Chapter 57 p2: Disciple and Wife
Meanwhile, beneath a tree outside a ruined city, Er Lan watched as Xiao Haoran vomited violently.
A little bit of speed, and he was already incapacitated.
Rolling her eyes, she muttered, Useless. If it weren’t for the Demon Lord’s instructions to keep an eye on him, she would have disposed of him already.
After he finished retching, she tossed him her waterskin. “Are you alright? Drink some water.”
Xiao Haoran, dizzy and nauseous, fumbled with the waterskin, wanting nothing more than to lie down and die.
Er Lan watched, wondering if she should leave him to his fate if he collapsed into the dirt.
To avoid appearing heartless, she maintained a safe distance, her voice feigning concern. “Feeling better? I have some high-grade Calming Pills. Here.”
She rummaged through her storage ring. Xiao Haoran, eager to regain her favor, staggered towards her.
At least she was offering high-grade pills.
He wasn’t afraid of heights. He had ridden rollercoasters in his previous life. It was Er Lan’s speed that had undone him, his stomach churning with cold air.
Er Lan retrieved a pill, its herbal scent refreshing, and handed it to him, masking her impatience as she looked away.
While her apparent cultivation level was late Foundation Establishment, her true cultivation, with her reversed meridians, was at the peak of Golden Core, half a step away from Nascent Soul.
If it weren’t for this Qi Refining weakling, she could have reached their destination in a matter of hours.
Her unique meridians allowed her to cultivate both spiritual and demonic energy, a result of her mixed heritage, a one-in-a-million occurrence.
This rare ability had attracted the attention of the current Demon Lord, who had adopted and trained her before sending her to the Radiant Realm.
She addressed Xiao Haoran. “Is this the place with the treasures? It looks like a deserted city.”
Xiao Haoran pointed at the faded sign above the city gates. “What does that say?”
Er Lan: “…”
“Four Borders City.”
Xiao Haoran nodded. “Then this is it.”
According to the Heavenly Book, Four Borders City had once been prosperous, but a flood, followed by a devastating plague, had forced its inhabitants to flee. Those who remained perished.
Rumors of a curse, of a place where those who entered never left, turned it into a ghost city.
Its isolation had allowed a Heaven-grade spiritual herb to grow undisturbed.
Er Lan extended her spiritual sense, but detected nothing unusual.
Xiao Haoran, seeing her confusion, explained, “The Ice Soul Grass is here, along with its companion flower, the Flameheart Flower. They are naturally opposing forces, yet they grow together, their spiritual energy concealed until they mature. I only need the grass. You can have the flower.”
The gentle nature of the Flameheart Flower made it ideal for clearing blocked meridians. The Heavenly Book described Cen Dianshuang using it to clear his meridians.
After Four Borders City, their next destination was Shadow City.
But that was fifty years in the future. His priority was restoring his meridians and awakening his bloodline.
Er Lan, after a moment of thought, agreed.
Reaching a resting spot, Tao Ning released her hold on Cen Dianshuang’s waist, preparing to feign a stumble.
Her plan was to gradually acclimate her master to physical affection, starting with hugs, then progressing to… other things. So far, she had only achieved the hugging part.
But Cen Dianshuang didn’t turn around. She walked away, seemingly scanning their surroundings.
A Nascent Soul cultivator’s spiritual sense could cover an entire mountain. There was no need for visual confirmation.
Tao Ning studied her master’s retreating figure, sensing… discomfort.
As Cen Dianshuang walked further away, Tao Ning called out, “Mas…”
Before she could finish, Cen Dianshuang practically vanished into the trees.
Incredibly fast.
Tao Ning reached out, her hand grasping at empty air.
Did I go too far?
If not for maintaining her image as a composed and dignified master, Cen Dianshuang would have simply flown away.
After putting some distance between them, she stopped by a patch of flowers, plucking a leaf and flicking it with a practiced gesture. A black snake, its vital point struck, fell to the ground.
She ignored her kill, standing motionless, her hand instinctively reaching for her belt.
There was no longer a weight there, yet she could still feel the arms around her waist, the tightening grip of fear.
As a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, on the verge of Soul Transformation, losing control of her sword was unthinkable. A sword cultivator who couldn’t control their sword should have their hand chopped off.
But in that moment, embraced by those gentle arms, her hand had faltered.
Tao Ning waited, eventually seeing Cen Dianshuang return, a dead rabbit impaled on Xuan Ying.
Her disciple was too picky to eat Fasting Pills. Since this rabbit had the misfortune of crossing their path, it was destined to become dinner.
