The Immortal Lord of the Path of Ruthlessness Bends for Me - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Breath and Heartbeat, Both Slightly Out of Control

The soft, warm kiss landed on the side of her neck. She froze; she wasn’t yet accustomed to being on guard against Ling Shu.

Ling Shu’s peach-blossom eyes stared unblinkingly, soul-stirring and bewitching. As Zhuang Jinfu met her gaze, the girl was so close that even the fine peach fuzz on her face was clearly visible.

Breath and heartbeat—both were beginning to slip out of control.

A warm hand gripped hers, reaching for the jade qilin in her palm. Zhuang Jinfu immediately realized what she was up to. She tightened her grip, swiftly switched the artifact to her right hand, and held it high above her head.

Failing a direct theft, she had turned to… seduction.

“I said, demon magic is forbidden,” Zhuang Jinfu reminded her.

Ling Shu let out a light “tsh” and a chuckle, looking confident in her ability to beguile and certain of her victory. She gave Zhuang Jinfu’s shoulder a kitten-like push, but Zhuang Jinfu stepped back. Ling Shu chased after her, her left hand resting on the Immortal’s right shoulder, smiling. “Master, I didn’t use any demon magic.”

Zhuang Jinfu’s gaze searched her face. Ling Shu’s every breath seemed laden with lingering affection. The words leaving her mouth were like branding irons, searing the Immortal’s heart. She didn’t even notice the rogue hand on her right arm sliding down toward her palm.

Ling Shu leaned close to her ear and whispered: “Clearly, Master, it is you—”

“Whose heart is in disarray.”

Zhuang Jinfu was stunned, her body tensing up. “Do not talk nonsense!”

In that split second, Ling Shu snatched the jade qilin from her hand. Zhuang Jinfu had lost.

Ling Shu held the jade qilin between her thumb and middle finger, waving it in front of the Immortal. She swayed her body like a dancer about to burst into a celebratory jig, proudly displaying the fruits of her victory. The bewitching, seductive persona from a moment ago had vanished completely.

She was simply mischievous.

Zhuang Jinfu was floored. Even though she had known the girl’s intention, she had still been led astray. This was bad—very bad. She is your disciple, what were you thinking?

Zhuang Jinfu closed her eyes and massaged her temples. “Consider it a pass.”

“From now on, you are not allowed to kiss people randomly.”

Ling Shu retorted quickly: “The mouth is on my face; I’ll kiss whoever I want.”

Zhuang Jinfu opened her eyes and blurted out instinctively: “No!”

Ling Shu pulled the jade qilin back and gripped it tightly, looking at her. “Master, aren’t you overstepping a bit?” She poked the Immortal’s shoulder with her finger. “You’re my Master, not my… whatever. Why do you care who I kiss?”

Zhuang Jinfu said solemnly: “It is because I am your Master that I must teach you. You cannot be promiscuous or kiss others casually, lest you accrue a mountain of romantic debts.”

Ling Shu put her hands on her hips. “I like it this way!”

“Ling Shu!” Zhuang Jinfu said sharply. She was slightly exasperated. “Just because you are casual with your actions doesn’t mean others are. Do you have any idea how doing that makes someone feel—” She cut herself off.

Ling Shu, acting as if nothing was wrong, purposefully pressed: “Makes someone feel what?”

“Regardless, you cannot do it again.”

“Why not?”

“Get out.” With a wave of Zhuang Jinfu’s hand, the blue sky and crisscrossed ice shattered like glass. When Ling Shu looked again, she was back in the study.

“Why not?”

“Just don’t go stirring up romantic trouble and then expect me to clean up your mess.”

“Actually, I’m hoping to stir up some trouble right now, but unfortunately, someone won’t take the bait.”

“…” Zhuang Jinfu purposefully ignored the comment. She sat down and looked at the cold iron on her desk. “If there is nothing else, you may leave.”

“You say you’re afraid of me stirring up trouble, but I was actually just returning a kiss.”

Zhuang Jinfu’s heart skipped a beat. What did that mean? Did she know about the time in the dream realm when the Immortal had kissed her to wake her up? Had she been faking the amnesia and the pity to gain sympathy, all while sparing her high-principled Master from embarrassment?

Zhuang Jinfu sat frozen, replaying the words over and over.

Meanwhile, Ling Shu placed the jade qilin on the desk, her eyes fixed on the pieces of cold iron. A possibility flashed through her mind. She couldn’t help but ask: “Master, do you like cold iron?”

“No.”

Ling Shu asked curiously: “Then it must have a use? What are you making with it?”

Zhuang Jinfu remained calm and open: “I am preparing a gift.”

Ling Shu was curious, but she didn’t push further. She didn’t want to ruin a surprise. Who is it for? Books said cold iron was for forging swords. Could it be a sword for me? “Oh, I see.”

Ling Shu changed the subject: “Master, do you have any secret manuals on arrays here?”

“Arrays? Yes. The third slot on the second shelf.”

Ling Shu grabbed a book titled Essentials of Avoiding Dangerous Arrays and tucked it into her robes. As she left, she saw Li Chang and Zhao Chi talking in the courtyard. Fire Sparrow was hanging off Zhao Chi’s shoulder, her body pressed against her. Zhao Chi kept trying to push her away, and they looked close to coming to blows.

Li Chang saw her and waved. “I wondered where you went! You were in the study?”

“What are you talking about?” Ling Shu asked.

Li Chang smiled. “We’re talking about the birthday gift for Sect Leader Wang.”

