Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 32.1

Every single word from the Heart Demon seemed to pierce Wang Xi’s heart.

The fingers gripping Shen Lezhi began to tremble. No matter how hard she tried to control it, the trembling would not stop.

Her breathing became rapid. This was the first time she had been so distraught in front of Shen Lezhi.

Shen Lezhi was startled when she heard her say “Shut up,” and seeing Wang Xi in such a state made her even more surprised.

Did simply refusing a kiss make Wang Xi this unable to cope?

A feeling of resentment also rose in Shen Lezhi’s heart. Regardless of how obedient the original protagonist was to Wang Xi, she did not want to be treated like someone else in this matter, nor did she want to be forced.

Her temper flared up. She didn’t care if Wang Xi would get angry and punish her again. She struggled even more violently, even mobilizing all her spiritual energy to resist.

She knew that confronting Wang Xi with her level of spiritual power was like trying to smash a rock with an egg, but she couldn’t tolerate letting the other person have her way with her.

Wang Xi held Shen Lezhi tightly, aware of her struggle and seeing the coldness on her face.

Wang Xi did not lean in closer, but she was also unwilling to let go.

She pulled Shen Lezhi’s wrist toward her own body. Shen Lezhi was forced to raise one hand, and her pulse pressed directly against Wang Xi’s heart.

Wang Xi’s fingers could feel Shen Lezhi’s beating heart, which was rapid and forceful due to her intense struggle.

“Don’t be like this,” Wang Xi murmured. Her voice was weak and fractured. The incessant chattering of the Heart Demon in her head made her so confused that the words she spoke were no longer fully thought out.

But she paused after saying it.

Only the Heart Demon’s mockery remained in her mind: [Are you begging her?]

Wang Xi finally calmed down.

The grip on Shen Lezhi’s hand completely loosened, allowing Shen Lezhi to break free.

She looked up at Shen Lezhi, and there was no longer any emotion in her eyes.

She was peaceful to the point of indifference.

How could she beg Shen Lezhi?

And how could she dare to hope, as she did in the previous life, with bitter sorrow, that it was all just a dream?

At that time, Shen Lezhi had driven her to become a demon. Thousands of swords from the Jade Profound Sect had come to strike her down. The people who once respected her now looked at her with pure loathing.

She was wounded by countless sword edges, covered in blood, and fell into the deep valley of the Flame Demon.

She saw Shen Lezhi standing on the edge of the cliff, watching coldly as she was engulfed by the Flame Demon’s fire.

Don’t be like this.

Don’t do this to her.

Was she also begging Shen Lezhi like that then? Only Shen Lezhi, “Don’t do this to her.”

Wang Xi’s spiritual power slowly became calm and contained, no longer visible.

She jumped off Shen Lezhi’s sword, turned her back to the girl, and said in an icy tone: “That is enough for today.”

After saying this, she ignored Shen Lezhi in mid-air and walked back into the house alone, closing the door tightly behind her.

Shen Lezhi put away the Xiao Bai sword, her mood also sinking.

She didn’t want to be intimate with Wang Xi in that way, but she also didn’t want to anger Wang Xi like this.

Hugging the Xiao Bai sword, she returned to her room dejectedly. Shen Lezhi recalled everything that had just happened, sighing helplessly.

“Little crybaby, what should I do?” She raised her hand and touched the flower on her head, sighing again.

“I don’t understand you humans,” the Crying Soul Strand waved its petals, its tone light and carefree.

Spiritual plants don’t have so many complications. Spiritual plants that gain sentience and emotion express themselves very openly.

“I like Lezhi. I really like Lezhi. I want to be with Lezhi forever,” the Crying Soul Strand said, lowering its petals to touch Shen Lezhi’s hair, as if in an affectionate caress.

Shen Lezhi was a little embarrassed by its direct words. She reached up, took the Crying Soul Strand from her head, held it in her palm, and affectionately rubbed its petals with the tip of her nose in response.

“If only people were that simple,” Shen Lezhi lamented.

To express love openly, to express one’s thoughts openly.

Shen Lezhi couldn’t do it. She couldn’t tell Wang Xi that she wasn’t the original protagonist, that she was just a transmigrator who had nothing to do with this world.

Everything Wang Xi did for her didn’t belong to her. Even this Xiao Bai sword, into which Wang Xi had poured her heart, was “stolen” by her.

Shen Lezhi fell silent. The current situation made it difficult for her to escape her predicament. Her mind was in a mess, and she couldn’t think clearly, so she simply left the room again to continue practicing her Sword Flight technique.

She had already grasped the technique, but her control wasn’t stable enough yet, so she needed more practice. Stepping onto the Xiao Bai sword again, she was already much steadier.

When she fully immersed herself in practicing her sword, Shen Lezhi finally felt a little more relaxed, until she circled in the sky and landed, with the Crying Soul Strand cheering for her.

Shen Lezhi stopped and let out a breath. Her previously chaotic mind was now much clearer. Looking up at the sky, which was quickly being draped in darkness, a strong thought suddenly arose in her heart.

