Chapter 107

Qing Zhouxue took Liu Shishu's advice to heart.

The best time was midnight, and each session shouldn't be too long. So the two of them didn't slack off at that hour; they'd rest a bit, then start again, clinging to each other in passionate embrace throughout the night.

Yun Shuchen had never realized she had such stamina, able to carry on so wantonly for an entire night. When she vaguely sensed it was dawn, she startled herself. In the end, exhausted from their efforts, the two fell into a deep sleep in each other's arms.

When they woke again, it was already afternoon.

Qing Zhouxue had never slept so late. She squinted at the setting sun to the west, and as she turned over, her shizun's peaceful sleeping face came into view.

Her breath caught for a moment.

After a night, Yun Shuchen's complexion had improved greatly. A trace of flush lingered, like a crabapple asleep in spring, enchanting and moving.

Indeed, when in good health, she was most beautiful.

The past few days had been utterly decadent—never leaving the house, staying in their room to detoxify. Each day they dispelled a bit, and progress was quick.

Nourished by warmth and softness, Yun Shuchen gradually regained her vitality.

But Qing Zhouxue, having tasted the sweetness, nearly sank into the cycle of Dual Cultivation. Until today, when she drew out the last trace of residual cold poison from her shizun's body, she felt reluctant to let go—this was the last day.

Yun Shuchen also thought regretfully that, given her disciple's nature, such nights of unbroken pleasure might not come again.

Ordinarily, Yun Shuchen would never agree to such revelry night after night. All things need measure to last long. She sometimes thought further: even if Qing'er loved her deeply, if they were so intimately open every day, soon she might lose interest.

Cultivators were not sentimental; very few had a single dao companion for life. Mortal couples walked seventy or eighty years together, and that was a lifetime—if they weren't compatible, they could endure it.

For them, it was often seven or eight hundred years. Many feelings were diluted over the long years, until they became as bland as clear soup.

Half a month later, Yun Shuchen finally emerged from Heyi Peak.

As soon as she entered the Main Peak, she saw former colleagues, who all looked at her in astonishment. It seemed the Thunder Tribulation had not left her haggard but had instead made her even more radiant.

Only Liu Xunqin, knowing the inside story, showed no reaction. But Yue Changge's gaze followed her, muttering, "She seems a bit off."

Yun Shuchen sat not far from her, frowning. "What's off?"

"The air about you—like someone who has indulged in pleasure with eight hundred beauties, with the lazy air of a dissolute emperor finally attending morning court."

Yue Changge's voice sounded in her sea of consciousness, tinged with teasing.

Yun Shuchen shot her a glance—a look full of shimmering light, inexplicably alluring.

Yue Changge shuddered, instantly conceiving a tormented love story: Yun Shuchen, rejected in her advances toward Qing Shizhi, turns to forceful seduction of Yue, with no true heart. Finally, Qing Shizhi, after losing her, realizes her own feelings and kills Yue Shishu to elope with her shizun.

She took a sip of tea to calm herself.

The Sect Leader said, "Now that the Immortal Ascension Assembly is settled, there are thirty years until the next one."

"The minimum requirement for this trial is also the early Nascent Soul stage. But the selected ones are all outstanding disciples of yours, so it should not be difficult." With that, he looked toward Yun Shuchen, wondering how Qing Shizhi was doing now.

The Sect Leader thought that her dao heart was still intact, and only her cultivation was lacking. The sect's spiritual pills and herbs, thrown at her generously, should be enough to restore her to her pre-Thunder Tribulation state.

Besides, there was another important matter. It was said that the Demonic Race had suddenly caused chaos at Beiyuan Mountain, and the Lingxu Sect had sent requests for help to all the immortal sects. That sect had quite a few dealings with Taichu Sect, so naturally they could not stand by idly.

"This is also a chance for training. Send those four young girls to gain experience."

Elder Zhong, however, said, "Since Beiyuan Mountain is so important to them, the disaster must be considerable. They are young; they must be cautious—at least one elder should accompany them."

"Indeed," the Sect Leader mused. "Then, fellow brothers and sisters, what do you think?"

Yue Zhanglao coughed lightly, as if hinting at something, and smiled. "Ah, what do I think? That depends on the Sect Leader's intentions."

The Sect Leader exchanged a profound look with her, and finally forced a few words from between his teeth: "Within reasonable limits, travel expenses will be reimbursed by the sect."

Yue Changge sighed lightly. "These shizhi have been watched growing up; if anything went wrong, how distressing. I have decided to escort them there and back safely, Sect Leader—there's no need for further discussion—"

"It still needs discussion." Yun Shuchen interrupted her leisurely from the side. "I also have that intention."

The various elders, since they had known Yun Shuchen, had never seen her volunteer to travel far, so they were momentarily stunned.

The Sect Leader was also a bit surprised, but in his view, Qing Zhouxue was a very special child, and he didn't know if there were any hidden dangers. This journey was not safe; having her shizun by her side would be reassuring.

"In that case, the two of you go together. Besides the four of them, select some outstanding disciples from the inner sect to accompany you."

