My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1468 Comfort
Zhou Xing reacted quickly, catching Ling Xue and rolling her to safety by the roadside. Falling rocks grazed their clothes and crashed into the abyss, kicking up clouds of dust.

"That was close!" Ling Xue said, still shaken. Zhou Xing smiled and reassured her, "It's alright, I'm here." At that moment, their eyes met, and a subtle emotion quietly blossomed between them.

In the days that followed, they encountered all sorts of difficulties, but they overcame them one by one through mutual trust and wisdom. Whether it was cracking complex formations or defeating powerful guardian beasts, they cooperated flawlessly. During this process, Ling Xue's affection for Zhou Xing deepened. She discovered that this seemingly ordinary rogue cultivator actually possessed many admirable qualities: courage, resourcefulness, kindness, and a strong sense of loyalty.

One day, they discovered several extremely rare nine-leaf Ganoderma lucidum in a secluded valley. This spiritual herb was priceless to cultivators; consuming it could not only greatly enhance their cultivation level but also potentially help them break through cultivation bottlenecks. Just as they were preparing to harvest it, another group of people appeared.

This group consisted of disciples from another sect, led by an arrogant and conceited young man. His eyes lit up when he saw the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi, and he immediately declared that he had found it first and it should belong to them. Ling Xue naturally refused to back down: "We found it first, why should we give it to you?" A stalemate ensued.

The young man sneered, "Just the two of you? If you know what's good for you, get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite!" With that, he drew his longsword and assumed an attack stance. Zhou Xing also stepped forward, blocking Ling Xue's path: "If you want the spirit herb, you'll have to get past me first!"

A fierce battle ensued. The enemy outnumbered them and each possessed considerable skill. But Zhou Xing and Ling Xue were fearless, working closely back-to-back. Zhou Xing engaged in close combat, his fists and feet moving like the wind; Ling Xue provided ranged support with magical spells, her sword energy crisscrossing the valley. In an instant, the flashing of blades and the cries of battle echoed throughout the valley.

Despite being at a disadvantage, they never gave up. At the crucial moment, Zhou Xing suddenly grasped a new martial arts technique, greatly increasing its power. He seized the opportunity and defeated the enemy leader in one fell swoop, causing the other enemies to flee in panic. This victory was hard-won, but it came at a considerable cost. Both men sustained injuries of varying degrees, but looking at the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi in their hands, all their efforts felt worthwhile.

After this incident, Ling Xue's feelings for Zhou Xing underwent a qualitative change. She no longer saw him merely as a companion, but began to realize that she had fallen deeply in love with this brave man. Zhou Xing, unknowingly, was also drawn to Ling Xue's beauty, kindness, and strength.

On a quiet night, they sat resting by the campfire. Moonlight bathed them, creating a romantic atmosphere. Ling Xue stole a glance at Zhou Xing, who was intently grilling food, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Zhou Xing seemed to notice her gaze, looked up at her gently, and asked, "What's wrong?" Ling Xue quickly lowered her head, "Nothing..."

Suddenly, a meteor shower appeared in the sky. Brilliant meteors streaked across the night sky, like a dream. Ling Xue excitedly pointed to the sky, "So beautiful!" Seeing her happy expression, Zhou Xing's heart stirred. "Make a wish," he said. Ling Xue closed her eyes and sincerely made a wish. When she opened her eyes, she found Zhou Xing gazing at her affectionately. Their eyes met, and it felt as if the whole world had stopped turning.

From then on, the atmosphere between them became even more ambiguous. During their cultivation sessions, occasional physical contact would make their hearts race; the act of feeding each other when sharing food was filled with sweetness. However, they also knew that for cultivators, emotions often became obstacles to progress. Yet, they couldn't control the development of their inner feelings.

As their training nears its end, a question arises: how will they get along in the future? Ling Xue, as the Holy Maiden of a major sect, shoulders the mission of revitalizing her sect, while Zhou Xing is merely a rogue cultivator with no one to rely on. Their paths seem destined to diverge.

One day, Ling Xue received a message from the sect, requiring her to return immediately to participate in an important ceremony. This meant she had to leave the secret realm and return to her original life. Zhou Xing understood that this was an unchangeable fact, but he still couldn't help but ask, "Will you forget everything here?" Ling Xue was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "No, but I will also fulfill my responsibilities."

As the day of parting drew closer, their feelings grew increasingly complex. They reminisced about their experiences over the past few weeks, every moment vivid in their minds. The days they fought together, the times they supported each other, and the process of their budding feelings would all become eternal memories.

