“What are you thinking, Sect Master?”
“What do you mean, Sect Master? I just have something good and I thought of you, Sect Master.”
“I’ve been avoiding grains for years. Keep it for yourself and try it when you get back.”
“The flesh of the Snow Spirit Fish is incredibly tender. If you don’t like it, Senior Qingluan does. I’ve saved it for you.”
Qingluan is Li Qiushan’s Dao Companion, but she usually stays in seclusion and is rarely seen. Li Qiushan cast him a sideways glance, “Why didn’t I see you around a few days ago?”
“I was feeling guilty, afraid the Sect Master would be angry when he saw me. But now that Wanwan has put your worried heart at ease, I finally have the courage to see you.”
“So you know shame after all.”
“Jiang Huai has failed the Sect Master’s cultivation for many years and has always felt guilty towards you.”
Seeing Jiang Huai’s sincere apology, Li Qiushan sighed helplessly, “You, though, are better than your master. At least you don’t act like him. You at least put on a show, making people feel a little better.”
“…” Jiang Huai’s eyes twitched slightly.
After all, Sect Master Li has lived for a thousand years. How could his small expressions escape Li Qiushan’s notice?
“Instead of feeling guilty here, why don’t you tell me about Wen Wanwan? I’ve never heard of a disciple with a Nascent Soul cultivation in our sect before. How did she suddenly appear without me noticing? I only found out a few days ago that she went to the Daoji Ancestral Land with you and had such an opportunity?”
“That’s a long story…”
Jiang Huai sat by the stone table and began to tell Li Qiushan about his encounters in the secret realm. He knew Li Qiushan’s temper well and understood that Li Qiushan just wanted to know more about Wen Wanwan, as the current Wen Wanwan represented the future of the sect.
Li Qiushan had been the Sect Master for many years, and the sect’s glory was intertwined with his. That’s why he was so anxious when Jiang Huai crippled his cultivation. Moreover, he and Jiang Huai had been friends for years, and Jiang Huai often came to chat with him and always pleased Senior Qingluan. Seeing him ruin his own future like this, Li Qiushan was heartbroken.
Jiang Huai recounted everything that happened in the Daoji Ancestral Land from his perspective. He omitted the details of his dual cultivation with Wen Wanwan, as that was a private matter between them and not to be shared with others. He told everything else in meticulous detail. Li Qiushan finally understood everything, “So… her cultivation is solid at early stage Nascent Soul, she has a Five-Pattern Heavenly Dao Spirit Elixir, and she has mastered the sword intent passed down by Purple Slaughter True Person?”
“Yes, yes.” Jiang Huai nodded.
“And you also obtained the Overlord Art inheritance?”
“I was in so much pain I was rolling on the ground.” Jiang Huai said with a wry smile. Li Qiushan reached out and squeezed his arm, asking, “Are you planning to participate in this Five Regions Grand Competition?”
“Of course. The sect is my home, and the sect’s honor is my honor. I’ll bring back a top three finish for you at least.”
“Alright, alright. Do what you can.” Li Qiushan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much lighter. Ever since Jiang Huai crippled his cultivation, he had been worried sick. Now, seeing Wen Wanwan stand up again and lead the younger generation of the sect, and with Jiang Huai having his own fortunate encounters, he felt much more at ease. He looked at Jiang Huai, “Go on, which pot of wine from my cellar have you got your eye on this time?”
Jiang Huai started rubbing his hands together, “I heard you have a jar of century-old Spring and Autumn wine, Sect Master?”
“You’ve got no shame at all!” Even someone as good-tempered as Li Qiushan found himself wanting to laugh and cry as he looked at Jiang Huai. “I haven’t even opened that pot of Spring and Autumn wine yet. I was planning to save it for the next century’s birthday banquet to entertain guests, and you’ve already set your sights on it?”
“What do you mean, Sect Master? I wouldn’t covet the whole jar…” Jiang Huai said guiltily, looking at Li Qiushan. “I just want a small pot…”
“Spring and Autumn is a spirit wine brewed from Spring and Autumn fruit. It’s extremely potent. You don’t have any spiritual energy now, so you might not be able to handle it.”
“We’ll only know if I can handle it after drinking it.” Jiang Huai looked at Li Qiushan with earnest eyes. Li Qiushan couldn’t help but glare at him, his white beard twitching. Then, he sighed softly, “Let’s go, follow me.”
Jiang Huai immediately followed Li Qiushan to his underground wine cellar. That jar of Spring and Autumn wine sat quietly there. As soon as the seal was broken, the entire cellar was filled with the aroma of wine. Just by smelling the faint fragrance, Jiang Huai already felt slightly tipsy.
Alcohol is a poison that causes dizziness, and this Spring and Autumn wine is an especially potent poison for cultivators. It’s one of the few spirit wines whose spiritual energy cannot be dissolved. It’s incredibly precious and priceless. The small pot Jiang Huai took was worth an immeasurable amount. He carefully tightened the lid, not letting a single drop of the wine’s aroma escape. After returning to the courtyard with Li Qiushan, Jiang Huai didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he asked Li Qiushan for paper and brush and began to draw.
“What are you drawing?”
“Some improvements on the details of the Heaven Profound Thirteen Swords. I’ve taught many junior brothers before, but it was too fragmented. Once I’m done drawing, Sect Master can refer to it. If the Sect Master deems it suitable, then pass on this revised sword manual for them to cultivate.”
Jiang Huai drew very seriously, meticulously commenting on each detail. He drew for a full hour. Li Qiushan stood beside him, watching him draw the details and discussing the changes in sword techniques with him. When Jiang Huai finished drawing the sword manual, he inadvertently turned to look at Li Qiushan. Li Qiushan looked at him deeply, his eyes filled with unspeakable regret.
