Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 136 - 135: Spanking Yueqiu's Butt to Wake Her Up

SMACK—

A crisp smack echoed as Qing Yueqiu's slender body trembled visibly.

But the crimson glow in her eyes did not fade; they were still clouded by the Heart Demon. In fact, Pei Yuhang's strike to her backside only inflamed the girl's ferocity. Using her fingertips as a sword, she stabbed mercilessly toward Pei Yuhang's chest.

"You foolish girl…"

Pei Yuhang was, of course, unfazed by Qing Yueqiu's attack. But above them, the thunderclouds were growing ever thicker, expanding to a terrifying size—large enough to envelop the entire Tree Sea Dragon Island and its surrounding waters.

If Qing Yueqiu didn't regain consciousness soon, Pei Yuhang could already foresee the tragedy of his beloved disciple perishing in the thunder.

"Snap out of it!"

With a flick of his wrist, Pei Yuhang produced a wooden Ruler from his Jiezhi Storage Ring, blocking Qing Yueqiu's stabbing fingertips.

Qing Yueqiu's attack was easily parried by the Ruler. Pei Yuhang then kicked the back of her knees, forcing her to the ground.

"According to the rules of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, disciples who disobey their master shall be punished!"

Pei Yuhang took aim at Qing Yueqiu's rear, upturned as she knelt, and brought the Ruler down without mercy.

SMACK—!

The merciless strike was louder and sharper than a slap from an open palm.

Qing Yueqiu's body registered the familiar force, one she had often felt during punishments in her training days. Her legs began to tremble instinctively, and tears started to well up in her crimson eyes.

Pei Yuhang saw that this method was remarkably effective, so he cast aside any thoughts of being gentle, no longer worrying if his disciple's body could withstand the thrashing.

If it meant waking Qing Yueqiu before the Celestial Tribulation descended, Pei Yuhang was determined to see it through, even if it meant breaking the Ruler in his hand.

"According to the rules of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, attacking one's master shall be punished!"

SMACK—!

"According to the rules of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, forgetting one's master's warnings shall be punished!"

SMACK—!

SMACK—!!

...

The back of the Cold Fairy's white dress was torn to shreds by Pei Yuhang's brutal strikes. If one were to lift the ruined fabric now, they would surely see the crimson, welted skin beneath, ravaged by the Ruler.

Anyone who saw Qing Yueqiu's pitiful state would have cursed Pei Yuhang. How could anyone treat the silver-haired girl's delicate skin so brutally?

But as it turned out, desperate times called for desperate measures, and this harsh medicine was indeed the best cure.

「Within a Sea of Consciousness shrouded in chaotic mist.」

Qing Yueqiu sat on the ground, her eyes lifeless. She hugged her knees tightly, seeming to have given up on everything.

'She could feel her body growing stronger with every passing moment, nourished by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The once-sealed gate to the Nascent Soul realm had even opened for her.'

'All she had to do now was gather her will to overcome the Celestial Tribulation, and she would successfully advance to the Nascent Soul realm.'

'When she returned to the Dao Sect, she would be hailed as a peerless prodigy. Countless resources would be lavished upon her, and she would ascend to an even higher station with ease.'

'But… none of it mattered anymore.'

'Because Master was gone… Since he was gone, there was no point for a Qing Yueqiu who stood in the limelight. She had no reason to exist.'

'Perhaps she should have died long ago, on that winter night in the Capital City.'

'If she had really died that night, in that lonely alley, next to a trash can… she probably wouldn't have had to live through this nightmare.'

'A nightmare where she was saved by a Sword Immortal who seemed to have stepped right out of a tale, the embodiment of every wonderful fantasy. A nightmare where she was allowed to feel love, yet could never have all of that man's love for herself.'

'Perhaps, from the very beginning, Qing Yueqiu had harbored a fantasy about Pei Yuhang. The fantasy that, despite him already having a Dao Companion, he would still end up with her… Only when she saw him die with her own eyes did she realize it was all over.'

'She could never have all of his love.'

'Now, she just had to wait for the Celestial Tribulation to descend, and the nightmare would finally be over.'

'She had to leave this world that no longer had her master in it.'

From somewhere in the void, Qing Yueqiu's ears twitched. It was as if she'd heard a familiar voice calling her name.

'That voice… is it Master?'

'No, I saw him perish in the Dragon's mouth with my own two eyes…'

Qing Yueqiu continued to wait, the will to live completely gone from her dull, crimson eyes.

Until—

SMACK!!

A sharp crack echoed through her Sea of Consciousness. Qing Yueqiu, her face ashen, snapped her head up. She felt a sting of pain blossom from a rather private place, and an intoxicating blush quickly spread across her pretty face.

Her face a mixture of shame and anger, the girl shot to her feet, instinctively covering her rear with her hands.

"Who… Who's hitting my bottom?!"

'That's a place only Master is allowed to strike… How could I let anyone else do it!'

Killing intent flashed in Qing Yueqiu's eyes as she scanned the chaotic mist, trying to find the villain who had dared to strike her rear.

But a scan of her surroundings revealed no culprit. Instead, the sharp sound of a slap echoed again, even louder this time!

SMACK—!!

"Ah!"

Qing Yueqiu cried out as a jolt shot through her legs, making her jump in place.

She was about to angrily demand the mysterious person show themselves and fight her head-on when her legs were kicked out from under her. Losing her balance, the girl fell to her knees.

Then, the humiliating smacks began to fall, one after another.

SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK—

Powerless to resist, Qing Yueqiu could only kneel in shame and endure the brutal punishment.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she suddenly realized that the force and the sting of the blows were incredibly familiar.

'This familiar force, this familiar sting…'

'Is that… the Ruler?'

Qing Yueqiu's eyes lit up as an ecstatic possibility flooded her mind.

'Master… he's alive!'

'He's right outside!'

"I have to get out! I have to get out and see Master!"

Qing Yueqiu shouted, struggling to her feet and breaking into a frantic run through the chaotic mist.

As the girl ran, the surrounding mist began to close in, forming into one illusory arm after another, all trying to grab her. At the same time, seductive whispers echoed from within the fog.

Your master is already dead.

The world outside is meaningless to you now… Stay here.

It's a lie… It's all a lie…

The misty arms coiled around Qing Yueqiu, but she struggled with all her might, forcing herself to move forward step by step.

"No! My master is waiting for me! He's waiting to take me home!"

With a piercing cry from Qing Yueqiu, brilliant, sparkling Moonlight and starlight poured from her body.

Qing Yueqiu reached for the starlight, which solidified into a longsword of pure Moonlight. With a single wave of her hand, she severed all the misty arms pulling at her.

"Break!"

Raising her sword high, Qing Yueqiu slashed forward without hesitation.

'It was just as her master had said: for a Sword Cultivator, the path forward is wherever your sword points.'

...

...

As if waking from a dream, Qing Yueqiu opened her eyes.

She found herself lying in a warm embrace. Looking up, she finally saw the familiar face.

"Yueqiu, welcome back."