On the last night, Zhou Xing gave Ling Xue a jade pendant he had made himself: "I made this with the materials here. Although it is simple, it represents my heart." Ling Xue took the jade pendant, tears welling up in her eyes: "I will wear it forever." She also gave Zhou Xing a gift she had carefully prepared—a handwritten book containing her insights into the martial arts techniques she had learned.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the camp, Ling Xue began her journey home. Zhou Xing stood at a distance, silently watching her departing figure until she disappeared from sight. He knew this farewell might be forever, but he also hoped that Ling Xue could shine brightly in her own world.

Upon returning to her sect, Ling Xue devoted herself entirely to cultivation and sect affairs. Leveraging the experience and resources gained in the secret realm, her cultivation advanced rapidly, quickly making her one of the sect's top performers. She led her disciples in various martial arts tournaments, achieving numerous successes and bringing honor to the sect.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xing didn't stop his progress. He traveled far and wide, challenging various masters and constantly improving his strength. In this process, he also made many like-minded friends and gradually built his reputation. Although he often thought of the time he spent with Ling Xue, he also knew that only by becoming stronger could he be worthy of her.

Years later, by chance, the two met again. They had both transformed, no longer the naive young men they once were. Ling Xue possessed a more elegant and outstanding demeanor, exuding grace and poise in every gesture; Zhou Xing, on the other hand, had become more mature and composed, radiating a unique charm.

They gazed at each other for a long time, understanding each other's thoughts without a word. It turned out that all these years had passed, but their feelings had never changed. Finally, they decided to let go of their past reservations and bravely come together. From then on, they walked hand in hand, exploring higher realms on the path of cultivation, writing their own legend.

The village was blanketed in a thick layer of snow in winter. The silver-clad world should have been serene and beautiful, but for Ling Xue, who was born blind, it was nothing more than another form of prison. She groped her way to the frozen lake. The crisp cracking sound was particularly clear in the silence—the sound of her tapping the ice with a branch. Suddenly, her foot slipped, and a wave of weightlessness washed over her as she fell into the icy water. The biting cold felt like countless sharp blades piercing her body, and fear and despair gripped her tightly.

Just when she thought she was about to die, a pair of strong arms scooped her up. The man quickly took off his fur cloak, wrapped it around her, and continuously transferred his body heat to her. Ling Xue trembled, feeling the other person's thick, warm hands, calloused and smooth, caressing her hair. "Don't be afraid, it's alright now," a deep, gentle voice whispered in her ear. The young man took out almond shortbread wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and placed it in her frozen palm. The crisp, sweet aroma instantly dispelled some of the chill and calmed her panicked heart.

Three days later, the distinguished guests from the capital set off to return home. Ling Xue stood behind the door, quietly listening to the sound of horses' hooves fading into the distance, a strange sense of loss welling up in her heart. She didn't know who the boy who had saved her was, only remembering the warmth of his palm and the comforting tone in his voice.

Time flies, and she reached marriageable age. Due to an arranged marriage, Ling Xue was forced to marry Zhou Xing, the General of Zhenbei, whom she had never met. As the bridal sedan chair lurched forward, her handkerchief accidentally fell to the ground and was picked up by Zhou Xing, who happened to be passing by. The moment their fingertips touched, the familiar rough touch sent a jolt through her body like an electric current, and the voice from her memory overlapped with the person in front of her—"Don't be afraid, it's alright."

In the bridal chamber, where red candles flickered, Zhou Xing lifted the veil. Although Ling Xue was blind, she precisely grasped his hand as he tried to withdraw it and whispered, "Young Master, do you still remember the taste of almond shortbread?" Zhou Xing's body trembled slightly, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, "I remember."

Their married life was peaceful and warm. Zhou Xing ordered that the crabapple trees in the courtyard be replaced with apricot trees, so that every time they bloomed, the courtyard was filled with a faint fragrance of apricot blossoms. Every day, he personally brewed a cold-dispelling medicine and brought it to Ling Xue's room. The edge of the medicine bowl was always placed facing the same direction, never changing its angle, so that she could easily find it.

Once, Ling Xue accidentally bumped into the corner of a table while walking inside. Zhou Xing immediately went over to check on her injury. Seeing that it was just a minor scratch and nothing serious, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but from then on he became even more careful, wrapping all sharp parts with soft cloth.

