Chapter 063
Chapter 63: Where Did Master Go Wrong?
After circulating her energy through a complete cycle, Shi Zi Chu had nearly absorbed all the medicinal essence from the bath.
When her meditation ended, she did not hurry to open her eyes.
Xing Lan’s anger could be summed up in three reasons: first, because she had not promptly called for help in the ruins; second, because she disregarded her own body; third, because she did not trust him.
Among these three, the most likely was his frustration at her carelessness with her own body.
After all, with Xing Lan’s cultivation and medical skills, it was impossible for him not to know how badly she had injured herself.
For a moment, Shi Zi Chu’s thoughts became jumbled.
She naturally knew she held greater importance in Xing Lan’s heart than Chu Zhi Rou, but she wasn’t sure exactly how much greater.
Though she could glimpse a little from the incident involving her secretly taking Huan Chu Ling, she still didn’t fully understand why Xing Lan had allowed it.
Moreover, could Xing Lan truly differentiate between her and the female villain system?
Guesses remained merely guesses; she needed a real answer.
Anyway, Xing Lan was already very angry, so making him a little angrier wouldn’t matter much, right?
Recalling how the female villain system controlled her body, Shi Zi Chu slowly opened her eyes.
The same face, yet an entirely different demeanor.
In those charming peach-blossom eyes, there was a faint dullness, a fearful glint flickering through her gaze.
At just one glance, Xing Lan felt his heartbeat suddenly stop.
Where was Jiu Jiu?
Where had his Jiu Jiu gone?!
Instantly, the atmosphere in the bathing chamber froze to an icy chill.
A cold, killing intent openly spread from Xing Lan.
His expression remained cold and unchanged, yet an indifferent chill radiated outward, pushing everyone far away.
“Master,” Shi Zi Chu’s soft, obedient voice carried a hint of playful sweetness, her beautiful eyes instantly regaining their lively glow.
Xing Lan briefly closed his eyes as a lingering fear crept into his heart.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, it was just Jiu Jiu playing a prank. His Jiu Jiu was still here.
Shi Zi Chu tilted her head up, quickly speaking before Xing Lan could question her, “So Master can tell the difference?”
Suppressing his lingering unease, Xing Lan leaned forward, lifting Shi Zi Chu directly out of the medicinal bath and said coldly, “Why wouldn’t I?”
Lifted under her arms, Shi Zi Chu took the chance to cling onto Xing Lan, her medicine-soaked clothing pressing against his clean, neat robes.
The strong herbal scent swirled between them.
With a cold expression, Xing Lan pinched the back of Shi Zi Chu’s neck, looking ready to toss her away.
But Shi Zi Chu tightened the legs wrapped around his waist and clasped her arms around his neck, sticking herself firmly to him like an octopus.
She gently rubbed her damp cheek against Xing Lan’s neck, her voice sweet and soft, “Master~ I’m too weak~”
Xing Lan turned his head aside, pressing harder on the back of Shi Zi Chu’s neck to keep her from squirming around.
“What if someone appeared exactly like me?” Forced to behave, Shi Zi Chu leaned obediently against Xing Lan’s shoulder, softly asking, “Could Master still tell us apart?”
Xing Lan countered, “Why couldn’t I?”
Even if someone perfectly imitated Jiu Jiu, he could recognize the real her at just a glance.
“Why?” Shi Zi Chu asked curiously.
Stopping beside the hot spring bath, Xing Lan replied coldly, “I’ll answer that another time. Now, get down immediately.”
If he let Jiu Jiu keep acting spoiled, how would he properly reprimand her later?
Shi Zi Chu knew when to quit, so she obediently loosened her hold and slid down from his body.
But as soon as her feet touched the ground, she seemed to lose strength and collapsed directly onto Xing Lan’s broad, cool chest.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu about to slide onto the ground, Xing Lan sighed almost inaudibly and gently wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her.
A dust dispelling spell landed softly on them both, quickly erasing the strong medicinal fragrance and drying their damp clothes.
