Chapter 38: Anger

Yun Hao was truly getting anxious now.

Judging by the color of the sky, he knew it was already quite late—at least around the Xu Hour. This had far exceeded the two-hour timeframe he had promised Eldest Senior Sister.

Suppressing his urgency, he looked toward Lin Xian, wanting to know why he was preventing him from returning to the peak.

Sensing Yun Hao’s puzzled and anxious gaze, Lin Xian spoke calmly.

“Don’t be nervous. There are still some flaws in your techniques. I’ll keep you here for a few days to properly instruct you. It will be beneficial for you.”

After speaking, he once again carefully explained some of Yun Hao’s small habits during combat, analyzing their shortcomings in detail and teaching him how to correct them.

Normally, Yun Hao would not miss a single word of such meticulous guidance from Lin Xian. But right now, he could barely focus. Lin Xian’s teachings went in one ear and out the other. Though his body sat on Western Peak, his heart had already flown back to Sect Master Peak.

Only after Lin Xian finished speaking did Yun Hao open his mouth again, his voice urgent.

“Elder Lin, this disciple must return today. This morning I promised Eldest Senior Sister that I would return to Sect Master Peak within two hours. Looking at the sky now, it’s already the Xu Hour. I’ve delayed far too long. It doesn’t seem right.”

“As for cultivation matters, this disciple can learn them another day.”

Having said this, Yun Hao looked at Elder Lin with an eager gaze. He had just been pulled back by Lin Xian, and now his entire body was bound by spiritual power, unable to move. Unless Lin Xian released him, there was no way he could leave.

Sigh… Does this child really cannot be separated from Luo Shuiling?

Lin Xian finally let out a long, quiet sigh.

His true plan was that, starting from today, Yun Hao and Luo Shuiling should no longer meet.

He wanted Yun Hao to stay here for a while, spending every day with Yu’er to deepen their bond. Then, at the right moment, he would have the two of them agree to a marriage contract. Only then could he leave with peace of mind.

But Yun Hao’s current attitude left him somewhat exhausted. The boy kept thinking about Luo Shuiling. Still, Lin Xian had no intention of giving up. He had no time left. Even if it was difficult, even if it required coaxing or deception, he had to make Yun Hao agree to the marriage in these final few days.

Perhaps it was a little despicable, but he didn’t care. Right now, he only cared about whether Yu’er could be happy in the future. Besides, this was an extremely rare opportunity for Yun Hao as well—he would be able to inherit all of his legacy.

Child, I really don’t want to deceive you, but there is truly no other way. I hope that if you find out in the future, you won’t resent me.

Lin Xian gently relaxed his posture, making his expression appear more natural as a faint smile formed on his face.

“A couple of days ago, I went to see Martial Niece Luo Shuiling and spoke with her for a while. It was mainly about you.”

“About me…?”

Yun Hao was somewhat confused. A couple of days ago he had still been in the Black Beast Mountain Range completing his first training mission, so he genuinely didn’t know what had happened during that time. Had Eldest Senior Sister and Elder Lin discussed him?

Seeing that Yun Hao seemed to be taking the bait, Lin Xian continued to guide him.

“Martial Niece Luo Shuiling said that while your cultivation is progressing quite quickly, your techniques and spiritual skills are still somewhat lacking and need improvement.”

“The techniques she cultivates are exclusive to women, so she cannot teach you in that area. Therefore, she asked me to temper your techniques and fill in your weaknesses after you returned from training.”

He spoke with a serious expression, his eyes and demeanor completely sincere. However, Yun Hao still felt some doubt and hesitated before asking,

“…But when this disciple left this morning, Eldest Senior Sister specifically instructed me to return early to cultivate and improve my cultivation…”

Lin Xian’s expression remained unchanged. Facing Yun Hao’s question, he smiled kindly and gave his answer.

“Most likely Martial Niece Luo Shuiling forgot. Let me send her a voice transmission.”

Then Lin Xian stood up, putting on a focused expression. Yun Hao sensed a fluctuating spiritual power coming from Elder Lin. A few breaths later, he sat back down.

“I have already sent the message to Martial Niece Luo Shuiling. She agrees to let you cultivate at my cave residence for the next few days.”

Since Lin Xian had put it this way, Yun Hao had no choice. He couldn’t very well question this respected elder.

Thus, although he still felt some suspicion and doubt deep down, he no longer showed it outwardly.

Seeing Yun Hao gradually calm down, Lin Xian also breathed a sigh of relief. A trace of guilt flashed in his eyes. In truth, he had not sent any voice transmission to Luo Shuiling earlier—he had only released a burst of spiritual power.

