The weather changed from clear to rainy.
Jiang Huai arrived at Tian Xuan Sect in the afternoon. The sky, which had been clear and sunny, was now covered in dark clouds. The strong wind rustled Jiang Huai’s clothes. Jiang Huai mused that since he had entered the Seventh Realm, one of the greatest benefits was that Chu Xianning could no longer spy on his aura with her Qi Gazing Technique so easily. However, he immediately thought that Chu Xianning already knew roughly what he would be doing at Qing Xuan Sect. If she could no longer see him, wouldn’t she speculate even more?
Before entering, Jiang Huai tidied his appearance and then reached out to gently knock on the door.
Chu Xianning did not open the door herself but instead used a surge of spiritual energy to unlock it. Jiang Huai walked inside and looked towards Chu Xianning, who was sitting in the pavilion. She was still wearing her simple, plain Daoist robe, her dark hair tied up with a plain white ribbon. Her expression remained as cold and aloof as ever. Just sitting there, she looked like a painting that had been preserved for a thousand years.
“I’m back,” Jiang Huai said softly.
It seemed that every time he returned from the outside, Chu Xianning would be sitting there quietly, like a cold stone statue, never changing. She slightly raised her eyebrows, met Jiang Huai’s gaze indifferently, and then looked away.
Jiang Huai came to the pavilion and sat beside her, saying gently, “I’ve reached Seventh Realm Triple Layer.”
To be precise, his current cultivation level was Seventh Realm Triple Layer Great Perfection, just one step away from breaking through. Chu Xianning nodded lightly, indicating she understood. Jiang Huai then picked up the teapot on the table and began to brew tea for Chu Xianning, saying softly, “My trip to the Ancestral Secret Realm was very rewarding…”
He told Chu Xianning about obtaining the Ice Crystal Snow Soul Flower and meeting Ji Qingxuan, the Grand Princess of Central Province. He only mentioned these briefly. Chu Xianning might not be in a good mood at the moment, and if he poured out everything he had to say all at once, who knew how she might cold-shoulder him.
Jiang Huai brought out his greatest harvest from the trip first.
“Master, here.”
Jiang Huai took out the Sword Tempering Fire that Mu Yao had given him. Chu Xianning looked up, slightly stunned. Jiang Huai explained the origin of this Sword Tempering Fire to Chu Xianning, using a euphemism to soften it, saying that the Chess Saint had gifted it to him as compensation for protecting Mu Yao’s safety in the Ancestral Secret Realm. He also mentioned that his sword had already been tempered and he didn’t need this second Sword Tempering Fire.
Jiang Huai had already thought of reasons for Chu Xianning to refuse, so she had no excuse. She crushed the jade bead she was holding, and her Suoxue Sword floated in the air. Jiang Huai then took out the two pieces of Star Iron gifted from the System Backpack.
Star Iron was an enchanter material for forging swords. It could make the sword blade sharper when stimulated by spiritual Qi and allow the sword body to store more spiritual Qi during normal times. One piece of Star Iron was given to Chu Xianning’s Suoxue Sword, and the other to Jiang Huai’s Yening. Now, both swords floated in the air, and after being tempered, shimmering fluorescence appeared around their blades.
Chu Xianning, who disliked hoarding wealth, was often short of money. The most valuable item she possessed was this Suoxue Sword, which had been with her for many years and had been forged with many materials. The Star Iron was the best material she had used so far. The Suoxue Sword Spirit expressed its gratitude to Jiang Huai and then retreated into the sword body to sleep. Jiang Huai sat back down opposite Chu Xianning.
He picked up his tea and took a sip, his eyes secretly watching Chu Xianning. He worried that she might be slightly resentful in her heart, though she hadn’t shown it, as he had returned two days later than the agreed-upon time. Chu Xianning never wore her emotions on her sleeve, but she would sulk.
“What are you staring at me for?” Chu Xianning asked indifferently, her eyelashes slightly raised.
