Wife is hell

Chapter 101 Xylitol and Pure Sleep (7000 words)
Jiang Mu didn't pay much attention to Shi Xueying's little incident.

He returned to his room, took off his shirt, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began his daily practice.

the other side.

After the Taoist gathering ended, Zhao Ling immediately went to the villa where Consort Yue was staying.

She wanted to pay her respects to Consort Yue before she set off.

After all, Consort Yue's destination this time is Shenhuang Island for cultivation. As an elder of the island, it would be her duty to accompany her in advance, and it would also enhance their friendship.

"Elder Zhao, Her Majesty is feeling a bit tired and is resting. She has instructed that no guests be received. What do you think..."

The maid guarding the gate looked apologetic.

not see?

Zhao Ling was somewhat disappointed, but she still maintained a polite smile: "It's alright, it was my rudeness. I will come to pay my respects again when Your Highness has time."

She nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Back in her inn room, Zhao Ling took off her outer robe and sat down at the table, somewhat irritated.

Thinking back on today's Taoist gathering, I feel more and more annoyed.

"Sigh, I was really too opportunistic before."

The woman sighed softly.

His voice was filled with regret.

Looking back on my decision to have my apprentice Shi Xueying keep her distance from Jiang Mu, it now seems rather short-sighted.

Jiang Mu's performance today was too amazing. Even Consort Yue looked at him differently. If she could maintain a good relationship with such a person, it would be beneficial to Shi Xueying, her and even the entire Divine Phoenix Island.

He shouldn't have let his disciple Shi Xueying sever ties with him so early.

"No, we have to let Xueying try to repair it."

Zhao Ling took a sip of tea, pondering in her heart:
"That kid almost lost his life protecting Xueying from a car; his feelings for her are definitely not over. If Xueying says a few kind words, he'll surely be unable to let go..."

Just as Zhao Ling was racking her brains, figuring out how to get her apprentice to "repair" the relationship, a faint whooshing sound suddenly came from the air.

A sense of foreboding arose in Zhao Ling's heart, and she instinctively dodged to the side.

"call out--"

A jet-black dart grazed her hair, flew through the open window, and landed on the table.

"who!?"

Zhao Ling's face turned cold. She grabbed her whisk and, with lightning speed, she instantly flew out of the window.

She stood on the eaves, looking around.

The streets were bustling with people and traffic; there was no trace of the person who launched the hidden weapon.

His gaze swept over several suspicious corners, but he found nothing.

Zhao Ling returned to her room with a gloomy expression.

She walked to the table, flicked her whisk like a cloud, and the whisk's tail caught the dart embedded in the wooden board, pulling it out and bringing it to her.

A small roll of rough paper was wrapped around the dart.

Zhao Ling unfolded the note, her gaze sweeping over the few numbers on it. She was first taken aback, then her pupils contracted.

"The bell... is on Mu Jiang?"

Zhao Ling frowned. "That shouldn't be possible."

She stared at the handwriting on the note repeatedly, her mind filled with doubts.

The news came so suddenly, as if it had fallen from the sky, that she instinctively found it unbelievable.

The main problem was that her preconceived notion of Jiang Mu as a "toad" was really bad.

I don't believe that kid would dare to kill his own disciple.

but……

She recalled Jiang Mu's performance at the Dao Inquiry Meeting today, and her doubts returned.

"If this is just a rumor, why tell me about it now, in this way? What is their purpose?"

"How about we send Xueying to test the waters?"

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she rejected it.

She knew her apprentice all too well.

Shi Xueying is simple-minded and sensitive. She already felt guilty towards Mu Jiang because of her past estrangement. Seeing Mu Jiang shine so brightly today, she probably already regrets it.

Asking her to test Jiang Mu now... she definitely couldn't do it.

"That's all."

Zhao Ling released a burst of true energy from her fingertips, turning the crumpled paper into dust. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Since she can't do it, then I'll find an opportunity to try it myself."

-

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly through the small courtyard where the head of the patrol office lived.

The room was filled with a misty, refreshing fragrance of flower petals.

Tang Jinxian leaned lazily against the edge of the large bathtub, her ink-black hair damp, a few strands clinging to her forehead and neck. A few crimson petals floated on the water, making her look soft and charming.

