All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 768: , 2

If only I were really a man...

...

The firewood's glow within the Daoist Temple was dim and somber.

Su Bei gently wiped the two swords in the Sword Box, feeling that fresh stream of Qi traversing his body, and murmured to himself, "Swords need nurturing."

The Qingping Sword had become second nature to him, but when it came to the Missing Departure, there was still much to be desired in terms of control.

The countless techniques in the world do not stray from their origins; what countless cultivators have sought from ancient times is that immortality, the Great Prolonged Life.

Only cultivators who have achieved the Minor Prolonged Life are truly worthy of the "Immortal" title, having taken the initial step towards "Achieving Dao." For Sword Cultivators, the sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. While there's nothing as exaggerated as becoming one with the sword, if one wishes to reach the end of a cultivator's path, at the very least, one must cultivate a Sword Spirit.

A Sword Spirit of their own.

Su Bei slowly closed his eyes and opened up his Dantian Knowledge Sea completely. His spirit dissipated, merging with the heavens and earth around him, and he saw himself seated cross-legged.

His spirit wrapped around the Missing Departure for a moment, then returned to his body.

Upon touching the sword again, he could feel it had become somewhat more intimate than just moments before.

Seeing this, Su Bei nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the Longsword, skewered a piece of pork, and began roasting it over the fire, remarking, "The sword has been well nourished."

Missing Departure: ...

Flower Bright Moon, yet dim and shrouded in light mist.

Footsteps approached softly from behind Su Bei. In the flickering firelight, one could barely make out that familiar swirl of white fabric.

The heavens were moonless, and everything around seemed dimmer.

A curve formed on Su Bei's lips, and without even looking, he reached out, embraced the woman by her waist, and laughed, "Ji Baoer, why have you come back alone?"

"Speak! Where have you left Zi Jun?"

"..."

In the midst of speaking... their closeness was already ascending.

Pressing upon her, he caressed her earlobe... following the contours of her body.

Li Zijun's eyes widened, her mind blank, as she allowed Su Bei to pull her into his arms.

She couldn't think straight as his practiced hands roamed her body.

She had just bathed, and her body was still fragrant, a romantic atmosphere enveloping them within the Daoist Temple.

Her face gradually reddened, though it was unclear whether it was due to her own compromising actions or her wrist being gripped by his large hand.

Su Bei frowned slightly, starting to realize something wasn't quite right.

Ji Baoer's form should have felt more... and there wasn't this kind of inexperience. It seemed he could even feel the woman beneath him trembling.

"Master... Master."

Li Zijun finally regained her composure from the shock. Pushing at Su Bei with her small hands, she nervously said, "I'm not Sister Nan Ji... I'm Zi Jun..."

"..."

Her words carried a hint of grievance as she turned her body to the side and bit her lip.

Su Bei froze, leaning over to stare blankly at the woman before him.

What beastly thing had he just done?

The atmosphere turned awkward. Su Bei wanted to comfort her by patting her head but feared the gesture would be misconstrued. His hand froze in mid-air. He swallowed hard and said, "Disciple, your master didn't know it was you..."

"You're wearing your Mistress's clothes, and the fire is dim..."

Li Zijun mumbled a low reply, her facial expression unclear.

"Master... could you please get off me?"

"..."

Su Bei smiled awkwardly at her, then gently stood up. He touched his nose and, after a moment of thought, said, "Your master truly didn't know..."

Saying so, he grabbed her snow-white wrist, intending to pull her to her feet.

The firelight flickered intermittently, casting light upon the two, each lost in their own thoughts.

For some reason, as Su Bei gazed upon Li Zijun's translucent, jade-like face, an impulsive feeling arose within him, and his heart began to beat faster.

Compared to Nan Ji, his actions just moments ago had been undeniably bold, and the sensation of Li Zijun beneath him was evidently quite different.

Yet, that gentle and almost elusive distance stirred a strange sensation within Su Bei.

Seemingly forgetting the prior awkwardness, Su Bei raised his hand again and tentatively slid two fingers toward Li Zijun's face.

After a brief pause, he finally touched her cheek, as smooth and warm as jade.

Li Zijun's delicate body shuddered slightly. Her intelligent, star-like eyes flickered as she struggled feebly, but this time, she did not react violently. She closed her eyes, allowing Su Bei to gently caress her beautiful face with his fingers.

Suddenly, Su Bei saw tears, like pearls, fall from the corner of Li Zijun's eyes, sliding across her snow-white cheeks.

The flickering flames illuminated two trails of tears.

Su Bei's hand paused, then gently slid to Li Zijun's rosy chin, lifting it to gaze at her stunning face.

With two fingers, he tenderly wiped away her tears and softly said, "I'm sorry."

"Master..."

Li Zijun looked at Su Bei, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.

She didn't know why she was crying.

Was it because of his imposition?

Or because there was no future for them?

Seeing the momentary loss in his eyes, Li Zijun didn't know what expression to wear.

Was it helplessness?

"Flowers in the mirror, moon on the water."

Li Zijun gently lifted her head, a slight smile curving her lips as she hid the last tear in the depths of her eyes. "Your disciple doesn't blame you, Master."

"Sister Nan Ji gave me the dress; that's why you mistook me for her."

"..."

Su Bei gave her an embarrassed smile, suppressing the terrible thoughts that had just risen within him.

Why were all the disciples he took on so strange?

Each one seemed as though they had shared long years with him, always evoking a sense of inexplicable emotion.

At that moment, the door opened.

Ji Nanjue, dressed in a different outfit, walked in and then looked around with a puzzled expression.

Barefoot, she sat down beside Su Bei, wiping the still-wet droplets from her body.

A glint of confusion flashed across her eyes. Normally, he would have pounced on her; why was he so calm today?

What had happened between the two of them while she was gone?

The atmosphere was so strange.

"Husband, what's wrong? You seem distracted."

Su Bei smiled at her and then held Ji Nanjue close.

Within Su Bei's embrace, Ji Nanjue seemed to sense a complex mix of emotions. She tilted her head up and kissed the corner of Su Bei's mouth.

She had been thinking a great deal. She knew the road ahead would be long and difficult, and that the heartless world would always make their journey arduous. But enjoying this moment of peace brought her a sense of fulfillment.

Her mindset began to subtly change.

—Not asking for lifelong companionship, only to have once possessed it.

"It's nothing."

"It's late. We should sleep..." Su Bei touched her hair.

Ji Nanjue got up, took the distracted Li Zijun's small hand, and examined her own dress on Li Zijun, nodding. "Zi Jun, this dress looks quite fitting on you..."

Li Zijun's face turned crimson.

Then Ji Nanjue glanced at Su Bei and said coolly, "As punishment, you will sleep outside tonight, and I will cuddle with Zi Jun."

"How about it, Zi Jun?" She winked at Li Zijun.

Li Zijun was taken aback for a moment. She looked up at Su Bei, then at Ji Nanjue beside her, and hesitantly said, "That doesn't seem right... It looks like it's going to rain outside..."

Su Bei naturally understood that Nan Ji was giving him a way out. She must have sensed the earlier awkwardness.

Touched, he looked at Ji Nanjue and said, "I'll go outside then..."

Just at that moment, the sound of faint footsteps came from not far away.

The unexpected noise made everyone frown. Su Bei asked with some confusion, "Who could be out walking this late at night?"

"..."