“I came back a bit late…” Jiang Huai scratched his head. Chu Xianning picked up her tea and took a sip, saying indifferently, “It’s not bad to spend more time with Luo Qingyu, since you haven’t seen each other for a long time. You’re getting married next year.”
She put down her teacup and said calmly, “Besides, Luo Yueguan would never have let you leave so easily.”
Jiang Huai felt like crying and laughing at the same time, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
With Chu Xianning saying this, it probably meant she wasn’t angry anymore. Chu Xianning took in Jiang Huai’s relieved expression and said faintly, “Do you think I would blame you for coming back too late?”
“This…”
“I wouldn’t,” Chu Xianning turned her face away. “I wouldn’t care even if you died outside.”
“Ew, so cute.”
A trace of displeasure flickered in the corner of Chu Xianning’s eyes, but her cheeks blushed slightly. She turned her head and raised her hand as if to hit Jiang Huai’s head, but Jiang Huai gently caught her wrist. At this moment, Chu Xianning suddenly realized that her disobedient disciple had already reached Seventh Realm Triple Layer and was no longer the little fellow she could easily manipulate.
But in the next moment, Jiang Huai obediently let go. Chu Xianning’s hand fell, but it only lightly tapped his head.
“Now that you’re so powerful, can I no longer punish you easily?” Chu Xianning asked indifferently.
“How so? This disciple wishes Master would punish me every day.”
Looking at his shameless expression, Chu Xianning couldn’t help but mutter “scoundrel” coldly again, but her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid that scolding him too hard would make him even more presumptuous.
Jiang Huai secretly looked at Chu Xianning’s delicate lips, and his heart suddenly had some naughty thoughts.
He always wanted to kiss Chu Xianning. Seeing Jiang Huai staring blankly at her lips again, Chu Xianning looked at him indifferently, “What are you staring at now?”
“I want to kiss you.”
Chu Xianning instinctively wanted to punch him again, but she suddenly realized that their relationship was no longer the same as before. Now he could say such words to her so brazenly, yet she instinctively, instinctively, did not want him to succeed so easily.
Chu Xianning tilted her head slightly. “You want to kiss me, so you will?”
“Then how can I kiss you?” Jiang Huai blinked innocently at her, asking back righteously and brazenly.
Chu Xianning hesitated for a moment, then a thought struck her.
“The evil cultivator who has been in seclusion in the Eastern Region for many years, Ancestor Hongyue, has reappeared recently. He has already massacred several small cultivation families to feed his蠱 worms. If you can help me kill him, I’ll give you… a kiss.”
“Depart tomorrow morning?” Jiang Huai’s eyes immediately lit up, and he winked at Chu Xianning.
“Alright.”
Moments later, Chu Xianning picked up her tea. “Go.”
Of course, she knew why Jiang Huai mentioned leaving tomorrow. Having just returned to the sect, he naturally had to spend time with Wen Wanwan in the courtyard. Jiang Huai didn’t argue further, stood up, and went to Wen Wanwan’s courtyard.
***
Wanwan and Fufu were practicing sword in the courtyard, while Su Qingyi was getting drunk again. As soon as Jiang Huai entered the courtyard, Wanwan’s soft body threw herself into his embrace. He hugged Wanwan, then hugged Fufu. Little Fox had already drunk herself to sleep and was sleeping soundly on the ground, her tail wagging.
He was going to descend the mountain with Chu Xianning to hunt evil tomorrow, so he didn’t return to his own courtyard tonight. Instead, he stayed in Wanwan’s yard. After feeding Wanwan to her heart’s content, he teased Fufu. Fufu, though seemingly shy, already knew the joys of it and even obediently handed her prepared fox tail to Jiang Huai, instructing him to apply plenty of flower dew before wearing it.
***
The next morning.
