Watching Dan Wulan's retreating figure, Su Bei really wanted to say, "Actually, you could have given me a gentle embrace."
Regarding his ambiguous relationship with Dan Wulan—more than friendly yet short of physical intimacy—Su Bei felt troubled.
It seemed that every time he tried to take a step forward, she always showed a faint, subtle resistance. Sometimes it even made Su Bei wonder if what he'd seen that night hadn't been her at all.
Yet, when Su Bei opened his eyes, the image of her coyly covering her shy expression always lingered in his mind, hard to dismiss.
The favor of a beauty is the hardest to accept.
Su Bei smiled bitterly, feeling the tingling sensation as the Qi Blood Pill continuously mended his body's meridians. He sat down beside his three disciples.
His eyes seemingly watched the intense battle on the platform nearby, but his thoughts had drifted far away.
"Master..."
Su Bei turned and looked at the spendthrift disciple sitting beside him, a trace of a smile on his lips as his meridians slowly healed under the influence of the Great Dao Qi and the Qi Blood Pill.
"Does Sword Three really harm the body?" Xiao Ruoching tentatively reached out her small hand to touch the corner of Su Bei's mouth, where dried blood had scabbed over. Su Bei didn't pull away; his gaze towards his disciple softened even more.
"It won't hurt if *you* use it."
His words were naturally laced with a hint of warmth as he extended his hand to stroke his disciple's hair, admiring her exquisite beauty, while his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
He had reached a point where he could no longer regard her simply as a disciple.
Su Bei took a deep breath, striving to push aside these unconventional thoughts, and just watched as his disciple's long dress fluttered in the night breeze.
Remembering how she looked when they first met months ago—sitting desperately in a corner, her eyes full of terror—Su Bei couldn't help but think.
Who would have thought that months later, I would bear such a responsibility towards her? Perhaps my character began to change from the moment I met her, gradually becoming what I had once wanted to avoid the most.
Xiao Ruoching was about to say something when she suddenly met his gaze. It seemed hotter than usual and carried an expression she had never seen before, causing her cheeks to instantly flush. She felt shy and wanted to avoid his direct look.
But then she encouraged herself silently, Xiao Ruoching, isn't this what you've always wanted? Why run away?
Gathering her courage, she raised her head and looked unflinchingly at Su Bei.
"Master, do you have any..."
Before she could finish her words, a deafening cheer erupted nearby.
"Elder Xi wins!!"
"Sword Sect!!"
"Elder Xi!!"
The noisy cheers interrupted Xiao Ruoching's unspoken thoughts.
Su Bei immediately stood up, his eyes also excited as he looked at Xi Qingyi, who stood in the distance holding his sword.
The battle of the Half-Step into Dao Integration experts had finally come to a close.
Shui Tianyi wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled at Xi Qingyi, who was opposite her, saying, "Ultimately, I was outmatched. Shui Tianyi congratulates Daoist Xi on the victory!"
Xi Qingyi nodded lightly, hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor as composed as ever, the sword planted in the ground before him.
Su Bei watched this scene with an odd expression. Why do I feel like Xi Qingyi is trying to imitate me? he wondered.
He actually managed to capture some of the essence!
Listening to the overwhelming applause and seeing the red-faced Sword Sect Disciples around him, Su Bei momentarily felt like he had won a championship in a sports competition in a previous life.
It was a feeling of passion and excitement, as if he were truly immersed in that joy.
Then, looking down at Xiao Ruoching, he spoke with a mix of apology and confusion, "Disciple, what were you just going to say?"
The blush on Xiao Ruoching's face faded as she smiled lightly and said, "I didn't say anything, Master."
Su Bei smiled, finding her seemingly artless demeanor endearing. He couldn't help but pinch her smooth cheek before turning and walking towards Wenren Pingxin and the others not far away.
Xiao Ruoching's eyes shimmered like rippling water. She bit her thin lips as she watched his receding figure, and then she sighed.
This really isn't a good time. I still couldn't bring myself to say it.
I want to be more than just his disciple.
Mo Li, who sat beside Xiao Ruoching, opened her eyes and glanced at Xiao Ruoching's expression. Although she hadn't deliberately eavesdropped on their conversation, she could guess the gist of it from Xiao Ruoching's face.
Mo Li did not like her.
Mo Li said indifferently, "Woman, a great battle looms. Don't disturb Master's state of mind."
Xiao Ruoching turned to look at her, a cold glint in her eyes and her lips curving slightly, "Disturbed what? And I am your Senior Sister!"
"Either call me by my name or call me Senior Sister!"
Mo Li closed her eyes again, concentrating on her cultivation, too lazy to argue with her. In the Perception Realm, she was keenly aware that Su Bei's heartbeat had quickened inappropriately a few moments ago.
They still hadn't fully comprehended even the first chapter of The Wilderness Scripture that Su Bei had given them last time.
This cultivation technique might be no less profound than the Sword Scripture. Mo Li thought.
「...」
Su Bei walked over to Wenren Pingxin and the others, then reached out and patted his own face.