Her skin, bathed in the rising steam, had an alluring pink hue.

It's as if a touch of your fingertip would release a pool of sweet juice.

The woman stared blankly at the flickering candlelight, her captivating phoenix eyes somewhat unfocused. The image of Jiang Mu waving his fan and discussing philosophy during the day flashed before her eyes again and again.

He was upright and honest, his words were sharp as knives, and he was arrogant and... well, he deserved a beating.

The image grew ever brighter in her memory, as if it carried a scorching heat that made her heart tingle.

"Just how many surprises is this kid hiding?"

Tang Jinxian murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously playing with the ripples in the water, her heart rising and falling with the waves.

While there was a pleasant surprise, there was also a lot of pressure.

It made her wonder if recruiting such a person as her subordinate was too "luxurious".

This is hardly the "light" she attracted.

It's practically a sun.

She, the head of Yancheng, was almost blinded by the dazzling lights.

But then she remembered something else, and her mood instantly plummeted.

"Spiritual! Wonderful! Bamboo!"

Tang Jinxian uttered the name through gritted teeth.

Three years ago, at the Dao Inquiry Conference in the capital, that aloof and otherworldly woman used the most indifferent tone to dismiss her prized talent as worthless.

That humiliation was the biggest knot in her heart for the rest of her life.

Unexpectedly, three years later, the woman's apprentice reappeared.

And yet, she... still cherishes him so much!

"God is deliberately playing a trick on me!"

Tang Jinxian bit her moist lips, getting angrier the more she thought about it. A nameless fire rushed to her head, and she angrily slapped the water.

Water droplets splashed onto her collarbone, then slid down her chest back into the water.

Like a small-scale defection.

"It's all that damn brat's fault!"

Tang Jinxian puffed out her cheeks angrily, and in a fit of pique, she buried her chin in the water, blowing a string of bubbles.

goo goo...

It's as if this will allow me to release all the pent-up frustration in my heart.

She blew out the last breath, raised her head, and said fiercely, "Bastard! How dare you keep this a secret from me? Did you think I was a fool? I think you did it on purpose!"

The more the woman thought about it, the more wronged and depressed she felt.

Water droplets rolled down her eyelashes like a string of pearls falling, carrying a touch of naivety rarely seen on ordinary days.

"No, I must go and find out for myself tomorrow whether he is that woman's disciple or not."

Tang Jinxian felt increasingly choked up and decided to ask him.

If not, everyone will be happy.

If so, then one cut...

Uh, we'll see.

In the end, she couldn't bear to sever ties with Jiang Mu.

That was, after all, her "light".

However, the woman secretly vowed that from this day forward, she must never again engage in any inappropriate intimate behavior with Jiang Mu in private, and must strictly adhere to the distinction between superior and subordinate.

A boss should act like a boss!
Get him firmly under your control!

However, just as this thought crossed my mind, a familiar burning sensation suddenly came from my lower abdomen.

Tang Jinxian's delicate body trembled, and she looked down.

The long-lost crimson pattern was slowly emerging from the side of the navel, winding like vines.

Like plum blossoms suddenly blooming in the snow.

It was dazzlingly beautiful.

Tang Jinxian's expression changed drastically, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Ruined!
She hurriedly got up, causing a splash of water.

Without even bothering to dry herself, she grabbed the thin outer garment draped over the screen and hastily wrapped it around her still warm and fragrant body...

-

The night is dark and everything is silent.

Jiang Mu, dressed only in plain silk trousers and shirtless, sat cross-legged on the bed, immersed in cultivation.

As the "Wushan Wonderful Golden Elixir Scripture" was activated, a wisp of silvery-white true energy swirled into a tiny vortex in the dantian, slowly flowing along a specific meridian route.

Wherever it passed, the skin bulged slightly, as if invisible little snakes were moving under the skin.

With each cycle, the pores exhale a very faint silver mist, which condenses on the skin's surface, coating the skin with a flowing moonlight, creating a beautiful effect.

Suddenly, the candlelight flickered without wind and went down a bit with a "poof".

The door breaks open.

"Who?!"

