Liu Qiu raised her weak hand and pressed it against Su Li’s face, speaking in a breathy whisper.
“Xiao Li, stop kissing me.”
Su Li took the opportunity to kiss her palm again.
“Wife, you’re just tired.”
Liu Qiu nodded honestly.
“Tired… I’m tired. Xiao Li, don’t… don’t do this anymore, okay?”
Her tear-dampened eyes stared at Su Li nervously.
Not only were her legs sore, her lower abdomen felt strangely numb as well.
Su Li pulled Liu Qiu’s hand and lifted her into her arms, then lay back down, guiding Liu Qiu to sit on top of her.
In a hoarse voice, she said, “Wife, just one last time.”
Liu Qiu pressed her lips together, the corners of her eyes red.
“Xiao Li…”
Su Li raised her hand toward Liu Qiu’s heart.
“Wife, I’m begging you. Just once more. Let’s finish together, okay?”
Liu Qiu lowered her gaze to the slender pale fingers resting against her soft flesh.
In the end, she nodded.
“Alright. One last time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she slowly turned around and bent down.
For some reason, her stamina tonight was unusually good.
Though exhausted, she felt she could still continue if she had to.
Su Li stared at the flushed, swollen skin before her, her fox eyes curving into a faint, alluring smile.
She liked this position.
Holding Liu Qiu closer, drawing her nearer to her face, Su Li blew out a soft breath.
Liu Qiu trembled all over and collapsed forward weakly, her face turned to the side.
“Xiao Li…”
“Don’t… mm.”
She shuddered uncontrollably.
Whether kissing or doing anything else, Su Li always moved with fierce insistence.
Utterly rough, completely unlike her shy, bashful demeanor in the daytime — as if she were two entirely different people.
The sweat on Liu Qiu’s body had cooled, clinging to her skin in a sticky chill.
She was truly exhausted now, her mouth dry and parched.
And Su Li’s tongue felt strange — faintly prickly, far rougher than an ordinary person’s.
Frowning slightly, Liu Qiu steadied herself and tilted her head to look at what she was doing, beginning to mimic Su Li’s earlier movements.
Why did Su Li seem unaffected when she did it?
Was it because Su Li was simply too skilled?
As she pondered, she continued moving, and before long her cheeks were damp.
The faint stimulation at her fingertips made her quicken her pace.
But before long, she truly could not withstand Su Li’s intensity anymore.
All her movements stopped, and she abruptly straightened, only to drop back down heavily.
Realizing what she had just done, Liu Qiu felt mortified and hurriedly tried to lift herself again — only for Su Li to press her back down.
Up and down.
Up and down.
Liu Qiu’s toes curled tightly as soft sobbing filled the entire room.
“Xiao Li, don’t… don’t do this.”
It was all that illustrated booklet’s fault for teaching innocent Su Li so much.
Su Li was enjoying herself immensely.
She almost wanted to revert to her true form and wrap Liu Qiu up in her large tail.
Each time, she drank everything clean, even licking dry the very source.
The liquid carried essence that enhanced cultivation.
And through her tongue and fingers, she could simultaneously channel demonic energy into Liu Qiu.
Liu Qiu whimpered incoherently, unable to form complete sentences, only able to endure.
Her unfocused eyes stared at the red bed curtains until an overwhelming sensation spread through her entire body.
Her lips parted slightly, saliva slipping from the corner of her mouth onto Su Li’s thigh.
Her eyes rolled upward uncontrollably.
Her whole body was drenched in sweat.
The night wind rushed in through the window, lifting the red curtains and briefly revealing Liu Qiu’s dazed face.
Crystal moisture still clung to her skin.
She looked utterly ruined.
And irresistibly alluring.
But it was only a fleeting glimpse.
The wind passed, and the red curtains fell again, concealing her face.
At the doorway, aside from blazing fury, another unfamiliar emotion stirred within Liu Huang.
From outside, she had seen every movement clearly.
That wretched Su Li was vile beyond measure, actually making the sickly one sit on her face.
Lifting and lowering her, again and again, toying with that tender, pristine place.
Even in her wildest dreams, Liu Huang had never imagined such a thing.
Her face twisted with hostility, like a demon crawling out of hell.
She wanted to rush in and snap Su Li’s neck.
That woman had done it deliberately.
