Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 305 303: Master, Yueqiu Is Ready to Offer Herself...

"Lower your hand."

Pei Yuhang's voice was as placid as still water, betraying no hint of anger, yet it seemed to carry an invisible suppression that bore down on Ji Xichan's mind.

Ji Xichan swallowed hard. Though panic fluttered in her heart, she straightened her back and stubbornly met the White-clothed Sword Immortal's gaze.

Her eyes held a trace of indignation and grievance, her lips trembling slightly as if she wanted to say something but forced the words back down.

"Pei Yuhang, your disciple struck me first!"

She raised a hand to her own swollen cheek, where a clear handprint stood out starkly against her fair skin.

Her voice was choked with emotion, but she fought to keep her tears from falling.

"What, you'll let Qing Yueqiu attack me, but you won't let me fight back?!"

Ji Xichan's voice was thick with a sense of being wronged. This was no act; she had truly never suffered such a great humiliation!

Ever since Qing Yueqiu broke through to the Divinity Transformation realm and grew closer to Pei Yuhang, she had constantly scrutinized Ji Xichan with disdain, even provoking her from time to time.

And Pei Yuhang, for his part, acted as if she didn't exist, even blocking her Transmission Token...

She was the favored daughter of the Dao Sect, someone who should have been the center of attention wherever she went. Yet here in the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, she felt an unprecedented sense of exclusion and indifference.

'Why?'

'All she wanted was to pursue a love of her own, to win the affection of this lofty Sword Immortal. Why did everyone have to stand in her way?!'

However—

In the face of Ji Xichan's pained accusations, Pei Yuhang's expression remained as grim as ever, showing no trace of fluctuation.

He glanced sideways at Qing Yueqiu, his voice deep and solemn.

"Yueqiu, did you strike first?"

Qing Yueqiu had now recovered her ability to move. Facing her master's questioning, she lowered her head, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

A moment later, she looked up, her gaze frank. Her voice was calm but laced with a hint of guilt.

"Master, Yueqiu was indeed the one at fault this time."

Pei Yuhang nodded, a flicker of anger finally appearing in his eyes. His brows furrowed slightly as he spoke with a severe tone.

"Yueqiu, you've disappointed me greatly. I've warned you many times, so why do you still act so impulsively... I'll punish you tonight!"

When Ji Xichan first heard Pei Yuhang scolding Qing Yueqiu, she was secretly delighted, and a smug smile crept onto her lips unconsciously.

But when she heard that last sentence, her heart jolted, and the smile on her face froze instantly.

'What did he mean, punish her tonight?'

'That... that sounded a lot like flirting!'

Her gaze darted back and forth between Pei Yuhang and Qing Yueqiu, an indescribable sourness and unease welling up in her heart.

Though Pei Yuhang's tone was severe, it seemed to contain an imperceptible trace of indulgence, while Qing Yueqiu's lowered eyes held a faint hint of shyness and submission.

Ji Xichan's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms, but she didn't even feel the pain.

It was as if a fire was blazing in her heart, burning so hot she could barely breathe.

'Why... Why does Qing Yueqiu get his favor, while I only get his indifference?'

But Pei Yuhang's next words left her with no energy to dwell on it.

"Ji Xichan, I apologize for my disciple's impulsive and reckless behavior. As for the mark on your face, I will compensate you with a High Tier Elixir...

To prevent Yueqiu from offending you again, please stay on Saintess Lin's vessel from now on."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xichan's fingertips trembled. She felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body, and she almost collapsed to the ground in a graceless heap.

'Pei Yuhang, are you trying to drive me away again?'

'Nothing has changed at all.'

'It was just like when she had wanted to take Pei Yuhang as her master—in the end, she was still driven away.'

In the end, Ji Xichan said nothing more. Perhaps it was because she knew that once Pei Yuhang made up his mind, no one could change it.

Or perhaps she just wanted to leave with a bit of dignity.

She gave Qing Yueqiu one last, cold glance, then turned and left alone.

'That girl... Her feelings for Brother Pei aren't right.'

Lin Qianyan, who had hurried over out of concern, noticed the ineffable emotion in Ji Xichan's eyes and seemed to understand something.

'So...'

'The reason Ji Xichan clashed with Yueqiu... was it because of Brother Pei?'

'Qing Yueqiu knew Ji Xichan admired her master, so perhaps she struck out of shame and anger.'

'After all, having someone your own age fall for your elder is indeed a bit awkward. Yueqiu is still young and acts on impulse, so it's understandable that she would react this way...'

Lin Qianyan felt she had more or less figured out the thoughts of these two juniors.

She didn't hold any ill will toward Ji Xichan, even if she was interested in her Brother Pei. After all... she was too young, wasn't she?

'It's perfectly normal for a young girl to admire a mature Cultivator. Nothing will come of it anyway; it's just a crush...' Lin Qianyan magnanimously understood Ji Xichan's feelings.

She turned to Pei Yuhang and said, "Brother Pei, why don't you stay here and comfort Yueqiu? I'll go check on Miss Ji."

"Mm. Sorry to trouble you, Qianqian."

