For the next few hours, Gu Jin continued with her cultivation. Nearly 10 hours later, Gu Jin took a nap, took a shower, and exited the space. Then went to the training field.
As she was stretching, Yan i asked Gu Jin,
"Where is your Senior Long? Why hasn’t be shown up yet?"
Gu Jin rolled her eyes,
"Don’t. There is a saying ’Talk about the devil and the devil arrives’..."
Sure enough, as she began her stretches, Long Yifan approached with a grin so wide it practically sparkled under the morning sun.
"Good morning, Miss Gu Jin!" His voice was bright, almost too enthusiastic for this early hour.
"Morning, sir," she replied curtly, focusing on her stretches.
"I noticed you’ve been working very hard lately, so I prepared sothing to boost your energy!" Long Yifan declared.
Gu Jin glanced at him suspiciously. "What are you talking about?"
With a dramatic flourish, Long Yifan pulled out a neatly packed bento box.
The lid had an adorable design of a cartoon phoenix, and the contents were no less extravagant.
There were ticulously arranged rice balls, colorful vegetables shaped like flowers, and grilled at skewers that gave off a delicious aroma.
The students nearby imdiately started whispering.
"Is that for Gu Jin again?"
"He really goes all out, doesn’t he?"
"Doesn’t he get tired of being ignored?"
Gu Jin sighed and ignored Long Yifan. She continued to focus on the military training.
Long Yifan could only stay silent.
After the military training, Gu Jin went to take a shower and t Luo ng at the intersection of the dormitory.
Gu Jin wiped the sweat off her forehead as she finished her shower and changed into fresh clothes.
Stepping out of the dormitory, she bumped into Luo ng at the intersection.
"Master, perfect timing!" Luo ng said with a bright smile. "Didn’t you say we’d explore the market today? Let’s go!"
Gu Jin nodded, adjusting her sleeves. "Alright. But let’s not waste too much ti. I have other things to do."
Luo ng followed her eagerly as they strolled through the bustling university market.
The place was alive with students browsing stalls, vendors shouting about their goods and the occasional demonstration of magical tools or potions.
"Master, look at this!" Luo ng pointed to a snack stall. The vendor was selling colorful skewers of candied fruits that glistened under the sunlight. "Let get you so!"
"No need," Gu Jin said quickly, but Luo ng was already handing over a few coins to the vendor.
"Here, try it!" he said, offering her a skewer.
Gu Jin hesitated before taking it, her expression neutral. She took a small bite and nodded slightly. "It’s good."
Luo ng grinned. "See? I told you!"
As they continued walking, Luo ng’s enthusiasm didn’t wane.
He stopped at a pill vendor, examining the neatly stacked bottles filled with shimring pills.
"Master, these are energy-recovery pills. You’ve been training so hard; you should take so!"
Gu Jin shook her head. "I don’t need those."
"Co on, it’s for your own good," Luo ng insisted, already negotiating with the vendor.
Gu Jin sighed but didn’t argue further. By the ti they left the stall, Luo ng was holding a small bag filled with pills.
They turned a corner and entered a shop specializing in cultivation-enhancing artifacts.
The place was lined with shelves filled with glowing stones, amulets, and other mystical items.
As they stepped inside, the shopkeeper, a senior in his third year, looked up and imdiately recognized Gu Jin.
"Oh, it’s you again! Back for more artifacts?" he asked with a friendly smile.
Luo ng blinked in surprise and turned to Gu Jin. "Master, you’ve been here before?"
Gu Jin nodded, her expression calm. "I ca yesterday to buy sothing."
Luo ng’s eyes widened. "What did you buy? Do you still need anything else?"
"I needed cultivation-enhancing artifacts for an experint," Gu Jin explained. "I don’t need anything else now."
But Luo ng wasn’t convinced. "Master, you should get more! You’re working so hard on your cultivation, and these artifacts will definitely help."
Gu Jin frowned slightly. "I told you, I don’t need them anymore."
"Still, it’s better to have extras," Luo ng said, his voice full of determination. He turned to the shopkeeper.
"Show us your best artifacts for enhancing cultivation!"
