Chapter 56 The journey to the West was well-planned, but the heart's desire remained unfulfilled...
Li Hongyi was very curious.
I'm very curious.
Where did Li Qingyun get the guts to charge in without any preparation on the second day?
Did Li Qingyun not listen to a single one of the many warnings he gave yesterday?
So hasty? Aren't you afraid it will backfire?
After breakfast, Li Hongyi ignored Bai Huang's murderous gaze and dragged Li Qingyun to a secluded spot for a talk.
Li Hongyi said in a low but forceful voice, "What are you thinking! You should at least lay a solid foundation first!"
Li Hongyi was agitated, speaking through gritted teeth, and it looked as if he was about to grab Li Qingyun by the neck and shake her violently.
That was incredibly frustrating.
Li Qingyun was speechless: "Never mind, I just did what you taught me."
"What do you mean, 'leave it alone'? Is that even reasonable?" Li Hongyi was so angry she almost turned into a bright red tomato.
Li Qingyun couldn't understand what he was in such a hurry for. After thinking it over, he felt that the person in front of him was underestimating the value of his master-disciple relationship with Chang Yubai.
"Although my master doesn't show it on his face, he treats me differently from others."
"All the groundwork you mentioned is no longer necessary for me."
Li Qingyun is very confident about the stage she is in.
From the moment he and Chang Yubai formally became master and disciple, Chang Yubai only had eyes for his disciple. Li Qingyun had known for over a decade that his master was very lonely and afraid of loneliness. Although Chang Yubai possessed great skills, there was practically no one who could truly keep him in this world.
It was his departure from Qingyun that made Master Chang stop in his tracks.
It was his departure from Qingyun that made Chang Yubai begin to look forward to the ordinary days.
To others, the master-disciple relationship may seem like just a matter of teaching and being taught, but to Chang Yubai, it is family, a symbiotic relationship, and an indispensable part of his life.
More sticky than flesh and blood, more intertwined than bone marrow.
Li Qingyun had long known that she had taken root in Chang Yubai's heart, but that thin veil was too strong, and she had never been able to break through it.
In this situation, why is there any need for preamble?
Troublesome, and abrupt.
Li Hongyi remained skeptical: "I don't believe it."
From Li Hongyi's perspective, Chang Yubai's reaction was blank.
Aside from his boundless indulgence of his apprentices, there is not a trace of corruption in him.
Li Qingyun: "Tch."
She seemed completely unwilling to acknowledge Li Hongyi.
“You’ve been working in the wrong direction,” Li Hongyi said sternly.
"The methods I taught you are not for use between master and disciple; that's inappropriate."
Yesterday, Li Hongyi thought that some unknown person had bewitched Li Qingyun, which was why he came up with a bunch of little tricks to win her heart. But now it seems that Bai Huang is not the type to fall for that kind of thing at all.
If the long-standing master-disciple relationship is to be transformed into love, the master-disciple label must first be removed. Otherwise, no matter how much Li Qingyun does, it is just a junior's dependence on an elder. From Chang Yubai's perspective as a teacher, it is just a difference between a disciple becoming clingy and becoming even more clingy.
Li Hongyi explained it this way.
Li Qingyun: "..."
Li Qingyun frowned, it was unclear whether she had heard him or not.
Anyway, Li Hongyi waited in front of him for a long time, but didn't get a single reply.
Helpless, Li Hongyi could only continue speaking, his mindset completely shifting from "it's really infuriating" to "it's really frustrating."
A master and his apprentice are still a master and his apprentice. No matter how close their relationship is, they can't escape the identity of master and apprentice.
Okay! Even if Bai Huang has a bizarre way of thinking and believes that the bond between master and disciple surpasses all other emotions in the world, what then?
A master and apprentice will never become lovers.
Just because you say you want a master doesn't mean the master will enthusiastically rush over to respond!
Li Hongyi had never realized he had such a painstaking and earnest side.
He even felt like he had actually been someone's father.
I'm mentally exhausted.
"Even if what you say is true, Bai Huang may not show it on his face, but he cares about you. You're still too reckless."
"You didn't even let the White Emperor realize your feelings."
"Didn't I tell you yesterday that we need to proceed gradually? It doesn't mean that all these years of getting to know each other are enough. You need to gradually help him understand."
Li Qingyun clicked her tongue: "You think I don't know?"
Li Qingyun: "If he were capable of enlightenment, he would have done so long ago. Otherwise, why would I be asking you for help?"
"Chang Yubai's mind is different from ordinary people. If you don't figure it out for him, he will never think about love in his entire life."
Li Qingyun spoke with great conviction.
Li Hongyi inwardly exclaimed, "Wow!"
They've stopped acting altogether, and they've even stopped calling him "Master."
