Chapter 8 Making her want...wanting to be unrestrained with her

"Immortal Venerable Qingxi... has actually come!" The cultivators present were almost speechless with shock. No one could understand why Immortal Venerable Qingxi always showed favoritism towards this demoness. Last time, when this demoness first entered the mountain sect and clashed with the cultivators, it was Immortal Venerable Qingxi who arrived at the crucial moment and even said that she wanted this demoness to become her disciple.

Who is Immortal Venerable Qingxi? He is the only true immortal in the Shangqing Realm. Even Wang Lifu, the sect leader of the Shangqing Sect who governs all sects in the Shangqing Realm, treats him as an honored guest. It is said that the Shangqing Realm has been free from natural disasters such as floods, earth dragons turning over, tsunamis, and droughts for three hundred years. This is because Immortal Venerable Qingxi is here to guard the realm and protect it with his own body.

This Immortal Venerable Qingxi ascended to the Shangqing Sect and was a disciple of Wang Lifu. After her ascension, Wang Lifu's status rose accordingly, from the lowest elder of a sect to the position of sect leader of a realm. Without Zhuang Jinfu, there would be no Wang Lifu as we know him today.

Zhuang Jinfu single-handedly blocked the killing moves of twenty-seven cultivators at the Golden Core stage or above present. She didn't even draw her sword; she flew by using her sword as a means of control.

A powerful spiritual wind whipped her clothes into flight, and beneath the thick, inky thunderclouds, she was a beacon of white in the darkness, a savior in the night.

Ling Shu looked at the white sky and was momentarily lost in thought. The light of lightning gathered in her hand dimmed for a moment, and when she came to her senses, it was too late. The lightning struck mercilessly. Ling Shu subconsciously dodged to the side, but in her haste, she stumbled and fell backward to the ground.

A white magical force struck from the upper side, blocking the thunderbolt from the sky.

The two forces canceled each other out, and the white magical power dissipated in the air, faintly emanating a chilling aura.

Ling Shu was speechless. Wang Lifu said, "In that case, take her back and discipline her properly." Li Qiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief, rushed into the barrier, and helped Ling Shu up from the ground, saying, "It's alright, don't be afraid. Go back with your master and cultivate properly."

Ling Shu didn't shake off her hand, letting her support her.

Wang Lifu waved her hand and said, "I'm going back." She turned and left. Seeing that she left so decisively, Li Qiaoyan quickly caught up with her, and the other cultivators followed her instructions and left as well.

Only two players remained on the sidelines.

Zhuang Jinfu touched the ground with her toes and landed in front of Ling Shu.

Before she could speak, Ling Shu asked, "Why did you save me?"

Zhuang Jinfu slightly raised her eyelids and glanced at her. This glance was devoid of emotion, as if she were simply looking at the speaker out of politeness. She said, "I want to give you a chance."

These words again, just like the one he said to her when they met at the mountain gate: "Take me as your master." It was a condescending statement, cold, yet it felt like a form of redemption.

Ling Shu's gaze lingered on her for a long time: "You really want to take me as your disciple?"

"Um."

The familiar blue tiles and white walls, the familiar warmth and fragrance of the hall—Ling Shu followed Zhuang Jinfu into the Qingxi Hall. Hai Gu greeted them, a friendly woman with a beaming smile. She seemed unsurprised to see Ling Shu and said with a smile, "Miss Ling is back."

Before entering the main hall, Zhuang Jinfu left a message for Hai Gu: "Take her to the Golden Thread Hall, she will live there from now on."

Hai Gu led Ling Shu into the Golden Thread Palace. Everything inside was exquisitely furnished, from the precious ornaments on the partitions to the orchids on the shelves by the windows. Being there felt like stepping into a celestial abode.

The hall is not large, so large that it makes people feel lonely inside, nor is it small, so small that you don't run out of space after just a few steps; it is just the right size.

The sea maid brought water for Ling Shu to bathe in the palace. The water was warm and cozy. Ling Shu soaked alone in the wooden tub. It was so comfortable that her ears involuntarily popped out.

In the dead of winter, snow was falling heavily outside Qingxi Hall, but inside, it was warm as spring.

She lay on the edge of the wooden tub, her red fox ears twitching playfully. She shook off the water droplets clinging to her ears and thought as she soaked in the warm water.

Xiang Zhuangjinfu.

What kind of person is she?

She cultivates the path of ruthlessness. What kind of person cultivates the path of ruthlessness? Is she truly ruthless towards everything in the world?

Then why... save her?

Isn't pity a form of affection?

The air was thick with steam, and she felt a little hot. Now that the tribulation had passed, her body was stronger than before, and she could absorb more demon core power. However, she still couldn't fully integrate the demon core power with herself. The cool spiritual energy that Zhuang Jinfu had infused into her at the Water Moon Hot Spring acted like fish glue, mending the cracks between the demon core power and her own body, and lowered her body temperature.

Zhuang Jinfu's spiritual power was icy cold... Her hands also felt cool to the touch. In the Shuiyue Hot Spring, the unattainable, aloof immortal was pulled into the water and pressed against the hot spring pool wall by her. His slender and well-proportioned body and beautiful face touched her skin, which was slightly cool and smooth.

Let her think...

I want to take her along and be unrestrained.

Ling Shu's face flushed slightly, her heart raced, and she felt a surge of heat, whether from the demon core or something else.

Back when she was outside the mountains, she never felt this way when she saw handsome men with exceptional looks, until she met Zhuang Jinfu…

Ling Shu dared not soak in the tub for too long and quickly got up. The silk robe that Hai Gu had prepared for her was soft and comfortable against her skin. Its smooth texture was the same as the smoothness of her clothes that she had touched in the Shuiyue Hot Spring.

