Chapter 42 The Great Competition of Prodigies

Jun Xiangbei did not fly on his sword, but walked on foot at a steady pace, always keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Gu Yunqing, who was lifting her skirt and walking unsteadily behind her.

He always felt that the woman he had just rescued was not so simple, and he had a feeling that "she" was somewhat familiar.

The wind in the wilderness was chilly, making Gu Yunqing's thin clothes flutter. He couldn't help but shiver, but he gritted his teeth and followed closely without saying a word.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, we crossed a barren mountain, and the view suddenly opened up before us.

In the distance, towering peaks rise, and amidst the swirling clouds and mist, the eaves of pavilions and towers can be seen, cranes cry out, and ethereal light appears and disappears.

A massive mountain gate stood majestically, with two imposing characters inscribed on it—Sword Sect.

Gu Yunqing felt a slight tremor in his heart. Even though he had no memory of it, the scene before him made him instinctively feel a sense of grandeur and solemnity.

You continued northwards without stopping, heading straight for the mountain gate.

Upon seeing him, the gatekeeper immediately bowed respectfully: "Senior Brother!"

When his gaze swept over Gu Yunqing behind him, who was disheveled but whose beauty was still undeniable, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he did not ask any further questions.

Jun Xiangbei simply nodded slightly and led Gu Yunqing into the sect.

As they traveled, they attracted the attention of many disciples of the Sword Sect. Senior Brother Jun Xiangbei was known for his aloofness and indifference towards women.

Today, he actually brought back a disheveled mortal woman himself?

Gu Yunqing could feel the curious, inquisitive, and even disapproving gazes coming from all around him, but he had no time to pay attention to them at the moment.

Waves of exhaustion and hunger washed over me; my embroidered shoes were worn out, and every step I took was excruciatingly painful.

He could only lower his head, trying his best to keep up with the pale figure in front of him, focusing all his attention on not falling down.

A stream of heartbroken comments scrolled through Jun Xiangbei's live stream:

"The Sword Sect disciples were dumbfounded, haha."

"Gu Yunqing looks so tired, her face is deathly pale."

"Jun Xiangbei, look back! The person you just saved is dying."

Finally, Jun Xiangbei stopped in front of a particularly quiet mountain peak.

This peak is named "Snowy Silent Peak," which was his residence.

The snow on the summit never melts, and a few simple bamboo huts are nestled among them. Apart from the sound of wind and snow, there is almost no other noise. It is so quiet that it doesn't seem like anyone lives there permanently.

He pushed open the door of one of the bamboo huts and said to Gu Yunqing, "You can stay here for now."

The bamboo hut was furnished very simply: a bed, a table, a chair, and nothing else. It was so clean it was almost cold.

Gu Yunqing almost staggered to the bedside and sat down, letting out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if all the bones in her body were about to fall apart.

Jun Xiangbei looked at his pale and tired face, remained silent for a moment, then turned and went out. A short while later, he brought back a bowl of congee and a set of clean white disciple's clothes and placed them on the table.

"After you finish your meal, change your clothes." His tone remained flat, and he turned to leave after saying this.

"Wait!" Gu Yunqing called out to him instinctively.

You turned back to the north, asking with your eyes.

Looking at his handsome but expressionless face, Gu Yunqing felt a sudden, wicked pleasure transform into a sense of unease arising from her weakness and dependence.

This "immortal" seems aloof and cold, like a block of ice that can never be warmed.

Ironically, it was he who saved him and brought him back to this seemingly safe place.

An urge to shatter his calm facade inexplicably surged within me.

It was a test of his bottom line, and also a way to find some fun in this boring recovery period.

He blinked, trying to make his eyes appear even more vulnerable and helpless, and softened his voice: "Immortal Master... it's so deserted here, I... I'm scared to be alone."

Jun Xiangbei frowned almost imperceptibly, seemingly not quite understanding this emotion.

"Snowy Peak is protected by an array, so it's very safe," he stated the facts.