She knew someone was outside.
She knew Liu Huang and her sister were there.
Was she provoking her because she had opposed the marriage?
“Let’s go. Stop watching.”
Liu Feng’s low voice sounded by her ear.
Cool and gentle, yet it did nothing to extinguish the murderous rage surging in Liu Huang’s chest.
Still, standing there any longer would only make her angrier.
Liu Huang turned to look at Liu Feng.
“We should never have let someone else handle this from the start.”
With that, she turned and strode away.
Only Liu Feng remained at the door.
Inside, candlelight flickered amid humid intimacy.
Outside, the night wind was cool and the air silent.
The red double-happiness characters covering the courtyard looked eerily bright in the darkness.
A miscalculation.
But it didn’t matter.
Liu Qiu would never be able to leave this family.
At dawn, mist drifted through the mountains, and crisp birdsong echoed across the forest.
Liu Qiu slowly awoke from deep sleep.
She looked to the empty space beside her and rubbed her eyes.
Where had Su Li gone?
Just as she wondered, the door opened from outside.
Su Li stepped in with a shy smile.
“Wife, come wash up.”
Still groggy, Liu Qiu got out of bed.
The contrast was startling.
At this moment, Su Li looked like an innocent, gentle girl next door.
No one would ever guess that she was completely different in bed.
After taking a few steps, Liu Qiu realized her body truly felt much better.
She wasn’t tired at all.
Could the so-called “joyous marriage to ward off illness” really work?
After they had finished last night, Su Li had fetched water to clean her.
Now she felt fresh and comfortable, as if she could eat three large bowls of rice.
She hadn’t eaten dinner last night, and after all that exertion, she was starving.
Once she finished washing, she asked, “Xiao Li, has Mother finished cooking?”
While tidying up, Su Li replied gently, “It’s ready. Wife must be hungry. Just wait in the room. I’ll bring it to you shortly.”
She looked every bit the virtuous and considerate wife.
Liu Qiu draped her outer robe over her shoulders and smiled lightly.
“No need. I’ll go out myself.”
Compared to that, Bai Lian and Liu Tie Niu would surely be delighted to see her looking so healthy and energetic.
She also asked the system to check her body’s data.
[Host, data analysis shows that all the organs in this body are improving.]
[If it looks completely fine, how will we complete the mission later?] the system complained gloomily.
Liu Qiu replied, [As long as Su Li and I remain married, I think I can complete the mission without dying.]
The system didn’t quite understand all these twists and turns, but given her success in the first world, it chose to trust her.
[Alright. Whatever you say, Host. I’m going back to playing games.]
In the main hall, everyone was already eating.
Liu Huang’s expression had been sour since yesterday.
Bai Lian placed some vegetables in her bowl.
“Third girl, why the long face so early in the morning? Don’t tell me you want to get married too.”
Liu Huang tightened her grip on her chopsticks but said nothing.
Bai Lian sighed helplessly.
“You’re already grown up. Stop sulking and eat. Later you can bring food to your Sister Qiu.”
At that, Liu Huang let out a cold laugh.
“Sister Qiu’s little wife will bring her food. Why would I, as her younger sister, intrude?”
Just then, a figure stepped in from outside.
“Mother. Father.”
Liu Qiu’s voice was soft but drew everyone’s attention.
Bai Lian looked over and gasped in surprise.
“Oh my, Qiu girl, look at you — there’s color in your face.”
She hurried over and examined her carefully, then beamed as she grasped Liu Qiu’s arm.
“Look at her! I’ve never seen Qiu girl this lively before.”
The Taoist had said the marriage would ward off illness, but who would’ve thought it would work this well?
Her condition had visibly improved overnight.
Unlike Bai Lian, Liu Huang’s gaze fell on Liu Qiu’s swollen red lips.
Who knew how long they had kissed?
Her lips were still vividly flushed.
The more she thought about it, the darker her mood became, like a storm brewing in her eyes.
Liu Qiu accidentally met her gaze and quickly looked away, smiling at Bai Lian.
“Mother, I really do feel much better.”
Bai Lian patted her hand, eyes brimming with tears as she smiled.
“As long as you’re better, that’s all that matters.”
“Come sit and eat. Oh right, where’s Li girl? I’ll call her.”
Just then, Su Li entered.
“Mother, I’m here.”
