Chapter 064
Chapter 64: This Won’t Happen Again
Xing Lan poured two cups of tea and placed them aside, his deep, fathomless eyes settling upon Shi Zi Chu with a serious gaze.
Shi Zi Chu tilted her head slightly, her long black hair gently lifted by the breeze. She softly asked, “Does your soul possession have something to do with Chu Zhi Rou?”
At that single question, the female villain system inside her spatial storage ring instantly erupted into frantic shrieks.
Shi Zi Chu glanced distractedly, noticing the system glitching. Quickly composing herself, she turned back to Xing Lan, eyes filled with questioning.
Xing Lan said calmly, “Which disciple have I accepted without consulting you first?” As he spoke, he lightly tapped her forehead, adding gently, “So headstrong.”
It was only because the first disciple needed to bear many responsibilities, yet Jiu Jiu had refused without hesitation. Otherwise, his first disciple would have been Jiu Jiu, not Xu Zhou Ye.
Shi Zi Chu tentatively lifted her hands and rested them lightly on Xing Lan’s legs. Seeing he didn’t object, her eyes curved into a mischievous smile, looking very much like a cat who had stolen a bite of fish.
Xing Lan gathered his thoughts and slowly began to speak.
“Back then, it was only after you nodded in agreement that I took Chu Zhi Rou as my disciple. But afterward, you caused quite a commotion at her acceptance ceremony.”
Shi Zi Chu recalled those events from long ago.
In truth, she had genuinely admired Chu Zhi Rou at first.
Rou Rou seemed so delicate, a gentle young lady, yet beneath her fragile exterior was a surprisingly tough spirit. She even achieved impressive results during the trials.
Sadly, the incidents afterward revealed to Shi Zi Chu just how wrong her judgment had been.
“Ever since then, you vanished,” Xing Lan continued, his voice suddenly tinged with weariness and helplessness. “There was no sign of soul possession, and the past you seemed more like someone I’d imagined.”
Shi Zi Chu reached out to grasp Xing Lan’s cool hand.
“Four years later, you suddenly returned. After that, you openly and secretly opposed Chu Zhi Rou at every turn,” Xing Lan clasped her cool, slender fingers back, his gaze profound and steady. “I know what happened during those four years, but I understand you even better. So tell me, your soul possession is related to her, isn’t it?”
Shi Zi Chu gave a single nod.
Because she had refused to become a stepping stone for the heroine, the female villain system had directly taken control of her body.
Indeed, this had everything to do with Chu Zhi Rou.
A murderous intent flashed briefly in Xing Lan’s eyes.
Shi Zi Chu’s eyelashes fluttered softly, her gaze brightening.
[It seems my importance in Xing Lan’s heart is deeper than I imagined!]
“Jiu Jiu, I’ve failed as your master.”
Shi Zi Chu lifted her gaze, confusion filling her eyes when she saw Xing Lan’s expression of self-disgust.
“As your master, to harbor such improper thoughts toward you, completely disregarding the moral path…”
Shi Zi Chu suddenly interrupted Xing Lan’s words, “So, Master, is that why you moved from the main hall to the bamboo hut in the back mountain? Was it because you realized you liked me and purposely put distance between us?”
Xing Lan slowly nodded.
Shi Zi Chu revealed a look of astonishment.
He was the esteemed Peak Master of Rising Succession Peak. Leaving behind the luxurious main hall to move into a humble bamboo hut in the remote back mountain—shouldn’t he have simply chased her away instead?
Xing Lan replied calmly, “I have no particular demands regarding my residence, but you do.”
Moreover, the problem of changing feelings lay with him, so why should Jiu Jiu bear the consequences?
“I remember I was nearly twenty-two at that time,” Shi Zi Chu counted on her fingers thoughtfully. “Master, did your feelings change only then?”
“Jiu Jiu, I’m not that beastly.”
When he had first brought Jiu Jiu back to Jade Void Sect, she wasn’t even fourteen. Back then, he truly raised her as his own daughter. His feelings only began to change after she turned twenty-one.
Shi Zi Chu laughed aloud, eyes curving mischievously.
That was certainly true.
After all, she had always been the one pushing boundaries, while Xing Lan never once crossed the line.
