Chapter 122

Qing Zhouxue pushed the door open quietly, but it still made a slight sound.

Yun Shuchen was combing her hair in front of the mirror. A strand of hair was still wrapped around her fingertip; she brought it forward and combed it down, her gaze lifting along with the movement and landing on Qing Zhouxue.

She put down the comb, leaned against the table, and asked softly, "How were these four years? Did you find peace of mind?"

"Closed-door cultivation progresses faster than usual," Qing Zhouxue replied promptly.

Yun Shuchen tilted her head to study her. Four years of ascetic cultivation seemed to have washed away the traces of the mundane world that had barely touched her brows and eyes.

She had probably devoted herself entirely to the Dao; her progress looked quite good.

Qing Zhouxue had indeed chosen her exit date well—it happened to fall on the same day as the decade's grand competition. Yun Shuchen had spent the whole day busy on the Main Peak, exhausted in both body and mind, and only wanted to sleep.

She had to suppress the messy thoughts of romance and desire; after finally waiting for Qing Zhouxue, she went to bed early to see the Duke of Zhou.

From Qing Zhouxue's perspective, her master had exchanged a few perfunctory words with her, then put out the lamp and went to sleep, seeming somewhat cold.

While half-asleep, Yun Shuchen felt a soft kiss on her lips, then several more. She let out a chuckle, her voice sounding like she was drunk: "So this is you coming to beg for medicine again... you jealous little jar."

Qing Zhouxue's mood today was somewhat complicated. She found that being close to her master could "cover up" that feeling.

Yun Shuchen had not been near a woman's embrace for four years and truly missed her, but she was indeed too sleepy to keep her eyes open. She couldn't refuse on one hand and wanted to sleep on the other—it was truly torturous.

In the end, she let herself be, half-asleep, and let her do as she pleased.

Ever since Yu Ying joined the sect, Qing Zhouxue felt somewhat constrained in her behavior.

She wasn't used to showing affection in front of others, so she hadn't held her master's hand in a long time.

Especially at night, to avoid facing the little girl's questions, she would always wait until Yu Ying was asleep before quietly slipping into Yun Shuchen's room.

Tonight, at midnight, Yun Shuchen heard some noise outside the door. She curled her lips slightly and, with a gesture of her finger through the air, sealed the door completely before Qing Zhouxue could open it.

The door was pushed, but it wouldn't budge. Then it was pushed again tentatively.

The girl outside seemed to be puzzled for a moment, then she looked around, noticed the window was still open, and, relying on her agile footwork, braced one hand on the window sill and slipped in quickly like a swallow.

Once she landed, she smoothed her clothes. The vase by the window wobbled, but she turned and steadied it with a quick finger.

From within the bed curtains came a soft laugh.

"In your own territory, yet you act like we're having a secret rendezvous." Yun Shuchen put down the book in her hand and sighed: "But it's fine, since Yu Ying is still young."

"I heard Senior Sister say the same thing back then. Ordinary people might find it somewhat improper. I was afraid she might ask you about it, making it hard for you to answer." Qing Zhouxue walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and removed her shoes and socks.

"Aren't you afraid?"

Yun Shuchen tilted her head and asked. Qing Zhouxue shook her head, perhaps thinking her master's reputation mattered more than her own.

"Actually, if this were proclaimed to the world," Yun Shuchen rubbed her head, "the criticism you'd face would be even greater. The Taichu Sect has a lenient and free atmosphere, but other places are not all like this."

The world always shows more tolerance to those in high positions. Anyone with a bit of discernment would gossip less about Yun Shuchen. At such times, the idle talk would likely be... Qing Zhouxue seducing her own master, defying ethics and committing an offense—spread a few streets further, and it would become even more unpleasant.

At this thought, Yun Shuchen's expression suddenly turned grim.

She stroked the hair behind Qing Zhouxue's ear, her fingertips sliding down to touch her cool skin.

This person, whether seen in the daylight or by moonlight, had such icy jade-like bones and pure cleanliness—no matter what, she didn't want her to be splashed with dirty water because of herself.

After purging Jialuo Palace, she very much wanted to take her to the Demon Realm to get married—that would be a proper wedding, with everything conducted according to the highest rites.

However, that place was thick with demonic energy, and this natural-born immortal before her would likely be unwilling to set foot there. Yun Shuchen looked at her, and for some reason, a trace of unspeakable bitterness welled up in her heart.

Those eyes turned toward her, gazing at Yun Shuchen, and then curved into a faint smile: "Since it's unavoidable, let people talk."

"But indeed, it's somewhat strange."

A head slowly rested on her shoulder. Qing Zhouxue leaned against her and whispered, "Being with the person I love is considered improper; yet in the mortal world, people who don't know each other before marriage—that's considered proper."

"If propriety and ethics cause so much pain, why should we observe them?"

"Propriety is naturally a good thing for rulers," Yun Shuchen said. "Unfortunately, most people don't count as such."

Her master's words were somewhat profound; Qing Zhouxue herself didn't have much experience with it. Her daily life was cultivation and sword practice, rarely descending the mountain. For twenty years, she had lived that way, with very little exposure to the world.

What she did now—cultivating the Dao and practicing the sword—she liked doing. Every day she surrounded Yun Shuchen, also because she liked her master. Being a natural talent for cultivation, having entered the immortal sect since childhood, without much worry, she couldn't understand the shackles and hardships of mortals. Judging solely by her own preferences was only natural.