Shen Lezhi could not deny that Wang Xi was the person she was closest to in this world. Even without the private relationship the original protagonist had with her, Wang Xi had saved her life several times and was her teacher in sword arts and spells.

Wang Xi was such an elegant and aloof person, like a bright moon and a clear breeze. Her admiration for Wang Xi was natural and logical.

The Crying Soul Strand was a minor attachment she had in this world; Wang Xi was the unexpected connection.

Shen Lezhi licked her lips, deciding not to just keep avoiding the issue.

She recited the incantation in her mind, stepped onto the Xiao Bai sword, and flew straight into the courtyard where Wang Xi lived. She knew that with Wang Xi’s spiritual sense, she must have known of her arrival instantly, but Shen Lezhi still reached out and knocked on Wang Xi’s door.

There was no response inside. Shen Lezhi stood at the doorway, her mind extremely calm. She wasn’t flustered and just waited for Wang Xi.

Finally, the door opened. Shen Lezhi looked up and saw Wang Xi sitting upright by a round wooden table.

Wang Xi only showed her profile. Her skin was like porcelain, her hair was ink-black, and she was pure and aloof. She turned her head slightly to look at Shen Lezhi, her deep eyes filled with the faint coldness Shen Lezhi was familiar with.

“Master, your disciple, Shen Lezhi, has something to say to you,” Shen Lezhi’s posture was respectful, but her eyes were fixed on Wang Xi, unblinking.

Her gaze was always like this: not aggressive, but so focused that it was impossible to ignore or hide from.

Wang Xi naturally couldn’t avoid it either. She had no choice but to meet that gaze. The sincere and fervent eyes were once again cast upon her, without reservation.

Shen Lezhi did not walk into the house but stood where she was, slightly tilting her head to stare at Wang Xi, as if she wouldn’t speak until the other person responded to her.

“Speak,” Wang Xi saw the implied meaning, hardening her face but still indulging her.

Shen Lezhi narrowed her eyes and smiled. She straightened her body and sincerely said to Wang Xi: “I admire Master.”

She didn’t stop after the first sentence and didn’t need Wang Xi’s response.

“Master taught me. I may not be an obedient, good disciple, but you have always taught me, and you always save me in times of danger.”

Shen Lezhi gazed affectionately into Wang Xi’s eyes, only disappointed that she couldn’t see a trace of emotion there.

However, she didn’t feel that anything was wrong. She was used to Wang Xi’s demeanor, but she continued with a slight disappointment: “The world admires your power, but I only wish for your peace and freedom from suffering in this life.”

After saying this, Shen Lezhi bowed respectfully. After a brief pause, she spoke the last sentence: “This is my true thought. These are the words of Shen Lezhi to you.”

Not the original protagonist, just Shen Lezhi.

Just herself.

Shen Lezhi didn’t care if Wang Xi could understand, though the Master probably couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning. However, Shen Lezhi didn’t intend to truly explain it. She just wanted to express her feelings indirectly like this.

She felt much better after saying it, and she didn’t need Wang Xi to respond. Seeing that Wang Xi remained silent, she turned to leave.

“You admire me?” Wang Xi finally spoke.

Shen Lezhi stopped upon hearing this and affirmed Wang Xi’s question: “Of course.”

Is there a problem with a disciple admiring her Master?

Shen Lezhi thought to herself.

Wang Xi stood up and walked toward Shen Lezhi.

Shen Lezhi stood still, waiting curiously, until Wang Xi was almost in front of her. Only then did she notice the fine red lines at the corners of Wang Xi’s eyes.

Shen Lezhi had actually observed carefully. The red lines at the corners of Wang Xi’s eyes were very thin—too far away and they were hard to see—but Shen Lezhi was certain that these red lines weren’t always present.

They usually appeared when Wang Xi’s emotions obviously fluctuated.

True Person Hundred Herbs had once told her that Wang Xi’s talent was astonishing. She was born with the Exquisite Heart, a talent anyone would envy.

But the Exquisite Heart was also an obstacle on her cultivation path.

With meridians that operated independently and continuously absorbed spiritual energy, Wang Xi was naturally stronger than others, but she could never stop. She had to constantly maintain an outward release of spiritual power, otherwise her meridians couldn’t handle the continuous absorption of the Exquisite Heart’s self-rotation.

Wang Xi had suffered many times in her childhood from swelling meridians, even nearly exploding her body.

It was also extremely difficult for her to conceal her aura. The slightest emotional fluctuation would directly cause a violent reaction in her spiritual power.

Shen Lezhi knew this well. A drop in the surrounding temperature was a sign of Wang Xi’s displeasure.

Now, Shen Lezhi saw the dark red lines at the corners of Wang Xi’s eyes again. Shen Lezhi thought Wang Xi was angry because of her words and prepared herself to face the Master’s wrath.

However, the surrounding temperature hadn’t changed noticeably, and the spiritual energy in the air was overly quiet.

