Chapter 24: Transformation Yue Qingfeng originally wanted to teach Ning Guang a lesson, but in the split second he lifted his hand, Ning Guang furrowed her brow and looked over.
There was a bit of bewilderment on her face, the confusion becoming a liquid fog encaged in her irises, softening that pair of constantly clear and cold phoenix eyes very much. "My Shifu is good to me, so I want her to stay by my side for a lifetime. How is this dirty, why must you separate us? Could it be that you covet my Shifu? If so, you should kill that intention as soon as possible, there"s no way I will allow my Shifu to leave my side!"
In Yue Qingfeng"s impressions, Ning Guang had a maturity beyond her years. He had thought she would have an incisive grasp on her own heart, and never expected that in emotional affairs, she was in fact so confused and ignorant.
Come to speak of it, even her Shifu didn"t really understand. As the disciple, how could Ning Guang so easily know her own heart?
Thinking of this, Yue Qingfeng also closed his mouth.
——Since she didn"t understand, he didn"t need to poke her through. Maybe if they went out to wander in the future and saw more people, these not yet understood feelings would naturally fade away.
Yue Qingfeng said, "I truly do not covet your Shifu. It"s just that you stick to her too much, and it will only vex her annoyance. Everyone needs their own s.p.a.ce, and your Shifu is the same. If you really want to be good for her, why not learn a little independence."
Hearing him finish, Ning Guang sneered. "In the end, you still want to separate us. I absolutely will not leave my Shifu, you should kill those intentions."
Ning Guang was always stubborn. Other than her Shifu, she refused to listen to anyone"s words.
The whole way, though Yue Qingfeng talked his throat dry, she was still unmoved. Seeing Pear Peak arrive under their feet, Ning Guang gave him a token goodbye, then jumped off the flying sword with a cold face.
White robes madly danced in the wind, pulling into severe and stubborn lines.
"You can"t teach this child!" After wasting his breath for the whole journey, Yue Qingfeng was unbearably angered, wanting more and more to give Ning Guang a beating. But, no matter how much he wanted, Ning Guang completely did not care.
She jumped off the flying sword, treading across pear branches.
Five years ago, it was also the season when pear blossoms filled the sky. But, then, they were still adorned by red pistils, unlike today, when pale petals threw themselves from the trees, rustling to fall and cover the ground, adding a sorrowful air to the whole mountain.
Ning Guang stood at the end of the road, waiting for the warm smile she didn"t know at what time would appear.
She did not wish to harm her Shifu, but it was because of her that Shifu"s hands had been burned by demonic fire and she was now going to suffer the torture of punishment by lightning. Was she really something which could not be tolerated by the heavenly path? Even if she wished with her whole heart to protect the one by her side, it was because of her that she had suffered all kinds of torture.
Ning Guang was incomparably ashamed, but letting go was something she absolutely could not do.
She didn"t know when this possessiveness appeared. When she discovered it, it was already deep and boundless as the vast ocean. This whole lifetime, even if she dragged her Shifu to die together, she still could not let go.
It"s just, this was the Shifu she wasn"t even willing to disobey, how could she let others ravage her at will?
In the end, she was too weak. If she could be a bit stronger, strong until no one in the cultivation world was a match for her, strong until even the heavens would fear her somewhat, then who in this world would dare bully her Shifu!
Ning Guang forcefully clenched her fists, her nails deeply embedding themselves in the flesh, splitting skin and piercing veins. Blood spread along the lines of her palm, dripping down her trembling knuckles, drop by drop, a red lotus blooming on the silent and pale pear blossoms.
Ning Guang stood at the end of the road, looking distantly at the path up the mountain.
She waited from early morning until nightfall, then waited until the moon rose and stars pivoted in the sky, when she finally saw that familiar silhouette. Red robes dragging on the ground, meandering over, carrying with it her heart, slowly returning to her chest.
"Shifu…"
"I"ve come back." Even with the Xuanwu Armor, Di Jiufeng had still suffered heavy injury. Beneath her robes, blood and flesh were muddled on her back, blood flowing like it had no end, layer after layer moistening her clothes. In fact, she had long finished receiving her punishment. She was just afraid that her disciple would worry, so she delayed until the night had deepened to return to the mountain.
"The night is deep, let"s go back and rest." Acting like nothing was wrong, she put a hand over her disciple"s shoulder, slowly walking towards the house.
Her fingertips were ice-cold, piercing into Ning Guang"s bones through her clothes.
She couldn"t resist it anymore. Placing her Shifu"s hand by her neck, she used the momentum to pick her up in a princess carry. "You don"t need to keep it from me, how long do you think you can hide it on this mountain? I caused you harm, so I definitely have to make up for it. But, I still need to take care of you right now, and I can"t immediately chop off this pair of hands.
Shifu, I won"t let you get hurt again. From now on, if anyone dares take advantage of you, I will kill them, if the heavenly path wants to hinder you, I will destroy this heaven. I will a.s.sure that you entire life is free and unrestrained, all you need to do is relax."
After being separated for most of the day, Ning Guang was not the same. She was even more unyielding, not shielding her vicious tendencies in the least.
Sure enough, the main plotline could not be resisted. The ancient witch was the person who would destroy the world. No matter how things turned, in the end she would always walk onto this path. Di Jiufeng felt that what was up ahead was a field of darkness, but also felt happy that she could not complete her mission for the time. The two types of moods interwove into one, making her unsure if she should dissuade or if she should encourage.
Di Jiufeng opened her mouth, but couldn"t say anything for a while. At this time, Ning Guang had started to walk into the house.
Her build was slim as a thread, but her strength really was without end. Her hands securely supported Di Jiufeng, waves of cool fragrance emitting from her warm embrace, making Di Jiufeng, who had lost a bit too much blood, feel a bit fatigued.
She slightly lowered her eyelids, but buffeted by the mountain wind, she only felt her body grow colder and colder, and couldn"t resist shrinking into her disciple"s embrace.
Her eyelashes, like tired birds, ceased flapping their wings, curling up on a blossoming branch, not moving a muscle.
Ning Guang carried her Shifu back inside. She had wanted to use a dust evasion spell to remove the bloodstains on her body, but she couldn"t stop the blood no matter what, surging out, dampening Ning Guang"s hands and moistening the bed.
"Shifu… Shifu…" Seeing this weak appearance of Di Jiufeng"s, Ning Guang also started to lose her focus. Her breaths quickened in panic, air tangled with cold pouring into her lungs, making her entire person freeze over.
She hastily fished out a medicine to stop the bleeding. After she had opened the lid of the bottle, she finally realized she had not yet removed her Shifu"s clothing.
She placed the cap back on the bottle, but in her hurry hit it with a fingertip, the medicine inside spilling all over the bed.
Ning Guang hadn"t made any large movements, but Di Jiufeng"s wounds were ferociously painful, and she hazily opened her eyes.
Seeing her disciple this much at a loss, she forcefully pushed herself up, sitting up on the bed.
"Ning Guang, help me take off my clothes and apply some medicine, this isn"t anything major, just some skin-deep wounds. Don"t panic, I will be alright."
Notes
This chapter was translated by Lily.