CHAPTER 517: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE_2

"If only I were truly a man..."

...

The glow from the pile of firewood within the Daoist Temple was dim and heavy.

As Su Bei gently wiped the two swords in the Sword Box, he felt a new energy coursing through his entire body and murmured to himself, "Swords need nurturing."

To him, the Qingping Sword had already become second nature, but when it came to the Missing Departure, he still had far to go in terms of control.

All the myriad laws of the world do not stray from their essence; what countless cultivators have sought since ancient times is the great immortality that allows them not to die. Only cultivators who have achieved minor immortality are truly worthy of the title "Immortal," having initially "Achieved Dao." And for Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. Although there is no such exaggeration as unifying with one’s sword, if one wishes to reach the end of a cultivator’s path, at the very least, one must nurture a Sword Spirit.

A Sword Spirit of one’s own.

Su Bei slowly closed his eyes, his entire Dantian Knowledge Sea completely opened. His soul drifted out, merging with the surrounding heaven and earth, and he saw himself seated cross-legged.

His soul wound around the Missing Departure for a moment and then returned to him.

As he touched the sword again, he could feel it had become a bit more intimate than just a moment before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded with satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork on it, and began roasting it over the fire.

"The sword is being nurtured well," he muttered.

Missing Departure: "..."

Flower Bright Moon lay dim, shrouded in light mist.

Footsteps approached softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, the familiar wisp of white gauze was barely discernible.

There was no moon in the vast sky, and everything around was dim.

The corners of Su Bei’s mouth curved into a smile. Without looking, he caught the woman around the waist and pulled her into his embrace, laughing, "Ji Baoer, why have you come back alone? Tell me! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"

"..."

Between words... his hands were already gradually climbing upwards. Pressing down on her, he caressed her earlobes... moving along the curves of her body.

Li Zijun’s eyes were wide open, her mind blank, as she let Su Bei pull her over. Feeling his large hands expertly moving over her body, she was unable to think for a moment.

She had just bathed, and her body still carried a fragrance, enveloping the Daoist Temple in an amorous atmosphere. Her face gradually turned rosy, though it was unclear whether it was due to her own embarrassing position or because his hand was gripping her wrist.

Su Bei frowned slightly, beginning to sense that something was amiss. Clearly, Ji Baoer’s body should feel more... developed, and not so inexperienced. He could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.

"Master... Master." Li Zijun finally snapped out of her shock, her small hands pushing at Su Bei in a panic as she said nervously, "I’m not Sister Nan Ji... I’m Zi Jun..."

"..."

Her voice carried a tinge of grievance. She turned her body aside, looking away and biting her lip.

Su Bei froze, then leaned down to stare blankly at the woman before him. What kind of beastly thing had he just done?

The atmosphere grew awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her head, but fearing she might misinterpret his gesture, his hand froze in mid-air. He swallowed hard.

"Disciple, your master didn’t know it was you..." he began. "You’re wearing your master’s wife’s clothes, and the firelight is dim..."

Li Zijun mumbled a response with her head bowed, her facial expression obscured.

"Master... could you get off first," she whispered.

"..."

Su Bei gave her an awkward smile, then gently rose, rubbing his nose. After a moment of thought, he said, "Your master truly didn’t know..."

Saying this, he grasped her snow-white wrist, intending to pull her to her feet.

The firelight flickered, casting 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, an impulse rose within him, and his heart began to beat faster. Compared to Nan Ji, his actions just now had been quite forward, and the physical sensation Li Zijun offered was certainly very different. But her gentle, yet faintly distant demeanor stirred an odd sensation within Su Bei.

Seemingly forgetting the previous embarrassment, Su Bei raised his hand again, extending two fingers and tentatively sliding them over Li Zijun’s face. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately his fingers touched her jade-smooth cheek.

Li Zijun’s delicate body quivered slightly. Her intelligent eyes, like stars, flickered as she shifted, creating a small space between them. This time, however, she didn’t resist fiercely, closing her eyes and allowing Su Bei to gently caress her beautiful face with his two fingers.

Gentle as jade.

Suddenly, Su Bei saw pearlescent tears slide from the corners of Li Zijun’s eyes, tracing paths down her snow-white cheeks. The flickering firelight reflected two streaks of tears.

Su Bei’s hand paused. He then gently slid it to Li Zijun’s soft, rosy chin, tilting her face towards him as he gazed at her exquisite features. With two fingers, he gently wiped away her tears and said softly, "I’m sorry. Your master..."

Li Zijun gazed at Su Bei, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. She didn’t even know why she was crying. Was it because of his offense? Or because they were destined to have no future together? Seeing the brief, dazed look in his eyes, Li Zijun didn’t know what kind of expression to make. Helplessness?

"Flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water," she murmured. Li Zijun gently lifted her head, a faint smile touching her lips as she hid the last tear in the depths of her eyes. "Disciple doesn’t blame Master. The dress was given by Sister Nan Ji; that’s why Master mistook me."

"..."

Su Bei smiled sheepishly, suppressing the alarming thoughts that had just arisen. Why were all the disciples he took in so strange? Each one seemed as if they had spent long ages with him; there was always this sense of an indescribable, unspoken emotion between them.

Just then, the door opened.

Ji Nanjue, having changed into another set of clothes, walked in. She surveyed the scene with a peculiar expression. Barefooted, she sat next to Su Bei, wiping away lingering water droplets from her skin.

A hint of confusion flashed through her eyes. Usually, he would pounce on her. Why was he so calm today? What had happened between those two while she was away? The atmosphere was so odd.

"Husband, what’s wrong? You seem distracted," she asked.

Su Bei smiled at her and then embraced Ji Nanjue.

In Su Bei’s arms, Ji Nanjue seemed to sense a tangle of complex emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of his mouth. She had been thinking a great deal just now. She knew the road ahead would be long and arduous; the world was heartless and would always make their path together exceptionally difficult. But being able to enjoy this moment of peace filled her with contentment. Her perspective was gradually shifting. Not seeking to be together morning and night, but cherishing having once had.

"Nothing," Su Bei said, stroking her hair. "It’s late; we should sleep..."

...

Ji Nanjue rose and took the absent-minded Li Zijun by the hand. She carefully examined her own dress on Li Zijun and nodded. "Zi Jun, this dress looks quite good on you..."

Li Zijun’s face flushed crimson.

Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said with mock coldness, "As punishment, you’ll sleep outside tonight. I’ll sleep with Zi Jun. How about that, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun hesitated, then looked up at Su Bei and then at Ji Nanjue beside her. Feeling a little sorry for him, she said, "That’s not very good... It looks like it’s going to rain outside."

Su Bei naturally knew Nan Ji was giving him an out; she must have sensed the earlier awkwardness. A warmth spread through his heart. He looked at Ji Nanjue. "I’ll go outside then..."

Just then, faint footsteps came from not far away.

The sudden noise made everyone frown. Su Bei asked in confusion, "Could there still be travelers this late at night?"

"..."