The Immortal Lord of the Path of Ruthlessness Bends for Me - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Don’t Call Me Daoist, I Am Your Master.

“I want more kisses!” Ling Shu held tight to Zhuang Jinfu’s waist.

Zhuang Jinfu felt only unease. That kiss was like a dam holding back a flood; now that there was a crack, she feared it was the leak that would lead to a total collapse.

As the strength in the girl’s arms faded, Ling Shu’s eyes fluttered shut, and she fell backward. She landed straight on the floor. Zhuang Jinfu watched with a cold, distant gaze. After a moment, she flicked her finger, and Ling Shu was lifted onto the couch.

Zhuang Jinfu opened the door and walked out. Auntie Hai was sitting under the corridor, a basin of warm water by her feet.

“Bring the Fire Sparrow here.”

Auntie Hai went and returned with the captive. Zhuang Jinfu asked directly, “She is unconscious. Why?”

The Fire Sparrow Fairy looked at her with an expression as if she had just discovered a scandalous secret history about the Immortal. “You actually did it?”

Auntie Hai immediately beamed. “Immortal, do you need water?”

“No!” Zhuang Jinfu’s face was as dark as a storm cloud.

Zhao Chi arrived just in time to hear these words. Seeing the Immortal’s terrifying expression, she froze with one foot over the threshold, unsure whether to enter or flee. Fearing collateral damage, she quietly retreated.

The Fire Sparrow smirked meaningfully. “Master and disciple… taboo… transgression… Immortal and Demon… Heh heh heh!”

Suddenly, the room was filled with sharp ice spikes. Even Auntie Hai stood at attention, chest out and head up. Zhao Chi felt grateful for her own cowardly, life-saving instincts.

The Fire Sparrow’s laughter died in her throat. She swallowed hard and said tremblingly, “It’s… it’s normal for her to be unconscious. The dreams created by my artifact aren’t exactly ‘pure’… they consume one’s vital essence. When essence is low, one gets sleepy. It’s very normal. She just needs a good sleep.”

The ice spikes rotated slowly in the air, reflecting the soft candlelight. The light fell gently on Ling Shu’s face; she looked quiet and obedient in her sleep. Zhuang Jinfu’s heart softened. The dangerous ice spikes vanished.

“Auntie Hai, take her away.”

The next morning, Ling Shu woke up. She threw off the covers and ran outside barefoot. As she opened the door, she collided with Zhuang Jinfu, who was about to enter.

Seeing Ling Shu in only a thin nightgown, Zhuang Jinfu frowned. Though the weather was mild, there was still a chilly breeze. “Where are you running off to in such a hurry? You aren’t even wearing shoes.”

Ling Shu stared at her with wide eyes. “Who are you?”

Zhuang Jinfu: “?”

A moment later, an angry shout echoed through the courtyard: “Auntie Hai! Bring that practitioner of the crooked arts here right now!”

Ling Shu’s shoulders shook. “You… you’re so mean.”

Zhuang Jinfu walked toward her, forcing Ling Shu to retreat further into the room. Ling Shu’s eyelashes fluttered in fear. “W-what are you doing? This is my house. You aren’t allowed to barge in! Even if you’re pretty, it’s not allowed!”

Zhuang Jinfu pulled her inside.

“Bad woman! Bad woman!” Ling Shu cried, clutching at her hand.

Zhuang Jinfu sat her down on the edge of the bed. Ling Shu struggled to stand, fuming. “You’re bullying me! My mother won’t let you get away with this!”

Then, a robe was draped over her shoulders. Zhuang Jinfu knelt down to put shoes on her feet. All of Ling Shu’s angry words died in her throat.

The Fire Sparrow was brought in, grumbling, “It’s not even dawn yet! What do you want?”

Zhuang Jinfu’s expression was grim. “You said she would be fine after a sleep. Now she doesn’t even know who I am. Explain this.”

“Huh?” The Fire Sparrow scratched her head. “That shouldn’t be possible. My artifact doesn’t cause memory loss.”

Ling Shu looked at the group. “Who are you people? Where is my mother? I want my mother.”

The three of them were speechless. Zhao Chi, peeking from the doorway, was stunned.

“Little beauty,” the Fire Sparrow asked, “How old are you?”

“I’m ten!” Ling Shu replied.

Again, silence. The next second, the room was filled with biting cold and ice spikes. Each spike shimmered with white spiritual energy, a sign of extreme danger. Ling Shu clapped her hands. “Wow! So pretty! Do it again, do it again!” She reached out to grab one.

“Careful!” Auntie Hai cried.

Ling Shu’s finger touched a spike, and blood welled up instantly. She pulled her hand back and burst into tears. “Waaaaah! It hurts! The ice has thorns!”

Zhuang Jinfu felt a headache coming on. Auntie Hai scolded her immediately: “You knew she was awake and you still made such dangerous things? Get rid of them!”

Zhuang Jinfu instantly dispelled the spikes, leaving only a ring around the Fire Sparrow’s neck.

“I’m innocent!” the Fire Sparrow wailed.

Auntie Hai rushed forward to heal the finger. It wasn’t deep, but any further and it would have hit bone.

Zhuang Jinfu dragged the Fire Sparrow out to the courtyard. When she released her magic, the Fairy fell to the ground with an “Ouch!” She looked up to see a white sword—the blade sharp and pointed directly at her eyes.

“Don’t!” Zhao Chi shouted. Zhuang Jinfu’s hand stopped.

