Chapter 38: Easy Up, Hard Down
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Ye Qinghan smiled, replying with utter calmness, "You're overthinking it. My master won't accept you."
Dongfang Jue refused to be outdone and pressed on.
"Is it Miss Qinghan who refuses to share her master?"
Ye Qinghan poured Dongfang Jue another cup of tea, no longer feeling inclined to tease her.
"Have some tea. We have plenty of time. Master won't be back for a while."
"Miss Qinghan, I'm in no hurry."
Dongfang Jue took the teacup with both hands. Though he didn't understand why, Ye Qinghan's attitude had indeed shifted.
"Your thoughts aren't hard to guess. My master does indeed spoil me rotten. But if you think I'd interfere in this matter, that's a bit insulting. I'm not foolish enough to do something like that."
"Come to think of it, there must be many females harboring thoughts like yours right now, right? It's nothing more than seeing how powerful Master is and wanting to become the Ye Qinghan of the past."
"The thought itself isn't wrong. Qinghan might gain a junior sister or even a junior brother. But Qinghan believes you, most likely, aren't qualified."
Ye Qinghan smiled, radiating confidence. No one in this world understood the Master better than she did.
Dongfang Jue was puzzled. What did that mean?
Not qualified?
"You mean I don't meet Master Su's standards?"
"Not exactly." Seeing Dongfang Jue's stunned expression, Ye Qinghan felt only what she had expected—this was exactly how she had been back then.
Except she hadn't been as fortunate as herself!
"What do you mean?"
"Truthfully, I once thought Master's standards for disciples would be exceptionally high. But later I realized there are no such requirements or standards at all."
Watching Ye Qinghan speak with such confidence, Dongfang Jue was even more bewildered. What on earth did that mean?
No requirements, yet she herself wasn't qualified?
That's ridiculous!
"What do you mean? If there are no requirements, then why did you say I wasn't qualified?"
"For Master Yu, natural talent is utterly irrelevant. Do you grasp that? Even a pig, if it follows Master Yu, could ascend to immortality."
"I understood that the moment you broke five of my ribs."
"Master doesn't care about talent, doesn't care about character—he cares about nothing but fate."
Ye Qinghan’s expression now held a hint of indulgence. After all this talk, he found this guy rather endearing.
Heh, even if Master took that fool Li Shiyao as a disciple, he'd never take you!
"If that's the case, why are you so certain I have no karmic connection to Lingxian Hall?"
"That's none of your concern. If you don't believe me, why not try applying to be my disciple?"
Dongfang Jue looked skeptical, feeling as though Ye Qinghan had set some kind of trap for him…
"Seriously? You won't stop me?"
"I've said it before—my actions are guided solely by whether Master is pleased. If Master wishes it, I'll treat you like my own sister."
Dongfang Jue believed this. From Ye Qinghan's demeanor, it was clear her Master was the only person who truly mattered to her.
Even if she felt jealousy, she would never harm a junior sister accepted by her master.
"However, should Master reject you, I implore Miss Dongfang not to cling to him. While Master may hesitate to act out of respect for old friendships, Qinghan has no such reservations."
"Shall we discuss something else?"
Ye Qinghan's stance was clear, but Dongfang Jue had many other questions.
"Certainly. What else piques your curiosity, Miss Dongfang?"
Ye Qinghan didn't mind. She'd said all this hoping this fellow would know when to quit while he was ahead.
"I noticed the dummies over there are covered in sword marks. Are those from your daily rigorous training?"
"I wouldn't call it arduous training. For me, cultivation is also about pleasing my master. Most of my time is spent by his side."
"Master Su bestowed two innate treasures upon you. I assumed you would dedicate yourself to cultivation to repay his kindness."
At this point, Dongfang Jue felt the time was right.
"Miss Dongfang jests. What innate treasures exist in this world?"
Ye Qinghan actually told a lie without batting an eyelid!
Dongfang Jue realized that unless someone tried to steal her master away, nothing could make Ye Qinghan slip up!
"Heh, sister, why not consider this—what if they did exist?" Resting her chin on her hand, lazily sprawled across the table, Dongfang Jue was eager to see how long Ye Qinghan could keep up the act.
"Have you had enough of living?" Ye Qinghan tilted her fox-like head, genuinely surprised this time. "Such a thing could kill the living and revive the dead. I dare not even imagine it."
"Sister, perhaps Jue'er and you could become friends!"
Ye Qinghan was genuinely curious about Su Cheng's affairs. It was clear Dongfang Jue had extended an olive branch.
This was a signal to exchange information, but the other party was her master.
If it harmed her master, the consequences would be beyond her ability to bear!
"No need. I admit fox demons possess intense curiosity, but a wise fox understands what should remain unknown."
She needed to gauge her master's stance before making any decisions.
"Sister, why such caution? Could it be you fear Jue'er might do something detrimental to you?"
"You've already done something detrimental to yourself." Ye Qinghan smiled, patting Dongfang Jue's shoulder as she rose slowly. "How about keeping Sister company tonight?"
Dongfang Jue panicked!
Was Ye Qinghan this timid?
Did that mean she didn't want me to leave? If Su Cheng felt I posed a threat to them, would he silence me?
"Um… If I say I need to go home for dinner now, you probably won't let me leave either…"
Ye Qinghan remained silent, simply sitting and sipping her tea. She had no intention of speaking until her master returned.
Sacred Mountain. The mysterious cave was guarded by two elders, within which Li Shiyu was in seclusion.
"Shiyao is hungry!"
"Holy Maiden, please focus on your cultivation. I've already arranged for someone to prepare your meal."
"Shiyao is hungry! I can't possibly enter meditation like this!"
The scene looked as if the Holy Maiden were imprisoned, though such things were commonplace on Holy Mountain.
The Second Elder and Shi Mingyi exchanged a glance. With a deep sigh, Shi Mingyi went off to find food for the girl…
"Keep an eye on her—don't let her slip away again!"
"Got it."
With that, Shi Mingyi headed to the kitchen, intending to whip up something simple for the little princess to eat, hoping to distract her while she practiced.
Li Shiyao patted on the door, tiptoed to grasp the railing, and chatted with the Second Elder.
"Second Elder, would you like to see Shiyu's treasure?"
"My little darling, don't even think about it. I won't let you out."
"It's quite interesting!"
"Please focus on your cultivation, Your Holiness, and keep the welfare of the people in your heart."
The Second Elder spoke earnestly, his back turned to the door, refusing to look at Li Shiyu.
"Who are the masses? What do they have to do with Shiyu? All Shiyu wants is to eat her fill and then roam the mountains and rivers!"
"You are the Holy Maiden, bearing the responsibility…"
The Second Elder trailed off mid-sentence. As if this little brat would listen to a single word!
"Shiyao wants to find a man! Someone as handsome as that Su Sect Leader from the other day!"
The Second Elder’s face turned green. If Li Shiyu weren’t the Holy Maiden, he’d have smacked her down long ago!
The Second Elder simply ignored her, standing outside the door…
After a while, the Third Elder, Shi Mingyi, returned carrying a basket filled with food.
"How is the Holy Maiden?"
"She was just shouting about finding a man, but now she's gone quiet…"
Wait a minute!
Something's wrong!
The moment the Second Elder uttered those words, he sensed something was amiss. Could Li Shiyu really endure this long without speaking?
Besides, Elder Shi had just arrived with food. By now, the Holy Maiden should have been waiting by the door to be fed!
He hurriedly opened the door…
"You! She got away again!"
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