Zanxing

Chapter 89 - Sleeping Together (2)

The tea in the pot had long gone cold.
Zanxing poured two cups of tea for Mendong and Tian Fangfang. After a long day of travel, the two were parched. Without saying much, they each drank two cups of cold tea. Tian Fangfang pulled a booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Baiying. "Mendong and I visited five families today, and all the information we gathered is recorded in this booklet."
Gu Baiying opened the booklet, and Zanxing pulled her chair closer to him to look together.
Although Mendong was young, his handwriting was exceptionally neat. However, as Tian Fangfang had mentioned, the contents of the booklet didn't seem very useful.
"The events of that year happened so long ago," Tian Fangfang explained. "Many people can't remember the details anymore. We asked several households, and the circumstances were the same as the victim we encountered last night—young women, alone at home, found drained of their blood."
Zanxing asked, "But why isn't there any description of the demonic merman in this booklet?"
"Because no one has ever seen the demonic merman," Tian Fangfang replied. "By the time the victims were discovered, they were already dead. No one saw what the merman looked like."
"Mermen are demons," Mendong added. "After killing, they naturally flee. Ordinary people couldn't possibly capture a demon's true form."
Zanxing shook her head. "Something still doesn't sit right with me. According to this, the only ones who saw a merman's appearance were the members of the royal family forty years ago, when the merman was slain. But no one witnessed the merman committing the act. And..."
She glanced at the damp trail on the floor. Honestly, she had trouble picturing a merman dragging its fish tail across the ground.
Gu Baiying was still absorbed in the booklet.
Mendong asked, "Martial Uncle, why are you so quiet?"
"Forty years ago, all the women killed were eighteen years old," Gu Baiying suddenly said.
Tian Fangfang paused, then nodded. "Yes, it's tragic. Those young women were in the prime of their lives. One of the families we visited today had a daughter who was just about to get married. She was killed by the demonic merman the night before her wedding. The groom, in his grief, took his own life shortly after. Such tragedy."
"Could it be," Zanxing wondered aloud, "that the merman specifically targets eighteen-year-olds?"
"Coincidence," Mendong replied. "The girl who died the other night was only fifteen."
"Maybe its tastes changed," Tian Fangfang slapped the table angrily. "That merman is sure picky!"
"No, that's not it." Gu Baiying interrupted. He flipped through the booklet again and asked, "Did you ask for the birthdates of these women today?"
"We didn't." Tian Fangfang shook her head. "Why would we need their birthdates? We're not matchmaking or exchanging betrothal gifts." But seeing the increasingly sharp look in Gu Baiying's eyes, his voice trailed off. "...I forgot, Martial Uncle."
Sensing Gu Baiying's displeasure, Mendong asked, "Martial Uncle, what's wrong with their birthdates?"
"Tomorrow, go back and get the birthdates of these women," Gu Baiying ordered coldly. "Don't miss a single one."
His tone was stern, and neither Tian Fangfang nor Mendong dared to object. It was already late, and they would have to rise early the next day to gather more information, so after a few brief words, they retired to their rooms for the night.
Gu Baiying was about to leave as well.
Zanxing grabbed his sleeve. "Martial Uncle!"
"What?" he asked impatiently.
"That demon slipped into my room tonight and tried to attack me. Although it fled halfway, there's no guarantee it won't come back," Zanxing said. "Since even you couldn't catch it, it must be quite strong. I might not be able to handle it alone."
"And?"
"So why don't you stay in my room tonight," Zanxing suggested cheerfully. "Just in case."
"What did you say?" Gu Baiying stared at her in disbelief.
"There are two beds in here," Zanxing pointed out. "You can take the bigger one, and I'll sleep on the smaller one. It's not like we're sharing a bed, and they're far apart. What's the harm?"
"Zanxing," Gu Baiying said, looking at her as though she had lost her mind, "you're a woman, and I'm a man. How could we sleep in the same room?"
"Is the cultivation world really that strict?" Zanxing asked. "Just pretend we're outdoors, each taking a corner to sleep."
Gu Baiying took a deep breath. "Forget it. I'm not sleeping in the same room as you."
Zanxing looked at him. His lips were pressed tight, his face darkened, as if she had just suggested something scandalous. After a long pause, Zanxing relented. "Fine, if not, I'll go ask Senior Brother Tian. His cultivation may not be as high as yours, but if something happens, at least I'll have some backup." It was the dead of night, and after what just happened, she wasn't ready to act like nothing had occurred. The palace guards in Li'er Kingdom were practically useless; someone could run three miles before anyone even noticed.
"No!" Gu Baiying snapped, glaring at her. "Zanxing, I've told you, no dual cultivation within the sect."
"I'm not doing dual cultivation," Zanxing retorted. "We're just sleeping in the same room. No cultivation involved."
"Still not allowed."
Zanxing, now thoroughly exasperated, asked, "Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Don't sleep tonight," Gu Baiying suggested. "Stay up and cultivate."
Zanxing's eyes widened in disbelief. "Uncle, even if I skip sleep tonight, there are still several days before the secret realm opens. I can't stay up every night, can I? And if I exhaust myself now, how am I supposed to compete against Chihua Sect when we get into the secret realm? You wouldn't want me to embarrass the sect, would you?"
Gu Baiying glanced at her.
She stood in the room, her gaze unwavering. In the sect, there were those who sought comfort, but none had ever been as bold as Zanxing, who, as a personal disciple, made excuses with such confidence.
She also seemed entirely oblivious to the fact that she was a woman. She had even suggested "sleeping together" without batting an eye. If it were anyone else, the responsibility for the Qin Worm would be easily handed over.
The Qin Worm...
Thinking of it, Gu Baiying felt a fresh wave of frustration.
"Martial Uncle, have you made up your mind yet?" Zanxing asked, seeing the flicker of thoughts in his eyes.
"Just sleep," Gu Baiying said. "I'll cultivate in your room tonight."
Zanxing: "..."
"You're not going to sleep?" she asked.
"I'm not like you." Gu Baiying sat down on the long bench, closed his eyes, and indeed began meditating.
"Seriously not going to sleep?" Zanxing asked kindly.
Gu Baiying ignored her, keeping his eyes closed.
Zanxing sighed to herself. Look at him, such a righteous young man. A character like him in a male-centric novel was practically a rarity, almost too unrealistic.
Still, with Gu Baiying watching over her tonight, the demonic merman likely wouldn't dare return. She could finally rest.
Moving quietly, Zanxing climbed onto the bed and blew out the lamp by the bedside. The stars outside cast a dappled light through the window. Gu Baiying's tall figure, meditating on the bench, was like a spring breeze, bringing a warm, calming presence in the cool night.
Watching him, she slowly drifted off to sleep.