Chapter 32

◎"Confessing Love"◎

Jiang Qiye needed to restrain himself; he knew he had to report this matter to his master.

Master has always been resistant to "demons," so if someone were to say they want to be with her without any prior preparation, Master would definitely not agree.

But Ah Zheng is so cute and innocent, Master will surely be happy to see her.

“Ah Zheng, although we’ve only known each other for a few days, it feels like we’ve known each other for ages. Of course I like you.” He spoke carefully, “However, you are all alone, without parents, and I don’t even know who your master is. I dare not make any promises to you before that.”

Sure enough, the man had long harbored lustful intentions towards her, but fortunately, he still retained some gentlemanly conduct and did not make a move immediately.

If she were to actually find her master and meet his master, who knows when that would be?

We can't wait, we can't wait.

The next second, her tears fell down in a flash.

"Don't cry."

“Brother, you don’t know my troubles.” Pei Xueyan choked as she spoke, her voice broken. “My master went to travel the world. Before leaving, he passed on some cultivation techniques to me, but I was foolish, naive, and simple-minded. I easily believed what others said and ended up being cheated out of all my cultivation. I don’t even know who the cruel person was. I can only hide every day and suffer all kinds of bullying from others.”

She spoke half-truthfully, but her tears fell even more fiercely.

"If my master knew I'd become like this, he'd probably kill me with a single blow. Dear brother, what should I do?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she buried her head in Jiang Qiye's chest, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and cried even harder.

Jiang Qiye felt guilty for the first time.

She's right. Ye Xiuluo is ruthless, and he's probably very strict with his disciples as well.

While he was worried about her safety, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased: this way, A-Zheng would have no way out but to follow him.

“Ah Zheng, come with me. I’ll take you to see my master and my teacher. They are very kind people and will definitely accept you.” He made up his mind and spoke firmly.

Pei Xueyan shook her head: "Although I come from a humble background and my master's reputation in the martial arts world is unclear, she raised me and taught me martial arts. How could I betray my master? I have also heard that the master of the Qingzong Sect has always looked down on small sects. I'm afraid that they will say that I have abducted their good disciple."

"No, that won't happen." Jiang Qiye said with great certainty, "My master has been in seclusion cultivating and has a gentle nature; although my master has a bad temper, he has a kind heart but a sharp tongue and would never make things difficult for you. I will definitely beg him properly when the time comes."

"What if he refuses?"

Jiang Qiye was stumped by the question. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what promise to make.

He never disobeyed his master's wishes.

Seeing his silence, Pei Xueyan released her arms from his waist, turned around and walked to the table to sit down, where she continued to cry.

This crying was still half-true and half-false.

Jiang Qiye treated her very well, even if they only spent a few days together. Because of his kindness, she developed a strong possessiveness towards him.

Now it's discovered that he still loves his masters the most. And speaking of his masters, if they really knew she had lost her cultivation, they might really take drastic measures against her.

As I thought about it, I felt like I was really going to die.

Pei Xueyan is truly afraid of death.

Jiang Qiye walked up to her and said softly, "If Master really does not agree to us being together, I will cripple my martial arts and hide with you in the mountains."

"No!" Pei Xueyan said immediately.

How could this foolish man cripple his own martial arts? Without his cultivation, what use is there for her to find him!

“Brother, don’t be so silly. We are probably really not meant to be. I originally wanted to go to Yunhua Mountain with you to cultivate in seclusion, but I’m afraid I won’t have the chance.”

Jiang Qiye could no longer hold back and reached out to pull her back into his arms.

Pei Xueyan nestled in his arms, feeling extremely smug. In just a few days, she had the pride of the Qing Sect firmly in her grasp.

She was coy and hesitant, half-heartedly resisting, and that's how she lured him into the act.

The next morning, the two prepared their provisions and set off.

Jiang Qiye remembered that she loved sweets, so he asked her to wait at the roadside teahouse while he went to a nearby shop to buy more.

Pei Xueyan was sitting in a roadside teahouse, drinking tea and waiting, when she suddenly saw a dark shadow flash by, then hover overhead for a while before landing on a rooftop in the distance.

"Good disciple, how have you treated your master? I'll drain you of your blood and tear out your bones!"

The sound reached her ears from afar, but no one around her reacted; it seemed only she could hear it.

Pei Xueyan was so frightened that she quickly hid in the teahouse room, repeatedly saying, "Master, Master, I'm sorry, I will definitely get it back."

The cold voice gradually faded away.

Pei Xueyan slumped on the stool, her back already soaked in cold sweat, her heart still pounding wildly.

No, we must act quickly.

When Jiang Qiye returned carrying pastries wrapped in oil paper, Pei Xueyan immediately threw herself into his arms.

"Brother, brother, I'm so scared! Why did it take you so long to come back? There are bad people all around."

Jiang Qiye quickly hugged her and gently patted her back to comfort her: "Azheng, don't be afraid. I will never leave your side again."

Pei Xueyan nestled in his arms, taking his comfort for granted.

She raised her head after a long while, her eyes still red: "Brother, do I have no chance to succeed in learning the art? I'm already seventeen years old, and I'm afraid I'll never be able to condense my core again in this lifetime. I'll be a mortal for the rest of my life. Mortals live to be fifty or sixty at most, but I hope you can live like Master Qilin, for hundreds of years, for a very long time."

