All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 619 - 356_2

"If only I were really a man..."

...

The glow from the pile of firewood in the Daoist Temple was dim.

Su Bei gently wiped the two swords in the Sword Box. Feeling a new surge of qi circulating throughout his body, he muttered to himself, "The sword must be nurtured."

The Qingping Sword was already at his command, but his control over the Missing Departure was still lacking.

The myriad methods of cultivation all lead to the same goal; since ancient times, the ultimate pursuit of countless cultivators has been achieving great longevity, to become undying.

Only a cultivator who achieves minor longevity truly deserves the title 'Immortal,' having initially 'Achieved Dao.' For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. It might not be as exaggerated as achieving complete unity with one's sword, but if one wishes to reach the apex of a cultivator's path, at the very least, a Sword Spirit must be nurtured.

A Sword Spirit of one's own.

Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, his Dantian Knowledge Sea opening completely. His soul drifted out, merging with the surrounding heavens and earth, and then he visualized himself sitting cross-legged.

His soul wrapped around the Missing Departure for a moment before returning to his body.

When he touched the sword again, he could feel it was somewhat more intimate than before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction. He then picked up his Longsword, skewered a piece of pork with it, and began roasting it over the fire.

"The sword has been well nurtured."

Missing Departure: "..."

The Flower Bright Moon was veiled in light mist.

Footsteps sounded softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, a familiar white-gauzed figure could vaguely be seen.

The sky was moonless, and everything around was dim.

A smile curved Su Bei's lips. Without looking, he wrapped his arms around the woman's waist and laughed, "Ji Baoer, why did you come back alone?"

"Tell me! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"

"..."

As they spoke... things had already begun to escalate.

He pressed down on her, caressing her earlobe as he followed the curves of her body.

Li Zijun's eyes flew wide, her mind a sudden blank as Su Bei pulled her over.

Feeling his experienced hands on her body, she couldn't think for a moment.

She had just bathed, and the lingering fragrance on her skin mingled with the suggestive atmosphere within the Daoist Temple.

Her cheeks gradually grew rosy, though she couldn't tell if it was from the awkwardness of her position or the feeling of his strong hand gripping her wrist.

Su Bei frowned slightly, gradually sensing that something was amiss.

Ji Baoer should have been more... responsive, and not this inexperienced. He could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.

"Master... Master."

Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock. With somewhat frantic hands, she pushed at Su Bei, her voice tight with nerves, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."

"..."

There was a hint of grievance in her voice. She turned away, biting her lip.

Su Bei froze, stunned, gazing down at the woman before him.

What kind of beastly act have I just committed?

The atmosphere became terribly awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her small head but worried this gesture might lead to further misunderstandings. His hand froze mid-air as he swallowed hard. "Disciple, I... I had no idea it was you..."

"You're wearing your master's wife's clothes, and the fire is dim..."

Li Zijun lowered her head and mumbled a response, her expression hidden in the dim light.

"Master... could you please get off first?"

"..."

Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, then gently rose. He rubbed his nose and, after a moment's thought, said, "Truly, I had no idea..."

With these words, he grasped her snowy wrist, intending to pull her to her feet.

The firelight flickered, illuminating their faces, each lost in their own thoughts.

For some reason, as Su Bei looked at Li Zijun's jade-like, luminous face, an impulse surged within him, and his heart began to pound.

His advances just now had been undeniably bold, far more so than they would have been with Nan Ji. Yet, the feeling Li Zijun evoked in him was vastly different.

However, that gentle yet faintly discernible aloofness stirred a peculiar sensation in Su Bei.

Seemingly forgetting the prior awkwardness, Su Bei raised his hand again. With two fingers, he tentatively reached towards Li Zijun's face.

He paused, his fingertips ultimately brushing against her smooth, jade-like cheek.

Li Zijun's delicate body shivered slightly. Her star-like intelligent eyes wavered for a moment. She shifted, creating a little space between them, but this time she didn't resist forcefully. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently caress her beautiful face with his two fingers.

Gentle as jade.

Suddenly, Su Bei saw pearl-like tears roll down from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes, trickling along her snow-white cheeks.

The flickering firelight illuminated two trails of tears.

Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's soft chin, tilting it up to gaze at her exquisite face.

With his two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears and said softly, "I'm sorry."

"I..."

Li Zijun's eyes, brimming with tears, gazed up at Su Bei.

She didn't know why she was crying.

Was it because of his transgression?

Or because their paths were destined never to truly converge?

Seeing the fleeting look of being lost in thought in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression she should wear.

Was it resignation?

"A flower in the mirror, the moon on the water."

Li Zijun gently lifted her head. A smile touched her lips as she hid the last tear in the depths of her eyes. "I don't blame you, Master."

"Sister Nan Ji gave me the dress, that's why Master mistook me."

"..."

Su Bei smiled awkwardly at her, suppressing the terrifying thoughts that had just surged within him.

Why were all the disciples he took so strange?

Each one seemed as if they had shared long years with him, and there was always a sense of inexplicable feelings involved.

Just then, the door opened.

Ji Nanjue, now in a different set of clothes, walked in. Her expression was peculiar as she surveyed the scene.

She padded barefoot to Su Bei's side and sat down, beginning to wipe away the lingering water droplets from her skin.

A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. Usually, he would have pounced on me by now. Why is he so subdued today?

What happened between them while I was gone?

The atmosphere is so strange.

"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."

Su Bei smiled at her, then pulled Ji Nanjue into his embrace.

In Su Bei's embrace, Ji Nanjue seemed to sense his troubled thoughts. She tilted her head and kissed the corner of Su Bei's mouth.

She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the path ahead was long and arduous; the world was heartless, destined to make their journey together exceedingly difficult. However, the momentary peace she could enjoy now filled her heart with satisfaction.

Her mindset had also begun to shift slightly.

—Not longing for every day and every night, but grateful for what once was.

"It's nothing."

"It's late. We should get some sleep..." Su Bei stroked her hair.

Ji Nanjue got up and took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand. She carefully examined the dress Li Zijun was wearing and nodded. "Zi Jun, this dress looks quite fitting on you..."

Li Zijun's face turned crimson.

Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said, feigning coldness, "As punishment, you will sleep outside tonight, and I'll sleep holding Zi Jun."

"Is that okay, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun was taken aback. She looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her, and said with some reluctance, "That's not good... It looks like it's going to rain outside."

Su Bei knew Nan Ji was giving him an out, as she had likely noticed the earlier awkwardness.

A warmth spread through his heart. He looked at Ji Nanjue. "I'll go outside..."

Just then, the faint sound of footsteps came from nearby.

The sudden noise made them all frown. Su Bei asked with some confusion, "Who could be traveling so late at night?"

"..."