Gu Yunqing rolled her eyes inwardly, but her expression became even more sorrowful, with her eyes even slightly reddening and on the verge of tears.

"But...but I'm all alone here...Immortal Master, could you...keep me company?"

Even he himself felt that these words were pretentious, but since the play had already begun, he had to keep going.

Jun Xiangbei looked at the tears in his eyes, a faint hint of confusion and... distress flashing in his own eyes.

He's not good at handling this kind of situation.

In the end, Jun Xiangbei simply said, "I'm right next door. Call me if you need anything."

Then, almost hastily, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Gu Yunqing looked at the closed door and couldn't help but curl a smug smile into her lips.

Although no one stayed behind, it was quite interesting to see the ice block looking somewhat helpless.

He picked up the bowl of bland porridge and slowly drank it down, only then did he feel a little warmer.

After changing into the clothes, although they were still women's clothing, they were much more convenient to move around in than the complicated women's clothing I was wearing.

While changing clothes, Gu Yunqing suddenly realized that she might not be as simple as she seemed.

After all, he was just wearing women's clothing, yet everyone else assumed he was a woman? Including Jun Xiangbei.

However, he happened to be somewhat familiar with Jun Xiangbei, and he himself had lost his memory.

Could it be that I'm some kind of hidden master?

Gu Yunqing stroked her chin, somewhat curious.

In the following days, Jun Xiangbei kept his promise and did not leave Xueji Peak.

He would bring food and water every day and occasionally check on Gu Yunqing's recovery, but he spent most of his time meditating in his room or practicing swordsmanship on the mountaintop.

As Gu Yunqing's strength gradually returned, her restless heart became even more active.

He deliberately sat not far away to "observe" Jun Xiangbei while he practiced swordsmanship, his gaze burning with undisguised interest.

Sometimes, it will "accidentally" fall down, waiting for Jun Xiangbei to come and help it up.

Sometimes he would take the basic mental techniques for strengthening the body that Jun Xiangbei gave him and "ask for advice," asking questions that were ambiguous or even carried a hint of ambiguity.

For example: "Master, where does 'qi sinking to the dantian' mean? I don't quite understand."

Or: "Immortal Master, do you think dual cultivation is faster than cultivation alone?"

Each time, Jun Xiangbei would either correct his incorrect cultivation posture with a blank expression or simply ignore those nonsensical questions.

Gu Yunqing found it increasingly interesting.

This block of ice doesn't seem to be completely unmoved.

Finally, on a clear, moonlit night, Gu Yunqing felt the time was right.

He always enjoyed teasing respectable people, but whenever he encountered Jun Xiangbei, a voice in Gu Yunqing's mind would tell him that he had to appear in front of Jun Xiangbei more often.

As for why it appeared so often, Gu Yunqing smiled and said, "Don't worry about the sound; it has its own rhythm."

He had deliberately washed his hair during the day, and now his long black hair cascaded down his shoulders, and he was only wearing a thin nightgown.

He slipped out of the room silently and crept to the outside of Jun Xiangbei's bedroom.

He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Jun Xiangbei was sitting cross-legged on the couch in meditation when he heard the noise and suddenly opened his eyes.

The moonlight illuminated the slender figure at the doorway.

With ink-black hair and white clothes, his eyes were moist and shimmering, carrying a kind of desperate cowardice and... seduction?

"What are you doing here?" Jun Xiangbei's voice was a few decibels deeper than usual.

Gu Yunqing did not answer, but walked barefoot step by step toward the bed.

With a perfectly flushed face and timid yet determined eyes, he climbed into Jun Xiangbei's bed.

Jun Xiangbei's body tensed instantly, and the sword energy around him almost overflowed uncontrollably.

He stared at the "woman" so close to him, watching her slowly approach, carrying a faint scent of soapberry.

Gu Yunqing raised his tear-filled eyes and began his performance in a voice trembling with sobs, his words brimming with innuendo and moral blackmail:

"Immortal Master... Your Excellency... You rescued me from the jaws of wolves and brought me back to this peaceful place, sparing me from the suffering of wandering... Could it be... could it not be that you harbored such intentions?"

