Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 225 - 224: Shang Miaoyan's Invitation

DRIP—PLOP—

Crimson droplets of blood trickled down from the horrifying gash on the young woman's abdomen.

The wound was so shocking that even a Nascent Soul Cultivator like Qing Yueqiu, who had already lost a significant amount of blood, had lips turning pale.

After all, in a morally gray place teeming with all sorts of people like Xuanyuan Dark City, Qing Yueqiu didn't dare show any sign of injury, let alone find a quiet place to recuperate.

Rather than tending to her wounds in that strange and dangerous city, she'd preferred to grit her teeth and endure the pain until she returned to the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

Only when she was back home with her master could she feel completely at ease, safe enough to reveal her vulnerable side.

Gritting her teeth, Qing Yueqiu applied the cold Healing Ointment to the wound before wrapping a bandage several times around her waist.

As she circulated her Spiritual Qi to cover the wound, the unbearable pain finally began to subside. It was a good sign, proof that the injury was healing properly and likely wouldn't leave any lasting damage.

Qing Yueqiu picked up her Spirit Sword, its blade now covered in cracks and nicks, and sighed softly.

"As expected, a normal Spirit Sword is no match for Luminous. They get destroyed too easily in battle with Demon Beasts... That Mantis Demon's Dao Practice was profound. Its final strike nearly pierced my internal organs.

But if I'd had Luminous with me, I never would have ended up in such a sorry state."

Leaning on a withered tree for support, Qing Yueqiu rose to her feet. She stripped off her dress, which had once again become a bloody garment, and cupped handfuls of snowmelt to carefully wash away the scent of blood.

She gazed at her reflection in the stream, at her pretty face that remained deathly pale even after taking an Elixir.

Qing Yueqiu pressed her lips together. She knew that if her master saw her like this, his sharp eyes would surely allow him to guess what had happened to her last night...

That absolutely could not happen. Qing Yueqiu had already tasted the wonderful feeling of growing stronger through slaughter. It was far better than the stagnation she felt from tedious, secluded cultivation.

She had to grow stronger by relying on the Rakshasa Race's secret technique of Killing Momentum. She couldn't afford to mess up now.

The young woman took a makeup box from her Jiezhi Storage Ring and, using the stream as a mirror, clumsily applied some light makeup.

After putting on the makeup, her complexion finally looked much better.

'This should be good enough to see Master now.'

...

...

"Yueqiu, you're late again today."

"I'm sorry, Master..."

"It's fine. Rejoin the formation."

Yu Xiaoyan, who had just spent twelve hours facing a wall, saw her master let her senior sister off so easily without any sign of punishment.

The young girl instantly felt a great sense of injustice. 'Why is Master so gentle with Senior Sister?! It's not fair!'

Yu Xiaoyan immediately voiced her objection.

"Master, why are you only punishing me and not Senior Sister? She was late, too."

Pei Yuhang looked at his troublesome little disciple and said irritably, "When your senior sister is late, it's surely because she was training too hard. When you're late, don't you know why?"

"How do you know Xiaoxiao wasn't late from training too hard?"

"One more word out of you, and you can 'happily receive' three days and three nights of facing the wall."

"..."

Yu Xiaoyan fell silent, but the resentment in her heart only grew.

Xiaoxiao decided she absolutely had to trick her mean master into apologizing to her today!

After the morning lesson ended, Pei Yuhang walked over to Qing Yueqiu and asked with concern, "Yueqiu, is your stomach bothering you? Your movements were clearly distorted during sword practice."

Qing Yueqiu sighed inwardly. 'As I thought, I can't hide my injuries from Master. But thankfully, he isn't thinking along other lines. There's still a chance to keep this a secret...'

"Master, I... might not be feeling well for the next few days."

Seeing Qing Yueqiu's shy expression and her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, Pei Yuhang looked a little confused. "Yueqiu, I remember your... time of the month isn't supposed to be for another couple of days."

Qing Yueqiu froze, apparently not expecting her master to remember her...

Pei Yuhang also realized it was inappropriate for him to discuss this topic with a woman. Yueqiu was a grown woman now; he could no longer look after her as meticulously as he had in the past.

"Ahem, uh... Since you're not feeling well, Yueqiu, you should get plenty of rest. Be sure to take good care of yourself."

After saying this, Pei Yuhang hurriedly left.

'I'm sorry, Master. I have deceived you again.'

'Please forgive Yueqiu. To become stronger, I have no choice but to walk this crooked path.'

Qing Yueqiu watched her master's retreating back until the white-robed figure vanished completely from sight. Only then did she turn and, leaning weakly on the trees for support, depart.

...

...

Pei Yuhang finished the morning lesson and prepared to visit his beloved Dao Companion.

But suddenly, his eyes sharpened. He plucked a leaf and flicked it behind him.

"Come out."

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE—

From the shadows of the dense woods, a tall, black-clad figure emerged.

Jiu touched the scratch that had nearly sliced through her mask and spoke in a deliberately hoarse voice:

"Pei Sword Immortal, if you had cut through my mask, the Holy Daughter would have me executed. Her Highness does not permit her Red Lotus Imperial Guard to reveal their identities."

"Are you blaming me? I've told you before—I don't allow you people to follow and spy on me!"

Pei Yuhang drew his Silent Sword and pointed the sharp blade at Jiu's throat.

Bai Jingjing also flew out of the sword in her Soul Body form. A playful smile on her pretty face, she positioned herself behind Jiu to prevent her from escaping with an Escape Technique.

Jiu looked at the frost from the Sword Qi spreading across her clothes and said softly:

"Are you going to kill me, Pei Sword Immortal?"

"This is your warning. Next time, I will kill you."

"How gentle of you, Pei Sword Immortal. I seem to recall you said you'd kill me next time, the last time this happened."

"Or could it be... that I hold a special place in your heart, Pei Sword Immortal?"

Jiu boldly reached out a fingertip and slowly pressed down the blade aimed at her throat.

Pei Yuhang never imagined that a mere Death Servant would dare to flirt with him like this.

He stared at the lotus emblem on Jiu's mask, feeling that beneath it was someone he knew.

But thinking of what Jiu had just said, he ultimately decided against removing the woman's mask.

There was no need for his curiosity to cause Jiu's pointless death under Shang Miaoyan's strict rules.

"Speak. What does Shang Miaoyan want from me?"

Pei Yuhang sheathed Silence and asked slowly.

"The Holy Daughter says she misses you and wants you to go and keep her company, Pei Sword Immortal."

"I have to accompany Liyuan during the day. Tell her to wait until midnight. At midnight... I will go to her of my own accord."

"Then you must not break your promise, Pei Sword Immortal. The Holy Daughter will be eagerly awaiting your arrival."

"She also told me to inform you that Her Highness has purchased several new pairs of silk stockings and... intimate lingerie that you will surely like... and that you should look forward to it."

Even for a Death Servant as cold as ice, her voice couldn't help but become shy and hesitant when relaying Shang Miaoyan's message.

Embarrassed, Jiu didn't dare to linger. She slowly retreated into the shadows of the dense woods behind her, finally melting into the darkness and disappearing from view.