For the next three days, I'm left alone in my room. Chyou serves me as usual, bringing loads of food and snacks as I'm allowed to lounge around without a care. On the fourth day, I'm left feeling uneasy. What was happening? Why was he suddenly gone and letting me do whatever I want?
After getting cleaned up and dressed for the day, I pace back and forth under the peach trees in the courtyard. The air was truly becoming colder... As the wind picks up, large petals fall from the trees looking like fat snowflakes.
I pause and look up at the sight with awe. I've never seen anything so pretty before... "They bloom all year..." Bai Lei's deep voice says behind me, slightly startling me. I turn around to look at him and freeze. Standing under the sun, the light hits his exposed skin making him look like the immortal he really is.
He really is the most attractive man I've ever seen... I quickly clear my throat and say "I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful." I look back to the trees with a small smile. Bai Lei watches the woman in front of him with dark eyes as he says "Indeed, extremely beautiful..." Never once does he look at the trees.
I nod and turn back to him saying "I feel like you and I should probably have a talk." Bai Lei lifts a dark eyebrow as he says "Talk about what?" I turn to him and wave my hand back and forth between the two of us. "We should talk about this... whatever this is."
There's a ripple in Bai Lei's dark eyes but he quickly hides it as he nods his head. "Look... I know you want me to take responsibility for touching you but you have to know, touching males is a normal thing in my world."
"We can touch others without it meaning anything. I can help you get rid of the little heifer... er, I mean Hui Ying." Bai Lei's mouth twitches as he says "Little what?" I wave him off with a smile and say "I'm actually a pretty cool and relaxed individual. I'm easy going unless you try to force me to do something and that's the only thing you've been doing since we've met."
"We can work together... after I help you with your situation, we'll go our separate ways," I say with a hopeful smile. Bai Lei continues watching the beautiful woman in front of him with hidden panic. Should he just tell her how he truly feels?
No, she doesn't see him as anything other than a nuisance right now. His fists clench in his long sleeves as he smiles and says "I apologize for the way I've treated you... I would really appreciate it if you could continue helping me."
Bai Lei actually doesn't need her help any longer... he just doesn't want her to leave. He has to somehow change the way she feels about him. Women usually come to him! He's never had to chase a woman... he doesn't know how!
I look at Bai Lei in shock before smiling at him and nodding my head. Bai Lei's heart skips a beat looking at the smile on her flawless face. That was the first time she's ever smiled at him like that... and he wanted her to do it again.
I turn back to the peach blossoms with a lighter heart. I should have had this talk with him much sooner! Maybe we've just had one large misunderstanding between each other! "Would you like me to help you cultivate?" Bai Lei asks in a soft voice.
I turn to see him watching me with dark eyes. "Would you be willing? I'm extremely new to cultivating." I say with a frown. Bai Lei gives me a gentle smile while saying "Of course, it would be my pleasure to help you."
I look to him in shock once again. He was suddenly so different! I don't know why but I'm not going to complain. This was a stroke of good luck! I can tell Bai Lei is strong, possibly stronger than Zhen so if I could learn from him, I could become more powerful!
Then no one can boss me around!! I give him a large smile and quickly nod my head while saying "When can we start?" I see another ripple in Bai Lei's dark eyes but he's quick to cover it up as he says "We can start now." I nod in agreement as I follow behind him.
He leads me further and further into the back of the courtyard and only comes to a stop when we reach a large pond. "This pond is rich in energy and can help you advance faster without risking your foundation."
I nod my head as I slightly frown. When he sees my reaction he says "If you advance too quickly, you foundation can become unsteady and weak. If your foundation is weak and unsteady you can injure yourself or even become a cripple."
I look to him with large eyes as he says "This pond will keep your foundation strong so you have nothing to worry about." I give him a grateful smile as I think back to Zhen. It suddenly makes more sense on why Zhen told me to stop so soon after I started.
He was worried about my foundation... I kick off my shoes and walk over to the water but when my toes hit the cold water I shiver. I look over to Bai Lei with a frown. He's already halfway into the pond! I grit my teeth and step into the cold water with determination. No matter what, I need to become stronger!