Why do you always want to be my Taoist partner?

At the center of Jiang Li's eyebrows, the mark of a black phoenix began to flicker. Jiang Li vaguely remembered this mark. He had seen it on Zhu Taozhi's eyebrows last time. It was also the mark on Zhu Taozhi's eyebrows that helped him break the formation that sealed the relics of the Dark Moon Immortal.

"When you are in danger, just trigger this mark, and it will release the power of the Mahayana period to help you."

When Zhu Junhuang said this, her voice suddenly became weak. Jiang Li then realized that this mark was formed by a drop of blood squeezed out from her fingertips. Jiang Li didn't know what to say and responded softly.

Perhaps because her two daughters were in front of her, Zhu Junhuang couldn't act like a spoiled child, so she raised her head and said in a lazy woman's tone, "Would you like to help Aunt Zhu massage her legs again?"

Jiang Li sat next to Zhu Junhuang, and Zhu Junhuang lifted her long legs and placed them on Jiang Li's legs. Zhu Taozhi and Zhu Qiutang were still playing chess and didn't seem to notice anything strange. Only Jiang Li was feeling particularly uneasy.

His mind was a little confused, the more he thought about it, the more confused he became. If it were normal, he might have taken the time to carefully feel the softness and tenderness of her skin, but now he had no mood to do so. He always felt uneasy, and this uneasiness radiated from his bones.

It's been so many years, do you still feel uneasy about being loved?

Jiang Li smiled self-deprecatingly, and his fingertips unconsciously exerted a little more force. When he came to his senses, he realized that his hand was on Zhu Junhuang's leg. Zhu Junhuang gently warned him and gave him a reproachful look. Jiang Li hurriedly withdrew his hand.

"Okay, I'm going to go back and rest. I'll be leaving tomorrow, so you should spend more time with them."

Zhu Junhuang stood up and left the courtyard. Jiang Li came to Zhu Taozhi and Zhu Qiutang and asked with a smile, "Would you like to hear me play a piece of music for you?"

"If you play, I'll listen."

"So are you going to change into a dance dress?"

"Do you want to see me dance?" Zhu Taozhi came closer with a cunning look in her eyes.

Jiang Li pinched her face and said, "Yeah."

....................................

Time passed unknowingly and it was evening. The three of them gathered around the fire. It started snowing again. Zhu Qiutang was warming the wine while Jiang Li was playing chess with Zhu Taozhi. Zhu Qiutang could not beat Jiang Li in Go or Gobang, so she just started throwing dice and letting Jiang Li bet on the big or small. If he lost, he would have to agree to a reasonable condition from the other party.

In the past, Zhu Taozhi had never lost when playing this game, but her good luck has disappeared now. She and Jiang Li have had mixed wins and losses. She has lost her blouse and outer skirt, leaving her snow-white shoulders bare and wearing only a moon-white top. But Jiang Li is not much better off. The left side of his face now has "Zhu Taozhi" written on it, and the right side has "Little Stupid Dog" written on it, which roughly means, Zhu Taozhi's Little Stupid Dog.

Zhu Qiutang warmed the wine and came to Zhu Taozhi, gently pressed her shoulder with one hand, then raised the wine jug. The clear wine fell on Zhu Taozhi's clavicle and flowed down her skin. Zhu Taozhi looked at Zhu Qiutang with a reproachful look, and Zhu Qiutang's eyes were cunning.

"Why don't you pour it on yourself?"

"I'll help you take a bath later." Zhu Qiutang's voice was gentle, but Jiang Li in front of her was already eager to make a move. Zhu Taozhi's hands gently grasped the hem of her skirt and she let him do it, but she always felt like she was being bullied in her heart.

Jiang Li's eyes somehow fell on the frozen grapes on the table. He picked up the grape, and for some reason, Zhu Qiutang's cheeks suddenly turned red.

"The grapes are still frozen," she answered hastily.

"I didn't say what I was going to do." Jiang Li looked at Zhu Qiutang innocently, while Zhu Taozhi looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Zhu Qiutang answered guiltily.

"Then why are you blushing?" Zhu Taozhi moved closer to Zhu Qiutang and observed her eyebrows carefully.

Zhu Qiutang felt particularly uncomfortable being stared at like this, and she muttered reluctantly, "You'll know when he uses this grape to bully you."

"How can Grape bully others?" Zhu Taozhi's face was full of confusion.

Jiang Li ate grapes and smiled strangely.

