Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 103 - 102: Yu Gu Nan Discovers Her Master's Unknown Secret

"..."

Pei Yuhang's eyes went wide. He felt as if his head had been struck by lightning, leaving a ceaseless ringing.

He instinctively put on the stern air of a master and said in the tone of one educating a disciple, "Gu Nan, that joke of yours isn't the least bit funny."

"But Gu Nan isn't joking~"

Yu Gu Nan continued to press closer to Pei Yuhang. Her predatory gaze held not a shred of respect for a master; instead... it was filled with the desire of a hunter.

This incredibly aggressive gaze made Pei Yuhang subconsciously recall his days in the Yin Yang Sacred Land, causing him to take half a step back.

But he quickly steadied his mind.

Because he was no longer the powerless mortal youth he had been back in the Yin Yang Sacred Land.

BUZZ—

He released a sliver of his Spiritual Qi Suppression, his power nearing Nascent Soul Peak after being nourished by their recent dual cultivation.

Though it was only a sliver, it still made the young woman before him gasp for breath, as if she were drowning.

Pei Yuhang had no intention of tormenting his disciple. He disciplined her for the span of two breaths, then retracted his Spiritual Qi Suppression.

He then took out two Nourishing Essence Pills and fed them to the slightly pale Yu Gu Nan.

"Gu Nan, what you just said was too vile, which is why I, as your master, had to discipline you. I hope you don't blame me."

"...I was just too worried about Master, that's all. Anyone who saw their beloved elder dallying with a stranger of the opposite sex, acting intimately, and even accepting their Jiezhi Storage Ring before parting would feel uneasy, right? Can Master understand Gu Nan?"

Pei Yuhang faltered for a moment, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He then waved his hand and said with feigned nonchalance:

"Gu Nan, how could your master be as despicable as you imagine? Do you have so little faith in my upright and honorable character? No matter what, I would never betray your mistress.

"That female Daoist just now was an old friend of mine. The Jiezhi Storage Ring she gave me contains a million Spirit Stones. She heard about the recent financial straits of our Cold Palace Sword Mansion and came to repay me for saving her life back then."

"Oh, is that how it is?"

Yu Gu Nan nodded thoughtfully.

Just as Pei Yuhang thought he had finally managed to bluff his way through this—

"So, Master, can you let me inspect the Jiezhi Storage Ring that person just gave you? Hmm... Of course, it's not that I don't trust your words.

"It's just that if I don't see it with my own eyes, my thoughts will be in turmoil, and it will affect my state of mind. I might not perform well in tomorrow's martial tournament and could get seriously injured... Besides, I'm not good at lying. If Mistress were to ask me..."

"Stop, stop, stop! I'll let you see it!"

Pei Yuhang raised his hands in resignation and handed over the Jiezhi Storage Ring.

'Although it was only for a moment, I did just quickly scan the ring with my Divine Sense. It was indeed filled with a mountain of Spirit Stones.'

'Showing it to my young disciple like this should be fine, right?'

Pei Yuhang's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. Watching Yu Gu Nan take the Jiezhi Storage Ring from his hand, he felt an inexplicable nervousness.

Although he felt he was in the right, his heart was still in his throat. The bitter guilt of his immoral actions swept over him with unprecedented intensity.

Fortunately, Yu Gu Nan's expression didn't change. She cheerily took out a large chunk of Spirit Stone to hug to her chest and giggled.

"Haha~ How could I not trust Master's character? I believed you from the start. I just wanted to grab some Spirit Stones for pocket money, which is why I asked for your ring~!"

Pei Yuhang's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally settled. He snatched back the Jiezhi Storage Ring in annoyance and gave Yu Gu Nan a rap on the head.

"You little rascal... since when did you become as deserving of a beating as Bai Jingjing!"

"Hehe, I was just joking with you, Master~ Don't be so serious."

Yu Gu Nan put her hands on her head and put on a pitiful, endearing expression. It made Pei Yuhang want to teach her a lesson, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Finally, he said helplessly:

"I'll forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again, you hear me!"

"Understood, Master."

Yu Gu Nan said this meekly, but after Pei Yuhang turned his back, she carefully pulled a Jiezhi Storage Ring out from amidst the Spirit Stones in her arms, a smirk playing on her lips.

Perhaps he had been in too much of a hurry, but Pei Yuhang hadn't noticed that in a corner amidst the million Spirit Stones, there was another Jiezhi Storage Ring, so small it was easy to miss.

Perhaps it was the intuition of her Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, or perhaps it was a fated accident, but Yu Gu Nan had discovered it. Under the pretext of grabbing some Spirit Stones, she had seized the opportunity to take out the Jiezhi Storage Ring and hide it among the Spirit Stones in her arms.

[Yu Gu Nan, you actually dared to steal from Master! Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you?]

"Hmph, cut the crap. Let me ask you, aren't you curious?

"The Jiezhi Storage Ring given to him by that woman who was flirting and acting so intimately with Pei Yuhang actually has another Storage Ring hidden inside. Are you sure you don't want to see this little surprise from that wild woman?"

Yu Xiaoyan paced anxiously in their Heart Lake.

Of course, she was incredibly curious. She was desperate to know what was going on between that wild woman and their master.

But she was also afraid that Master would discover Yu Gu Nan's actions, and that she herself would be implicated and earn his disgust... Caught in this conflict, she chose to remain silent, quietly watching as Yu Gu Nan's Divine Sense seeped into the Jiezhi Storage Ring to investigate.

A moment later, Yu Gu Nan withdrew her Divine Sense.

Her expression was unchanged. She even made a bored-sounding "Eh?"

[Hey! What's inside that Storage Ring!]

Yu Xiaoyan's curiosity was piqued after all, and she hurriedly pressed for an answer.

"Nothing. There's nothing at all in this Jiezhi Storage Ring."

[Really, nothing at all?]

Yu Xiaoyan's voice was filled with doubt.

"That's right. Does your big sis have any reason to lie to you? Once you regain control of the body, you can just see for yourself."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaoyan could only let it go.

Seeing her younger sister quiet down, a dark shadow flashed deep in Yu Gu Nan's eyes.

The corners of her lips curled up into a twisted, exaggerated smile filled with malicious glee.

Perhaps to prevent her younger sister from hearing her laughter and asking more questions, she laughed wildly and silently, which made it seem particularly eerie.

'Of course there was something in that Jiezhi Storage Ring. Otherwise, why would the person who gave it to him have deliberately tucked it inside as an easter egg?'

Inside was a piece of black, silk clothing—soaking wet, wrinkled, and torn with holes.

It was the erotic dudou that Shang Miaoyan had just been wearing!

Of course, Yu Gu Nan didn't know who had left this item.

But what she did know was that this item undeniably confirmed one thing. That the seemingly pure and noble Cold Sun Sword Immortal, Palace Master Pei, praised by the world for his epic tale of pure love and unwavering devotion to his Dao Companion—the very Pei Yuhang whom Yu Gu Nan had once truly believed to be a gentleman—

was a scumbag who had betrayed his Dao Companion.