CHAPTER 449
Reunited with the Warm Sun
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【Charging…】
"Xiao Ai, keep Youwei and the others outside."
【Drive core temperature 72°C, positioning anchor points functioning normally.】
"Master, you really are…"
【Coordinates confirmed. Personnel, prepare for mapping.】
"Xiao Ai, I will return."
【Spatial rift successfully captured. Re-confirming landing point.】
"Xiao Ai believes in you."
【Charging… 70%…】
"Xiao Ai, what will you do if I die?"
【Next spatial fissure opening time confirmed. Landing point located. Anchoring point has targeted the objective. Spatial anchor point tracked.】
"Xiao Ai is the Guardian Blade. Before Xiao Ai closes her eyes, you shall never die."
【Mapping countdown initiated: 30, 29, 28, 27…】
"I disagree."
【21, 20, 19…】
"Xiao Ai is the most obedient~ Isn't that right?"
【13, 12, 11, 10…】
"You never listen."
【3, 2, Mirror!】
Su Cheng didn't catch what Xiao Ai said, but she must have said something.
【Mapping complete. Landing point confirmed normal. Mapping successful.】
【Operatives take note: This mapping operation will last twelve hours. Pay close attention to your mission timeline and arrive at the designated return zone precisely at the scheduled time.】
Su Cheng activated his divine sense for a brief scan of the surroundings, quickly pinpointing the locations of the four disciples.
Ye Qinghan was in the Burning Heart Hall, Li Shiyao at the Military Academy, Dongfang Jue in the Mount-Attached Hall, and Su Muchan was… shopping…
The Burning Heart Hall appeared identical to Su Cheng's memories. In this world's version, Su Cheng sat at his desk processing documents, the pile as substantial as in his recollections.
Ye Qinghan lay sideways on the desk, watching him work in the small space before her belly. She seemed to want to play with Su Cheng's hair, but her fingers passed right through it.
This fleeting illusion still brought Ye Qinghan immense pleasure.
"Qinghan, you're getting naughty."
Ye Qinghan's delicate body trembled, as if she'd misheard. Visibly, fox ears emerged from the top of her head and twitched before she hesitantly turned her small head…
A year had passed…
Ye Qinghan's mouth hung open, speechless for a long moment.
Tears welled up instantly, spilling over her eyelids. She sat up shakily, swallowing hard. Her red lips remained slightly parted, her eyes brimming with emotion.
Her master remained unchanged—a gray robe paired with a pair of ordinary, inexpensive cloth shoes.
No trace of an ethereal aura about him. Beneath that robe lay the body that haunted the wicked fox's dreams. His gentle, doting gaze seemed capable of dragging Ye Qinghan into the river of love and drowning her there.
A faint smile curved the corner of his lips. They gazed at each other without words, locked in that silent stare for a long, long time.
A year had passed, and Ye Qinghan had largely given up hope. Yet news of her master arrived almost daily.
It felt like the gentle pat on a baby's back, soothing her restless heart to the utmost.
The Master hadn't forgotten her. The Master still remembered her.
The Master would find her. The Master would not abandon her.
"Remember? I told you, Qinghan is my direct disciple. Even if you ran away, I'd still come and fetch you back~"
Like a cannonball hurled into his arms, Su Cheng felt this was the most fitting metaphor. Ye Qinghan had charged at him headfirst, nearly taking his life in the process.
Her hunger-driven attack sent Su Cheng reeling back three or four steps. Had it been anyone else, he might have offered praise—she truly had some skill.
Ye Qinghan said nothing, only wailed incessantly: "Waaahhhhhhh!"
Su Cheng, as always, responded with indulgent affection: "Look at my precious Qinghan, all upset like this? It's okay, your master is here. You don't need to be afraid anymore…"
Saying she wasn't afraid was utter nonsense. How could Ye Qinghan not be terrified?
Shiyao could act spoiled with her, Juer could act spoiled with her, and even Su Muchan was asking her what to do.
Ye Qinghan could only tell them that Master would definitely come find them…
"Qinghan knew it… Master would definitely find Qinghan. Qinghan told her junior sister, Master would definitely come find us…"
"Mm, Qinghan did very well. Your master knew you wouldn't disappoint me."
Su Cheng affectionately ruffled her fox-like hair. "It's all my fault. Qinghan has suffered."
She clung to her master as if trying to swallow him whole, holding on so tightly she could barely breathe.
As if afraid this were all a dream, each agonizing day stretched into an eternity, accumulating into a full year. If longing were a liquid, it would surely form a mighty river.
"Master…"
Catching her master's gaze, Ye Qinghan knew he silently permitted her indulgence. Today felt like a supermarket clearance sale—she could revel in his tenderness to her heart's content.
"Master, Shiyao is at the academy, and Juer is at the Fuyue Hall. They miss you terribly too."
"I know, but first I intend to make Qinghan happy~"
"Mmm~ Master~"
At this moment, Ye Qinghan seemed even more unrestrained than Ye He had been earlier. At least Ye He hadn't gotten hands-on, right?
But Ye Qinghan knew she was different from Ye He—she was a disciple.
As long as she didn't take off her skirt, even if she acted out, in her master's eyes it was merely spoiled behavior. Spoiled behavior, nothing more than wanting her master to ruffle her hair.
"Master, you look haggard."
"My appearance and form have long ceased to change. This is the power granted by authority. I have long since bid farewell to birth, aging, sickness, and death. How could I possibly look haggard?"
Ye Qinghan remained silent. She didn't mind her master's sweeping generalization. What did the so-called cycle of life, aging, sickness, and death have to do with looking haggard?
It was obvious. For their sake, Master probably hadn't slept well all year…
"Master, let's go find Shiyao and Jue'er."
"Qinghan, have you finished crying? If you still need to adjust, you can cry in my arms a little longer~"
"Hmph! Master, you're so mean!"
"Hehe, come on. Later, I'll take you both for a walk."
Fingertips traced the edge of the table—the sensation remained unchanged.
A hundred years ago, Su Cheng sat at this very desk, and Qinghan saw him.
"His name is Su Cheng. In this world, every inch of land Qinghan sees belongs to this man—truly, all under heaven is the king's domain."
"Everyone Qinghan sees is his subject."
There was no imperial luxury to be had, and if he could choose, he'd rather not be the Revered One at all.
Su Cheng seemed poised to say more, but Ye Qinghan's delicate fingers pressed firmly against his lips.
"Qinghan knows everything. This past year, I've watched over the Master here every single day."
Su Cheng smiled helplessly. The Su Cheng before her wasn't him.
"Qinghan, he's rather dull, isn't he?"
Ye Qinghan answered indirectly: "Qinghan knows what Master wants to say. Qinghan will stay by Master's side. Qinghan will always be here, serving Master faithfully."
"Heh. Since Qinghan says she's watched him here every day this past year, she should understand why he's been so busy."
Truthfully, Ye Qinghan froze—but not because of what she expected. The Master's true intentions were entirely different from hers.
She had believed her master sought peace for the realm, an end to war. But the truth?
【Is it not precisely so that you may be free that your master willingly bears these shackles?】
【Heh, silly child. How could I ever keep you tied to my side?】
【Judging by Qinghan's expression, she probably knows what I'm thinking. But it's likely different from what she imagined?】
"Qinghan, let's go. We should see what Shiyu is up to."
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