As he spoke, he carefully observed Jun Xiangbei's reaction, his fingers even tentatively reaching out to touch the other's sleeve.

"I am a helpless woman with nothing but this body... If you, sir, will not abandon me..." he choked up, putting on a convincing performance of "offering myself as a bedmate".

The audience in Jun Xiangbei's live stream instantly went wild:

"Holy crap, a night raid? They're going all out?"

"That sobbing voice, that look in her eyes, it's so pitiful."

"Offering yourself as a bedmate? I'm already prepared to screenshot this embarrassing moment."

"I bet five cents that Jun Xiangbei will throw him out!"

Just before Jun Xiangbei's fingers were about to touch him, he suddenly stood up and avoided contact.

He looked down at the over-the-top "woman" on the bed, his eyes not showing the expected disgust or emotion, but rather a mixture of helplessness, scrutiny, and a hint of barely perceptible understanding.

He remained calm, his voice still composed, without showing any anger: "I saved you not for this reason."

Gu Yunqing's crying stopped abruptly, and she looked up in surprise.

Jun stretched out his finger to the north and pointed it at his brow from a distance.

A gentle yet irresistible spiritual energy probed in and quickly circulated.

“You possess spiritual roots, though they are mixed, they are not without aptitude.” Jun Xiangbei withdrew his hand, his tone calm and unwavering, as if the scandalous farce from just now had never happened.

"To indulge in relying on others is ultimately a mirage."

Seeing Gu Yunqing's stunned expression, he continued, "If you are willing, I can take you as my disciple and guide you onto the right path of cultivation."

"I hope that in the future you will be able to respect and strengthen yourself, and find the opportunity to live a long life, instead of being trapped in the world of love and wasting your time."

Taking...taking apprentices?!

Gu Yunqing was completely stunned.

This development completely exceeded his expectations! He had anticipated that Jun Xiangbei might refuse sternly, become angry, or even... be a little bit tempted?

But to his utter surprise, the other party skipped all the emotional options and went straight to the channel of "I see you have extraordinary talent, why don't you become my apprentice?"

The contrast was so great that he didn't react for a moment.

Gu Yunqing blinked, tears still clinging to her face, but a sly smile crept across her lips as she teased him without restraint:

"Master? So... you have a taste for this? Master and disciple... that sounds even more exciting!"

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his eyes lingering on Jun Xiangbei with an ambiguous look.

Upon hearing this, Jun Xiangbei's brows finally furrowed noticeably.

He seemed somewhat displeased with Gu Yunqing's frivolous words, but ultimately did not rebuke her.

Jun Xiangbei simply turned around, no longer looking at that smiling yet startling face, his voice still steady: "Stop talking nonsense. Now that you've joined my sect, you should abide by the rules and diligently cultivate."

He pointed to the next room: "Go back to your room. Tomorrow at dawn, at the peak training ground, I will teach you the basic mental techniques and sword skills."

After saying that, he sat down cross-legged again, closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. His aura instantly merged with the coldness of Snow Silence Peak, clearly indicating that he had no intention of paying any more attention to him.

Gu Yunqing looked at his stubborn expression, pursed her lips, but felt a sense of novelty and amusement she had never experienced before.

He slipped off the bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor, made a face at Jun Xiangbei's back, and then tiptoed out of the room.

The bamboo door closed gently.

On the couch, Jun Xiangbei slowly opened his eyes, a faint ripple flashing in them.

He was not entirely oblivious; the "woman's" words and actions were bold and deliberate, clearly a test and a playful act.

But what caught Jun Xiangbei's attention even more was the sudden flash of agility and a strong will to survive in those eyes beneath that seemingly frivolous exterior, a quality completely different from their "weakness."

And, there was a vague sense of familiarity he felt towards Gu Yunqing.

He always felt that Gu Yunqing shouldn't be like this.

A piece of uncut jade covered in dust.

That's how he defined it.

