"If only I were really a man..."
...
The light from the pile of firewood in the Daoist Temple was dim and heavy.
Su Bei gently wiped the two swords inside the Sword Box, feeling the fresh energy circulating through his body, and muttered to himself, "The sword needs nurturing."
The Qingping Sword was already second nature to him, but he still had a long way to go in terms of commanding the Missing Departure.
All the myriad laws of the world follow the sa principle: what countless cultivators have sought since ancient tis is that grand immortality that spares one from death.
Only a cultivator who has achieved minor immortality truly deserves the title of "Immortal"; it is the first step towards "Achieving Dao." For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. Although there's nothing so exaggerated as a union of sword and person, if one wishes to reach the end of a cultivator's path, at the very least, one must foster a Sword Spirit.
A Sword Spirit of one's own.
Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, completely opening his Dantian Knowledge Sea. His soul diffused outwards, rging with the world around him, and he saw himself sitting cross-legged.
His soul wound around the Missing Departure for a mont before returning to itself.
Touching the sword again, he could feel it was a few degrees closer to him than before.
Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword. He skewered a piece of pork and roasted it over the fire.
"The sword's being nurtured nicely."
Missing Departure: "..."
Flower Bright Moon was shrouded in light mist.
Footsteps padded softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, a familiar wisp of white veil was faintly visible.
The sky was moonless, casting everything around in a dim light.
A smile curved Su Bei's lips. Without looking back, he swept the woman into his arms by the waist and said with a laugh, "Ji Baoer, why did you co back alone?"
"Speak! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"
"..."
As he spoke, the heat between them was already beginning to climb. Pressing down on her, his breath brushed her ear, his touch following the contours of her curves.
Li Zijun's eyes widened in shock, her mind a blank void, as Su Bei effortlessly pulled her closer. Feeling his skilled hands roaming over her body, she was montarily unable to think.
Having just bathed, her body still carried a fragrant scent, pervading the Daoist Temple with an amorous atmosphere. Her cheeks flushed rosy, though it was unclear whether it was due to the awkwardness of her own actions or because of his firm grip on her wrist.
Su Bei frowned, gradually beginning to notice that sothing was amiss. Surely, Ji Baoer's form would be fuller, and she wouldn't feel so inexperienced. He could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.
"Mas... Master."
Li Zijun finally regained her senses from the shock, her small hands frantically pushing against Su Bei as she stamred nervously, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."
"..."
Her words were tinged with a touch of grievance as she turned her head away, biting her lip.
Su Bei froze, then leaned down to stare blankly at the woman before him.
What kind of beastly thing had he just done?
The atmosphere turned awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her head but feared the gesture might be misunderstood. His hand froze in mid-air, and 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 reply, her head bowed, her expression unclear.
"Master... could you please get off first."
"..."
Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, then gently stood up. He touched his nose and, after a mont's thought, said, "I really didn't know..."
Saying so, he grasped her snow-white wrist, intending to pull her up.
The firelight flickered, illuminating the faces of the two, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
For so reason, as Su Bei looked at Li Zijun's lustrous, jade-like face, a surge of impulse rose within him, and his heart began to race. Compared to Nan Ji, the liberties he had just taken with Li Zijun had been considerable, yet the sensations she evoked in him were clearly very different.
That mixture of tenderness and a barely perceptible aloofness stirred a strange feeling in Su Bei.
Seemingly forgetting the previous awkwardness, Su Bei raised his hand again and tentatively slid two fingers across Li Zijun's cheek. After a brief pause, his fingers finally t the smoothness of her jade-like skin.
Li Zijun's delicate body shuddered slightly. Her eyes, clear as stars, showed a flicker of struggle, creating a small gap between them, but this ti she offered no vehent reaction. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to caress her beautiful face with his fingers.
As gentle and smooth as jade.
Suddenly, Su Bei saw pearlescent teardrops escape from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes, sliding down her snow-white cheeks. The flickering flas reflected two glistening trails of tears.
Su Bei's hand paused, then gently moved to Li Zijun's soft chin, tilting her face towards him. He gazed at her stunning features. With two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears and said softly, "I'm sorry."
"Master..."
Li Zijun looked at Su Bei, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. She herself didn't know why she was crying. Was it because of his offense? Or was it because their relationship was dood to be fruitless?
Upon seeing the montary daze in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression to wear.
Was it helplessness?
"Flowers in mirrors, moons in water." Li Zijun gently lifted her head, a faint smile playing on 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 the dress; that's why Master mistook for soone else."
"..."
Su Bei gave her a sheepish smile, suppressing the frightening thoughts that had just surged within him.
Why were all his disciples so strange?
Each one seed as if they had spent long years with him, carrying so inexplicable emotion.
Just then, the door opened.
Ji Nanjue, now dressed in a different outfit, walked in. She surveyed the scene before her with a curious expression. She sat down beside Su Bei, her feet bare, and began to wipe the lingering water droplets from herself.
A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. Normally, he would have pounced on by now. Why is he so composed today?
What happened between them while I was away?
The atmosphere is so weird.
"My husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Su Bei smiled at her and then pulled Ji Nanjue into his arms. In his embrace, Ji Nanjue seed to sense a complex array of emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of Su Bei's mouth.
She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the road ahead would be long and arduous; the world was rciless and would always make their journey together exceptionally difficult. Yet, being able to enjoy this mont of peace brought her deep satisfaction. Her mindset had gradually begun to shift.
—Seek not every dawn and dusk, but cherish what once was.
"It's nothing."
"It's late, we should sleep..." Su Bei stroked her hair.
Ji Nanjue stood up and took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand. She carefully examined the dress Li Zijun was wearing—her own dress—and nodded. "Zi Jun, this dress looks quite suitable on you..."
Li Zijun's face flushed 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's not good... It looks like it's going to rain outside."
Su Bei naturally knew that Nan Ji was giving him an out; she had likely sensed the earlier awkwardness. His heart ward at the thought, and he looked at Ji Nanjue. "I'll just sleep outside then..."
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps ca from nearby.
The unexpected noise made them all frown. Su Bei asked with so confusion, "Who could be walking around at this hour?"
"..."
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