All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 588 588: Chapter Three Hundred and Forty-One_1

Faint starlight fell upon Li Zijun's face. Droplets clung to the strands of hair at her forehead, trickling down to her collarbones.
Her wet clothes clung to her body, revealing her exquisite figure like a half-revealed piece of fruit. Her jade-like arms bent lightly, her graceful posture fully displayed.
With her delicate hands, she gently gathered her water-soaked long hair behind her head. The water drenched her ruqun, outlining her perfect figure, and she looked at Ji Nanjue, somewhat embarrassed.
Her partially removed clothes clung to her delicate body, its translucency revealing a hint of her skin. The usually loose-fitting ruqun concealed much, but now it revealed the true shape of Mount Lu.
Ji Nanjue watched her with evident surprise, then curled her lips into a playful smile and spoke, "True to the mentor-student relationship, even lying is done in the same mold..."
"Forget it, if you want to call me 'Sister,' that's fine. 'Mistress' does sound rather old-fashioned," she said.
"..."
Her jade-like legs, hidden beneath the water, gently stirred the surface, creating a few ripples and splashes.
Then, with a light push of her arms, she stood up, devoid of any scrap of clothing. The water barely covered the tops of her thighs, revealing her half-exposed waist—slender and flat, without an ounce of extra flesh.
"Take off your clothes. You can't bathe with them on, right?"
This ruqun she was wearing had been with Li Zijun for who knew how long on this journey, though it bore no stains.
Li Zijun shyly removed her clothes and placed them on the shore before immediately sitting down in the pool, hiding herself securely.
Ji Nanjue did not laugh at her but sat down beside her.
The air was heavy and oppressive; the moments before rain always brought a particular sense of restlessness.
Li Zijun's small hands gently played with the water, letting it sprinkle down, when she suddenly spoke, "You've only seen him a few times. Are you so certain of your feelings?"
"It's normal for someone your age to admire someone, but judging by your words and actions, you don't seem like an impulsive person."
"I'm very curious. Can you tell me what's on your mind?"
Pausing for a moment, as if realizing her question was rather pointed, Ji Nanjue added with a smile, "Of course, it's okay if you don't want to say..."
As she spoke, her gaze rested on Li Zijun.
"My thoughts?"
Li Zijun lightly pursed her thin lips, not looking at Ji Nanjue, but murmuring softly.
Staring at the somewhat dim water of the pool, she pondered for a moment and said softly, "Does liking someone always require thoughts?"
"Isn't it that at a certain moment, because of something that deeply touches the heart, someone unknowingly finds a place there?"
"Perhaps it's just a glance, just a certain action."
Ji Nanjue paused for a moment. Li Zijun's voice was tinged with sadness; though her tone was gentle, Ji Nanjue somehow sensed a great deal of frustration within it.
Then Ji Nanjue pulled Li Zijun tightly into her embrace, pressing her cheek against the girl's. "Love at first sight?"
Ji Nanjue might have previously scoffed at this term, dismissing it as mere nonsense. Two people just looking at each other and instantly confirming their feelings? That could only mean they were coveting each other's looks.
But now, her heart had gradually come to accept this term. Her life path and Su Bei's always seemed to intertwine inadvertently. That time they had returned from the gates of hell, the emotions born from sharing such peril had naturally become exceedingly deep.
Perhaps even before that night, his silhouette had already been imprinted upon her heart, though her long-sealed heart had never acknowledged it.
"There is some truth to that."
Li Zijun gave a wry smile; it seemed Ji Nanjue had misunderstood her.
Her feelings for Su Bei... how could they be as understated as she'd just described? It had taken nearly a century of them being together, of gradual understanding, for her to finally be sure of her heart.
"Sister Nan Ji, Zi Jun is feeling a bit cold..."
She hugged her arms around herself and blinked, looking at Ji Nanjue.
"Go on back then," Ji Nanjue said.
"Mas... Sister, you can have some time alone here," Li Zijun replied.
Ji Nanjue gave her a gentle smile, her own heart feeling complicated.
Ultimately, she was a woman. Even though she knew there would never be a day her relationship with Su Bei could be made public, she still felt a sense of rejection towards any woman who wanted to take a share of his tenderness from her.
What's more, this woman was *his* disciple... By any standard of sentiment or reason, it was utterly improper.
A strange thought surfaced in Ji Nanjue's mind: *his* disciple, *her own* Master... with *herself* stuck in the middle?
What a complicated relationship... A veritable three-generation household, wasn't it?
It was all Su Dudu's fault.
There was no right or wrong in matters of affection. If blame had to be assigned, the root cause of it all was that philandering Casanova. If he hadn't spread his affections everywhere, dallying with every woman he met, how could he have incurred so many emotional debts out of thin air?
He, on the other hand, was certainly enjoying himself...
Li Zijun waved her hand in front of Ji Nanjue's face. Ji Nanjue snapped back to reality and, with a smile, gently flicked the girl's delicate nose. "You've worn that dress of yours for too long. If you don't mind, wear this one of mine for now."
"..."
Her hand pointed to the white gauze dress on the shore.
Li Zijun blinked, then gave Ji Nanjue a sweet smile.
With soft rustling sounds, she donned the dress and headed towards the Daoist Temple.
Ji Nanjue watched Li Zijun's retreating back and sighed softly.