Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

A few days later, the clothes were finished.

Xiao Bai helped Jiang Xiaochuan change into an indigo short jacket embroidered with bamboo leaves, which fit him perfectly.

She took two steps back, looked at it, and nodded: "It looks good."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked down and saw bamboo leaves embroidered on the collar and cuffs of his clothes. A few sparse pieces, with blue thread, were not eye-catching, but elegant. He raised his hand and touched the bamboo leaves. The stitches were dense and neat.

"Thanks," he said.

"Just a thank you?" Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her without saying a word, then suddenly reached out and gently touched the fox hairpin in her hair. The silver hairpin was cool, but his fingertips were warm.

Xiao Bai was stunned for a moment, then smiled, her eyes shining.

The two packed their things and headed into the mountains.

The place Xiaobai described was deep in the mountains, with difficult roads, but beautiful scenery, dense forests, tall trees, hanging vines, and melodious birdsong.

After walking for more than an hour, the view suddenly opened up to a valley. It wasn't large, but it had a spring with steaming water. The water was turquoise and crystal clear. There were flat, smooth stones by the spring where one could sit.

Xiao Bai put down her bag and breathed a sigh of relief: "We've arrived."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked around. The valley was surrounded by mountains and lush trees. The spring was in the center, steaming and smelling of sulfur, but not strongly.

Some flowers and plants grow by the spring, whose names I don't know, with small purple flowers blooming in clusters.

"Take off your clothes and go for a soak," Xiaobai said, already starting to undo her clothes.

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around, his back to her.

Xiao Bai laughed: "What, still shy?"

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't answer, he just stood there.

Behind her came rustling sounds—the sound of clothes being taken off—followed by the sound of water. Xiaobai stepped into the spring and sighed softly, "So comfortable."

Jiang Xiaochuan stood for a while, then took off his clothes. He took them off slowly, folding them neatly one by one and placing them on the stone before stepping into the spring.

The water was hot, but not scalding, just right.

The spring water was smooth, like silk wrapping his body. He sat down, the water reaching his chest, and warmth surged from all directions, seeping into his skin and bones, bringing comfort.

Xiao Bai was on the opposite side, leaning against the stone wall, with her eyes closed and a faint blush on her face.

Amidst the rising steam, her long, jet-black hair, as black as ink, floated in the water, making her shoulders and neck appear even whiter. Beneath the surface, her body was partially visible, her curves undulating.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked away and gazed elsewhere.

There is an old tree by the spring, its roots gnarled and twisted, half submerged in the water and half on the bank. There is a bird's nest in the tree, and the chicks are chirping, waiting for their mother to feed them.

"Jiang Xiaochuan," Xiaobai called to him.

"Um."

"come over."

Jiang Xiaochuan remained motionless.

"Come here," Xiaobai said softly, her voice like a hook, "I'll scrub your back."

Jiang Xiaochuan remained motionless.

Xiao Bai stopped talking, and the sound of water was soft; she was coming over.

The water rippled and touched his skin; it was warm and smooth. She stopped behind him, placed her hand on his shoulder, and gently pressed it.

"Turn around," she said.

Jiang Xiaochuan hesitated for a moment, then turned around, his back to her.

Her hand landed on his back, warm with water. Her fingers were long and thin but strong, pressing against his shoulders and neck, kneading and pinching gently.

His back was tense, but he quickly relaxed under her touch.

"It's hard here," Xiaobai said, pressing her fingers against his shoulder blade. "Is it always tense?"

"Um."

"From cultivation?"

"Um."

Xiaobai stopped asking questions and focused on pressing the buttons.

Her technique was excellent, with just the right amount of pressure. Her massage made his bones feel weak. He closed his eyes and felt her hands moving over his back, from his shoulders to his waist, taking care of every part of his body.

After pressing for about fifteen minutes, Xiaobai stopped and said, "Turn around."

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around, the water rippled, and the two were close enough that he could see the fine water droplets on her face and the misty vapor in her eyes.

She looked at him, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling.

"I want one too," she said.

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned.

"You give me a massage." Xiaobai turned around, her back to him, "Tit for tat."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her smooth back. Water droplets slid down her shoulders and neck, down her spine, and into the water. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he raised his hand to place it on her shoulder.

She had narrow shoulders, but her body was well-proportioned, and her skin was smooth, like the finest silk. His hand was a little stiff as he gently pressed down on her.

"Push harder," Xiaobai said, "I'm not that delicate."

He pressed harder, pressing down on her shoulder.