Since we have encountered it, we must refine it.

It is a teacher's responsibility to guide them onto the right path and help them abandon any crooked or evil thoughts.

As for other things... they were not within his consideration.

The night at Snow Silent Peak remains cold and silent.

Gu Yunqing lay on the bed next door, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, a playful smile on her lips.

Master?

Okay, let's see how this "master-apprentice" game will eventually turn out.

He's really looking forward to it.

Gu Yunqing's live stream room was filled with a bunch of people having fun:

"I've placed my bet. I'm betting on how long it will take Gu Yunqing to win over his 'master'."

"I bet five packs of spicy strips that Jun Xiangbei will be the first to fall for you."

"That's impossible. Isn't Jun Xiangbei a robot without emotions? Even in an illusion, he couldn't possibly be moved."

"He got the Glass Heart in the last dungeon, so what's impossible about him?"

"Am I the only one who thinks Jun Xiangbei is serious about teaching his apprentices?"

"Upstairs, you're too naive. Look at Gu Yunqing's eyes, does she look like she's trying to study hard?"

The comments in the live chat accurately predicted what would happen on Snow Silent Peak in the days to come.

At dawn, before daylight, the training ground on the summit was already bitterly cold.

Gu Yunqing, wrapped in her disciple's robes, stood there shivering, looking at Jun Xiangbei, who had been standing still for a long time, his body seemingly blending into the cold air.

"Today, I will teach you how to guide Qi into your body." Jun Xiangbei's voice was colder than the morning breeze, devoid of any extra emotion.

He explained the mental techniques and demonstrated the path of spiritual energy circulation.

Gu Yunqing appeared to listen attentively, but her eyes kept glancing at Jun Xiangbei's perfectly sculpted profile and his well-defined hands.

After Jun Xiangbei finished explaining and asked him to try it on his own, Gu Yunqing immediately began his performance.

"Master~" he drawled, taking a few steps closer and pointing to his lower abdomen, his eyes innocent yet troubled. "This 'Qi Sea' you mentioned... is it exactly here? I can't feel it at all?"

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, his fingertips almost touching his abdomen, but his eyes were fixed on Jun Xiangbei.

Jun Xiangbei's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and he subtly shifted his body back half a step to avoid getting too close.

"Concentrate on your inner vision and do not be distracted." He spoke calmly, raised his hand, and pointed a cool spiritual energy precisely into Gu Yunqing's dantian. "Use this as a reference and sense it yourself."

The audience in Gu Yunqing's live stream burst into laughter:

"Haha, teaching remotely, eliminating all physical contact."

"Hey, head north: Don't come near me."

"This master is truly strict and vigilant."

The first attempt failed.

Gu Yunqing was not discouraged. She obediently said "Oh," sat down cross-legged, and pretended to sense things.

A short while later, he cried out "Ouch!" again, his body swayed weakly, and he fell towards Jun Xiangbei.

Jun Xiangbei shifted slightly, but instead of reaching out to help, he used a gentle spiritual force to support him and gently press him back to his original position.

“Unstable foundation, restless and impatient,” he concluded, his tone still calm. “Continue.”

After finishing her morning exercise, Gu Yunqing was panting heavily. She followed Jun Xiangbei back to the bamboo house study to learn how to identify meridians, acupoints, and basic runes.

In the study, Jun Xiangbei sat at the desk, while Gu Yunqing was asked to sit on the futon below him.

The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood, and the atmosphere should have been solemn, but Gu Yunqing always managed to find an opportunity to do so.

For example, right now, Gu Yunqing deliberately went to ask about runes. He held the book and leaned close to the table, almost lying on the table with his head tilted to the side.

"Master, what's the pronunciation of this character? It has so many strokes, it's so hard to remember." He blinked, trying to distract her with his good looks.

Jun Xiangbei would use the other end of the pen to point at the words on the book from a distance, clearly and calmly pronouncing and explaining them, always maintaining a safe distance from the book.

After several attempts, Gu Yunqing discovered that simple verbal teasing and slight physical probing seemed unable to move this iceberg.

