Chapter 4: Star and Lotus (Part 4) How did she...

In the afternoons at the new home, the sun was warm and the breeze was gentle. Chi Xingji had also prepared a lounge chair in the yard. When Lian Qiang had nothing to do, she would always take a nap on it.

This day was no exception. Lian Qiang was half asleep. She turned over and caught a glimpse of a figure. She sat up and opened her mouth to call out that familiar name: "Chi..."

The figure slowly approached, and when Lian Qiang saw who it was, the smile on her face froze and her voice stopped abruptly.

"...Master." Lian Qiang changed his tone, his voice was full of indifference, and not much respect could be heard in it.

Xi Wenji walked slowly towards him, neither responding nor nodding. After not seeing him for a long time, he still looked the same middle-aged man, thin with slightly sunken cheeks, but his eyes were bright and his brows held a sense of authority without anger.

He had never liked Lian Qiang as his disciple. Firstly, because of the precious gem Chi Xingji, Lian Qiang's less-than-excellent talent became just a mediocre brick; secondly, he had never wanted to accept Lian Qiang as his disciple, but Chi Xingji had threatened to not accept him as his master.

Being threatened by her favorite student to accept a less than satisfactory disciple, Lian Qiang would not be kind to her if she were Xi Wenji.

Lian Qiang was slightly distracted. During this moment, Xi Wenji had already looked her up and down.

"You're still the same, your cultivation hasn't improved at all." He frowned, revealing a look of displeasure. Lian Qiang wanted to laugh when she heard this: "Shouldn't Master know whether I can still make progress?"

Back then, Chi Xingji wanted to marry her, and because his family lived far away, he wanted to ask Xi Wenji to take over the role of elder. However, Xi Wenji was strongly opposed to the marriage. Chi Xingji was persistent. No matter how unwilling he was, he was only a master, not his biological father, and he could not persuade Chi Xingji.

Lian Qiang remembered Xi Wenji's expression that day vividly. He was just like that today, frowning and looking at her like an object. "I disagree. Who are you, and who is she?"

At that time, Lian Qiang was still naive, thinking that Xi Wenji only cared about Chi Xingji far more than he loved her. It was not until after that incident, when Xi Wenji's actions were tantamount to abandoning Lian Qiang as his apprentice, that she realized that her master actually hated her.

——He hated her for ruining his most promising and promising disciple.

In Xi Wenji's eyes, Chi Xingji should be left alone to achieve great success. At the very least, he should marry a woman with equally outstanding talents and support each other.

Lian Qiang also had admiration for Xi Wenji. It is said that once a teacher, always a father. But the more she admired him back then, the more distant she is from Xi Wenji now.

Xi Wenji probably thought the same thing, so he simply stated his purpose: "Xingji has been in the Spiritual Transformation Realm for a long time. As long as there is an opportunity, it will not be difficult for him to ascend. You should know your own limitations and stop hindering him with anything, especially--"

He frowned as he looked at the surrounding apricot trees, as if scanning for something indescribable: "Especially these mundane things, they are harmful and useless to Xingji."

The coldness in Lian Qiang's eyes slowly turned into hostility. Did he think she couldn't hear the hidden meaning in his words? Perhaps Xi Wenji was referring to the apricot blossoms, but even more so, to her.

"Don't worry, Master. When he comes back, I will relay your instructions to him word for word. I will definitely convey your good intentions." Lian Qiang was too lazy to maintain false courtesy, so he told Xi Wenji directly.

Xi Wenji knew his beloved disciple's personality well, and the master and disciple often quarreled over Lian Qiang. He used to think it was just a small quarrel. After all, Chi Xingji was young, so it was normal for him to be delayed by the so-called love.

But now Chi Xingji had left the cave without even saying hello. Who was he trying to slap in the face? Or was he trying to tell Xi Wenji that he could no longer restrain him?

But Xi Wenji would never say these words to Chi Xingji's face. He could only start with Lian Qiang, hoping that she would love him and consider Chi Xingji's future. If Lian Qiang was willing to make concessions, Chi Xingji would not have any objections.

Who would have thought that Lian Qiang, who had always been devoted to Chi Xingji, would suddenly change, her temper becoming much sharper. Xi Wenji instinctively knew that this would not end well for him, and it would also easily damage his relationship as a disciple and mentor with Chi Xingji. He cast another glare of disdain at Lian Qiang, made a gesture, and left.

Lian Qiang slowly lay back down. Although the weather was warm, she felt her hands and feet, which had just been warmed by the sun, become cold again.

It turned out that Chi Xingji had already become a god. She should be celebrating for him - but why was she so sad? The distance between them was growing larger and larger, and she had obviously tried very hard... Lian Qiang bit her lip. Why did fate always play tricks on her?

Shouldn’t I have agreed to Chi Xingji in the first place?

The day Chi Xingji said he wanted to marry her was an ordinary day. At that time, Lian Qiang was just beginning to build her foundation, while Chi Xingji was only one step away from the Nascent Soul stage.

They gathered together as usual, and Chi Xingji listened to her complaining about how difficult cultivation was, how little her master cared about her, and how the people in the Wuji Sword Sect flattered the powerful and looked down on the weak... She talked on and on, and it was all the same things over and over again.

