All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 682: .2

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

...

Inside the Daoist Temple, the glow from a pile of firewood was dim and flickering.

Gently wiping the two swords in the Sword Box, Su Bei sensed a new stream of Qi coursing through his body and murmured to himself, "The sword needs maintenance."

To him, the Qingping Sword had become second nature, but his control over the Missing Departure still left much to be desired.

The world's myriad techniques and changes never stray from their essence. What countless cultivators have sought since ancient times is the grand immortality that spares one from death.

Only those cultivators who have achieved minor immortality truly deserve the title of "Immortal," a preliminary step to "Achieving Dao." For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. While it wasn't as exaggerated as the complete fusion of person and sword, a cultivator wishing to reach the pinnacle had to, at the very least, nurture their own Sword Spirit.

A Sword Spirit that belonged to oneself.

Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, fully opening his Dantian Knowledge Sea. His soul diffused out, merging with the world around him, and he saw himself seated in a meditative posture.

His soul wound around the Missing Departure for a moment, then returned to his body.

Touching the sword again, he could feel it was slightly more intimate than a moment before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork onto it, and placed it over the fire to roast.

"The sword has been well maintained."

Missing Departure: "..."

The Flower Bright Moon was dim, shrouded in light mist.

Footsteps approached gently from behind Su Bei. Amid the flickering firelight, the familiar wisp of white silk could be vaguely seen.

With no moon in the sky, everything was somewhat dim.

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

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

As he spoke, his touch began to travel upwards. He pressed down on her, his fingers brushing her earlobe, tracing the curves of her body.

Li Zijun's eyes were wide, her mind blank, as Su Bei pulled her close without any resistance.

Feeling his familiar hands moving over her body, she was momentarily unable to think.

Having just bathed, her body still carried a delicate fragrance, and a romantic atmosphere enveloped the Daoist Temple.

Her cheeks grew rosy, but it was unclear whether from the embarrassment of their intimate position or because of the wrist grasped by his hand.

Su Bei furrowed his brow, gradually becoming aware that something was amiss.

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

"Master... Master."

Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock. Her small hands pushing against Su Bei in panic, she nervously said, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... it's me, Zi Jun..."

Her words carried a hint of grievance as she turned her head to the side, biting her lip.

Su Bei was taken aback. He leaned over to stare dumbfounded at the woman before him.

What had he done, acting no better than a beast?

The atmosphere turned awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her head but, fearing it might be misunderstood, his hand froze mid-air. He swallowed.

"My disciple, I did not realize it was you..."

"You are wearing your master's wife's clothes, and the light is dim..."

Li Zijun lowered her head and mumbled an affirmation, her expression hidden.

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

...

With an embarrassed smile toward her, Su Bei gently stood up, touched his nose, and after a moment's thought, said, "I truly did not know..."

He reached for her snowy wrist, intending to pull her up.

The firelight flickered on their faces, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

For some reason, looking at Li Zijun's crystal-clear, jade-like face, Su Bei felt a surge of impulse, and his heart began to race.

Compared to Nan Ji, the extent of his actions just now had been significant, and the physical sensations Li Zijun evoked were vastly different.

Yet, that gentleness, tinged with an almost imperceptible distance, stirred a peculiar feeling in Su Bei.

Seemingly forgetting the previous awkwardness, he raised his hand again, extending two fingers tentatively towards Li Zijun's cheek.

He hesitated for a moment, but eventually, his fingers touched her smooth skin.

Li Zijun's body shivered slightly. Her intelligent eyes, like stars, darted around as she shifted, creating a small gap between them. This time, however, she didn't react strongly. Instead, she closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently stroke her beautiful cheek with his two fingers.

Warm and smooth like jade.

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

The flickering firelight reflected two streaks of tears.

Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's tender chin. He cradled it, gently turning her face to him, gazing at her exquisite face.

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

"Master..."

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 transgression?

Or because their relationship was doomed to have no resolution?

Seeing the momentary distraction in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression she should wear.

Was it helplessness?

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

Li Zijun gently lifted her head, and then her lips curved into a smile, hiding the last tear in the depths of her eyes. "Your disciple doesn't blame you, Master."

"Sister Nan Ji gave me this dress; that's why Master mistook me."

...

Su Bei gave her a sheepish smile, suppressing the alarming thoughts that had just surged within him.

Why were all the disciples he took on so strange?

Each seemed as though they had spent long years with him, and there was always a feeling of an indescribable sentiment between them.

At that moment, the door opened.

Wearing a different set of clothes, Ji Nanjue walked in, her expression oddly surveying everything before her.

She sat down beside Su Bei, her feet bare, and wiped at the lingering moisture on her skin.

A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. Usually, he would rush to embrace her; why was he so composed today? What had happened between them while she was away? The atmosphere was so peculiar.

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

Su Bei smiled at her and then embraced Ji Nanjue.

In Su Bei's embrace, Ji Nanjue sensed a whirlwind of complex emotions from him. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of his mouth.

She had just been reflecting on many things. She knew their path ahead would be long and arduous. The heartlessness of life would always make their journey together exceptionally difficult. However, savoring this moment of tranquility now brought her deep satisfaction.

Her perspective had gradually begun to shift.

Not seeking to be together from dawn to dusk, merely grateful for having experienced this.

"It's nothing."

"It's late, time to sleep..." Su Bei stroked her hair.

Ji Nanjue stood up and took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand. She carefully examined her own dress on Li Zijun and nodded. "Zi Jun, these clothes suit you quite well..."

Li Zijun's face flushed red.

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

"How does that sound, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun was taken aback. She raised her head to glance at Su Bei, then looked at Ji Nanjue beside her, feeling somewhat reluctant. "Isn't that a bit much?... It looks like it's going to rain outside."

Su Bei knew Nan Ji was giving him a way to save face. She had likely noticed the earlier awkwardness.

His heart warmed, and he looked at Ji Nanjue. "I'll go outside then..."

Just then, the faint sound of footsteps came from not too far away.

The unexpected noise made everyone's brows furrow instantly, and Su Bei said with some confusion, "Who could it be, walking about at this late hour?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

...