Chapter 75

Lou Wuhua felt Su Lingyu didn’t quite grasp the crucial point, but when she saw Qu Panyan desperately winking at her and then looked at Su Lingyu’s serious expression, she gave up correcting her thoughts. Instead, she shook her black and gold fan, like an elder who had experienced wind, frost, rain, and snow, then said, “Lingyu, cherish it well, grasp onto the things you should, and don’t waste the good times of spring.”

She turned her gaze towards Qu Panyan and smiled affectionately, “Isn’t that right, Ying Zhen, my good disciple?”

Qu Panyan couldn’t help stealing glances at Su Lingyu, only to find she was also looking at her with a slightly serious expression, leaving her unsure of how to respond to Lou Wuhua for a moment.

After much consideration, she blinked a few times at Lou Wuhua and softly murmured an acknowledgement ‘hmm’, without saying anything else.

Seeing this, Lou Wuhua teased Su Lingyu, “Lingyu, don’t be so serious. Look at how you scared my good disciple.”

Su Lingyu’s face did indeed ease up at the remark. She quietly reached out and put her arm around Qu Panyan’s waist, gently pulling her into her embrace, and solemnly corrected, “She’s mine.”

Qu Panyan looked at Su Lingyu and felt that she was just like the Su Lingyu who had firmly asserted her authority back in Changhe Town, claiming that there was only the Sect Master and no Sect Leader. Her demeanor and tone were both very serious, earnestly declaring and defending her ownership.

Lou Wuhua’s laughter suddenly turned arrogant, “Alright, alright, she’s yours.”

She didn’t really care whose Qu Panyan belonged to as long as Su Lingyu genuinely loved her, and Qu Panyan genuinely reciprocated those feelings. Moreover, seeing the person she had once pursued relentlessly now being so devoted to her disciple gave her a sense of satisfaction without any jealousy or resentment.

Perhaps it was driven by the mentality of “not letting the fertile water flow to someone else’s field.”

It didn’t matter that she couldn’t win Su Lingyu’s heart; as long as her disciple succeeded, it was enough.

Qu Panyan asked, “How did the Sect Leader know we were here? Did Elder Chayue deduce it?”

Elder Chayue was indeed formidable, capable of predicting almost anything.

Elder Chayue, who had been quietly standing on the side, was suddenly mentioned by the Sect Master’s wife. After a brief moment of hesitation, she calmly replied, “Regarding what the Sect Master’s wife said, it has nothing to do with me.”

She wasn’t someone who calculated and foresaw everything. If she knew everything that would happen, it would only make her feel life was tedious and lose her sense of anticipation for the future.

Lou Wuhua’s gaze returned to Qu Panyan, and she smiled, “This Sect Leader guessed it. You have a good relationship with Congshuang, and only the Heavenly Fire can cure her illness. Besides, you have Ling’er by your side, who cares deeply for her. So this Sect Leader guessed that if you returned safely, the first thing you’d do is save her.”

And indeed, Qu Panyan’s first priority was to save Kang Congshuang.

Qu Panyan understood, and then Lou Wuhua suddenly noticed that the plum blossom patterned dark robe she was wearing seemed a bit… too long.

Lou Wuhua looked Qu Panyan up and down and a fleeting shadow passed before her eyes. Su Lingyu raised her sleeve coldly to block her entire line of sight. “Keep your eyes to yourself.”

Considering that Lou Wuhua had once expressed an interest to kiss Qu Panyan, and now that Qu Panyan had become more attractive, Su Lingyu unconsciously had a protective instinct against Lou Wuhua.

She simply didn’t like so many people staring at her Yan’er.

She thought, perhaps as Lou Wuhua suggested, she should bring Yan’er back and keep her hidden.

Lou Wuhua looked at the snow-white long sleeves in front of her, and the faint plum blossom patterns floated like flowing water under the soft light, identical to the dark robe on Qu Panyan. She understood what had happened, her lips curved into a smile, “It seems that our Grand Sect Master Su is especially fond of Ying Zhen, my good disciple, so much so that she won’t even give others a chance to look.”

Qu Panyan heard her words and blushed with joy in her heart.

She was immensely delighted that Su Lingyu loved her this much.

“However,” Lou Wuhua raised her fan, gently pushing back Su Lingyu’s sleeve, and her smiling face appeared from the side, looking at Qu Panyan with affection. “This Sect Leader is bidding farewell to her good disciple; she can’t hide her face, can she?”

