All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 569 569: Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty-One_2

If I were truly a man...
The light from the pile of firewood in the Daoist Temple was dim and subdued.
Su Bei gently wiped the two swords in the Sword Box. Feeling a brand-new surge of energy coursing through her body, she muttered to herself, "The sword needs nurturing."
The Qingping Sword was already like an extension of her arm, but her control over Missing Departure was still significantly lacking.
Though myriad laws and changes abounded in the world, what countless cultivators sought was still that great eternal life which could grant immortality. Only cultivators who achieved a minor eternal life truly deserved the title of 'Immortal,' having taken their first steps on the path to 'Achieving Dao.' For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtured the person, and the person nurtured the sword. While not as exaggerated as actually becoming one with the sword, to reach the apex of cultivation, one had to at least nurture a Sword Spirit.
A Sword Spirit of one's very own.
Su Bei slowly closed her eyes. Her entire Dantian Knowledge Sea opened, and her soul drifted out, merging with the surrounding heaven and earth. She then saw an image of herself sitting cross-legged.
Her soul coiled around Missing Departure once before returning to her own body.
Upon touching the sword again, she could feel it had become somewhat more intimate than just a moment before.
Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction. She then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork on it, and began roasting it over the fire, saying, "The sword is nurtured well."
Missing Departure: "..."
Flower Bright Moon was shrouded in a light mist.
Soft footsteps approached from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, a familiar wisp of white gauze could vaguely be seen.
The sky was moonless, casting everything around into deep shadow.
A smile touched Su Bei's lips. Without looking back, she pulled the woman into an embrace by the waist and laughed, "How come Ji Baoer came back alone?"
"Speak! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"
As they spoke... desire had already begun to climb steadily.
Pinning the woman down, Su Bei's hands explored... following the curves of her body.
Li Zijun's eyes widened, her mind going blank as Su Bei swiftly pulled her close.
Feeling Su Bei's experienced hands caressing her, Li Zijun found herself unable to think.
She had just bathed, her body still fragrant, casting an enchanting atmosphere within the Daoist Temple.
Her cheeks flushed, though it was unclear whether it was due to the awkwardness of her position or because of the wrist Su Bei was gripping.
Su Bei frowned slightly, gradually realizing something was amiss. Ji Baoer's figure should have been more... ample, and she wasn't usually this timid. Su Bei could feel the woman beneath her trembling.
"Master... Master."
Li Zijun finally recovered from her shock. With a somewhat frantic push against Su Bei, she said nervously, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."
Her words carried a hint of grievance. She turned her head away, biting her lip.
Su Bei was suddenly taken aback, gazing dumbly at the woman before her.
What beastly thing had she done?
The air turned awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort Li Zijun by stroking her head but feared misinterpretation. Her hand hovered mid-air as she swallowed hard, saying, "Disciple, I didn't realize it was you..."
"You're wearing Nan Ji's clothes, and the firelight is dim..."
Li Zijun mumbled an acknowledgement, her head bowed, her expression hidden.
"Master... could you please get off?"
Su Bei smiled awkwardly at her, then gently rose. She touched her nose and, after a moment's thought, said, "I really didn't know..."
With that, Su Bei grasped Li Zijun's slender wrist, intending to pull her to her feet.
The firelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on their faces, each lost in their own thoughts.
For some reason, as Su Bei looked at Li Zijun's translucent, jade-like face, a surge of impulsiveness rose within her, and her heart began to beat faster. Compared to her usual interactions with Nan Ji, Su Bei's earlier actions towards Li Zijun had been quite intimate. The sensation Li Zijun evoked in her now was markedly different.
But that subtle tenderness, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible distance, stirred a peculiar sensation within Su Bei.
As if forgetting the prior embarrassment, Su Bei raised her hand, extending two fingers tentatively toward Li Zijun's cheek. After a moment's hesitation, she finally made contact with that smooth, jade-like cheek.
Li Zijun's delicate body shivered slightly. Her intelligent eyes, sparkling like stars, showed a hint of struggle as she shifted to create a small space between them. This time, however, she didn't react harshly. Closing her eyes, she allowed Su Bei to gently stroke her beautiful face with two fingers.
Warm and smooth as jade.
Suddenly, Su Bei saw pearl-like tears slip from the corners of Li Zijun's eyes, tracing paths down her snow-white cheeks.
The flickering firelight illuminated two shimmering trails of tears on her face.
Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's soft chin, tilting it up to gaze into her stunning face. Su Bei gently wiped away the tears with two fingers and said softly, "I'm sorry."
"I..."
Li Zijun's eyes, full of tears, looked back at Su Bei.
She didn't know why she was crying. Was it because of her master's transgression? Or was it because there could never be a future for them together?
Seeing the momentary daze in Su Bei's eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression to wear.
Was it helplessness?
"Flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water."
Li Zijun gently lifted her head. A faint smile touched the corners of her mouth as she hid the last tear deep within her eyes, saying, "Your disciple doesn't blame you, Master."
"Sister Nan Ji gave me the dress; it's because of that Master recognized the wrong person."
Su Bei gave Li Zijun a sheepish smile, suppressing the terrible thought that had just surged in her own mind.
Why were all the disciples she took in so strange? Each one seemed to have shared long years with her, and there always felt like some indescribable emotion was involved.
At this moment, the door opened.
Ji Nanjue, having changed into a different garment, walked in. Her expression was peculiar as she surveyed the scene.
Barefoot, she sat beside Su Bei, wiping the still-damp water droplets from her skin.
A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. Usually, Su Bei would have pounced on me by now. Why is she so calm today? What happened between those two while I was away? The atmosphere is so strange.
"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Su Bei smiled at Ji Nanjue and pulled her into an embrace.
Within Su Bei's embrace, Ji Nanjue sensed a complex array of emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of Su Bei's mouth.
She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the road ahead would be long and arduous, that the world was heartless, always making their journey exceptionally difficult. Yet, being able to enjoy this momentary tranquility filled her heart with a certain satisfaction. Her mindset gradually began to shift. —Not to ask for every dawn and dusk together, but to cherish having once possessed those moments.
"It's nothing."
"It's late, we should sleep..."
Su Bei caressed Ji Nanjue's hair.
Ji Nanjue stood up and took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand. She carefully examined the dress Li Zijun was wearing and nodded, "Zi Jun looks quite fitting in this dress..."
Li Zijun's face flushed red.
Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said coolly, "As punishment, you sleep outside tonight. I'll cuddle with Zi Jun."
"Is that alright, Zi Jun?"
She winked at Li Zijun.
Li Zijun paused. She looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her, and said with some reluctance, "That doesn't seem right... it's going to rain outside too."
Su Bei naturally realized Nan Ji was giving her a way out, likely having noticed the earlier awkwardness. A warmth spread through Su Bei's heart. She looked at Ji Nanjue and said, "I'll go outside then..."
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps came from nearby.
The sudden noise made all three of them frown. Su Bei asked with some confusion, "Who could be walking about at this late hour?"