Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 122 - 121: Compensation for Little Disciple Yu Xiaoyan

"Junior Sister, where have you been? And why are your clothes in such a state?"

Yu Gu Nan was about to push open her door when her Senior Sister's cool voice sounded from behind. 'What rotten luck,' she thought. After that inexplicable encounter with Pei Yuhang, she was now being cornered first by her Master's wife, and now her Senior Sister.

"Senior Sister, I was just with Master, asking for guidance on my cultivation."

Yu Gu Nan hid her impatience and turned to flash an obedient smile.

Upon hearing this, Qing Yueqiu couldn't help but furrow her lovely brows, her eyes filled with puzzlement.

Her gaze swept over Yu Gu Nan's "attire"—so tattered it barely concealed her charms—and her crimson eyes narrowed.

"Are you saying your clothes ended up like this... because of Master?"

"Master was testing my recent cultivation progress. Swords and blades have no eyes. It's perfectly normal for clothes to get torn, isn't it?"

"Is there anything else, Senior Sister?"

"...No, nothing."

Qing Yueqiu looked at her Junior Sister, feeling that something wasn't quite right. Compared to this morning, Yu Gu Nan's face was now flushed and rosy. Her Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed to have been nourished by some powerful tonic. Though her figure was as petite and delicate as ever, she possessed a new, womanly air...

Her entire aura felt more mature and confident.

The Spiritual Qi fluctuations within her were also far more abundant than before.

'Perhaps after receiving Master's guidance, her Dao Heart has had a revelation, like clouds parting to reveal the sky, leading to a breakthrough in her cultivation.'

Qing Yueqiu didn't let her thoughts stray into strange territory. Or rather, she simply couldn't believe that Master would ever do anything untoward with her Junior Sister.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Yu Gu Nan, she took her Luminous Shadow Sword and departed, ready to continue her secluded cultivation and break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Watching her Senior Sister's lonely, slender back retreat, Yu Gu Nan raised a hand to twirl a lock of hair by her ear. A feeling of cruel amusement and triumph welled up inside her.

'Poor Senior Sister. She probably spends countless lonely nights pathetically fantasizing about Master, moaning softly to herself. How pitiful. She's about to reach the Nascent Soul realm, and she still doesn't even know the taste of a man's love~'

'If I weren't afraid she'd chase me down with her sword, I'd love to tell her all about my little trip to the springs with Master.'

'Her face, twisted with envy, jealousy, and resentment, would surely be far more interesting than that cold mask she always wears.'

Yu Gu Nan licked her lips. Just before Yu Xiaoyan was due to awaken within her, she turned and went back into her room.

...

...

"Mmm... Ah Han... kisses..."

A wet sensation on his face roused Pei Yuhang. He opened his eyes, and a smile unconsciously graced his lips as he looked at the beauty in his arms.

But the memory of yesterday's madness quickly wiped the smile from his face, replacing it with a long sigh.

He carefully slid his arm from Ye Liyuan's embrace, his movements light as a feather, terrified of waking his Dao Companion.

He tiptoed out of the room. The wind and snow outside were still raging with surprising ferocity. If not for the protective Arrays reinforcing the buildings of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, the howling gale would have likely ripped the plaster from the walls and the tiles from the roofs.

"This damn snowstorm is so annoying."

Feeling a surge of irritation, Pei Yuhang raised his Silent Sword. With a single slash, he sent a beam of Sword Qi soaring into the sky, cleaving the heavy clouds asunder.

The clouds dispersed, and the strong winds gradually subsided.

Watching the gentle sunlight spill over the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, Pei Yuhang felt his mind clear.

Now that he could control his Giant Sun Saint Body, there was no longer any need for the mansion to be shrouded in wind and snow.

From now on, the skies above the Cold Palace Sword Mansion would remain clear.

Just as Pei Yuhang's mood began to lift, the Transmission Token at his waist trembled.

The message was from his youngest disciple.

The very person he felt the most guilt toward and the one he least knew how to face.

Pei Yuhang's hand froze. He hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Gu Nan... are you feeling unwell again? If you want me to, I can come over right now..."

"What do you mean, 'Gu Nan'? It's Xiaoxiao! Master, you actually mixed me up with *her*!"

The voice from the Transmission Token was indignant. Clearly, the young lady was greatly offended that her Master hadn't recognized her, as if her beloved had failed to give her the attention she deserved.

"Ah, Xiaoxiao... My apologies, my apologies. You hadn't said anything yet; I can't tell who it is just through the Transmission Token..."

Yu Xiaoyan found some logic in Pei Yuhang's words, so she decided not to dwell on it. 'After all, men don't like women who nitpick...' she thought. But still...

"Master, why did you say that woman, Yu Gu Nan, 'wanted it' again? What did she want?"

Pei Yuhang's mouth opened and closed. In the end, he resorted to a lie.

"Gu Nan has many questions about the Sword Dao. Yesterday, while cultivating her Sword Qi, she damaged her meridians. That's why she's feeling unwell. She needs me to help unblock them."

"Oh, is that what happened? I was wondering why I was so sore and achy when I woke up this morning. Especially my butt, it hurts so much I can barely sit down without wincing.

That Yu Gu Nan is so annoying! How could she be so careless with my body! You're the only one who takes care of me, Master~!"

"..."

Pei Yuhang didn't want to continue this conversation. The more he said, the more he'd get wrong. He had to change the subject, and fast.

"Xiaoxiao, was there a reason you contacted me?"

"Um, I want you to teach me that swordsmanship technique Senior Sister used in the Sect tournament."

"You mean the 'Moon Shaking Flower Moon'?"

"Yes, that's it! What a beautiful name! Master, you're so biased, teaching it to Senior Sister in secret and not me."

"Xiaoxiao, that swordsmanship technique isn't suitable for you right now. If Yueqiu hadn't obtained the Luminous Shadow Sword, I wouldn't have passed it on to her."

"Alright..."

Not wanting to anger her Master, Yu Xiaoyan didn't press the issue, but the disappointment in her voice was still palpable.

Pei Yuhang, already wracked with guilt over his youngest disciple, couldn't bear to hear her so dejected.

"Xiaoxiao, how about I help you forge a Lifebound Spirit Sword? Once you have one, I can give you Sword Formulas that are suitable for you."

"They won't be any weaker than your Senior Sister's," Pei Yuhang added after a moment's thought.

As expected, the girl's heart fluttered with joy at his words.

"Okay! Let's go look for one right now!"

"I heard that for a Lifebound Spirit Sword, the stronger the Sword Spirit, the better. Some Sword Cultivators capture a Great Demon Spirit and refine it. Others capture the souls of other Sword Cultivators. And some slaughter entire cities, using the Soul Blood of the masses to forge their Sword Spirit."

"So, Master, which method should we choose?"

The girl's voice was sweet and pure, yet every word she spoke was steeped in slaughter, enough to make one's blood run cold.

"Xiaoxiao... you're not yet strong enough to control a Great Demon Spirit. As for the other methods you mentioned, those belong to the Demon Dao. They harm one's karmic virtue and must never be considered."

Pei Yuhang broke out in a cold sweat. He never expected his seemingly obedient and adorable disciple to utter words of such escalating cruelty. If he hadn't taken her in, would Yu Xiaoyan have grown up to be a budding disciple of the Demon Dao?

'It's a good thing I guided her to the righteous path... No, wait.' He grimaced. 'After what happened between us, transgressing the sacred bond of master and disciple... maybe following me isn't the righteous path at all.'