Collecting Disciples for a Hundred Years [Transmigration] - Chapter 10

Perhaps caught off guard by Song Junyu’s words, Ji Chan seemed a bit dazed, allowing herself to be pulled along for a step.

By the second step, however, she was no longer willing to move.

Song Junyu glanced down at her: the young girl’s face was flushed, her lips pressed tightly together. When she met Song Junyu’s gaze, she quickly lowered her head.

Was Ji Chan feeling shy?

Song Junyu raised an eyebrow. After knowing her for so long, this was the first time she had seen such an animated expression on Ji Chan’s usually mature face.

Now she really seemed like a child!

Song Junyu chuckled inwardly but pretended not to notice Ji Chan’s flustered state, letting out an exaggerated “Oh”—

“I’ve been in seclusion for too long and feel a bit uncomfortable. Xiao Chan, before we sleep, why don’t we go soak in the hot springs together?”

She blinked, staring expectantly at Ji Chan without moving. Just as she had anticipated, Ji Chan could no longer maintain her usual composed demeanor. She quickly lowered her head and shook it like a rattle drum.

At least she was responding now!

Finding Ji Chan even more adorable, Song Junyu sighed on the surface. “Is that so? Then, Xiao Chan, you can lie down on the bed and wait for me. I’ll come back later to talk with you.”

With a leisurely wave of her hand, Song Junyu held back her laughter as she watched Ji Chan’s flushed face, then slowly made her way to the hot springs at the back of the mountain.

She took out a memory stone containing recordings of operas she had heard at a teahouse in the mortal world. As she hummed along to the tunes, she directed a puppet servant to massage her shoulders and enjoyed the snacks it brought over. Feeling the increasingly abundant spiritual energy within her, she thought to herself, This is truly the life.

Not much longer now! At most, thirty more years. Once the war is over, everything will return to peace, and I can finally descend the mountain to seek out all the joys life has to offer…

Thinking of the spirit stones she could exchange for the magical artifacts she had crafted recently, Song Junyu’s mood lifted even further. She couldn’t resist sending a voice message to Elder Qian Ping. While everyone in Qing Ping Sect feared the elder’s intimidating aura, Song Junyu was completely unafraid of him, likely because Elder Qian often secretly supplied her with spirit stones.

“Elder Qian, I asked Junior Sister Lin to buy a few jars of your favorite wine when she went down the mountain recently. When will you be returning to the sect?”

Elder Qian frequently traveled down the mountain and sometimes went missing for years before reappearing. Song Junyu had long grown accustomed to his elusive habits.

After soaking for nearly half an hour, feeling thoroughly refreshed, she loosely tied her robe and returned to the bedroom.

The lights in the room had already been extinguished.

Outside the window, a rabbit-shaped lantern swayed on a branch, casting a dim, hazy glow throughout the room.

However, the dim environment had little effect on cultivators. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, most could see clearly in the dark.

Ji Chan appeared to be asleep, her breathing even, with a faint blush on her cheeks as if from deep slumber.

But Song Junyu let out a soft laugh.

At first glance, Ji Chan seemed to be sleeping normally, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed her true state.

Pretending to sleep, huh? Even better!

Song Junyu blinked, lay down beside Ji Chan, propped herself up on an elbow, and gazed at her, fully committed to coaxing the “child”—

“Xiao Chan, are you asleep?”

“There are some things I couldn’t say while you were awake, but now that you’re asleep, I can finally speak my mind.”

She let out a soft sigh, as if lamenting to herself, “You have every right to be angry. I know I was in the wrong this time. I originally said I’d only be in seclusion for three months, but unexpectedly, nearly half a year passed. You must have been extremely worried during this time.”

“I can’t make excuses for myself. I truly intended to end my seclusion, but I unexpectedly experienced a breakthrough in my cultivation and had to begin the process right there in the cave…”

“To be honest, this breakthrough was a bit challenging. Fortunately, in that critical moment, I thought of you, Xiao Chan.”

“Even though we haven’t spent much time together, and I’m not very eloquent in expressing myself, perhaps there’s a special bond between people. I felt an instant connection with you and truly regard you as family. I was afraid that if something happened to me, you would be left alone and helpless again.”

Ji Chan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her breath hitching for a moment, though she didn’t open her eyes. The blush on her cheeks deepened by two shades.

