“Yes, Master… Huh?”
“No sword training today.”
Luo Xing turned back in surprise, only to see Ye Li walking toward the house with her hands behind her back. If he looked closely, he would notice a hint of lightness in her steps.
“Master?” The boy looked up at the sun, which hadn’t yet reached its zenith. “No training today?”
According to past routine, Luo Xing would either train until the sun was high in the sky or until Ye Li was satisfied. But today she…
She was being so easygoing?
‘Huh, another day of witnessing my master break character.’
“Yes.” Ye Li’s back was to Luo Xing, so he couldn’t see the faint smile on her face. “Your training these past few days has been enough. One day won’t make a difference.”
Luo Xing couldn’t help but feel a bit of joy. ‘Could it be that my current strength has already gained Ye Li’s approval…’
But her next words shattered his expectations.
“Practicing one more day won’t make you much stronger. You might as well rest for two days and save some energy.”
‘As expected… I was overthinking things.’
“Then… Master, today I…”
Luo Xing wanted to say that if she had nothing for him to do, he’d like to visit Cloud Mist Peak. First, to see his sister Luo Han, and second, to ask Chen Anqi or Dai Zifu about those two pills.
Or perhaps, to verify one of his conjectures…
“Go wherever you want. Consider it a day off from me.” Ye Li waved a hand without turning around. “Just remember to come back early to cook.”
She wanted Luo Xing to return to cook, not because she was hungry, but because she wanted to eat.
Ever since she first tried Luo Xing’s cooking, Ye Li had gradually developed this habit…
She suddenly felt that her nearly thousand-year life had changed in many ways because of Luo Xing’s arrival, and she had grown accustomed to many things…
For example, she was used to having Luo Xing massage her feet after soaking them; used to having him brew her a pot of tea in the morning; and especially used to his routine of three meals a day…
She was used to these things, even enjoying this kind of life, and…
She didn’t want it to change…
Hearing Ye Li’s permission, Luo Xing couldn’t hide his delight. “Thank you, Master. I’ll be back soon.”
Opportunities for Ye Li to be this easygoing were rare. He had to seize the chance.
Luo Xing took out the ordinary spirit sword, enlarged it, stepped onto it, and flew away from Duan Tian Peak.
Although he was now at the Golden Core Stage and could fly by controlling Qi, he still preferred sword flight. After all, he was a sword cultivator.
But just before leaving, he suddenly turned to glance back at Ye Li…
For some reason, he felt that Ye Li today was unusually agreeable, nothing like she had been recently…
‘Uh… terrifying?’
And she didn’t seem like she was about to turn dark…
Was he overthinking it?
Did Ye Li have no intention of turning dark at all?
Was the reason she got so angry that day truly because he had been disrespectful and rude to her?
Luo Xing wasn’t sure, but he didn’t dare ask…
What he was certain of, however, was that the current Ye Li was a genuine “Master,” not the sick, paranoid, and twisted Ice Glass Fairy from the original story.
If she could stay like this, then being her disciple was really quite nice.
Luo Xing thought to himself.
He merely glanced at Ye Li before looking away, then flew toward Cloud Mist Peak. So he didn’t know that after he turned away, Ye Li also turned around and gazed at the distant figure receding into the sky.
He hadn’t agreed…
He had refused…
He felt that having a master was enough.
Ye Li stared at Luo Xing’s back, her red lips parting slightly as she murmured to herself.
“So… he won’t leave, even if I don’t ask.”
When Wen Zhuo had proposed that Luo Xing become Dao companions with Shen Jinge, Ye Li had not interfered, not even giving Luo Xing a single glance.
She wanted to know: if she didn’t ask him to do anything, what would he do? What choice would he make?
And later, he refused.
He had even considered that if Shen Jinge’s repayment plan was rejected by him, it might affect her cultivation, leaving her indebted with karmic ties.
To completely settle the karmic debt with Shen Jinge, he had even given away the Shu Han Sword, which he had obtained.
That was one of the Ten Great Divine Swords, a divine sword that all cultivators in the cultivation world—sword cultivators or not—would fight tooth and nail for.
And yet, Luo Xing had willingly given it away just to break the karmic bond.
Thinking of this, Ye Li took the Shu Han Sword out of her storage ring.
And he himself had said that having the Liuguang Sword was enough…
The hilt was cold to the touch. Ye Li could easily sense the spirituality contained within the sword’s intent.
After all, it was one of the Ten Great Divine Swords. Even if it was currently ownerless, the spirituality within was not to be underestimated.
Perhaps stirred by her “Tyrant Sword” intent, the blade trembled slightly, emitting a faint hum.
If any sword cultivator infused their sword intent into the Shu Han Sword, they could activate its spirit and birth a sword spirit.
Feeling the divine sword resisting her, Ye Li’s cold gaze sharpened. Her surging sword intent instantly silenced the Shu Han Sword, though a trace of reluctance lingered…
‘So what if it’s one of the Ten Great Divine Swords?’
Ye Li sneered inwardly. ‘Without a master, it’s still just a piece of scrap metal.’
“What right do you have to be unwilling?”
She looked disdainfully at the sword in her hand and snorted.
“Even my disciple looked down on you. What right do you have to resist before me?”
If only the Shu Han Sword had a sword spirit, it would surely say:
‘I’m one of the Ten Great Divine Swords. Could you at least show some respect?’
Looking at the Shu Han Sword in her hand, Ye Li lowered her gaze slightly, lost in thought…
Although Luo Xing had clearly stated that he didn’t need one of the Ten Great Divine Swords, that the Liuguang Sword she had given him was enough…
Ye Li was very pleased when she heard those words, but she was also well aware that, given Luo Xing’s current cultivation, a spirit sword close to mid-grade spiritual artifact was indeed suitable for him.
But he wouldn’t stay at the Golden Core Stage forever. Ahead lay Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Void Refinement, Unity, and so on.
Of course, that was assuming he had enough cultivation resources to break through the limits of a medium-grade spiritual root…
And by that time, a mid-grade spiritual artifact sword would indeed be insufficient.
After a moment, Ye Li put the Shu Han Sword back into her storage ring.
“It seems I need to go ask her… She should have a way.”
Meanwhile, outside the Xuantian Sect.
“Jinge, how are you feeling now?”
“Why does Master ask that?”
Wen Zhuo’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she teased.
“Just… how does it feel to be rejected?”
She recalled the time when she had confessed to a male cultivator, wanting to become Dao companions with him, but he had refused, claiming she was too old.
She had been quite upset at the time.
If you’re going to reject someone, at least come up with a better excuse.
Since when did age matter for Dao companions in this cultivation world?
She was only a little over two hundred years older than him!
So, as someone who had experienced it herself, she was very curious about Shen Jinge’s current mood.
After all, only someone who had been drenched in rain would want to see someone else getting soaked.
“I don’t feel anything in particular.” Shen Jinge’s expression was indifferent, her tone calm. “This matter was my oversight. Fellow Daoist Luo was right.”
Hearing this, Wen Zhuo’s admiration for Luo Xing increased severalfold…
She knew that Shen Jinge wouldn’t listen to anyone’s lectures—not even those of elders or the sect master—except her own master.
But now, not only had she listened to Luo Xing’s lecture, she had even accepted it.
Wen Zhuo: ‘…’
‘How long has it been since they met?’
‘What has he turned my disciple into?’
‘What can I do?’
‘I want to lure him back to Crimson Refining Pavilion even more now.’