My emotions, which had just been calmed down, began to surge again.

She took a deep breath, signaling herself to let go of this inexplicable emotion, and opened the door. There were maids standing guard at the door. They bowed respectfully to her and then went inside to deal with the water stains and the wooden tub after her bath.

A gentle breeze blew by, caressing my face, and even the wind felt warm.

Ling Shu came out of the hall, intending to sit under the crabapple tree in the courtyard under the moonlight.

But then a figure in white walked in through the palace gate. Even before she got close, one could feel a slight chill emanating from her.

Ling Shu watched her walk over.

Zhuang Jinfu raised her hand, revealing a jade pendant with a lotus pattern, the very one that Ling Shu had given her earlier. She said, "This is a jade pendant that should belong to my disciples."

"Oh." Ling Shu reached out her hand, but Zhuang Jin Fu didn't hand it to her.

Zhuang Jinfu asked her seriously, "This jade pendant is a symbol of status. If you accept it, you will officially become my disciple. You should think it over carefully."

Ling Shu said self-deprecatingly, "Does it matter whether I've thought it through or not? Do I even have a choice?"

"important."

Suddenly, Zhuang Jinfu said this, and the seriousness in her words made Ling Shu swallow her rebuttal.

Ling Shu slightly curled the corners of her mouth, her face showing indifference: "I've thought it through, I want you to put it on me."

Before Ling Shu could hear Zhuang Jinfu's reply of "yes" or "no," her sudden close proximity startled her. Zhuang Jinfu bent down to tie her belt, and her hair slipped down to her side as she moved, carrying a faint scent of jasmine. Her cool fingers touched Ling Shu's waistband. She had just bathed and was wearing a thin nightgown; through the fabric, Ling Shu could feel the coolness of her fingertips.

My heart, please don't be disobedient, don't beat so fast... I'm going to die! What if she notices I'm nervous? Will she laugh at me...?

"Alright." Zhuang Jinfu straightened up, but noticed that Ling Shu had sprouted fluffy red fox ears on her head. Her face was not visible in the darkness, but it seemed that her cheeks were a little pink.

A very soft chuckle reached Ling Shu's ears.

Noticing Zhuang Jinfu's gaze, Ling Shu quickly put her hands above her head to cover her two furry fox ears, and said shyly, "Don't laugh."

"It's late, get some rest."

"Get out of here."

Another very soft laugh rang out.

Even after Zhuang Jinfu left the Golden Thread Palace, Ling Shu's ears were still not put away. Those damned ears, they've been disobedient ever since the Heavenly Tribulation.

Two or three maids came out after tidying up and bowed to Ling Shu, saying that everything was ready and asking her to go to sleep. Ling Shu went into the room.

A pale crimson gauze curtain hung down, the warm light of the luminous pearl shone softly, and a faint, calming incense burned in the room. Ling Shu snuggled into the quilt, pulled it up to her chin, and then pulled it up from both sides to cover her cheeks, so that her face was also pressed against the comfortable quilt. She then drifted off to sleep peacefully.

When Ling Shu woke up the next day, she was covered in a hot sweat.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she buried herself in the blankets, refusing to come out.

She dreamed of herself and Zhuang Jinfu.

In her dream, Zhuang Jinfu wasn't as distant as she appeared during the day. With her red lips and fair face, she softly said, "I wish to share the joys and sorrows with you." A cool warmth enveloped her from behind, and Ling Shu turned around, hooked her arms around her neck, and pushed her to the edge of the hot spring pool, where they kissed.

"Why aren't you up yet?" Zhuang Jinfu's clear voice suddenly rang out from the surroundings.

"Ahhhhh!" Ling Shu was startled and screamed. After screaming, she realized her embarrassment and quickly covered her mouth.

"Did I scare you?" Zhuang Jinfu asked, puzzled.

"You... how dare you barge into my room!" Ling Shu shouted, her head covered by the blanket.

Zhuang Jinfu's words were completely calm: "It's almost noon. Hai Gu said that you couldn't be woken up, and she was afraid that you were injured by lightning yesterday, so she called me to come and check on you."

After hearing this, Ling Shu slowly poked her head out from under the covers, glanced at Zhuang Jin Fu, and then shrank back under the covers. She saw Zhuang Jin Fu's lips... She still clearly remembered the sweetness of her dream... Ahhh!

Zhuang Jinfu sat on the edge of her bed, looking at the pair of fox ears that were slightly pushed back, and couldn't help but laugh and say, "What's wrong? Are you afraid I'll trick you out of your demon core?"

Fearing that Ling Shu might harbor resentment, she unusually added an extra sentence: "My cultivation has reached the highest level; your demon core is useless to me."

She spoke gently, and Ling Shu slowly emerged from under the covers. As soon as her head appeared, Zhuang Jinfu grabbed her hand.

Ling Shu's hair stood on end: "W-what are you going to do?!"

Zhuang Jinfu did not answer, but saw her put her index and middle fingers together and place them on her wrist to take her pulse.

It turns out it was taking a pulse... I thought...

Zhuang Jinfu said calmly, "My heart is beating a little fast."

"Excessive internal heat."

"The spiritual energy is running rampant."

"We'll have some tea to cool down and reduce internal heat later."

"..."

Every word she spoke felt like a tap on Ling Shu's forehead. Ling Shu was embarrassed and dared not refute, nodding obediently like a quail.

Zhuang Jinfu felt a sense of comfort seeing how well-behaved she was today. He had originally thought that this little madwoman would cause a huge disturbance in Qingxi Palace the next day, disrupting the peace inside and out. But today, she was behaving herself, which showed that she was teachable.

Zhuang Jinfu was very pleased and said slowly, "Get up, I will teach you how to regulate your breathing."

"Teach me how to flirt?"