Qu Panyan looked back at her, slightly surprised. “So soon? Aren’t you staying for a little longer?”

And what about Elder Chayue…

Qu Panyan secretly glanced at Elder Chayue. She saw the elder gazing earnestly at Lou Wuhua. As soon as Lou Wuhua glanced her way, she would hastily avert her eyes, like a startled deer.

Lou Wuhua laughed soundlessly, withdrawing her gaze, no longer scaring the inexperienced young deer named Elder Chayue. She said, “Hmm, I won’t stay any longer. Linjun’s arrival is imminent, and I need to go back to see him. There are some matters in the sect waiting for my decision. Don’t worry, my good disciple, I’ll come to see you when I have the time in the future.”

Right in front of Su Lingyu, she reached out and gently placed her hand on Qu Panyan’s soft black hair, whispering, “With the Heavenly Fire, your cultivation should progress even faster. Good disciple Ying Zhen, keep up the good work; this Sect Leader has high hopes for you.”

Although her initial idea of exchanging disciples was merely to give the two of them a chance to get along, not to make Qu Panyan follow Su Lingyu in formal cultivation every day, but they had become master and disciple anyway, Su Lingyu, as her master, should not be idle.

Together as Dao companions and cultivators work together hand in hand, neither hands are idle; it was truly splendid and wonderful.

In front of respected elders, Qu Panyan always behaved obediently, so she politely responded to Lou Wuhua’s words, “Thank you for your care, Sect Leader. Disciple understands and will cultivate diligently, not disappointing your expectations.”

Lou Wuhua patted her hair twice, affectionately uttering a single word, “Good.” Then she withdrew her hand and turned to walk towards Elder Chayue.

Initially, Elder Chayue appeared composed, but when Lou Wuhua approached her, a fleeting change in her calm demeanor appeared on her face, followed by her quick action of lowering of her head, looking at the radiant patterns on the ground, displaying a touch of innocence and shyness reminiscent of young girls in their bloom.

It matched her face perfectly.

Lou Wuhua had already bid farewell to everyone, including Elder Chayue, who had feelings for her. She had said what needed to be said, but when it was the real moment of parting, she still wanted to say a few more words, to have a final conversation before leaving.

Approaching slowly, she first called out, “Elder Chayue.”

Elder Chayue clutched her clothes nervously, replying softly, “…Here”

Lou Wuhua smiled, “I’m about to leave, and Elder Chayue doesn’t plan to take a few more glances at me?”

Hearing this, Elder Chayue suddenly raised her head. Her two dark eyes anxiously looked at Lou Wuhua, struggling to suppress the surging emotions and nervousness one feels when facing their beloved.

She had made some progress during this period. Now, she could manage to say a whole sentence when she saw Lou Wuhua, and she had learned to hold back her tears, which she used to shed uncontrollably.

Lou Wuhua found her nervous appearance adorable, and if she didn’t let her tears fall so easily from those beautiful eyes, she would be even cuter.

Bending down, Lou Wuhua whispered, “Elder Chayue didn’t cry this time. Well done. I hope the next time we meet, it will be the same.”

She shouldn’t have mentioned it; the moment tears were brought up, Elder Chayue’s tear glands seemed to respond immediately, and two glistening teardrops formed at the corners of her eyes.

Lou Wuhua: “…”

Lou Wuhua: “…You can pretend I didn’t say anything.”

It was better not to mention it at all; the moment she did, Elder Chayue was on the verse of crying. Lou Wuhua was about to become the eternal sinner who made her cry…

Seeing this scene, Su Lingyu thought that someone had bullied Elder Chayue and furrowed her eyebrows. Qu Panyan, reacting quickly, hugged Su Lingyu’s waist and used their soulmate heart-to-heart communication to swiftly and concisely explain the situation, calming her down.

Elder Chayue wiped away the teardrops, solemnly promising, “I assure Sect Leader Lou that I won’t cry next time.” She cautiously extended her finger, softly saying, “…Pinkie promise.”

She took a deep breath and earnestly added, “If I can’t do it, then I won’t be allowed to like Sect Leader Lou…”

Lou Wuhua remained silent, looking at Elder Chayue. She felt that this statement was familiar; it seemed like something she had said to her last time in the pavilion at the Lotus Heart Pond.

—If I can’t do it, then you’re not allowed to like me anymore, okay?

