“Can I tell others about this matter?” Jiang Huai asked softly.
“Do as you please. By the time we return from the Dragon Clan, they will likely be preparing to raise their war banners against the Human Clan. By then, it will be too late to tell anyone.”
Jiang Zhi looked at him playfully. “If you’re in a hurry to tell your Master, I suggest you don’t. It will only add to her worries without any benefit. What’s coming will come eventually. You might as well think about how to dissuade her from joining the war when the time comes.”
Jiang Huai’s mind became a jumble. His Master, a cultivator at the Eighth Realm, would have no reason not to draw her sword if the Dragon Clan truly went to war with the Human Clan. He understood that if that day came, he wouldn’t be able to persuade Chu Xianning.
Even he himself couldn’t escape with a clear conscience, watching the Dragon Clan slaughter his own people. He couldn’t bear to think about it; the more he did, the more his head ached. He withdrew his hand, which had been holding Jiang Zhi’s white and tender little feet, and said softly, “Then I’ll go out first?”
“Go ahead,” Jiang Zhi replied indifferently.
Jiang Huai left the room and went out onto the deck. The sea breeze was blowing, bringing a hint of coolness. The closer they got to the North Sea, the colder the climate became. Now, many icebergs and desolate islands could be seen in the distance.
Jiang Huai stood alone on the Spirit Boat’s deck, blowing in the sea breeze for a good while before finally arriving at Chu Xianning’s door and knocking lightly.
The door soon opened, drawn by spiritual energy. Chu Xianning was sitting by the table, holding a script. It seemed she had become increasingly fond of reading such leisure books lately. She looked up, and the moment she saw Jiang Huai, she paused slightly.
Jiang Huai thought she had used her Qi Gazing Technique to see him doing something bad again and was about to confess and explain. However, he saw Chu Xianning frown slightly and ask softly, “Is something bothering you?”
“Hm?” Jiang Huai blinked.
Chu Xianning put down the book she was holding and gently touched his brow with her fingertips, saying softly, “I rarely see you frown.”
Jiang Huai tried to relax his brows again. Looking at Chu Xianning before him, he shook his head, “No.”
“Liar,” Chu Xianning’s voice was cold and aloof, but very serious.
“It’s just a small worry, and I don’t know how to bring it up with Master,” Jiang Huai hesitated and then mumbled, “Can Master… hug me?”
Chu Xianning hesitated for a moment before standing up from her chair. Jiang Huai, however, was slightly taken aback. In the past, he always used various strange methods to trick Chu Xianning into kissing and hugging him, but now Chu Xianning didn’t suspect that his frown was just to trick her. Instead, she stood up so obediently.
Jiang Huai took a step forward and gently embraced Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning’s body seemed slender, but it was soft and warm when he held her. Jiang Huai leaned in a bit closer, resting his chin on her shoulder, and inhaled the faint fragrance from her body, his chaotic thoughts gradually calming down.
He loved hugs; they always made people feel inexplicably at ease. When you hug someone, inhaling their scent, feeling the touch of their body, it felt as if you could also hear their heartbeat and perceive their subtle emotions.
After a moment of hesitation, Chu Xianning slowly reached out and gently embraced Jiang Huai. Her white and tender, slender hands patted his back, as if comforting a child. She didn’t ask too much about why Jiang Huai was troubled, because she knew that if Jiang Huai wanted to talk, he would obediently speak for himself.
“I want to sleep for a while,” Jiang Huai said softly.
“Sleep then.”
Chu Xianning released her hold on him and went to the bedside. After a moment of hesitation, she removed the pillow and sat down at the head of the bed, leaning against the wall. She poked her finger under her snow-white and tender thigh beneath her white gauze skirt. Jiang Huai was slightly taken aback.
“Huh?”
A moment later, Chu Xianning tilted her head, her voice calm, “Don’t you always fantasize about this in your books?”
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but laugh and cry. He looked at Chu Xianning’s dark eyes. “So Master knew it was me all along…”
“Who told you not to keep those manuscripts properly?”
Jiang Huai slowly came to the bedside and, after a slight hesitation, rested his head on Chu Xianning’s snow-white, soft, long legs. Chu Xianning’s legs were stretched straight. After Jiang Huai lay down, she reached out. Her slightly cold and aloof, slender hand touched his cheek. Her movements were very light, as if caressing a small pet.
In the past, Jiang Huai would have been ecstatic. This was Chu Xianning’s fragrant and soft thigh, soft and oh-so-comfortable, and fragrant too. But his worries now made him sigh. Chu Xianning’s fingertips gently rubbed his brow, smoothing his slightly furrowed expression.
Jiang Huai closed his eyes, and the world gradually quieted down. Outside the deck, the clouds had been dark and heavy, as if rain might fall at any moment. In his mind, he repeatedly pondered: if the Dragon Clan truly went to war with the Human Clan, both Chu Xianning and Luo Yueguan, as cultivators of the Eighth Realm of the Human Clan, would find it extremely difficult to evade this responsibility. Besides, how could Chu Xianning stand idly by?
Faint thunder rumbled outside the window, and the storm was approaching. Jiang Huai pondered for a long time. If that day came, he would beg Luo Yueguan for Dual Cultivation, and then ask his Master to help him recover his cultivation level, to perfect the seventh level of the Overlord Art, and fight the Dragon Clan alongside Chu Xianning.
Thinking of this, Jiang Huai’s unsettled heart settled a little. Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared, but Chu Xianning was by his side. He gradually felt at ease, closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
***
When Jiang Huai woke up, the wind and rain had stopped, and a bright moon had risen over the sea.
Chu Xianning was reading a script by the dim light of the bedside lamp, her gaze serious. Hearing Jiang Huai’s voice, she put away the script and said softly, “You’re awake?”