Zhu Taozhi is young and inexperienced, but Zhu Qiutang prefers all kinds of strange and exciting ways of playing, which Jiang Li has figured out bit by bit over the past few days. Zhu Taozhi is a curious baby, and she always wants to try everything that Zhu Qiutang has tried, but in the end she can't bear it and her cheeks are burning with regret.

..........................................

Jiang Li fell asleep very late tonight.

Because he had to leave the next morning, they stayed up so late. The two sisters quarreled with each other and finally slept in each other's arms. Jiang Li leaned on the edge of the bed. He was not particularly sleepy, but just a little tired.

When it was midnight, the sound of rain could be heard outside the window, and Jiang Li sat up for a moment.

Because he sensed someone coming in.

Zhu Junhuang was still wearing the same luxurious dress she wore during the day. She looked at Jiang Li who had sat up and asked softly, "Are you waiting for me?"

"Yeah, I kept thinking Aunt Zhu would come, so I didn't sleep."

Jiang Li came to the table, but Zhu Junhuang sat down on the table before him. She reached out her hand and gently lifted Jiang Li's chin, and asked with a smile, "Are the grapes delicious?"

"..." Jiang Li couldn't answer this question. He seemed to have something he wanted to say to Zhu Junhuang, so Zhu Junhuang didn't interrupt him, but waited quietly. There was no light in the darkness, and Zhu Junhuang's eyes slightly reflected the light outside the window. Jiang Li was silent for a long time, and finally asked, "If I don't have the Black Phoenix bloodline, will Aunt Zhu still be in love with me?"

Zhu Junhuang was stunned for a moment, but she smiled again after a moment. She gently stroked Jiang Li's face, "But no matter what, you now have the blood of the Black Phoenix in your body. This is an established fact."

"So I ask, if I didn't have... would Aunt Zhu still be devoted to me?"

"Since you already know the answer in your heart, why bother asking?" Zhu Junhuang replied calmly.

For some reason, Jiang Li suddenly felt a little sad.

In fact, when he asked this question, he already had the answer in his heart, but for some reason, he still wanted to ask it again.

If he didn't have the Black Phoenix bloodline, Zhu Junhuang would treat him the same way she treats everyone else and would be completely dismissive of him. She would still be the arrogant and proud Zhu Junhuang, and not the coquettish, childish, sometimes sinister, enchanting and lovely woman.

Zhu Junhuang's fingertips lightly touched his face. This woman's body always had a faint warmth. Perhaps because she was the Black Phoenix, Jiang Li's face was a little confused. Zhu Junhuang's pink lips moved slightly and she spoke.

"Over the years, I have always appeared in the human form, and I have tried to understand your emotions, but I don't understand why you are so troubled by this matter."

"If I love you because of your blood, then why do other women love you? Because they find it fun to be with you, because they think you are beautiful, because they think you are good at swordsmanship, all because of your strengths. And the fact that you can obtain this blood is also your strength. Then why are they not panicked by your love for you, but you always try to push me away because of my love for you?"

Zhu Junhuang's voice was very gentle. At this moment, she no longer pretended to be childish or set a trap for Jiang Li. Instead, she spoke to Jiang Li sincerely and gently.

Chapter 234: Chapter Transformation

"Maybe it's because... I don't have to pay anything?" Jiang Li seemed to be responding to Zhu Junhuang's words, but also seemed to be responding to himself.

But Zhu Junhuang suddenly burst out laughing.

"Do you still remember what you looked like when I first met you?"

"I remember that when Aunt Zhu saw me that day, she also smiled very gently." Jiang Li replied softly.

"From the first time I saw you, I've been unable to control my emotions." Zhu Junhuang seemed to recall that day, and perhaps also recalled the ridiculous things she did later. She slightly brought her legs together, sat on the table, and unconsciously swung her calves.

"I know."

"I later found out that you knew it a long time ago, but you seemed to have kept it a secret." Zhu Junhuang suddenly laughed, "For my race, courtesy, righteousness, integrity and honor are things of the human race, and have nothing to do with my race. You and I are the last black phoenixes in the world, so when we meet, we should be together. This is what I have always believed. But over the years, I have always appeared in the world as a human, because I am the Queen of the Northern Territory, and I need to think about problems from the perspective of the human race, so I have gradually acquired some human habits."

"That day when you told me that you also had the blood of the Black Phoenix in your body, you said that you didn't want to stay in the Northern Territory and wanted to go back?"

"remember."

