Chapter 29 Breathing and heartbeat were somewhat out of control.
A soft, warm kiss landed on her neck, and she froze, not yet used to being on guard against Ling Shu.
Ling Shu's alluring eyes stared intently at him, captivating and bewitching. Zhuang Jinfu met her gaze; her face was so close that even the fine downy hairs on her skin were clearly visible.
My breathing and heartbeat are somewhat out of control.
A warm hand held hers and reached into the jade unicorn in her palm.
Zhuang Jinfu immediately understood what she meant.
Grip the jade unicorn tightly, quickly switch it to your right hand, and then raise it high.
She tried to rob him outright, so she resorted to [illegible].
"I have said that sorcery is prohibited."
Ling Shu chuckled and gave a "tsk" sound. Confident in her beauty's ability to bewitch people, she looked like she had the other party firmly in her grasp. She gave Zhuang Jinfu's shoulder a push like a cat scratching, but Zhuang Jinfu took a step back.
She caught up with him, placed her left hand on Zhuang Jinfu's right shoulder, and laughed, "Master, I didn't use any demonic magic."
Zhuang Jinfu's eyes lingered on her face.
Ling Shu's every breath seemed to carry tender emotions, and the words that came out of her mouth were like red-hot branding irons, searing her heart.
She didn't even notice the unruly hand on her right arm, which was sliding down her arm.
Ling Shu leaned close to her ear and said, "Mingming, it's you, Master—"
My mind is in turmoil.
Zhuang Jinfu was taken aback, his body tense.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
At that moment, Ling Shu snatched the jade unicorn from her hand.
Zhuang Jinfu lost.
Ling Shu held the jade unicorn head and base between her middle finger and thumb, raising them in front of her, swaying her body from side to side like a dancer who was about to jump for joy at any moment, proudly displaying her victory. The alluring and seductive demeanor from before had completely disappeared.
Unruly.
Zhuang Jinfu was stunned. He knew her intentions, but he was still bewildered. This was bad, very bad.
She is your disciple, what are you thinking?
Zhuang Jinfu closed his eyes, rubbing his Jingming acupoint, and said with a headache, "I'll consider you to have passed."
"You are not allowed to have relatives randomly anymore."
Ling Shu retorted quickly, "My mouth is my own body; I can kiss whomever I want."
Zhuang Jinfu opened his eyes and instinctively exclaimed, "No!"
Ling Shu had already retracted the jade unicorn he had raised, holding it tightly in his hand, and looked at her: "Master, you're meddling too much."
Ling Shu poked her shoulder with her finger: "You're my master, not anyone to me. Why do you care who I kiss?"
Zhuang Jinfu said solemnly, "It is precisely because I am your master that I must teach you that you cannot be promiscuous and cannot kiss others casually, so as not to cause yourself any romantic troubles."
Ling Shu put her hands on her hips and said, "I like it this way!"
Zhuang Jinfu shouted sternly, "Ling Shu!"
She said with slight annoyance, "Just because you act casually doesn't mean others do the same. Do you know that your behavior will make others..." She didn't finish her sentence.
Ling Shu acted as if nothing had happened, deliberately pressing for an answer: "What will this do to others?"
"You can't keep doing this."
Why not?
"Go out." Zhuang Jin waved his hand, and the azure sky and the crisscrossing ice surface shattered like glass. When he looked again, he was in the study.
Why not?
"Don't come back with a bunch of romantic entanglements and then make me clean up your mess."
"Now I'm actually hoping I can stir up some trouble, but unfortunately, some people aren't taking the bait."
"..." Zhuang Jinfu deliberately ignored this question. She sat down and looked at the cold iron on the table. "If there's nothing else, you can go out."
"You said you were afraid I'd get into trouble with other women, but I was just repaying a kiss."
Zhuang Jinfu's heart skipped a beat. What did she mean by that? Did she know everything about the time she accidentally entered a dream and helped her wake up from her beautiful dream? Did she remember everything? And then deliberately pretend to have amnesia, act pitiful, and gain her sympathy, while also deliberately saving her, her highly moral master, from embarrassment?
Zhuang Jinfu seemed to freeze, pondering the meaning of these words repeatedly.
Ling Shu, however, had already turned her gaze to the desk. While placing the jade unicorn on it, she stared at the pieces of cold iron. A possibility flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but ask, "Does Master like cold iron?"
"no."
Ling Shu asked curiously, "So it's useful? What does Master use it for?"