The shopkeeper chuckled, pulling out a tray with several glowing stones.
"These are top-grade artifacts, very effective but also quite expensive."
Gu Jin sighed, crossing her arms. "Luo ng, I really don’t—"
"Master, please," Luo ng interrupted, giving her a pleading look.
"Let do this for you. It’s the least I can do."
Gu Jin glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "Fine. But just one."
Luo ng bead, imdiately picking out the best-looking stone. "We’ll take this one!"
The shopkeeper nodded, wrapping the artifact carefully. As they left the shop, Luo ng handed the stone to Gu Jin with a satisfied smile.
"Master, this will definitely help you!" he said cheerfully.
Gu Jin held the artifact, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Without any other word, she took the artifact and transferred money to Luo ng.
"Master, why did you give this money?" Luo ng was confused.
Gu Jin looked at Luo ng with a calm expression and said,
"I don’t like owing people anything. This is for the artifact you just bought."
"But Master, you don’t owe anything! I wanted to buy it for you!" Luo ng insisted, his cheerful tone now slightly forced.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "I already said, I don’t want to owe you."
"Master, you don’t have to treat like a stranger," Luo ng said, his smile still on his face, "I’m your disciple. It’s my duty to take care of you."
Gu Jin frowned slightly. "It’s not about that. Just keep the money."
Luo ng hesitated for a mont before reluctantly accepting the money.
"Fine, Master. If that’s what you want," he said softly. But as they continued walking, his gaze lingered on her for a second too long, his expression unreadable.
They passed by a jewelry stall, and Luo ng suddenly stopped.
"Master, look at this bracelet! It’s simple but elegant, just like you!"
Gu Jin shook her head. "I don’t need jewelry."
"But it would suit you perfectly," Luo ng said, his tone a little firr this ti. Without waiting for her reply, he asked the vendor for the price.
Gu Jin sighed. "Luo ng, I said I don’t need it."
Luo ng froze for a mont, his cheerful deanor cracking slightly.
"Master, I’m just trying to make you happy," he said, his voice quieter but tinged with sothing unspoken.
Gu Jin glanced at him, sensing the shift in his mood.
"I don’t need you to spend money on to make happy," she said firmly.
Luo ng’s smile returned, but there was a flicker of sothing dark in his eyes.
"Of course, Master. I understand."
As they continued strolling through the market, Luo ng stayed close—almost too close.
He made small comnts about everything around them, but his tone was a bit too eager to please as if he was trying to get her approval.
When Gu Jin finally stopped at a stall selling rare herbs, Luo ng hovered behind her, his gaze fixed on her every move.
"Master, do you want to carry that for you?" he asked, reaching for the small pouch of herbs she’d just purchased.
"No need," Gu Jin said, putting it in her own bag.
Luo ng hesitated, his hand still outstretched. Then, slowly, he pulled it back and gave a tight smile.
"Alright, Master."
As they walked back to the dormitory, the air between them felt heavier.
Luo ng still smiled and spoke cheerfully, but there was an underlying tension in his words and actions.
"Master, are you upset with ?" He finally asked when they reached the intersection.
Gu Jin stopped at the intersection, her calm gaze landing on Luo ng. "I’m not upset," she said evenly.
"Why do you ask?"
Luo ng shifted nervously, his smile faltering for a second.
"You’ve been quiet, Master. I just... I don’t want you to think I’ve done sothing wrong."
Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You didn’t do anything wrong, but you don’t need to be so concerned about every little thing I say or do. You’re my date, not my servant."
Luo ng’s expression twisted into sothing that almost looked hurt, but he quickly covered it with a laugh.
"Of course, Master! I’m just looking out for you. That’s all."
"Looking out for doesn’t an ignoring what I say," Gu Jin replied, her tone steady but firm.
"If I tell you not to do sothing, then don’t."
"Yes, Master," Luo ng said, nodding quickly.
But his hands fidgeted at his sides, and his smile seed more forced than before.
As they walked further, the silence between them grew.
Luo ng finally broke it again, his voice soft. "Master, you know... I just want to be soone you can rely on."
Reviews
All reviews (0)