The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 996 - 545: Losing Composure (2)

"Ning Xiaoxian!" He suddenly grabbed her arm, and through gritted teeth said, "How can you treat me like this?!

He used so much force that an ordinary woman would likely have a fractured arm from such a grip. She felt some pain, but more shocking was Quan Shifang’s reaction, because she clearly saw a faint red light in his eyes.

He leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Ning Xiaoxian finally got a clear look at his face.

His thin lips were tightly pursed, his face was slightly contorted, and his breath was noticeably heavy. The fierce gleam in his eyes was something she had seen in many demons; it was a look of brutality and resentment.

Did he truly hate her this much?

Before she could think more, Quan Shifang suddenly exerted force, pulling her into his embrace.

What a joke! She shivered, extending an arm to fend off his chest, while her other hand tried to pry his fingers off. Quan Shifang’s eyes flashed fiercely, his other hand swiftly reached out, aiming to dislocate her joint. He practiced the Dao through the sword and was skilled in combat techniques. Though in a peculiar state, he still remembered not to harm her life.

"He’s mad!" This was the only thought in Ning Xiaoxian’s mind. She could no longer hold back. She used her arm against his chest, and pushed him forcefully backward. Unprepared for her arm still being gripped in his hand, she ended up lunging forward herself.

Quan Shifang remained silent, his eyes bloodshot, taking advantage of the momentum to grab her arm, intending to pin her down in the boat.

"Quan Shifang!" Ning Xiaoxian, at her wit’s end, finally landed a fierce slap on his face. This angry slap used considerable force, instantly leaving five red marks on Quan Shifang’s fair cheek.

"Slap!" It echoed loudly and crisply. In this small world, the sound seemed to linger in the air.

Perhaps this slap to the face was indeed effective. Quan Shifang’s movements suddenly froze. He stared at her anxious face, and the red light in his eyes gradually faded.

Did she use too much force?

As she was feeling uneasy, Quan Shifang slowly sat back and released her arm.

"Sorry, I lost my composure." After a long pause, he spoke, his voice filled with an indescribable despondency, "But, no matter who that person is, I will never..."

The last few words were left unsaid, leaving the sentence incomplete. Quan Shifang gazed deeply at her, the emotions still present in his eyes, now less fierce but more bleak, making her feel a heavy, stifling ache.

He extended his long fingers, seemingly intending to caress her cheek.

Having just experienced what happened earlier, Ning Xiaoxian instinctively shrank back.

This slight movement, however, suddenly brought Quan Shifang back to his senses. His eyes regained clarity, and then a profound, unfathomable pain surged into his black pupils.

"Do you truly like him that much?"

For the first time, she took a deep breath and directly faced his gaze: "I do."

Quan Shifang suddenly stood upright, causing the entire small boat to shake with his movement.

"Ning Xiaoxian!" He turned his back to her, seemingly exhaling slowly, "After this ceremony, I must go back to retreat. From now on, it will likely be difficult for us to meet again." After saying that hoarsely, he lightly jumped off the small boat, stepped on the lake water, and strode towards the shore.

The autumn wind stirred his robe, and he did not look back. This tall, erect figure quickly disappeared from her view.

Ning Xiaoxian sat hugging her knees in the boat, not moving for a long time.

"Plop plop," two sounds, tears fell onto the deck. She didn’t understand why she was crying, only that her heart felt very sour and distressed.

It seemed that there was one less person she could be close to from now on. Before she embarked on the Immortal Path, Quan Shifang was the first cultivator she met who treated mortals equally. There was none before, and it was rare after. Such a gentle and caring person ended up being hurt by her.

This world was a seamless blend of the heavens and the waters, ethereal and misty. Initially, she felt serene, but now she only sensed bone-deep desolation.

After a long time, Qiongqi in her embrace said grudgingly, "It seems something just now was due to Heart Demon."

She wiped twice at the corners of her eyes and exclaimed, "That’s Heart Demon?"

"No, you are his Heart Demon." Qiongqi corrected, "Quan Shifang has always been steady, but even the most perfect person will have weaknesses, and even the most stable person will have biases. Since you refused him, the Heart Demon has acted up. He suppressed it too deeply for too long, and that’s why it acted out so manically."

It turned out Bai Qing was right. The feelings she imprinted in Quan Shifang’s heart truly became his Heart Demon. No wonder Bai Qing was so fixated on wanting to kill her; if not, the path of cultivation for his disciple was paved with hurdles, let alone passing the God Slaying Thunder in the Heavenly Tribulation.

She bit her lip and said, "How should I help him?"

"Cut off his delusions."

She shivered: "You want me to sprinkle salt on his wounds? Are you sure this won’t have the opposite effect?"

"You have a point!" Qiongqi said solemnly, "Fortunately, he’s not deeply infatuated with the Demon. If the mistress refused him later, when his feelings were deeper rooted, it would be even harder to drive away the Heart Demon. Since he could restrain himself just now, maybe after some time, he’ll be able to drive the Heart Demon away on his own."

"..." Just knew this makeshift adviser speaks unreliable words! But now, Changtian is even less dependable than it is, well past half a year, why hasn’t his Primordial Spirit returned yet?

Ultimately, years ago she acted foolishly, knowing Quan Shifang had fond feelings for her but letting it be. She sighed deeply, suppressing the thoughts in her heart, rose to her feet, and slowly walked back to the shore across the lake, heading towards her garden. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)