"At that time, I told you that as long as you were willing to stay, I would give you everything in the Northern Territory, but you rejected me. It was then that I really looked up to you. Later, no matter what I did, you were still indifferent to me, and only occasionally treated me a little better. It was because of this that I really wanted to be by your side."

"I have been the Queen of the Northern Territory for so long that sometimes I forget that I am the Black Phoenix and subconsciously think of myself as a human. When I meet another Black Phoenix, if you obey me at that time, you will be just the Black Phoenix to me and I will not have such great love for you. I will only regard you as a person to continue my offspring. If you are more flattering to me, I will hate you even more because you are still a lowly human in your bones, but you proudly rejected me. That's why I really regard you as a fellow human who can be loved."

"But do you know when I truly fell in love with you?" Zhu Junhuang raised her eyes and asked him.

Jiang Li shook his head.

"Maybe it was when you bullied Aunt Zhu, made Aunt Zhu hold the pillar, held the ruler between her legs, and then waved at Aunt Zhu." Zhu Junhuang bit her lips lightly, her voice trembling slightly, "At that time, I just felt my whole body burning, as if as long as you hit me, my head would be confused and I didn't want to think about anything anymore. I didn't want to think about whether I was the empress, the phoenix, or Zhu Junhuang. I just wanted to lie there obediently, waiting for you to punish me."

Perhaps it was because Zhu Junhuang's words were too straightforward, even Jiang Li's face, as thick as a city wall, could not bear it.

"No one has ever dared to do this to me. You are the first one." Zhu Junhuang raised her chin slightly. "But don't think that you can bully me casually after I say this. In my eyes, you are still a little guy."

"Is that right?"

"You can think of as many reasons as you want, why you love me and why you don't, no matter if it's because of blood, people, or relationships, but the fact is that I love you, and this love will never change, and sooner or later you will fall in love with me, because I'm beautiful, because I have a body that any man would like and can't refuse, because I'm the Queen of the Northern Territory, and I can make millions of people bleed into rivers when I'm angry, and because I'm the third level of the Supreme Saint, there's nothing in this world that I wouldn't dare to do for you, so what reason do you have to refuse me?"

"You're right, but I need to think about it again." Jiang Li took a step back vigilantly. Zhu Junhuang had just gotten closer and closer. He would be leaving at noon tomorrow. Who knew if Zhu Junhuang would do anything else before leaving?

"That day will come sooner or later. It's okay for you to take your time to think about it. Aunt Zhu can wait, but it's best... not to make me wait too long."

Zhu Junhuang's voice sounded very sad, but there was also a hint of threat in it.

Jiang Li responded, and Zhu Junhuang swung her slender feet again, then looked into Jiang Li's eyes, "Auntie Zhu wants to feed you grapes, too."

"I can't eat it!" Jiang Li took a step back and wanted to escape.

"But Aunt Zhu also wants to try it." Zhu Junhuang's face became pitiful again, but Jiang Li had a headache. Why was it that every time he did something particularly shameful, it was actually like a live broadcast being spied on by Zhu Junhuang?

"No." Jiang Li refused decisively.

"Aunt Zhu will be angry."

"It's gone, it's really gone." Jiang Li wanted to cry.

He glanced at Zhu Taozhi and Zhu Qiutang who were sleeping on the bed. He could chat with Zhu Junhuang because he knew that the two girls were extremely tired and would definitely not wake up. As for why the two girls were so tired... ?

Jiang Li only remembered that the three of them took a bath after dinner, but now it would not be long before daybreak.

"Auntie Zhu said last time, don't you want to try it?" Zhu Junhuang's voice was light, but her hands were grabbing the hem of her skirt and lifting it up a little bit. Jiang Li turned his face away, "No, don't."

"No?" Zhu Junhuang's tone rose a few degrees.

"Next time." Jiang Li replied hastily. Zhu Junhuang's eyes drooped slightly and she said "oh" reluctantly, but she still raised her head stubbornly, "You have to give Aunt Zhu a chance."

She stood up and walked in front of Jiang Li, putting one hand on his shoulder. Her high heels prevented her from standing on tiptoe. She leaned close to Jiang Li's ear and whispered softly, "I'll keep my legs together."

"W-what? I don't understand."

"You'll understand in a moment." Zhu Junhuang leaned in and kissed his lips.

....................................

Jiang Li and Zhu Junhuang sat by the bathtub, watching the sky gradually brighten.

