Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1520 - 944: The Listener Is Unconcerned

After hearing Aunt Wu’s words, a sense of unease washed over Baili An.

He hadn't even begun guiding the alluring fox demon towards the correct path, and already she had shifted her attention to a new target?

It wasn't jealousy he felt, but rather a bewilderment, considering how she had been completely fixated on him just the previous night, practically refusing to let go.

And now, merely stepping out to wash clothes, she was becoming intimate with someone else?

It made one question the significance of all the affection she had shown him in their recent encounters, especially her repeated acts of saving him.

Could it be that her prolonged proximity to him had failed to yield her desired outcome?

In desperate need of yang energy to sustain her body, she was compelled to seek gratification elsewhere?

While it was difficult to fathom such adaptability in the silly fox, considering her desperate demeanor throughout these past few days, it wasn't entirely impossible.

Fox demons were known to subsist on absorbing energy, much like the three-tailed demon fox Ting Yan.

Generally, fox demons possessed a lax sense of fidelity. Based on their recent interactions, Baili An hadn't sensed any strong attachment from the busty fox towards her own person.

Even if this attractive fox demon had found a new interest, it meant less entanglement for Baili An.

However, had she truly stooped to such a level of degradation?

Aunt Wu had mentioned that the old Taoist was not a respectable individual.

Numerous women in the village had fallen victim to his misconduct; he was a renowned lecher.

Baili An found it hard to reconcile this information; the captivating fox demon appeared discerning, selecting a partner for Dual Cultivation with considerable judgment.

If she could single him out and persistently pursue and entangle with him for an extended period, it seemed illogical for her to debase her standards with such an inferior choice.

Suppressing a flicker of disquiet, Baili An finally finished warming the porridge, anticipating Shu Ci’s return with the wooden basin.

The instant Shu Ci pushed open the courtyard’s wooden gate, the twilight had already receded, casting dim illumination upon the courtyard.

She set down the basin, cast a glance at the figure seated by the wooden table, furrowed her brow, offered no greeting to Baili An, and proceeded to light the candle.

A soft 'click' sound.

The lamp flared to life, bathing Baili An’s profile in a gentle golden luminescence, accentuating his handsome and refined features.

Upon closer inspection, his visage was indeed captivating, boasting exquisite brow arches, elegantly sculpted nasal contours, and eyes shimmering with a languid gleam.

Shu Ci, long accustomed to his appearance, found it even more striking now, especially when contrasted with the repulsive countenance of the old Taoist she had encountered earlier that day.

At that moment, Baili An was clad only in a loose inner robe, the collar slightly undone, revealing lines from his chin to his shoulder and neck that seemed as perfect as the characters depicted in Shu Ci’s romantic novels.

Her gaze couldn't help but drift lower, settling on his pale, slender neck, where she detected a faint trace of the Karma Barrier’s scent.

Shu Ci instinctively swallowed, gazing with longing, wishing she could bury her fox-like nose into Baili An’s neck.

Baili An’s brow furrowed as he averted her intense stare, maintaining a composed expression: "Why are you back so late?"

Perceiving his persistent reserve, Shu Ci experienced a pang of disappointment and melancholy. She straightened up and gestured towards the clothes basin:

"Didn’t I tell you? I went to wash your clothes, didn’t I?"

Washing clothes all afternoon?

Baili An suspected she was deliberately concealing something, but recalling Aunt Wu’s words, he feared it might be a misinterpretation.

He remained silent for a moment, lifting his eyes to observe her, poised to select his words for inquiry...

Suddenly, Baili An’s gaze fixated on the top of her head.

When she had departed, she wore a simple thorny hairpin fashioned from a twig; however, upon her brief absence to wash clothes, it had been replaced by a golden one...

In this impoverished countryside, even possessing a Luminous Pearl would scarcely suffice to acquire such finely crafted gold jewelry.

Coupled with the warning Aunt Wu had imparted earlier that day, piecing together the clues made the conclusion readily apparent.

Shu Ci remained oblivious to Baili An’s gaze gradually turning icy and somber; she merely noticed his fixed stare upon her hairpin.

Mistaking his attention for admiration, she tilted her head modestly, unconsciously mimicking the refined manners of courtesans from brothels:

"You’ve noticed my new hairpin? Do you like it? I used to think my simple hairpin made of weeds was sufficient, but now, compared to this glittering gold, this one is far superior. This is my first time wearing it; it feels a bit heavy, though."

Baili An, suppressing the restrained anger in his voice: "Where is your previous hairpin?"

From their very first encounter, Baili An had noticed her wearing that unadorned thorny hairpin, assuming it must hold particular significance.

And yet...

Shu Ci responded with unreserved confidence: "I discarded it a long time ago. I have a new one now, so why would I keep the old one?"

Her words were spoken casually, yet they struck him deeply.

It was common knowledge that foxes were creatures drawn to the novel and averse to the old; however, he had never anticipated encountering such brazen indifference, making her the first.

At first, Baili An had been pondering the old Taoist, feeling a lack of solid proof. Now, however, things appeared much clearer. What kind of cultivator would possess a woman's hairpin? Such an item clearly signaled an impure heart and malicious intent.

Baili An declared sternly, "Exchange the hairpin back tomorrow."

Shu Ci, accustomed to her rebellious nature, had been trying to placate him over the past few days, accommodating and tolerating his moods to appease him. Yet now, this ungrateful wretch dared to interfere in her affairs with such nonchalance?

Just as Shu Ci was about to lose her temper, Baili An shot her an angry glare and even articulated, "Did you hear me?!"