Yun Shuchen couldn't help but rub her head again, "You... you're like someone who says 'let them eat cake.'" Yet in her heart, she sighed softly.

From childhood to now, this girl's actions were all driven by her own heart.

Yun Shuchen actually envied her.

When she struggled to survive in the Demon Realm, she never considered herself a demon and had yearned for immortals more than once. Qing Zhouxue was what she liked; she was also what she herself had once most wanted to become.

It was a pity that the world was unpredictable, and life could not be relived. Perhaps it was fate—she hadn't been able to fulfill her wish, but she had picked up such a disciple.

"...Master, have you had something on your mind since returning from the Lingxu Sect?"

Qing Zhouxue looked at her and suddenly asked.

Yun Shuchen's hand paused slightly. Could she really see through her?

"No. What worries would I have?"

Qing Zhouxue leaned against her shoulder again, closed her eyes, and said in a faint voice: "Maybe it's intuition. But intuition has never been reliable. Still... that's good then. Master, if something is troubling you, don't keep it bottled up."

But her intuition had always been astonishingly accurate.

Yun Shuchen had previously marveled at her judgment in dangerous situations; today, she learned that her intuition was equally sharp in reading people's hearts.

Yun Shuchen didn't want to linger on this topic. She suddenly recalled a few days ago—the day of the decade's inner sect grand competition—when she had been tangled up by her and inexplicably kissed for half the night. That score was still unsettled.

"Since this is a secret rendezvous, do you think you'll have a peaceful dream?" She smiled faintly.

A peaceful dream?

Qing Zhouxue's neck was held, and soon something soft pressed against her lips. She closed her eyes, but found Yun Shuchen pressing against her again and pulling back an inch, causing the clothes on her shoulder to slip off.

Qing Zhouxue's heart raced, and she felt dizzy, as if she had drunk too much and would die drunk in her dream.

Looking at the graceful figure above her, she thought hazily: I am not King Xiang of Chu.

How then could I meet the goddess of Witch Mountain in a dream?

After that dream, the sky was bright with daylight.

Because Yu Ying also lived there, the two of them didn't make too much noise but were quite restrained. Yet with their mouths blocked, feelings leaked out elsewhere.

The junior sister had just woken up, standing at the door with sleepy eyes, when she saw Qing Zhouxue walking out from her master's room.

So Senior Sister was so diligent in her studies that she went to find the master at dawn.

No wonder she had been first place in the inner sect competition back then.

Yu Ying yawned and was about to go to their master as well. Qing Zhouxue passed by her, paused, and said, "She's resting now. If you need anything, you can come to me."

"Okay." Yu Ying was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "I wanted to ask what Master likes to eat, and what Senior Sister likes too. I'll cook for you."

"A Jin will handle it."

That white-robed figure drifted away, her long hair hanging at her waist like an ink waterfall, leaving only a faint silhouette. Her voice, as she spoke, was as cool and penetrating as when she had given her candy long ago, unforgettable.

Yu Ying remembered this figure for many years. She stood there watching for a long time, then looked away, but eventually turned and slipped into the kitchen.

Although lunch was still made by A Jin, unexpectedly, when the sunlight shifted to the afternoon, Qing Zhouxue received a small box of pastries, and a sweet fragrance instantly filled the air around her.

Naturally, she also received the girl's bright smile.

"Senior Sister, this is for you." She pointed to another box, "And this one is for Master."

"...Thank you."

"This box—could you give it to Master for me?"

"She's in the pavilion. Why not give it to her yourself?"

Yu Ying shook her head, bit her lip, and only after a moment said, "I think I'm a bit afraid of her."

"Mm." Qing Zhouxue frowned, "But she is a gentle person. Why should you fear her?"

Although Qing Zhouxue had an indescribable feeling in her heart about her master taking on a new disciple, Yu Ying's aptitude was so rare that it was very good for her master to take her as a disciple.

Her master's skill was exquisite; besides, she was the first to seek on this path. If she later ascended to the upper realm and had no successor, the five-element formation technique would regrettably face the danger of being lost.

Qing Zhouxue wasn't someone who pursued fame, but she inexplicably felt that her master's name should be remembered by many.

Since Yu Ying was her hope, then she naturally had to protect that hope.

Her gaze toward Yu Ying softened a bit, though her tone remained flat. "In a moment, I'll go with you."

Yu Ying was stunned for a moment, then stammered, "...Okay."

Although Qing Zhouxue said so and went with her, Yu Ying was indeed very reserved in front of Yun Shuchen, eager to hide behind Senior Sister Qing.

Yun Shuchen saw her reaction, merely nodded, didn't touch the pastries, said "That's thoughtful of you," and then dismissed Yu Ying.

"Am I that frightening?"

After Yu Ying left.

Yun Shuchen sighed: "Even someone like you, with that cold face, can talk to her. Why does she act like a mouse seeing a cat when she sees me?"

"Probably she's afraid of talking to elders," Qing Zhouxue shook her head. "I'm only her senior sister; that's naturally different."

A moment later.

She heard her disciple say with great righteousness: "The Great Dao is essentially solitary. There's no need for master and disciple to be overly close... Master, this might be normal."

Yun Shuchen tapped her fingertips lightly, as if suddenly enlightened: "Ah, yes. Tomorrow you move out of my room."

"..."