But he was not discouraged; on the contrary, he became even more enthusiastic.

Gu Yunqing would casually mention, "Master, the spiritual fruits sent from down the mountain today are so sweet. I saved the biggest one for you."

Although Jun Xiangbei never eats these common foods.

When Jun Xiangbei practiced his sword, he would no longer just sit and watch, but would hold his outer robe and wait quietly by his side. When Jun put away his sword, he would step forward and hand him a towel and robe.

He also began tending to the few cold-resistant spiritual plants on Snow Silent Peak, though he often clumsily nearly killed them.

These actions no longer carry such a strong purpose; instead, they seem more like a habitual approach and gesture of goodwill.

Jun Xiangbei initially showed no reaction, and he would have the spiritual fruit that Gu Yunqing had placed on the corner of his table taken away untouched.

He would silently accept the robes offered to him and then hang them up; he would secretly channel his spiritual energy into the dying spiritual plants to revive them.

But gradually, Gu Yunqing keenly noticed some subtle changes.

For example, when he "accidentally" touched Jun Xiangbei's finger while handing something over again, the other party would still immediately pull back, but the instantaneous burst of sword energy would no longer appear.

For example, when he gets closer to ask questions, Jun Xiangbei still stiffens slightly, but he no longer deliberately keeps his distance. He just looks down at the book and tacitly allows him to get closer.

On one occasion, an outer disciple responsible for delivering supplies saw that Gu Yunqing, an ordinary person, had actually become the disciple of the Sword Sect's senior disciple. He chatted with him for a few more minutes and even smiled and tried to pat him on the shoulder.

Just then, Jun Xiangbei returned from outside. His gaze swept over the disciple indifferently, and the disciple instantly felt a chill run down his spine. His hand froze in mid-air, and he awkwardly withdrew it, put down his things, and slipped away.

Jun Xiangbei said nothing, but when he passed by Gu Yunqing, he seemed to pause for a moment before heading towards the study.

As Gu Yunqing watched his retreating figure, a knowing smile slowly crept onto her lips.

interesting.

Viewers in Gu Yunqing's live stream also noticed this:

"There's been progress, comrades! I've found the key point!"

"That outer disciple was scared away by my gaze."

"Is Jun Xiangbei... jealous?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! He was just upholding the dignity of his sect!"

"He definitely noticed Gu Yunqing's smile too."

As a result, Gu Yunqing's "harassment" escalated.

He was no longer satisfied with simple touch and words, and began to think of more "effective" ways to approach her.

That afternoon, the sunlight, for once, dispelled some of the chill from Snow-Silent Peak.

Gu Yunqing, carrying a thick volume of "Basic Formation Diagrams," knocked on the study door.

"Come in."

Gu Yunqing pushed open the door and entered, her face displaying just the right amount of "curiosity." "Master, I've studied the arrangement of the nodes in this spirit-gathering array for a long time, but I still don't quite understand the relationship between the flow of spiritual energy between them."

He carried the books and naturally walked to Jun Xiangbei's desk, spreading them out on the table.

Then, Gu Yunqing very "naturally" leaned down, her arm almost touching Jun Xiangbei's arm on the table, her head also very close, a few strands of her black hair hanging down, almost brushing against the back of Jun Xiangbei's hand.

Jun Xiangbei paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the pen.

He could clearly feel the warmth coming from beside him, and the slight tickling sensation from the strands of hair brushing against him.

He subconsciously wanted to move his arm away, but when his gaze fell on Gu Yunqing's profile, which was "focused" on the book, and her slightly furrowed brows, he stopped moving his arm.

Jun Xiangbei lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the array diagram in the book, his voice slightly lower than usual: "Here, one should use divine sense to guide it, rather than brute force..."

Gu Yunqing listened "attentively" while observing Jun Xiangbei out of the corner of her eye.

Finding that Jun Xiangbei hadn't changed much, Gu Yunqing felt annoyed, but kept a straight face.

