Chapter 76 "Does that girl smell good?" "Where are you asking?"

Ling Shu stomped her feet in dissatisfaction, "Master! You can't go back on your word after you've accepted me as your disciple! You can't give me away!"

Zhuang Jinfu's lips curled up slightly. Her original intention was to see Ling Shu's youthful emotions as direct and vivid, so that she could experience the feeling of her life truly existing in the unchanging flow of time.

Quan Yi understood Zhuang Jinfu's joke. "I don't have that kind of luck." She sighed, touched the festering flesh and scales on the dragon's body, and carefully used magic to heal it. She sighed, "I still have to take this wicked creature back and seal her in the Nether Sea again to atone for my sins."

Zhuang Jinfu: "Take it easy."

Quan Yi: "Farewell." Quan Yi took out a binding rope imbued with magic, bound the dragon, sat on its body, patted its back, and said, "Ban Kou, let's go home."

Ban Kou's immobilization spell was lifted. As she left, she turned back and gave Ling Shu a murderous look. It was all because of her. She had to go back to that dark and hopeless place, spending her days listlessly swallowing resentment. How hateful!

Ling Shu met her murderous gaze and glared back. Her sword was unsheathed a few inches, revealing a glint of white light. She threatened the dragon defiantly. The dragon's pupils contracted sharply, but she forced herself to remain calm. She still remembered the feeling of the sword cutting her body. She was a member of the dragon race, and her scales were as hard as armor. Ordinary weapons could not cut through her scales.

She had been powerful for many years and had never suffered a loss. However, after being completely tamed, her luck declined. First, she met Zhuang Jinfu, and then Ling Shu. Both of their swords were made of Nine Heavens Profound Iron. Nine Heavens Profound Iron is sharp enough to split mountains and cut through dragon scales. The swords were a pair. How hateful!

I've been a dragon for so many years, and I've never been ridden or had my whiskers pulled! How humiliating!

Ban Kou let out two angry howls, assuming she was in too much pain, and hurriedly said, "Does it hurt a lot? Let me heal you." Ban Kou: "I don't want you to heal me! No!" Then she swooped down and burrowed underneath.

Haha, he says one thing but does another.

Ling Shu is a word I learned from the storybook of Little Frog Maruko.

The land broke open and then closed again. The military officers and the magistrate arrived at the scene and sealed it off. The military officers were part of the army, participating in wartime and providing disaster relief in peacetime. The magistrate was in charge of cracking down on crime and handling special incidents. Zhuang Jinfu explained the situation to the commander of the military officers and the magistrate, and handed over the follow-up matters to them.

Ling Shu followed Zhuang Jinfu back to the city lord's mansion.

The two had separate rooms. After bathing, Ling Shu couldn't bear the longing and, when the moon was high in the sky, she went to knock on Zhuang Jinfu's door with a pillow in her arms.

"Master, the fox cub can't sleep."

"Come in."

Ling Shu, clutching a pillow, grinned as she pushed open the door and entered the room. She closed the door behind her and went inside. Zhuang Jinfu, still awake, put down his book upon seeing Ling Shu and beckoned her over.

Ling Shu threw the pillow at the couch and walked towards the desk.

"What is it?" Ling Shu smiled, revealing two tiger teeth, which had a kind of cunning cuteness. She then instinctively put her hand on the shoulder of the person sitting upright, as if to flatter him.

Zhuang Jinfu waved his hand on the table, and a dazzling Boshan furnace appeared, crystal clear like glass. "This is the Five-Colored Furnace, which was refined from the five-colored stones left over from Nuwa's patching of the sky. It can expand your own magical power to the Celestial Immortal realm. Take it and help me when the time comes."

There are eight levels of cultivation for mortals: Body Tempering, Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, Mahayana, and Ascension. After Ascension, there are still advancements: Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Golden Immortal, Taiyi Golden Immortal, Daluo Golden Immortal, Quasi-Saint, Saint, and Chaos Saint.

This heavy burden suddenly fell on Ling Shu, making her feel pressured, but also happier than ever before. She finally felt like a valuable person. However, Ling Shu also had her own worries: "Since you can increase your own magical power, why don't you take it yourself?"

"I can't use it. When the remaining five-colored stones were being refined, it was during a war between humans and demons. The demons were unwilling to be at a disadvantage, so a dragon at the Mahayana realm sacrificed itself with its demon core. This dragon was upright and could not be driven by anyone other than a demon master. The demon king used this to gain temporary peace, but it could not prevent the demon race from losing. In the end, fearing that this thing would fall into the hands of evildoers in the mortal world, the demon king was willing to hand it over to the immortal realm. From then on, there was no more talk of the five-colored furnace in the world."

