Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 23

Shang Qianye’s first visit to the Heavenly Dao Brake revealed a landscape dominated by black rock, ochre-brown soil, perpetually frozen snow, and a chasm that resembled a trapped black dragon. Apart from the azure sky overhead, everything seemed desolate and bleak.

This place was a world apart from the picturesque Lingxiao Sect outside.

A deep, tearing sound echoed from the chasm, like the roar of a colossal beast.

It felt like hell itself.

Luo Jiu released Shang Qianye’s hand and turned to her. “The wind barrier at the entrance is to prevent animals or others from wandering in by mistake. You’ll get used to it if you follow me in the future.”

Shang Qianye snapped out of her daze and turned to Luo Jiu. “Master, is this the Heavenly Dao Brake? It’s not quite what I imagined.”

Luo Jiu chuckled. “What did you expect the Heavenly Dao Brake to be like?”

Shang Qianye gestured. “I thought there would be many barriers? Or perhaps overflowing with spiritual energy, filled with ethereal immortal energy?”

“You have quite the imagination,” Luo Jiu said, glancing sideways at her. “Stick close and watch your step. I won’t waste time fishing you out if you fall.”

Watching Luo Jiu walk away, Shang Qianye hurried after her.

As they walked along the edge of the chasm, Shang Qianye glanced into the abyss. The black fissure seemed bottomless, and deep within, she could faintly see flashes of red dots darting past. Malevolent Qi rose from the chasm, only to vanish upon contact with the golden barrier at the fissure’s mouth.

The collision of two spiritual energies created a dazzling display, like lightning flashing erratically through a rainy night, dense and chaotic.

Luo Jiu seemed unfazed by the spectacle. She led Shang Qianye forward until they reached a recessed cave.

“This is where I usually rest,” Luo Jiu said without turning back. She stepped inside. “Come in.”

Shang Qianye surveyed the cave. She had imagined Luo Jiu simply sitting on the ground, never expecting to find a sheltered cave protecting her from the elements.

The cave wasn’t very deep, clearly carved out later. It was spotless, not even a blade of grass lay within. Apart from a stone platform about three feet above the ground near Luo Jiu, the cave was completely empty.

Shang Qianye surveyed the pristine mountain cave. In every respect, it was utterly spotless.

“Master,” Shang Qianye asked, approaching her, “do you usually rest here? How do you rest?”

She eyed the smooth stone bed, which lacked even a pillow.

“Meditation,” Luo Jiu replied, sitting on the edge of the stone platform and tilting her head slightly to look up at Shang Qianye. “I rarely sleep.”

Shang Qianye: “……”

This life is too harsh!

Even a wild man would have a hoe and a fire. This cave, aside from offering shelter from the elements, was completely bare.

“Then how do you usually get water, Master?” Shang Qianye frowned. “There’s no cup here.”

“See that pit near the cave entrance?” Luo Jiu said. “It collects rainwater. If you’re thirsty, go take a drink from there.”

Shang Qianye: “……”

She was about to crack.

She had noticed the pit near the cave entrance, which indeed contained water. She had assumed someone was raising fish in it. So it turned out it was for drinking?

How filthy!

“Master…”

Shang Qianye felt her world had gone completely dark. The next seven days stretched before her like an endless night. Thankfully, she had asked a few extra questions yesterday and brought water and food, sparing her from having to drink from the pit like a wild animal.

Sensing her displeasure, Luo Jiu glanced at her with mild disdain. “You’re practicing Bigu anyway. If you’re too squeamish to drink, just wait for rain. Then you can have clean water.”

Shang Qianye: “……”

Master, please stop! The more you say, the more horrifying this sounds!

The cave was bare except for the stone bed where Luo Jiu sat. After hesitating for a moment, Shang Qianye walked over and handed Luo Jiu the food box she had been carrying.

“These are steamed buns I asked Yunqing to buy,” Shang Qianye said, opening the box to reveal the steaming, plump, white buns. The fragrant aroma of freshly steamed buns filled the air.

Luo Jiu’s eyes lit up at the sight of the buns. She cradled the box and asked, “Are these from Old Cui’s down the mountain?”

Shang Qianye nodded and bent down to retrieve chopsticks from the box. The lower compartment also contained a dish of vinegar and a dish of chili sauce—Luo Jiu’s favorite condiments.

“Master, you eat first,” Shang Qianye said, rolling up her sleeves. “I’ll go get something.”

Luo Jiu stuffed a steamed bun into her mouth, blowing on it to cool it down. “Don’t touch the Barrier,” she warned.

“Okay.”

Shang Qianye didn’t go far. She waited until Luo Jiu had slowly finished all the steamed buns before returning, carrying a polished stone slab.

Luo Jiu blinked but remained silent.

The slab had been smoothed into a thick stone panel. Shang Qianye found a corner against the wall to place it, then dragged in two large and two small stones from outside. In the end, she had assembled a stone table.

“You’ve got a lot of free time,” Luo Jiu remarked, watching her busy herself. She yawned lazily. “This is pointless. We’ll never use it.”

Shang Qianye wiped the sweat from her brow. “It’ll be useful sometimes.”

Luo Jiu didn’t bother arguing, letting her do as she pleased.

“Come with me later,” Luo Jiu said. “You’re staying here with me for seven days. I need to show you what you can and can’t touch.”

