All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 555 - Three Hundred and Twenty-Four_2

If only I were really a man...

...

The light from the pile of firewood in the Daoist Temple was dim and heavy.

Gently wiping the two swords inside the Sword Box, Su Bei felt a completely new flow of Qi coursing through his body and muttered to himself, "A sword needs to be nurtured."

The Qingping Sword was already second nature to him, but when it came to the Missing Departure, he was still considerably lacking in control.

All myriad techniques in the world, despite their variations, share a common origin. What countless cultivators have sought since ancient times is still that grand longevity which grants freedom from death. Only those cultivators who achieved lesser immortality were truly worthy of the title "Immortal," having preliminarily "achieved Dao." For Sword Cultivators, the sword nourishes the man, and the man nourishes the sword. Although there isn't anything as exaggerated as becoming one with the sword, if one wants to reach the pinnacle of a cultivator's journey, they must at least cultivate a Sword Spirit—a Sword Spirit of their own.

Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, completely opening his Dantian Knowledge Sea. His soul emanated, merging with the surrounding heavens and earth, and then he saw himself sitting cross-legged. His soul twined once around the Missing Departure, then returned to his body. Touching the sword once more, he could feel it had grown slightly more intimate with him than just a moment before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork on it, and began roasting it over the fire. "The sword has been well-nurtured."

Missing Departure: "..."

Flower Bright Moon shrouded in light mist.

Footsteps softly approached from behind Su Bei, and in the flickering firelight, that familiar wisp of a white veil could vaguely be seen. The sky was moonless; everything around was somewhat dim.

Curving the corners of his mouth into a smile, Su Bei didn't even look back but quickly scooped the woman into his arms by the waist, chuckling, "Ji Baoer, why have you returned alone? Speak! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"

"..."

As they spoke... desire was already beginning to surge.

Lying on top of her, he trailed his fingers... across the curve of her ear, feeling the contours of her body beneath him.

Li Zijun's eyes widened in shock, her mind a blank slate as Su Bei effortlessly pulled her close. Feeling his skilled hands caressing her body, she was momentarily unable to think.

She had just bathed, and her body still carried a fragrant scent, enveloping the Daoist Temple in an enchanting and romantic atmosphere. Her cheeks slowly turned rosy, though it was unclear whether it was due to the inappropriate actions or his strong grip on her wrist.

Su Bei frowned, gradually becoming aware that something was amiss. Typically, Ji Baoer should have been more... and not had such an untouched feel; I can even sense the woman beneath me trembling.

"Master... Master." Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock, her small hands somewhat frantically pushing against Su Bei as she nervously said, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I am Zi Jun..."

"..."

There was a touch of grievance in her voice. She turned her head to the side and bit her lip.

Su Bei froze for an instant, then leaned down, dumbfounded, to look at the woman before him. What sort of beastly thing have I done?

The atmosphere grew awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by stroking her small head but feared the gesture might be misunderstood. His large hand froze mid-air as he swallowed hard, "Disciple, your master didn't know it was you... You're wearing your master's wife's clothes, and the firelight is dim..."

Li Zijun murmured a low response, her facial expression unreadable.

"Master... can you please get off me first."

"..."

Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, then gently stood up. He touched his nose and, after a moment's thought, said, "Your master truly didn't know..."

With that, he grabbed her delicate wrist, intending to pull her up.

The flickering firelight fell upon the faces of the two, each engrossed in their own thoughts.

For some reason, as Su Bei gazed upon Li Zijun's translucent, jade-like face, a surge of impulse rose within him; his heart began to quicken. Compared to Nan Ji, the movements I made just now couldn't have been bolder. The feeling Li Zijun imparted to me is evidently quite different. But that gentle yet subtle, almost imperceptible estrangement stirs a strange sensation within me.

Forgetting the awkwardness of the moment, Su Bei still raised his hand and ventured two fingers toward Li Zijun's face. He hesitated briefly before finally touching that smooth, jade-like cheek.

Li Zijun's delicate body shuddered lightly. Her eyes, bright as stars, showed a momentary struggle, but this time she did not react vehemently. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to softly caress her beautiful face with two fingers.

Gentle as jade.

Suddenly, Su Bei noticed tears, like pearls, slipping down her snow-white cheeks from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes. The flickering firelight reflected two trails of tears.

Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's soft, rosy chin, tilting it up to face him as he gazed into her stunningly beautiful countenance. With two fingers, he tenderly wiped away her tears and softly said, "I'm sorry. I..."

Li Zijun's eyes met Su Bei's, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. She didn't know why she was crying. Was it because of his offense? Or because there was no destined outcome between them? Seeing the brief distraction in his eyes, she didn't know what expression to make. Helplessness?

"Flowers in the mirror, moon in the water."

Li Zijun gently lifted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips as she concealed the last tear in the depths of her eyes, "Your disciple doesn't blame you, Master. The dress was a gift from Sister Nan Ji; that's why you mistook me for someone else."

"..."

Su Bei sheepishly smiled back, suppressing the dreadful thought that had just flashed through his mind. Why are all the disciples I take on so strange? Each one seems as if they've shared long years with me, always leaving me with a sense of some inexplicable, unspoken emotion between them.

Just then, the door opened, and Ji Nanjue, dressed in a different outfit, walked in. She then looked around with a puzzled expression, surveying everything before her. She walked barefoot to Su Bei's side and sat down, wiping lingering water droplets from her skin.

A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. Normally, he would have pounced on me by now, so why is he so calm today? What happened between the two of them in my absence? The atmosphere is so peculiar.

"Husband, what's the matter? You seem distracted?"

Su Bei smiled at her and then pulled Ji Nanjue into an embrace. In Su Bei's arms, Ji Nanjue felt a complex surge of emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of Su Bei's mouth.

She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the road ahead would be long and arduous. The world was heartless and would invariably make their path exceptionally difficult. But to be able to enjoy this momentary peace filled her with a certain contentment. Her perspective had gradually begun to shift slightly. Not to be together at every moment, but to cherish that they had once had each other.

"It's nothing," Su Bei said, stroking her hair. "It's late; we should get some sleep..."

Ji Nanjue stood up, took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand, and carefully examined the dress Li Zijun was wearing—her own dress—then nodded, "Zi Jun, you look quite good in this dress..."

Li Zijun blushed. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Then, glancing at Su Bei, Ji Nanjue said with feigned coldness, "As punishment, you will sleep outside tonight. I'll cuddle with Zi Jun. Is that fine with you, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun paused, looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her. Unable to bear the thought, she said, "That doesn't seem right... It looks like it's going to rain outside."

Su Bei knew Nan Ji was giving him a way out; she had probably noticed the earlier awkwardness. A warmth spread in his heart. He looked at Ji Nanjue and said, "I'll go outside then..."

Just at that moment, a faint sound of footsteps approached from not too far away.

The unexpected noise made everyone frown simultaneously, and Su Bei asked with some confusion, "Who would be passing by at this late hour?"

"..."