Jiang Qiye felt a chill run down his spine. He knew, of course, how difficult it was to re-form the Core at this age. It required not only extreme diligence but also extraordinary perseverance.

He could tell that Pei Xueyan couldn't endure that hardship.

No matter how beautiful and spiritually significant Yuanhua Mountain may be, it's impossible for her to achieve success overnight.

He naturally wanted her to learn advanced magic as soon as possible, but he didn't know where to begin.

Given her pessimistic nature, I'm afraid she won't amount to much even if she goes to Yuanhua Mountain.

Ultimately, it's all his fault for causing all of this.

“Come with me. There is a Lingyue Mountain not far from the Qingzong Sect. It is where many of my masters practice in seclusion. If you are not afraid of hardship, we can cultivate together. I will teach you every skill.”

Pei Xueyan would definitely refuse.

She doesn't like to suffer.

“Brother, you are a high-ranking disciple of the Qing Sect, right? How could you pass on the sect’s cultivation to me without your master’s permission? I don’t want it anymore. I’m content to live for decades with you.”

Jiang Qiye wanted to comfort her, console her, and even boost her morale, because if she always lived so dejectedly, she would eventually become depressed.

But if I were in that situation, would I be half as composed as she is?

It's probably not possible.

In the end, the two decided to go to Yuanhua Mountain first. They each rode their horses and slowly made their way forward.

After walking for a while, Pei Xueyan's mood improved. She turned to look at Jiang Qiye and asked with a smile, "Master Jiang, it's about seven or eight hundred miles from here to Yuanhua Mountain. Will it take us more than ten days to travel like this on horseback? Do you know how to fly on a sword?"

"If you use a sword, it will only take two hours to get there. However, your body is weak, and I'm afraid you won't be able to withstand the spiritual energy impact when using a sword."

Pei Xueyan used to be able to fly on a sword, but unless she was in a hurry, she always preferred to travel slowly and take her time to look around.

At that moment, she deliberately smiled sweetly, looking at him with sparkling eyes: "Brother, you're so nice, I like you so much."

"Oh? What do you like?" Jiang Qiye asked, unusually, and looked at her meaningfully.

Pei Xueyan paused for a moment, holding the horse reins, then smiled and said, "Of course you're perfect in every way! There's nothing I don't like about you! You're highly skilled, handsome, and kind-hearted—who wouldn't like you?"

“I’m not kind-hearted,” he said calmly. “I hurt someone before, and if she knew, she would probably hate me to death.”

His voice was melancholic, tinged with wistfulness. Pei Xueyan smiled and asked, "Is it someone you like?"

"No, no, no." Jiang Qiye didn't know how to answer. It was someone she liked, but she couldn't say who it was. Would she get angry?

"Why are you stuttering?" Pei Xueyan teased him deliberately, her tone somewhat indifferent. "Don't worry, I won't be jealous. It's fine if you like someone else, I won't force you. At worst, I'll go find Young Master Wei and marry him."

Jiang Qiye felt a surge of resentment.

Even at this point, she's still thinking about that guy surnamed Wei!

"You're with me but you're still thinking about other men."

Pei Xueyan tilted her head back and laughed, her eyes full of slyness: "Good brother, I didn't expect you to be such a jealous person! I won't mention it again from now on, so as not to upset you."

Jiang Qiye's expression softened, his lips curled up slightly, and he finally smiled happily.

To be honest, this man was already handsome, and his smile made him even more radiant.

A man who is gentle and warm like spring breeze is much better than one who is cold and aloof.

The two of them enjoyed their journey. When they were fast, they could travel one or two hundred miles a day, and when they were slow, they would eat and sleep well in the inn and wash away the dust of the journey.

Pei Xueyan would coax him to channel his spiritual energy into her every day. After a few days, she felt light and refreshed, as if she were about to be imbued with some celestial energy.

Even so, she kept pretending to have a headache, backache, leg pain, and heartache—basically, she was in pain everywhere.

Jiang Qiye was even happier. Whenever she was feeling unwell, he would initially transmit spiritual energy through her back, but later he would directly hold her hand and transfer it into her body.

I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and it was incredibly pleasant.

He wasn't unaware that this woman was good at saying nice things and then forgetting them, but he still enjoyed this intimacy.

In just two or three days we will reach Yuanhua Mountain. The trees and flowers along the way are becoming more and more lush and green, and even the air is fresher.

After dinner, the two went back to their respective rooms to rest.

Jiang Qiye felt uneasy, because once they arrived at Yuanhua Mountain, they should become Daoist partners.

This matter is still being kept from Master. Once we become Daoist partners, it's no different from being husband and wife. We'll eat, sleep, and cultivate together.

It is a major life event.

Even though some like-minded people don't become husband and wife, how could anyone tolerate him and her?

After much thought, he flicked out a spirit feather and sent a message to his master, explaining that he wanted to become Daoist partners.

Lingyu reacted very quickly.

Before leaving, Jiang Qiye made a special trip to Pei Xueyan's room to check on her as she slept soundly. He then used magic to seal the door before slipping away.

Not long after leaving the inn, before even reaching the meeting place, a furious voice boomed in my ears.

"You wicked scoundrel, how dare you commit adultery and debauchery behind your master's back! Kneel down at once!"

The person arrived before the voice.

"..." Even though Jiang Qiye knew that his master was always stern, he still couldn't help but want to argue.

Just as he was about to speak, the roar came again:

"You villain! Kneel down now!"