As of today, Jiang Huai still doesn’t own a spirit boat.
Therefore, he had no choice but to return to the mountain with Chu Xianning via sword. The mountain was shrouded in mist, with light and shadow flickering. Chu Xianning and he did not ride the same spirit sword this time. The two of them arrived at Tian Xuan Sect at noon and returned to the courtyard.
Thinking that he could sleep in the same bed with his Master tonight, Jiang Huai’s heart began to pound again.
The deep autumn season had already shed the scorching heat of summer, and the courtyard was now cool and pleasant.
While Chu Xianning perused ancient books and scrolls, Jiang Huai leaned back on the lounge chair. He appeared idle, but in reality, he was browsing his System Backpack. He once had a mission that involved bullying Fufu and Wanwan. Now that the mission was considered indirectly completed, Jiang Huai had received a System Reward.
High-level Experience Scroll * 5, Yin-Yang Joy of Union Secret Method.
Jiang Huai planned to use the High-level Experience Scrolls when a suitable opportunity arose. If he used them now, Chu Xianning would notice his cultivation level inexplicably skyrocketing, and he would have to explain that his current cultivation could only be improved through dual cultivation. He felt that such an explanation would be somewhat complicated.
As for the Yin-Yang Joy of Union Secret Method, it surprised Jiang Huai slightly.
While dual cultivation secret methods were not uncommon in this world, the Yin-Yang Joy of Union Secret Method before him was clearly an exceptionally high-level technique. Upon mastering this method, the cultivation progress of both parties during dual cultivation would be twice as effective. If there was a significant disparity in talent between the two, this secret method could also be used to improve the other party’s roots and talent. Additionally, it could also be actively activated to enhance the pleasure of the dual cultivation process, ensuring that the woman with whom you have cultivated could never forget the sensation of dual cultivation with you.
For some reason, upon reading the last sentence, Jiang Huai felt that this secret method was somewhat sinister. Ha, with the Super Overlord Art at his disposal, it was best not to use it.
…
The wind blew and leaves fell in the courtyard. The spirit jade at Jiang Huai’s waist vibrated lightly. He picked it up, glanced at it, and brought it to his ear. It was a transmitted message from Xu Qing. She would arrive at Tian Xuan Sect tomorrow and was asking if it was convenient for Jiang Huai.
Jiang Huai agreed to pick her up at the foot of the mountain tomorrow morning.
He put down the transmission stone and looked at Chu Xianning, who was quietly reading in the courtyard. Sunlight fell on her dark hair, and her fingers were as white as if they were transparent. Today, she was wearing a fitted white dress, and her slender ankles were peeking out from beneath the skirt hem. Her white and tender little feet were hidden within the lace-up high heels, revealing her white and tender, crystal-clear toes.
Jiang Huai’s mind suddenly recalled being punished by Luo Qingyu and Luo Yueguan with their white and tender little feet last night. After a moment, he shook his head, clearing these thoughts from his mind, and then said, “A friend of mine will be visiting the sect tomorrow.”
“Who?”
“Xu Qing from Guanxue Sect. Um, I plan to arrange for her to stay with Wanwan first.”
Chu Xianning’s fingers turned the pages of the book, and she responded with a very soft “Mm.” Jiang Huai spoke softly, “Master has met her before.”
Chu Xianning looked up, gave him a calm glance, and said, “When you traveled to the Western Region, she had already visited Tian Xuan Sect and also came to Guanxue Mountain to visit me.”
Jiang Huai immediately scratched his head awkwardly. A moment later, he took out the jade box and looked into Chu Xianning’s eyes, saying softly, “Master, her father gave me this pill.”
“You eat it.”
“The Golden Scale Luo Water Pill is very effective for healing injuries, and my qi sea injury cannot be repaired by this pill.” Jiang Huai hesitated for a moment and then said softly, “This pill can greatly alleviate Master’s physical discomfort during rainy and snowy days. Even setting aside my relationship with Xu Qing, this pill… I saved Xu Qing’s life in a secret realm before I was well acquainted with her, so it’s worth the pill’s price. Him giving me this pill is considered settling a past favor.”