Xing Lan glanced down at Shi Zi Chu nestled motionlessly in his arms, “Want me to toss you again?”
Shi Zi Chu raised her face, showing her palm-sized oval features and pale, pitiful expression.
“Jiu Jiu, acting spoiled won’t work,” his cool and authoritative voice interrupted her first.
Shi Zi Chu pouted slightly.
To firmly demonstrate his resolve, Xing Lan slowly removed his arm supporting her waist.
Shi Zi Chu softly whimpered, quickly wrapping her arms tightly around his waist again, pleading softly, “Master, please listen to my explanation.”
“I’m listening to your excuses,” Xing Lan quietly retorted.
Shi Zi Chu lowered her head, burying it into his firm chest, speaking pitifully, “I didn’t mean it.”
The first time might have been unintentional, but the second was definitely deliberate.
Xing Lan’s face grew colder, stern and serious.
“I overestimated my strength. My body couldn’t handle the soul force, and that’s why I got injured,” Shi Zi Chu’s muffled voice sounded obedient and remorseful, as if sincerely reflecting.
Xing Lan accepted this explanation for her first severe injury.
“What about the second time, then?”
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes flickered slyly as she lifted her head and looked up at Xing Lan, “Master has every right to be angry. I’m petty, and my relationships with fellow disciples are terrible.”
As she finished, she lowered her gaze, burying herself deeper in Xing Lan’s embrace, voice growing softer, “I reflected and realized I shouldn’t try to monopolize Master. Master belongs to them too.”
Monopolize him?
More like monopolizing resources—such sweet words!
Xing Lan replied coldly, “That still doesn’t justify injuring yourself again.”
“Master is angry because I don’t take care of myself?” Shi Zi Chu’s eyes flashed with a cunning spark. She quickly thought, [Why not use this chance to push a bit further?]
Xing Lan retorted, “Isn’t that obvious?”
If he wasn’t angry about this, what else should he be angry about?
Her body was precious; there were countless ways to achieve her goals without harming herself.
Speaking of which, he also bore some responsibility.
He hadn’t provided Jiu Jiu enough, causing her insecurity.
Seeming to guess Shi Zi Chu’s next words, Xing Lan spoke first, “Go soak in the hot spring for a bit to stabilize your energy.”
With Jiu Jiu, some things needed not only actions but clear communication.
They truly needed to have a proper talk.
“Sixth Junior Sister is undergoing her tribulation crossing right now,” Shi Zi Chu looked up at Xing Lan, her face innocent and filled with concern.
Xing Lan lightly tapped the arms still wrapped around his waist, his voice low and cold, “Jiu Jiu, if you want to pretend generosity, don’t cling so tightly.”
“Oh~” Shi Zi Chu slowly replied, reluctantly loosening her arms from Xing Lan’s waist.
In the next breath, she showed a sweet smile, “Master, please leave quickly. I’m going to soak in the spring now.”
Xing Lan glanced sideways at her before turning and leaving.
Two quarters later.
Returning from the bathing chamber, Shi Zi Chu found Xing Lan quietly brewing tea in the pavilion.
Approaching him, she immediately moved as if to kneel.
Xing Lan lifted his eyelids slightly and tossed a soft cushion toward her.
Shi Zi Chu knelt obediently on the soft cushion, her gentle voice carrying a tone of grievance, “Master~”
“Just because I made mistakes doesn’t mean you didn’t,” Xing Lan lowered his gaze to meet Shi Zi Chu’s accusing eyes. “It’s good timing for your reflection.”
Shi Zi Chu lowered her head, mumbling softly, then quickly looked up again, “Then, where did Master go wrong?”
?
Staring at Shi Zi Chu’s bold expression, Xing Lan almost laughed from sheer frustration.
Was this merely disrespecting an elder? This was outright rebellion against her Master!
Shi Zi Chu blinked innocently with her charming peach-blossom eyes, her expression pure and guileless, “Master, you said yourself that you were wrong.”
Her look seemed to say, [Would Master dare to deny it now?]