Cen Dianshuang casually tossed the rabbit at Tao Ning’s feet. “Eat.”
Tao Ning wasn’t particularly hungry. Foundation Establishment cultivators could abstain from food. But she wouldn’t refuse her master’s offering.
Her eyes shining, she showered Cen Dianshuang with praise, her words of gratitude and admiration bringing a faint smile to the elder’s lips.
Tao Ning found a stream, diligently preparing the rabbit.
It had been half a month since her last meal. Since reaching Foundation Establishment, she had focused solely on cultivation, practicing the zither and the sword to solidify her realm.
Ready to cook, she retrieved the Flame Dragon Furnace, which, after its experiences with steamed buns, Silverfish soup, and roasted pheasant, adamantly refused to cook the rabbit.
Its flames flickered weakly, as if saying, Kill me now, but I won’t cook this.
Tao Ning sighed, giving up, gathering firewood instead. “Just borrowing your fire. That should be acceptable, right?”
A tiny flame emerged from the furnace, igniting the wood instantly. Tao Ning, impressed by the furnace’s loyalty, commented, “Only willing to cook creatures from Wangshu Peak, refusing outsiders. You’re quite the discerning gourmet. I’ve never seen such a loyal artifact.”
The flames flickered happily, sending out another small spark, which Tao Ning quickly extinguished. “That’s enough. Any more, and it’ll burn.”
520: 【What about me?】
Tao Ning, having just appeased the furnace, now had to deal with her AI companion. “520, don’t be silly. You’re my most valued partner.”
520 giggled electronically. 【Really?】
Cen Dianshuang, seated on a nearby rock, smelled the roasting rabbit, remembering Tao Ning’s earlier pronouncements about Bird Immortals.
She had thought then, Whoever takes her as a disciple is asking for trouble.
Now, she simply thought, Such audacity, teasing her master.
Looking at the rabbit sizzling over the fire, Tao Ning thought of the snow-white bundle, which hadn’t reappeared since its identity was revealed.
She had asked Cen Dianshuang about it, describing its appearance, but not its name, emphasizing the distinctive red feather.
Cen Dianshuang had feigned ignorance, suggesting it might belong to the Beast Taming Peak.
Before asking, Tao Ning had already visited the Beast Taming Peak, its menagerie filled with a variety of creatures, but the familiar white bundle was nowhere to be found. She had chatted briefly with the disciples, then left without revealing her true purpose.
After that, she had focused on cultivation, abandoning her search.
Cen Dianshuang had been relieved. She wasn’t good at lying. If her disciple had pressed further, she wouldn’t have known what to say.
Deceiving Tao Ning was far more difficult than being deceived by her.
The rabbit cooked, Tao Ning, as usual, asked, “Master, which part do you want?”
Cen Dianshuang, meditating with her eyes closed, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, replied, “I’m not eating.”
“Alright…” Tao Ning began eating, then paused as a cool voice echoed through the night. “After you’re done, I’ll teach you sword flight.”
With Cen Dianshuang’s high standards, it would be an intensive, accelerated lesson. Failure to learn within an afternoon would be considered… incompetence.
The rabbit suddenly tasted less appealing.
Learning sword flight meant receiving a low-grade spirit sword from her master, enabling independent travel. What was the point of learning something that prevented… closeness?
A rustling sound, then the snapping of twigs. Someone approached Cen Dianshuang.
She wasn’t in deep meditation, her senses still aware of her surroundings.
A hand gently touched her knee, the scent of roasted meat wafting towards her. A soft voice whispered, “Master…”
Cen Dianshuang opened her eyes. Her disciple was crouching beside her, holding a bundle wrapped in oiled paper, looking up at her with wide, pleading eyes.
Her usually sharp, fox-like eyes were downcast, her voice trembling slightly. “Master, do you… not want to fly with me anymore? Do you… dislike me?”
Cen Dianshuang’s head throbbed. Clingy, she thought.
She didn’t pull away her sleeve, shaking her head. “I’ve never thought that.”
Tao Ning’s eyes brightened, relieved. “I’m willing to learn sword flight, Master, but… can we still fly together after I learn?”
Her expression suggested imminent tears if Cen Dianshuang refused.
Cen Dianshuang: “…”
What could she say?
She nodded. “Alright.”
Tao Ning, placing the bundle down, leaned closer. “You’re the best, Master. I like you the most. Will you eat with me? I’m lonely eating alone.”
Cen Dianshuang sighed, her voice resigned. “Yes, yes, I’ll eat with you.”
Tao Ning offered her the rabbit, thinking, Master is truly a master of saying one thing and meaning another.
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