Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 266 264: Ji Xichan's Celestial Tribulation, Triggered by Being Spanked

"Ah Han, you haven't played chess with me in so long~"

Ye Liyuan blinked, a playful, expectant glint in her eyes.

Her slender, White Jade arms wrapped around Pei Yuhang's. Tilting her head up slightly, she smiled coquettishly, her voice as soft and sweet as if it had been soaked in honey.

Pei Yuhang looked down at her limpid eyes. He opened his mouth, but his throat felt constricted. After a long moment, he finally managed to force out a few words:

"Liyuan, I have to go cultivate in seclusion at the Cold Spring... Let's play tomorrow."

'Pei Sword Immortal's heart was filled with bitterness. He wanted nothing more than to stay and accompany his Dao Companion, but he had to fulfill his contract with the Business Saintess. Tonight, he had to go and personally serve her. The contract would only be considered complete after his own Dao Companion finally asserted her feminine prowess.'

'Although Liyuan had made some progress, she was still far from meeting the "woman's standard" Shang Miaoyan had set. The contract was still in effect, and breaking it meant suffering a punishment to his Divine Sense.'

And so, Pei Yuhang had no choice but to lie to his Dao Companion.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ye Liyuan's face faltered. She then frowned, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction and confusion.

"Huh? Ah Han, are you going to the Cold Spring to cultivate again? Why have you been going at night so often lately?"

Pei Yuhang's heart skipped a beat, and a bead of cold sweat formed on his temple.

He suppressed his inner panic and forced a casual smile. His tone was gentle, but a little stiff.

"Er... because I've suddenly discovered that the quiet of night is the best time for seeking Enlightenment Dao. I often find it greatly beneficial. Besides, this way I can free up my days to spend with you..."

"Liar!" Ye Liyuan suddenly cut him off. Her voice rose, and her eyes flashed with hurt and indignation.

Her fingers tightened on his sleeve, and her voice was accusatory. "Ah Han, you spend most of the day helping Senior Sister Lu with her cultivation. You come back, have one meal with me, and then you immediately shut yourself away to cultivate...

"You barely have any time for me all day!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ye Liyuan stopped. She lowered her head and said softly, "I'm sorry, Ah Han. I was just being impulsive... Really, your cultivation is what's most important. I'm starting my cultivation over, so I'm still a long way from the Golden Core Stage.

"You're the pillar of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion now. Your cultivation has to be the top priority. Wasting time on a simple girl like me... it really isn't worth it."

The corners of Fairy Ye's lips drooped in an expression of dejection and resignation. She looked like an abandoned kitten, a truly heart-wrenching sight.

Seeing her like this, Pei Yuhang felt an invisible hand clench tightly around his heart, the pain so intense he could hardly breathe.

He wanted to reach out, pull her into his arms, and tell her the truth. But the thought of his contract with the Business Saintess forced him to crush the impulse.

He could only manage a faint smile. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, promising in a soft voice, "Liyuan, what nonsense is this? How could you not be important? To me, you're the most important person in the world!

"Once I'm out of seclusion this time, I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?"

"Okay..."

Ye Liyuan nodded, but her fingers still clung tightly to his sleeve, a silent testament to her anxiety and her reluctance to let him go.

Just as silence fell between the two Dao Companions, the Transmission Token at Pei Yuhang's waist began to vibrate violently, and a woman's voice exploded from within.

"Pei Sword Immortal, I'm about to have a breakthrough! Get over here and stand guard for me!"

'Who else in the entire Cold Palace Sword Mansion would dare speak to him so rudely? It could only be that little devil, Ji Xichan.'

Pei Yuhang looked out the window. Dark clouds were rolling in from the horizon, like the giant hand of an ancient Divine Demon tearing open the heavens and dyeing the entire sky a deep, inky black.

It was the precursor to a gathering Celestial Tribulation!

"Ah Han..."

Ye Liyuan's voice trembled, laced with an unmistakable terror.

Her face turned deathly pale, like a sheet of paper drained of all color. Her body, gripping Pei Yuhang's hand, began to tremble uncontrollably, like a leaf about to be torn away by a gale.

A sharp pain lanced through Pei Yuhang's heart as he watched his Dao Companion's fragile state.

'He knew the roiling clouds on the horizon and the impending lightning strikes were slowly eating away at Ye Liyuan's spirit.'

'Her fear of Celestial Tribulations had never truly faded. That one Thunder Tribulation had not only nearly cost Liyuan her life, but had also almost shattered her Dao Heart.'

'Dammit, Ji Xichan! You could have had your breakthrough anytime, but you just had to do it here, in my damn Cold Palace Sword Mansion!'

Pei Yuhang gritted his teeth, but his voice was exceptionally gentle when he spoke to Liyuan.

"Don't be afraid, Liyuan. I'm here."

He comforted her, his voice soft but tinged with hoarseness.

Feeling the warmth from Ah Han's hand, the panic in Ye Liyuan's eyes began to subside.

She let go of his hand and said earnestly, "Ah Han... go. Just... come back safely!"

"Mm!"

Pei Yuhang gave a firm nod, then took a single step and shot into the sky, flying toward Ji Xichan's seclusion chamber.

'He had to get Ji Xichan to an open area, and fast. Otherwise, the Divinity Transformation Celestial Tribulation of a monstrous prodigy like her would completely level the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, which lacked a sufficiently powerful Dharma Protection Array.'

...

...

"Pei Sword Immortal, you took too long! I can't hold it in much longer..."

"Dammit, just hold on! And even if you can't, don't you dare let it loose anywhere near here! Wait until I've dumped you in the middle of nowhere!"

Pei Yuhang sped across the sky, carrying the aloof girl whose eyes were closed in deep concentration. Behind them, a mass of dark thunderclouds relentlessly pursued their figures.

The black Cloud Sea was as heavy as lead, its dense layers obscuring the sun, moon, and stars. Within the clouds, purple lightning writhed like Flood Dragons. Each flash was followed by a low peal of thunder that rumbled like the roar of an ancient beast, shaking the very earth and striking terror into the hearts of all who heard it.

Its sheer power made it clear this was no ordinary Thunder Tribulation; at any moment, it could incinerate the forests and rocks for a hundred li in every direction.

But even with danger breathing down their necks, Ji Xichan didn't miss a chance to bicker with Pei Yuhang.

Upon hearing Pei Yuhang's crude description of her breakthrough, Miss Ji flew into a rage.

"Are you insane, Pei Yuhang?! I was talking about my Celestial Tribulation! What did you make it sound like? I am a Fairy! Is it appropriate for you to speak to me with such vulgarity?"

"A Fairy? What kind of Fairy gets her kicks from being spanked and threatening a faithful man with a Dao Companion into doing indecent things?"

As he spoke, he thought of Yueqiu's recent disdain for him, and of Liyuan's lonely, desolate look when he couldn't be with her. Rage surged through Pei Sword Immortal, and he bellowed:

"This is all thanks to wicked, scheming women like you!"

SLAP—

The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the clouds.

Ji Xichan's face flushed crimson. With a soft whimper, the dam holding back the surging Spiritual Qi inside her finally cracked. In the next instant, it would burst forth like a roaring tsunami.

"Look what you've done, Pei Yuhang... I can't hold on any longer... I have to begin Crossing the Tribulation right here!"