After a quick tidying of the cave, Luo Jiu led Shang Qianye along the black fissure.

The cracks varied in width, ranging from just over a meter at their narrowest points to over twenty meters at their widest. As Luo Jiu walked, she used her spiritual energy to probe the Barrier, identifying areas where it had weakened or been damaged. She marked each spot with a spiritual sigil.

After walking back and forth along the fissure, she had marked over two hundred points of varying sizes.

So many breaches after just half a month without maintenance? No wonder Luo Jiu always needs to seclude herself for so long.

Having placed the final sigil, Luo Jiu sighed in relief and turned to Shang Qianye. “That should be all of them. Let’s go back and rest. You don’t need to come with me this afternoon; I’ll be repairing the Barrier and won’t have time to look after you.”

“Master, I don’t need looking after,” Shang Qianye replied, gazing at the damaged Barrier. “Could I help? I’ve mastered quite a few Barrier repair spells. Perhaps I could assist you?”

“No,” Luo Jiu said. “The Barrier recognizes its master. No one can repair it except me, using my spiritual energy. Only when I pass away can the next successor repair it. Otherwise, no one can help me.”

“I see…” Shang Qianye said weakly, looking at Luo Jiu. “I thought I could finally help Master this time.”

But I still can’t do anything.

Luo Jiu sensed Shang Qianye’s mood and turned to look at her, unable to suppress a smile. “I’m your Master,” she said. “I certainly don’t need your help.” She walked over and gently patted Shang Qianye’s arm. “Alright, go back now. Stay put in the cave for the next few days and keep an eye on things while I’m gone.”

What’s so interesting about that dilapidated cave? Shang Qianye thought. But when she met Luo Jiu’s dark, shining eyes, she nodded firmly and followed her back into the cave.

On the first day, Shang Qianye was left in the cave while Luo Jiu went out to repair the Barrier.

Left alone, Shang Qianye didn’t waste any time. She meticulously polished the stone table and stools, then began unpacking her belongings.

Besides spare clothes, Shang Qianye had brought tea sets, candlesticks, and even a plate of snacks, which she arranged on the stone table. When Luo Jiu returned, she found the cave transformed. Shang Qianye was using her magical power to carve long, narrow niches into the walls, into which she tucked her belongings.

“What are you doing?” Luo Jiu asked, standing in the doorway, puzzled.

Shang Qianye turned, her face lighting up at the sight of Luo Jiu. “Master’s back! Come, sit down. I’ve prepared tea and snacks for you.”

Luo Jiu stepped into the cave and saw the jade-green teapot and the small plate of pastries on the stone table—they looked eerily familiar.

“Isn’t this stuff from your courtyard?” Luo Jiu asked, sitting down at the table, puzzled. “You didn’t move your whole house here, did you?”

“No,” Shang Qianye replied, pouring tea for her. The steaming liquid, still releasing wisps of white vapor, filled the air with its fragrant aroma as she placed the cup before Luo Jiu. “The Heavenly Dao Brake is bitterly cold. Master should drink some hot tea.”

Luo Jiu stared at the tea, not touching it.

Shang Qianye clarified, “This isn’t water from the pit outside. I brought mountain spring water myself, boiled it, and used it to brew the tea. It’s very clean.”

Luo Jiu looked up at her. “You even brought your own water?”

The tea leaves and pastries were one thing, but how had this woman managed to carry water all the way here? And where had she hidden it? Luo Jiu hadn’t seen any containers.

Shang Qianye’s eyes curved into a smile as she sat down across from Luo Jiu. “Ever since Master said there was nothing here, I’ve been preparing everything myself. What would Master like for dinner? I brought vegetables too—I can cook for you.”

Luo Jiu eyed her suspiciously, wondering if Shang Qianye had somehow transported the entire Lingxiao Sect kitchen here.

Sipping the steaming tea, savoring the sweet pastries, and watching Shang Qianye squat by the cave entrance to simmer soup, Luo Jiu couldn’t quite describe the strange mix of emotions swirling within her.

It was as if the past decade spent at the Heavenly Dao Brake had been for nothing.

If she had known being waited on was so comfortable, she would have kept Shang Qianye by her side at all times.

Though the Heavenly Dao Brake was spacious and windless, the aroma of mushroom chicken soup still drifted in. Luo Jiu, catching the scent, suddenly found the decent tea and snacks in her hand utterly bland.

“Is it done?”

Luo Jiu stood behind Shang Qianye with her arms crossed, leaning slightly to peer into the pot of soup.

The chicken soup had clearly been simmering for some time, its rich, savory aroma filling the air. Combined with the fresh mushrooms Shang Qianye had specially purchased from the market, the soup’s flavor was exceptionally delicious.

Shang Qianye glanced back at Luo Jiu, smiled, and ladled out half a bowl of soup, handing it over.

Luo Jiu accepted without hesitation, lifted the bowl, blew on the soup, and took a sip.

“Delicious,” Luo Jiu declared. “This tastes much better than the chicken soup they serve in the dining hall.”

“If Master likes it, I’ll make it for you again next time.” Shang Qianye extinguished the fire, picked up the steaming clay pot with a cloth, and rose to her feet. “Would you mind clearing the table, Master? It’s time to eat.”