Chapter 341: Chapter 226: Boiling Frog in Warm Water_2
"Disciple, go to sleep. It’s getting late, and tomorrow there’s the grand competition between the Buddha Gate and the Dao Sect."
Without changing his expression, he shifted the topic and turned to sneak away again.
Just as he turned, a soft sobbing sound suddenly came from behind him.
Su Bei turned back in confusion. She was looking at him, her eyes rimmed red.
Unclothed, wrapped only in a brocade quilt, she seemed helpless and lost... weeping silently.
For a moment, Su Bei was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling like a great sinner condemned to endless torment in the infernal depths.
He approached her again, tentatively reaching out to wipe away her tears.
She dodged, turning her head to one side.
"After all, to Master, I, your disciple, am just an expendable person."
"My parents are no longer here, and Master is just like a figurehead."
"Someone you can toy with at will while I sleep, like I’m a doll... or perhaps an older sister you can just manipulate..."
Seeing her words veer further off track, Su Bei’s expression grew dark with exasperation.
How can tears come so suddenly?
He forcefully straightened her head. Beneath her recently pinned-up hair, her slender, jade-like neck was revealed.
"As your master, I have committed all kinds of wrongs."
"I’m a big scoundrel; I will reflect on myself."
"You, my disciple, are of the utmost importance to me."
"..."
As he said this, Xiao Ruoching’s large teardrops stopped. Her eyes looked at Su Bei, and her delicate nose crinkled.
"How important?"
Pinching her small face, Su Bei said with utmost seriousness, "Important enough that I would protect you at all costs!"
Before they knew it, a dark cloud had obscured the moonlight.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Su Bei felt her soft back trembling lightly against his hand; this time, she was compliant and didn’t refuse.
"This disciple likes Master."
Under the cover of darkness, Xiao Ruoching finally uttered those words.
Ever since she had first opened her eyes and experienced so many things, she had actually been very grateful to him.
Su Bei was taken aback, his large hand pausing for a moment.
"I used to be afraid of liking you."
Many conventional ideas can’t be changed just by wanting to. But after experiencing that Heart Demon Tribulation, I gradually became less concerned about such things. Yet, ice and snow don’t melt in a single day; I suppose I still need to adapt, bit by bit. Actually, from the moment I became aware of this disciple’s forbidden feelings for me, I knew I didn’t really have a choice. Given my personality, would I have chosen to reject her? So, from beginning to end, there was only ever an illusory choice, and I’ve just been running away from it.
Xiao Ruoching’s eyes were downcast, her expression hidden.
She clutched the brocade quilt tightly to her chest, biting her thin lip. Then, she lifted her head, her breathing slowly becoming hurried, tinged with a hint of anticipation. "So... what about now?"
Patting her head and sensing the unease of the woman in his arms, he sighed. "I think I’m starting to like you..."
Xiao Ruoching understood. This time, he wasn’t choosing to run away.
He could have easily replied that he liked her too—the fondness a master has for a disciple—rather than giving her this carefully considered answer.
However—
She was already very satisfied.
Xiao Ruoching murmured, a faint smile playing on her lips, "So that’s how it is..."
Her expression began to turn shy.
Su Bei’s hand indulged in a final, lingering caress over her curves before he spoke, "You should rest early."
Xiao Ruoching opened her arms. The brocade quilt slid down from her collarbones, and in the darkness, her beautiful earlobes trembled slightly.
Holding him tight, she said softly, "Master, will you protect your disciple forever?"
Su Bei stroked her hair, nodding with a smile.
His promise secured, Xiao Ruoching suddenly leaned forward and, to Su Bei’s utter disbelief, kissed his cheek.
"This disciple will wait for the day Master truly falls in love with me..."
Her luscious red lips... he could seemingly still feel their delicate sweetness.
The dark clouds slowly dissipated, and the moonlight became bright, illuminating everything inside the room!
Xiao Ruoching watched Su Bei’s retreating figure and buried herself completely in the brocade quilt, an intoxicated and languid expression on her face.
Only faint, continuous laughter drifted from inside the room.
Outside the window, a silvery gleam flickered and merged with the moonlight.
A round moon cast its clear, serene light.
The vast sky twinkled with countless stars.
「...」
It was the height of spring, the seasonal splendor at its peak, yet the brilliant sunlight already carried a hint of summer.
Su Bei got up early in the morning and stretched languorously.
He truly hadn’t slept well the previous night. When he returned to his room, his mind had been in complete turmoil.
First, I’ll check on Ninth Junior Sister, and then I’ll look for the Eastern Emperor.
It wasn’t early; it would likely be noon soon. Su Bei pushed the door open, took a deep breath, and headed toward Dan Wulan’s courtyard.
Unexpectedly, halfway there, he suddenly encountered a figure.
Adorned with a phoenix coronet and an imperial gown, she wore a glazed red dress. For some reason, however, the tip of her nose was a bit red, and she looked dispirited.
Queen Lin? Why is she here in broad daylight?
Still, I have her bodice, Su Bei thought, feeling justified. He then coughed loudly. "COUGH! Queen Lin, what brings you here?"
"What a coincidence."
Queen Lin’s lips parted slightly, her phoenix-like brows furrowed. She had been looking for him and hadn’t expected him to appear right in front of her.
So bold? Simply impudent!
"Elder Su, return my husband to me!!"
The words she spoke stunned Su Bei.