“See you later.” Ling Shu turned and left immediately. So, the gift Zhuang Jinfu was preparing was for her? Ling Shu was furious. She had promised a sword to Ling Shu ages ago and hadn’t even produced a wooden one yet. Other disciples were already flying on swords, and she didn’t even have a stick. The more she thought, the angrier she got.

Li Chang pulled her back. “Don’t go! Help me brainstorm. The third day after the monthly exam is New Year’s Eve, which is also Sect Leader Wang’s birthday. It’s urgent!”

“Your monthly exam is more urgent.” Ling Shu struggled to pull her hand away from Li Chang’s surprisingly strong grip. “My hand is gonna break! Let me go! What does that bad woman’s birthday have to do with me?”

Li Chang quickly let go but blocked the path with her arms. “Sect Leader Wang isn’t a bad woman! She’s very kind. she cares about me, visits me when I’m sick, and buys me treats. She treats me like her own daughter—even better than my own aunt!”

“Kind, my foot!” Ling Shu snapped. “You haven’t seen how she tries to drive her actual daughter to death! Move!”

Li Chang refused to budge, insisting Wang Lifu was good. In her anger, Ling Shu pushed her aside with too much force. Li Chang fell to the ground and twisted her ankle.

“Li Chang!” Zhao Chi yelled, running over. Ling Shu realized she had overreacted. Li Chang’s face was pale with pain. “It’s fine if you disagree, but why did you push me so hard…” Li Chang sobbed.

“I-I’m sorry.” Mentioning Wang Lifu always made her lose control. It was wrong to take it out on Li Chang. Ling Shu shouted toward the study: “Master! Help!”

The Monthly Exam, Bitian Mountain

For many inner disciples, this place was a nightmare—especially since the source of their nightmares, Ling Shu, was standing right there. No one dared to gossip; they all stayed at a distance. Only Li Chang stood near her, though she kept a gap of two paces between them, still stinging from the push.

Ling Shu swallowed her pride. “Eldest Miss, I was wrong. Forgive me?”

Li Chang huffed and turned her head away.

On the platform, the instructor read the rules. They were opening a “Cloud Realm” for the trial. Students had to find the fruit of the Fire Grass to pass. There were enough fruits for everyone, and cooperation was allowed. However, there was a special prize: a spirit stone called the “Music Jade.” Finding it would grant a perfect score for the end-of-term exam and an exemption from taking it.

Each student was given a sensor bracelet. A white light indicated a nearby Fire Fruit; a golden light indicated the Music Jade. Only one Music Jade existed, guarded by the divine beast Qilin.

In the 400-year history of the Upper Clarity Sect, the only person to ever retrieve the Music Jade was Zhuang Jinfu. Ling Shu strongly suspected that Zhuang Jinfu had seen a Qilin in the Cloud Realm and developed her obsession with Qilin figurines then.

An oval mirror appeared on the platform, emitting a warm, fresh spiritual aura. “The Cloud Realm is open. Latecomers will not be admitted after fifteen minutes.”

Ling Shu stepped through the mirror-like portal. Inside, it felt like spring—the air was rich with spiritual energy. Her goal wasn’t the fruit or the jade; she wanted to lure someone into her trap.

While other students rushed off, Ling Shu walked alone. After a while, she heard footsteps following her. The person was trying to be stealthy, but their low cultivation gave them away.

“Li Chang, come out!” Ling Shu spun around. Li Chang emerged from behind a bush, looking huffy. “I’m not following you!”

“Stop pretending,” Ling Shu laughed, walking up to her. “Still haven’t forgiven me?”

“Whatever! My Fire Fruit just happens to be on this path!” Li Chang held up her bracelet—it was glowing white. She pointed ahead, and sure enough, a bright orange fruit hung from a tree.

How embarrassing!

Ling Shu turned and walked away, grumbling that someone must have rigged the exam for Li Chang. As she walked, she plucked some reed-like spirit grass. After a few steps, her own bracelet glowed white. She looked down; a Fire Fruit was hidden in the grass at her feet.

Well, she might as well take it. She tucked it into her bag.

She continued wandering for half an hour, but no one had made a move against her yet. Why aren’t the assassins coming? she wondered.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of fighting ahead. She picked up a wooden stick and crept forward. Four students were locked in a chaotic brawl, swords clashing. What’s worth fighting for? Am I lucky enough to have stumbled onto the Music Jade?

In the distance, behind the four fighters, a creature lay sleeping. It had antlers, fish-like scales, tiger eyes, the body of a deer, and flame patterns on its legs.

A Qilin.

The fighters shifted positions. One girl held a sword to another’s throat, shouting: “The Music Jade is mine!” But another student had a blade to her back. “You haven’t even touched it yet; how can it be yours?”

It was a classic “mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”

The girl at the center of the standoff noticed Ling Shu. “Who’s there?!”

Knowing she couldn’t outrun them, Ling Shu stepped out from the trees.

“It’s you,” a girl with phoenix eyes said. Upon seeing Ling Shu, the four stopped fighting and stood in a line. They feared her demon power but were unwilling to let a newcomer take the prize. They would rather see her fail than lose to her.

To their surprise, Ling Shu didn’t attack. Instead, she hugged her cat-faced cotton bag tightly. Reeds poked out of her bag, swaying as she “trembled.” She said fearfully: “Ling Bao is a good girl, she doesn’t fight.”

The four exchanged glances. She really has lost her memory.

Suddenly, the stick in Ling Shu’s hand, controlled by pink-purple demon power, flew toward one of the girls’ faces. “It’s a trap!” someone screamed.

But before they could react, the stick exploded into splinters in mid-air.

Huh? The opponent hadn’t attacked, and Ling Shu hadn’t detonated it. The stick had shattered on its own!

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