"I lost again! Let's go again!"
Miss Xihongshi was furious, shuffling the cards while muttering curses.
Nan Jiangzi, who had been ignoring them, suddenly reached out and took the deck. "Stop playing."
Miss Xihongshi’s eyes reddened, and she lunged to snatch it back. "Give it back!"
Nan Jiangzi threw the cards away. They ignited in mid-air and were reduced to ashes in moments.
Everyone was stunned.
Nan Jiangzi scanned their faces expressionlessly. "The environment here affects people. Haven't you all noticed something is wrong with yourselves?"
In fact, only Miss Xihongshi had been acting strangely.
The rage in her eyes slowly dissipated, and she returned to her usual calm and collected demeanor. Recalling her frantic actions, she apologized, "I'm sorry, I affected everyone."
"It's alright," Ding Xiang took the blame. "It was my idea to play cards. It's all my fault."
The invisible resentment slowly faded, and things returned to normal.
Nan Jiangzi said calmly, "The environment here tends to make people paranoid and irritable. Everyone, don't be easily influenced."
Zhu Ling suggested, "Why don't we recite the Heart-Clearing Mantra? They say it can dispel distracting thoughts."
Nan Jiangzi nodded. "Alright."
The other two had no objections. Zhu Ling was glared at by the little one again.
She smiled, as serene as a living Buddha, and softly began, "The heart is clear like water, and clear water is the heart."
Nan Jiangzi followed, "The heart is clear like water, and clear water is the heart."
"Gentle breezes do not stir, ripples do not disturb."
The other three joined in, "Gentle breezes do not stir, ripples do not disturb."
"...True nature, true goodness, the Great Dao is attained."
Zhu Ling recited and opened her eyes to look. The other four had closed their eyes. The little one had been reluctant at first, but now he was quite devout.
Even though he was pieced together from resentment.
One world could be a coincidence, but a second one? He was still full of resentment and fragmented souls, which was rather unusual.
However, with the soul she brought merging into him, things should improve.
They hadn't recited for long before the sky grew darker. Nan Jiangzi suggested they go to sleep.
When it came to sleeping, deciding who slept where was another matter to consider.
Song Yan said, "I want to sleep on the side."
"Sleeping on the side isn't safe," Ding Xiang said, concerned for him. "I'll sleep on the side. Big brother, you sleep on the other side, and the three of you in the middle."
Nan Jiangzi had no objections. Miss Xihongshi, still upset by the day's events, didn't discuss it and went straight to sleep.
"I want to sleep by the side," Song Yan repeated, and then went to the side near the window, away from Zhu Ling who was standing in the middle.
Zhu Ling gave him a gentle smile, her face full of indulgence.
Song Yan was so angry he glared at her again.
"It's alright, let him sleep."
Ding Xiang was helpless. She felt Song Yan was being a bit unreasonable, but seeing his fair and soft appearance, she couldn't bring herself to speak harshly. She could only lie in the middle.
Zhu Ling also lay down with a smile.
The room fell completely silent and dark. Everyone felt an unprecedented fatigue and sleepiness, and soon fell into a deep slumber.
Only Zhu Ling opened her eyes, propping herself up to look at Song Yan, who was one bed away. Her gaze was fervent, filled with deep affection.
No matter what this world was like, she was happy to see this person.
Ding Xiang, along with her bedding, floated into the air. Zhu Ling shifted and silently swapped their positions.
Before long, an arm reached out, touching her. A while later, he rolled over, like a cat, resting his head in the hollow of her neck and nuzzling her gently.
Though it was only a short distance, Zhu Ling felt as if he had traversed time and death to reach her side.
She pulled him closer into her embrace. Feeling the warmth, he held her tightly, muttering a few words before sleeping even more soundly.
Zhu Ling chuckled softly.
Just as she was thinking of sleeping too, the person in her arms suddenly opened his eyes. At the same moment, the entire inn began to shake as if the mountains were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart.
Before they could react, they began to fall. Though the inn was only a few stories high, they fell for a long time. They were separated during the fall, except for Zhu Ling who held onto the person beside her.
"Bang!"
The two crashed onto the ground. It was pitch black all around, yet Zhu Ling clearly saw the little drama queen reveal a strange smile. He took out a candle and matches, and with a click, there was light.
"Brother Ding, are you alright..."
Before she could finish, she saw Zhu Ling's persistent, haunting face.
"Why is it you!"
Zhu Ling got up from the ground, smiling as she brushed the dust off her clothes. "It was me, I was holding onto you the whole time."
She wore an expression of "See how good I am to you." Song Yan was instantly furious, like an overinflated hamster. He glared at her and turned to leave.
He had only taken one step when a dark shadow flashed past them. Song Yan's lips curled into a smile. He turned and lunged forward, "A ghost!"
Zhu Ling held the person hanging onto her tighter, gently patting his back. "It's okay, don't be afraid, I'm here."
Song Yan was so angry his teeth ached.
Why was this person so unlike those others?
But being held and soothed by her, while hanging onto her, actually felt quite nice.
Where Zhu Ling couldn't see, Song Yan smiled again.
Since she wanted to cling to him, she should be given the chance.
Just don't scare herself to death!
Hmph!
He asked pitifully, "What do we do now?"