The pantyhose that Zhu Junhuang was wearing when she came had been taken off, and her calves were soaked in the bathtub. The two of them had been sitting here for a long time. Zhu Junhuang was chatting with him in a low voice about everything that had happened in the Northern Territory over the years, and about the interesting things in her long memory. She talked on and on, and Jiang Li listened quietly, but gradually she became afraid that Jiang Li would find her annoying, so she stopped talking and leaned her head on Jiang Li's shoulder, as if she was ready to sleep for a while.

Jiang Li didn't move. Her body gradually fell down again, her cheek resting on his legs, and she slept soundly. Jiang Li patted her shoulders gently without saying anything.

Desire is love. Does it also count as love when she is sleeping peacefully in my arms at this moment?

Jiang Li thought about this question seriously until dawn. When Zhu Junhuang woke up, she looked at Jiang Li's face for several seconds and suddenly burst into tears.

Her tears fell so suddenly that Jiang Li was at a loss. He gently hugged Zhu Junhuang and asked, "What's wrong?"

"When I think about you leaving... my chest suddenly hurts..."

"It hurts..." Zhu Junhuang murmured. Jiang Li's hand gently patted her back. "We'll see each other again soon."

"Really?"

"real."

"Don't lie to me."

"How dare I?"

"You are sensible." Zhu Junhuang's tears barely stopped, but her eyelashes were still stained with tears. "But Aunt Zhu's chest still hurts."

"Then... let me massage it for you?" Jiang Li asked tentatively.

Zhu Junhuang didn't say anything, but her hand gently grasped the belt on her shoulder.

....................................

When Zhu Taozhi and Zhu Qiutang both woke up, Jiang Li was cooking dumplings.

He got up to make the dumplings, and Zhu Junhuang helped him in the kitchen. The four of them sat around the fire with a plate of dumplings on the table. Zhu Taozhi ate one and suddenly lost his appetite.

"You eat, I don't want to eat anymore." Zhu Taozhi's eyes turned red. Zhu Qiutang ate the dumplings quietly. She said softly, "We'll see each other again in two months. Parting is inevitable."

Zhu Taozhi looked at her, Zhu Qiutang's eyes were gentle, Jiang Li didn't know what to say, the atmosphere gradually became more and more silent, and after eating the dumplings, Zhu Junhuang stood up first, and finally looked at Jiang Li deeply, "Do you have anything else to say to them? I'll take you there after that."

Jiang Li came to Zhu Taozhi and Zhu Qiutang. He looked at the two girls' faces. He had actually thought of some words a long time ago, but now he felt that it was useless. He tried to smile, wiped the tears from Zhu Taozhi's cheeks, and then pinched her face. "We will meet at the Five Regions Competition in two months. It's only two months away. I will send you a letter in these two months."

He coaxed Zhu Taozhi with soft words for a long time. Zhu Taozhi finally hugged him and gently bit his shoulder. Then Jiang Li looked at Zhu Qiutang and said, "If you write me a few more words, I will bully you together with Taozhi next time we meet."

Zhu Qiutang's toes tensed slightly, "I'll write more."

"Give me a kiss." Jiang Li tapped Zhu Taozhi's lips lightly, then leaned in and tapped Zhu Qiutang's lips lightly. He always felt something was weird, and he seemed a little reluctant in his heart, but there were always some things he had to do.

He stood up, and Zhu Junhuang had already walked into the courtyard. Her body transformed into a black phoenix, and then she sent a message to Jiang Li's ears, "Let's go."

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment, then sat on the black phoenix. The black phoenix's body enlarged, and he sat on the back of the black phoenix as small as a puppy. Dabai had already jumped onto Jiang Li's shoulders and was licking his paws lazily.

"I'll take you to the northern border."

"it is good."

Zhu Junhuang carried him all the way to the border of the Northern Territory, but it took less than two incense sticks of time. Jiang Li didn't even have time to see the scenery along the way, and he and Dabai had already arrived at the intersection of Zhongzhou and the Northern Territory.

The Black Phoenix let out a loud cry in the air, full of sadness. Jiang Li gently stroked the Black Phoenix's head and whispered, "Bye."

The Black Phoenix eventually disappeared from Jiang Li's sight. Jiang Li turned around and walked a short distance before reaching the territory of Huo Luo City.

A man and a cat were walking through the forest. Dabai seemed to suddenly think of something and whispered in Jiang Li's ear, "Oh, by the way, after swallowing so much bad luck, this cat can transform."