In the night sky, a ray of white light pierced through. Ye Qianjue sat on the wide sword and, looking up at his Shizun who was piloting the blade, hugged Gu Qingyun’s leg.
Gu Qingyun was startled for a moment, then returned to his usual composure.
Such scenes had happened countless times; Ye Qianjue himself could hardly remember them all.
He only knew that every time he made a mistake or even when he didn’t, Wu Hengmu would find a reason to keep him back for a private scolding.
Only after Wu Hengmu had vented his anger would he slowly notify Gu Qingyun to collect his student.
And it wasn’t over yet!
Usually, after the private scolding, the old man Wu would lecture Ye Qianjue again in front of Gu Qingyun!
Ye Qianjue sighed lightly. He had endured such days for fifteen years!
Indeed, I am more patient than a turtle…
Full of worries, Ye Qianjue returned to Flying Immortal Peak.
He jumped down first and then looked at the cold, aloof Gu Qingyun. Ye Qianjue sighed, stretched out his hands, and opened his palms.
He said loudly, “Shizun! If you want to hit me, hit me! You can hit my hands or my bottom!”
Ye Qianjue squeezed his eyes shut. When the expected punishment didn’t come, he arched his brows in confusion and tentatively opened one eye a slit.
Gu Qingyun was standing there quietly, looking at him.
His Shizun stood there looking pure and untouchable. Ye Qianjue opened his eyes fully and looked at him in confusion.
“Shizun…”
“Come here.” His voice was like ice hitting jade.
Ye Qianjue hesitated in place, his lively eyes blinking repeatedly, until finally, he rushed into Gu Qingyun’s arms without a second thought.
His Shizun’s embrace was fragrant, with the faint scent of pear blossoms mixed with the magnificent, icy clarity of frost and snow.
It smelled wonderful!
The fifteen-year-old Ye Qianjue had not yet hit his full growth; in the arms of the tall and slender Gu Qingyun, he was a head shorter.
“Qianjue knew Shizun wouldn’t blame me. Can Shizun tell me about the Immortal Alliance Conference?”
Ye Qianjue hung around Gu Qingyun’s neck very casually.
The touch of their skin occasionally caused Gu Qingyun to shudder. A flash of discomfort crossed his eyes, and he moved Ye Qianjue’s hands away.
“Sit properly, and I will tell you.”
Gu Qingyun’s breath came out warm and damp as he looked at his disciple, who still retained such youthful innocence. For the first time, he felt at a loss.
He didn’t know when, but his disciple seemed to have grown up and didn’t cling to him as before.
Now… he should have been happy about his disciple’s closeness, but for some reason, he also felt a little afraid.
…And even more flustered.
He stared deeply at Ye Qianjue, at the person waiting for him to talk about the conference.
“Shizun? What are you looking at? Is there something dirty on my face…” Ye Qianjue wiped his face with his sleeve, looking embarrassed, “It’s all Shixiong’s fault for insisting on eating grilled fish and getting my face all dirty!”
Ye Qianjue threw a small tantrum.
He looked at Gu Qingyun, full of suspicion. Why did Shizun stop talking?
Ye Qianjue waved his hand in front of Gu Qingyun.
“Shizun? Shizun!” Ye Qianjue shouted.
Lost in thought, Gu Qingyun was finally awakened by this loud “Shizun.” He looked at the confused Ye Qianjue, smiled slightly, raised his hand, and held Ye Qianjue’s hand.
He slowly began to explain the Immortal Alliance Conference.
The conference was held every fifteen years. The first one was organized during chaotic times. At that time, represented by the Three Immortal Peaks, they suppressed the invasion of the Demon Race, bringing stability to the human world.
But after the Demon Race was pacified, the first problem they faced was the proliferation of various immortal powers.
The Three Immortal Peaks had no interest in competing for the title of “Leader of the Immortal Families,” but due to the recommendations at the time, Wu Hengmu was appointed as the facilitator and held the Immortal Alliance Conference, using “making friends” as a gimmick.
On the surface, it was to make friends, but in reality, it was to gauge the true strength of each family.
The conference, held every fifteen years, naturally became a world-renowned event.
“This is also why your Master Wu cares so much.”
Gu Qingyun’s voice stopped abruptly, and he looked up at the bright moon.
Ye Qianjue suddenly realized and clapped his hands: “No wonder Old Man Wu—Master Wu is so serious! So that’s why~” Ye Qianjue looked at Gu Qingyun and moved in front of him.
He looked at Gu Qingyun with a well-behaved expression, “Shizun, I can participate in the Immortal Alliance Conference this year. I want to try… Don’t worry! I definitely won’t embarrass Flying Immortal Peak! I swear!”
Ye Qianjue’s eyes were glowing, and his words were firm.
Gu Qingyun felt a bit worried and asked, “Why must you go? Even without you, the Three Immortal Peaks will not fall. Even if one day it truly fails… I will stand in front of you.”
“Is that not good?” Gu Qingyun looked at Ye Qianjue with deep tenderness.
“It’s not good, it’s not good! I am an adult now…” Ye Qianjue turned his back in anger, puffed out his cheeks, and muttered: “Shizun always keeps Qianjue by his side. The Shixiongs and Shijies around often laugh at me! I don’t like it like that…”
Ye Qianjue sat down, dejected, and looked at Gu Qingyun.
“Shizun, promise Qianjue~”
Gu Qingyun’s heart was in turmoil. He had only thought about protecting his disciple all these years and never expected that it would make his disciple unhappy. He lowered his eyes, as if contemplating something.
After a long while, Gu Qingyun opened his lips: “As you wish. However, you must listen to me on how to fight.”
Ye Qianjue’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Gu Qingyun excitedly, “As expected! Shizun is the best person in the whole world to me!”