Jiang Huai could naturally guess why Chu Xianning was resistant, so he was patiently persuading her, but Chu Xianning’s eyes remained indifferent. “My injury is already very stable, I don’t need it.”
“It would be a waste to keep it, and I can’t return it to Senior Xu Ting. Master has always been reasonable. Won’t you obediently take the medicine?” Jiang Huai gazed into Chu Xianning’s eyes. Chu Xianning put down the scroll in her hand, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. After a moment, she said softly, “I know you have good intentions.”
“But I don’t want to eat it.” Chu Xianning’s voice was very quiet.
Chu Xianning could sometimes be stubborn.
Jiang Huai knew where Chu Xianning’s awkwardness lay, but he seemed to have no solution for it. All he knew was how to act shamelessly towards Chu Xianning, and nothing more. After a moment, he suddenly got up from the chair and lay down on the ground.
Chu Xianning glanced askance at him. “What are you doing?”
“If Master doesn’t take the medicine, I won’t get up.”
Chu Xianning gave him a faint look. “Get up.”
“I won’t!”
Chu Xianning was not angered by his helpless action but said softly, “I know my own condition. It’s just that I feel uncomfortable on rainy days, and my cultivation is no longer advancing. That’s all. I don’t pursue high cultivation, so I don’t care that much. Therefore, I don’t need this pill.”
“I know,” Jiang Huai looked into her eyes. “But I only know that this pill is good for Master.”
Chu Xianning stood up and walked to Jiang Huai’s side. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes looking down at him. “Is acting shamelessly the only trick you know?”
“Because Master doesn’t listen just by coaxing. When facing Master, I don’t know how to do anything else but act shamelessly.”
“Get up.”
“I won’t.”
Chu Xianning’s white and tender little foot lightly kicked his waist, her tone rising slightly. “Get up!”
“I won’t! Master, if you obediently take the medicine, I’ll get up.”
Facing Jiang Huai’s shamelessness, it seemed to have turned into a battle of patience. Chu Xianning gazed at him deeply. After a moment, her voice became even gentler. “I have no opinion about you and Xu Qing. Not taking this pill is not because I don’t want you to be close to Xu Qing. You don’t need to act shamelessly towards me like this.”
“Then what reason does Master have for not taking it?”
“I don’t want to,” Chu Xianning’s eyes looked elsewhere.
“Although this pill can’t completely heal Master’s old injury, it will at least prevent Master from feeling so sore on rainy days. Won’t Master obey me just once?”
“No.”
“Then I won’t get up.”
“If you don’t get up, then don’t get up.”
Chu Xianning brought a chair and sat down beside Jiang Huai. In Jiang Huai’s sight, she lifted her legs and, after a slight bend of her body, her lace-up high heels were neatly removed and placed to the side. Then, her white and tender little feet gently stepped onto his chest. She picked up the book and began to read again. “I’d like to see how long your shamelessness will last.”
Chu Xianning’s white and tender little feet were slightly cool. She began to read the book seriously, while Jiang Huai did not rush to disturb her. Instead, he pondered in his heart why Chu Xianning had suddenly become so stubborn again.
A woman’s heart is unfathomable, and there are times when Jiang Huai cannot guess her thoughts. However, since Chu Xianning did not want to eat it, she must have her reasons. What could those reasons be?
Did she not want to be indebted to Xu Qing? But Chu Xianning had just said it wasn’t because she didn’t want him to be close to Xu Qing, and Chu Xianning wouldn’t lie about such a matter. Then what was it? Was it because Pei Ning had brought this pill last time, implying marriage between him and Xu Qing, and she had already refused once, so she was saving face?
It shouldn’t be that either; Chu Xianning wouldn’t care so much about so-called dignity. Then what could it be?
At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard became particularly subtle. Jiang Huai lay quietly on the cool bluestone slab, while Chu Xianning sat serenely in the chair, her white and tender little feet resting on his chest as if she were using her only disciple as a soft cushion for her jade feet.
Hmm, before stepping on him, Master had even deliberately removed her high heels. Master feels sorry for me.
