Chapter 444: Wanting To Cry

Chapter 444: Wanting To Cry

Healer woke up with a jolt. He blinked and tried to sit up, only for a throbbing headache to assault him. Wincing, he lowered himself back down, staring at the silken canopy overhead.

I remember the party. Talking. Rogue finally managed to get me to drink or did I just get drunk through the network? I remember, Gui Yutong and Bai Jingwen Bai Xue too Peak Lord and Sectgoer, Ying Lin she she left early, I think? Uh

What happened? I remember seeing faces. Smiling faces. Lights and fire, um the ice spirits Hui frowned, rubbing his face again. Uh

He turned. His own face appeared beside him, breathing slowly in sleep, eyes shut and expression peaceful.

Hui jolted, then snorted under his breath. Oh. Its just one of the clones. Peak Lord? Rogue, maybe?

Eh eh, uh thats a lot of skin oh, phew. His underrobes are still on, theyre just a bit loose.

Someone shifted against him. Hui turned. Bai Xue leaned her head against his shoulder, white hair spilling over her pale skin. An exquisitely thin underrobe draped her body, barely dense enough to obscure the finer details while leaving almost nothing to the imagination. She opened her eyes, sun glittering off her long white lashes, and smiled at him. Whispering, she murmured, Good morning.

Ah, uh, good morning, Hui whispered back. Quickly, he scanned the bodies sprawled around him, all in various states of undress. Clones, Gui Yutong, Bai Jingwen Bai Xue on his shoulder. A few of the cultivators he didnt recognize at all, except from faint flashes of their faces in unfamiliar robes the previous night. Hui sighed quietly. Thank goodness. Whatever happened, Ying Lin wasnt a part of it.

An image flashed through his head. Ying Lin laughed at him, carefully peeling Zhubi off from around his shoulders. Master, go on. Ill take care of little Zhubi, okay?

Ah. At least I was still sane enough for that much. Thank goodness.

Still whispering, he leaned down toward Bai Xue. Er what happened?

You dont remember? she asked, yawning a little.

Er no. I remember some but uh but theres a lot to remember! Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Bai Xue smirked at him. She snuggled closer. What do you think happened?

Hui swallowed. We we all did some vigorous exercise that warmed up our bodies and uh, got tired and took a nap?

Well, thats one way to summarize it, Bai Xue chuckled.

Hui sat up. Er, I should go, Elder Sister

Why the rush? Theres still time for another round, Bai Xue said, leaning against his lap now that his shoulder had been taken out of her reach.

Another round of vigorous exercise, Hui corrected her, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Whatever you want to call it, she allowed with a shrug.

Eh, youre going already? It took so much effort to get you unwound, the clone on the far side of him complained.

Ah. Rogue, then. Healer shook his head. I, er we shouldnt stick around. What if the other Elder Sisters have lovers? Wont they be angry?

Hmm thats a good point, Rogue said thoughtfully, coming to his senses.

Dont be in such a rush to go, Bai Xue said. She sat up slowly, the robe sliding down her shoulders to reveal more pale, silken skin. It caught just before it fell down entirely, barely sticking to her body.

Oh well, thats a good point, too, Rogue said, eyes locked on Bai Xue.

Hui rolled his eyes. Standing, he picked his way across the room, climbing over limbs and around bodies to reach the pile of mismatched multicolored robes at the room's edge. At least disguise yourself again, first. We took off the snakeskin technique at some point.

Ah? Oh! Right. It got in the way, Rogue muttered. He yanked his robes back up and followed Hui across the room, searching out his black robes.

This is why alcohol is the devil, Hui mumbled.

It does have a way of making one take off their clothes, Rogue agreed.

Rogue glanced back at the slowly-waking pile of people and snorted. Better than sticking around here for the awkward morning wakeup conversations.

Across the room, Gui Yutong started awake. She glanced around. Her eyes landed on Bai Jingwen, and she snuggled closer. As her eyes lazily tracked the room, she made eye contact with Healer. For a second, a strange guilty expression flashed through her eyes, and then she looked away, turning her head away from him.

