The Thousand-Layer Schemes of the Sickly Beautiful Master - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

After resting for a few days, Qing Zhuxue and Ruan Mingzhu attended the smallest disciple acceptance ceremony in the history of Taichu Realm.

Qing Zhuxue, needless to say, became Yun Shuchen’s disciple amid the Sect Leader’s sighs. Ruan Mingzhu, after being persuaded by Yun Shuchen and causing a fuss for a few days, noticed that Elder Zhong’s peak also had attractive senior brothers and sisters. Elder Zhong was fairly kind, so her heart gradually leaned that way, soon forgetting about Crane Feather Peak.

Today’s sunset was pale purple, gentle and calm. From a distance, the mountains were faint, and flying birds left a few distant ink-like dots in the vast sky.

Yun Shuchen, for once, did not ride the wind but slowed her pace, strolling with Qing Zhuxue on Crane Feather Peak to relax.

This newly accepted disciple—not exactly new anymore—stood beside her, already able to match her shoulder-to-shoulder.

“During the inner sect competition a few days ago, I noticed your realm seemed to waver?” Yun Shuchen said. “Are you close to breaking through to the Golden Core stage?”

“Hmm.”

“Golden Core stage.” Yun Shuchen sighed. “Eighteen years old.”

“Truly enviable.”

As she spoke, the sunset glowed on her profile, casting a soft halo. Her beautiful eyes, like autumn water and misty clouds, rested on Qing Zhuxue.

Qing Zhuxue looked at her and suddenly recalled Ruan Mingzhu’s nonsense about “Isn’t Elder Yun very beautiful?” or something like that. Unfortunately, Ruan Mingzhu clearly didn’t look closely enough, at least not as closely as Qing Zhuxue.

She had a lot to say about this topic, but for some reason—she didn’t really want to share it with Ruan Mingzhu.

Snapping back to reality, she brushed aside this strange emotion, like tea froth left in a teacup, lightly swept away.

“Master.”

“Hmm?” Yun Shuchen had already turned her gaze away, squinting at the faint red sun in the distance.

Qing Zhuxue said softly, “Nothing, just calling you.”

The room was filled with the scent of medicine. Qing Zhuxue returned with Yun Shuchen today and had no time to brew the medicine. Ah Jin dutifully took care of this task.

Yun Shuchen went to bathe.

As usual, Qing Zhuxue placed the medicine on the table, letting it cool to a mild warmth, then brought a candied fruit and carried the bowl to her.

As she was leaving, a little cat bit her hem. Qing Zhuxue looked down and heard it say, “Congratulations.”

Her lips curved slightly, and she hummed in response.

Yun Shuchen wore thin undergarments, her hair loose with slightly damp tips. She lazily leaned against the bed, holding a glossy grape, slowly peeling it.

The window wasn’t fully closed, letting in a cool breeze. She covered her mouth and coughed a few times. Qing Zhuxue quietly placed the medicine bowl beside her. “Master.”

Yun Shuchen looked up, her eyes asking what was the matter.

“You’ve been coughing for so many years.” Qing Zhuxue frowned. “You’ve taken medicine for so many years. Can’t Elder Liu cure this illness?”

“It’s just a weak constitution,” Yun Shuchen said, unconcerned. “No big deal, I won’t die from it.”

Won’t die from it?

“But you could live more comfortably.”

Yun Shuchen didn’t seem eager to continue this topic. She yawned and beckoned with her finger. “Come closer.”

As Qing Zhuxue leaned forward, a peeled grape was popped into her mouth, sweetening it.

Yun Shuchen wiped her hands with a cloth. “Tomorrow, I’ll teach you a new technique to prepare for forming your core. Rest well today. Go back.”

In the morning, birds chirped outside the window. Yun Shuchen had just woken up when she heard a few sword hums outside. She was used to days like this.

She always kept the window open for fresh air and to admire her disciple’s sword dance.

White robes fluttered, a pleasing sight.

Qing Zhuxue liked wearing white because she preferred understated elegance. Taichu Realm disciples’ attire was mainly white, so it didn’t stand out.

Besides, she was naturally clean. White clothes showed dirt easily, so any dust could be cleaned promptly. Unless it was a special occasion, Qing Zhuxue was always fresh and spotless.

Her sword pierced through plum blossoms, and when she twirled it, she had a woman’s grace and a swordsman’s flair. Over the years, she had begun to grasp the way of the sword.

It was clear today, lacking snow, missing some charm. Yun Shuchen leaned by the window, chin in hand, watching her thoughtfully.

When Qing Zhuxue finished her stance and accidentally glimpsed her, her sword tip lowered, standing poised in place.

“Master?” She took two steps toward the window. “It’s cold outside today. If you come out, wear more.”

“Is it?” Yun Shuchen waved her over. “Come in and cultivate.”