“Xiao Chan, you have no idea how much I adore you! I’m endlessly grateful to have a disciple as wonderful as you. You’re so diligent and well-behaved, and so lovely to look at. I wish I could give you all the treasures in the world.”

Seizing the moment, Song Junyu lavished her with flattery. Noticing that Ji Chan’s cheeks had indeed turned as red as the freshest peach, she suppressed the urge to poke them and let out a melancholic sigh.

“I hope that when you wake up tomorrow morning, you’ll forgive me. Even though I know it’s my own fault and I shouldn’t expect your forgiveness, it pains me deeply that you’re ignoring me tonight.”

After finishing her speech, Song Junyu mentally reviewed her performance and felt quite satisfied with how well she had delivered it. With another soft sigh, she tucked Ji Chan’s quilt snugly and lay down beside her.

–

Ji Chan felt she had never encountered anyone as shameless as Song Junyu!

The Qing Ping Sect’s library was vast and comprehensive, and during this time, Ji Chan had read many books, including introductions to various sects and their rules.

The cultivation world was rigidly hierarchical, with most cultivators maintaining a dignified demeanor and treating their disciples with strictness. She had never seen anyone as neglectful as Song Junyu, who left her disciple to fend for herself and went into seclusion for over half a year!

And what was even more infuriating—this woman… actually had the audacity to suggest they sleep together!

When Ji Chan first heard those words, she thought she must have misheard and couldn’t even hide her genuine shock.

But then… the woman went even further. She… she actually invited her to bathe together!

Ji Chan nearly exploded on the spot.

Fortunately, Song Junyu didn’t force her and went to the hot spring pool alone.

Left in the room, Ji Chan quickly realized she had fallen into Song Junyu’s trap: perhaps the cunning woman never intended to bathe with her in the first place. By making such an outrageous suggestion, she had caught Ji Chan off guard, making it impossible to refuse the request to share a bed.

Ji Chan felt both embarrassed and furious, silently cursing herself for being outsmarted by Song Junyu.

As for staying up late chatting with Song Junyu? That was absolutely out of the question!

After a moment of stunned silence, Ji Chan decisively decided to pretend to be asleep, curious to see what other tricks Song Junyu might try.

Little did she expect that feigning sleep would only make it easier for Song Junyu to act freely.

When Song Junyu lay down beside her, she carried the damp, fragrant scent of the hot spring. Her light, shallow breaths brushed against Ji Chan, and in that hazy moment, Ji Chan’s heartbeat grew erratic.

Ji Chan told herself she must not believe Song Junyu’s nonsense: she wasn’t worried about Song Junyu at all, and as for the so-called feeling like old friends at first sight—that was only because she resembled Song Junyu’s two previous disciples.

But it seemed Song Junyu truly had no choice but to retreat into seclusion for so long, and even during such a critical moment of advancement, she was still thinking of her.

Could it be that she held such a high place in Song Junyu’s heart?

Indeed, if Song Junyu didn’t think highly of her, she wouldn’t have been so considerate before. But then again, she had treated her previous two disciples just as well.

Ji Chan fell into deep conflict.

Meanwhile, the culprit who had stirred up Ji Chan’s thoughts lay down leisurely beside her and quickly fell asleep.

Song Junyu’s presence was too overwhelming. Unable to sleep, Ji Chan gritted her teeth in frustration, opened her eyes, and glared at the sleeping figure beside her.

Ji Chan had no spiritual power, so in theory, she shouldn’t be able to see in the dark. Yet, for some reason, her vision was exceptionally clear at night.

?!

Her mind went blank. After one glance, she quickly averted her eyes and turned her back, but the image she had just seen lingered in her mind.

Song Junyu’s dark hair was loosely scattered, her collar undone, revealing a sight usually hidden beneath the high-collared disciple robes: skin as fair as jade, a delicate collarbone, and below it, a vivid red birthmark resembling a flower petal, lending the sleeping Song Junyu an indescribable, captivating beauty.

For some reason, when Ji Chan saw that birthmark, her heart skipped a beat, and a sharp pain shot through her mind, accompanied by vague, fleeting images.

It took a long while for Ji Chan to regain her usual composure.

This troublesome woman!

Clenching her teeth, Ji Chan struggled to find the right words to describe Song Junyu. In the end, she could only grit her teeth in frustration. Not daring to turn around, she reached for the blanket and draped it over Song Junyu’s sleeping form.