When Jun Xiangbei pointed out a key point, he exclaimed "Ah!" as if he had suddenly realized something, and his finger "unintentionally" pressed on that spot in the book.

It landed precisely on Jun Xiangbei's fingertip, which he was about to touch.

Warm, with a slight callus from sword practice, touched Gu Yunqing's cool fingertips.

The two of them paused at the same time.

Jun Xiangbei recoiled as if burned by something, jerking his hand back with such speed that it created a gust of wind.

He suddenly stood up, turned his back to Gu Yunqing, and walked to the window, leaving only a slightly stiff back view.

"That's enough for today. You... go back and figure it out on your own." His voice regained its usual coldness, and even had a touch of deliberate aloofness.

But Gu Yunqing noticed with her sharp eyes that, in the instant he turned around, his jade-like earlobes were clearly tinged with a very faint blush.

Gu Yunqing was overjoyed, but on the surface she pretended to be confused and at a loss, slowly put away the book and replied softly, "Yes, Master... This disciple is foolish and has disturbed Master's cultivation."

The tone of his voice was perfectly poignant, conveying his grievance.

He left the study carrying the books, turning back every few steps.

The moment the door closed, the slight grievance on his face was instantly replaced by cunning and smugness.

Inside the study, Jun Xiangbei stood by the window, gazing at the snow that never melts outside, motionless for a long time.

The cool, soft touch on his fingertips seemed to linger, disturbing his peace of mind.

He tried to suppress it by circulating his inner energy, but found that the feeling was like a persistent, intractable disease.

This isn't right.

You frowned, looking north.

He is the master, and he is the student.

Guiding them onto the right path is the right way.

These inexplicable emotions are neither helpful for spiritual practice nor in accordance with propriety.

He must exercise more restraint.

This thought, like icy spring water, poured over Jun Xiangbei's entire body.

He sat down cross-legged again, trying to dispel distracting thoughts through a deeper meditative state.

However, those lively eyes, that "Master" with its aggrieved ending, and that warm breath so close by, like vines, quietly entwined his frozen mind, refusing to leave.

In the following days, Jun Xiangbei became increasingly strict with Gu Yunqing, demanding more and more meticulous results, almost to the point of nitpicking.

Every movement and every phrase must be precise and accurate.

He no longer allowed Gu Yunqing any opportunity to get close, whether physically or verbally.

If Gu Yunqing tries to use the same trick again, he will sweep his gaze over her with his cold, unfathomable eyes. The invisible pressure, though not harmful, is enough to freeze any ulterior motives.

Gu Yunqing complained incessantly on the surface, but she knew exactly what was going on in her heart.

The more Jun Xiangbei acted this way, the more it proved that his previous probing was not in vain.

That's interesting. So interesting!

Instead of backing down, Gu Yunqing was inspired to fight even harder.

He temporarily toned down his overt flirtatious behavior and became much more "well-behaved," diligently completing all the cultivation tasks assigned by Jun Xiangbei.

He even demonstrated a level of comprehension in some sword techniques that exceeded Jun Xiangbei's expectations.

This would occasionally soften Jun Xiangbei's cold expression slightly, but that was all.

But the peaceful days were suddenly shattered by a piece of news.

The once-a-decade "Grand Competition of Prodigies" is about to begin, and each sect must send disciples to participate.

As the senior disciple of the Sword Sect, it is only natural for Jun Xiangbei to represent the Sword Sect in the battle.

When the news reached Xueji Peak, Gu Yunqing was clumsily practicing a basic sword technique in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the disciples who had come to deliver the message discussing this matter, he paused with his wooden sword in hand, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

The Grand Competition of Prodigies? That sounds exciting!

More importantly, this means that Jun Xiangbei is leaving Xueji Peak and going to a place he cannot easily follow.

This won't do.

A plan quickly took shape in his mind.

He knew that Jun Xiangbei had an unwavering habit: every day at 7 PM, he would go to the hot spring behind the mountain, which was imbued with spiritual energy, to bathe.

That's it.