She was pale and slender, with a pointed chin and shy smile that made people’s hearts soften at a glance.
Bai Lian quickly ushered them to sit.
Looking at the whole table, she wiped her tears with her sleeve.
“May the Bodhisattva bless Qiu girl so her days remain like this.”
Liu Tie Niu patted her shoulder.
“They will. Our family’s life will only get better.”
Liu Feng watched quietly, a gentle smile at the corner of her lips, unreadable.
Meanwhile, Liu Huang’s fierce gaze fell squarely on Su Li.
Taking advantage of Liu Qiu not looking, Su Li shot Liu Huang a provocative smile, eyes brimming with smug satisfaction.
Of everyone at the table, perhaps only Liu Qiu, Bai Lian, and Liu Tie Niu were genuinely happy.
For days, Liu Qiu had eaten nothing but thin porridge and vegetables.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want meat — she would feel nauseated at the smell of it.
Now she could finally eat.
She didn’t eat three bowls this time, but she did finish two.
A good appetite was the beginning of recovery.
Bai Lian smiled from start to finish.
Two accomplished daughters, the eldest’s health improving, and a well-behaved girl like Su Li in the house — everything seemed to be heading in a good direction.
But the Bodhisattva did not seem to hear her prayers.
In the time it took to finish a meal, Liu Qiu’s condition suddenly plummeted.
She began coughing up blood in large mouthfuls, her frail body trembling like a broken branch.
Bai Lian screamed, overwhelmed by the swing from joy to despair, and fainted.
Liu Tie Niu caught her, his weathered dark face filled with sorrow.
“What—what’s wrong with Qiu girl?”
Liu Huang shot to her feet, strode over, shoved aside the stunned Su Li, and scooped Liu Qiu into her arms.
Liu Qiu clutched Liu Huang’s collar tightly, her face pale as paper.
She wasn’t in pain — only her head felt uncomfortable — but the blood wouldn’t stop flowing.
“Don’t… don’t push her.”
Her gaze fell on Su Li, filled with obvious concern.
Su Li was momentarily stunned.
Sitting on the ground, staring at the blood staining Liu Qiu’s body, she looked lost for the first time.
She had already begun repairing the human’s body last night.
This morning it had improved so much.
How could this happen so suddenly?
Liu Huang’s heart sank.
That healthy flush this morning hadn’t been recovery at all — it had been a final surge before collapse.
She had to fetch a doctor immediately.
Carrying Liu Qiu back to the bed, Liu Huang covered her with a quilt.
“I’m going to get a doctor. Hold on.”
She turned to leave, but her sleeve was tugged gently.
The pull was weak, yet enough to stop her.
Liu Huang turned back.
Blood stained Liu Qiu’s neck.
Her eyes were wet as she whispered, “No need to get a doctor.”
“I probably don’t have long left.”
She knew her own body.
She was already losing sensation, her heartbeat growing weaker.
Her vision blurred.
“Don’t talk nonsense, Sister Qiu. You’ll get better.”
The voice wasn’t Liu Huang’s — it was Liu Feng’s.
Liu Qiu stared blankly.
“In any case… you’ve all been hoping I’d die.”
“You’d be happy if I died.”
“I wouldn’t spend your money. I wouldn’t need your care. I wouldn’t take Mother and Father’s attention.”
Her voice grew fainter as blood filled her throat.
She didn’t know if they could understand her.
She hadn’t expected her body to deteriorate like this.
The system had said she was improving.
She had felt better too.
But whether she lived or died no longer mattered.
Perhaps death would even be simpler.
Her fingers loosened from Liu Huang’s sleeve and groped weakly to the side.
“X-Xiao Li…”
Su Li quickly grasped her thin wrist, crouching down and pressing that hand against her cheek.
The icy touch made her heart pound violently.
Through their contact, she began urgently channeling demonic energy into her.
Tears streamed uncontrollably from Liu Qiu’s eyes.
“Did… did you hurt yourself when you fell just now?”
She wasn’t trying to cry.
Her body was no longer under her control.
Liu Huang’s eyes were bloodshot.
“Wait here. I’m getting a doctor.”
With that, she rushed out.
All the anger she had felt last night vanished in the face of this scene.
How could such a thin body lose so much blood?
For the first time, Liu Huang found blood utterly terrifying.
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