15 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

Yue Bai was held by Ji Wu Nian as they flew back to Qing Lin Hall on a sword. "Hand it over." Yue Bai placed the meticulously crafted small item in her hand, which she then enclosed within her palm and tucked into her chest. "You did well," Ji Wu Nian said as she wielded the gentle breeze in her hand. Her smile faded, replaced by the chill of the February-March spring wind—barely fragrant, yet still piercing cold. "From tomorrow onward, don't go to Ba Chi Peak. I'll take you to Si Guo Peak to read and cultivate your temperament." Yue Bai lowered her head, "Yes, Master." Ji Wu Nian looked at her briefly before turning and heading to the back hall. Yue Bai was indeed feeling a bit weary. After Ji Wu Nian spoke, she obediently went to bed and slept. "Was she angry?" Jiu Yi finally spoke after Yue Bai had settled down, "Isn't she quite concerned about you?" "Uh-huh." "...Aren't you the type who dislikes standing out?" Jiu Yi finally managed to ask, "Now you'll be renowned again..." "Uh-huh." Yue Bai naturally knew this was somewhat inappropriate. "...Are you upset too?" Yue Bai exhaled, "Not really." It was just too bothersome. "At least I won't have to make those hooks anymore." She was close to being fed up with them. "True..." With her bandaged hand placed by the pillow, Yue Bai fell asleep from exhaustion, not responding to Jiu Yi's remarks. *** The next day, Ji Wu Nian really took her to Si Guo Peak, allowing her to choose from numerous books and read them out loud. Yue Bai glanced around at the vast sea of books but had little interest in them. "Ye Er hasn't read much, I'll leave it to Master to choose." Ji Wu Nian looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Ye Er, do you want to listen to some folktales?" Yue Bai blinked, "Whatever Master says." Ji Wu Nian, already familiar with the place, guided Yue Bai through the rows of bookshelves and pulled out a book titled "Tales of Lotus Picking," then led her to a corner. In such a secluded place, Ji Wu Nian always found a way. She had Yue Bai lean against her, cast a silencing wall, and within this small world, she read the folktale to her word by word. Stories of grudges and love, of human emotions. Yue Bai listened comfortably, and as Ji Wu Nian had predicted, the exhaustion from depleting her essence would take several days to dissipate. As a result, Yue Bai's eyelids grew heavy. Noticing this, Ji Wu Nian gradually softened her voice, lulling her little disciple to sleep. The sleeping disciple relaxed completely, her head drooping slightly, her body curling up much like she did in the spiritual spring, yet showing a different kind of relaxation. It seemed that sensing her master's indignant rage, this disciple let down her guard and relaxed. Very puzzling yet stubborn. Ji Wu Nian felt a light sigh within her but couldn't express it, so she held it in and continued reading the folktale. Occasionally, disciples seeking books passed by and prepared to greet her upon seeing Ji Xian Zhang. But Ji Xian Zhang raised a finger to her lips, signaling for them to hurry along silently. Ji Xian Zhang's little disciple slept peacefully at her side, and she was determined not to let anyone disturb her rest. The disciples exchanged puzzled looks. Wasn't Master Ji just tormenting her disciples yesterday, forcing one who hadn't yet built a foundation to refine tools with her essence blood? How could she now be so tender and loving… *** Yue Bai had indeed been easily tired these past few days, sometimes even feeling groggy. Soaking in hot water now, she felt even more drowsy. Jiu Yi looked at her with frustration, "You're such a cheat, why use the bitter flesh strategy?" "And you suggested faked accidents?" That would have truly resulted in broken bones and limbs. "I… you…" Jiu Yi stammered, rendered speechless, "This host is hopeless… you might as well go conquer the world!" "Calm down," Yue Bai leaned against the pool wall, feeling her head heavy, "She wants..." "What?" "...She wants me like this," Yue Bai heard someone entering the water behind her and lazily responded to Jiu Yi, "She wants me like this." "What what?" Yue Bai's waist was circled again, naturally ignoring Jiu Yi. Seeing Yue Bai against the wall, Ji Wu Nian didn't pull her into her embrace. Instead, she attached herself, chuckling softly by her ear, "Now you feel the pain?" Yue Bai slightly turned her head, forcing herself to straighten up, "Master, let's begin." "What are you being stubborn about?" Ji Wu Nian, with a knot still in her heart, leaned forward, hooking Yue Bai's leg to change her direction. "I gave you the seal of protection to ward off danger, not for you to bleed yourself dry. Do I owe you an apology?" Realizing her voice was rising, Ji Wu Nian lowered her head, lifting Yue Bai's clothes. Through the hazy steam, she wore a wronged expression, "Ye Er, I’ve been upset with you for a few days. Don’t you want to ask why?" I did it on purpose; what's there to ask… Yue Bai lowered her head to avoid looking at her, "What has Master been upset about?" Ji Wu Nian took her left hand from the water. The shallow scar in the water’s light remained reddened. "I taught and protected you, not to have you hurt yourself. If you don't want to refine tools, just say so, and I can have you study something else." Lifting her chin, Ji Wu Nian's smile vanished, gazing straight into her eyes, "Ye Er, as my disciple, this isn't how you should resist." "Master, Ye Er doesn’t dislike refining tools," Yue Bai looked back but then glanced aside, avoiding her gaze, "I just don’t want to make hooks anymore." "Hm?" "...What I made for Master is one of a kind..." Yue Bai's chin was held in place, so she could only slightly turn her head, her unfocused eyes on the steam, "What Master has, no one else does. So Master, let's stop making hooks..." What others have, you have; what you have, others don’t, so Master, stop being so fussy. Jiu Yi: I think you're flirting, but I have no proof. Ji Wu Nian seemed to understand something, feeling a tickle in her heart amidst her surprise. That slight agitation and gloom were swept away, expelled along with her laughter, yet she found this person infuriating. She hugged her little disciple tighter, unable to resist rubbing against the smooth skin of her neck. "You really... what were you thinking..." After a while, Ji Wu Nian said, "Fine, no more hooks. Next time, we'll make something else..." Her tone was somewhat low, almost sighing. Yue Bai’s view was of her arched back, the butterfly bones faintly outlined under the semi-transparent white robes, the middle of her spine seeming to be curved under some pressure. "Master," Yue Bai raised her hand to her back, lightly placing it there, "Ye Er has a question." "Ask away..." "Master once said you pursued immortality to seek certain answers," Yue Bai slightly tilted her head, "What is it that Master seeks to know?" "Hm…" Ji Wu Nian hesitated, scooping water with her hand, then letting it flow down. Amidst the clear breeze and bright moon, the steam rose, water droplets splashed into the pool, creating a light sound. "Perhaps I just want to ask... why it had to be me..." Yue Bai wanted to ask more, but Ji Wu Nian continued, seizing her words, "Ye Er, I'm still mad, and I want to punish you." Yue Bai was taken aback, "… How does Master wish to punish me?" "Tonight will be particularly painful," Ji Wu Nian straightened up, looking at her, slightly curling her lips, her eyes gleaming, "Bear it, and after tonight, let’s not speak of it again." "…Master, do as you will." Dizzy and under Ji Wu Nian's punishment, Yue Bai made no progress tonight.