CHAPTER 521: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN_2

If only I really were a man...

The pile of firewood inside the Daoist Temple cast a dim, flickering glow.

As Su Bei gently wiped the two swords inside the Sword Box, he felt a new flow of energy circulating through his body and murmured to himself, "The swords must be nurtured."

He had already mastered the Qingping Sword, but when it came to Missing Departure, there was still much to be desired in terms of control.

Countless methods existed in the world, yet all shared a common origin. Since ancient times, innumerable cultivators had sought the same thing: the great longevity that could grant immortality.

Only cultivators who had achieved lesser longevity truly deserved the title of "Immortal," having initially "achieved Dao." For Sword Cultivators, it was essential for the sword to nurture the person and the person to nurture the sword. Although the idea of becoming one with the sword might seem exaggerated, aspiring to reach the pinnacle of cultivation required, at a minimum, nurturing one’s own Sword Spirit.

A Sword Spirit that belonged to oneself.

Slowly closing his eyes, Su Bei fully opened his Dantian Knowledge Sea, letting his soul dissipate and merge with the surrounding heaven and earth, where he then saw himself sitting cross-legged.

His soul encircled Missing Departure for a moment before returning to his body.

Touching the sword again, he could feel it had become slightly more intimate than just a moment before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork, and began roasting it over the fire. "The sword is well nurtured."

Missing Departure: "..."

「Flowers gleamed brightly, but the moon was dim, veiled in a light mist.」

Footsteps approached softly from behind Su Bei, and the flickering firelight faintly revealed a familiar wisp of white gauze.

With no moon in the sky, everything around seemed dim.

A smile curved Su Bei’s lips. Without looking back, he suddenly embraced the woman around her waist and laughed, "Ji Baoer, why have you come back alone?"

"Tell me! Where did you leave Zi Jun?"

As he spoke, his hand began a slow ascent over her form. Pinning her down, he traced the shell of her ear, his touch following the curves of her body.

Li Zijun’s eyes widened in shock, her mind went blank, letting Su Bei pull her over effortlessly.

Feeling his skilled hands expertly caressing her, she couldn’t think for a moment.

Fresh from her bath, she carried a fragrant scent that filled the Daoist Temple with a captivating atmosphere.

Her face gradually flushed, but it was unclear whether it was due to her own awkward movements or because Su Bei was holding her wrist.

Su Bei frowned slightly, beginning to sense that something was amiss.

Surely, Ji Baoer’s figure in this area should be more... ample? And she wouldn’t feel this... inexperienced. He could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.

"Master... Master."

Finally snapping out of her shock, Li Zijun began to push Su Bei away with her small hands, nervously saying, "I’m not Sister Nan Ji... I’m Zi Jun..."

Her words carried a hint of grievance. She turned her head away, body angled to the side, biting her lip.

Su Bei was startled for a moment, then bent down to stare at the woman before him, dumbfounded.

What beastly thing had he done?

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

"Disciple, your teacher didn’t know it was you..."

"You were wearing your teacher’s wife’s clothes, and the firelight was dim..."

Li Zijun mumbled a response with her head lowered, her facial expression unclear.

"Master... could you please get off first?"

Su Bei gave her an awkward smile and then gingerly got up, touched his nose, and thought for a moment before saying, "Your teacher truly didn’t know..."

As he spoke, he tried to pull her up by her delicate wrist.

The flickering firelight danced on their faces, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

For some reason, as Su Bei looked at Li Zijun’s translucent, jade-like face, an impulse surged within him, and his heart began to beat faster.

Compared to Nan Ji, his advances had been quite bold, and Li Zijun’s response felt vastly different.

Yet, it was the gentle but faint sense of distance from her that stirred a strange feeling within Su Bei.

Seemingly forgetting the prior awkwardness, Su Bei nevertheless lifted his hand, tentatively extending two fingers towards Li Zijun’s face.

He hesitated for a moment before finally touching her smooth, jade-like cheek.

Li Zijun’s delicate body shivered slightly, her bright eyes shimmering like stars. She shifted slightly, creating a small space between them, but this time she didn’t react strongly. Instead, she closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently stroke her beautiful cheek with his two fingers.

It was as smooth and gentle as jade.

Suddenly, Su Bei saw from the corner of Li Zijun’s eye, a pearl-like teardrop sliding down her snow-white cheek.

The flickering firelight reflected two glistening tear tracks.

Su Bei’s hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun’s soft chin, tilting her face up to gaze into her stunning features.

Two fingers gently wiped away her tears as he whispered softly, "I’m sorry."

"As your teacher..."

Li Zijun’s eyes looked back at Su Bei, brimming with tears.

She didn’t know why she was crying.

Was it because of his transgression?

Or was it because there would never be a future between them?

Seeing the momentary loss in his eyes, Li Zijun didn’t know what expression to make.

Was it helplessness?

"Flowers in the mirror, the moon on the water."

Li Zijun gently lifted her head. A faint smile touched her lips as she blinked back the last tear, hiding it deep within her eyes.

"Your disciple does not blame Master."

"Sister Nan Ji gave me this skirt; that’s why Master mistook me for her."

Su Bei gave her a sheepish smile and suppressed the terrible thoughts that had just risen within him.

Why were all the disciples he took on so strange?

Each seemed as though they had shared long years with him, and there was always this inexplicable sentiment involved.

Just then, the door opened.

Ji Nanjue entered, wearing a different set of clothes, and looked around with a peculiar expression.

Barefoot, she sat beside Su Bei, wiping lingering water droplets from her skin.

A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. Why hadn’t he pounced on her as usual? Why was he so calm today?

What had happened between the two of them while she was away?

The atmosphere was so odd.

"Husband, what’s wrong? You seem distracted?"

Su Bei smiled at her, then held Ji Nanjue in his arms.

Within Su Bei’s embrace, Ji Nanjue seemed to sense his complex emotions. She tilted her head and kissed him on the lips.

Just now, she had thought of many things. She knew the path ahead was long and arduous; life was unfeeling, often making their journey together exceptionally difficult. Yet, to enjoy this moment of tranquility now filled her with contentment.

Her mindset gradually began to shift.

—Not asking to be together from dawn to dusk, but grateful to have had the experience.

"It’s nothing."

"It’s late. We should sleep..."

Su Bei stroked her hair.

Ji Nanjue stood up and took the absent-minded Li Zijun by the hand. She carefully examined the dress Li Zijun was wearing—her own—and nodded.

"Zi Jun looks quite suitable in this dress..."

Li Zijun’s face turned crimson.

Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei, feigning coldness as she said, "As a punishment, you’ll sleep outside tonight, and I’ll cuddle with Zi Jun."

"How about it, Zi Jun?"

She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun was taken aback. She looked up at Su Bei, then at Nan Ji beside her, and said sympathetically, "That’s not very nice... It’s going to rain outside."

Su Bei understood Nan Ji was trying to give him an out, likely having noticed the earlier awkwardness.

He felt a warmth in his heart and looked at Ji Nanjue.

"I’ll just go outside..."

At that moment, faint footsteps suddenly approached from a distance.

The unexpected noise caused everyone’s brows to furrow. Su Bei asked with some confusion, "At this late hour, could there be any passersby?"