The Immortal Lord of the Path of Ruthlessness Bends for Me - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Making Her Want to… Be Reckless Together

“Immortal Qingxi… actually came!” The cultivators present almost dropped their jaws. No one could understand why Immortal Qingxi always showed such favoritism toward this demon girl. The last time the girl clashed with the sect at the mountain gate, it was also Immortal Qingxi who arrived at the critical moment, even mentioning something about taking the girl as her disciple.

Who was Immortal Qingxi? She was the only True Immortal of the Shangqing Realm. Even Wang Lifu, the Sect Leader who commanded all the sects, treated her as a most honored guest. Rumor had it that the Shangqing Realm had enjoyed three hundred years free of floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and droughts because Immortal Qingxi sat in mediation here, using her very being to anchor the realm.

She had ascended while at the Shangqing Sect under Wang Lifu’s tutelage. After her ascension, Wang Lifu’s status soared, rising from a low-ranking elder to the Sect Leader of the entire realm. Without Zhuang Jinfu, there would be no Wang Lifu.

With her power alone, Zhuang Jinfu blocked the lethal strikes of twenty-seven cultivators above the Gold Core stage. She didn’t even draw her sword; it remained beneath her feet as she flew. The surging spiritual wind made her sleeves flutter. Beneath the ink-black, rolling thunderclouds, she was a beacon of redeeming white in the dark night.

Ling Shu stared at that patch of white in the sky, dazed for a moment. The light of the lightning gathered in her hand flickered. By the time she snapped back, it was too late—the heavenly thunder struck mercilessly. Ling Shu instinctively dodged, but in her haste, her footing faltered, and she fell backward onto the ground.

A streak of white spiritual power shot down from the sky, intercepting the descending bolt. As they canceled each other out, the white energy dissipated into the air, carrying a faint, chilly aura.

Ling Shu was speechless. Wang Lifu finally spoke: “Since it is so, take her back and discipline her well.” Li Qiaoyan let out a massive sigh of relief, rushed into the barrier, and helped Ling Shu up. “It’s over, don’t be afraid. Go back with your Master and cultivate properly.”

Ling Shu didn’t pull away, letting her provide support.

Wang Lifu flicked her hand and said simply, “We’re leaving.” She turned and walked away decisively. Seeing her departure, Li Qiaoyan followed quickly, and the other cultivators, following orders, left as well.

Only two people remained. Zhuang Jinfu tapped her toes on the ground and landed in front of Ling Shu. Before she could speak, Ling Shu asked, “Why save me?”

Zhuang Jinfu lowered her eyelids slightly, scanning her once. Her gaze held no emotion; it was merely the look of a polite speaker. She said, “I want to give you a chance.”

It was the same sentiment as when they first met at the gate. A high-and-mighty statement—cold, yet feeling like salvation.

Ling Shu’s gaze lingered on her for a long time. “You really want to take me as a disciple?”

“Mmh.”

Familiar blue tiles and white walls, familiar warmth and fragrance inside the hall—Ling Shu followed Zhuang Jinfu into the Qingxi Palace. They were met by Auntie Hai, a friendly, smiling woman who didn’t seem surprised to see Ling Shu. She smiled and said, “Miss Ling is back.”

Before entering the main hall, Zhuang Jinfu left a message for Auntie Hai: “Take her to the Jinlü Palace. She will stay there from now on.”

Auntie Hai led Ling Shu into the Jinlü Palace. The furnishings were exquisite, from the treasures on the partitions to the orchids on the windowsills. It felt like wandering into a celestial dwelling. The palace wasn’t so large that one felt lonely, nor so small that one had nowhere to go; it was perfectly sized.

Auntie Hai brought water for her to bathe. The water was warm, and as Ling Shu soaked alone in the wooden tub, she felt so comfortable that her fox ears popped out involuntarily.

Outside, in the deep of winter, snow fell heavily, but inside the palace, it was as warm as spring. She leaned against the edge of the tub, her red fox ears twitching as she shook off water droplets. She thought about Zhuang Jinfu.

What kind of person was she? She practiced the Path of Emotionlessness. What were such people like? Were they truly heartless toward everything in the world? Then why… save her? Doesn’t pity count as a feeling?

The steam grew thick, and she felt a bit hot. After surviving the tribulation, her body was stronger, able to accept more power from the Demon Core, though she still couldn’t fully integrate it. Previously, at the Shuiyue Hot Spring, the icy spiritual energy Zhuang Jinfu infused into her had acted like glue, mending the cracks between the core and her body and cooling her fever.

Zhuang Jinfu’s spiritual power was icy… her hands felt cool, too. Back at the spring, Ling Shu had pulled that unreachable, cold immortal into the water and pinned her against the wall. She remembered the well-proportioned body and beautiful face, the skin feeling cool and smooth to the touch.

It made her want to… want to be reckless together with her.

A blush crept onto Ling Shu’s face. Her heart raced—whether from the Demon Core or something else, she felt a restless heat. Back in the outside world, she had never felt this way even when looking at the most handsome men. Not until she met Zhuang Jinfu.

Ling Shu didn’t dare soak any longer. She rose from the tub and put on the silk robe Auntie Hai had prepared. It was soft and clung to her skin; its smooth texture reminded her of the touch of the immortal’s clothes in the spring. Her newly calmed emotions began to surge again.