But Lian Qiang never mentioned that some people looked down on her because her position as a personal disciple was given by Chi Xingji.

According to Lian Qiang's talent, if she hadn't endured hardship in the outer sect for decades, she would never have had the chance to touch the threshold of the inner sect, let alone the position of being personally taught by an elder. But she got it without any effort, and it was that extremely dazzling newcomer who did it for her.

Lian Qiang also felt guilty, but they clearly envied her, yet they still looked down on her. She had to show them that she could handle it. But only when facing Chi Xingji did she feel more and more guilty.

She was worried that she was too nagging, that Chi Xingji would find her troublesome, and that Chi Xingji... didn't like her.

Not everyone wants to have a so-called childhood sweetheart who is a constant burden to them.

And at every moment in Wuji Sword Sect, Lian Qiang was told very clearly by anyone and anything about the gap between her and Chi Xingji.

"...Look at you, you adapt so well. Even if I'm not here, you can still thrive. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come. Mother might have arranged a marriage for me by now." Lian Qiang expressed her complaints unconsciously. She was already eighteen years old. If she was still in Ninghe City, she might have become a mother.

She was just joking. It was her own decision, and she never regretted it. Although the speaker was unintentional, the listener took it seriously. After hearing this, Chi Xingji looked at her thoughtfully, and said solemnly, "Then let's get married."

Lian Qiang was so shocked that her eyes were wide open and her sword fell to the ground.

He was still wearing the training clothes that every disciple had, and beads of sweat still covered his face. The evening breeze blew his long hair tied back. Chi Xingji lowered his head slightly to meet Lian Qiang's eyes. At this moment, those eyes were filled with seriousness.

——It is ten times more serious than when he reads and writes.

The gorgeous sunset glow draped over him, only adding to the splendor of his breathtaking appearance. Lian Qiang was so frightened that she didn't dare to blink.

Oh my god! She had coveted the stars, sure, but why were they so eager to dance into her palms? Could it be that the stars had seen through her feelings and were merciful enough to satisfy her?

Lian Qiang was still trying to think of a way to speak, "Well...it's our parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. We didn't have a matchmaker or an engagement..."

"As long as you are willing, I will explain to Master and solve all the problems." Chi Xingji has already said one step and calculated ten steps. "Don't worry, I am not just talking casually."

Perhaps it was because the sunset glow that day was so beautiful, or perhaps it was because Lian Qiang's defenses had become easily broken after a day of training, or perhaps it was because she really liked Chi Xingji. Lian Qiang nodded.

She lay in bed for four hours that night, from the starry sky to the rising sun, but she still couldn't figure out how she and Chi Xingji had taken the big step of dating and got married so easily?

After thinking about it, Lian Qiang could only think that Chi Xingji was doing it out of responsibility.

He was a gentleman who would repay a drop of kindness with a spring. Lian Qiang's joining him as a disciple was partly due to Chi Xingji. He probably remembered this favor in his heart and asked his master to accept her as a disciple. Seeing that she had delayed getting married because of her cultivation, he sacrificed himself to be with her.

Lian Qiang was still deceiving herself by thinking that maybe she was the only one in the sect who was truly kind to Chi Xingji, and he was too greedy for this affection and wanted to take it for himself.

This must be the case. Lian Qiang found a suitable excuse for Chi Xingji. She knew that his decision was not mixed with much love between men and women, but it didn't matter.

No matter what the process is, the result is good. Lian Qiang thinks very positively that feelings can be cultivated slowly.

She liked Chi Xingji so much, and one day, this feeling would definitely be conveyed to him. That night, Lian Qiang considered all the possibilities, but she didn't dare to assume that Chi Xingji actually had the same feelings as her.

The two of them got married in a daze. At first, Lian Qiang didn't know how he got past Xi Wenji. She just felt that she was surrounded by great happiness.

Lian Qiang didn't expect that the first problem she would encounter after getting married would be that kind of thing.

The disparity in their cultivation levels was enormous. Chi Xingji's spiritual energy surged like a flood, coming at her from all sides, threatening to drown her. Lian Qiang was furious, crying and trying to hide, but Chi Xingji held her tightly. The instigator remained silent, leaving her to face the storm alone, nearly shedding tears.

She was so angry that she ignored Chi Xingji for three days. But on the fourth day, when Chi Xingji brought some delicious candy pills, she took the initiative to throw herself into his arms and told him that her sword moves had become much more difficult in the past few days.

"Why is it so difficult? Is it because I really don't have the ability to understand?" She looked at Chi Xingji eagerly, hoping to hear some words of affirmation from him.

But Chi Xingji would never do that. He would just patiently help her solve difficult problems that were as easy as standing and walking for him.

It seems that Lian Qiang pulled herself out of her memories, lowered her eyes to catch a falling petal, and realized that everything that had happened from the very beginning was a coincidence.

How did she go further and further down a path full of mistakes and still stumble and refuse to let go today?

Lian Qiang now feels that in such a vast world like the Wuji Sword Sect, she doesn't even have a place to stay.

——She never belonged here.

She should have realized it earlier.