Lou Wuhua smiled slightly, noting that she remembered it well. She gently hooked her pinkie with Elder Chayue’s and said, “I’m already looking forward to meeting Elder Chayue again.”

At those words, Elder Chayue’s fair cheeks blushed even more.

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Lou Wuhua left, and Elder Chayue returned to await her shift at the array formation. Su Lingyu and Qu Panyan returned to Tailing Peak. Ba Tu and Wu Yi didn’t need any additional arrangements; they would meditate outside their rooms to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Thus, there was no need for others to make any arrangements, nor would it cause any annoyance to the Saintess.

After bathing, Qu Panyan changed into loose and comfortable pure white undergarments, lying on the bed, waiting for Su Lingyu to return. Then, she got up to meditate and cultivate, fully immersing herself in her sea of consciousness, approaching the realm of near-god with a vague sense.

Her spiritual perception was clear, and her mind was focused and tranquil.

She breathed steadily and methodically until she reached a state of profound tranquility. Once she entered a desirable state, a gentle airflow began to circulate around her body.

Her Golden Core was gradually growing stronger, infused with the abundant power of Heavenly Fire, like the inexhaustible refreshing breeze and bright moon in the world. Simultaneously, she noticed that the thin mist surrounding the Spirit Awareness Flower seemed to have diminished slightly, outlining the slender and graceful lines of the flower’s body with greater clarity.

She decided to stop here for today. Cultivation should not be rushed or impatient. Being able to disperse the mist around the flower was already a significant progress. Pushing too forcefully might lead to undesirable results.

She adjusted her breath, and the gentle airflow suddenly transformed into a powerful force sweeping out from her body, causing her undergarments to rustle and her ink-black hair to flutter.

She slowly opened her eyes, raising her hand to casually arrange her tousled hair. Her undergarments slipped down from her snow-white shoulders, revealing a touch of allure. However, she paid no attention to it and continued to play with her long hair.

Just then, Su Lingyu walked in from behind the folding screen and saw her gathering her loose black hair to one side. Her ten fingers, as delicate as jade, leisurely combed through the flowing strands. The snowy-white chest appeared refreshingly cool, boldly attracting Su Lingyu’s gaze.

Combined with the slightly parted,rosy lips and the half-opened eyes, every movement and expression exuded an air of languid ease, complemented by an indescribable charm that irresistibly captivated Su Lingyu’s heart.

Su Lingyu inexplicably felt a dryness in her throat, as if something filled with desire was urging her, tempting her to seal her lips, to bite into the beautiful and slender neck…

… This was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

Her gaze deepened, sensing that her heart seemed to be in turmoil. The hoarse voice that escaped her dry throat carried a mix of unfamiliar emotions. She softly called out, “Yan’er…”

Qu Panyan happily turned her head to look at her, but at the same time, the silver-white Heavenly Fire mark between her eyebrows also reminded her…

—Her Yan’er almost died because of this!

She forcefully suppressed the wicked thoughts in her heart, her eyebrows furrowing as she calmly reminded herself that she must make Qu Panyan remember this lesson. She couldn’t act recklessly towards her right now. If she were to make a move, everything would be ruined.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Put your clothes back on and behave.”

Qu Panyan’s hand, which was fixing her hair, paused. She lowered her head and looked at her own clothes. It was indeed a glorious sight.

But why did she have to put on her clothes in front of her legitimate Dao companion?!

Didn’t they agree on this just a few days ago?!

Qu Panyan looked at Su Lingyu in confusion, noticing that something seemed off about her expression. There was a hidden yearning in her eyes, yet she appeared to be restraining herself—restraining what?

Qu Panyan lowered her head again and glanced at her own clothes, suddenly understanding something. She raised her eyebrows in pleasant surprise.

Wasn’t this an opportunity?

The newly enlightened Grand Sect Master, she absolutely couldn’t let it slip away!

As for the punishment… as long as the Grand Sect Master was willing, that matter could disappear immediately!

She tousled her dark hair, exuding a captivating aura with every gesture. Allowing her clothes to slide down her arms, she calmly walked towards Su Lingyu, openly presenting herself.

“Yan’er doesn’t want to tie it herself.”

She lifted her eyes to look at Su Lingyu, her hands encircling her neck, her gaze filled with an indescribable allure.

“Sister Lingyu, can you help Yan’er, please?”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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