"So you asked me for advice...?" Li Hongyi asked, puzzled.
“Use your method to show him clearly, let him know that I’m proposing to him.” Li Qingyun clenched her fist. “Then he’ll have nowhere to hide.”
"He can't just abandon me, his apprentice!"
Li Qingyun spoke with absolute certainty.
Li Hongyi: ……
Li Hongyi: ...You have no intention of letting Chang Yubai go at all.
He now knew just how dark the kid's skin was once cut open.
While others cultivate a mentor-disciple relationship, Li Qingyun prefers to force his disciples into a relationship.
Is that reasonable?
"How do you know your master won't be scared away after you openly express your love?" Li Hongyi's doubts deepened. "In the cases I know, when a master is confronted with his disciple's direct expression of love, his first words are always to call him a rebellious disciple."
“He won’t,” Li Qingyun said firmly. “I told you, he cares about me. Master Chang… he cares about me a lot. Very much.”
"How much does he care?" Li Hongyi felt something was off. "How can you be so sure he cares that he'd be willing to sacrifice himself for someone else?"
Although in his opinion, Chang Yubai, with that deadpan look, would never be able to get to the point of understanding easily, let alone progress from master and disciple to lovers.
But who knows if Li Qingyun knows more inside information?
What if Chang Yubai really has some secrets between master and disciple that he doesn't want to share?
Li Hongyi pricked up his ears and began to listen intently, determined not to miss a single word he heard afterward.
Seeing how serious he was, Li Qingyun didn't bother arguing with him and simply told him the truth: "I saw it with the Jingyuan Stone."
Li Hongyi's eyes widened in surprise.
Li Qingyun secretly felt a sense of pride: "Every time I use the Jingyuan Stone to look into Master's heart, I see scenes of Master and me together."
Li Hongyi: Is that so?!
Li Hongyi thought to himself: That certainly means they attach great importance to it.
Li Qingyun: "From my childhood, my master has been looking forward to living in seclusion with me when I grow up, spending our days in the mortal world with simple meals and coarse tea."
Li Hongyi: Hmm... Hmm? ? ?
Li Hongyi: !!!
"You mean the future? What future? What did you see when you were a child?"
The Jingyuan Stone glimpses the deepest images in one's heart; where does the future come from?
Li Hongyi was furious.
The deepest images in a person's heart must be things that have already happened; how could they possibly be related to the future?
Li Qingyun tilted her head: "Tsk, annoying."
He was just offering Li Hongyi some advice; it doesn't mean he handed over all the decision-making power to Li Hongyi.
"My master has always longed to retire to the mortal world with me after I grew up. This is what the Jingyuan Stone reflects, and it has never changed in more than ten years!"
Seeing that Li Hongyi seemed to want to say something more, he simply stopped listening and walked away.
What's with all this talk about the future? Arguing about this is just so annoying!
Before leaving, Li Qingyun was still muttering to himself, "He is clearly the owner of the Jingyuan Stone, how could he not know its effects?"
Li Hongyi: ……
Li Hongyi: You know nothing!
Li Hongyi wished he could quickly pull the man back and explain to him that the Wishing Stone didn't have such powerful functions.
But Li Qingyun had already walked back to Chang Yubai's side. The White Emperor was already dissatisfied with him forcibly taking away his disciple. If he were to provoke him again, that would be courting death.
Chang Yubai: Stare—
Chang Yubai: "Have you finished speaking?"
Will Li Hongyi come back and take Xiaoyun away again?
Li Qingyun was still in a daze and did not answer.
Chang Yubai: ?
Chang Yubai: "Xiaoyun? Xiaoyun?"
"Huh?" Li Qingyun was called several times before she came to her senses. "Oh, it's over, Master. Where do we go next?"
Where to go next? Can you really go out in this mental state?
Chang Yubai became seriously suspicious: "What exactly did you two talk about?"
"...It's hard to say." In any case, Li Qingyun's expression was not very good.
The travel plans that the two had originally discussed also fell through as Li Qingyun's spirits waned.
Despite Li Qingyun's repeated assurances that he was unaffected, Chang Yubai couldn't believe his dazed appearance, which was too conspicuous.
He might not bother to investigate his disciple's secrets, but he couldn't bear to leave Li Qingyun unprepared and in danger.
All plans had to be postponed until the next day.
And the next day...
Chang Yubai sat by the window of the private room, shaking the cup in his hand repeatedly.
The sun was high in the sky when even Li Hongyi dawdled out of bed and walked toward him in surprise.
"Are you alone?" Li Hongyi sat down next to Chang Yubai.
Chang Yu nodded with a dark expression.
"Uh... are you in a bad mood?"
"What did you say to him yesterday?" Chang Yubai asked directly.
