The scene was very chaotic for a time. Sect Leader Ning didn"t wait for Xiao Ning to bring the sword; he made a hand gesture in preparation for a battle to the death with a living corpse. It was past five o"clock. It got light early in summer, and our room was high up; the first rays of sunlight came in through the window in the hotel"s corridor. Xiao Duan screamed and ran towards the room. Xiao Ning absolutely hadn"t expected that I would stand up while he was lying on my lap and send him toppling off the sofa. With that added to the carsickness that hadn"t faded yet, he lay on the floor in a state of utter confusion.
Under the circ.u.mstances, I made a quick decision. I would leave Xiao Ning lying on the floor for now. He had fallen already, anyway. Helping him up now or later would come to about the same thing.
The key thing was Xiao Duan. She had voluntarily put the talisman on herself that night, which had injured her core strength, and releasing her obsession had decreased her power. She couldn"t bear a sliver of sunlight, and on top of that there was Sect Leader Ning about to do magic. If she really got attacked from both sides, Xiao Duan could stop thinking about ever reincarnating.
As a teacher, my student was my greatest concern. I charged over, grabbed Sect Leader Ning by the waist, moved him away from the door, and called to Xiao Duan, "Get in, quick!"
Xiao Duan ran inside. The curtains in the room were drawn. She turned off the light and hid in a corner, looking shaken.
"Sect Leader Ning, just wait a moment. Xiao Duan is my student, she"s willing to go to the Maoshan Sect to transcend. I was the one who forgot her downstairs, making her have to come up here and knock on the door. It was my fault," I explained to Sect Leader Ning as I closed the door.
Xiao Duan cooperatively nodded her head wildly at Sect Leader Ning. "h.e.l.lo, Sect Leader Ning. I"m willing. I don"t want to stay in the human world at all, please transcend me as soon as possible. I really don"t want to go to Teacher Shen"s cla.s.s again!"
Sect Leader Ning calmed down a little and asked his his chief disciple, "Tiance, is this true? Have you already dissolved this living corse"s resentment?"
Xiao Ning stared at me fiercely, got up from the floor by himself, and said cooly, "That"s right. She actually already had the wish to transcend when we found her last night, she was just unable to leave her body. Teacher Shen contacted Princ.i.p.al Zhang to learn about Duan Youlian"s life. We helped her see her family for the last time. Her obsession has already disappeared. She can transcend."
Sect Leader Ning finally relaxed. Mildly approving, he said, "Well done. I"ll contact the Maoshan Sect and have them send a vehicle to transport the living corpse."
He turned to Duan Youlian again. "In order to transport you to the Maoshan sect, I will pack your body, suppressing your Yin energy as much as possible. I can also keep you from being harmed by sunlight. Do you agree?"
"As long as it won"t hurt," said Duan Youlian.
"Don"t worry. It"ll be like having your senses sealed. You won"t feel a thing. By the time your consciousness is restored, it"ll be time for you to leave this world."
"Thank you very much, Sect Leader Ning," Duan Youlian said calmly.
Then Xiao Ning pulled a long strip of yellow cloth out of some cabinet and used it to wrap up Duan Youlian. After she was all wrapped up, Sect Leader Ning took out a brush and cinnabar and recited something while drawing patterns I didn"t understand on the yellow cloth.
"This matter of the living corpse is resolved," said Sect Leader Ning with a sigh. "When we accepted Princ.i.p.al Zhang"s a.s.signment, we never expected there would be such a dreadful monster in the cla.s.s. If we have known then, we never would have sent you to H City alone."
"It"s no big deal," said Xiao Ning with a look of total indifference. "After all, Teacher Shen is here."
I awkwardly scratched my head and said, "No, no, I just did what a teacher should do."
At six o"clock in the morning, the three of us ordered a big breakfast. I ate the most. I was starving.
After eating, Ning Tiance said to me, "I know if I try to have a serious talk with you now, you"ll only fall asleep. We"ve been busy all night, and we"re exhausted. We"ll rest now. When we wake up, I have something to say to you. Then, even if there are mosquitoes, flies, c.o.c.kroaches, ants, mice or any other type of pest, even if a demolition team comes to break down the door, you must let me finish speaking!"
He gritted his teeth while he spoke, making me feel oddly guilty. I kept my head down like a quail and nodded obediently.
Xiao Ning finally let out a small smile, touched the back of his head and said, "You nearly knocked out one of my mortal forms."
I went into the guest room dejectedly and went to sleep. At eight o"clock in the morning, my phone alarm rang. I snuck out of the room and saw Xiao Ning was still sleeping, so I took Sect Leader Ning to physical therapy.
It was 11 AM when I returned to the hotel after the physical therapy. I was unbearably sleepy and fell into a heavy sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Since starting work, I"d spent a lot of time making up sleep. I just couldn"t get enough, however hard I tried. Ah, you could really get burnt out burning the midnight oil.
I slept the whole day away. The hotel"s curtains blocked the light well. When I opened my eyes, I didn"t know what time it was. I vaguely felt around for my phone, but accidentally touched a hand.
I pressed the switch on the bedside lamp and saw Xiao Ning sitting at my bedside, firmly holding my hand.
"What is Teacher Shen looking for?" By the dim light, Xiao Ning looked very beautiful. His lips were moist, making me think of the two kisses last night.
"Looking for my phone to see what time it is," I replied automatically.
"It"s 8 PM," Xiao Ning said. "Do you want to eat?"
I touched my stomach and nodded agreeably. "Yes."
Xiao Ning called to order food. I ran to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. Thinking of Xiao Ning"s appearance just now, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
Before we ate, I cautiously asked, "Xiao Ning, what did you want to say?"
"Eat first," said Xiao Ning lightly. "I"m afraid you"ll choke in the middle of the conversation and I won"t be able to finish."
After eating a quick meal and preparing everything, Xiao Ning led me to his room and sat me down on the bed. He said, "The Maoshan Sect"s car arrived in H City this afternoon. While you slept, my Shifu took Xiao Duan"s body away. The two of us are the only ones left here at the hotel. It"s nine in the evening, so Princ.i.p.al Zhang and your students won"t appear now. I"ve eliminated every possible mishap. Now give me five minutes. During these five minutes, even if a dog bites me, could you not do anything about it?"
Xiao Ning"s manner was so imposing that I lowered my voice in response. In a whisper I said, "Where would the dog come from... Forget it, you go on and talk. Even if the president calls me, I won"t answer."
I put my phone on silent and concentrated on Xiao Ning"s deep eyes.
Xiao Ning took my hand. His voice was as soft as the moonlight last night. "Teacher Shen, I really like you. I think... you really like me, too?"
He had started out speaking very emphatically, but the last uncertain words revealed Xiao Ning"s nervousness.
Fortunately, I was also very nervous. I didn"t call his bluff. I bowed my head and said, "Yes."
Although I, Shen Jianguo, had run wild at school for so many years, had been good friends with countless girls, had bravely pursued my crush on the basketball court, the truth was, I didn"t know a thing about love. This was the first time someone had told me to my face that he liked me.
Xiao Ning approached me tentatively, put his arms around my waist and asked softly, "Can I kiss you again? This time without the mosquitoes."
"Yes," I accepted quietly.
Xiao Ning"s unbearably handsome face slowly drew near. He kissed my lips. In my daze I couldn"t help thinking of one thing: why would Xiao Ning like me? He clearly hadn"t been the one who"d touched my chest that day!
I glanced at the screen of my phone. It hadn"t been five minutes yet. Forget it, I could ask after five minutes of kissing.