Chapter 42: The Destined-to-be-Abandoned Good-for-Nothing (22)p1
It was obviously quite difficult to train Gui Mian to freely navigate Su Mingxiu’s sea of consciousness within a short span of a few dozen days. Especially since every failed attempt resulted in being dragged into a whirlpool of pleasure by her master.
She was truly terrified.
After Su Mingxiu subtly expressed her thoughts, Gui Mian pondered for a long time and came up with a plan. “Master, why don’t we try using the celestial lightning from ascension?”
Great minds think alike.
“But…” Su Mingxiu thought of her heart demon problem and hesitated. Gui Mian leaned closer and whispered her plan.
The system, residing within Su Mingxiu’s mind, listened to them plotting against it.
[…]
So much for friendly cooperation?
They were extracting its information while trying to kill it?
“What’s the point?” It sighed helplessly. “Even if you extract me from your sea of consciousness in this world, I’ve already left a mark on your soul. If you still want to restore your soul in the original world, you’ll need my help eventually.”
In other words, even if they managed to extract and beat it up, after a few hundred years, when Su Mingxiu wanted to go to the next world, she would still need to put it back.
So Su Mingxiu replied calmly: “Then let me ask you, after the ending of the last world, you should have guessed that I wouldn’t be well-behaved in this world either. Seeing how calm you are now, you must have prepared for me to cause trouble again—”
[Then why did you include so many things in the mission that would get me struck by lightning?]
[…]
The system went strangely silent.
Su Mingxiu answered for it: “Because it’s fun, right?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’d also find it fun to extract and beat you up—we’ll settle the next world’s matters in the next world.”
The system said seriously: “That’s not it. I’m doing this to warn you, the future I’ve arranged for you and the protagonist is the best for both of you.”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
Su Mingxiu’s sudden response caught Gui Mian’s attention.
They were currently heading towards Black Tortoise’s location, preparing to coax back their excellent mount, no, their spirit pet—
Hearing Su Mingxiu’s voice, Gui Mian stopped abruptly and asked: “Master, who are you talking to?”
She couldn’t sense any other presence within a hundred miles.
“Hmm,” Su Mingxiu thought for a moment. “Arguing with the ‘answer’ in my head.”
Gui Mian couldn’t understand, assuming it was related to Su Mingxiu’s heart demon. She secretly decided to speed up her plan.
Black Tortoise was nestled in a place close to a human market town.
During the time it spent with Gui Mian, it hadn’t slacked off on its cultivation. Living up to its name, Black Tortoise, it had truly awakened its ancestral bloodline. However, realizing that its master was constantly clinging to Su Mingxiu, it didn’t want to be caught in their lovey-dovey atmosphere and decided to find a quiet place to stay.
It could also cultivate abilities and transform into a human form. So it chose to protect this area, becoming a mountain god for the humans.
On the first and fifteenth day of each month, humans would come up the mountain to offer sacrifices. Its true form rested on the barren mountain, tall and resembling a small peak, indistinguishable from the surrounding mountains.
When Gui Mian found it, she saw a Wishing Tree by its shell, covered in red knots. After circling the small mountain god temple a few times, she smiled and said: “Since you’re happy here, do as you please.”
“If you get tired of playing, you know how to find me.”
Su Mingxiu went down the mountain and strolled through the market, buying a few colorful hair ties. Thinking that the master and pet needed some time alone, she returned quite late.
However, only after the market crowd dispersed did she realize that Gui Mian was leaning against the entrance, waiting for her.
People came and went, many casting glances at her. But she remained with her eyes closed, leaning against the railing as if dozing, until she sensed a familiar presence stop before her.
“Done browsing?”
She opened her eyes, meeting Su Mingxiu’s dark gaze, and smiled brightly.
“How long have you been waiting? Why didn’t you come over?” Su Mingxiu raised her hand, her sleeve falling down to reveal the colorful hair ties on her wrist. Seeing Gui Mian’s long, loose hair, she couldn’t resist the urge to help her tie it up. She walked behind Gui Mian and gathered her waist-length hair.
Gui Mian closed her eyes, thinking about the possessiveness that always plagued her when she was with Su Mingxiu. She murmured, “I thought this would make Master more comfortable…”
If she had gone with Su Mingxiu,
She couldn’t help but feel irritated by the gazes directed at her master. It would ruin Su Mingxiu’s mood, and in the end, everything would revolve around her again.
When she went to see Black Tortoise earlier, Gui Mian vaguely realized that constantly keeping everything by her side wasn’t true possession.
The fingertips weaving through her hair were exceptionally gentle. As Su Mingxiu tied her hair up, she leaned closer to Gui Mian’s ear and whispered: “I’m more comfortable when you’re here.”
Seeing her disciple’s slightly flushed ears under the sunlight, and the gazes of the surrounding people, she initially wanted to take off the hair ties from her wrist. But after a moment of hesitation, Su Mingxiu suddenly let Gui Mian’s hair down again.
Concealing that alluring sight.
Gui Mian turned her head, looking at her in confusion.
Su Mingxiu didn’t explain. She took Gui Mian’s hand and, as they walked away, asked softly: “Where’s Black Tortoise?”
“It wants to play outside for a while.”
Hearing this explanation, Su Mingxiu looked at Gui Mian in surprise. After a while, she chuckled. “I thought you would bring it back.”
“Did Master want me to bring it back?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I was just thinking, you’ve finally understood what love is.”
It was possession.
And also letting go.
“Is Master praising me?”
“Yes.”
“Such a dry compliment, it lacks sincerity.”
“Oh?”
“Why don’t you let me have my way tonight?”
…
The two ethereal figures walked away under the sunlight, their shadows stretching long, but their hands remained tightly clasped together.
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