Faint starlight dotted Li Zijun's face, and droplets of water clung to the tendrils of hair on her forehead, trickling down to her collarbones.
The wet garnt clung to her body, making her exquisite figure almost seem bare. Her jade-like arms were slightly bent, displaying her graceful figure.
Her gentle hands gathered the soaked strands of hair behind her head. The waterlogged gown traced the contours of her perfect figure, leaving her a little embarrassed as she looked at Ji Nanjue.
The clothes she hadn't entirely removed clung to her soft body, faintly translucent against her skin. Her usually loose-fitting gown had concealed much, but now, one could finally glimpse her true form.
Ji Nanjue looked at her, visibly astonished. Then, she curled her lips, her voice teasing as she said:
"You and your ntor are cast from the sa mold, even when it cos to lying..."
"Forget it. If you want to call sister, then do so. 'Mistress' does sound rather old-fashioned."
Hidden beneath the water's surface, her jade-like legs stirred gently, sending ripples and a few droplets across the pool.
Then, with a gentle push of her jade-like arms, she stood up, completely bare. The water barely reached the tops of her thighs, revealing her slender, flat waist, devoid of any excess flesh.
"Take your clothes off. You can't bathe with them on, can you?"
This gown had been Li Zijun's sole companion on the road for who knows how long, though it bore no stains.
Li Zijun shyly removed her dress, placed it on the bank, and then quickly sat down in the pool, hiding herself completely in the water.
Ji Nanjue didn't laugh at her and sat down beside her at the pool's edge.
The air grew heavy; the monts before rain always felt especially stifling.
Her small hands gently scooped up so water, letting it fall as she suddenly asked:
"You've seen him only a few tis—are you that sure about your feelings?"
"It's normal for soone your age to long for soone, but you don't seem like an impulsive person."
"I'm very curious. Can you share what you're thinking?"
Pausing, realizing her question was indeed a bit tricky, Ji Nanjue added with a smile:
"Of course, it's okay if you don't want to say..."
As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Li Zijun.
"Thoughts?"
Li Zijun pursed her lips lightly. Without looking at Ji Nanjue, she murmured softly:
Gazing at the sowhat murky water, she pondered for a mont before saying softly:
"Does liking soone necessarily require a reason?"
"Isn't it that at a certain mont, because of sothing that deeply touches your heart, soone unknowingly cos to reside within it?"
"Perhaps it's just a glance, just a gesture."
Ji Nanjue was taken aback. She sensed a hint of lancholy in Li Zijun's voice. Though the tone was gentle, an undercurrent of restlessness seed to echo in its cadence.
Then she pulled Li Zijun tightly into her embrace, pressing her cheek against hers and asked:
"Love at first sight?"
Previously, I might have scoffed at such a notion—nothing more than a baseless fantasy. The idea that two people could commit their hearts after a single glance? That could only be driven by lust for beauty.
Yet now, my heart was gradually coming to accept the term. My life's path and Su Bei's always seed to rge unintentionally. That ti we returned from death's door together, the bond forged through shared hardship was naturally profound.
Perhaps his shadow had been imprinted on my heart even before that night; it was just that my long-sealed heart had never acknowledged it.
"That's one way to see it."
Li Zijun gave a bitter smile, realizing Ji Nanjue had misunderstood.
My feelings for Su Bei were far from the lighthearted description I'd just given. They were the culmination of nearly a century of understanding before I finally affird my heart's true intent.
"Sister Nan Ji, Zi Jun feels a bit cold..."
She hugged her arms lightly, batting her eyes as she looked at Ji Nanjue.
"Then let's head back."
"Sister... you stay here alone for a bit longer."
Ji Nanjue smiled gently at her, her heart sowhat conflicted.
After all, I am a woman. Even though I know Su Bei and I can never be together openly, I still feel a sense of repulsion towards any woman who might try to take even a sliver of his tenderness from .
What's more, this woman is his disciple... From any standpoint, emotional or logical, it feels utterly perverse.
A strange thought surfaced in my mind: his disciple, and my own master... with stuck in between?
What a complicated relationship... Three generations under one roof, is it?
It's all Su Dudu's fault.
There's no right or wrong in matters of the heart. If there's any fault, it lies entirely with that philandering scoundrel! If he hadn't gone around sowing seeds of affection and stirring up trouble, how could so many emotional debts have arisen?
—He's probably enjoying himself imnsely...
Li Zijun waved her hand in front of Ji Nanjue's face, bringing her back to her senses. Ji Nanjue chuckled, gently pinched Li Zijun's delicate nose, and said:
"You've worn that dress for too long. If you don't mind, you can wear this one of mine for now."
She gestured towards the white gauze dress on the bank.
Li Zijun blinked, then smiled sweetly at Ji Nanjue.
With a soft rustle of fabric, she donned the dress and headed towards the Daoist Temple.
Ji Nanjue watched Li Zijun's retreating figure and sighed softly.
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