Inside Su Wanqing’s Cave Residence on Little Bamboo Peak, one of them sat in a chair, the other on the bed.
The man’s expression was troubled, while the woman’s face remained cold and calm.
They did not look at each other. Su Wanqing refused to meet Chu Ning’s eyes.
Letting him in—she had only done so because she knew what Chu Ning said wasn’t entirely wrong.
But hadn’t she already said it was a misunderstanding?
He wouldn’t take the Pill otherwise—she had to feed it to him like that!
That thing was of no use to her!
Look at him now, already at the late stage of Destiny Comprehension Realm, and his cultivation was so stable. Wasn’t that a good thing?
And now he was teasing her with it?
Heh.
Trying to play mind games with her? She had been mastering them since before he was even born.
“Weren’t you going to ask about swordsmanship? What are you dazing out for?”
Snapping back, Chu Ning scratched his head with an awkward smile.
He had been staring—she looked too good, and her figure was definitely… impressive.
“Master, I wanted to ask about the Ethereal Sword Technique…”
Su Wanqing gave a soft “Mm.”
“Ask away.”
“Is the ‘ethereal intent’ the core essence of the technique?”
“It is. But you don’t need to worry about that. Just follow my method and train the basics first. Don’t reach too far. It may not boost you much now, but it’ll help immensely in the future.”
“But what if I’ve already comprehended it?”
“You don’t need to use the Dao as an excuse. Whether you’ve understood it or not—I can see it clearly.”
Jiang Qingyue had cultivated swordsmanship for thirty years and still hadn’t grasped ethereal intent, only reaching the third level.
Chu Ning claimed he understood it? What a genius, huh?
To Su Wanqing, it was nothing but an excuse. He just wanted to come inside!
Hadn’t she made it clear the kiss was just a spur-of-the-moment decision?
Seeing her disbelief, Chu Ning didn’t push the point. He hadn’t practiced swordsmanship for years. If he showed too much too soon, it would only raise more suspicion.
Better to take it slow.
He sighed, helplessly watching her guarded expression.
“Master, why must there be such mistrust between us?”
“Shouldn’t I be suspicious?”
“I haven’t treated you badly, have I?”
Su Wanqing laughed coldly, crossing her long, white legs. Her skin was like porcelain, and the sight was enticing—until she noticed his gaze and quickly covered up.
Staring again the moment something shows? You’re not even trying to hide it now?
“If you hadn’t said what you said earlier, I wouldn’t be like this.”
“If I hadn’t said it, would you have let me in?” Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Of course not.”
“Then that means Master isn’t really afraid of me, since you knew I wouldn’t do anything.”
Su Wanqing narrowed her eyes slightly. That was true. He had the intention but not the courage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have just stolen her outerwear.
“Then let me ask you—do you stay by my side because I’m your master, or for other reasons?”
Chu Ning didn’t hide anything. There was no need to.
“Because you’re my master, absolutely. That comes first.”
The bond between master and disciple—how could he ever forget that? It was sacred to him.
Su Wanqing was actually pleased by the answer. At least he hadn’t crossed the line completely.
“And the other reasons?”
Chu Ning answered openly, “Naturally, I also see Master as a woman. I won’t deny that. And helping Master recover helps me too—there’s no lie in that.”
Hearing this so directly, Su Wanqing couldn’t help but mutter internally.
So you still remember we’re master and disciple? Do you also realize that no other master-disciple pair behaves like this?
Declaring so boldly that you see your master as a woman—how brazen.
Still, since he was being honest, she didn’t want to dwell on it.
“You’ve seen too few women. That’s normal. Once you’ve met more, you won’t feel the same anymore.”
“And if I never waver?”
“Is it your bond with me as a disciple that won’t waver—or your lustful heart?”
“Master, isn’t using ‘lustful’ too harsh? Is ‘liking’ really so terrible?”
Su Wanqing scoffed, “Is there even a difference?”
Chu Ning thought for a moment.
