After the Demon Lord was Reborn, She Switched to a Master-Disciple Romance Script - Chapter 6

Though her movements were gentle, there was nothing clumsy about them.

In what felt like just a few breaths, Zhu Jiyun had skillfully applied the medicine and was now wrapping Xun Juexue’s wrist with a strip of cloth.

As Xun Juexue looked up, a strand of Zhu Jiyun’s frost-white hair brushed against her cheek, cool and soft.

“All done,” Zhu Jiyun said, tilting her head to meet her gaze. “I hope my handiwork is decent enough and doesn’t hurt too much.”

Xun Juexue shook her head, her voice clear and melodious like jade striking stone. “Your skill is excellent.”

Though she didn’t mind pain, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t feel it.

But truly, there was none.

Hearing this, Zhu Jiyun’s eyes crinkled with pleasure. “It’s getting late. Let’s rest early.”

The house they were in was one of the larger ones in the village, with three rooms, each furnished with a bed.

Granny Zeng, never one to stay idle, had bowed respectfully toward the center of the main hall upon learning that the owners were gone. She then straightened up and began tidying the place, and now it was nearly done.

There were three rooms. The stranger occupied one, Granny Zeng and Ji Nianyan shared another, and Zhu Jiyun had the last one to herself.

As she lay down to rest, still fully clothed, the System popped up again.

“Host, do you like her?”

Zhu Jiyun replied lazily, “Huh?”

“If you like the woman who saved you today, she’s a Cultivator! Don’t hold back. Be brave and pursue her! Go to the Cultivation World and chase after her!”

The System’s little plan was quite clever.

Zhu Jiyun said, “Sorry to disappoint you, but I see her as nothing more than a pure appreciation of beauty. There’s no deeper feeling.”

Frost-white hair, a crimson mark between her brows.

Elegant and otherworldly, like a celestial being from the moon.

Any man would hesitate before such a beautiful woman.

Zhu Jiyun wasn’t blind. How could she not feel a flicker of innocent admiration upon meeting such a woman?

But that was all it was. The System’s schemes were doomed to fail.

With that, she pulled up the blanket. “I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted from traveling all day.”

The System fell silent.

Is there any hope of completing this mission?!

Ugh!

Who assigned me this task?!

Ugh!

*****

Zhu Jiyun had no idea what madness the System had descended into while she slept. When she woke up, she felt refreshed and invigorated.

Hearing a noise outside her window, she cracked it open slightly and saw Ji Nianyan diligently practicing her sword in the courtyard.

The morning air after the rain was crisp and invigorating, carrying the earthy scent of damp soil that filled her senses and soothed her spirit.

As she stretched lazily, she bumped into Xun Juexue, who was emerging from the opposite room.

Zhu Jiyun lowered her arms, surprised to see Xun Juexue hadn’t left yet.

Remembering Xun Juexue’s cold and distant demeanor from the previous night, Zhu Jiyun couldn’t help but feel that a silent departure would have suited her better.

As she thought this, Xun Juexue gave her a slight nod and said in a low voice, “I should be going now.”

Zhu Jiyun gazed at Xun Juexue’s face, which seemed even more ethereal in the morning sun, and followed her out of the courtyard. “Want me to see you off?”

Who knows if I’ll ever see her again? I might as well enjoy the view while I can.

Xun Juexue’s gaze remained fixed on Ji Nianyan, who was waving a tree branch around in the courtyard. “No need,” she replied.

Following her gaze, Zhu Jiyun remembered that Xun Juexue had also used a sword the previous night. Reluctantly, she shifted her gaze to Ji Nianyan. “You’ve been staring at her. Is there something wrong with her sword practice?”

Hearing this, Ji Nianyan, who had been swinging her arms, instinctively stopped and cast an anxious glance at Zhu Jiyun.

Xun Juexue shook her head. “No, this sword technique is excellent.”

She had merely noticed a fleeting familiarity in the girl’s movements, but upon closer inspection, it seemed like an illusion.

Yet in this world of swordsmanship, though forms varied endlessly, all paths ultimately converged on the same essence: the sword itself.

Some techniques might appear familiar, but appearances could be deceiving.

With her keen senses, Xun Juexue had sensed movement in the neighboring room as dawn broke after her night of meditation.

She had overheard the hushed whispers between the Granny and the sword-practicing girl.

Thus, she knew that the sword technique had been taught by the woman beside her.

Moreover, she now understood the backstory between the three of them.

That fleeting glimpse days ago had been the woman beside her wielding her sword in gratitude.

Grateful and resilient, Xun Juexue thought to herself. She’s a remarkable young woman.

As she watched the girl resume her practice at Zhu Jiyun’s silent prompting, a sudden urge to guide her arose within Xun Juexue. Though her voice was soft, it carried clearly through the quiet morning air: “Swing to the right. Lower your arm an inch. Swing again.”

Ji Nianyan instinctively followed her instructions.

She swung the branch to the right, paused an inch lower, and swung again.

After repeating the sequence, she felt the branch grow lighter in her hand, as if her strength were being channeled more efficiently.

A smile bloomed on her face as she turned to call out to the two women, “Thank you, Sister!”

It was unclear which sister she was thanking.

Zhu Jiyun gazed at the woman beside her, whose aura seemed to have softened and grown more serene. “Thank you,” she said.

With just a few words, Xun Juexue had corrected a flaw in the sword technique.

