However, Xu Fan soon realized that he had miscalculated.
Not long after, when he went to see Xianglan, he was surprised to learn that her sect missions had suddenly increased this month. One of them even required her to travel to a distant small town, which meant that their time together would be greatly reduced.
Xu Fan didn’t need to think twice—it was obviously Ji Hanyue’s doing.
After briefly consoling Xianglan, he quickly went to find Ji Hanyue and asked with slight displeasure, “Master, don’t you think this is a bit inappropriate?”
“Xianglan is still just at the Foundation Establishment Realm. How can she possibly complete so many missions?”
Ji Hanyue only slightly lifted her elegant head, those cold and seductive eyes glancing at Xu Fan as she said calmly, “Fan’er, you don’t understand. I arranged those missions for Xianglan because I want her to improve her strength as soon as possible. It’s all for your own good.”
“In this cruel cultivation world, without enough power to protect yourself, so-called happiness is nothing more than an illusion.”
Looking at Ji Hanyue’s expression, which didn’t seem like she was lying, Xu Fan frowned slightly. “Master, is that really what you think? You’re not just making things hard on Xianglan on purpose?”
Ji Hanyue rolled her eyes at him and said with a soft snort, “Fan’er, do you really think your master is that kind of person?”
Hearing this, Xu Fan thought she had truly changed her mindset and was genuinely looking out for them. He suddenly became happy and even took the initiative to help her massage her shoulders and back. “Master, you’re so kind. Having a master like you is truly my fortune!”
Ji Hanyue closed her eyes and let out a soft hum, enjoying the skilled, practiced massage techniques of Xu Fan.
But only she knew that, deep down, her thoughts were surging wildly.
It was all thanks to Xu Fan’s words the other day that she finally realized she had developed feelings she shouldn’t have toward her disciple.
But unlike others, Ji Hanyue didn’t give up.
After spending a sleepless night in torment, she suddenly understood her true feelings.
That’s right. She had fallen for her own disciple!
No need to hide it, no need to deny it. Liking someone was liking someone—there was no need for any drawn-out justification.
She, Ji Hanyue, liked the little brat Xu Fan who had cared for her meticulously since the days of Huangsha Village, relied on each other inside Supreme Void Immortal Mountain, and even risked his life for her in the Hundred Thousand Mountains!
So what? This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
She was now in the Half-God Realm—if anyone dared speak a word against her, she’d send them straight to the afterlife!
Once she figured it out, Ji Hanyue’s heart felt open and free, her mood lifted, and her focus shifted completely to figuring out how to win over her honest, lovable little disciple.
Ah, her adorable Fan’er… very soon, you’ll realize that in this vast cultivation world, only your master is your one true and reliable support.
…
Xu Fan had originally thought Ji Hanyue had figured things out. But after meeting Xianglan again, he realized it wasn’t that simple.
Although Ji Hanyue said it was to help Xianglan improve her cultivation, many of the missions she arranged clearly seemed deliberately difficult.
For example, Xianglan was a sword cultivator, yet one mission required her to tend rare spiritual plants in the sect’s spiritual herb garden—plants that were extremely sensitive to sword aura.
With her current level, Xianglan couldn’t perfectly suppress the faint sword aura on her body, meaning this mission drained a huge amount of her time and energy each time.
Another example: although Xianglan specialized in fire-element spiritual energy, she was assigned a mission to hunt powerful aquatic spirit beasts in the nearby mountain range—totally mismatched with her strengths.
Seeing Xianglan so worn out and aggrieved, Xu Fan couldn’t bear it and ended up helping her complete many of the difficult missions.
Unbeknownst to him, this was exactly what Ji Hanyue had hoped for.
Mission Hall.
“Xianglan, these missions are explicitly marked as solo missions. Are you sure you completed them all by yourself?”
Looking at the serious expression on Elder Qingxuan’s face, Xianglan immediately panicked.
The Supreme Void Immortal Sect was a place of pure cultivation and held strict rules against deception. Disciples caught faking mission results could face light punishment such as confinement, or worse, corporal punishment under sect law—at minimum, a brutal beating.
Naturally, Xianglan didn’t want to suffer such consequences. So she forced herself to lie, “O-Of course… I completed them all myself.”
Unexpectedly, Elder Qingxuan’s expression darkened instantly, his brows flaring with anger. “You’re lying!”
“Xianglan, do you really think the Law Enforcement Hall that oversees disciples’ conduct is just for show?!”
Realizing she had been exposed, Xianglan quickly knelt with a terrified expression. “Elder Qingxuan, this disciple was wrong. I won’t dare do it again!”
“Hmph!”
Elder Qingxuan snorted coldly, clearly displeased. “Don’t try to smooth things over with flattery! Speak! Who’s been secretly helping you?!”
Xianglan trembled, but lowered her head and remained silent. Clearly, she didn’t want to drag Xu Fan down. This story is hosted at g.com.
Seeing this, Elder Qingxuan sighed, disappointment in his voice. “Xianglan, you’re being foolish.”
“Power is something you must cultivate yourself. That person might help you for a while, but can they help you for a lifetime? What seems like help now is only harming you in the long run…”
At that moment, Xu Fan’s figure appeared and stepped into the mission hall.
Seeing him, Xianglan panicked and gave him a pleading look, signaling him to leave.
But Xu Fan ignored it. He calmly walked up to Elder Qingxuan, bowed respectfully, and said, “Elder Qingxuan, to be frank, the person who’s been helping Xianglan… is me.”
“Xu Shizhi?”
Elder Qingxuan’s expression changed upon seeing him.
After all, Xu Fan was the sect master’s only personal disciple. The elders of Supreme Void Immortal Mountain all knew how much Ji Hanyue treasured him—she wouldn’t let anyone speak a word against him.
Even if Elder Qingxuan wanted to act strictly by the sect rules, Xu Fan’s identity made the matter complicated.
Seeing his hesitation, Xu Fan secretly let out a sigh of relief and said, “Elder Qingxuan, this whole matter was arranged by my master. So if anything wasn’t handled properly, I hope you can be lenient.”
Upon hearing this, Elder Qingxuan immediately forced a somewhat awkward smile and said, “Xu Shizhi, you flatter me. If it’s the sect master’s arrangement, then of course, there’s no problem.”
“You can take her back. Just don’t let it happen again.”
Xu Fan was overjoyed.
He had intentionally phrased things vaguely, pulling out the ‘master’s banner’ to shield Xianglan. And it worked perfectly.
Hugging Master’s thigh really paid off~
Xianglan was equally delighted and was just about to stand and leave with Xu Fan…
But just then, a cold voice laced with displeasure rang out from outside the hall.
“Qingxuan, I did indeed arrange Xianglan’s missions… but as for violating sect rules, I have never instructed Fan’er to do such a thing.”