Jiang Mu suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

He didn't even have time to think. His body's instincts beat his brain. He grabbed the Ghost God Gun from beside the bed, and without even looking, he turned around and fiercely stabbed at the dark figure that broke into the room!

The spear pierced the air, carrying a sharp killing intent.

Just as the spear tip was about to touch the shadowy figure, Jiang Mu saw what the other person looked like.

Depend on!
His expression suddenly changed drastically.

With a forceful twist of his wrist, the spear grazed past the shadowy figure's ear.

The next moment, the dark figure pounced into his arms with a "whoosh," causing him to stagger and almost lose his balance.

soft……

warm……

It has a damp, soapy scent.

Jiang Mu felt a warm jade-like object crash into his chest.

Immediately afterwards, a lilac licked his cheek, with affection and joy, like a puppy that had finally found its owner.

"Again?!"

Jiang Mu stared at Tang Jinxian, who was clinging to him, his lips twitching.

He sighed, realizing that the other person's "female taming circle" had started acting up again.

After so many days of silence, he thought the spirit might have run out of energy and dissipated on its own, but he didn't expect it to finally strike. He couldn't escape it after all.

What stirred Jiang Mu's heart was that he could clearly feel that the woman in his arms was only wearing a thin outer garment.

Her clothes were soaked with moisture and clung tightly to her beautiful body.

The two were especially close, embracing tightly.

The thin, soaked shirt was practically useless; he could clearly feel the temperature of the other person's skin.

And the resonance of each other's heartbeats.

This is almost equivalent to an open and honest embrace.

Jiang Mu thought to himself:
"It must have been while this woman was taking a bath when the spirit suddenly acted up, which is why she rushed over, still covered in steam..."

How can the word "miserable" be used?

Sympathy aside, gazing into the woman's large, watery eyes, filled with a hazy mix of dependence and pleasure, and feeling the almost seamless intimacy of their skin...

Jiang Mu felt as if he were in a furnace.

This made this hot-blooded man very angry.

It seems like he's about to transform into Handsome Kun.

"You come down first."

Jiang Mu patted the other person's slender waist.

Tang Jinxian, however, was like a child who had received candy. She let out a soft "whimper" and hugged him even tighter.

Her wet hair brushed against his chest.

The neckline was loose, revealing large patches of water stains below the collarbone.

The flickering candlelight cast their intertwined shadows on the wall, stretching them extremely long, like a twining vine.

Depend on.

Leprechaun!

Jiang Mu took a deep breath, hugged the other person, and first closed the door tightly behind him, blocking out the night.

Then, he forcibly "torn" Tang Jinxian off his body and placed her on the edge of the bed.

"Woo..."

As soon as Tang Jinxian left his embrace, she immediately tried to cling to him anxiously.

"Sit still! Don't move!"

Jiang Mu immediately rebuked him in a deep voice, displaying the authority of a master.

Tang Jinxian froze in her forward lunge, a hint of grievance flashing in her phoenix eyes, but she still obediently sat back down.

Jiang Mu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the woman was finally behaving herself.

My gaze inadvertently swept over the edge of the bed and I suddenly noticed that the other person's small feet were bare, the white insteps were covered in dust, and the soles and toes were covered in dirt.

"Ugh……"

Jiang Mu guessed that the woman must have been caught without having time to put on her clothes or even her shoes before transforming into a "spirit pet" and running out following the scent.

"Don't get on the bed, or you'll get my bed dirty."

He had intended to just find a cloth to wipe them clean, but looking at their dusty feet, he sighed and turned to the basin in the corner of the room to get some warm water and bring it over.

"There's nothing I can do; the other party is my boss and my pet."

Jiang Mu consoled himself, "Just think of it as... giving my husky a bath."

Seeing him approach, Tang Jinxian instinctively tried to cling to him again.

Her watery eyes were full of dependence.

"do not move!"

Jiang Mu immediately put on a stern face.

He knelt down, lifted her small feet, and placed them in the basin. Her toes touched the water's surface, trembling slightly, like a dragonfly skimming a lotus leaf, creating ripples that parted the layers of candlelight.

Jiang Mu supported her heels with one hand and scooped up water with the other to pour it over her.

