Watching his unruly disciple, who had now lowered her head, no longer struggling or resisting, and was letting him tease her as he pleased, Su Bei found himself somewhat uninterested.
He couldn't help but sigh contemplatively, feeling as if life was like this—lying there like a corpse, no resistance, no thrill?
The sunlight shone down, and Su Bei noticed his disciple's skin becoming even more translucent and flawless, as pure white as jade.
Gently placing down Xiao Ruoching's jade-like foot, she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glare, the light seeming to pass through her palm, so luminous!
"I need to go out for a bit," Su Bei said. "I've just accepted Sword Maiden as my disciple; it is only right that I get her some items."
As he spoke, he blinked and turned his gaze toward her.
Xiao Ruoching's expression was visibly downcast. Since arriving in Wu City, her Master had hardly spent much time by her side. Yet she knew she could act petulantly with him, but she also had to distinguish what truly mattered.
She did not clamor to accompany Su Bei, but tidied up her clothes gently and then addressed him, "Master, how did you punish Little Sister Mo?"
Her eyes shimmered, her raven hair fluttering in the air.
Of course, she didn't believe Master would do anything outrageously heinous. This gentle Master, even when striking her, would raise his hand high only to let it fall softly.
"Why should a child concern herself with such matters?" Su Bei replied. As he spoke, he picked up the embroidered shoe from the ground, along with the white silk stocking that had been tossed aside.
"Stretch out your foot."
Xiao Ruoching's cheeks flushed crimson. Her adorable nose tilted slightly upwards, and she bit her lower lip. Seated on the stone steps, she gracefully extended her delicate foot.
The soft gauze of her robe flowed down naturally, resting on the ground, and strands of hair fell beside her ear, revealing a tender, jade-like foot with hints of youthful allure. As if still dusted with snow, it possessed a jade-like purity and clarity.
The sole of her foot felt somewhat cool. Upon touch, one could feel its exquisite smoothness, like a meticulously crafted work of art.
Watching as Su Bei diligently pulled the snow-white silk stocking over her foot, Xiao Ruoching crinkled her nose, swept her hair behind her ear, and deliberately made mischief, wiggling her foot to prevent Su Bei from slipping it on.
After a few tries, Su Bei was clearly growing impatient. Restraining her with a firm hand, a frown on his face, he asserted his boundless authority as her master, "Stop fidgeting!"
He lifted his head and met her gaze—those dewy, sparkling eyes, beautifully curved, looking right at him.
Her lips curved into a playful arch.
Xiao Ruoching held down her wind-tossed raven locks, tilting her delicate face, one hand gently touching her cheek, watching Su Bei chuckling merrily.
The warm spring breeze stirred, whisking up petals that danced around her.
A maiden with cheeks like cherry blossoms; one smile from her, and the entire garden seemed to burst into spring.
Su Bei gazed at the scene before him, and in a trance, it seemed he suddenly understood the feeling that Lun Yajun must have had in that spring when he saw Saint Hui.
Her smile bloomed like a spring peach; her jade-adorned coiffure was piled high like clouds. Her lips parted like cherries; her teeth, like fragrant pomegranate seeds.
His movements halted involuntarily, his eyes meeting hers, gazing at his disciple before him. Who could see through the depths of those crystal-clear eyes and decipher what lay hidden?
Suddenly, Xiao Ruoching stretched out her graceful neck and brushed a light peck on Su Bei's cheek.
In a flash, her slender, fair neck formed a beautiful curve; her dark eyes, clear as crystal, held a shy and dazed light flickering through half-closed lids.
Su Bei stared, stunned, at his unruly disciple. His cheeks still tingled with a warm, moist sensation from her kiss; a touch that vanished before he could fully savor it as her lips drew away.
Xiao Ruoching's cheeks were a burning red, bright as the evening glow. Taking advantage of his daze, she swiftly turned her head away, not looking at him. After a moment of serious thought, she spoke, "That was... a reward for Master."
"Master, you should go find Little Sister Mo!"
Su Bei was momentarily puzzled. A reward for me? Was it for putting on her shoes?
"Little Sister Mo is a timid girl," Xiao Ruoching continued, "but if she's by Master's side, she will surely change!"
Compared to Mo Li, perhaps this fragile and gentle Sword Maiden would be more acceptable to her? Su Bei wondered.
Su Bei tenderly finished putting on her stockings and shoes, his fingers lingering for a moment to caress her soft, jade-like toes.
"Disciple, promise your master one thing, will you?"
Xiao Ruoching stood up gently, facing Su Bei, her cheeks still tinted with a blush. "Disciple promises Master!"
Su Bei appeared puzzled as he rose and brushed the dust from her lapels. "Master hasn't mentioned what it is yet!"
Xiao Ruoching turned away, rising lightly onto her tiptoes. The breeze softly played with her flowing raven locks, and her lips curved into a smile as she gazed into the distance. "Disciple knows. Disciple will get along well with Little Sister Mo from now on!"
Su Bei's lips curved into a wry smile. This disciple of mine understands me more deeply than I imagined...
Stepping forward, he lightly grasped her soft hand. This is my disciple, but why doesn't she feel like one to me? He wanted to pull her into his embrace, yet a sense of inexplicable bitterness rose within him. Perhaps it would be better if she weren't his disciple... Nevertheless, I am ultimately her master. She can be willful, unrestrained in her actions, but I cannot. It's just like now; I want to hold her, but internally, there's always this intangible barrier of our respective positions in place.