Healer blinked, confused. Huh? But if anyone was with her, it was Sectgoer, and we were all wearing our actual face last night yes, a danger, but first off, no one here knew Xiao Hui, and second off, everyone was drunk. Still, my point remains she shouldnt be looking guiltily at me!

Did I do something? To Gui Yutong, though? I would have specifically avoided her! And I only remember Bai Xue last night

Healer shook his head. Maybe shes just embarrassed that we, er, were in the same pile together. Its awkward waking up to see acquaintances at the vigorous dual cultivation exercise event, right? Yes, yes. It must be the awkwardness of this scenario.

Bai Xue led them to a small room in the palace. A long mirror stood against the wall, and a low bench sat before the mirror. An array of cosmetics and brushes sat beneath the mirror, mens and womens brushes and hairpins mixed together. Bai Xue set them down on the bench next to one another and smiled, putting a hand at each of their chins.

Putting you next to one another like this you still have the same frame, the same bones. You look like brothers, Bai Xue said.

Healer and Rogue exchanged a look. Should we change that? Rogue asked.

Can we? Healer returned.

Theres nothing wrong with it. It isnt an uncommon frame, so dont worry. Bai Xue wandered to the mirror. She picked through her hairpins, setting aside a few with red gems for Rogue, and a handful with blue and white for Healer. Taking one of her brushes, she started on Healers hair.

Healer shifted uncomfortably. Er, Elder Sister, those hairpins are too nice for a small cultivator like me. Do you have any that are

Shh, let me work, Bai Xue whispered.

Rogue snickered. He shook his head at Healer. Bai Xue has her hands on our hair at last. She isnt going to compromise.

That one understands, Bai Xue said, pointing at Rogue with the butt of her brush.

Healer sighed. He shook his head and settled in. Actually, it does feel nice.

Ive never had someone brush my hair before. In my first life, it was way too short. I never even wanted someone to brush it. In this world well, were cultivators. Even if we did nothing, our hair would look great. Its no effort to keep it long, or keep it at all. If I had to wash this much hair in the style of my first world well, suffice to say, I wouldnt have long hair.

Bai Xue took her time, slowly brushing his hair from tips to roots. In the distance, the other cultivators flew off, vanishing into the distance. Hui sighed quietly as he watched them go. A lost opportunity. Ah well, not entirely. He memorized the faces of the other cultivators as they flew off, a devious smile on his face. I can always use this experience for blackmail!

Bai Xue moved on to brushing Rogues hair. Healer wandered around the room, playing with the ornaments and examining the mirror. The ice spirits came by, offering refreshing tonics and tidbits of spirit food. A few incense sticks worth of time passed by, and Bai Xue came up to Healer, firmly took him by the shoulders, and seated him again.

What? Healer asked.

She picked up the pins. Im not done yet. Stay still.

Rogue chuckled, laughing at Healers shocked face. Were her dolls right now. Calm down and give in to it.

Healer laughed. Ah, alright. Is this some kind of weird payback?

Not really. I enjoyed last night quite a bit. This is just me taking advantage of a rare opportunity, Bai Xue hummed, twisting Healers hair up and pinning it in place. Such a waste, wearing that ponytail every day.

Looking at Healer, Rogue giggled. You look great.

Healer shook his finger at Rogue. Dont laugh too hard. Youre up next.

Thunder rumbled suddenly out of the blue sky. Healer startled, squinting up at the sky. What on earth?

A flash of lightning blasted down right beside them, landing just outside the palace door. Stormy-faced, Gui Delun charged at Healer. At the sight of Bai Xue pinning his hair up, his face only grew darker. Without a word, he grabbed Healer by the collar and flew back into the sky.

Bai Xue blinked, a hairpin in one hand and a brush in the other. Huh?

Rogue whistled, watching Healer vanish. He saluted. You were one of the best of us, Healer.

Dragged helplessly after Gui Delun, Healer blinked. Senior, why? Snatching me out of Bai Xues grasp Ah, I thought I wanted to cry with Bai Xue taking forever with my hair, but now I really want to cry