After that, Luo Shuiling did not speak much more with Jiang Shu’er. She believed words were always pale and powerless—no amount of promises could compare to ironclad facts.
She did not linger. After finishing the clear tea in small sips, she stood up and bid farewell to Jiang Shu’er.
Ice-blue spiritual power erupted from Luo Shuiling’s body, carrying endless coldness as it swirled around her. The icy aura seemed capable of freezing everything in the world, leaving only her untouched.
A spirit sword gradually materialized in her hand. She gently controlled her spiritual power and flew straight toward the sky on her sword.
Jiang Shu’er silently sensed her disciple’s spiritual power. A trace of softness appeared in her beautiful eyes. She could feel that although Ling’er had not broken through to the Soul Division Realm in these two years, her Ice Jade Physique had grown stronger and stronger, and her spiritual power had become far more solid.
It was much stronger than the somewhat hollow spiritual power she had possessed after her rapid breakthrough previously. If she could consolidate for a few more months, she might still have a seventy to eighty percent chance of winning the grand competition.
(…I only hope that Yue Qiu’s disciple didn’t obtain any powerful killing techniques from his fortunate encounter outside, and only increased his realm. In that case, Ling’er should still be able to handle him.)
Jiang Shu’er pondered as she played with the teacup in her hand. A moment later, she stood up, put away the tea set, and returned to her cave residence.
………….
The fierce wind whipped Luo Shuiling’s long black hair. Her conversation with her master had shattered the calm and warmth in her heart. Carrying unresolved anxiety and worry, she flew swiftly toward Sect Master Peak.
The lineage of the Sect Master could not be destroyed in her hands. This was the most important conviction in her heart.
She still remembered when she was three years old and her mortal parents had sent her to seek immortality. At first glance, her master had chosen her from among thousands of children and taken her in. In the years that followed, she had taught her diligently.
She had been raised as the successor of the Sect Master’s lineage. Her master was essentially her second mother…
She could not disappoint her master… Even more importantly, she could never become the eternal sinner of the Sect Master’s lineage!
Protecting the inheritance of this lineage had always been her unwavering belief!
Half a quarter of an hour later, Luo Shuiling stopped her sword above Sect Master Peak. The crisscrossing cyan-white sword shadows at the peak drew her gaze. The youth’s dancing movements were as light and graceful as a butterfly.
Yet upon closer inspection, one could sense the sharp sword intent hidden within, completely at odds with his seemingly gentle motions.
He was practicing Solitary Swan better and better.
………….
Luo Shuiling gently landed back on the peak. Her expression was somewhat complicated as she watched the youth continue practicing Solitary Swan.
Over these two years, she had been dual cultivating with Yun Hao regularly. Given his cultivation and recovery ability, they usually did it once every three to four months. It had only been around two months since the last session.
To do it again now… could he endure it…?
An intense internal conflict raged in Luo Shuiling’s mind—one side was Yun Hao’s well-being, the other was her sense of duty.
Yun Hao, completely unaware that his senior sister had returned, focused entirely on Solitary Swan. The Cloud Abyss Sword grew increasingly proficient in his hands, radiating strong cyan-white sword light.
Luo Shuiling closed her beautiful eyes. The images of her master’s face and Yun Hao’s face appeared in her mind, intertwining. After a long moment, she let out a soft sigh and made her decision.
She concealed the emotions in her eyes and spoke indifferently.
“Yun Hao.”
The figure dancing in mid-air immediately stopped upon hearing her call. The sword qi swirling around the peak slowly dissipated. Yun Hao recalled the Cloud Abyss Sword and walked over to Luo Shuiling with a trace of joy in his eyes.
“Senior Sister, you’re back.”
“Mm.”
Luo Shuiling replied lightly. Looking at Yun Hao’s handsome face, her heart felt slightly complicated. Over the past two years, their relationship had gradually eased. Yun Hao had obediently stopped mentioning the past.
It was as if those things had never happened. She was still his good senior sister, and he was still her obedient junior brother.
She walked toward the stone table, and Yun Hao followed closely behind, just like the child he had once been, trailing after his senior sister.
The two sat down together.
“Where did Senior Sister go this time?”
“I went to the back mountain to see Master.”
Yun Hao was somewhat surprised. Senior Sister’s master was none other than the Sect Master herself.
