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Ning Yingying thought very favorably of the peace between demonic and mortal realms, as a whole. Primarily because it meant A-Luo was home and happy, and even more so because it meant Shizun was home and happy as well. The fact that fewer innocents were dying at the hands of beasts was also a bonus, she supposed.
There were some downsides, though. Specifically one very annoying, very scantily clad downside that would not leave her alone.
“Sha Hualing,” Ning Yingying greeted curtly, doing her best unimpressed Shizun impression. Sha Hualing had looped one of her swatches of sheer red silk over a branch of the old plum tree just outside Ning Yingying’s quaint residence on Qing Jing and made a swing of it. How that scrap of fabric was strong enough to hold her, Ning Yingying couldn’t pretend to know. What she did know was that its absence left Sha Hualing even more naked than usual.
“Ying-er,” Sha Hualing crooned, her voice sweet and bright like bells on the breeze. Ning Yingying glared cooly back.
“This is a scholar’s peak,” she reminded Sha Hualing, not for the first time. “If you cannot behave—or dress—accordingly, perhaps you should return to the borderlands.”
“Maybe Ying-er should lend me her robe…” Sha Hualing cajoled, pointing one leg out as she swung, her dainty toes just barely brushing the front of Ning Yingying’s robes. Despite the many layers, Ning Yingying jolted at the touch, taking a quick step back to create some safe space between them, out of reach of Sha Hualing’s blatant impropriety.
“You—!” She demanded, reaching up to tug her robes more firmly tight over her chest, though they’d not been disturbed at all by Sha Hualing’s feather-light touch. “Get down from there! Get some clothes on!”
Sha Hualing laughed at her, a sound like the rushing of water in a stream. When she next swung out, she leapt and took the fabric swing with her in a rustle of scarlet silk. Sometimes Ning Yingying wondered if she wasn’t a fairy instead of a demon… But then she would inevitably open her mouth, and Ning Yingying would be absolved of any delusions.
Sha Hualing sidled close, wrapping herself artfully in the silk as if it did anything, really, to hide her bare skin from lecherous eyes. Ning Yingying could still see everything!
Not that she was looking lecherously, she just couldn’t help the fact that it was all on display.
Ning Yingying looked away.
“Ying-er,” Sha Hualing called, one claw-tipped finger tracing delicately under Ning Yingying’s jaw and drawing her chin up. “This Hua-jie came all this way to see Ying-er. Will she ignore this lowly jiejie?”
“Sha Hualing,” Ning Yingying demanded, face flushing, but Sha Hualing had succeeded in turning her face right towards hers and there was no avoiding eye contact at this distance. Or rather, this lack thereof.
Sha Hualing smiled, her teeth sharp and sparkling white, looking very much a deadly creature. Her lips were red and soft-looking, like she’d stained them with some vivid oil, and her eyes were lined with red to match. Her zidian was dark against her pale skin, the curling lines forming a crimson flower between her brows.
She’d only grown more vicious and conniving with age. And, to Ning Yingying’s endless chagrin, more beautiful as well.
“Get your claws off me,” Ning Yingying spat, but it lacked heat.
“Will Ying-er hold this jiejie instead?” Sha Hualing retorted swiftly, leaning closer. Their noses brushed and Ning Yingying felt herself go a little cross eyed.
Ning Yingying scowled. Then sent out her awareness to the reaches of her modest courtyard and a ways beyond. The home Shizun had given her when she’d reached adulthood was away from the dormitories and the other typically used facilities. If she reached far enough, she could hear young disciples training their sword forms in the fields or practicing guqin in the music pavilion. But there was no one near her quiet part of the mountain.
With a defeated sigh, Ning Yingying straightened and brushed off her robes. She saw Sha Hualing’s eyes light up.
Then, in a fraction of a second, Ning Yingying had Sha Hualing’s wrists firmly held in one hand, and Sha Hualing’s own red silk to wrap them tightly together. Sha Hualing’s smile was wicked and pleased, even as Ning Yingying sent her an unimpressed look.
“Sha Hualing can never behave herself for even a shichen,” Ning Yingying scolded, testing the strength of the knot she’d made and then using the leftover length of silk to lead Sha Hualing inside. She should be going to the library to begin her research for the day. But that would have to be postponed, it seemed. “Causing a scene, baring her claws. What good are these for, hmm?” She lifted Sha Hualing’s hands and gave them a little shake, rattling the chiming bracelets on her wrists. Her claws were painted a smooth, sheer red, long on each finger. Ning Yingying, on the other hand, kept the three middle fingers on her left hand filed short and smooth. Because what good were long, painted nails, but for show?
“Hua-jie doesn’t need to use those with Ying-er,” Sha Hualing crooned happily. “Ying-er is too good to this jiejie.”
“Far too good,” Ning Yingying muttered, nudging Sha Hualing firmly onto her own bed.
The sun was high by the time Ning Yingying finally tied her robes back on and redid her hair. Her lips were swollen and pink. Her fingertips were… decidedly prunish. Sha Hualing was a satisfied puddle on her bed, purring contentedly between her sheets.
Ning Yingying sighed. The peace between the realms was fine and good, but it was hard work keeping it up. Heavens only knew Sha Hualing alone was enough to wear Ning Yingying out. But if that was what it took to keep the peace… Well, Ning Yingying would do her part. For the good of all the realms. It was only fair.