Zhao Chi’s heart hammered in her chest. Zhuang Jinfu was an Immortal! She could kill with a flick of her finger; she didn’t need a sword. Her sword, Meixu, had tasted the blood of tens of thousands of evil cultivators and demons. Its sword-intent was so strong it could destroy one’s foundation just by touching it. People called it a weapon of slaughter. It rarely saw the light of day. When it was drawn, it meant the Immortal had decided to kill.

Zhao Chi was stunned by her own outburst. Why did she want to save someone who had tried to ruin her? Perhaps it was because of the few words the Fairy had said to wake her up.

The Fire Sparrow was also shocked. “Beauty, what did you say? You don’t want me to die? You love me!”

Zhao Chi felt like a fool. “My mistake. Carry on.”

The Fire Sparrow gasped for air, accidentally swallowing a mouthful of dust. “Wait! One night as ‘wives’ is worth a hundred days of grace! You can’t just watch me die!”

Zhao Chi turned and walked away. Seeing her pleas were useless, the Fairy turned to the Immortal. “Immortal! Her memory loss might be because she hasn’t fully woken up! Keep me alive! I can help heal her!”

Zhuang Jinfu finally sheathed her sword. She grabbed the Fairy by the collar and threw her back into the room. “Tell me. How do we fix this?”

“Let me go first, okay?”

A silver ring appeared around her ankle, and the Immortal released her. The Fairy immediately tried to bolt for the door, but the leg with the ring wouldn’t move an inch. “Fine, Immortal. You win.”

She took a small, polished green corn-shaped object from her waist. It floated in her palm, emitting green waves of magic that washed over Ling Shu.

After a long time, the Fire Sparrow asked, “Little beauty, how old are you now?”

“Ten.”

Zhuang Jinfu’s hand tightened on her sword hilt.

“One time isn’t enough! Let me try again!” the Fairy squeaked.

Ten tries later.

“Little beauty, how old are you? Please don’t say ten.”

“Huh? I am ten!”

Zhuang Jinfu spoke through gritted teeth. “Fire. Sparrow.”

The Fairy fell to her knees. “I’ve given it everything I have! Immortal, believe me! This artifact shouldn’t be used for more than two hours and requires a seven-day gap! I haven’t used it to harm her! I swear!”

“Then why is she like this?”

“A side effect. She sank too deep into the dream. Her physical form suffered a backlash.”

“So there is no way?”

“No.”

The Fire Sparrow prepared to lose her head, but then she heard Zhuang Jinfu’s soft voice: “Leave us.” The Fairy fled.

Ling Shu tilted her head. “Daoist who makes ice… you look like you’re in a bad mood. Do you need Ling Bao to give you a hug?”

Auntie Hai looked worried. “I’m fine,” Zhuang Jinfu’s voice softened. “Don’t call me Daoist. I am your Master.”

“What is a Master?”

“One who transmits the Path, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.”

“Ling Bao doesn’t understand.”

Zhuang Jinfu stroked her head with a sigh. “If you don’t understand, then let it be.”

Ling Shu blinked. “Master? Do you know where my mother is?”

Auntie Hai tensed up. How could they explain? She was only ten in her mind; she couldn’t take the truth. Fearing the Immortal would say something heartless, she blurted out, “Your mother went to seek the Path of Immortality.”

“Your mother is dead,” Zhuang Jinfu said.

Auntie Hai almost fainted. “Don’t listen to her! Your mother is fine, she’s just practicing very far away!”

Ling Shu froze. Her head dropped, and tears began to splash onto the floor. “Mother always said one day she wouldn’t be able to protect Ling Bao… that she would die and I’d be all alone… She… she really died.”

Auntie Hai stood up and kicked Zhuang Jinfu. Then she tried to stomp on her foot. Zhuang Jinfu didn’t move, silently taking it.

“She’s just a ten-year-old child right now! Why would you say that?!” Auntie Hai shouted. She went back to hug Ling Shu, patting her shoulder. “Go ahead and cry. I’ll stay with you. We don’t need this heartless Master of yours.”

“I want her,” Ling Shu sobbed, wiping her eyes. “Ling Bao remembers… I like her very much.”

Zhuang Jinfu stood still. Her heart, usually as calm as a dead pond, twitched. A strange, unfamiliar sense of bitterness washed over her. It had been so long since she felt any emotion. It was unpleasant, but she did not regret telling the truth.

She waited until the crying stopped.

“Let’s go back to Upper Clarity Mountain,” Zhuang Jinfu said finally.

Auntie Hai agreed and went to tell Zhao Chi. They decided to release the leopard, but keep the Fire Sparrow as a prisoner until Ling Shu recovered her memory.

As they prepared to leave the courtyard, Ling Shu stayed behind. Zhuang Jinfu looked back. “Follow us.”

Ling Shu held out her arms. “Carry me.”

Zhuang Jinfu: “?”

“Auntie Hai is carrying so many things; it must be a long trip. Ling Bao doesn’t want to walk,” Ling Shu pouted. “Mother used to let me hold her tails. She had eight tails to wrap me in, then she’d hide them—and hide me too. You’re my Master, so you should carry me, right? I’m afraid people will find me out there.”

“I do not have tails,” Zhuang Jinfu replied.

“Then I’m not going.”

“There is no need to fear being found now. Let’s go.”

Zhuang Jinfu walked away. But when she reached the gate, she realized the girl hadn’t moved. She looked back again. Ling Shu stood there, her brows knit together, glaring at her with a hurt expression.

“Keep up. Everyone is leaving.”

“No.”

“I don’t have tails, I cannot carry you that way. You must walk yourself.”

“No, no, no! Walking is too tiring!” Ling Shu stamped her foot. “I’m not going! I won’t walk!”

Zhuang Jinfu sighed and walked back. She turned around and crouched down in front of the girl. “Get on. I will carry you on my back.”

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