Starting from the age of twenty, she had developed improper feelings, daring to test Xing Lan’s tolerance bit by bit.
Of course, her persistent teasing ultimately led Xing Lan to retreat to the back mountain.
If she hadn’t resorted to drugging him, perhaps their relationship would still be purely that of a master and disciple.
Xing Lan picked a piece of candied fruit from the plate and popped it into Shi Zi Chu’s mouth, abruptly silencing her laughter.
He then picked up the star gem, tossing it lightly as he said, “About the Huan Chu Bell…”
Shi Zi Chu’s expression grew serious.
[Could it be he wants to reclaim the Huan Chu Bell?]
“I gave you the Huan Chu Bell because I knew you had no other options. If not for desperation, you wouldn’t have drugged me.”
Shi Zi Chu pressed her lips together, eyes shifting guiltily.
[Well… Actually, even if I wasn’t desperate, I’d probably still do it. The Huan Chu Bell is a divine artifact! Of course I wanted it!]
Xing Lan fell silent, speechless.
Shi Zi Chu cleared her throat and earnestly replied, suppressing her guilt, “Master, you’re right. At that time, I really had no choice but to use such a method.”
Xing Lan exposed her immediately, “Jiu Jiu, your expression says otherwise.”
Given Jiu Jiu’s character, even if none of this had occurred, she’d have done it anyway—because she’d always coveted the Huan Chu Bell!
“I admire Master!” Shi Zi Chu lifted her chin, her cheeks flushed as she boldly declared, “I wish to dual cultiva—”
Xing Lan swiftly covered Shi Zi Chu’s mouth with his hand, deeply reflecting on himself.
[Where exactly did my teachings go wrong all these years?]
After a brief second of introspection, Xing Lan said seriously, “Jiu Jiu, have confidence. You’re extremely important to me.”
He said this to show her precisely how significant she was, hoping to prevent her from repeating actions that harmed both herself and others.
Shi Zi Chu pulled Xing Lan’s hand away, chewing the candied fruit thoughtfully, eyes calm and sensible.
[How important exactly am I?]
As if seeing through her thoughts, Xing Lan quietly said, “If you want to know how important you are, find out yourself.”
Shi Zi Chu swallowed the fruit and remarked, “Sixth Junior Sister forming her golden core is joyful, but taking in a new disciple is even more important.”
It was time to arrange Liang Wei Sheng’s discipleship ceremony. After all, she had found another disciple candidate for Xing Lan.
“What else?”
Shi Zi Chu raised her head, eyes sparkling openly with ambition, “All the resources—they belong to me!”
“Alright.”
Shi Zi Chu suddenly stood up and promptly sat herself onto Xing Lan’s lap.
Xing Lan was momentarily stunned. Recovering quickly, he watched her with an immobilized expression.
[The phrase ‘taking an inch and wanting a mile’ was surely created just for Jiu Jiu.]
Shi Zi Chu wrapped her arms around his neck, eyes drooping pitifully as she softly pleaded, “Master, I was wrong! There won’t be a next time, so could you please forgive me just this once?”
Since their conversation had ended, the inevitable accountability would follow, so she had to strike first!
Seeing Xing Lan unmoved, Shi Zi Chu sweetly whined, “Master, look how badly I’m injured. Can you really bear to punish me?”
“Yes,” Xing Lan replied coldly.
He had nearly lost her once again. She wouldn’t learn without consequences.
“Master… Boo-hoo-hoo…” Shi Zi Chu laid her head on Xing Lan’s shoulder, looking utterly pitiful.
Soft, small sobs reached his ears, resembling an abandoned kitten.
“Only this once.”
Shi Zi Chu immediately brightened, cheerfully exclaiming, “Master is truly the best in the world!”
Xing Lan patted her back gently. “Wipe those crocodile tears away.”
Shi Zi Chu obediently rubbed her face against his shoulder, wiping the few forced tears there.
Feeling his temper soften, Xing Lan reached for the tea cup, sipping slowly as the breeze rustled the bamboo leaves around the peaceful pavilion.
After some time, Shi Zi Chu drifted off to sleep in Xing Lan’s embrace.
Having finished his tea, Xing Lan gently picked her up and walked back toward the bamboo hut.