"Ling Shu, I entrust half of the fate of the Shangqing Realm to you. I hope you will not disappoint me."

The small five-colored furnace, no bigger than a fist, carried Zhuang Jinfu's expectations and half the fate of the Shangqing Realm. Ling Shu sensed the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders and nervously held her breath.

Why did you choose me?

"You are the only one with a Heaven-level Thunder Spirit Root in hundreds of years, with limitless potential."

Aren't you afraid I'll use it for bad things?

“You won’t. Wang Lifu bets that you are vicious and evil by nature, I bet that you are innocent and pure.”

Ling Shu felt a surge of joy at being recognized, and humbly said, "But, it's not right to gamble with the lives of all living beings in the Shangqing Realm on my own..."

Zhuang Jinfu's face rarely showed a heavy expression: "Isn't it a gamble to put the responsibility of protecting the immortals of the realm on my shoulders alone?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling to take responsibility; sometimes I also find it absurd to place the lives of millions upon my own, gambling on whether one person will be tempted by worldly desires, in exchange for the safety of millions amidst unpredictable natural disasters. Isn't that wrong? It's just that I haven't found the way yet, I haven't..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Break free from the shackles of fate."

She looked up at the moon hanging high in the sky outside the window. "Perhaps, perhaps one day I can break free of my shackles," she glanced back at Ling Shu, "and become a free being in this world, just like you."

Zhuang Jinfu rarely talked about these things, and Ling Shu sensed that she was no longer the same person in Zhuang Jinfu's eyes. The fact that she could speak so sincerely meant that Zhuang Jinfu no longer treated her like a child. Hearing the hope in her words, Ling Shu secretly made a promise to Zhuang Jinfu in her heart.

I wish to be the knife that breaks your shackles.

Ling Shu wrapped her arms around Zhuang Jinfu's neck from behind, rested her chin on her shoulder, rubbed her cheek against hers, and whispered, "That day will come."

Zhuang Jinfu also softly hummed in agreement. Although she knew it was unlikely, it would take too much courage for one person to fight against the heavens. She quickly changed the subject and patted Ling Shu's hand, "Come on, I'll teach you how to use it."

"Infuse your magic power and silently recite the incantation 'White rainbow pierces the sun, change constellations and shift stars'."

Just as Ling Shu was about to put her technique into practice, Zhuang Jinfu stopped her, saying, "When the Five-Colored Furnace moves, a white rainbow will pierce the sun in the sky, spiritual energy will gather for thousands of miles, the energy will be enormous, and the magic power will shake the heavens. Be extremely careful."

"Wow, I must take this carefully and not let it fall into the hands of thieves."

"Don't worry, I have placed a forced lock on you and the Five-Colored Furnace. No one else can use it even if they get it. Only I can break it. No one else can break it unless the Mother Goddess of Creation descends."

Ling Shu felt relieved and put it away.

"Are you thirsty?" Before Ling Shu could answer, Zhuang Jin Fu got up and poured her a cup of tea. Every time Ling Shu went to where Zhuang Jin Fu was, she would pour her a cup of tea. It seemed to be her unique way of treating guests. Drinking tea poured by the Immortal Venerable was considered a great honor. Ling Shu sat comfortably in the spot where Zhuang Jin Fu had sat and waited for her to come over.

The moonlit night was deep, and the spring breeze outside the window carried a fresh scent. The shadows of the trees slanted into the room, falling on Zhuang Jinfu's profile. Her jawline was smooth, her long neck elegant, and her red lips beautiful. The light reflected the dreamlike image of a fairy descending to earth and falling in love with the mortal world, and the pure name of someone who wields a sword to eliminate evil and leave a lasting legacy.

Zhuang Jinfu handed over some spring tea. Ling Shu stared at her face, lost in thought, and didn't take it for a long time. With a "clunk," the teacup was placed on the desk. After a very soft laugh, Ling Shu received a light tap on the head. Her clear, gentle voice asked, "Did you come here tonight to ask for a kiss?"

A sharp pain shot through Ling Shu's forehead. He clutched his forehead, hissing and yelling, "Ouch, ouch, ouch!" but said something he didn't mean: "How could I dare!"

