Pei Jing had sent people to follow Jiang Chuting on his previous trips down the mountain, but he managed to shake them off each time.

Every time he stayed away for a few extra days before returning, Pei Jing would harbor a lot of resentment and wouldn't give him a pleasant look. However, after venting his anger, he would start calling his master "Master" affectionately again.

But today was different from usual. Pei Jing kept a cold face until just before he went to bed and sat down to talk to him.

Pei Jing stared straight at him and said, "Master, I'm about to leave. Aren't you reluctant to part with me?"

Jiang Chuting was taken aback. Yes, he had been so focused on investigating the matter at hand that he had forgotten that in about half a month, Pei Jing's poison would be almost cured, and he would definitely be heading back to the palace.

At first, I did hope that he would recover from the poison quickly and leave soon, but after spending so much time with him, I felt a little reluctant to see him go.

He was nominally Pei Jing's master, but in reality, setting aside Pei Jing's status, he treated him as just an ordinary junior. Apart from teaching him swordsmanship a few times and helping him with his breathing exercises a few times, he didn't do much else. But Pei Jing seemed to have an inseparable attachment to him, which made him feel somewhat guilty.

Jiang Chuting looked back at him, raised her hand and patted his shoulder, saying softly, "I will come to see you when I have the chance in the future." Although such opportunities are rare, after all, it is the imperial palace, not an ordinary mansion.

"I don't want to wait until later." Pei Jing grasped his hand, his eyes gleaming with urgency. "Master, come back to Jincheng with me. If you come with me, I promise I won't mistreat you, and I'll definitely protect you." Pei Jing's original plan was to make Jiang Chuting treat him well, reluctant to let him leave, and willingly return to the palace with him. Jiang Chuting was indeed good to him, gentle and tolerant of his temper, but that was all. No matter how hard he tried, his heart was clearly elsewhere. Perhaps it was his old friend's son, or the meddlesome matters he was involved in; in short, they were all more important than his disciple. He couldn't deny it.

Neither harsh methods nor yielding will work with this person; he has his own agenda, and Pei Jing has no way to influence him.

Jiang Chuting has several senior brothers, all of whom are quite skilled. Pei Jing could have recruited one of them to help him, but he didn't want to; he only wanted this one person. He actually had ulterior motives from the very beginning.

When Pei Jing extended the invitation again, Jiang Chuting opened her mouth but ultimately declined, saying, "Little Jiu, just like you, of noble birth, are not suited to stay in the Nine Heavens forever, your master is not suited to go back with you."

No matter how much he said, it was all just an excuse. Pei Jing's eyes dimmed, and he said dejectedly, "You're so direct, you don't even know how to comfort me."

Jiang Chuting sighed softly and said to him, "It's best for you and your master to stay in your respective positions. Don't be sad, we'll meet again in the future."

Pei Jing was sullen and looked down, fiddling with his fingers. When his eyes focused, he noticed teeth marks on his hand, which looked like they had just been bitten.

Pei Jing remained calm, having already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. Her heart felt like it had been doused with boiling water, her breath slightly heavy. She nestled into his arms, her cheek pressed against his soft clothes, the pleasant scent of his body filling her nostrils.

Pei Jing had never been so patient and tolerant of anyone in his life, but what he received in return was completely unequal. He was angry and aggrieved, and couldn't help but say, "Master, can't you like me a little more?"

"Hmm? Master already likes you very much."

"Not enough, I want more." He wanted it all.

"Okay, okay, a little more." Jiang Chuting stroked his hair like she was coaxing a child, and said softly, "It's getting late, let's rest."

Pei Jing was somewhat sullen. Jiang Chuting watched over him practice his martial arts for a while, and seeing him lie down, she also lay down to prepare for sleep.

Pei Jing turned over for a while, then got up and fiddled with the incense burner. A faint, pleasant fragrance filled the room.

Jiang Chuting asked, "Xiao Jiu, what are you doing?"

“I’m feeling restless and can’t sleep, so I’m lighting some calming incense.” Pei Jing turned to look at him and said softly, “Don’t you like the smell? Perhaps I could…”

"It's alright, I quite like it," Jiang Chuting said. "Go to sleep quickly once you're done."

Whether it was the calming incense or not, Jiang Chuting felt exceptionally refreshed when she woke up the next day.

Pei Jing was in a much better mood than yesterday. He clung to Jiang Chuting and acted coquettishly for a while, then dragged him outside to practice swordsmanship. Jiang Chuting demonstrated once, and he followed along. Jiang Chuting taught him very diligently, and before they knew it, half a day had passed.

