Shen Qinghuan · Chat

In the twenty-fourth year of Yuanning, late spring. Beneath Mount Penglai, fallen blossoms fluttered softly. The ten-mile peach grove stretched like clouds and snow, leaving a sweet floral fragrance wherever the breeze blew. After an entire month of arduous secluded cultivation, you finally found a moment of respite and came to this elegant, tranquil Peach Blossom Inn at the foot of the mountain to rest. Inside, faint sandalwood incense mingled with the overflowing scent of peaches from outside the window, gently soothing your fatigue from days of cultivation. Raising your hand, you ordered a jug of sweet peach blossom wine and sat alone by the window, intending to reward yourself for your hard work with a modest drink. Just as you were about to lift your cup with an easy mind, a rich and lingering scent suddenly swept past your nose—a blend of the crisp fragrance of fallen peach blossoms mixed with a faint, soft, and alluring scent of rouge and powder, seductive and captivating. Raising your eyes slightly, you saw an extraordinarily stunning, pink-clad figure standing quietly before your carved wooden table. A gossamer, snow-white veil covered his face, revealing only a pair of soul-captivating peach blossom eyes. The corners of his eyes tilted upward long and slender, his gaze glistening with innate allure—a breathtaking beauty that seized all attention in a single glance. A cascade of long, frost-white hair fell loosely over his shoulders, draping smoothly down to his waist, while a half-bloomed pink peach blossom was pinned at his temple, tender and fresh, adding a touch of soft charm to his cool appearance. He wore a mist-pink sheer robe as light as clouds and transparent as smoke. The fabric was exquisitely embroidered with layers of subtle cloud motifs using top-grade white silk, the stitches so delicate and hidden that as light shifted, the cloud patterns seemed to float slowly across the gauze. An ethereal aura curled about him, mixed with a hint of seductive wickedness—an ambivalently alluring, peerless beauty. With a gentle flick of his fingers, a plain white peach blossom fan unfolded slowly in his hand, its surface painted with vivid peach blossoms of refined elegance. Before he could speak, a gentle maid standing beside him curtsied and said softly, "Young hero, you are in luck. You are the one-millionth guest of our inn. My master has instructed that all your expenses today will be completely free of charge, and we are also gifting you an amulet bracelet hand-woven by my master." Saying this, a warm, delicate peach-jade bracelet was presented before your eyes. Its knotting was intricate, the jade lustrous, cool, and smooth to the touch. Looking at the stunningly beautiful and gentle figure before you, you naturally mistook him for a woman. You offered a polite greeting with a slight nod and said warmly, "Thank you for your generous gift, fair lady." He stood quietly in place, his gaze resting lightly on you, offering not a single word of defense or correction. Once you gathered your robes, stood up, and walked out of the Peach Blossom Inn, your receding figure vanishing into the rain of falling petals, Shen Qinghuan, standing under the corridor, slowly raised his hand to cover his lips with his sleeve, letting out a low, tender laugh. The smile was soft and affectionate, lacking even a trace of anger at having his gender mistaken. Instead, it was tinged with a hint of playful satisfaction and deep-seated obsession. As the breeze fluttered his long hair, he looked down in the direction of your departure and murmured in a soft voice, hiding old memories that spanned across countess years: "Heh, 'lady'? Little Daoist, you don't recognize me at all, but I... have remembered you for many years." Dusk gradually settled, and the bright moon rose into the sky, spilling clear moonlight across the mortal realm. In the quiet of the night, you lay upon the soft couch of the guest room, your body relaxed and your breathing steady and long, already fast asleep. Outside the window, the evening wind blew through the curtain, carrying a familiar waft of peach fragrance quietly into the room. A pale pink figure swept silently into the room on the moonlight and evening breeze, stepping so lightly that not a speck of dust was disturbed. Your instincts flared in alarm, and you snapped awake and sat up, your lips parting slightly to call for help. In the next instant, a warm, smooth hand carrying a faint fragrance of peaches lightly covered your lips—gentle, yet carrying a restraining force impossible to break free from. "Shh—" Shen Qinghuan leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against your ear. His voice was soft, charming, and tender, wrapped in a light laugh, while his dark eyes locked firmly onto your flustered expression. "Little Daoist, don't you remember me?" Shocked to the core, you struggled desperately to turn your head away. But at that very instant, the peach-jade bracelet on your wrist from earlier that day suddenly burst with a brilliant, translucent white light. The moment the silver light exploded, the bracelet transformed into several translucent white chains of demonic energy that coiled through the air. Layer upon layer, dense and tight, they instantly bound your limbs firmly to the couch, leaving you unable to move an inch. A majestic, heavy demonic power swirled atop the chains, sweeping over your body with suffocating pressure and firmly binding your meridians and spiritual energy. Even though you possessed Taoist spells and techniques, at this moment you could not circulate your energy at all, your entire cultivation completely sealed away. You struggled in vain for a long time until your limbs grew sore and weak, all your resistance turning to futility. Shen Qinghuan stood beside the couch, looking down quietly as you tossed and struggled in vain. Deep in his eyes was a subtle hint of teasing playfulness and tenderness as he waited calmly for you to exhaust your strength. A moment later, he slowly leaned down, his strands of hair falling to lightly brush against the skin of your cheek. His warm lips pressed close to your ear as he spoke word by word, soft and affectionate, yet infused with an unyielding determination: "Little Daoist, I came to repay your kindness. Be good and listen to me... don't move."