In reality, her mind was filled with the image of Zhuang Jinfu, disheveled and unable to maintain her composure in front of her that night. Between the drifting spiritual energy and celestial aura, a layer of fluid mist vaguely veiled Zhuang Jinfu's figure. All she could see was the hand that Zhuang Jinfu was reaching out to her, and the indescribable coldness she felt was a testament to their connection.

Oh no, it's getting hot.

Ling Shu picked up the teacup and poured it into her mouth, trying to extinguish the fire. After she finished drinking, she went to pour herself another cup of tea, but as soon as she stood up, the teacup was snatched from her hand.

"Don't drink too much tea before bed, or you won't be able to sleep."

Ling Shu's gaze clung to her like a clinging tentacle, and she replied with a smile, "I can't sleep if I don't drink right now."

Zhuang Jinfu put down his teacup, sat down at the tea table, and replied casually, "Oh? Why?"

Ling Shu slowly walked over, leaned against the table, and turned to look at her, saying, "You don't know?"

“I am not you, how could I know?”

Ling Shu picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea into her cup: "Is Master thirsty?"

“My disciple is being filial, so of course I will drink it.”

Ling Shu didn't offer her any tea, but took a sip herself. Zhuang Jinfu raised an eyebrow, not pouring her any, and chuckled, "You naughty boy." The next moment, Ling Shu leaned closer.

Tea is the perfect complement, leaving a lingering fragrance on the teeth.

Ling Shu's lips parted a few inches as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Your disciple respectfully wishes to keep this in mind, Master." His words were tender and gentle, and the lingering sound was captivating.

Zhuang Jinfu looked into Ling Shu's eyes, their gazes met, his throat bobbed, he swallowed, and said nothing.

She...she...how did she swallow it! Could it be that Zhuang Jinfu also has feelings for her?

Ling Shu stood there dumbfounded for a moment before realizing that she should be climbing up the pole instead of staring at her blankly!

In the blink of an eye, someone smoothly sat on the lap of the well-dressed woman, hooked his arm around her beautiful neck, and said sweetly, "Does the tea smell good, Master?"

"This tea is refreshing and worth tasting."

"Does that girl smell good?"

Zhuang Jinfu remained calm and asked in return, "Where are you asking about?"

Ling Shu felt like she was about to ascend to heaven from embarrassment. Her mind raced through all the parts of her body—lips, chest, waist—before she could react quickly. She tried to outwit her, but Ling Shu ended up being outmaneuvered. Ling Shu deliberately led her thoughts in inappropriate directions. Ling Shu steadied herself and threw the question back at her: "Where do you think smells the best?"

"Shu'er is clever, can you guess?"

"I dare not say, for I fear it would offend your ears."

Zhuang Jinfu suddenly chuckled, wrapped one arm around Ling Shu's legs and the other around her back, his light-colored magic power encircling her arm. He stood up steadily, and as he stood firm, he lifted the person in his arms and walked towards the inner room.

Ling Shu was overjoyed. What a wonderful day! Zhuang Jin Fu took the initiative to carry her to the inner room. It would be even better if she could be on top of him. Seeing Zhuang Jin Fu happy because of her and begging for pleasure from her, it was simply too wonderful.

Zhuang Jinfu gently placed Ling Shu down, carefully took a more comfortable pillow for her to rest her head on, pulled the blanket over her, and then lay down herself. She then calmly closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Huh? Just sleeping?

The person next to him was breathing evenly, lying comfortably and resting quietly.

Ling Shu couldn't help but call out, "Master~"

Zhuang Jinfu didn't even open his eyes, and said coldly, "No talking in bed."

Ling Shu stopped talking, poked her shoulder with her finger, but Zhuang Jinfu remained unmoved with her eyes closed. Ling Shu poked her face again, watching the firm skin dip and bounce back, and couldn't help but look at her beautiful thin lips. She had just touched them; they were soft, slightly cool, and fragrant...

"Not sleeping?" The sudden question startled Ling Shu back to reality; the Immortal Venerable's inherent majesty was no joke…

"I'll sleep, I'll sleep." Ling Shu grabbed the blanket and obediently lay down, but then she saw Zhuang Jin Fu prop herself up and sit up. Ling Shu thought to herself, "Oh no, is she going to be angry?"

"Aren't you going to sleep? Do you think I'm too noisy...? I promise I won't bother you anymore, I'll go to sleep now."

But then Zhuang Jinfu pushed up his sleeves, and the white silk light slid across his hands.

Cleanse... Cleanse hands!