One stormy night, thunder roared and lightning ripped through the sky. Ling Xue awoke with a start, cowering in fear. Zhou Xing noticed her distress and rushed out into the rain without hesitation. He searched for a long time in the mountains, finally returning with wild ginseng still glistening with dew. He was soaked to the bone when he returned, but he didn't care about himself; he first brewed a calming tea for Ling Xue.

While her husband slept, Ling Xue touched his face for the first time. From his sword-like eyebrows to his straight nose, to his thin lips and jawline, every feature was etched into her mind. As her fingertips brushed against the old arrow wound on the side of his neck, she suddenly heard him murmur in his sleep, "I've caught you..." Her heart stirred inexplicably, as if some secret was hidden in those simple words.

One day, while tidying the study, the housekeeper discovered some old items, including half a bloodstained jade pendant and a yellowed, torn page of a letter. Ling Xue took these items and gently ran her fingers along the patterns on them. When she touched the cloud pattern carved on the back of the jade pendant, she was startled—it perfectly matched the pattern of the longevity lock she had worn since childhood.

Filled with doubt, she sought out her wet nurse to inquire about the past. After much hesitation, the wet nurse revealed a shocking secret: the drowning incident was not an accident; someone had deliberately cut the load-bearing points of the ice. And the blood-stained jade pendant was evidence left behind by the perpetrator.

To uncover the truth, Ling Xue secretly sneaked into the archives. With her keen intuition, she found a record of an assassination case from ten years ago among a pile of files. The shape of the arrowhead bloodstain on the parchment strikingly matched the location of Zhou Xing's old wound on his waist. All signs indicated that the matter was far more complex than she had imagined.

One late night, Zhou Xing returned home drunk. He grasped Ling Xue's hand and pressed it against his heart, his eyes hazy yet full of affection: "If I hadn't caught you back then... this arrow wound should have pierced here." The "little moon" he murmured before passing out made the mystery in Ling Xue's heart grow ever larger.

The atmosphere at the autumn hunting grounds was tense and exciting. Suddenly, a cold arrow shot towards Ling Xue. In the nick of time, Zhou Xing leaped in front of her, the blade piercing through his sleeve. Just as everyone was in a panic, the scent of incense wafting from the assassin's sleeve caught Ling Xue's attention—it was the aroma of a mugwort sachet specially made by Zhuangzi.

Following the clues, they arrived at an abandoned observatory. There, Ling Xue used her hearing to locate a hidden compartment, opened it, and found a bronze key. This key could open the long-forgotten sandalwood box under Zhou Xing's pillow.

Inside the box lay a painting of a young girl playing the zither, the red birthmark on her wrist identical to Ling Xue's. Half a verse of "The Magpie Bridge Fairy" had fallen from the scroll's inner lining, the ink stains revealing the words, "May the moonlight follow you to shine upon the clouds." Seeing this, Ling Xue's heart was in turmoil; she knew she was approaching a great secret step by step.

Upon hearing of Ling Xue's condition, the imperial physicians came to treat her. After carefully preparing the medicine, a miracle occurred—Ling Xue gradually regained her sight. The moment the gauze was removed from her eyes, the first thing she saw was her husband's prematurely graying temples. She realized how much he had toiled for her all these years.

After regaining her sight, Ling Xue began to carefully observe her surroundings. She noticed that Zhou Xing always wore the faded indigo robe with dark patterns, the very robe he wore when he saved her. In the hidden cabinet of the study were consecrated amulets collected over the years, each bearing her name inscribed on a cinnabar talisman. At that moment, tears blurred her vision.

However, the danger was not over. The mastermind set a fire trap, intending to burn them alive. The fire spread rapidly, billowing thick smoke. Zhou Xing wrapped the two of them in a wet quilt and jumped into a deep well to escape. In the dark and damp environment, he chuckled softly in her ear, "This time, it's my turn to close my eyes and go with you."

On the day of the case's retrial, Ling Xue reconstructed the truth of what happened back then in front of all the civil and military officials. She pointed out that the crane's cry pattern on the arrowhead corresponded to the totem of the northern desert tribes, revealing the identity of the mastermind behind it all. Zhou Xing then presented his sword, the hilt of which was inlaid with the other half of a jade pendant, thus completing the chain of evidence.

After the truth came to light, the two arrived at the frozen lake where they had first met. It was the dead of winter, and the lake was frozen solid. Zhou Xing helped Ling Xue stand on the ice, teaching her to perceive the six-pointed snowflakes. As the sun set, their two shadows overlapped, forming a perfect arc of light.

Later, they planted apricot trees all over the west wing of the mansion.