8 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

"Sigh, I thought she was a love-struck fool, but it turns out she's just a big pig trotter." Yue Bai now understood that Jiu Yi was once again mocking Ji Wu Nian's mission progress. She originally thought that with all the effort Ji Wu Nian put into taking her as a disciple, the mission progress bar would move significantly. But the result was... One. One sword thrust, without any spiritual power driving it, creating a white mist in its wake. Yue Bai gritted her teeth, drew back her sword, and swung again. Feels like the cold aura of Feng Yu froze a budding flower on a branch. "That's enough," Ji Wu Nian spoke, walking over from the chair. With a wave of her hand, she saved the poor little flower. "Little Leaf, I know you're working hard and improving fast..." She gently patted her head, "But you must be kinder. The flowers are so pitiful—do you really want to freeze them?" Yue Bai's small body was still panting heavily. The cold aura of Feng Yu was most intense around her, turning her breath into white mist. "Master..." Just as Yue Bai was about to admit her mistake, Ji Wu Nian pulled her into an embrace from behind, her left arm wrapping around Yue Bai's shoulders, her right hand encircling Yue Bai's hand that held the sword. "You see, as your master, I can't bear to." She hugged her a bit tighter, rubbing Yue Bai's right arm. "Did you get cold?" ... Weren't you the one who asked me to practice with Feng Yu? When Yue Bai didn't move, the cold aura from Feng Yu penetrated deeper, making her feel as if her shoulders would frost. Shivering, she pleaded, "Master..." Ji Wu Nian's gaze shifted, her right hand gently lifted the sword out of Yue Bai's hand. With a flick of her wrist, Feng Yu obediently returned to its sheath. Yue Bai finally felt some relief and let out a deep breath. Ji Wu Nian remained closely behind her, hugging tightly, to the point that Yue Bai began to feel warm but still didn't let go. "Master, I'm fine now," Yue Bai patted her hand, not daring to move her head as Ji Wu Nian's face was pressed against her temple. "Shall we go have lunch...?" Instead, Ji Wu Nian hugged tighter, rubbing her head against Yue Bai's. "No way, Little Leaf. It's so rare for you to let me hug you; I haven't had enough yet." Yue Bai felt a chill in her heart. Haven't had enough? At progress one? "Ah, you're such a sweet-talking scoundrel," Jiu Yi maintained his usual schadenfreude, "Your words are just too sweet." "Master..." Yue Bai tugged at her sleeve this time. "Alright..." Ji Wu Nian, praised for her sharp instincts by both Liu Li and Zhao Zichen, rubbed her head again, sounding rather regretful. "Count to ten, Little Leaf. After you count to ten, I'll let go..." Yue Bai stayed silent and counted to ten in her heart before patting her hand. "Master, I've counted to ten." Ji Wu Nian no longer hugged her tightly but continued to loosely embrace her. She stretched her right hand forward, and with a closing motion of her fingers, Feng Yu, which had been on the table, flew neatly into her hand. She handed it to Yue Bai. Just then, Xi Feng appeared before them. Ji Wu Nian, taking Yue Bai along, leapt onto it and flew towards the dining hall. *** Recently, everyone in the Qing Sect knew that Immortal Ji had finally taken on a disciple. This disciple was quite favored by Immortal Ji, who personally forged a sword for her and even accompanied her to the dining hall since she hadn't started fasting yet. It was said that although this disciple had considerable talent, her constitution was rather weak. Immortal Ji was very protective of her, always escorting her on a sword, unwilling to let her precious disciple tire her legs. Due to a previous hand injury, the following situation might also occur: "Little Leaf, here," Ji Wu Nian would say, holding a vegetable leaf to Yue Bai's mouth. "Master," Yue Bai would protest, with a bowl and chopsticks still in her hands, "I can do it myself." She'd even lift her bowl, indicating to Ji Wu Nian to put the vegetable in it. "Be good," Ji Wu Nian would say, blinking and demonstrating, "Ah..." Amidst the watching crowd's anticipation, Immortal Ji’s adorable little disciple would finally open her mouth to accept her master's offering, inexplicably causing the onlookers to breathe a sigh of relief. Even as master and disciple, the low-profile Yue