Li Hongyi: "..." How do I explain this? Should I say that he and Li Qingyun were discussing how to woo you?
This definitely can't come out of his mouth!
Seeing that he didn't speak, Chang Yubai added, "Xiaoyun hasn't come down yet."
Li Hongyi: "Uh..."
“Xiaoyun has been in a bad mood ever since you talked to him yesterday. You bullied him.”
"Don't use a certain tone!" Li Hongyi exclaimed in alarm. "How could I dare to bully him!"
But Li Hongyi seemed to have figured out some of the reasons.
Perhaps Li Qingyun really took my words to heart yesterday and started to doubt the efficacy of the Jingyuan Stone.
After all, it's an advantage that we've believed in for over a decade. If it's suddenly said to be nonexistent, anyone would be devastated.
Chang Yubai: Stare—
Just as Li Hongyi was sweating profusely, Li Qingyun arrived late.
Li Qingyun didn't say anything, and simply sat down next to Chang Yubai, as if the two were just having a normal casual chat after a meal.
But the atmosphere was visibly cold.
Li Hongyi thought this wouldn't work.
Leaving aside the fact that Li Qingyun's plan to take down Chang Yubai fell apart midway, the scene of Chang Yubai being spied on by the Jingyuan Stone is a major problem in itself.
If we want to resolve the marriage between these two masters and disciples, we have to make things clear.
According to Li Qingyun, Chang Yubai's heart was set on Li Qingyun, who had become an adult with a calm and indifferent demeanor.
Why this image? Wait... isn't this the image that Li Qingyun has always presented to the outside world over the years?
He was determined to start a conversation, subtly probing whether Chang Yubai could recognize some unassuming yet highly capable individuals.
Li Qingyun listened to a few of his words and instantly realized something. She glared at Li Hongyi, clearly dissatisfied.
What does Li Hongyi mean by this?
Could it be that the person he's been watching over for over a decade using the Wishing Stone is someone else entirely?!
dream!
Chang Yubai: "..."
Chang Yubai: "What do you want to ask?"
Li Hongyi played his trump card: "Let's talk about Li Tiansheng's dirty laundry, so I'll have a better understanding of the kinds of people I'll encounter in the future, and I won't be completely confused."
"You know that guy is a real handful, always causing trouble for everyone. If you knew someone like that, I could at least put in a good word for you and save you from getting into trouble with your own people."
Chang Yubai: "...Yes."
Chang Yubai was indeed moved by Li Hongyi's words.
Li Qingyun was still looking at Li Hongyi with resentment.
But Chang Yubai's next words caught him completely off guard.
“That’s the kind of person my master is.” Chang Yubai seemed to be savoring the memory. “My master has always been gentle and mild-mannered, but he doesn’t like to make deep connections with people.”
"Huh?" Li Hongyi became more and more tense as he listened, his intuition telling him that this person was extraordinary.
Chang Yubai's thoughts drifted far away, and he completely forgot his master's teachings. He even began to reminisce about the past.
Although it wasn't explicitly stated, one could sense the leisure and joy that Chang Yubai and his master experienced during their secluded life.
The master was of a calm and unassuming nature, yet he cared deeply for his disciple. The two were inseparable, and traces of their life could always be found in the square courtyard.
Li Hongyi's ominous premonition was now uncontrollable. He dared not look at Li Qingyun beside him, and wanted to interrupt Chang Yubai's wandering thoughts. Unfortunately, Chang Yubai was too engrossed in his speech and showed no sign of coming back to his senses.
Li Hongyi, having failed several times in his attempts to salvage the situation, could only resort to a self-deprecating reply: "May I ask the name of your esteemed teacher...?"
"Enough!" Li Qingyun, who had been silent all along, suddenly interrupted and slammed her hand on the table.
Chang Yubai was startled back to reality: "Xiaoyun?"
Li Qingyun did not answer.
No one was the first to respond with a sentence.
The wooden table still bore the handprint left by Li Qingyun's forceful slap; it was unclear how much force he used, but the entire surface was dented.
Then, Chang Yubai realized that Li Qingyun had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
In the closed, deserted area, only the ripples of teleportation scrolls lingered in the air. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that there was more than one scroll.
"Hiss... Where did we go?" Li Hongyi panicked.
Perhaps she's up to no good and is trying to get revenge on someone!
Chang Yubai didn't know either.
He didn't even see Li Qingyun's reaction clearly, nor did he understand which sentence made Li Qingyun want to leave in a flash.
He unleashed all his senses, scanning every corner and detail with his divine sense, but after a round, he still found nothing.
He frowned.
This has never happened before.
This was the first time the master and apprentice had been separated by such a great distance.
The Great Wilderness could no longer detect any trace of Li Qingyun.
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