Venerated Venomous Consort

Di Fuyi gently said, ”Overlord Long, it is fortunate for you to say it here today and not plan for some stupid tricks. Do you think that you could still be here with me and talk over drinks if you had other plans?”

Long Siye frowned at him, ”What do you mean?”

Di Fuyi beamed with pleasure, ”The night before last night, at approximately twenty past nine in the evening, you were performing the rituals in your own yard to call for Xijiu’s soul. There were five offerings on the table, the sequence was…” He continued to name and describe the shapes of the five offerings. ”You made three trials, but all efforts were in vain.”

Long Siye’s expression changed abruptly, ”How did you know…”

Di Fuyi did not seem to bother about him and continued, ”Last night at 11 o’clock at night, you visited Yun Qingluo to spy on her. You knocked her out with the use of Crisp Air Incense and searched her puppet bag. You found two puppets, three puppet spirits, twenty pieces of ritual paper…” He continued to name other things. They were exactly what Long Siye had found the other night.

Fixed, Long Siye remained frigid for a few moments, ”You spied on me! Di Fuyi, you never trusted me!”

”You do not trust me either, do you? Otherwise, why didn’t you come to remind me, when you realized something was odd about her and when you saw her moving into my courtyard? You started your clandestine investigation, didn’t you? Weren’t you worried that the ‘devil spirit’ that had possessed her might harm me while you carried on with your investigation? Perhaps deep down, you wished that the ‘devil spirit’ might help get rid of me, didn’t you?” Di Fuyi said calmly.

Long Siye was speechless. His fingers were slightly cold. Perhaps the thought was hidden deep down in his heart, somewhere he could not even properly comprehend.

A cold sweat broke out. Celestial Master Zuo’s thoughts and his ability to reason were unusually frightening. Long Siye was utterly impressed.

Di Fuyi leaned back, ”See, you do not actually trust me. What makes you think I should trust you?”

Although his hidden thoughts were well read by Di Fuyi, he refused to admit, ”You are overthinking! With your capability, even if she was really possessed by some evil spirit, what harm could it do? If a devil spirit was able to harm you so easily, you would not have lived to date!”

Di Fuyi smiled as he swirled his glass, ”You seem to know me well. Come, let’s toast!”

Long Siye did not say anything, but he proceeded to clink glasses with him.

When both of them were finished, Long Siye looked at Gu Xijiu and said, ”Xijiu, do you have anything to say to me?”

Gu Xijiu slightly raised the corners of her lips as she raised her glass, ”Teacher Long, I feel guilty towards you! Let’s have a toast!” Since she switched her body, she had been acting cool towards him, as she was afraid that she would give herself away. In order to honor the promise that she had made to Di Fuyi, she had to hide the truth from him and could not do anything even when she knew that he was struggling. On the contrary, Long Siye had secretly done so many things for her.

It was her fault for mistreating her friend.

Long Siye’s eyes lit up. ”Xijiu, there is no need for you to apologize to me, not now, not ever. I know you. There is a reason for everything you do. I will not ask and I will not doubt you,” said Long Siye, smilingly.

Gu Xijiu smiled, again. ”For what you have just said, we should have another toast!” Just when she was about to finish her glass, Di Fuyi raised his hand and halted her at the wrist, ”Xijiu, you are not really supposed to drink. Know when to stop.”

Gu Xijiu let out another smile, but not quite as delightful as before, ”Don’t worry, I know. This is not alcohol, it is just water,”

Di Fuyi said nothing further.

…

The moon was shimmering in the faint light, soft and not striking. Its light filled the entire house.

At the table, Gu Xijiu was revising the notes from Ziyun class.