“Yes.” Jiang Huai sat up abruptly from the bed, then looked into Chu Xianning’s eyes and mumbled, “I’ve been using it as a pillow for so long, I slept so soundly. How about… I give Master a massage?”
Chu Xianning reached out as if to hit Jiang Huai on the head. Jiang Huai instinctively covered his head, but Chu Xianning’s hand didn’t fall. She simply pinched his cheek lightly and said indifferently, “I’m going out for some fresh air.”
“I’m going too.” Jiang Huai got out of bed with Chu Xianning and followed her.
Jiang Zhi was nowhere to be seen on the deck at this moment. The wind blew Chu Xianning’s dress, and Jiang Huai came to her side, looking out at the moonlit sea with her. The lake surface was shimmering with ripples. Jiang Huai and Chu Xianning stood there, enjoying the evening breeze.
The world seemed to consist only of the sound of the waves, both noisy and quiet.
“Feeling better?” Chu Xianning suddenly turned her head and asked him softly.
“Yes, much better.” Jiang Huai quietly reached out, his fingertip lightly hooking Chu Xianning’s finger, and whispered, “As long as Master is by my side, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell Master in a couple of days,” Jiang Huai replied softly. Chu Xianning didn’t ask further, but Jiang Huai suddenly took a step closer. Chu Xianning was slightly taken aback and instinctively retreated a little. She raised her hand, her fingertip touching Jiang Huai’s lips. “What do you want to do now?”
“It’s been days since we last kissed.”
“It’s only been three days,” Chu Xianning’s eyes instantly showed a hint of resentment. But Jiang Huai looked at her with a wronged expression, “Three days already feels like a very, very, very long time.”
“No.” Chu Xianning turned her face away.
“My heart itches.”
“Then let it itch.”
“If I can’t kiss your lips, can I kiss your little feet later?”
“Shameless.”
“Heh heh.”
In the past, when Chu Xianning cursed him in a low voice, Jiang Huai would feel a little panicked and ashamed. Now, being cursed by Chu Xianning in a low voice felt more like listening to her acting spoiled.
He gently took Chu Xianning’s hand, leaned down, and lightly kissed the back of her hand. Then he looked up at Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning’s eyes were scolding, but Jiang Huai became even more shameless. “I don’t know why, but even though what Master said before might have made sense, that if we kissed every day, we would get tired of it. Yet, whenever I’m with Master, I can’t help but want to kiss and hug, as if I’ll never get tired of it.”
Chu Xianning turned her face away and looked at the sea. “You’re getting more and more presumptuous lately.”
But Jiang Huai had already moved behind Chu Xianning and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Chu Xianning’s body trembled slightly. Jiang Huai didn’t know why his courage had grown so much at this moment. Perhaps it was because he thought of the long period of unrest ahead. Many of his previous worries were now cast aside.
Chu Xianning’s waist was so soft. Jiang Huai leaned closer to her ear. “It’s Master who allows me to become more and more presumptuous.”
“I didn’t…”
But Chu Xianning’s tone could no longer be as cold and aloof as before. Even though her voice remained clear and cold, to Jiang Huai, it still sounded like she was acting spoiled. He leaned in a bit closer and lightly kissed her ear.
“You!” Chu Xianning seemed to finally show some shyness and annoyance. She raised her white and tender little foot and stomped hard on his instep. Jiang Huai quickly retaliated, tickling her waist.
Whether Chu Xianning was ticklish was a metaphysical question. If she was prepared, she wouldn’t be. But if it was without warning like this, she couldn’t help but giggle. She struggled in Jiang Huai’s arms, but he became even bolder and refused to let go. Chu Xianning’s body brushed against him for a while. Jiang Huai inhaled her fragrance and felt the soft and tender buttocks under her skirt shaking. The previously dormant Jiang Huai began to stir again.
Chu Xianning’s body stiffened slightly. She seemed to sense the heat against her buttocks and her voice became lower. “Aren’t you going to let go?”
Only then did Jiang Huai obediently release her. Chu Xianning turned her face away, not wanting Jiang Huai to see her flushed cheeks, and mumbled, “I’ve been too lenient with you lately… you’ve become increasingly brazen.”
“Then Master, punish me?”
“No laughing.”
“Okay.” Jiang Huai obediently put on a well-behaved expression. Chu Xianning looked back at him, her gaze cold, “When we get back to the room later… I’ll deal with you properly.”
Jiang Huai looked at her cold and aloof eyes but blinked innocently, muttering, “Master?”
“What?” Chu Xianning tilted her chin up slightly, trying to appear more confident.
“Your warning sounds like you’re acting spoiled.”
Almost instantly, Chu Xianning’s eyes filled with shame and annoyance. She almost angrily turned around and walked back into the room, her voice becoming very cold and aloof. “Back to the room!”
“Okay…”
Jiang Huai followed her back into the room and watched as Chu Xianning sat by the bed, arms crossed, looking down at him from above. She was both cold and annoyed, and spoke in a commanding tone. “Kneel.”
“The books say a man has golden knees; kneeling to heaven and earth, and second to one’s parents. Isn’t this humiliating me, Master?”
“‘A teacher for a day is a mother for a lifetime.’ You say that every day,” Chu Xianning sneered, and a section of snakebone whip appeared in her hand. “Are you going to kneel or not?”
“Mother told me to kneel, so how dare I refuse.” Jiang Huai immediately knelt down with a thud. This made Chu Xianning blush with anger and annoyance again. Looking at Jiang Huai, who appeared wronged and ready to be punished but actually had no intention of obeying, Chu Xianning suddenly realized something.
She seemed to have no good way to deal with him.