"It's no trouble at all~"

After that brief exchange, Lin Qianyan's form flickered and she was gone.

Once everything had quieted down, only Pei Yuhang and Qing Yueqiu remained.

Qing Yueqiu kept her head down, her fingers twisted together so tightly her knuckles had turned white. Her eyelashes fluttered like willow branches in the wind, her eyes filled with unease and guilt.

"I'm sorry, Master. I've caused you trouble again.

But... whenever I see Ji Xichan, I remember how she bullied you back then, and I just can't stay calm... I'm sorry. I'm not a good, obedient disciple."

Pei Yuhang stood before her, his gaze as tranquil as water, his deep eyes revealing a hint of complex emotion.

He was silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. He reached out and stroked the top of Qing Yueqiu's head, his movements gentle and slow, as if soothing a frightened little animal.

"Alright, let's put today's matter behind us. I just hope you've learned your lesson this time and won't be so reckless in the future."

With that, Pei Yuhang turned to leave.

Just then, Qing Yueqiu's voice sounded again, trembling and as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Master, aren't you going to punish me? I... I'm already prepared to be punished by you."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it was almost lost in the air.

Qing Yueqiu slowly turned around, leaned forward slightly, and stuck out her backside, like a sinner awaiting judgment, yet with a trace of stubbornness and resolve.

"Master, please punish me with the ruler..."

"Silly girl, I already said to let it go."

"No! A bad disciple must be punished by her master... Please, Master, hurry."

As she spoke, Qing Yueqiu wiggled her slender body, gesturing for Pei Yuhang to quickly take out the ruler and begin the punishment.

Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it held a strange insistence.

Pei Yuhang swallowed, his lowered eyelashes casting fragmented shadows across his eyelids.

"You little minx, you're getting naughtier and naughtier, and better at teasing people..."

"Fine. If you insist on being punished—"

He suddenly leaned in close, the faint breeze he stirred brushing against the girl's trembling eyelashes.

Pei Yuhang looked at her flushed face, reached out a fingertip to twirl a stray, silver lock of hair by her temple, and said, "Then I shall have to properly discipline this naughty disciple of mine."

Qing Yueqiu finally heard the answer she wanted. Her tilted-back neck formed a swan-like arc, and the red corners of her eyes glistened with moisture. But just as a triumphant, sweet smile appeared, it suddenly froze—

From the nape of her neck, an extreme, sinister chill crept up her spine. The girl cried out in pain, suddenly grabbing Pei Yuhang's lapels, her knuckles nearly piercing the brocade.

"Yueqiu, what's wrong!"

Seeing his head disciple in such pain, Pei Yuhang quickly steadied her by the waist.

"Master... it's the Curse Seal. The Curse Seal is acting up again..."

Qing Yueqiu's face was ashen, and large beads of cold sweat streamed down her forehead, soaking her soft, silver hair and plastering it to her skin.

'The Curse Seal is acting up again?'

Pei Yuhang's eyes flickered as he seemed to understand the reason.

'After Yueqiu and I kissed, her love for me reached its peak, and at the same time, the power of the curse also surged upward. Combined with her fight with Ji Xichan, which caused the Spiritual Qi in her body to fall into disarray, did all this end up suppressing the Seed Demon Seal I left in her body a few days ago?'

"Yueqiu, endure it for a moment. I'll take you back to your room now and suppress the Curse Seal again."

Qing Yueqiu was in too much pain to breathe. She gave a faint nod, allowing her master to scoop her up by the waist and carry her back to her room.

Back in the room, Pei Yuhang first laid his beloved disciple gently on the bed, then hesitated for a moment before unfastening her collar.

As Yueqiu's clothes were slowly peeled away, the black and red, butterfly-wing-shaped Curse Seal between the nape of her neck and her spine was exposed to the air.

Pei Yuhang looked at the Golden Sun Seal next to the Curse Seal, which had grown so dim it was almost invisible. 'This is bad,' he thought, and quickly gathered Spiritual Qi to pour into it, hoping to suppress the wildly surging power of the curse.

Once the Golden Sun Seal vanished completely, Yueqiu would revert to her previous state. The moment she sensed his presence, she would be completely unable to maintain her sanity, transforming into an Asura lost to the desire for slaughter.

"Master..."

Just then, Qing Yueqiu's weak murmur reached Pei Yuhang's ears.

Pei Yuhang quickly took the girl's small, cool, and silky hand in his, his expression concerned.

"What is it, Yueqiu? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Qing Yueqiu's eyes were hazy, her crimson pupils shimmering with a watery desire.

"Master, I once read in an ancient text that the Demon-Planting Mark isn't meant to be used the way you did before.

Please, don't hold back anymore. Plant the true Demon Seal in Yueqiu directly.

I'm ready... to offer myself to you, Master..."

"..."

Pei Yuhang froze, looking at his disciple on the bed, covered in a cold sweat and breathing weakly. He cursed, torn between pity and exasperation.

"You silly girl, how can you be thinking about that kind of thing at a time like this!

I know how to treat you... Stop this nonsense!"

'Nonsense?'

'It's not...'

Qing Yueqiu's fingertips trembled, her expression unable to hide her disappointment.