"If only I were really a man..."
If only I were really a man...
...
The glow from the pile of firewood in the Daoist Temple was dim.
Su Bei gently wiped the two swords inside the Sword Box, feeling the fresh flow of energy coursing through his body, and murmured to himself,
"Swords need to be nurtured."
The Qingping Sword was already second nature to him, but his control over Missing Departure was still significantly lacking.
All myriad laws and changes in the world stemd from the sa origin. What countless cultivators had sought since ancient tis was still that great longevity which granted immortality.
Only those who attained minor longevity were truly worthy of the title "Immortal," having initially achieved the Dao. For a Sword Cultivator, the sword nurtured the person, and the person nurtured the sword. Although the concept of person and sword becoming one was not as exaggerated as so might claim, if one wished to reach the pinnacle of a cultivator's path, one had to, at the very least, cultivate a Sword Spirit.
A Sword Spirit of one's own.
Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, his Dantian Knowledge Sea fully open. His soul dispersed, rging with the surrounding heavens and earth, and then he saw himself sitting cross-legged.
His soul entwined around Missing Departure once before returning to his body.
Touching the sword again, he could feel a greater sense of intimacy with it than a mont before.
Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork on it, and began roasting it over the fire, remarking,
"The sword is well-nurtured."
Missing Departure: "..."
Flowers glowed under a dim moon, veiled in light mist.
Footsteps sounded softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, a familiar wisp of white gauze could be faintly discerned.
The sky was moonless, and everything around was sowhat dim.
A smile curved Su Bei's lips. Without looking, he swept the woman into his arms by the waist and laughed,
"Ji Baoer, why have you co back alone?"
"Tell ! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"
...
As he spoke... his advances had already begun to gradually escalate. Pressing down on her, his hand moved to her ear... following the curves of her body.
Li Zijun's eyes were wide, her mind a blank canvas, allowing Su Bei to pull her over just like that.
Feeling his large hands move skillfully over her body, she was montarily unable to think.
She had just bathed, her body still fragrant, and an intimate atmosphere enveloped the Daoist Temple.
Her face gradually turned rosy, though it was unclear whether it was due to the awkwardness of her position or because his hand was gripping her wrist.
Su Bei frowned slightly, also beginning to realize that sothing was amiss.
Surely, Ji Baoer's body should be more... mature, and not feel so inexperienced. He could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.
"M-Master."
Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock. Her small hands pushed sowhat frantically at Su Bei as she said nervously,
"I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."
...
Her words carried a hint of grievance. She turned her body to the side, averted her gaze, and bit her lip.
Su Bei froze for a mont, then leaned down to stare blankly at the woman before him.
What beastly thing have I just done?
The atmosphere turned sowhat awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by stroking her head, but feared the gesture would be misunderstood. His hand froze in mid-air, and he swallowed hard.
"Disciple, I... I had no idea it was you..."
"You're wearing your Master's wife's clothes, and the firelight is dim..."
Li Zijun lowered her head and mumbled a vague assent, her expression unreadable.
"Master... c-could you get off first?"
...
Su Bei smiled awkwardly at her, then gently rose. He touched his nose, thought for a mont, and then said,
"I truly didn't know..."
Saying this, he grasped her snow-white wrist, intending to pull her to her feet.
The flickering firelight danced on their faces, each lost in their own thoughts.
For so reason, looking at Li Zijun's translucent, jade-like face, Su Bei suddenly felt an urge rising within him, and his heart began to pound.
Compared to Nan Ji, my actions just now were certainly not insignificant. The feeling Li Zijun evoked in was clearly very different.
But that gentle yet subtly distant deanor evoked a strange sensation in Su Bei.
Seemingly forgetting the prior embarrassnt, Su Bei raised his hand again, extending two fingers and tentatively sliding them towards Li Zijun's face.
He paused for a mont, then finally touched her smooth, jade-like cheek.
Li Zijun's delicate body trembled slightly. Her intelligent eyes, like stars, showed a hint of struggle as she shifted to create a small space between them. This ti, however, she didn't react violently. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently stroke her beautiful face with his two fingers.
Warm and smooth as jade.
Suddenly, Su Bei saw pearl-like teardrops escape from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes, gliding down her snowy cheeks.
The flickering firelight reflected two glistening tear tracks.
Su Bei's hand stilled. He then gently slid it to Li Zijun's soft chin, tilting her face up to gaze at her exquisite features.
With two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears and said softly,
"I'm sorry."
"I..."
Li Zijun gazed at Su Bei, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.
She didn't know why she was crying.
Was it because of his transgression?
Or because there was destined to be no future between them?
Seeing the montary distraction in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression to wear.
Was it helplessness?
"Flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water."
Li Zijun tilted her head up slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips as she hid 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 soone else."
...
Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, suppressing the terrible thought that had just risen within him.
Why are all the disciples I've taken on so strange? Each one seems as if they've spent long years with , always giving the impression of so indescribable emotion between us.
Just then, the door opened.
Ji Nanjue, now in a different set of clothes, walked in. Her expression was peculiar as she surveyed the scene.
Barefoot, she sat down beside Su Bei and began to wipe the still-damp droplets of water from herself.
A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. Normally, he would have pounced on ; why is he so composed today? What happened between them while I was away? The atmosphere is so odd.
"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Su Bei smiled at her, then pulled Ji Nanjue into his embrace.
In Su Bei's arms, Ji Nanjue sensed a whirlwind of complex emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed him on the lips.
She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the road ahead was long and arduous, and the heartlessness of the world would often make their journey exceptionally difficult. Yet, this fleeting mont of tranquility filled her heart with a profound sense of contentnt.
Her mindset had gradually begun to shift.
Not seeking to be together always, but cherishing the mories of having been together.
"It's nothing."
"It's late; we should get so sleep..."
Su Bei caressed her hair.
Ji Nanjue stood up and took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand. She carefully examined her own dress on Li Zijun and nodded.
"Zi Jun, you look quite good in this dress..."
Li Zijun's face turned crimson.
Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said with feigned coldness,
"As punishnt, you'll sleep outside tonight. I'll sleep with Zi Jun."
"How about that, Zi Jun?"
She winked at Li Zijun.
Li Zijun paused, looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her, and said with so reluctance,
"That doesn't seem right... It looks like it's going to rain outside."
Su Bei knew Nan Ji was giving him a way out; Nan Ji must have noticed the earlier awkwardness.
A warmth spread through his heart. He looked at Ji Nanjue.
"I'll just go outside then..."
At that mont, the faint sound of footsteps ca from not too far away.
The sudden noise made their brows furrow. Su Bei asked in confusion,
"Who could be traveling at this hour of the night?"
...
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