The water flowed down the instep to the slender ankle, accumulating into glistening droplets before rolling into the basin with a crisp dripping sound.

Arches, between toes...

Jiang Mu cleaned it meticulously.

The movements weren't exactly gentle, but they were certainly earnest.

My fingertips occasionally brushed against the delicate soles of her feet, and I could feel the little feet in my palms flinch slightly.

The sound of water splashing.

Tang Jinxian straightened her back unconsciously, her chest heaving.

A faint shadow appears in the hollow of the collarbone.

Jiang Mu washed his feet quickly, but felt his palms burning.

"Sit still and don't move."

He took a soft towel, placed it on her feet, and gently patted them dry, carefully absorbing even the moisture between her toes.

The little feet, cleansed of dust, reveal a skin as smooth as jade.

After doing all this, Jiang Mu noticed that Tang Jinxian's outer garment was very wet and clung to her body, making her not only uncomfortable but also more susceptible to catching a cold.

Jiang Mu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned around to rummage through the box, pulling out one of his clean, wide robes.

"Don't move, I'm changing your clothes. If you move and bump into something terrible, you'll only have yourself to blame."

Jiang Mu closed his eyes as he fumbled to unbutton Tang Jinxian's soaked outer garment, then changed her into his own clothes.

Of course, although he kept his eyes tightly closed and spoke very politely, his hands naturally "accidentally" touched many places he shouldn't have during the changing process.

Every touch felt like a spark splashing into hay.

Jiang Mu frantically chanted the Heart-Cleansing Mantra in his mind.

He knew very well that if he dared to open his eyes and admire her for even a moment, she would probably strangle him when she came to her senses.

After finally changing his clothes, Jiang Mu was already sweating profusely.

He carried the still clingy Tang Jinxian back to bed and settled her in. Looking into her misty eyes, which now reflected only him, he said earnestly:
"Listen, I, Mu Jiang, am not a saint, but I never take advantage of others in their time of need. I held my ground the first two times you had an outburst, and I will do the same this time."

I can't bring myself to hit you with a brick right now, and I doubt you'd let me hit you on the forehead like I did before, so... let's just wait it out and let the effects of this magical item wear off on their own."

After saying that, he lay down next to the woman.

Tang Jinxian, who had transformed into a spirit pet, didn't know if she understood.

She simply snuggled closer, nestled into Jiang Mu's arms again, affectionately licked his cheek, and then let out a soft "woof".

She possesses a charming and innocent quality amidst her allure.

Jiang Mu chuckled and pinched her earlobe: "You really think you're a husky?"

Tang Jinxian rubbed her little head.

Jiang Mu simply stopped blowing out the candles, lay down, and held the woman's soft body in his arms, intending to tough it out for the night.

The woman also quieted down and pressed herself close to the other person.

Her breath, exhaled from time to time, was like soft waves lapping against the skin of the man's neck.

"I'm a very upright person, don't worry, nothing will happen."

Jiang Mu subconsciously tightened his embrace on the woman, emphasizing again, though he wasn't sure if he was speaking to her or admonishing himself.

After saying that, he closed his eyes.

He gently put one arm around her shoulder, trying to fall asleep.

Perhaps because he had exhausted himself with the day's discussions, Jiang Mu's breathing quickly became even and long, and he actually fell into a deep sleep. At this moment, the warmth and fragrance in his arms became like an incense burner for inducing sleep.

after awhile.

Tang Jinxian, nestled in his arms, had tears welling up in her eyes.

She looked at the man with his eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep, her expression somewhat puzzled, and shifted uncomfortably.

The hand that was originally neatly wrapped around the shoulder and back had somehow slipped under the hem of the clothes and was loosely covering a spot, but it was just quietly resting there without the slightest overstepping of boundaries.

In the middle of the night.

The candle wax piled up, and the flame gradually dimmed.

The spiritual markings on Tang Jinxian's abdomen finally faded away slowly.

The misty haze in her eyes dissipated, replaced by a gradually clearing gaze.

The woman suddenly sat up.

After a brief moment of confusion, fragmented memories from last night flooded my mind.

look around.

