If only I were really a man…
...
The light from the pile of firewood inside the Daoist Temple was dim and hazy.
Su Bei gently wiped the two swords in the Sword Box, feeling the new flow of Qi moving through his body, and murmured to himself, "The sword needs nurturing."
He had mastered the Qingping Sword, but when it ca to the Missing Departure, he still had much to learn in terms of control.
The myriad thods and transformations in the world all stemd from a single principle: the pursuit of great longevity, the undying state sought by countless cultivators since ancient tis.
Only cultivators who achieved lesser longevity truly deserved the title of "Immortal," having taken their first step in "Achieving Dao." For a Sword Cultivator, it was essential for the sword to nurture the person, and the person to nurture the sword. While there wasn't an exaggerated concept like complete unity between person and sword, one had to at least cultivate their own Sword Spirit to reach the pinnacle of cultivation.
Their own Sword Spirit.
Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, his entire Dantian Knowledge Sea opening fully. His soul drifted out, rging with the surrounding heavens and earth, and it was then that he perceived himself sitting cross-legged.
His soul coiled around the Missing Departure for a mont before returning to his body.
Touching the sword again, he could feel it was a bit more intimate than just a mont before.
Seeing this, Su Bei nodded with satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, speared a piece of pork with it, and began roasting it over the fire. "The sword is well-nurtured."
Missing Departure: "..."
The flowers glead under a dim moon, shrouded in a light mist.
Footsteps approached softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, the familiar white gauze of a silhouette could vaguely be seen.
With no moon in the sky, everything around was sowhat dim.
A smile touched Su Bei's lips. Without looking, he swept the woman into his arms, holding her by the waist, and laughed as he said, "Ji Baoer, why have you co back alone?"
"Tell ! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"
"..."
As he spoke, his touch began to gradually ascend her form. Pressing down on her, he nuzzled her ear, his own body moving with the curves of hers.
Li Zijun's eyes were wide with shock, her mind blank, as Su Bei pulled her into his arms.
Feeling his skilled hands roaming over her body, she was montarily unable to think.
She had just bathed, her body still fragrant, and a romantic atmosphere enveloped the Daoist Temple.
Her cheeks gradually flushed, though it was unclear if it was due to her own embarrassing position or the wrist he held.
Su Bei frowned slightly, slowly starting to realize that sothing wasn't quite right. Clearly, Ji Baoer's figure here should have been more... developed, and she wouldn't have this air of inexperience. He could even sense the woman beneath him trembling.
"Master... Master."
Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock and, sowhat flustered, pushed against Su Bei, saying nervously, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun…"
"..."
Her voice carried a hint of grievance as she turned her body, looked away, and bit her lip.
Su Bei froze, then looked down, dumbfounded, at the woman before him.
What beastly thing had he done?
The atmosphere turned sowhat awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her head, but he feared the gesture would lead to a misunderstanding. His hand froze mid-air as he swallowed hard. "My disciple, I didn't know it was you..."
"You're wearing your master's wife's clothes, and the firelight is dim..."
Li Zijun mumbled a low response, her expression hidden in the dim light.
"Master… could you get off first?"
"..."
Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, then gently stood up. He touched his nose and, after a mont, said, "I truly didn't know…"
He then grabbed her snow-white wrist, intending to pull her up.
The flickering firelight cast shifting shadows across their faces, each lost in their own thoughts.
For so reason, as Su Bei gazed at Li Zijun's translucent, jade-like face, a sudden impulse rose within him, and his heart began to beat faster.
Compared to Nan Ji, his actions just now had been quite bold. Yet, the sensation Li Zijun gave him was vastly different.
However, her tenderness, coupled with a faint, almost imperceptible aloofness, stirred a strange feeling in Su Bei.
As if forgetting the prior awkwardness, Su Bei raised his hand again and tentatively slid two fingers across Li Zijun's face.
After a pause, he finally touched her cheek, smooth as jade.
Li Zijun's delicate body trembled slightly, her intelligent eyes bright as stars. She struggled a little, creating a small gap between them, but this ti she didn't react violently. Instead, she closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently caress her beautiful face with two fingers.
Warm and smooth, like fine jade.
Suddenly, Su Bei saw a pearl-like teardrop escape from the corner of Li Zijun's eye, sliding down her snow-white cheek.
The flickering firelight reflected two trails of tears.
Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's delicate chin. He tilted her face towards him, gazing at her exquisite features.
With two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
"As your master, I..." He trailed off.
Li Zijun's eyes t Su Bei's, her beautiful eyes welling with tears.
She didn't know why her tears fell. Was it because of his transgression? Or because their relationship was destined to bear no fruit?
Noticing the montary distraction in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know how she should react. With helplessness?
"Flowers in the mirror, the moon on the water."
Li Zijun gently raised her head, a smile curving her lips, hiding the last tear in the depths of her eyes. "Your disciple doesn't bla you, Master."
"Sister Nan Ji gave this dress. That's why Master mistook for her."
"..."
Su Bei gave her a sheepish smile, suppressing the terrible thoughts that had just risen in him.
Why were all his disciples so odd? Each of them felt as if they had shared long years with him, with an undercurrent of complex, unspoken emotions always present.
At that mont, the door opened.
Ji Nanjue, having changed into another outfit, walked in. She looked around with a curious expression.
Barefoot, she sat beside Su Bei, dabbing at the lingering droplets of water on her skin.
A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. He would usually rush to embrace her. Why was he so quiet today? What had happened between them while she was away? The atmosphere felt so strange.
"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Su Bei smiled at her, then embraced Ji Nanjue.
In Su Bei's embrace, Ji Nanjue sensed the turmoil of his complex emotions. She tilted her head and kissed the corner of his mouth.
She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the path ahead would be long and arduous. The world was unfeeling, and it would undoubtedly make their journey together exceptionally difficult. Yet, to enjoy this brief mont of peace brought her a profound sense of contentnt.
Gradually, her perspective shifted.
—Aim not for an eternity by one's side but cherish the mory of once having been together.
"It's nothing."
"It's late, ti to sleep..." Su Bei stroked her hair.
Ji Nanjue got up and took the distracted Li Zijun by the hand. Carefully observing the clothes Li Zijun wore, she nodded. "Zi Jun, these clothes suit you quite well…"
Li Zijun's face turned crimson.
Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said, feigning a cold tone, "As punishnt, you'll sleep outside tonight, and I'll cuddle with Zi Jun."
"Does that sound good, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.
Li Zijun was stunned for a mont. She looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her, and feeling sowhat conflicted, said, "That doesn't seem right… It looks like it's going to rain outside."
Su Bei knew Nan Ji was creating an out for him; she must have sensed the earlier awkwardness.
A warmth spread through his heart. He looked at Ji Nanjue and said, "I'll just go outside..."
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps suddenly ca from not far away.
The unexpected noise caused everyone to frown montarily, and Su Bei said with so confusion, "Who would be strolling around at this hour of the night?"
"..."
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