Shen Yue lifted his arm a little higher, adjusted his stance, and then said, "Continue."
Jiang Ling yearned for his master's praise and affirmation, but he felt the spot his master had touched burning hot. The searing sensation ascended to his heart, leaving him completely unable to calm down.
Without a calm mind, his techniques would falter. As the saying goes, one wrong step leads to a cascade of errors. Eventually, Jiang Ling suffered a backlash from the spiritual energy, stumbling several steps before managing to suppress the unruly energy within him.
Ignoring the pain in his body, Jiang Ling lowered his head, his face flushed with shame. His fingertips, clenched tight, turned pale. "Your disciple's cultivation is lacking, and I have embarrassed myself before Master."
In this moment, he felt utterly useless, a nobody before his master. He could only stand below, looking up to his master.
But... he was so unwilling!
A warm touch suddenly settled on his shoulder. Jiang Ling's expression froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as he murmured, "Master..."
The immortal's pale face remained impassive, yet it inexplicably calmed Jiang Ling's turbulent emotions. His palms began to sweat cold.
"It's alright. Next time, I hope to see progress," the clear, magnificent voice stated calmly.
Jiang Ling's heart fluttered. He felt his previously cool heart instantly begin to pound, so hot it made his chest feel slightly warm.
The taciturn man pursed his lips, his eyes darkening slightly. "Your disciple will certainly not disappoint Master!"
Shen Yue gracefully sat back on the stone stool. Her peerlessly beautiful face was unnaturally pale, yet possessed an unrivaled allure.
Her eyes were covered with a soft white cloth, making her already unapproachable demeanor appear even more aloof.
Shen Yue wasn't disappointed with Jiang Ling, after all, he wasn't her disciple. No matter how poor his performance, it had nothing to do with her.
Yet, her high-and-mighty master said to the foolishly standing man beside her, "Let's play another round."
Jiang Ling sat down, toying with the black pieces. He systematically surrounded the white pieces, leaving them with nowhere to escape. Watching the white pieces, completely encircled by black, with no way out, Jiang Ling, for some reason, was suddenly filled with a strange emotion.
It felt like... excitement?
He secretly raised his eyes, his gaze thick with the furtive observation of something that did not belong to him.
Perhaps, for his master, he was also different.
"Shifu!" a childish voice shattered the quiet, leisurely atmosphere.
The little child's voice arrived before he did.
With two buns on his head, the boy, clad in a robe adorned with golden patterns, ran over cheerfully. His fair, cute face was flushed, and the smile on his lips was sweet and endearing.
He brazenly hugged the person Jiang Ling dared not touch, and Shen Yue's lips even curved into a faint smile, so subtle, yet Jiang Ling immediately noticed it.
"Shifu, I've learned everything you taught me today!" the boy said, hugging Shen Yue's slender waist, his head tilted up. His beautiful eyes sparkled, his face full of an adorable desire for praise.
Shen Yue put down the white piece she was holding and stood up, taking the boy's soft, small hand. "Rong Hua is wonderful."
This simple praise made the smile on Rong Hua's face grow wider. He tugged at Shen Yue's cool, smooth hand and walked forward, his innocent voice sounding pure and guileless, "I'll read to Shifu! I promise I won't read any wrong characters!"
Shen Yue replied, "Good."
Rong Hua suddenly turned and said to the dazed man, "Senior Brother, goodbye!"
His voice was sweet, but his eyes were icy and devoid of warmth. Yet, the smile on his face was so harmless and sunny.
Shen Yue allowed him to lead her away, a rare trace of doting and indulgence appearing in her clear, cool eyes.
Left behind, Jiang Ling's hand remained in the position for playing Go, his movements stiff. But he continued his turn.
Only when he had completely surrounded the white pieces, leaving them with no escape, did he withdraw his hand, his eyes instantly darkening.
The handsome and composed man revealed a mocking expression.
How could an ordinary person like him ever catch his master's eye?
He strode to Shen Yue's seat and toyed with the white piece Shen Yue had just touched, as if its warmth still lingered.
His gaze fell upon the exquisite tea cup made of white jade. Jiang Ling's usually clear and limpid eyes flickered with obsession and fervor.
His fair hand reached out towards the delicate tea cup...
Shen Yue lay reclined on the soft couch, supporting her head with one hand. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on her thigh.
The boy's childish voice reading aloud reached her ears. He was reading a cultivation technique, filled with obscure words and difficult phrases. Yet, spoken in the boy's tender voice, it carried a strange, almost comical quality.
The boy read each word painstakingly, his plump little face buried in the book. His short fingers pointed at the characters, moving to the next after reading one.
Shen Yue bit her lip, forcing herself not to laugh aloud.
Her heart suddenly gave a violent lurch. Shen Yue's face paled slightly, a bitter sweetness flooding her throat. Her whole body trembled, but she forced the blood back down, softly interrupting the boy's voice. "Rong Hua... you go out first."
Rong Hua hadn't had time to react and didn't understand why, after everything had been fine moments ago, Shen Yue was now driving him away.
"Shifu! Did I read poorly? I'll change it, please don't send me away." The childish voice was filled with noticeable grievance and a hint of tears. The little hands clung to Shen Yue's sleeve with longing.
Shen Yue took a breath and said with a slightly colder tone, "Hurry up and go out!"
But before Rong Hua could say anything more, a force forcefully pulled him away. The door closed automatically. No matter how much Rong Hua pounded on it, it wouldn't budge.
"Shifu! Open the door! Why! Why are you abandoning me alone again?!" The boy's voice grew sharp and pained, echoing through the quiet Xin Qing Palace, its resonance lingering.
It was like this again!
It was always like this!
In the vast, silent corridor, only the slender white figure knelt on the cold, white jade floor.
Though merely a young boy, his eyes held no emotion befitting his age. It was a suffocating hatred and fervor, shrouded in dark gloom.
He chewed on two words.
"Shifu..."
Unaware of what was happening outside, Shen Yue staggered to her feet.
It felt as if someone was constantly calling her, the voice shifting between near and far, ethereal and elusive.
A trickle of crimson blood slowly welled at the corner of her lips, flowing down her chin and onto the ground, staining her snow-white robe.
Her heart felt as if it would explode. The spiritual energy within her surged erratically. Shen Yue cast a spell, and just as she calmed the energy, a surge of blood rushed up from her chest.
"Puff."
Bright red blood stained her front, and Shen Yue clutched her chest, her face paling slightly.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in, carrying a rich and intoxicating fragrance, making Shen Yue's head spin even more.