Looking at the familiar surroundings of the house, then down at the men's clothes he was wearing, and his feet, which had been washed clean and seemed to still carry the warmth of the water...

"Well……"

She slapped her forehead hard and let out a frustrated muttered curse.

But he dared not speak loudly, for fear of waking the person beside him.

By the dim candlelight, she turned to look at Jiang Mu, who was fast asleep beside her.

The man slept peacefully, with a light bluish stubble on his chin and a faint smile on his lips, as if he were having a triumphant dream.

He was a completely different person from the sharp-tongued debater he was during the day.

That hand was still resting on his waist.

Carrying warmth.

Tang Jinxian's cheeks flushed a hot red.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings: shame, anger, and a sense of powerlessness in the face of this established fact.

I can't stay here any longer!

must!

Leave immediately!

The woman bit her lip, tiptoed to her feet, and tried to get past Jiang Mu, who was sleeping on the outside. She wanted to escape this awkward situation before he woke up.

However, just as she braced herself on the bed, with one long leg straddling the man's waist... and was hanging directly above him, Jiang Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

Eyes facing each other.

The two of them faced each other in an extremely strange posture.

The tips of their noses almost touched.

Their breaths mingled clearly, and an awkward silence filled the air.

"Awake?"

Jiang Mu spoke first, breaking the silence.

"……Um."

Tang Jinxian's mind went blank.

"It's not even dawn yet," Jiang Mu said again, "How about... we sleep a little longer?"

"Ah."

As if possessed, Tang Jinxian actually responded, and then... she remained in that stiff position and lay back down on the inside.

She didn't come to her senses until her back touched the cool bed.

What am I doing?!

Why don't I just get out of bed and leave?!
I'm such an idiot!

She was filled with shame and indignation, and immediately tried to sit up again. But halfway through the action, she felt that getting up and leaving at this moment would seem too deliberate and pretentious, as if she had something to hide.

For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma, torn between his own conscience and his own will.

"Do not worry."

Jiang Mu's voice sounded from the side, offering words of comfort.

"The intervals between attacks of the female taming ring this time are much longer than last time. And the time it took you to regain consciousness is also much shorter than last time, which indicates that the power of this spirit is weakening. Perhaps it will disappear on its own after a while."

Tang Jinxian buried her face further into the blanket, leaving only the tip of her nose showing, and softly hummed in agreement.

She dared not move or speak.

The two stood side by side.

The man's bare shoulders were only covered by a thin layer of cloth.

Her body heat seeped through the fabric, like wine warmed by a charcoal fire, seeping into her skin in thin strands, making her feel flustered yet strangely at ease.

Tang Jinxian felt that all of this was incredibly magical.

They were clearly not husband and wife, and strictly speaking, they were just in a superior-subordinate relationship, yet they slept in the same bed, their skin touching.

If outsiders were to find out, her reputation as the head of the patrol office would be ruined.

He would likely be condemned by everyone and have his reputation ruined immediately.

But... can we blame her?
It's all because of those damned spirits!

She was also powerless to do anything about it.

Yes, that's it, there's nothing I can do about it. She repeated this to herself, trying to use this reason to suppress the inappropriate flutter and shyness she felt.

The room fell silent again.

Tang Jinxian closed her eyes.

Suddenly, I felt that the darkness in this small space was more reassuring than any luxurious tent or brocade quilt.

Outside the window, the waning moon was setting in the west.

The night is still very long.

After a long while, seemingly finding it too unbearable, Tang Jinxian took the initiative to speak, breaking the silence: "Then... when did Ling Miaozhu take you as his disciple?"

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Mu burst out laughing after hearing this.

Tang Jinxian was a little annoyed. She turned around and glared at him reproachfully: "What are you laughing at? Isn't that right?"

In the dim light, his cheeks, slightly puffed out with barely suppressed anger, revealed a hint of naivety.

"I laugh at you, Lord Tang..."

Jiang Mu also turned his head, and their faces were very close on the pillow.
"Why are you just like those people outside, echoing what others say? Who told you that my master is Ling Miaozhu?"

"what?"

Tang Jinxian was stunned. "Didn't Master Bai Ri Hongyuan say that? And that's what everyone's saying outside..."

