Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 39

Inside the Heavenly Dao Brake’s cave, a sound transmission talisman drifted in, joining the orderly queue awaiting Shang Qianye’s attention. With each message she finished reading, the line inched forward. Even so, the queue stretched nearly ten meters long, threatening to spill out of the cave entrance.

Luo Jiu arrived to witness this scene: Shang Qianye sat on a stone bench, Gu Jin’s records spread before her, while a line of obedient sound transmission talismans waited patiently.

Each talisman carried the same person’s voice, chatting cheerfully with Shang Qianye.

Senior Sister, I steamed a batch of especially beautiful steamed buns today. When you come out, I’ll treat you to some!

More ginkgo leaves have fallen in your courtyard. I picked some to tuck into your favorite books and swept up the rest.

Mother says sound transmission talismans don’t always make it through. Some get blown away by the winds at the barrier’s edge, so I send several each time. If you receive duplicates, just ignore them, okay?

Luo Jiu’s brow furrowed at the sight of another sound transmission talisman. Over the past few days, these talismans had been arriving in droves, all from Gu Yunqing seeking to chat with Shang Qianye. However, Shang Qianye was still recovering and could only occasionally reply with a few words.

Even so, Gu Yunqing was overjoyed to receive these brief replies, sending more talismans each day.

Where does she get all this energy? Luo Jiu wondered. Doesn’t Gu Jin ever give her any tasks to do?

Shang Qianye finished reading the talisman in her hand and noticed Luo Jiu standing at the cave entrance. Her expression was dark, radiating displeasure.

“Master,” Shang Qianye called out.

Shang Qianye set down the talisman and rose to her feet, leaning on her crutch. “You’re back.”

Luo Jiu glanced at her with a complex expression before stepping inside with a curt “Mm.” Ignoring Shang Qianye’s attempt to greet her, she said, “Take off your clothes and sit on the stool. I’m changing your bandages.”

During the bandage change, whether due to carelessness or deliberate intent, Luo Jiu repeatedly made Shang Qianye gasp in pain. The pain seemed to intensify, especially after another sound transmission talisman from Gu Yunqing floated in.

Shang Qianye nervously wondered if Luo Jiu was deliberately rubbing salt into her wound.

After finally finishing changing the dressing, Luo Jiu neatly folded the discarded gauze and tossed it aside. She said to Shang Qianye, her tone indifferent, “I’ll go make you something to eat. You rest.”

Shang Qianye understood Luo Jiu’s meaning perfectly—this was clearly jealousy.

“Master,” Shang Qianye said, tugging at the corner of Luo Jiu’s robe and gazing up at her with pleading eyes. “Master, don’t misunderstand. Yun Qing is just a bit clingy. We only talk about ordinary things. She doesn’t have any romantic feelings for me.”

After a moment’s thought, Shang Qianye added, “I only like Master.”

Luo Jiu paused, glancing back at her. “Smooth talker,” she said.

Shang Qianye chuckled softly.

Outside the cave, Luo Jiu was brewing porridge in a pot she couldn’t quite figure out. Though she had never cooked before, she had seen pigs run and understood that making porridge simply required rice and water, simmered together for a while.

Since she had both rice and water, she figured it couldn’t be too difficult.

Shang Qianye sat in the cave, reading through the numerous sound transmission talismans Gu Yunqing had sent. None contained anything important—just the young woman’s endless chatter. Shang Qianye sighed and sent a reply, urging her not to send so many talismans for trivial matters.

As soon as the talisman left her hand, Shang Qianye watched it pierce through the gray-black smoke and fly toward the barrier’s exit.

Hmm?

Gray-black smoke?

Shang Qianye immediately stood up, bracing herself against the wall as she limped toward the cave entrance.

Just as she reached the opening, she saw Luo Jiu crouching before a clay pot, coughing incessantly. The gray-black smoke was billowing from the pot.

Shang Qianye stared in silence.

Luo Jiu coughed violently, withdrawing the Spiritual Energy from her hand. Covering her mouth and nose, she turned to find Shang Qianye standing at the cave entrance, watching her with a complex expression. Flustered, Luo Jiu glared at her. “What are you staring at? Is your leg healed enough for you to be wandering around?”

Shang Qianye couldn’t help but chuckle, earning a sharp glare from Luo Jiu.

“It’s normal for Master to be unfamiliar with cooking,” Shang Qianye said, walking over. She gazed at the soot smudged across Luo Jiu’s face, then gently wiped it away with her hand. Her voice softened as she continued, “Master has more important matters to attend to. Let me handle these trivial tasks.”

Luo Jiu felt somewhat relieved by Shang Qianye’s words, but her expression remained displeased. She offered a dry defense: “It’s so easy when you do it—just add water and rice, and it’s done in no time. Why is it so hard when I try?”

At the bottom of the pot, not a single drop of water remained, though some rice was left—all of it burnt to a crisp.

“Perhaps the heat was too high,” Shang Qianye suggested. “Porridge should be simmered slowly over low heat.”

Seeing the continued confusion in Luo Jiu’s eyes, Shang Qianye took her hand, intending to demonstrate the process.

Shang Qianye set aside the burnt pot and retrieved another. She first rinsed the rice, then added water, and finally placed the pot on the stove.

“See? It’s done exactly like this.”

“Except for rinsing the rice.”

