Jiang Tong could not fail to notice Ji Nianxue’s thoughts.
Yao Xining wanted to use Ji Nianxue as a pretext to bind him. ‘What should he say at this moment?’
Whatever he answered would be irrelevant now.
Ji Nianxue’s personality was always soft, but she had her own set of ideas. On certain matters, she would always show an incredible amount of persistence.
When this question was raised, it was equivalent to exposing her to the scorching sun.
A cautious person can endure pain and frustration, but they cannot bear having that caution stripped naked in front of others.
Yao Xining, who had been with this disciple for over a dozen years, knew absolutely nothing about her.
Just because she could use herself as a tool did not mean she could treat her disciple entirely as one.
She was doing a terrible job as a master.
“Master, let’s go,” Jiang Tong said to Jiang Yueliu.
Jiang Yueliu remained motionless. Her slender finger tapped lightly on the tabletop. “Yao Xining, I thought you would at least be willing to accept defeat. What are you trying to achieve by making these conditions?”
“I never said I wouldn’t give it to you.” Facing the questioning, Yao Xining could not save face. “I am merely proposing some ideas. Whether you accept them or not is your business.”
Though she said this, Yao Xining had truly suffered a setback. She knew in her heart that if she continued to delay, there was no telling what would happen to her relationship with Jiang Yueliu.
It was already a good thing that Jiang Yueliu had not drawn her sword on the spot.
“Then are you giving it or not?” Jiang Yueliu was determined to have her way.
“I’ll give it.” Yao Xining took a deep breath. “Wait for me to change my clothes. I will personally take you to get it.”
She hurried back to her room, and the *rustle rustle* of clothes being removed could be heard.
Ji Nianxue came back to her senses and looked at Jiang Tong, her fingers twisting together in confusion.
“I…”
“It’s fine now.” Like a magic trick, Jiang Tong produced a piece of osmanthus cake and placed it in her palm, smiling gently. “Go back and rest. Whatever happens next won’t involve you.”
“…” Jiang Yueliu stood aside with her arms crossed. Her brows twitched unnaturally, and her full chest rose and fell slightly.
It was only because Ji Nianxue’s eyes, as she looked at Jiang Tong, seemed ready to melt into water.
“Get some rest early,” Jiang Tong said.
Once Yao Xining had finished changing her clothes, she pushed open the courtyard gate and walked out.
They did not speak further along the way. After the three of them obtained the Fire Phoenix Essence Blood, they prepared to go their separate ways.
As they were about to leave, Yao Xining’s expression became indifferent again.
“Jiang Tong, regarding the first idea I proposed just now, you can consider it once more.”
She spoke these words through a voice transmission. Jiang Tong looked back and saw that her eyes were still flickering with a faint light; she had not given up.
“I did something wrong just now. I will apologize to Nianxue when I return.”
“If you call me your foster mother, I will give you endless cultivation resources to help you achieve the Lucid Sword Heart.”
“If there is anything you want to know, you can also talk to me…”
Jiang Tong remained expressionless through the first few sentences, but the last one caught his interest.
Over the years, he had tried to learn about his master’s past through indirect questions, but his master rarely mentioned it.
Ji Nianxue had said that their master had changed her name, so Yao Xining must know something… He had originally intended to come alone today to ask for clarification, but since Jiang Yueliu had come along, he had given up on that plan.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Tong shook his head.
‘Forget it. Unless there is no other way, I won’t come looking for Yao Xining.’
This woman was completely insane. To be honest, if he hadn’t lacked the strength, he would have felt like hanging Yao Xining up and whipping her until she admitted her mistakes.
‘She’s a cheap vixen who deserves to be shown some “tough love.”‘
Yao Xining stood on the mountain peak, watching the backs of the master and disciple as they departed, and let out a cold snort.
‘A child acting like a grown-up.’
‘Why look at an elder with such cold eyes?’
Yao Xining did not want to admit it, but Jiang Tong’s cold, condescending look just now had truly intimidated her, even making her feel a bit ashamed and annoyed.
Now that she had come back to her senses, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Why was she dazed?
‘Strange.’
Yao Xining secretly bit her pink lips.
Next time, this boy would not be able to intimidate her.
‘An 18-year-old kid acting like an adult. Just wait until he’s kneeling on the ground obediently calling me foster mother; I’ll show him what’s what.’
—
“Master was really impressive just now,” Jiang Tong said sincerely after they returned to the courtyard.
“Your answer earlier surprised me a little.”
Upon hearing the praise, a hint of sweetness rose in Jiang Yueliu’s heart, though she was still somewhat puzzled. “I thought you would say ‘friend’ or ‘Junior Sister.’ I didn’t expect you wouldn’t answer.”
Jiang Tong looked up at the osmanthus tree. “Ji Nianxue has been stubborn since childhood. She doesn’t really trust Yao Xining.”
“Feelings only count when they are mutual. Ji Nianxue probably thinks so too. If I refuse, even if Yao Xining arranges a hundred marriages, Ji Nianxue wouldn’t agree.”