Zhuang Jinfu remained calm and composed, saying frankly, "I'm preparing a gift."
Ling Shu cared a lot, but didn't ask any further questions. She didn't want to ruin Zhuang Jinfu's desire to give someone a surprise.
Who is it prepared for? According to the book, cold iron is the material for forging swords. Could it be a sword prepared for her?
"Oh, I see."
Ling Shu changed the subject: "Master, do you have any secret manuals about formations here?"
"Formation?"
"Yes. The third square in the second row is one of them."
Ling Shu picked up a copy of "Essentials of Avoiding Dangerous Formations" and put it in his pocket before leaving.
Ling Shu pushed open the door and left. Li Chang was still in the courtyard, with Zhao Chi talking to her. Huo Que's neck was draped over Zhao Chi's shoulder, and her upper body was pressed against her. Zhao Chi moved his feet and pushed her away, but she hugged him back. This happened several times, and they were about to start fighting. When Li Chang saw Ling Shu coming over, she greeted her, "I was wondering where you went. So you went to the study."
Ling Shu asked naturally, "What are you talking about?" Li Chang smiled and said, "We're talking about the birthday gift we're giving to Sect Leader Wang."
"See you later." Ling Shu turned and left. She was probably just going to give Zhuang Jinfu this gift. She was even angrier. He said he would give her a sword, but there was no sign of it after all this time. He didn't even make her a peach wood sword. Others could fly on swords before they even started learning, but she didn't even have a peach wood sword. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Li Chang grabbed her: "Don't go, help me think about it. The third day after the monthly exam is New Year's Eve, which is also the birthday of Headmaster Wang. It's very urgent."
"Your monthly exam is more urgent." Ling Shu struggled to free her hand, her strength seemingly boundless, for she didn't know what had given Li Chang that made her so strong. "My hand is going to break! My hand is going to break! Let go of me! What does that wicked woman's birthday gift have to do with me!"
Upon hearing that her hand was about to break, Li Chang quickly changed her approach, spreading her arms to block her path: "Sect Leader Wang is not a bad woman! She is a very good person. She often cares about me, and she comes to see me when I am sick. She usually buys me delicious food and fun things. She treats me like her own daughter. She treats me even better than my own aunt."
"Good my ass!" Ling Shu was even more furious. "You haven't seen how she would kill her own daughter! Get out of the way!"
Li Chang wouldn't let her have her way, insisting that she believe Wang Lifu was a good person. Ling Shu, in a fit of anger, pushed her away without paying attention to the force, and Li Chang fell to the ground, twisting her ankle.
"Li Chang!" Zhao Chi shouted, rushing over. Ling Shu then realized what she had done. Looking at Li Chang, her face was deathly pale and filled with pain. Li Chang cried out, "No, no, why did you push me so hard..."
"I...I'm sorry." She couldn't control her anger at the mention of Wang Lifu. This time, she had taken her anger out on that wicked woman, which was truly inappropriate. Ling Shu hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, shouting towards the study, "Master! Help!"
Monthly exams, written discussions on the mountain.
For many inner disciples, this place is a nightmare, especially after seeing the source of the nightmare—Ling Shu—in this nightmare land.
No one dared to utter a word; people wanted to stay far away from her. Only Li Chang dared to stand next to Ling Shu. Since Ling Shu pushed her down last time, Li Chang hadn't spoken to her. Although she stood next to Ling Shu, there were two body lengths between them.
Li Chang didn't speak to her, so Ling Shu swallowed her pride and said, "Miss, I was wrong, please forgive me."
Li Chang snorted and turned her head away.
The master on the stage read out the precautions and the rules for the monthly exam. The Cloud Realm would be opened shortly, accessible only to disciples participating in this month's exam. Candidates would need to find the fruit of the Flame Grass in the Cloud Realm to pass the trial. Flame Grass was limited, with one for each registered candidate, so they could help each other. There was also something very tempting: finding a spirit stone called Sound Jade would grant exemption from the final exam and a perfect score.
During the monthly exam, a sensor bracelet will be distributed, which can guide the direction of your assigned Flame Fruit. A white light indicates that there is a Flame Fruit nearby, while a golden light indicates a Sound Orb.
There is only one Sound Jade, and the place where it is located is guarded by the divine beast Qilin.
In the more than four hundred years since the Shangqing Sect was established, the only person who has ever produced a sound jade is Zhuang Jinfu.
