My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 781 - 488: Saintess in the Cauldron (Two in One)_3

Chen Yi couldn't figure anything out no matter how he mulled over it, so he chose to give up for the time being.

For now, the urgent task was to head south, deliver the Sword Box to Dragon and Tiger Mountain, and then meet up with Zhou Yitang. Thinking this over, he leaned into Yin Tingxue's side and fell asleep.

A while later.

Yin Tingxue let out a soft "Mm" sound, her eyelids furrowing as she stirred awake. As she opened her eyes, she saw Chen Yi holding her in his arms.

He loved holding her—whenever they slept together, even without doing anything else, Chen Yi would always half-embrace her. At first, the young maiden wasn't used to it, but later, when she was living alone on Yin Sword Mountain, she found it hard to sleep without his arms around her.

"Awake?" Chen Yi asked.

"Mm…" Yin Tingxue murmured in response. She stretched her limbs, then climbed up and gazed out of the cabin.

The small boat was drifting downstream along the river. Dawn broke faintly; the woolly gray of the sky had yet to fully lift. Looking out from the boat, the towering peaks on either side seemingly merged with the heavens, cliffs and precipices jutting sheer like horizontal swords, exuding an awe-inspiring grandeur.

They had reached the Qinling Mountains—this was the "mountain pass so difficult to cross."

"'Yesterday, this very pathway through the mountains was doused in soft rain amidst plum blossoms, steeped in the sorrow of parting…'" Yin Tingxue softly murmured, her voice blending with the rushing sound of the water.

"Whose poem is that?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"The gentleman from Meishan."

"Who's that?"

Yin Tingxue turned her head and rolled her eyes at him. "Su Shi."

Chen Yi raised a brow. This little fox dared to roll her eyes at him.

Before he could act on his thoughts, Yin Tingxue hurried to remedy the situation: "It wasn't on purpose…"

"Then what was it?"

"…It's just that you're uncultured."

Chen Yi erupted in mock fury upon hearing this. He sprang up and grabbed her into his arms. "You've got some nerve." With that, his hands encircled her elbows and went on to tickle and prod at her slender waist relentlessly.

"Ah, ah…! Okay! I was wrong! I shouldn't have said that… I just woke up… Is that alright? I'm an idiot…"

Whenever he teased her like this, Yin Tingxue couldn't defend herself, her body twisting and jolting from the sensations. After Chen Yi finally stopped, she lay softly in his arms, gasping for breath.

After subduing this increasingly audacious little fox, Chen Yi withdrew his hand and said in a mock-serious voice, "I may not know how to compose poetry or be familiar with the aliases of poets, but the poems I've read aren't any fewer than yours."

"Mm, mm… I know, I know, husband is the most remarkable," Yin Tingxue replied obediently and sweetly.

Chen Yi, satisfied, held her close as he gazed at the scenery, his voice soft as he observed, "The Lantern Festival is nearly here."

Another Lantern Festival—it felt as though last year's was hurriedly spent in the palace, while this year's would be whittled away on the road.

At times, Chen Yi couldn't help but wonder: if someone journeyed back to the era when Tang and Song literature flourished, what would it be like to pen a Qingyu Case during the Lantern Festival? The scene would surely be grand—with talented scholars questioning the piece, seasoned poets offering silent praise, and, ultimately, the composition astonishing everyone and emerging victorious.

Yin Tingxue's ears twitched slightly before she spoke: "Impossible."

"Hm?" Chen Yi, realizing she had overheard his thoughts, followed up with a question: "Why not?"

"Do you know where Qingyu Case originates?" Seeing Chen Yi shake his head, Yin Tingxue explained matter-of-factly, "It comes from the phrase, 'My fair lady gifts me fine silk, how shall I repay her? With a jade case.' If you don't even know its origin, you'll definitely be exposed as a fraud."

Her eyes glimmered with a hint of mischief.

"Are you trying to make fun of me?" Chen Yi asked, displeased.

"No, not at all," Yin Tingxue quickly countered.

Seeing Chen Yi remain dissatisfied, watching her with a suspicious gaze, Yin Tingxue worried that she might end up being tickled mercilessly right at dawn for no clear reason.

Thus, she softened her tone and said:

"How could I laugh at you? You are my very, very favorite husband."

The water flowed swiftly. As she spoke, she rested her cheek against Chen Yi's chest, seemingly listening for the rhythm of his heart...

Unbeknownst to them, the small boat had already passed through the mountain pass.