Pei Jing felt that time flew by whenever she was with him.

"Master, did you also create this sword technique yourself?" Pei Jing stared intently at him, her eyes shining with an indescribable brilliance.

This man usually gave off the impression of a refined and elegant gentleman, but in reality, this was only one side of him. When he held his longsword, its sharpness was fully revealed, as cold and fierce as ice, absolutely not to be underestimated. After all, he was someone who had become famous for his swordsmanship at the martial arts tournament at the age of sixteen. Pei Jing felt a little regretful that he hadn't been able to witness his prowess in person back then.

Jiang Chuting gave a casual "hmm" and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, but Pei Jing didn't take it. Instead, he brought his face closer and said, "Master, wipe my sweat. I'm about to leave. Can't you pamper me a little more?"

Hearing him express his resentment in a sweet tone, Jiang Chuting smiled and said, "Xiao Jiu, are you this affectionate at home too?"

"No, I only do that to you, Master."

Come to think of it, he wouldn't be allowed to act like this in the palace; only here could he unleash his true nature. Jiang Chuting took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead and cheeks.

"When I'm thirty, forty, fifty... I still want to cling to you like this, to have you pamper me." The two stood face to face, very close. Pei Jing's gaze gradually darkened as he stared at the face so close to his, the face he had longed for day and night. Suddenly, a surge of blood rushed to his head, and he grabbed Pei Jing's wrist as Pei Jing tried to pull it back, his gaze burning. "Because I love Master, I love him so much. Master, what about you? Do you have me in your heart?"

Jiang Chuting widened his eyes slightly, feeling a little strange, and smiled at him, saying, "Of course, you and Wei Jia are both my disciples."

Pei Jing twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and pressed, "Am I the same as Wei Jia, no different from you?"

“Yes,” Jiang Chuting said, “you are more mischievous than him.”

Pei Jing remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but take a small step forward. But before his face could get close, Jiang Chuting reacted quickly, breaking free from his hand and calmly taking a large step back. Her clothes fluttered as she looked at him with slight surprise.

In the blink of an eye, the two were still standing facing each other, but now they were a little further apart than before.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Pei Jing laughed a few times, "You scared me by saying I was naughty."

Jiang Chuting smiled faintly and said to him, "Yes, it's getting late, let's go back." His tone was gentle, and he turned and walked ahead. Pei Jing watched his tall and elegant back for a while before striding after him, calling out, "Master, wait for me!"

For several nights in a row, Pei Jing lit calming incense, and Jiang Chuting got used to the smell and didn't question it. Every day after protecting Pei Jing during his practice, she would lie down and sleep soundly until dawn, only to be entangled by Pei Jing until nightfall.

Before they knew it, it was the day before Pei Jing was to meet Lin Zhi. While practicing his martial arts that night, he got distracted and ran into trouble again. Fortunately, Jiang Chuting was watching over him and quickly came to his aid. As a result, the two of them didn't get to sleep until late into the night.

Surrounded by a subtle fragrance, Jiang Chuting slept exceptionally soundly. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that the sky outside was dim and it seemed to be drizzling.

Seeing him slowly wake up, Pei Jing, who had been sitting expressionlessly by the bedside, immediately broke into a bright smile. "Master, you're finally awake! You worked so hard for me last night, I couldn't bear to wake you, so I just watched you sleep."

Jiang Chuting sat up, her hair falling over her shoulders. She looked down and rubbed her throbbing temples, her voice slightly hoarse: "Xiao Jiu, what time is it now?"

“It’s already late afternoon,” Pei Jing replied, then asked him, “Are you hungry? Wait a moment, I’ll go get you something to eat.”

Upon hearing the time, Jiang Chuting closed her eyes briefly, realizing something was amiss; a whole day had already passed, and it was already evening.

He never imagined he'd slept this long. Remembering Lin Zhi's parting words, Jiang Chuting felt a pang of anxiety. He'd failed to keep his promise; the child must be angry. How should he comfort him when he arrived?

"Xiao Jiu, no need." Jiang Chuting pulled Pei Jing, who was about to turn and leave, and said, "I'm not eating. I have something to do and I'm going down the mountain."

Jiang Chuting got up from the bed, hurriedly put on clothes, tied her hair, picked up her sword and disguise pill, and was about to go out. Pei Jing, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly stepped forward and caught up, blocking the doorway. His chin was slightly raised, his eyes were full of gloom, but a smile played on his lips as he asked affectionately, "My dear master, it's so dark and the roads are slippery at night, and you're in such a hurry to go down the mountain. Who are you going to see? Is it someone very important? How about I escort you?"