Chapter 268: Tenderness
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"To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for all living beings, to carry on the lost teachings of the sages of old, to usher in an age of peace for all generations."
"That's what Master said, isn't it? Is it so strange?" Ye Qinghan remained impassive. Having often heard Master's inner thoughts, she was no longer particularly surprised~
Who exactly is the Master?
"Senior Sister, do you think it's possible… our Master isn't from this world?"
Ye Qinghan remained impassive: "You're going to be Lingxian Hall's intellectual pillar from now on, smarty pants."
"Um… Senior Sister, what do you mean?"
Ye Qinghan looked at her as if she were an idiot. After all, she could read minds. Was the Master not from this world?
She didn't know the answer, and even if she did, there was no way to prove it.
"I'm glad you feel comfortable opening up to me, but save me the silly questions like that in the future."
How could a master treat a disciple like this?
Going out personally to buy groceries and even cooking meals for her disciple!
If there was any work to be done in Lingxian Hall, everyone would scramble to do it. When Ye Qinghan returned to Lingxian Hall, Li Shiyao couldn't even get a turn to wash clothes!
What master brews tea for their disciple? What sect leader apologizes to their second disciple?
In this world, it was utterly unprecedented!
Dongfang Jue suspected that in the Master's eyes, this might be perfectly normal.
Dongfang Jue speculated it was a difference in perception—a cognitive bias shaped by Su Cheng's former environment.
Perhaps in the world Su Cheng once knew, the relationship between master and disciple was one of equality.
If so, how could a master ever discipline a disciple?
Rely solely on the disciple's self-discipline?
But… if that were the case, setting aside Ye Qinghan, even Li Shiyao never slacked off in her cultivation. She never needed anyone to urge or remind her…
After all, she had been observing diligently all these days!
Having obtained the cultivation technique these past two days, she had been practicing alongside Second Senior Sister…
"Jue'er also adores Master…" Dongfang Jue glanced at Ye Qinghan's expression and hastily added, "The world in her eyes…"
Ye Qinghan rolled her eyes. "I'll be presiding over your initiation ceremony tonight. Any objections?"
"Thank you, Senior Sister. I'll keep your words in mind."
"If you forget, no worries—I'll handle it." Ye Qinghan smiled, then slipped a piece of candy into Dongfang Jue's hand before rising to go take a bath.
He unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth. He clearly didn't like sweets—he wasn't a child, after all…
"Senior Sister, thank you. Jue'er will truly keep this in mind."
Her father's harem was filled with countless wives and concubines—she couldn't even count her sisters. Yet this kindness from her senior sister still moved her deeply.
Indeed, how could Second Senior Sister have earned Lord Ye Yan's approval through mere flattery?
Ye Qinghan was a fox spirit—how could she be so easily deceived?
Unless one genuinely won her over bit by bit, how could any trickery possibly earn her approval?
It was such a simple truth, yet it had taken her so long to grasp.
Who would willingly be sisters with someone who spoke nothing but lies and feigned affection?
If she were in that position, she wouldn't accept it either.
Fortunately, Senior Sister understood she was merely slow-witted, not truly wicked, and was willing to give her another chance.
Returning to her room, she changed into the Dragon Emperor's Robe bestowed by the Grandmaster. Yu Lan carefully combed her long hair.
Seeing Li Shiyao, who had forgotten to prepare a gift for her, feigned guilt as she asked what she liked and inquired about the price, as if worried her pocket money wouldn't suffice.
Her heart pounded wildly. Dongfang Jue felt that even if she were to marry one day, she would never be as nervous as she was today.
Time dragged on painfully. Her room felt miles away from the Main Hall, as if even flying by sword would take forever.
Steward Xu had also rushed back upon receiving the letter. Nearly everyone from Lingxian Hall had gathered, even Su Muchan had come to witness the ceremony.
Gifts piled high in the courtyard, though most were brought by the Holy Mountain and Steward Xu. The Holy Mountain representatives hadn't come in person, but their gifts had arrived.
Indeed, even if they didn't come in person, the Holy Mountain would never let the Holy Maiden lose face.
Her initiation gifts were every bit as splendid as those from the Holy Mountain. She had specifically instructed them to choose the finest, yet not to be too ostentatious—they had to be understated, luxurious, and meaningful!
Su Muchan still owed her money, and since she was currently staying with Shangguan Rou, she naturally couldn't afford a gift. She came empty-handed, claiming she was just there to observe the proceedings.
But she didn't mind. It felt like a wedding celebration—quite lively indeed.
Surprisingly, she even received a gift from White Peach. Having arrived in this world with nothing but the clothes on her back, the only item White Peach could offer was a jade hairpin. It wasn't particularly valuable, but it was a thoughtful gesture.
"Thank you… Fairy White Peach."
"I can tell you really like Master Su," Bai Tao remarked casually, leaning against the bedside.
"Yes, my master is special. Jue'er likes her very much."
After pondering for a moment, White Peach feigned nonchalance and spoke up.
"Aren't you afraid she has ulterior motives? You're just a young girl…"
"If that were truly the case, Jue'er and my two senior sisters would be laughing in our sleep."
Bai Tao couldn't understand. Wasn't Su Cheng just a bit handsome, a bit skilled in cooking, possessed unfathomable cultivation, treated his disciples a bit better, and was an exceptional dual-cultivation saint body?
Beyond that, what else did Su Cheng have?
"Um… Do you all really like him that much?"
"Hehe, who can really say with certainty about such things?"
"I don't get it. I'm just curious—what's so great about men anyway?"
Bai Tao was no different from Ye Qinghan in her views. Just as Ye Qinghan despised the human race, Bai Tao loathed men. In her eyes, men were nothing but filthy beasts!
Bai Tao didn't believe anyone in this world could truly understand her pain. Having endured such torment, she wished she could wipe every man off the face of the earth!
To her, Dongfang Jue before her was naive and ignorant!
"When that man reveals his true colors, Jue'er will likely regret it too late."
Dongfang Jue had reviewed Bai Tao's records and gained some understanding of her. He felt a measure of sympathy and could grasp her perspective.
"If Master truly desires it, Jue'er is willing to undress for you and serve you."
Bai Tao performed eye exercises while pondering what kind of spell Su Cheng had cast on these girls.
In Bai Tao's eyes, this was a damned ghost who couldn't be persuaded by kind words!
Dongfang Jue looked at Bai Tao, his expression calm as he spoke.
"Fairy Baitao, do you truly believe Second Senior Sister could protect you? Or do you think she dares defy our Master's will?"
"Or do you think our Master is truly indecisive?"
"The one who bullied you is Tang Shiyi, correct? His fate will be far more miserable than you imagine. You can rest assured of our Master's methods."
"I won't urge you to let go. I don't know if the Master is truly good, but he has always been kind to Jue'er. I choose to believe in him."
"Regardless, the Master hasn't done anything to harm you, has he?"
Dongfang Jue had also begun to sense it—Master's so-called gentleness seemed to have its reasons.
It was as if he had lost something precious long ago, and now clung desperately to everything around him.
This tenderness felt like atonement—doubling the love he'd failed to give someone else in the past, pouring it instead into his disciple.
Yet this tenderness made her feel… a pang of sorrow…
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