallen out?’ Su Mo felt a pang of frustration, gazing helplessly at her ruined dress. ‘What else could she possibly wear…’

Shedding her undergarments, two mounds of pristine white flesh were revealed, making her eyes feel dizzy. Weighing them in her hands, she gasped in astonishment, ‘What did I eat to grow so well? This isn’t a G-cup, is it?!’ She had always believed she disliked larger sizes, a conviction formed over years of observation, but after kneading them today, she felt she had been rash in her judgment. ‘As the saying goes, if you’re not ample, how can you gather hearts?’ ‘Damn it, I’m almost moved to tears.’

Whimpering and kneading, she glanced down, stopping short as she noticed the half-empty bucket of water. She quickly squatted, revealing her proud curves.

In the original story, Su Mo possessed the bloodline of a Nine-Tailed Fox, endowed with a naturally alluring physique that captivated souls with every gesture. Though barely twenty, her figure was already shockingly voluptuous.

She scooped water with a gourd ladle and poured it over herself. Her hands glided down her taut, delicate skin, tracing her thighs before gently caressing her exquisite, jade-like feet. The warm sensation stimulated her, and when her fingernails inadvertently grazed her tender skin, they left faint pink marks. ‘Damn, I’m truly beautiful~’

With this heartfelt exclamation, Su Mo looked into the bucket; the rippling water vaguely outlined a face. ‘I can’t see clearly. I’ll need to find a mirror or a calm river surface.’ ‘I remember hearing running water on the way here?’ Su Mo recalled distinctly.

Half playing, half washing, she eventually finished her bath. Without a change of clothes, Su Mo felt uncomfortable, able only to wrap herself in a makeshift garment. Yet, the scent wasn’t unpleasant; it was strangely unique. Su Mo’s perspiration carried the fragrance of a certain flower.

‘Is this what they call a natural body scent? I’m starting to understand those perverts who steal clothes,’ she mused, pushing aside the large wooden planks.

Thoughts flowed more freely after relaxing. As she walked, clutching her clothes, she suddenly noticed someone blocking her path. Illuminated by the moonlight, it was none other than her savior.

Su Mo inquired, “Gongzi, do you have any spare clothes?”

“…Yes, you…” Xu Qingzhu began, then trailed off.

Puzzled, Su Mo leaned closer, only to realize he was staring at her as if she were a ghost. More precisely, it was Su Mo’s unrestrained attire. Her two long, fair legs were exposed, her collar had slipped, and her chest presented a compelling, almost bursting prominence. Blinking, Su Mo pondered that there shouldn’t be an issue; all three crucial points were covered, so she was being quite moral… wasn’t she?

With an impassive expression, she pulled up her collar, calmly walked around him, and then bolted away.

Xu Qingzhu remained silent, gazing at the bright moon in contemplation.

In this era, women’s clothing was exceedingly modest. In her moment of peril, Su Mo hadn’t carefully sifted through her inherited memories, overlooking the common knowledge tucked away in their corners. She had no idea that her actions, in the eyes of Xu Qingzhu—who had lived as an ancient for centuries—held profound significance.

‘That guy isn’t going to get the wrong idea, is he? He won’t actually think I’ve accepted him, right?’ Su Mo thought, clutching the blanket and staring blankly out the window.

As she processed her inherited memories, some details remained hazy, while others were strikingly vivid, as if unfolding before her eyes. Yet, what ‘Su Mo’ remembered most clearly was, surprisingly, a litany of cruelties inflicted upon mortals.

‘I’m truly a beast—no, Su Mo is truly a beast—no, that’s not right either…’ Su Mo muttered, rubbing her damp hair.

Clang. The door opened, revealing a tall figure, whose loose attire was illuminated by the moonlight streaming in diagonally.

Clutching the blanket tightly, Su Mo instinctively recoiled, watching him approach with wary eyes.

Finally, the moonlight fully enveloped his form. His cold, indifferent black eyes fixed on Su Mo’s wary movements. His hair was dripping wet, resting on his shoulders. He wore his clothes loosely draped, a corner of his bare chest visible, making Su Mo swallow nervously.

When he leaned onto the bed, Su Mo shrieked, “Gongzi, calm down!!”

With an expressionless side glance, Xu Qingzhu retorted, “Why are you acting so insane?”

“Huh?” Su Mo was dumbfounded.

“There’s only one room left here. If I don’t sleep here, am I supposed to stand outside?” Xu Qingzhu ignored her, simply settling onto the bed.

Still stunned, Su Mo didn’t even notice the blanket being pulled away, her small exposed hand still clutching a stick.

“…” Glancing at the stick, Xu Qingzhu’s mouth twitched.

He looked up again, their gazes met, and both fell silent.

Clatter… Su Mo casually tossed the stick away, sending it rolling loudly into a corner of the room.

She tried to soften her tone, explaining, “Gongzi, I have a habit of holding a stick when I sleep, but that’s not important…”

As she spoke, she adjusted her collar, then continued, “As the saying goes, men and women should not touch intimately, and engaging in intimacy before marriage will certainly lead to gossip.”

“Mm-hm,” Xu Qingzhu responded, listening with his lifeless eyes, too lazy even to nod.

“So…”

“You talk too much,” Xu Qingzhu cut her off, casually running a hand through his hair.

Hiss… Spiritual energy surged, meticulously expelling the moisture from his hair, leaving it instantly dry and refreshed. Disregarding Su Mo’s attempts to evade him, he pressed down on her small head and dried her hair as well.

Having finished everything, Xu Qingzhu simply lay down, clearly unwilling to move.

After sitting quietly for a long while, her inner struggle notwithstanding, Su Mo ultimately couldn’t fight off her overwhelming drowsiness. Carefully shrinking to the other side of the bed, she pitifully tugged a small corner of the blanket towards herself.

But the Gongzi across from her spoke, startling her: “You sleep holding a stick; do you need it now?”

Her gaze dropped, seeing the small ‘tent,’ and Su Mo recoiled her neck, saying fearfully, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”

“Mm.”

With no further conversation, Su Mo clutched the pitiful edge of the blanket, her eyes growing moist.