Such tricks could only fool Yun Hao, who was still at the Qi Refining stage. If he reached a higher realm in the future and recalled today’s events, he would probably realize there had been no actual transmission.

Lin Xian gathered his thoughts and stopped dwelling on future matters. He needed to seize the present opportunity. As for what came later, he would deal with it then.

And so, Yun Hao and Lin Xian spent that night discussing the Dao.

In the following few days, Lin Xian did not allow Yun Hao to leave Western Peak at all. Although Yun Hao expressed his desire to return to Sect Master Peak, Lin Xian found various reasons to keep him there each time.

During these days, Yun Hao spent the mornings chatting and playing with Junior Sister, received training and guidance from Lin Xian after noon, and the three of them would have dinner together in the evening before resting separately.

During this time, Yun Hao somehow felt that Junior Sister had become even more clingy, but he didn’t think much of it. In the Proud Sword Sect, he was Junior Sister’s only companion of similar age, and she treated him like an older brother. It was only natural for her to be a bit clingy.

Five days passed by in this manner.

…………

On the peak of Sect Master Peak, beneath the osmanthus tree.

The last rays of the setting sun were gradually swallowed by the night, accompanied by a crisp crack sound.

Luo Shuiling sat on the stone bench, her snow-white beautiful face shrouded in shadow so that no one could clearly see her current expression. However, the thin layer of ice covering the stone table faintly revealed that her mood was not as calm as one might imagine.

The fragments of the teacup she had crushed in her jade hand rolled down beneath the stone table, quickly becoming covered in a layer of ice crystals. An extremely cold spiritual power filled the entire summit of Sect Master Peak. Even the osmanthus tree had not been spared; its branches were dotted with flecks of white snow. The scene looked as if winter had arrived early.

Three days.

Yun Hao still had not returned.

He had clearly promised her three days ago that he would be back within two hours. Yet now three full days had passed, and there was still no sign of him.

She had been sitting here since that night three days ago, waiting for him. The teacups in her hand had been replaced one after another, each one unable to last long before being unconsciously crushed by her.

Luo Shuiling felt that the anger in her heart had reached an irreconcilable level. And to think she had even been considering how to reward Yun Hao before. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had thrown himself into someone else’s arms and forgotten about this home of his on Sect Master Peak!

A voice deep within her heart kept roaring.

Go to Lin Xian’s place, demand your “pet” back! Then punish him severely—punish him until he cries and begs for mercy, so he understands who his master is! Who his heaven is!

Dark thoughts kept growing in her mind like an uncontrollable flood, slamming against her mental defenses and gradually eroding her rationality.

Ever since she had entered the sect, she had lived a life of luxury and privilege. She had the best master to guide her cultivation, and with her rare Ice Jade Physique, she was the heaven’s chosen daughter of Proud Sword Sect—an existence that all disciples could only look up to but never reach.

She was already this outstanding.

So why was her “pet” still thinking about running outside?!

The Northern Cold Nether Ice that had yet to be fully absorbed in her sea of qi emanated cold air, as if reminding her of the deal she had made that day. For the first time, she felt disgusted by this piece of nether ice. If it weren’t for it, perhaps there wouldn’t be so many troubles.

Luo Shuiling slowly stood up, trying hard to suppress the rage burning deep in her heart, but it was useless. The flames seemed to be fueled by endless spiritual power, burning hotter and hotter.

She had not forgotten how happy Yun Hao had looked when he went out to play with Lin Shengyu before. He was probably still having the time of his life with his little fiancée right now, completely losing track of time.

Her possessiveness was very strong, and she was prone to jealousy.

The thought of herself sitting alone on Sect Master Peak, feeling extremely frustrated with no one to vent to, while Lin Shengyu was enjoying her “pet’s” laughter and cheerful company and scheming how to win even more of his affection, made her feel as if her heart was blocked by a clump of mud—uncomfortable and stifling.

There was anger at her “pet” for being so disappointing, and also a trace of jealousy toward Lin Shengyu.

She was jealous that Lin Shengyu could have her “pet” by her side all the time, amusing her and making her happy, when she was clearly the one who was his master.

Carrying emotions she could not put into words, Luo Shuiling returned to her elegant pavilion.

She had already made up her mind.

This time, when her “pet” returned, she would punish him properly.

No matter how he begged for mercy, it would be useless.

She had been too lenient with him in the past, making him think he could turn the world upside down.