Ling Shu strongly suspects that Zhuang Jinfu saw a Qilin in the Cloud Realm, which is why he fell in love with Qilin and collected Qilin ornaments everywhere.
An oval mirror, as tall as a person, appeared on the stage, exuding a warm and refreshing aura.
"The Cloud Realm is now open. All candidates are requested to attend the trial on time. Candidates arriving more than 15 minutes after the start of the trial will not be allowed to enter the Cloud Realm."
The entrance to the Cloud Realm looked like a mirror, but it didn't feel real to the touch, as if she hadn't touched anything. She stepped inside.
Here, the weather is warm like spring, the sunlight is soft, and the atmosphere is vibrant.
Ling Shu's goal wasn't to find the Flame Grass and the Sound Jade; she wanted to lure people into her trap.
As soon as the candidates entered, they all rushed off, leaving Ling Shu alone.
As I walked, I heard footsteps behind me.
This person tried to hide and conceal their aura, but their cultivation level was not high enough to completely hide it.
"Li Chang, come out!" Ling Shu suddenly turned around, and Li Chang emerged from behind the bushes, saying haughtily, "I'm not following you!"
"What are you trying to prove with this 'I can't believe my eyes' act?" Ling Shu stepped forward and laughed. "Still saying you won't forgive me?"
"What?! Don't flatter yourself, my Flame Fruit is right here on this road!" Li Chang raised her bracelet, which was indeed glowing white. She pointed in the direction, and Ling Shu looked in that direction and saw a bright yellow fruit hanging from a tree.
"..."
How shameful!
Ling Shu turned and left, muttering to herself as she went. Someone must have gone easy on Li Chang, otherwise how could she have found the Flame Fruit so easily? As she walked, Ling Shu picked a kind of spiritual herb that looked like a reed. After a few steps, the sensing bracelet on her wrist lit up with a white light.
Um?
Looking down, I saw a Flame Fruit hidden in the grass at my feet.
"..."
Why not take it if it's free? I quickly picked it up and put it in my bag.
Ling Shu continued to stroll around, and this time Li Chang didn't hear any sound of him following.
She'd been walking for half an hour, and no one had made a move against her. Wait, why weren't they trying to kill her this time?
Just then, she heard the sounds of fighting ahead. Ling Shu picked up a stick and went forward.
Four people were fighting each other in a chaotic melee, swords drawn, each an enemy.
What could possibly warrant such a fierce fight? Could it be that she's so lucky that she could stumble upon Yin Yu just by wandering around? From a distance, the animal lying on the ground behind the four of them, fast asleep, had antlers, scales resembling fish scales, tiger eyes, a deer's body, and flame-like markings on its legs.
Isn't this a Qilin?
Then the positions changed. A female cultivator held a sword to one person's neck, angrily saying, "The Sound Jade is mine!" The female cultivator who took the initiative had another person's sword against her lower back, pressing, "You haven't obtained it yet, so what makes it yours!"
What a perfect example of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The female cultivator, who had been clutching her abdomen, pointed her sword at the three of them and said, "Don't even think about taking it from me!"
The person with the sword to his neck was particularly sensitive and immediately noticed the movement in Ling Shu's direction, shouting, "Who's there?!"
Two legs can't compete with flying in the sky. Ling Shu knew she couldn't escape, so she pushed aside the branches and came out.
“It’s you,” said the female cultivator with phoenix eyes. The remaining three female cultivators all put aside their hostility upon seeing her and stood in a row. They were wary of Ling Shu’s demonic power, but they were also unwilling to let the stronger newcomers take away their opportunity. Rather than being defeated together, they would rather see the newcomers completely lose their chance.
To their surprise, Ling Shu didn't make an attacking stance. Instead, she hugged the cat-face-shaped cotton doll bag slung across her shoulder. Reed-like spirit herbs emerged from the bag. With her shoulders hunched, the spirit herbs swayed back and forth, as if her body was trembling. She said fearfully, "Ling Bao is very well-behaved and won't fight."
The four female cultivators exchanged glances; it seemed she had truly lost her memory.
Just then, the wooden stick in Ling Shu's hand was controlled by pinkish-purple demonic power and flew out, heading straight for the face of one of the nuns.
Someone exclaimed, "It's a trap!"
To everyone's surprise, as soon as she finished shouting, Ling Shu's wooden stick exploded and shattered in mid-air.
Huh? The opponent didn't attack, and Ling Shu didn't blow up the wooden sticks either; the sticks just shattered on their own!
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