Chapter 348: Premature
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Dongfang Jue and Li Shiyao exchanged glances. Is this fucking right?
What was going on?
How could Senior Sister distort the truth like this?
Blah blah blah for ages, huh?
So it's all because they disobeyed? Blame Senior Sister for not keeping them in line?
Huh?
Is this fucking what we agreed on?
"Shiyu, has Senior Sister always been like this?"
"No, Shiyuo thinks the senior sister said that on purpose."
"On purpose? Why?"
"If she said it outright, wouldn't she be asking for a beating?"
Not long after…
"Hey? Master! My tail! My tail! Aaah!!!!!! It hurts!!!!"
"Please, Master! Spare Qinghan! Qinghan can't take it anymore! Aaah!!!!!!"
The earlier conversation had been like an intermission, allowing both to regain some strength. Now the second half of the punishment commenced.
After another long stretch, Ye Qinghan had been beaten into a daze.
Su Cheng was well aware of this, allowing Ye Qinghan to slump limply against him.
"Does it hurt?"
"It hurts…"
Ye Qinghan now resembled a dead dog, pressed against Su Cheng's chest—the only difference being he could still breathe.
"Good. I was afraid I'd go easy on you out of pity."
"……"
At this moment, Ye Qinghan could hardly be called a person, or even a fox. She was more like a lump—a lump of Ye Qinghan…
"Qinghan… only the Master remains…"
"Qinghan, you can't lose your master…"
In that instant—a blink of an eye—her body reacted far faster than her mind. By the time she registered what was happening, the white blade had already pierced her body.
The overwhelming pressure that followed instantly robbed her of any capacity for thought once more.
The sensation felt like an electric shock, like her soul being torn from her body.
It was, quite simply, the sensation of death. In that instant, Ye Qinghan seemed to see her mother beckoning to her, though she never reached her.
She still had so much left to do—she wanted to cuddle with her master, to have a litter of little fox cubs with her master~
She didn't want to die. She had finally built a fox den.
But if only one could live, perhaps it was true, as her master's wife had said—she was destined for this wretched life.
Just as her master was furious now, she couldn't bear to watch him die before her eyes.
Without her, the master still had two other disciples and the master's wife.
But without her master, Qinghan would have nothing left. Nowhere to go, no one to rely on.
She could imagine what Lingxian Hall would become without her master. The Holy Maiden might occasionally visit the eldest sister, now driven mad, while Jue'er would continue her tireless efforts to save the common folk.
"Qinghan, trust your master, will you?"
"Yes."
"Next time something like this happens, run immediately. Understand?"
"Yes, if something like this happens again, I'll run immediately."
[Is there any magical artifact that can make disciples obey? Preferably one that makes them follow orders without question?]
【Ding~ System Recommendation: Enhanced Fox Spirit Obedience Potion. Just one bottle will make your fox spirit…】
【Not that kind… Never mind… I can't afford it anyway…】
Ye Qinghan couldn't hear the system's voice. From her perspective, Su Cheng was just talking to himself.
Oh my~ Naughty Master, naughty Master~
What kind of magical item~
Don't give up! Such a precious treasure—how could you just let it go?
Ye Qinghan pondered—she had a cheat code! Could she fall for this?
Could she hear thoughts and still be manipulated by her master?
Hehe~
If the master pulls this thing out, wouldn't it just be hers?
A master who'd do anything for her~
Qinghan dared not even dream of such a thing! This was beyond her wildest dreams!
Too beautiful~
【Love Potion? 300,000■■■? That expensive?】
Back then, this wouldn't have seemed like much, but…
Su Cheng's system points were currently negative, and he owed the system quite a bit…
"Qinghan, promise me you won't do anything dangerous, okay?"
Ye Qinghan's mind was completely consumed by the Goody Water. She thought to herself, this stuff sounds seriously awesome!
If she got her hands on this stuff!
Wouldn't she instantly ascend to become the mistress of Lingxian Hall? Crowned on the spot!
With the Goody Water, who would bother cultivating anymore?
Ye Qinghan didn't desire much—only her master's heart and his body~
"Qinghan?"
Ye Qinghan jolted awake: "Hm? Master?"
"What were you thinking about?"
"Qinghan promises the Master I won't do anything dangerous again."
"Really?"
"I swear! Qinghan promises! If I'm lying to you, I'll be a little dog!"
Ye Qinghan looked utterly sincere, as if truly cowed by the beating.
But in her heart, Ye Qinghan was thinking: Woof~ Woof woof woof~
"If you ever cause your master worry again, I won't hold back. I'll break both your legs."
"Alright, alright, Master~"
Scattered fragments of love were sealed within the frozen ice. The embers of bygone days were reignited by the wind brushing her lips—a different interpretation of love's neglect, perhaps, or the final dance of one yearning for dawn.
Peace was but a fantasy for the weak. To the strong, invasion had a more fitting euphemism.
They call it expanding territories, or perhaps eradicating barbarians?
The gods call it "reshaping."
Like flickering lamps, love trembles under the gods' gaze, nearing extinction.
Perhaps Su Cheng was a worthy lover, but Ye Qinghan might never truly possess this man.
Just as Zhuge Liang found his lord but not his time, Ye Qinghan found this man, yet it was clear their love had come at the wrong moment.
Kongming would not be unaware of such matters, just as Ye Qinghan understood this truth.
Ye Qinghan could not have failed to foresee her fate, for so many had told her of it time and again.
Yet she still danced with all her might, hoping her master would admire her movements.
Ye Qinghan had fallen asleep, her posture somewhat ungraceful as she slept with her bottom sticking out. But one couldn't blame her for that.
Resting like this in Su Cheng's embrace, Su Cheng had no intention of disturbing Ye Qinghan's sweet dreams.
Su Cheng knew full well he was being ungrateful.
Ye Qinghan had shielded him from a blade, yet he had spanked her in return—it was clearly unjustifiable.
But he hadn't come to reason with his three disciples.
If he let them run wild, he'd surely regret it when cold corpses were laid before him.
He'd regret not breaking their legs!
Ye Qinghan hadn't slept long, rising before noon. Rubbing her eyes, she greeted her master.
"Rise. Your two junior sisters are still kneeling outside."
Ye Qinghan smiled as he climbed to his feet. Though his butt felt slightly better after the nap, it was still too sore to touch.
After this battle, Su Cheng, Ye Qinghan, and the others enjoyed a brief respite. However, due to the matter at the Dead Ground, the initiation ceremony was postponed by over ten days.
With a full fortnight of leisure, Ye Qinghan lived up to expectations, effortlessly claiming the top prize at the Ling Mountain Tournament with a mere flick of his finger.
As for Li Shiyu and Dongfang Jue, they defeated Ye Xiaohan and Ye Shihan respectively. Each had endured a grueling battle to secure second and third place.
On the day of the tournament, when Li Shiyao learned she would face the senior disciple, she was utterly dumbfounded!
Standing rooted in the center of the arena, she glanced at her senior sister, then at the presiding elder—her sword drawn, her gaze darting around in utter bewilderment…
Her senior sister, Ye Qinghan, had been beating her senseless just two hours ago!
Fight her? Was this procedure truly unavoidable?
But since the Master had ordered it, Li Shiyao had no choice but to comply. She resolved to face Ye Qinghan head-on with real swords drawn!
But this exchange stunned Ye Qinghan. While she could handle it, Li Shiyu's strength far exceeded her expectations!
This girl had been holding back all along!
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