Perhaps it was the special atmosphere at the moment, or perhaps it was because they had been honest with each other, but Jiang Mu felt there was no need to hide it from her anymore, so he frankly said, "I don't know anything about Lingmiaozhu."

"what?!"

Tang Jinxian propped herself up, looking at him incredulously, "Then who taught you all these skills, and those astonishing remarks at today's Dao Assembly?"

“I do have a master.”

Jiang Mu's gaze drifted into the void, his tone becoming somewhat distant:
"Her name is... Luo Xianyu. However, due to some special reasons, I cannot tell outsiders her name."

So when they mistook it for the Spirit Bamboo yesterday, I couldn't explain and could only accept it.

So it was fake after all.

Upon hearing this, Tang Jinxian felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. It was as if the clouds had suddenly parted to reveal the moon, or as if she had drunk a cup of warm honey water.

A sweet sensation quickly spread throughout my body, and I couldn't help but curl my lips into a slight smile.

She already thoroughly disliked that magical bamboo.

Upon learning that Jiang Mu was actually that woman's apprentice, she was so frustrated she almost vomited blood. Now, she heard it directly from Jiang Mu himself—that it was all a misunderstanding.

I can’t tell you how happy I am.

It felt as if even the breath tasted sweeter.

However, this relaxed and pleasant feeling did not last long, and she suddenly frowned her beautiful eyebrows.

"Luo Xianyu..."

Tang Jinxian had tasted it.

"This name sounds a lot like a woman's."

Jiang Mu smiled, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes: "Yes, it's a woman, a very, very beautiful woman."

His tone carried an undisguised, special affection.

Tang Jinxian's heart, which had just been filled with joy, was suddenly gripped tightly again by a large hand.

That oppressive feeling returned.

Like a damp cotton ball, heavy and heavy, it pressed against my heart.

She casually followed up with the question:
"You like her a lot? Is it the kind of liking between a man and a woman?"

Before Jiang Mu could answer, she hurriedly added, as if emphasizing a certain boundary: "A master and disciple falling in love is ultimately against the norm and will cause controversy... Mu Jiang, you must not do anything foolish."

"Ugh……"

Jiang Mu sighed helplessly, "Even if I wanted to, it's impossible."

She is...dead.

"died?!"

Tang Jinxian looked up in surprise and met Jiang Mu's eyes, which seemed particularly deep in the dim light.

There was not a trace of a joke in it.

After confirming that he wasn't joking, the inexplicable feeling of suffocation in her heart inexplicably dissipated.

But then, a strong sense of self-reproach welled up inside me.

The other party's master has passed away, how could she secretly rejoice because of selfishness?
The thought made her feel ashamed.

Thinking of this, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps to hide her little secret thoughts, Tang Jinxian subconsciously reached out and grasped Jiang Mu's hand.

He whispered words of comfort: "...My condolences."

Jiang Mu hadn't expected the other party to make this move.

Feeling the soft warmth of her hand in his palm, he half-jokingly said:
"Words of comfort aren't enough. If you truly care about me, shouldn't you give me a hug and comfort me properly?"

Jiang Mu made the remark casually, intending to lighten the somber atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, Tang Jinxian felt as if she had been kicked in the head. Perhaps the shame was still fermenting, because she actually turned over, raised an arm, and wrapped it around his waist.

Now, it was their turn to be dumbfounded.

The woman, regaining her senses, blushed bright red, only then realizing what she had done!
She hurriedly lay back down in her original position and pulled the blanket over half of her face.

Only a pair of panicked, trembling eyes were visible.

what am i doing?
What are you doing?!

what! ! !
Tang Jinxian was so suicidal that she wished she could open her skull to see what was inside.

"Cough cough..."

Jiang Mu coughed awkwardly twice and said, "It seems... the influence of the spirit pattern on your body is still there. But that's normal; sometimes you can be a little confused."

Tang Jinxian, who was originally mired in immense shame and self-doubt, grasped at these words as if they were a lifeline.

Yup!

It turns out it was Lingwen who was behind this!

I'll just say it.

Her mood immediately relaxed.

Yes, it's all the spirits' fault!

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(End of this chapter)