The Sect Leader's sharp edges had long been worn smooth by time, so he settled it without dispute.

Back at Heyi Peak.

Yun Shuchen walked toward her disciple.

At the moment, Qing Zhouxue was meditating in the front courtyard, a plate of washed grapes set before her. One might think she was contemplating the Dao with grapes as her subject.

After that dazed half month, Qing Zhouxue felt as if she had dreamed a dream of seduction and ecstasy. On the last day, when she came to her senses and examined her cultivation internally, she found it had grown immensely, more than ever before.

The cold energy that had remained in Yun Shuchen's body had bypassed her dantian and been absorbed entirely into her own use. Besides, because the Dual Cultivation had opened both body and mind, the absorption of natural spiritual energy was also swift, bringing further progress.

She sensed someone approaching during meditation. She closed her hands together and lifted them, then set them down again, and opened her eyes to see her shizun sitting across from her.

"What realm are you at now?" Yun Shuchen began, then suddenly realized that asking her was no longer appropriate.

She herself was the one standing within the mountain, unable to gauge herself accurately.

Yun Shuchen took her hand, using her own cultivation as a measure, and after a moment of thought, said, "You should be... mid Nascent Soul?"

Everyone in the world wished to Dual Cultivate with a higher-realm partner, as one day could equal several months of previous effort, but such luck was rare.

Qing Zhouxue had stumbled onto a great fortune that others sought in vain, and Yun Shuchen was no exception.

She discovered that her disciple's body, without a distinct realm, could carry a great deal of spiritual energy. It was only when it wasn't yet absorbed that it couldn't remain in her dantian.

When she Dual Cultivated with Qing Zhouxue, she didn't need to worry about whether her realm could bear it; she could let vast spiritual energy, like rivers and seas, flow rapidly between them, so cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

Such a constitution... was somewhat similar to a cauldron furnace, but fundamentally different, and even more formidable.

One could imagine what a catastrophe it would be if such a treasure were thrown into the crowd—probably a lifetime of imprisonment, never free again.

Yun Shuchen looked down at her for a long while, then reached out a finger to lift Qing Zhouxue's chin, examining her.

Moreover, she was beautiful enough.

But in those eyes there was not a trace of worry; she quietly looked at Yun Shuchen, so clear that nothing was hidden, as if she were unaware of her own allure.

At this thought, combined with the upcoming long journey, Yun Shuchen couldn't help but frown and carefully remind her again.

Her shizun had said this more than five times, and Qing Zhouxue knew it by heart.

In sum: don't tell others about your background, try not to get hurt in front of others, and never let anyone know about your lack of realm. If others ask, use excuses like pill effects to brush it off.

Then be cautious in making friends; don't talk much with those of unknown background. Don't run around at ordinary times, and at least inform your shizun of your whereabouts... and so on.

"Oh my heavens."

Suddenly, a woman's sigh sounded by their ears. The master and disciple turned to look; Yue Shishu had come uninvited.

Yue Changge had evidently overheard half of Yun Shuchen's nagging and laughed lightly. "Yun Shuchen, look properly—your disciple is twenty-four, not an eight-year-old child. Do you have to fuss over every detail before she thinks of it herself?"

"What do you know?" Yun Shuchen shot her a glance. "Look at those girls running wild on your peak, covering the mountains like sheep; you wouldn't even notice if one went missing. Is that what you call 'thinking of it'?"

"In any case," Yue Changge looked at Qing Zhouxue, teasing, "Be good, recite after me—The outside world is dangerous. There are bad men and bad women ready to eat you at any moment. Best not to go anywhere, just stick to your shizun's eyelashes every day, so she can feel at ease."

Qing Zhouxue was startled, then smiled.

"Oh, that smile is adorable."

The shameless elder reached out to ruffle her head, but before her hand could extend, there was a sharp smack, and Yun Shuchen slapped it away.

With tears in her eyes, she rubbed her slapped hand and rolled her eyes. "Stingy."

"Alright." Yue Changge, too lazy to say more, handed Yun Shuchen a token, its surface engraved with intricate patterns, made of dark iron. "For communication. The Sect Leader said to bring it when you go down the mountain. Fine, I've nothing else. I'm off."

Yue Shishu came and went quickly.

Yun Shuchen rubbed the token, and with a flash of white light, it disappeared.

She turned to stare at Qing Zhouxue, remembering her smile from a moment ago, and felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. She reached out and pinched her cheek. Qing Zhouxue was eating grapes, then stopped, letting herself be squeezed, seemingly without complaint.

"What are you smiling at? Do you also think your shizun is worrying needlessly?" Yun Shuchen lowered her hand, lifted her gaze, and looked calmly ahead.

For a long time, Qing Zhouxue didn't answer.

Yun Shuchen's heart tightened unexpectedly—could it be... she didn't like it either?

She lowered her head again, carefully examining Qing Zhouxue's expression.

And Qing Zhouxue had barely swallowed the last bite of grape, for she would never speak before that.

She shook her head. "No. But I think Yue Shishu is right. Wherever we go, I will follow you."