Taking a soft breath, she told herself to let go of these baseless feelings. She opened the door to find maids waiting. They bowed respectfully and entered to handle the bathwater and the tub.

A gentle breeze blew, warming her face. Even the wind here felt cozy. Ling Shu walked out, intending to sit under the begonia tree in the courtyard by the moonlight. Instead, she saw a white-clad figure entering the gate. Before the woman was even near, Ling Shu felt a thread of coolness emanating from her.

Zhuang Jinfu walked over and raised her hand, holding a green jade pendant with a lotus pattern—the same one Ling Shu had thrown back at her before. She said, “This is the pendant a disciple of my sect should have.”

“Oh.” Ling Shu reached out, but Zhuang Jinfu didn’t place it in her hand.

Zhuang Jinfu asked seriously, “This pendant is a symbol of status. If you accept it, you officially become my disciple. You must think it through.”

Ling Shu mocked herself, “Does it matter if I’ve thought it through? Do I have a choice?”

“It matters.”

The seriousness in Zhuang Jinfu’s voice made Ling Shu swallow her retort. Ling Shu curled her lips slightly, acting as if she didn’t care. “Fine, I’ve thought it through. I want you to put it on me.”

She didn’t hear an answer, but the sudden proximity of Zhuang Jinfu’s body startled her. Zhuang Jinfu leaned down to tie the pendant to her waist. As she moved, her long hair brushed against Ling Shu’s hand, carrying a faint scent of jasmine. Cool fingers touched Ling Shu’s belt.

Having just bathed, Ling Shu was wearing only a thin layer of sleepwear; she could feel the chill of the fingertips through the fabric.

Heart, stop it. Don’t be so disobedient. Don’t beat so fast… If she finds out I’m nervous, she’ll laugh at me…

“Done.” Zhuang Jinfu straightened up, only to find fluffy red fox ears sticking out from the top of Ling Shu’s head. In the night, she couldn’t see her face clearly, but her cheeks seemed to be tinged with pink.

A very soft “pfft” of a laugh reached Ling Shu’s ears. Realizing Zhuang Jinfu was looking, Ling Shu immediately covered her ears with both hands, blushing deeply. “Don’t laugh!”

“It’s late. Rest early.”

“Get lost, you.”

There was another soft chuckle.

Until Zhuang Jinfu left the Jinlü Palace, Ling Shu couldn’t get her ears to retract. Those damn ears; they had become disobedient after the tribulation. She went inside and tucked herself into bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin, feeling the comfort of the room before drifting into a stable sleep.

The next morning, Ling Shu woke up in a hot sweat. Her cheeks were red, and she buried herself in the blankets, refusing to come out.

She had dreamed of herself and Zhuang Jinfu. In the dream, Zhuang Jinfu wasn’t as distant as she was during the day. She had rosy lips and a soft face, and she whispered: “I am willing to share the clouds and rain with you.” A cool temperature embraced her from behind, and Ling Shu turned to hook her arms around the immortal’s neck, pushing her against the edge of the hot spring to kiss her.

“Why are you not up yet?” Zhuang Jinfu’s clear voice suddenly rang out nearby.

“AAAAAH!” Ling Shu jumped in fright, letting out a loud shriek before realizing her embarrassment and covering her mouth.

“Did I scare you?” Zhuang Jinfu was confused.

“You… how can you just barge into my room!” Ling Shu shouted from under the covers.

Zhuang Jinfu’s voice remained flat. “It is almost noon. Auntie Hai said you wouldn’t get up and feared you were injured by the thunder yesterday. She asked me to check on you.”

Hearing this, Ling Shu slowly poked her head out. She caught one glimpse of Zhuang Jinfu’s lips—the sweetness of the dream was still vivid in her mind—and immediately shrank back. AAAAH!

Zhuang Jinfu sat on the edge of her bed, looking at the exposed pair of fox ears pressed flat against the pillow. She couldn’t help but let out a huff of laughter. “What is it? Are you afraid I’m going to trick you out of your Demon Core?”

Thinking Ling Shu might still hold a grudge, she rarely offered an explanation: “My cultivation has reached the highest realm. Your Demon Core is of no use to me.”

Ling Shu finally emerged properly from the blankets. As soon as she showed her head, her hand was seized by Zhuang Jinfu. Ling Shu’s fur stood on end. “Wh-what are you doing?!”

Zhuang Jinfu didn’t answer. She pressed her index and middle fingers against Ling Shu’s wrist to check her pulse. Oh, a pulse check… I thought…

Zhuang Jinfu said plainly, “Your heartbeat is a bit fast.” “Your heart-fire is too strong.” “Your spiritual energy is running wild.” “Drink some heart-clearing tea later.”

Each sentence felt like a hammer to Ling Shu’s forehead. Embarrassed and unable to argue, she nodded honestly like a little quail. Seeing her acting so obediently, Zhuang Jinfu felt satisfied. She had expected the little firecracker to cause a scene today; seeing her so well-behaved meant she was teachable.

Feeling at ease, Zhuang Jinfu said softly, “Get up. I will teach you how to regulate your breath (tiaoxi).”

“Teach me how to flirt (tiaoxi)?”

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