This basic sword form had been Zhu Jiyun’s own creation, but she hadn’t wielded a blade in years. Now, to teach Ji Nianyan, she had dusted off her memories and recalled the form.

Xun Juexue shook her head. “Your swordsmanship is already remarkably refined.”

Each movement, though simple and unadorned, could unleash profound sword intent when honed to perfection through relentless practice.

Zhu Jiyun smiled, offering no further comment.

She thought Xun Juexue would make an exceptional teacher. If she’d had such a sharp-eyed, clear-minded Master when she first entered the sect, she would have learned so much more.

What a pity.

As she pondered this, she saw Xun Juexue turn and walk toward the door.

Ji Nianyan, noticing this out of the corner of her eye, immediately stopped practicing, put down her branch, and hurried after Zhu Jiyun to see their guest off.

In the end, the three of them stood in a row. Zhu Jiyun, in the middle, spoke first: “Until we meet again.”

Xun Juexue’s frost-white hair stirred slightly as her voice rang out, clear as snow: “Until we meet again.”

Zhu Jiyun watched her solitary figure disappear completely before lazily withdrawing her gaze.

Granny Zeng had just borrowed some rice and flour from the family to prepare travel rations. Beside her, Ji Nianyan reluctantly tore her eyes away and asked, “Do you think we’ll ever see Sister again?”

“You might,” Zhu Jiyun said, “but I doubt it.”

The thought of parting ways with Zhu Jiyun soon made Ji Nianyan feel a pang of sadness. “Then why did you say ‘until we meet again’ earlier?”

Zhu Jiyun smiled faintly. “Just a parting remark.”

Ji Nianyan followed her back into the house, chatting as they walked. “I actually thought that sister would leave first thing in the morning, but she waited until you woke up. You really can’t judge a book by its cover. She just seemed cold and distant at first.”

No, she really is cold and distant, Zhu Jiyun thought, still trusting her initial impression.

Still, the fact that the woman had waited for her to wake up before leaving was unexpected.

What was this called?

Zhu Jiyun pondered for a moment. It reminded her of the customs of hospitality in the mortal realm, where guests always bid farewell to their hosts before departing.

…But none of the four of them were the owners of this house.

A cultivator who observes proper etiquette, Zhu Jiyun concluded.

Zhu Jiyun and the others left in the afternoon.

The village was completely deserted, likely slaughtered by the Demon Cultivator.

As they walked out, the daylight revealed the scenery they hadn’t seen clearly the previous evening.

Neatly arranged houses, wildflowers blooming brightly by the roadside, and corn hanging from the eaves.

It was a picture of a peaceful, prosperous village.

But now, apart from the three of them, not a single living creature remained.

Ji Nianyan rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. “This is terrifying.”

Granny Zeng’s expression was grim. The thought of the Miss facing similar demonic creatures in the unfamiliar Cultivation World deepened the wrinkles on her face.

The headless black-robed figure from the previous night had turned into a skeleton by morning, nearly scaring Granny Zeng to death!

Zhu Jiyun nodded, patting Ji Nianyan’s shoulder. “That’s why you must protect yourself and strengthen your skills. Nothing brings more security than the sword in your hand.”

Clutching the sword Zhu Jiyun had given her, Ji Nianyan felt a little calmer.

She was right.

She realized a sword was truly a good thing.

The three continued their journey. After their recent encounter, they made sure to reach a town and stay at an inn before nightfall. If they couldn’t, they would check for lights from a distance before approaching any villages.

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any more strange villages along the way.

When they reached their final stop, they casually found a roadside stall and ordered three bowls of wontons. After taking a sip of the hot soup, Ji Nianyan looked around and couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s so lively here!”

Granny Zeng gazed thoughtfully at the old woman across from them, who was selling embroidery from a wooden board.

Zhu Jiyun swallowed a wonton and smiled. “The crowds will only grow thicker as we get closer.”

Some people were so worried that the Spirit Awakening at Liulan Mountain might be a hoax that they rushed there early, waiting day and night to ease their anxiety.

Hearing Zhu Jiyun’s words, Ji Nianyan immediately said, “Granny and I still have some money. Let’s stay in this town and head over when the time is right.”

After all, it was only half a day’s journey from here.

As she spoke, she took Granny Zeng’s hand, her eyes reddening. “I want to spend more time with Granny.”

Zhu Jiyun was sipping her soup slowly and carefully when Ji Nianyan suddenly grabbed her hand. When she looked up, she saw tears welling in Ji Nianyan’s eyes.

“Sister Zhu, I don’t want you to leave either,” Ji Nianyan said.

*****

Throughout their journey, Ji Nianyan had truly come to see Zhu Jiyun as an elder sister.

Sister Zhu didn’t talk much sometimes, but when she was around, Ji Nianyan felt like she was being cared for by a close sister.

But ever since her mother passed away and her grandfather’s family suffered a sudden tragedy, she hadn’t felt that way again.

Zhu Jiyun handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears, smiling gently. “All good things must come to an end. It’s fate that we were able to spend so much time together. Now, dry your tears. Let’s make the most of these last few days and explore the town properly.”

Granny Zeng chimed in, “That’s right, Miss. Don’t cry, or I’ll start crying too.”

As Ji Nianyan wiped her tears, Zhu Jiyun glanced up and caught a sight that had been lingering on her for some time.

The man snapped his fan shut when he saw her looking, his eyes now openly flirtatious. He clasped his hands in a bow, his moon-blue sleeves swaying gracefully as he winked at Zhu Jiyun with a dashing flourish.

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