Time slowly passed in the courtyard. Jiang Huai inexplicably began to feel a little lazy and drowsy. He didn’t dislike Chu Xianning’s white and tender little feet stepping on him. Instead, he felt a strange sense of peace. He dozed off in a hazy daze. When he woke up, Chu Xianning was still flipping through the book, and the evening sunlight fell on her snow-white profile, clean and beautiful.
Jiang Huai suddenly began to doubt himself. Most of the time, people have well-intentioned kindness, thinking they are being good to others, without considering whether the other person needs it, and simply being moved by themselves. But whenever he thought of Chu Xianning feeling unwell on rainy days, her slightly pale face, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but feel heartache. Therefore, on many rainy days, if there was no particularly important matter, Jiang Huai would stay in the courtyard to accompany Chu Xianning.
Even if Chu Xianning just sat there quietly without speaking, he didn’t want to go anywhere else. He always thought that perhaps if there was someone accompanying her in the courtyard, Chu Xianning would feel a little better in her heart. When people are in pain, their hearts always become a little more fragile, and perhaps they become more afraid of loneliness than usual.
He and Chu Xianning had spent many, many rainy days together in the courtyard.
At this very moment, Jiang Huai seemed to have vaguely guessed a reason.
“You’re awake?” Chu Xianning closed the book and looked down at him.
“I’m awake.”
“Can you get up now?”
“I won’t.”
Chu Xianning slightly bent down and extended her hand towards him. “Get up, I’ll kiss you.”
“I won’t.”
“Get up, I’ll hold you tonight when we sleep.”
“I won’t.”
In the next second, her white and tender little foot lightly kicked his chest again. “Then you just lie there!”
“I’ll just lie here, I’ll just lie here.”
At this moment, Chu Xianning seemed to be truly a little angry. She lifted her slender white leg, and both her white and tender little feet stepped onto Jiang Huai’s cheeks. Her crystal-clear toes, like crystal grapes, pinched the soft flesh at the sides of his face and kneaded them resentfully for a while. But Jiang Huai still refused to get up. Chu Xianning was helpless, and her white and tender, delicate jade feet returned to his chest.
“Why aren’t you obedient?”
“Master isn’t obedient either, so why blame me for not being obedient?”
“I am your Master, you should obey me.”
“I won’t,” Jiang Huai looked into Chu Xianning’s eyes. “Once Master’s health improves, we can go for walks in the mountains on rainy days. The scenery in the mountains during rain is different from usual and has a unique charm.”
Chu Xianning’s eyes trembled lightly. Hearing Jiang Huai prattling on, “We can also go boating and fishing in the middle of the lake, watching raindrops dance. On snowy days, we can ride swords to see the snow scenery at the foot of the mountain and listen to the New Year’s Eve fireworks from the mortal world. I used to like rainy days very much. I always felt that the world was very peaceful on rainy days. But after knowing that Master feels unwell on rainy and snowy days, I’ve started to hate rainy days too.”
“Actually, I was a little anxious before, afraid that if Master’s health improved, she wouldn’t want me to accompany her on rainy days anymore. But compared to that, I still think it’s better for Master’s health to improve.”
Chu Xianning lowered her head, looked into his eyes, and stared for two or three seconds. She then turned her face away, but this time her voice was no longer so cold and indifferent. Instead, a hint of shyness emerged. “I never said… that I wanted you to accompany me. You’re the one who’s being clingy and not going out.”
“I’ll be clingy, I’ll be clingy, I’ll be clingy. Even after Master gets better, I’ll still be clingy. If Master drives me away, I’ll cling to Master’s thigh and refuse to let go. Hmph, I’ll make you so angry, so angry, Chu Xianning, for not listening to me.”
Chu Xianning looked into Jiang Huai’s eyes. Finally, all her coldness, sorrow, resentment, and unease melted away at this moment. She reached out to Jiang Huai and said softly, “Get up.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll listen to you. Hurry up and get up!” Chu Xianning’s voice became very soft and warm, making her cool tone sound exceptionally pleasant. Jiang Huai felt his bones turn to jelly.
Jiang Huai shyly glanced at Chu Xianning again. “Then do the things Master said just now still count?”
Chu Xianning tilted her head slightly, then smiled at him. “You get up first, and then I’ll tell you.”
