If only I were really a man...
...
The pile of firewood within the Daoist Temple emitted a dim, somber glow.
Lightly caressing the two swords within the Sword Box, Su Bei felt a novel surge of energy coursing through his body and murmured to himself, "A sword needs nourishing."
The Qingping Sword had beco second nature to him, but he still had much to learn in mastering the Missing Departure.
All the myriad laws of the world stem from the sa source: since ancient tis, what countless cultivators sought was eternal life.
Only those cultivators who had achieved a lesser form of immortality truly deserved the title of "Immortal," having taken the initial steps in "Achieving Dao." For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. It's not about rging into one, as so exaggerated claims suggest. However, if one wishes to reach the ultimate end of cultivation, one must at least foster a Sword Spirit.
A Sword Spirit of their own.
Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, his Dantian Knowledge Sea opening completely. His soul seed to dissipate, rging with the heaven and earth around him. He could then see himself sitting in the lotus position.
His soul wrapped around Missing Departure for a mont before returning to his own body.
Touching the sword once more, he could feel it had beco a bit more intimate than just a mont ago.
Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction. He then picked up Longsword, skewered a piece of pork on it, and began roasting it over the fire. "The sword is well-nourished," he remarked.
Missing Departure: "..."
The Flower Bright Moon was obscured by a light mist.
Footsteps approached lightly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, he could vaguely distinguish the familiar silhouette veiled in white.
Without the moon in the sky, everything around seed dim.
A smile curved Su Bei's lips. Without looking, he swept the woman into his arms and laughed, "How did Ji Baoer return alone?"
"Tell ! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"
"..."
As he spoke, his hands were already gradually exploring upwards. Pressing down on her, he caressed her earlobes, his touch tracing the curves of her body.
Li Zijun's eyes widened in shock, her mind a blank slate as Su Bei pulled her towards him without resistance.
Feeling his hands moving with practiced ease over her body, she was montarily unable to think.
She had just bathed, and her body still carried a hint of fragrance, enveloping the Daoist Temple in an alluring atmosphere.
Her cheeks gradually reddened, though whether it was due to her own embarrassing movents or the wrist clasped in his firm grip, she couldn't say.
Su Bei frowned slightly, beginning to sense that sothing was amiss.
Clearly, Ji Baoer's figure should feel more... mature, without this touch of tender innocence. He could feel the woman beneath him trembling.
"Master... Master."
Li Zijun finally recovered from her shock, her small hands frantically pushing against Su Bei as she nervously said, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."
"..."
Her voice carried a hint of grievance as she turned her body away and bit her lip.
Su Bei was montarily stunned, leaning down to look at the woman before him, dumbfounded. What had he done that was no better than a beast?
The air was awkward. Su Bei wanted to console her by patting her head but hesitated, fearing further misunderstanding. His hand hovered in mid-air as he swallowed hard. "Disciple, your master had no idea it was you..."
"You were wearing your mistress's clothes, and the light from the fire was dim..."
Li Zijun looked down and gave a muffled response, her expression unseen.
"Master... could you please get off?"
"..."
Su Bei offered her an awkward smile, then gently rose. He touched his nose contemplatively before saying, "Your master truly had no idea..."
With that, he grasped her delicate wrist, intending to help her to her feet.
The fire's light flared and dimd, illuminating their preoccupied faces.
For so reason, looking at Li Zijun's clear, jade-like face, Su Bei felt an impulse rise within him, and his heart began to beat faster.
Compared to Nan Ji, his actions just now were admittedly bold, and the response he received from Li Zijun was markedly different.
However, her gentle yet slightly distant deanor stirred an odd feeling in Su Bei.
Seemingly forgetting the previous awkwardness, Su Bei still lifted his hand, stretching out two fingers to cautiously glide over Li Zijun's face. He hesitated, then finally allowed his fingers to touch her smooth, jade-like cheeks.
Li Zijun's delicate body quivered slightly, her intelligent eyes like twinkling stars. She made a small space for herself but didn't react violently this ti. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to tenderly caress her beautiful face with his two fingers.
Gentle and smooth like jade.
Suddenly, Su Bei saw pear-like teardrops slide down from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes, tracing a path along her snow-white cheeks.
The flickering light of the fire illuminated two trails of tears.
Su Bei's hand paused. He then gently slid it to Li Zijun's tender chin, lifting it to gaze upon her stunning face. With two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears and said softly, "I'm sorry. This master..."
Li Zijun's eyes, filled with tears, looked at Su Bei.
Why was she crying? Was it because of his affront? Or because there was no possible future between them?
Seeing the montary daze in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression to make.
Helplessness?
"Flowers in the mirror, moon in the water."
Li Zijun gently lifted her head, and then a faint smile appeared on her lips as she hid the last tear in her eyes. "Your disciple doesn't bla you, Master."
"The dress was a gift from Sister Nan Ji; that's why you mistook for soone else."
"..."
Su Bei gave her an embarrassed smile, suppressing the terrible thought that had just flashed in his mind.
Why were all his disciples so strange? Each one seed to share a long history with him, always leaving him with a sense of indescribable sentint.
Just then, the door opened.
Dressed in a new outfit, Ji Nanjue entered and surveyed everything before her with a peculiar expression.
She sat beside Su Bei, barefoot, and began wiping lingering water droplets from her skin.
A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. Usually, he would've leaped into her arms by now. Why was he so placid today? What had transpired between them during her absence? The atmosphere was so strange.
"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Su Bei smiled at her, then embraced Ji Nanjue. It seed that in Su Bei's arms, Ji Nanjue sensed a complexity of emotions. She tilted her head back and kissed Su Bei's lips gently.
She had thought of many things. She knew the road ahead would be long and arduous; a rciless world would always make their journey together extrely difficult. Yet, being able to enjoy this brief tranquility filled her with so asure of contentnt.
Her mindset began to shift slightly. —Not to ask for everlasting companionship, but to cherish having had it at all.
"It's nothing."
Su Bei caressed her hair. "It's late, ti to sleep..."
Ji Nanjue rose and took the distracted Li Zijun by the hand. Carefully inspecting the dress she was wearing, she nodded. "Zi Jun looks quite fitting in this dress..."
Li Zijun's face turned crimson.
Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said with feigned coldness, "As a punishnt, you'll sleep outside tonight, and I'll cuddle with Zi Jun."
"How does that sound, Zi Jun?"
She winked at Li Zijun.
Li Zijun was montarily taken aback. She looked up at Su Bei and then at Ji Nanjue beside her, feeling torn. "That's not very nice... it's going to rain outside."
Su Bei knew Nan Ji was trying to give him an out; she must have noticed the awkwardness earlier. Feeling touched, he looked at Ji Nanjue. "I'll go outside then..."
At that mont, they suddenly heard faint footsteps in the distance.
...
The sudden noise made everyone's brows furrow at once. Su Bei said with confusion, "Who could be walking around at this late hour?"
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