“Lust is just base desire. But my feelings for you are more than that.”
Pfft!
Su Wanqing nearly spat blood. She looked at him in disbelief, only to find complete sincerity in his eyes.
“You really just say whatever’s on your mind, don’t you!”
Chu Ning spread his hands helplessly. “Since Master asked, I figured I’d be honest. Would you believe me if I said I didn’t like you? Why not just be direct?”
Gritting her teeth, Su Wanqing clenched her fists. “Do you know how immoral this sounds? If others heard, we’d be mocked endlessly!”
“I merely said I like you. But Master actually did something about it. Doesn’t that make you worse?”
“I told you—it was a desperate moment!”
Chu Ning smiled slightly. “Even if we don’t talk about that—if my cultivation becomes powerful enough, who in the world would dare say a word?”
Su Wanqing was taken aback. That was quite the bold statement.
His fearless spirit was strangely attractive. He was always blunt—no pretenses. If he felt something, he said it. If he hated something, he showed it. That was just who he was.
But this level of directness left her speechless.
She had only wanted to shut him down, to remind him they were master and disciple. To make it clear that he was making her uneasy. To warn him that if he misbehaved during healing, she’d panic.
But Chu Ning just laid everything bare. Get faster updates on g.com.
What could she even say or do now?
Kick him out and tell him to stay away?
That was a joke. Her feelings for him were far too complicated. She couldn’t even repay the kindness he had shown by restoring her cultivation.
But if these feelings were laid out plainly—Chu Ning might not care. She couldn’t ignore them.
She had watched him grow up. If he really tried to climb into her bed, she wouldn’t kick him off.
She’d run away instead.
She wouldn’t be able to push him aside—not with the emotions involved. But if she seriously considered a romantic relationship with him… she didn’t dare.
Lost in her thoughts, Su Wanqing sighed softly.
“Ning’er, I don’t want things to be difficult between us.”
Chu Ning smiled. “What’s difficult for Master? Are you afraid we’ll really become Dao partners? But if I only like you and do nothing—then there’s no pressure, right?”
Relationships weren’t easy to change. He knew that kiss had been a complete accident. If they were ever to become something more, it wouldn’t happen overnight.
His words made Su Wanqing pause.
Wait… did she overthink it? He might have feelings, but he didn’t actually plan to act on them?
Chu Ning was still smiling.
“If Master doesn’t want it, then I absolutely won’t force it. In my heart, you’re still the powerful and invincible Master who could suppress all enemies. I want that Master to return.”
“If I ever really stepped out of line, you’d just chop me down, wouldn’t you? That’d be a huge loss.”
Hearing that, Su Wanqing finally laughed.
“You really know how to talk. If you were planning something indecent, you wouldn’t be helping me restore my cultivation. You’d already have done something.”
Chu Ning stood and nodded. “That’s why I’ve never had those thoughts. I only want to help Master return to her peak. Even if one day we do talk about those feelings—it should be when you’re once again standing proudly above all.”
Su Wanqing didn’t reply. She simply looked at her approaching disciple.
He definitely had feelings for her—her instincts were right.
That confession earlier had already confirmed it.
She hadn’t rejected it because she couldn’t bear to. Her emotions were a mess. She couldn’t switch perspectives—at least not yet.
But Chu Ning had given her an out.
These feelings… for now, they stayed within the bond of master and disciple.
Maybe her inner turmoil wasn’t as necessary as she thought. Chu Ning wasn’t like other people. He respected her and didn’t take advantage of his power.
At this moment, Su Wanqing’s heart finally relaxed.
That kiss from earlier? Let it go.
She didn’t mind anymore—because she saw her disciple’s growth.
And he had grown into someone she could truly rely on.
Standing before her, Chu Ning placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
“Master, shall I help you disrobe so we can begin the healing?”
Su Wanqing smiled helplessly. She knew he was trying to sneak a peek. But he was going to heal her anyway. So what if he stole a glance or two?
“I’ll do it myself.”