She gave a soft "hmm," like a cat's meow, languidly. His hand trembled, and he loosened his grip.

"Don't stop," Xiaobai said, her voice tinged with laughter, "keep going."

Jiang Xiaochuan continued massaging, from her shoulders to her back and waist. Her back had smooth lines, and her waist was so slender it could be encircled with one hand.

He placed his hand on her waist, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin.

"Jiang Xiaochuan," she called him, her voice low, like a whisper.

"Um."

"Is your heart beating?"

Jiang Xiaochuan paused.

"Let me hear it," Xiaobai said, turning around to face him. The water rippled, and her body was partially visible underwater. She leaned closer, pressing her ear against his heart.

There, the Bloodthirsty Bead lay quietly, motionless.

Xiao Bai listened for a while, then looked up at him with a smile in her eyes: "I didn't jump."

Jiang Xiaochuan turned his face away.

"But you blushed," Xiaobai said, touching his cheek with her finger; it was hot.

Jiang Xiaochuan grabbed her wrist, trying to pull it away, but he didn't use any force. Her wrist was slender and smooth, like a fish in his palm.

The two looked at each other, their vision blurred by the misty steam.

Her eyes held a glimmer of water, a smile, and something else entirely—deep, unfathomable.

His eyes showed panic, struggle, and restraint.

"Xiao Bai," he said, his voice a little hoarse.

"Um?"

"Don't do that."

"Like what?" she asked, raising her other hand to his chest, her palm against his warm skin. "Like this?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's breath hitched.

"Still like this?" She leaned closer, her lips almost touching his, her breath warm and moist against his face.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her lips, so close to his own, red, moist, and slightly parted. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his hand tightened unconsciously, gripping her wrist until it ached.

But in the end, he let go, took a step back, and created some distance.

"Don't do that," he said again, his voice low but clear.

Xiao Bai looked at him for a long time, the smile in her eyes fading, but she wasn't annoyed.

She withdrew her hand, stepped back, leaned against the stone wall, and closed her eyes.

"Okay," she said calmly, "I'll do as you say."

The sound of splashing water was as she splashed water onto her shoulders and face. Water droplets dripped from her chin, slid down her neck, and disappeared into the water.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, looking at her.

The air was thick with moisture, and her face was blurred in the mist, yet beautiful.

The Bloodthirsty Bead in his chest remained silent and still.

But he felt as if something was gripping him there, tight and suffocating.

He turned around, left the spring, picked up the clothes from the stone, put them on with his back to her, and said, "I'm going for a walk."

"Hmm." Xiaobai didn't open her eyes.

He left, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Xiao Bai opened her eyes and looked at the water. The water rippled, reflecting the sky, the trees, and her own face.

She stared for a long time, then raised her hand and wiped her face, whether it was spring water or something else, she couldn't tell.

Jiang Xiaochuan walked in the mountains, aimlessly, just walking.

The forest is deep and the trees are dense. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled patterns. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, which rustle underfoot. Birds are chirping, their calls clear and crisp.

He walked along, his mind a jumble.

Xiao Bai's face drew closer, the smile in her eyes, the warmth of her lips, the touch of her palm.

He raised his hand and pressed it to his chest. He knew his heart was already broken, and it was the Bloodthirsty Bead that was holding it together.

But just now, when Xiaobai was listening to his chest, he clearly felt a tightness and a tightness there.

He stopped and leaned against a tree; the bark was rough and hurt his back.

He looked up at the sky, which was fragmented by the leaves of the trees, blue and broken.

He thought of Lu Xueqi.

I remember her cool, clear eyes, her focused concentration while practicing swordsmanship, the slight curve of her lips when she occasionally smiled, and I remember Qingyun Mountain…

I also thought of Biyao, of her flowing green dress, of the stubbornness in her eyes…

Now, there's another one, Xiaobai, a thousand-year-old fox demon who was locked in the Xuanhuo Altar for three hundred years. He saved her, and she followed him.

She can cook, sew, treat illnesses, amuse him, carry him back to his room when he's drunk, steal a kiss from him while he's asleep, and listen to his unbeating heart.

chaos.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath. The forest air was crisp and clear, carrying the scent of grass and earth. He slowly exhaled, opened his eyes, and looked at his hands.

These hands have wielded swords, killed people, and saved people.

He held Lu Xueqi's hand, hugged Biyao, and also hugged Xiaobai.

Her hands were stained with blood, water, dirt, and her tears.

He didn't know where to go, whose hand to hold, or whose to hug.