Shang Qianye smiled, channeling Spiritual Energy into her hand to ignite the firewood beneath the stove. A small flame flickered to life, crackling merrily as it heated the pot.

“Simmer it like this for about an hour, and it’ll be ready to eat,” Shang Qianye said, glancing back at Luo Jiu. “Does Master understand now?”

“I’m not stupid. Of course I understand,” Luo Jiu retorted, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. She resolved to try again next time, convinced it couldn’t be that difficult.

After washing the soot from her face, Luo Jiu sensed someone limping toward her from behind.

Without turning around, she knew exactly who it was.

Why does she keep hobbling around when her legs are so bad? Luo Jiu thought, annoyed.

Shang Qianye approached Luo Jiu from behind, watching her finish washing her face. She casually grabbed a towel hanging nearby and wiped her own face before wrapping her arms around Luo Jiu’s waist. Staring at the water droplets on Luo Jiu’s cheek, she said, “Master, you missed a spot here.”

Luo Jiu felt a weight press against her back as the woman clung to her like a leech, offering no help but instead pointing out flaws.

After a hasty wipe, Luo Jiu was about to return the towel when Shang Qianye snatched it, meticulously dabbing away every stray water droplet at Luo Jiu’s temples and earlobes.

Shang Qianye’s movements were feather-light, barely brushing Luo Jiu’s skin, yet the tingling sensation made Luo Jiu feel deeply uncomfortable.

“Master rarely leaves the house, so her skin is much finer than others’,” Shang Qianye observed, her eyes crinkling into a smile. “She looks like a maiden who’s just turned eighteen.”

Luo Jiu couldn’t help but glance at her. “So, you’re older than me?”

Shang Qianye blinked, tucked away her handkerchief, leaned in, and gently kissed Luo Jiu’s lips. Her voice softened as she said, “If I were older than Master, I could watch over you as you grew old.”

Luo Jiu, caught off guard by the stolen kiss, didn’t scold her. Instead, she replied calmly, “But the truth is, I’m the one watching over you as you grow up.”

“Hmm, a little disappointing, but it doesn’t matter who’s watching over whom, as long as it’s you,” Shang Qianye murmured, taking Luo Jiu’s hand and pressing it to her lips. “Master, can’t we just stay here?”

Luo Jiu looked at her, puzzled.

“Everything here is perfect, and no one will disturb us,” Shang Qianye whispered. “If I could spend my whole life here with you, that would be wonderful.”

In truth, Shang Qianye was a woman of limited ambition and foresight.

Her lifelong dream was simply to stay by Luo Jiu’s side forever—whether as a disciple or anything else. As long as she could accompany Luo Jiu, care for her daily needs, and be buried openly beside her grave when she died, that would be Shang Qianye’s ideal life.

Call her shortsighted or infatuated, Shang Qianye knew she was a woman without grand ambitions. If she could live with Luo Jiu in this secluded cave, undisturbed by the outside world, that would be a life worth longing for.

Luo Jiu, however, remained silent for a long time.

Shang Qianye looked up at her with bright, dark eyes and noticed Luo Jiu staring back with a complex expression, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

“Master?” Shang Qianye asked, puzzled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Luo Jiu didn’t answer. Lowering her gaze, she withdrew her hand and turned to say, “You can’t stay here forever. Such words are best left unsaid.”

“But I didn’t mean it lightly,” Shang Qianye protested. “I truly want to stay here with you forever.”

Luo Jiu glanced at her with a heavy heart and sighed helplessly. “You’ll leave this place someday, whether you want to or not.”

Whether by choice or circumstance, Shang Qianye couldn’t remain by her side forever.

“Master?”

Shang Qianye stared at her, confused. She wanted to press further, but Luo Jiu abruptly left, claiming she needed to repair the Barrier, without even turning back.

That afternoon, Shang Qianye ate the congee she had cooked and sat at the stone table, staring at the unfinished records. But her mind was restless. She read the same line of text seven or eight times, yet it refused to register in her memory.

Shang Qianye’s mind was filled with Luo Jiu’s expression of rejection.

She couldn’t understand why Luo Jiu, who clearly had feelings for her, kept rejecting her again and again.

Was it because Luo Jiu didn’t see her as worthy?

Or was it because Shang Qianye was Luo Jiu’s disciple?

Regardless of the reason, Luo Jiu’s reluctant demeanor still left Shang Qianye feeling suffocated. She decided she needed to confront Luo Jiu and demand clarity.

No sooner had she made up her mind than she acted.

Shang Qianye rose with the aid of her crutch, tidied up the cave, and limped deeper into the Heavenly Dao Brake.

Originally, Shang Qianye had intended to find Luo Jiu, clarify her feelings, and, if that failed, at least ask what she wanted for dinner. But she hadn’t taken more than two steps when she sensed a tremendous suction force emanating from nearby.

Wind, thick with Malevolent Qi, surged forth, black demonic energy swirling in the air and whipping up a fierce gale.

Shang Qianye’s heart tightened. She hastily threw aside her crutch and sprinted forward.

Luo Jiu stood with her back to Shang Qianye, hands clasped in a mudra, forming a massive Formation. But Shang Qianye could tell that the Malevolent Qi was beyond the control of Luo Jiu’s Formation.

A breach had appeared in the Heavenly Dao Brake’s Barrier.