[If one must speak of pain and pity, it is probably the process of a cultivator waiting foolishly for death. For him, it is a kind of torture.]
[This cultivator is in pain. See? This is called love.]
Jiang Yueliu stared at Jiang Tong, dazed for a moment.
“Do you want to drink?” she asked on a whim.
Jiang Tong was stunned. “Master, you’re in the mood today?”
He had thought his master was angry with Yao Xining. According to his understanding, Jiang Yueliu should have returned to her room at this time.
“Just a little bit.” Jiang Yueliu pinched her thumb and forefinger together, looking unexpectedly cute under the moonlight.
“Then let’s drink a little bit.”
This was exactly what Jiang Tong wanted. He went to his room and brought out two jars of wine — one of Osmanthus Brew and one of Bamboo Leaf Fragrance.
The two of them sat in the pavilion and drank together by the light of the moon.
Half an hour later.
“What are feelings?”
Driven by the alcohol, Jiang Yueliu was a bit lightheaded. She had originally wanted to say “love,” but she urgently changed her words the moment they left her mouth.
“Feelings?” Jiang Tong set down his cup and thought for a moment. “I didn’t think Master would ask such a question. I thought the Lucid Sword Heart didn’t have such troubles.”
To be precise, how could a person who had lived for over 200 years ask such a basic question?
“Tell me,” Jiang Yueliu said, lifting her chin and pointing her wine cup at him.
“Master, are you drunk?” Jiang Tong laughed despite himself.
“I’m not drunk.”
Jiang Tong said nothing more and looked up at the sky. “There are many kinds of feelings. Familial love, friendship, and romantic love — each one is a bit different.”
He looked back and winked at Jiang Yueliu. “Like me and Master, it’s the bond between master and disciple.”
“And what else?”
“And then there’s familial love.”
“…”
Jiang Yueliu’s cold eyes were clouded with a layer of mist. She stared fixedly at Jiang Tong without saying a word.
After a moment, she suddenly spoke. “Jiang Tong.”
“Hmm?”
“Where is the place with the most feelings in the world?”
Jiang Tong had a strange expression. If the question had been about romantic love, he might have had an answer, which was a brothel…
But saying that would probably result in Jiang Yueliu spinning him like a top.
“I don’t know either.”
“You definitely know.”
Jiang Yueliu felt a little aggrieved in her heart. ‘You clearly told me 200 years ago, and you only told me half of it.’
‘Forget it, he definitely doesn’t remember.’
“Master, you’re really drunk.”
“I am not!”
Jiang Yueliu seemed to lose her temper. Jiang Tong rested his face on one hand, watching her as she defiantly gulped down several cups of wine. The liquid slid down her fair neck and into her ample chest.
“Jiang Tong.”
“What is it, Master?” Jiang Tong answered patiently, his face still propped in his hand.
“I see two of you.”
“Which two?”
“One is in front of me, and one is flying in the sky.”
“Master, you’re really drunk.”
“I am not!” Jiang Yueliu lowered her head and mumbled, “One is visible, and the other is transparent.”
Jiang Tong sighed. The poorer one’s tolerance for alcohol, the more one liked to drink.
The alcohol content of the osmanthus wine he brewed was not low. How could she drink it like that?
‘It’s getting cold. It won’t be good to sleep here…’
Jiang Tong thought stealthily to himself. ‘It’s definitely not because I’m looking for an excuse for myself.’
He walked in front of his master and looked at her, noting her flushed cheeks as she lay there unconscious.
Jiang Tong resigned himself and closed his eyes. Risking the possibility of being beaten to death, he gently picked Jiang Yueliu up.
One second, two seconds.
Jiang Yueliu leaned against his chest, her small mouth still mumbling, but she showed no other reaction.
“So soft,” Jiang Tong whispered, his heart racing. He turned his face slightly, wanting to hear what Jiang Yueliu was saying, but unfortunately, he couldn’t hear anything.
He stood there foolishly holding Jiang Yueliu for a long time before reluctantly carrying her back to her room and tucking her in.
To his surprise, just as he had pulled the blanket up, Jiang Yueliu opened her eyes again, looking dazed.
Their eyes met, their breaths intertwining.
“Master…” she said.
“Where is there a master?” Jiang Tong’s heart was already hanging by a thread. Afraid she would realize he had just carried her, he quickly comforted her. “Master, you’re drunk. Go to sleep.”
“Master…” she repeated.
Jiang Tong felt somewhat helpless. “Where is the master?”
Jiang Yueliu laughed foolishly and tapped Jiang Tong’s nose with her small hand.
“Jiang Tong… hurry up and call me Grandmaster.”
“Call who Grandmaster?”
“Hurry up.” Her eyes were full of stubbornness.
“Alright, alright,” Jiang Tong said helplessly. “Grandmaster, Grandmaster, Grandmaster.”
Jiang Yueliu smiled and closed her eyes, her mouth mumbling:
“Master… so obedient…”