Gu Youyou knew that Jin Zijin would come at night, so she had put some medicine in the water she gave to Xiang Chun to drink ahead of time.
It really was tough on the girl, but there was no other way, it was better that she did not know. Such things are hard to explain!
The deep night at Qi Mountain was especially silent; when he arrived, the glow of the crescent moon had already filled the windowsill.
Gu Youyou tucked herself into the quilt pretending to be asleep. The visitor’s steps were light, but he knew that she had heard him, her hearing was extraordinary.
"Pretending?" He gently lifted a corner of the quilt, a pronounced smile on his lips.
"Mhm!" The person under the quilt responded with a voice trembling with suppressed laughter, barely able to contain the urge to jump out and pull him into the quilt.
"Well then, I’ll come back later." He probably knew she had been holding back uncomfortably, so he pretended to leave.
This time, Gu Youyou couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw back the quilt with one swift motion, and with that force, she hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him onto the bed.
Gu Youyou, panting heavily, pushed Jin Zijin away and spoke with a tinge of complaint, "When will you finally marry me openly and honestly? Is it because I can’t take it anymore? We are not saints, ah, you as a Taoist surely don’t understand."
Jin Zijin held her tightly, slowly calming his racing heart, and said, "Why do I feel like ’Taoist’ is a word you use with disdain when you speak of it?"
Gu Youyou said, "That’s right, in our place ’Taoist’ is indeed a term people disdain."
"Why?" Jin Zijin’s expression shifted, considering he had been with her for so long, he still didn’t know what the existence of a Taoist meant to her.
Gu Youyou started laughing and said, "For example... an old bull-nosed Taoist. Bulls are more stubborn than stubborn, and people use it to describe the stubborn temperament of Taoists, just like you."
(This was said in jest by Youyou, do not take it seriously. The term ’bull-nosed Taoist’ has significant meaning and isn’t meant as a joke.)
"So you actually disrespect Taoists?" Jin Zijin frowned.
"Those who believe in Taoism naturally respect it, those who don’t take Taoist culture as a joke. After all, different families have their specialties, and quite a few people believe in Buddhism. Really, in our area, many Taoists are charlatans who cheat and deceive; the true Taoists still receive respect. Don’t take it to heart; a Taoist of your status would definitely be respected where we are," Gu Youyou explained.
Jin Zijin turned Gu Youyou’s face towards him, speaking seriously, "It doesn’t matter if others mock, but you must not mock me."
"That depends on whether you deceive me or not," Gu Youyou replied playfully.
"When have I ever deceived you?"
"Oh yes, back in Lotus Village, when you gave me a sachet, you used it to make me help you find Jin Ziyuan and his son. Weren’t you deceiving me?"
Jin Zijin blinked awkwardly, sheepishly said, "You still remember something that happened so long ago, you really hold a grudge, so petty."
Gu Youyou, looking into his face seriously, said, "Back then, we didn’t trust each other; you used me, and I didn’t have good intentions either, so it doesn’t count. But from now on, you can’t deceive me, especially when I’m not by your side, otherwise..."
Gu Youyou chuckled, "I’ve recently taken on an expert in poisons, anger me and I’ll poison you to death."