Ye Qianjue lunged into Gu Qingyun’s arms, sitting right on his lap. He didn’t notice the shock and shyness on Gu Qingyun’s face.
Sitting on Gu Qingyun’s lap as if he were still a little child.
“Shizun…”
Ye Qianjue lifted his face, which was beginning to show a heavenly beauty, and whispered: “Qianjue will accompany Shizun for a lifetime, and Shizun will accompany Qianjue for a lifetime, okay?”
At that moment, Gu Qingyun’s heart stopped. His gaze wandered aimlessly, his heart in chaos, as if he were entangled in invisible silk cloth.
The damp warmth of the youth’s breath in his arms sprayed onto his neck, stirring a ripple in Gu Qingyun’s heart.
This ripple could not calm down for a long time…
His voice carried a slight, barely visible tremor: “Okay.”
Ye Qianjue’s heart was also surging with waves. He was so touched!
The best Shizun in the world is by my side. This time, the champion of the Immortal Alliance Conference will definitely be me!
Looking at the bright moon, Ye Qianjue silently made a vow.
The championship of the Immortal Alliance Conference was not something anyone could get just by wanting it. Since Wu Hengmu had laid down his harsh words, the Three Musketeers of the Immortal Peaks had not gathered again, each training hard in their own peaks, fearing they wouldn’t have anything to show for it.
Ye Qianjue had been troubled for days.
He kicked stones, stepped on fallen leaves, smelled the fragrance, and racked his brains.
“Ah! It’s too hard… The Immortal Alliance Conference is not fun at all! I boasted in front of Shizun, but now I’m failing at everything! I can’t remember those annoying incantations at all! I don’t know the sword forms either… What if I make a fool of myself on the spot?”
Ye Qianjue hit his head in anger. If it could make him smarter, he would surely hit it a hundred or a thousand times!
“Who can help me!”
“Woof! Woof woof woof!”
Ye Qianjue: ?
“A dog barking? But ordinary people and livestock cannot get up to Flying Immortal Peak.”
Ye Qianjue bit his rosy lips and followed the sound.
On the other side, a howl towards the sky came: “This Venerable has finally come out! Gu Qingyun! I have been trapped in the Demon-Suppressing Tower for ten years, and today I have finally come out! Your magic power is clearly weakened this time. It seems the day I destroy your sect is coming soon!”
In the bamboo forest, a large black-and-white long-haired dog was barking.
Ye Qianjue pushed aside the bamboo branches and saw the large dog clearly.
“A dog?”
“Who? A human!” Ye Zhai turned back in terror, his dog-body trembling.
He was fully on guard, baring his teeth and growling at Ye Qianjue, a dangerous sound coming from his throat!
Ye Qianjue squatted down and carefully observed Ye Zhai.
He felt… somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Ye Qianjue thought, if his little dog from ten years ago were still alive, it should have turned into this look.
Wait a minute!
Ye Qianjue looked at Ye Zhai with joyful surprise: “Doggy, are you… Black Fur?”
“What Black Fur? This Venerable is black and white, purebred… Forget it, why waste breath on a little brat like you…”
Ye Zhai barked boredly, then turned to leave with his tail wagging.
Suddenly, Ye Qianjue lunged at him without warning, scaring Ye Zhai into a mess, “Awooo~”
“You are my dog, aren’t you? You didn’t die…” Ye Qianjue hugged Ye Zhai tightly, on the verge of tears.
“You stranger, you are very strange. What is this about me living or dying… Wait!” Ye Zhai looked at Ye Qianjue and carefully observed his face, “Are you the little milk baby from back then? Gu Qingyun’s disciple?”
Ye Zhai instantly became excited, his tail wagging incessantly.
“If you are Gu Qingyun’s disciple, that’s great! I deliberately designed it back then to make you misunderstand Gu Qingyun. I don’t know how your teacher-disciple relationship is now… Anyway! Thinking of being able to see that old man Gu Qingyun in pain again, this Venerable is looking forward to it!”
“Hahaha~ Doggy, stop… don’t lick me…”
Ye Qianjue tried his best to avoid Ye Zhai’s tongue, but he still ended up laughing out loud.
The person and the dog played happily in the bamboo forest for an entire day, Ye Qianjue completely throwing the Immortal Alliance Conference to the back of his mind, having a blast.
It wasn’t until the sky turned dim that Ye Qianjue remembered to return to the bamboo house.
He looked at the dog following closely at his feet, feeling as if his heart was filled with honey. He was so happy~
“If Shizun sees this, he will definitely be very happy!”
Gu Qingyun was tasting high-quality tea, but his eyelids were twitching. He had a bad feeling that something major would happen today, but no matter how he calculated, he couldn’t find a conclusion.
He sighed, tapping the table with a troubled face.
It had been a long time since he felt so restless, except for that time ten years ago when Ye Qianjue had cruelly said he didn’t want him anymore. Gu Qingyun was truly afraid.
But fortunately, that was in the past, and now his relationship with his beloved disciple had returned to normal.
No one and nothing could ever separate them again.
Just as Gu Qingyun was reminiscing, Ye Qianjue ran into the bamboo house like an unleashed horse.
“Shizun! Guess what I brought back?”
Good! Such familiar words!
Gu Qingyun felt a sense of foreboding. The worries that had just been surrounding his heart filled his whole body in an instant. He looked at the outside with a headache, the veins on his forehead bulging.
“Woof~”
A large, black-and-white long-maned dog leaped into the room, its high-raised, grinning mouth seemingly saying hello to Gu Qingyun!
“This, this is”
Gu Qingyun composed his expression and looked at the joyful Ye Qianjue.
“This is what Qianjue just picked up! From now on, he is my family, just like you, Shizun”