“Did the Sect Master assign you another mission? She summoned you personally again.”
Over the past two years, Jiang Shu’er had summoned Luo Shuiling only two or three times—something that could be counted on one hand. Most of the time, it was Luo Shuiling who went to report her recent cultivation progress to her master.
Every time Jiang Shu’er summoned Luo Shuiling, she would leave for a period afterward, ranging from a few days to half a month. Yun Hao had once asked what the matter was and offered to help, but Luo Shuiling had never told him.
Over time, Yun Hao had come to assume that every time the Sect Master summoned Senior Sister, it was to assign her a new mission.
Luo Shuiling shook her head, denying his assumption. She parted her cherry lips and explained to the youth.
“Master only asked me how my preparations for the sect grand competition were going. She didn’t mention anything else.”
Yun Hao nodded in understanding.
“So it was about the sect grand competition a few months from now. Senior Sister must already be well-prepared.”
Luo Shuiling did not answer. Instead, she asked an unrelated question.
“How has your body been feeling lately?”
Yun Hao was momentarily stunned. He answered instinctively.
“I feel very good. After reaching Foundation Establishment, I eat much less and rely far more on spiritual energy for sustenance.”
Luo Shuiling nodded. Seeing Yun Hao’s energetic appearance, she hardened her heart and set aside the last trace of hesitation in her mind.
“Then spend the rest of today adjusting your body in your room. Tonight, I will guide you in dual cultivation.”
In the end, Luo Shuiling’s sense of duty prevailed. She recalled that she had originally brought Yun Hao back for cultivation purposes. She had never expected to discover that the youth could help repair her damaged immortal foundation—that had been an unexpected blessing.
These two years of companionship with the youth had brought her exceptional joy. She was reluctant to part with him and had come to realize she was growing more and more dependent on him.
Whenever he was by her side, she could forget all her troubles and feel incredibly relaxed and happy. These had been the happiest two years of her twenty-four years of life.
But the grand competition was currently the most important matter. It was her greatest goal on the path of cultivation and a fate she could not escape.
Luo Shuiling decided that after the grand competition—once she had secured the Holy Maiden position—she would no longer need dual cultivation and could properly compensate Yun Hao. For now, she could only wrong him a little.
She would also control her power carefully and try not to harm the youth. Even if she accidentally hurt him… she had already made up her mind long ago to protect him for the rest of his life. So it was fine. After all, the youth would always stay by her side, always…
Yun Hao was momentarily dazed. They were going to dual cultivate again so soon?
Over the past two years, he had grown used to dual cultivating with Senior Sister. They did it once every few months. But it had only been two months since the last time. Wasn’t this a bit too soon?
However, seeing Senior Sister’s calm and indifferent beautiful eyes, he hesitated for a moment before nodding.
He wasn’t stupid. He knew that every time he dual cultivated with Senior Sister, she obtained something from him. That feeling of something draining from his body was the clearest proof.
But he was willing. After all, his life had been saved by Senior Sister. He was happy to let her take what she needed. Moreover, this was one of the few ways he could actually help Senior Sister, which made him very glad.
Unlike the osmanthus cakes and the Clear Mist Flower back then…
For some reason, those two incidents suddenly surfaced in Yun Hao’s mind, and his mood darkened slightly…
(Why am I thinking about those things for no reason… I should just focus on preparing for dual cultivation.)
He forcefully pushed those two memories back into the depths of his mind, shoving them into a corner. There was no need to dwell on such painful… unpleasant things. Senior Sister had treated him extremely well these past two years. The past was the past…
He agreed with Senior Sister and slowly stood up, returning to the wooden house.
…………..
Luo Shuiling watched the youth leave. The calm facade in her beautiful eyes shattered. Struggle and conflict surfaced in her gaze, but what dominated was anxiety over the grand competition.
She let out a soft sigh, no longer able to pretend. Carrying a mix of unease and anxiety, she returned to her elegant pavilion.
She wasn’t the only one who needed to prepare—Yun Hao wasn’t either. She also had to prepare. She needed to suppress the restlessness of her Ice Jade Physique and try her best not to harm the youth.
Luo Shuiling’s thoughts were somewhat dazed. Her master’s worried face was like a fishbone stuck in her throat, making her feel choked and heavy inside.
Lost in such thoughts, she completely failed to notice a fatal mistake…
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