Shen Lezhi recalled what True Person Hundred Herbs had said. The Master said that Wang Xi never seemed to have perfectly learned to conceal her aura. She had only tried to restrain it a little to raise Shen Lezhi, but it was far from enough.

At least when facing others, Wang Xi’s spiritual power was exceptionally dominant; she made sure everyone felt it and never held back.

But at this moment, Wang Xi was clearly standing in front of Shen Lezhi. The almost demonic red lines at the corners of her eyes were alarming. Even when Shen Lezhi proactively mobilized her spiritual energy to probe Wang Xi, she couldn’t detect a trace of change in the Master’s spiritual power.

It was like an unmoving deep pool, which suddenly made Shen Lezhi feel even more unsettled.

“Is that so?” Wang Xi asked again.

This time, Shen Lezhi heard a trace of abnormality in her ending tone.

This wasn’t the first time Shen Lezhi had heard this voice. The ending tone was very short, yet it was so different from Wang Xi’s usual voice and very strange.

So, even a tiny bit made a lasting impression on Shen Lezhi.

But Shen Lezhi frowned and didn’t pursue it. She just patiently affirmed Wang Xi’s question again.

“Good,” Wang Xi responded with a single word.

Shen Lezhi could no longer discern any change in her tone. The usual coldness now carried a tone she wasn’t familiar with. Doubt settled in her heart, and she finally left under Wang Xi’s gaze.

Although Shen Lezhi didn’t quite understand the reason for Wang Xi’s repeated questioning, she had done what she wanted to do, and she had told Wang Xi what she wanted to express.

She felt much lighter and was even cheerful when she went to the Spiritual Herb Hall the next day.

However, as soon as she flew into the Spiritual Herb Hall on her sword, she heard a commotion.

Shen Lezhi flew in on her sword, passing over the heads of two people in the front courtyard of the Spiritual Herb Hall. By the time the two reacted, Shen Lezhi had already landed beside Xin Lan.

Shen Lezhi blinked, observing the situation in the courtyard. The person confronting Xin Lan was a woman, wearing a silver crown inlaid with jade. She wore a scholar’s green long robe, embroidered with soaring cranes.

The person had a gold silk belt tied around her waist and held a crimson-cherry folding fan in her hand. The fan seemed to flash with cold light, its edges incredibly sharp.

Her posture was upright, her expression haughty, and her demeanor was extremely elegant. She was slightly startled when she saw Shen Lezhi, then she spoke with a mocking laugh: “After dragging your feet for so long, you bring in a reinforcement who just reached Foundation Establishment? The Spiritual Herb Hall truly deserves its position at the bottom of the Wandering Scholar Academy.”

Although Shen Lezhi was mocked by the other party, she wasn’t angry. She observed carefully. This person didn’t have the Wandering Scholar Academy’s emblem on her.

Shen Lezhi did not put away the Xiao Bai sword. She held it tightly, the tip pointed toward the ground, because she saw that Senior Sister Xin Lan was completely tense, ready to attack at any moment.

“Shut up. The Confucian Style Manor should mind its own business and stay out of our Academy’s affairs!” Senior Sister Xin Lan’s body was trembling slightly, clearly furious.

“We take money to do business, helping others resolve their troubles,” the woman who spoke just now lightly waved the folding fan in her hand. The fan surface seemed to have some uneven holes, reflecting a blinding light in the sun.

“Utter hypocrisy,” Xin Lan cursed.

But Shen Lezhi noticed something strange. From what she had seen before, Senior Sister Xin Lan was a rather direct person. Her readiness to attack Shen Lezhi the last time showed that.

But this time, she was visibly shaking with anger, and her long whip was tightly clenched, yet she delayed taking impulsive action.

Shen Lezhi couldn’t help but look at the green-robed woman again.

Shen Lezhi knew about the Confucian Style Manor. It was one of the Four Great Sects. Their conduct and style claimed to be that of cultured gentlemen, but most of them were actually hypocrites. She remembered the look of barely concealed disdain on Senior Sister Qi’s face when she mentioned them.

Thinking of this, Shen Lezhi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Unexpectedly, this laugh made the woman with the folding fan suddenly turn to her with an angry glare.

“No power, only begging the strong for pity. The Spiritual Herb Hall deserves to be bullied by the Sword Martial Gate like this.” The green-robed woman mocked again.

Shen Lezhi saw that Senior Sister Xin Lan could no longer tolerate it. She shook her long whip, her figure leaped out, and she began to fight with the green-robed woman.

Only then did Shen Lezhi understand why Senior Sister Xin Lan had been delaying the fight.

The green-robed woman used Fire spells.

Most cultivators of the Confucian Style Manor practice Fire spells. Their sect’s Fire spells have a unique transmission method: the Master passes down a pure Fire Seed, which is inherited by cultivators with extremely high Fire-attribute talent.

The Fire spells used by every inner disciple of the Confucian Style Manor are extremely dominant, and few people can face them head-on.

And Senior Sister Xin Lan was a dual Water-Wood spiritual root.