Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 86 - 85: Senior Sister, What If Master Is Being Kept?

"Senior Sister, Master's gone out again~"

Yu Xiaoyan murmured, watching the White-clothed Sword Immortal leave on his blade.

"Master has important matters to attend to. Isn't it normal for him to be busy?"

Qing Yueqiu continued practicing her swordsmanship up ahead, unconcerned. Each time the Luminous Shadow Sword cut through the air, it left a shimmering trail of starlight and moonlight.

"But Master has been going out so often recently. He'll be gone for the entire day and won't come back until dusk... And, Senior Sister, haven't you noticed? The amount of Spirit Stones Master has been giving us lately... isn't it way more than before?

Even before the Mistress's accident, he never gave us this many Spirit Stones... And now, even though she's recovering and doesn't need a huge amount of them anymore, Master still shouldn't have this many."

Qing Yueqiu lowered her gaze and said calmly, "The Mistress doesn't need constant care anymore, so Master is free to take on Sect missions. He's busy, he's not home much, and he's earning more Spirit Stones. Isn't that perfectly normal?"

Yu Xiaoyan saw the Luminous Shadow Sword trembling in her senior sister's hand and knew she wasn't as calm and composed as she appeared.

She understood that she couldn't investigate Master's recent activities by herself.

She needed Qing Yueqiu's help.

And so, Yu Xiaoyan spoke again, her clear, crisp voice like that of a Mermaid Demoness luring sailors at sea.

"Senior Sister... our Master is more popular in the Dao Sect than you might think. Especially among the Female Elders..."

VMMMM—

Sword Qi surged as starlight and moonlight flared.

The ground before Qing Yueqiu was torn open by the Sword Qi, leaving a fissure twenty meters long.

She turned, her crimson pupils like the eyes of a Rakshasa, chilling to the bone.

"Junior Sister, you're about to face your Golden Core Celestial Tribulation. You should be focusing all your energy on a safe Crossing, not disappointing Master's hopes for you."

Yu Xiaoyan put on a pitiful expression. "I'm sorry, Senior Sister. It's just... I'm so worried about Master that my mind can't help but wander."

"Of course, I know Master is an upright man, completely devoted to the Mistress. How could he possibly be some Female Elder's kept man?"

Seeing the veins bulge on the hand Qing Yueqiu used to grip her sword, Yu Xiaoyan hastily excused herself, saying she needed to go back and practice her Divine Soul Technique.

'Heh heh. The seeds of doubt have been planted in Senior Sister's heart. Now that my stubborn sister is all worked up, she'll definitely want to find out the truth behind Master's trips.'

'When the time comes to investigate whether Master is having an affair, I'll have a powerful ally~'

At the thought of an "affair," Yu Xiaoyan's expression grew darker than ever.

'Damn it, who is this little hussy? How dare she try to steal my Master!'

...

"Shang Miaoyan, can you show a little self-control? You've been calling me over far too often lately!"

"My disciples are very perceptive; they've already noticed something's off. At least... call me over once every three days. Don't summon me every single day."

Pei Yuhang sighed helplessly as he looked at the beautiful woman beside him, who was in a half-conscious state, her eyes hazy.

Fortunately, the physical constitution of a Cultivator was leagues beyond that of a mortal.

Shang Miaoyan's consciousness quickly descended from the clouds and returned to her body. Coming to her senses, she wrapped her arms around Pei Yuhang as he was about to get up and dress. "Don't go..." she said, her voice hoarse. "Just stay with me a little longer."

For Shang Miaoyan, the pleasure was like diving from ninety thousand meters high using Sword Control—an exquisite, bone-deep ecstasy.

But after that peak of stimulation, to hold her beloved and enjoy a moment of quiet tenderness...

...that feeling of being protected was something she savored just as much, something she craved even more than the thrill of ecstasy itself.

Pei Yuhang, unable to escape Shang Miaoyan's octopus-like grip, simply closed his eyes, began to meditate, and turned his focus inward to his Sea of Consciousness.

His spirit sank into the chaos within. Soon, a brilliant, great sun materialized, along with a silver moon whose light was completely overwhelmed by the sun's radiance.

Although the Silver Moon Yin Essence was still vastly outmatched by the Great Sun Yang Essence, it had made significant progress compared to just a few days ago.

Pei Yuhang regarded his progress with a complex expression.

Though he was loath to admit it, the incredible speed of his progress in the Yang Emperor Heart Scripture was all thanks to Shang Miaoyan.

The process may have left Pei Yuhang feeling internally conflicted, but the results were undeniably good...

'So be it... What's done is done. Since I've already resolved to protect what I cherish, no matter the cost, I have to accept this power first.'

Under Shang Miaoyan's gradual, silkworm-like encroachment, Pei Yuhang's heart had begun to yield without him even realizing it.

This concession, however, was as subtle and silent as a spring rain, and Pei Yuhang remained oblivious to it for now...

He recited the verses of the Yang Emperor Heart Scripture in his mind. Countless scriptural symbols wove together into something like a fishhook, which he cast into the Great Sun Yang Essence. He then hooked out the Yang Fire from within and tossed it into the Silver Moon Yin Essence for refinement.

...

A slight sting, followed by the tingling pleasure of an electric current seeping into his skin, made Pei Yuhang open his eyes.

Shang Miaoyan was flicking her long, slender tongue, a wide grin on her face.

"You're awake?"

"Honestly, Xiaohan, you can cultivate any time. Why do you have to do it while we're cuddling? What a mood killer."

Pei Yuhang pushed her approaching face away. With a wave of his hand, he cast a Dust Clearing Technique to sweep away the pungent, acrid smell in the air.

"I really have to go now. Besides, my younger disciple is preparing for her Tribulation Crossing soon, so I probably won't have time to come here anymore."

For him, coming to Shang Miaoyan's place every day felt more like clocking in at a job. His shift was over, and it was time to go home.

Pei Yuhang began to tidy his clothes, storing them in his Jiezhi Storage Ring and taking out a fresh set of white robes to wear.

He always carried two sets of clothes with him now when he went out: one for the trip over, and one for the trip back, doing his best to leave no trace of his activities.

"You really can't stay with me a little longer? Stay and have a meal with Miaoyan before you go. Tonight's menu includes Dragon Marrow. Eating it will save you at least a month of hard cultivation."

Shang Miaoyan knew Pei Yuhang wouldn't stay, but she couldn't help but ask, even knowing she wouldn't get the answer she wanted.

"I promised Liyuan I'd have plain noodle soup with her tonight."

BANG—

The door slammed shut, and Pei Yuhang vanished from Shang Miaoyan's sight.

"...How could plain noodle soup possibly taste better than Dragon Marrow?"

Shang Miaoyan sighed, fell back onto the bed, and buried her face in the pillow where Pei Yuhang's head had just rested.

After the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, Fan Ya came in to tidy the bed. Seeing that Shang Miaoyan was still lying there, she asked:

"Your Highness, the Holy Daughter, how would you like the Dragon Marrow prepared tonight?"

Shang Miaoyan took a deep breath, inhaling the scent from the pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "Tell the chef... to use the Dragon Marrow to make a bowl of plain noodle soup."

'Dragon Marrow... in plain noodle soup?'

Fan Ya looked baffled. It had never occurred to her that a rare delicacy like Dragon Marrow could be eaten in such a way.