“Why are you sighing, Sect Master?” Jiang Huai found himself wanting to laugh and cry.
“With your talent in the sword Dao, even Chu Xianning is not your equal. Yet you have to learn her stubbornness. Do you understand the principle that too much rigidity leads to breakage?”
“I understand, I understand.”
“The way you answered, I know you don’t understand.” Li Qiushan sighed again. “Never mind, everyone has their own path to walk. Perhaps it’s all fate, and no one can blame anyone.”
“I’ve got the wine. I’ll study this sword manual further. Should I put your name on it later? So that those disciples remember your kindness?”
“Just put Sect Master’s name on it. I don’t want to be envied or hated. Besides, this is something we discussed and revised together.” Jiang Huai said with a casual smile, then tentatively asked, “Then I’ll be going now?”
“Go ahead.”
Jiang Huai finally managed to escape.
In his hands, he held a pot of Spring and Autumn wine, a tube of Clear Bamboo wine, and two Snow Spirit Fish.
The delicacies and fine wine were all ready, waiting for the beauty’s sweet smile.
***
Jiang Huai returned to his courtyard and opened the door, but Chu Xianning was nowhere to be seen.
He went to the door of Chu Xianning’s room and called out, but received no response. Just as he turned to leave, he saw Chu Xianning walking from the direction of the backyard bathhouse. She was wearing a snow-white palace dress. The white of the palace dress and her slightly cold, pale and tender skin created a layered yet distinctly different effect.
The hem of the palace dress wasn’t very long, barely reaching her knees, or perhaps Chu Xianning was too tall. Her slender calves beneath the skirt hem, and her white and tender little feet stepped on the bluestone, yet remained spotless.
“I got two Snow Spirit Fish and a tube of Clear Bamboo wine from Real Master of Snow Spirit, and Sect Master also rewarded me with a pot of Spring and Autumn wine. Master…”
“You haven’t practiced your punches today.” Chu Xianning’s clear eyes looked at him.
“Then I’ll practice for an hour first?”
“Go ahead and practice. I’ll watch you. No slacking.” Chu Xianning walked to the pavilion and sat quietly, her clear eyes calmly gazing at Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai went to the locust tree and began to practice his punches diligently.
Practicing punches is an energy-consuming activity.
Jiang Huai dared not be distracted and practiced his punches with utmost seriousness. However, soon he was out of breath and too tired to muster any strength. He knew that this was not because his body had reached its limit. At this moment, if he could just endure this fatigue, his body would soon be able to push out a little more strength. But as soon as he started practicing, the energetic him from earlier was lying on the ground an hour later, panting and wanting nothing more than to fall asleep in a daze.
“Since you’re tired, let’s do it tomorrow?” Chu Xianning’s voice betrayed a hint of urgency. Jiang Huai immediately sat up from the ground and looked at Chu Xianning, whose eyes were darting around in the pavilion. “Where am I tired? Not at all. Just let me rest for a moment, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”
Chu Xianning looked into his eyes, and the words “I’m sleepy” never left her lips. She thought that she wasn’t like Luo Yueguan, who could seemingly disregard Jiang Huai’s expectant gaze once she spoke. However, a subtle tremor seemed to stir within her heart, wanting to know what… mischief this guy was up to again.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Huai stood up. “I’ll go bathe first.”
With that, he got up and went to the bathhouse. A short while later, he emerged wearing a brand new white robe and then went to the kitchen. He had already prepared the Snow Spirit Fish from earlier. This time, he still chose to steam it. Jiang Huai only cooked one, as Chu Xianning didn’t have a big appetite, and one Snow Spirit Fish was enough for both of them. He kept the other one in the pond for now, planning to give it to Wen Wanwan tomorrow.
The steamed Snow Spirit Fish was brought out by Jiang Huai on a white jade plate. Also served on the table were two small dishes of light appetizers. Chu Xianning sat on the long bench, her movements seeming a little restless.
Jiang Huai placed the tube of Clear Bamboo wine and the pot of Spring and Autumn wine on the table and winked at Chu Xianning, “Which pot shall we drink first?”
Chu Xianning hesitated for a moment and pointed to the Clear Bamboo wine. Jiang Huai opened it and carefully poured two cups, handing one to Chu Xianning. Then, he stared intently at Chu Xianning, as if suddenly remembering something.
He remembered Chu Xianning saying during the day that she would only feel a little weak after drinking, but she would still remember everything that happened. This meant that she also remembered the time he took advantage of her drunkenness to secretly kiss her delicate lips.
But of course, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to bring it up again. These things simmering beneath the surface could cause trouble if they came to the surface and embarrassed Chu Xianning.
The two, pretending to be oblivious, gazed at each other’s cheeks. Chu Xianning gave him a calm glance, hiding the unease in her eyes, and raised her wine cup. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about what Master is thinking about.”
“And have you figured it out?”
“No.”
“Then don’t think about it.” Chu Xianning raised her wine cup to her lips and took a sip. The legendary Clear Bamboo wine truly had a lingering fragrance. A faint, crisp sensation traveled from her tongue all the way down her throat, and into her lower abdomen, as if her body had been infused with a touch of bamboo fragrance.
Jiang Huai also raised his cup and took a sip.
In his heart, he was thinking that tonight was his challenge to not take advantage of Chu Xianning’s drunkenness to kiss her secretly.
In her heart, she was thinking that if the disobedient disciple came near her again like last time, would she hang him on a tree and whip him severely with a snake whip?