Bai was still somewhat suffering from the high-profile nature of Ji Wu Nian’s affections. That term was taught by Jiu Yi, and Yue Bai found it very fitting. Yue Bai had noticed that Ji Wu Nian merely enjoyed her reactions and teasing, not truly taking her to heart. The progress bar at one only confirmed that. Which was just fine by her. Feigning a nervous demeanor, she pondered how to complete her own task. It had been ten days since she had become a disciple. Ji Wu Nian, aside from sleeping and being summoned by the sect leader, always stuck to her like a child getting a new toy, constantly excited. She taught Yue Bai the basics of channeling spiritual energy. Due to prior discussions during her healing, Yue Bai quickly grasped it and merely acted out the learning process for an afternoon and evening. Afterward, Ji Wu Nian began teaching her methods of controlling spiritual power and spent even more time on swordsmanship. "Your constitution is too weak," Ji Wu Nian said, wielding Xi Feng, assuming the authority of a master. "Your body is both the channel and reservoir of spiritual power. If you have spiritual power but lack a strong constitution, you'll eventually end up exploding. Train your spiritual power slowly; your constitution must keep pace." Yue Bai knew she was right, so she obediently complied. Ji Wu Nian instructed her to practice directly with Feng Yu, despite the risk of being harmed by its cold aura. In doing so, she was actually pushing Yue Bai to her limits. Furthermore, Ji Wu Nian stayed by her side constantly during practice. In this regard, Yue Bai admitted that Ji Wu Nian was a good teacher. As she practiced swordsmanship, Yue Bai used her soul to temper her body. Though she intentionally slowed her progress to avoid suspicion, the results were tangible. She could now just manage to perform a simple sword routine with Feng Yu, significantly better than before. However, while Yue Bai showed improvement, Ji Wu Nian seemed to have forgotten about cultivation altogether, like a child enthralled with a new toy. Not once had she seen Ji Wu Nian meditate or focus on cultivation. Considering her cultivation had stagnated for over a decade, it wasn't all that surprising. Yue Bai recently heard that the former sect leader had divided some of the sect's legacies among his three disciples before his death. Ji Wu Nian received a pill for boosting cultivation, but given her weak foundation at that time, it might take decades to fully assimilate its benefits. Thus, everyone assumed this Immortal would amaze the world in a few decades. Over the years, visiting cultivators would sometimes challenge her, and as long as they weren't at the Nascent Soul stage, Ji Wu Nian remained undefeated, quite impressively. As for the Nascent Soul level, no matter how prodigiously talented Ji Wu Nian was, no one expected her to challenge that boundary at her current age. "Jiu Yi, to increase cultivation, to what extent? Is there a time limit?" Yue Bai, biting into the tofu being fed to her by Ji Wu Nian, immediately looked down after taking a bite. "There's a progress bar for extent. As for time... I'm not sure," Jiu Yi was uncertain as well. "Who knows what further tasks will be triggered. The sooner it’s done, the better." Yue Bai agreed. Yet, her master showed such laziness towards her own cultivation, which irritated Yue Bai greatly. If she wouldn’t cultivate herself, Yue Bai would have to push her to increase her cultivation. After enduring the dining hall ordeal, on the way back, Yue Bai faced the wind, speaking to Ji Wu Nian behind her, "Master... maybe I should eat in Qinglin Hall..." Ji Wu Nian smiled, "What would you eat there? Fasting pills?" "You're too weak, you need to build up," Ji Wu Nian hugged her even tighter; Qinglin Hall was just ahead. "I can cook something myself. Qinglin Hall does have a kitchen." Unaccustomed to being served and seeing no one else but Ji Wu Nian and herself at Qinglin Hall, Yue Bai felt it best to fend for herself. "Going to the dining hall every day... troubles Master too much..." Honestly, she didn't want to be watched anymore. Landing them in the courtyard, Ji Wu Nian finally let her go, smiling, "It's not impossible. I can also taste Little Leaf's cooking." As if worried she might retract the offer, the young girl immediately bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master."