Translator: Sissy That Walk

  Luo Jianqing replied subconsciously, “Just a scrape. Not a big deal.”


  He wasn’t lying. Defeating Bai Chi was a piece of cake for him. He wasn’t harmed at all. When competing with Yun Rong, he got stabbed right at the chest in the mirage. The tip of the sword sunk into his flesh for half inches. He bore the worst injuries when fighting with Yan Su. However, Yan Su was not the main reason he got injured, instead, he was mainly thumped by his own attack – Blossom Lotus Sword – in the final showdown, given that it was the first time he applied it in a real battle.

  With the help of Yu Qingzi, Luo Jianqing’s wounds were almost healed. He just needed a good rest to be fully recovered.

  Nevertheless, Xuan Lingzi frowned, then softly connected his fingertips to Luo Jianqing’s palm with index and middle fingers held together. Luo Jianqing immediately felt a refreshing spring of power piercing into his body through the Shaofu Acupoint, flowing along the vines all over his flesh.

  Being controlled precisely, the power stream brought Luo Jianqing gladdening relaxation without any harm. After flowing over all his meridians, it was drawn back out of his Shaofu Acupoint.

  As always, Xuan Lingzi’s expression was detached and indifferent, but if you looked closer enough, you could find that his eyebrows were not knitted anymore. He told Luo Jianqing, “Possession, no matter success or not, would definitely cause damage to the soul that is under attack, especially the Possession casted by the Fiend Cultivator. If it succeeds, original body owner’s soul will be torn asunder, truly, a sordid cast.”


  Luo Jianqing finally figured out what Xuan Lingzi was trying to say. A thought gleamed in his mind – the reason why his Master came out of seclusion was that he was aware of what he had been through during the competition, in other words, his Master was worried about him.

  Luo Jianqing’s heart softened, and the gleam of fear which tethered tightly on it vanished immediately.

  Finishing the diagnosis, Xuan Lingzi tried to draw back his hand, disconnecting his fingers from Luo Jianqing’s palm, but he was grabbed by Luo Jianqing unexpectedly. Transfixed, Xuan Lingzi looked at his disciple with astonishment. Under the vert forest, the young cultivator was smiling winsomely. Luo Jianqing’s dark amber eyes with a touch of delight were fixed on him.

  “Master, you promised me that if I defeat all these people who come here to challenge Tai Hua Mountain, you will teach me something that I’ve been wondering for a long time.”


  Xuan Lingzi’s eyes was covered with frost. He said in an ice-cold tone, “Did I really promised it?”


  Luo Jianqing’s voice was bleak as well, “But you didn’t say no to it!”


  Xuan Lingzi, “.……”


  Xuan Lingzi never felt more troubled in the past dozens of years than recently. In the past, his well-mannered disciple put all his efforts into cultivation. As his Master, Xuan Lingzi never needed to strictly educate him. However, recently…… with the tip of ear flushing, Xuan Lingzi flicked his sleeves and turned his back towards Luo Jianqing, shoving him away.

  Luo Jianqing was left where he stood, but he walked to the front of Xuan Lingzi again then looked up, staring at his Master.

  Eyes widening, Xuan Lingzi was surprised by Luo Jianqing’s action. He turned his back on him again, but Luo Jianqing followed up. The two repeated the action for a total of five rounds. Finally, Xuan Lingzi had had enough. Irritated, he flicked his sleeve, striking Luo Jianqign three meters away. “When did you…… become this impudent?!”


  Luo Jianqing ignored his question. His feet gently tapping the ground, he blocked Xuan Lingzi’s way again. Having no intention to break the silence, he simply looked at his Master with a gleam of joy hidden beneath his gaze. Xuan Lingzi gradually lost control of his poker face. Again, he turned his back on him.

  At that moment, Luo Jianqing said, “Wu Yin, you asked me to give you some time.”


  Xuan Lingzi’s fists clenched in his sleeves. He didn’t reply.

  That didn’t influence Luo Jianqing. Beaming, he dropped his head and said in a throaty voice, “Today, I fought with an excellent sorcerer who is a master of mirage. He led me into one, in which you censured me for dishonoring Yu Xiao Peak; you refused to admit that I was your disciple; you said that you wanted me dead, then…… your sword pierced the left side of my chest.”


  Talking with head hanging low, Luo Jianqing wasn’t aware that every single word he said made Xuan Lingzi sweating heavily. Trembling, Xuan Lingzi’s fingers pinched his own palms, leaving behind several blood-dripping scratches. The wounds healed quickly but was torn cracked again.

  Colossal amount of Spiritual Power was flooding inside Xuan Lingzi’s body. His eyes were turning red.

  Luo Jianqing went on, “that moment, I dropped my sword. I thought that, you want me dead, then what’s the matter of being so? I am alive, right here, right now, with no mother nor father, only you. If you want to abandon me as well, then…… what’s the point for me to staying alive?”


  “Jianqing……” Hoarsely, Xuan Lingzi called his name.

  Luo Jianqing kept saying, “The people I envy the most are those Fiend Cultivators. They are unrestrained, whimsical, but above all – free. Even for those who bring death to the innocents, at least they have the freedom to do and say whatever they want. Not like me, whom, is constrained by the etiquettes set by the so-called righteous cultivators, cannot even express the love he has towards the person he likes. Wu Yin, I once thought about cutting the bond between me and Tai Hua Mountain……”


  Xuan Lingzi’s pupils shrank. Scarlet was encroaching his eyes, “Jianqing!”


  Luo Jianqing smiled, “But, on the other hand, I value our Master-disciple relationship. If I keep the bond, at least…… I am your disciple. If others speak of me, they might put our names together. In this way, I can still comfort myself – fool myself – that……”


  A sudden hug stupefied Luo Jianqing.

  The embrace with scorching warmth came so quickly that Luo Jianqing wasn’t prepared for it at all. Transfixed for a while, Luo Jianqing raised his arms and hugged back. It was only a gentle, careful, embrace at first, but they held each other tighter and tighter, until both put into all of their strength.

  Xuan Lingzi’s eyes were completely scarlet already. Blood was seeping out from his mouth. The Internal Demon was gnawing his Spiritual Power. He held his disciple in his arms as if he had lost his mind…… as if he wanted them merging into one.

  He called again and again with a husky voice, “Jianqing…… Jianqing……”


  Luo Jianqing beamed, suddenly figured something out, then replied, “I’m here.”


  The blood dripping from Xuan Lingzi’s mouth started carrying a wisp of golden light, but Xuan Lingzi still held Luo Jianqing tight, hiding the blood from him. The hug lasted for a long time until Xuan Lingzi broke the silence, “Jianqing, I want to…… tell you something.”


  Luo Jianqing lifted his eyebrow and chuckled, “Master, there is something that I want to tell you as well.”


  Listening to Luo Jianqing’s pleasant voice, Xuan Lingzi slowly closed his eyes and tried to moderate his breath. The bloodbath scene finally dissipated from his mind. The bloody color in his eyes also vanished along with the grievous memory.

  Xuan Lingzi said, “You go first.”


  Luo Jianqing was enjoying the slight aroma of lotus, smiling, “No, you go first.”


  They remained silence, then spoke at the same time:

  “Jianqing, I adore you!”


  “Master, I want to ride you!”


  Xuan Lingzi, “.……”