Back in his courtyard, Jiang Huai saw Chu Xianning waiting quietly in the pavilion early in the morning. To Jiang Huai’s slight surprise, Chu Xianning was not wearing her usual plain clothes today, but a gorgeous black palace dress with gold embroidery. She had even adorned herself with an iris hairpin, which left Jiang Huai somewhat stunned.
Chu Xianning had never liked to dress up. In this rare sight, Jiang Huai found it hard to look away. Until Chu Xianning walked up to him and said indifferently, “What?”
“Master suddenly looks so beautiful, I’m a bit unaccustomed to it.”
“It’s just a change of clothes; your appearance hasn’t changed. Unlike some people, whose appearance hasn’t changed, but they’ve become increasingly presumptuous, brazen, and debauched.”
“…” Jiang Huai’s face darkened. Chu Xianning moved a little closer to him and said indifferently, “You smell of perfume.”
Jiang Huai seriously sniffed himself, then moved closer to Chu Xianning. “Where? You smell so fragrant, Master.”
Now he had the courage to brazenly lean close to Chu Xianning’s snow-white neck to sniff her scent. Chu Xianning’s body still couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Reluctantly, she pushed him away a bit, signaling him not to get too close. Jiang Huai, however, persisted, innocently replying, “Since we have to kill Ancestor Hongyue, my spiritual energy can’t be easily replenished, so… please trouble Master to ride your sword.”
With such a righteous reason, Chu Xianning had no room to refuse. She reluctantly summoned her Suoxue Sword, which enlarged. She stepped onto the spirit sword. As she stood on the sword, her skirt hem fluttered slightly in the wind. Jiang Huai came up behind her, leaned closer, and placed his hand on her shoulder. Once the spirit sword ascended into the sky, and no one could be seen below, Jiang Huai quietly, quietly leaned closer again, gently embracing Chu Xianning’s slender waist.
“Let go.”
“Just for a little while, just hug me for a little while,” Jiang Huai whispered in her ear. The hot breath he exhaled made Chu Xianning feel shy and annoyed. She simply fell silent, letting her delicate and slender body be held gently like this. Jiang Huai’s hands remained honest, only around her waist, not doing anything else improper.
However, he would occasionally lean a little closer, sniffing the fragrance on her. His mind suddenly recalled that a few days ago, when he kissed Luo Qingyu’s earlobe, Luo Qingyu would simply go limp and lean into his embrace, lacking the strength to struggle with any mischief, and even let out particularly soft and tender coos. What about Chu Xianning?
Chu Xianning’s earlobes might not be that sensitive, but Jiang Huai knew that what she was most sensitive to were her white and tender, slender ice-lotus jade feet. That time, even though she was reluctant and had even deliberately worn thin white stockings, when she rewarded him, even though his eyes were covered, he could always feel Chu Xianning’s own white and tender little feet trembling non-stop. It seemed it wasn’t just due to shyness.
Suddenly, he really, really, really wanted to see Chu Xianning’s blushing face and disgusted expression at that time, her reluctant yet unavoidable demeanor. He really, really wanted to. As he thought, Little Huai Jiang became restless. Chu Xianning, sensing her buttocks were inexplicably poked by something hot, looked back. This time, her eyes were filled only with shy annoyance.
“Holding me… your heart is uneasy?”
“No… no… wait…”
Before Jiang Huai could finish speaking, Chu Xianning had already reached out and pushed him back a bit, forbidding him from getting any closer. She coldly warned, “Don’t you dare come closer again, or else…”
Chu Xianning’s words suddenly got stuck again. Perhaps it was because the things she could use to threaten Jiang Huai were becoming fewer and fewer. After a long while, she looked at Jiang Huai coldly. “Otherwise… you’re not allowed to think about kissing me at all this year.”
Jiang Huai’s face immediately fell. Seeing his dejected yet obedient expression, the corners of Chu Xianning’s lips curved slightly.
A moment later, a hint of a grumble appeared in her eyes. She reached out and gently poked his forehead. “What bad things were you thinking just now?”