When Qing Zhuxue entered, she removed her outer robe, still carrying a trace of chill, and hung it on a rack.

“Yes,” she said, sitting on a stool. “What technique?”

Yun Shuchen counted a few books on the shelf, pulled them out, and placed them in Qing Zhuxue’s hands. Her fingers moved right, pulling out a few more.

Qing Zhuxue felt her arms grow heavier until half the shelf was empty.

Yun Shuchen turned, leisurely looking at her. “Pick one?”

“…”

“No matter.” Yun Shuchen casually grabbed one. “You’ll learn them all anyway.”

Qing Zhuxue caught a hint of teasing in her casual words. Yun Shuchen sat cross-legged on the bed and said softly, “Come here.”

Qing Zhuxue carefully climbed onto the bed. The bead curtain fell, and the two figures sat facing each other, looking hazy and graceful from outside.

Qing Zhuxue was a bit surprised. She always thought Yun Shuchen cared deeply about this bed—at least, no one else was allowed on it.

“A few times, I saw you mimic my meditation,” Yun Shuchen said with a slight smile. “A little one, acting all proper, but secretly circulating energy in a mess.”

That was years ago.

When she brought it up, Qing Zhuxue’s calm expression finally wavered.

“But you’re clever enough. At least you got it going.”

Yun Shuchen took her hand. Since starting cultivation, her body was colder than most, likely due to her ice spirit root, which made her less warm and lively.

“Embrace the origin, guard the one.”

Qing Zhuxue closed her eyes. Though she had lived on Crane Feather Peak for years, her past cultivation was self-taught, stumbling into the late Foundation Establishment stage.

With her master guiding her, it was different.

Her inner spiritual energy surged, stirred by an external force, like a great river rushing. Unable to control it, Yun Shuchen steadied her, taming the chaos into order, guiding each stream to its path in her meridians.

Qing Zhuxue kept her eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed. Sweat beaded on her forehead. The process brought some swelling pain, but it was bearable.

Yun Shuchen seemed at ease, not even closing her eyes to block distractions. One hand lightly rested on her disciple’s wrist, balancing the clashing spiritual energy, while casually watching her face.

When not teasing her little disciple, she was gentle. Seeing a trace of pain on her face, she slowed down slightly.

A day and night passed quietly in this unchanging position.

Qing Zhuxue focused, enduring the slight but nagging pain, until she let out a long breath at the end. Exhausted, she leaned forward unconsciously, but a hand stopped her forehead—preventing her from collapsing onto Yun Shuchen.

“Tired?”

Qing Zhuxue weakly hummed.

“With practice, circulating energy on your own won’t hurt.”

Before she finished speaking, her disciple said nothing more. The girl resting her forehead in her hand quietly lowered her lashes, motionless, breathing evenly.

She had fallen asleep.

In this obviously uncomfortable position.

Just as Yun Shuchen marveled at how young people could sleep, she realized a day and night had passed. For her, it was nothing, but for this frail Foundation Establishment cultivator, such long, sleepless cultivation was clearly too much.

But her master’s hand was getting sore.

Yun Shuchen admired her disciple’s ethereal, jade-like sleeping face for a moment, then switched from holding her forehead to cupping her chin, pinching it lightly. “Don’t sleep.”

Qing Zhuxue frowned, glancing at her hazily, seemingly unaware of how odd this position was. Seeing it was Yun Shuchen, she murmured “Master” and fell back asleep, completely at ease.

Yun Shuchen raised a brow, tilted her body, and suddenly pulled her hand away. Losing balance, Qing Zhuxue nearly fell forward but, thanks to years of sword practice, her core strength pulled her back.

She sat upright, cross-legged on the bed, looking confused.

“Master?”

Yun Shuchen brushed the hair by her ear, leaned back softly, and glanced at her. “Not leaving? Want to sleep with me?”

Qing Zhuxue coughed lightly, clearly embarrassed by falling asleep so abruptly. Hearing this, she thought for a moment. “Can I?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

She couldn’t quite say if she felt regret or not but obediently returned. The scare had chased away her sleepiness, and she couldn’t fall asleep for a while.

Following her habit of keeping a good routine, she still lay in bed. When sleep wouldn’t come, and she forced herself to rest, her thoughts wandered, becoming more active.

She recalled the competition, with swords and blades flashing, when she froze two of Ruan Mingzhu’s carvings. If they were ordinary carvings, they surely wouldn’t have survived.

She remembered a book she once read, probably from Yun Shuchen’s shelf, ‘Introduction to Common Plants of Taichu Realm’. It mentioned something that could revive low-intelligence birds and beasts.

If it was a herb, that would be easy. Elder Liu’s peak had all sorts of strange herbs.

But why would Elder Liu give it to her?

Qing Zhuxue’s head ached. Spiritual plants with such effects were usually valuable.

After much thought, she had two options: either offer herself for Elder Liu’s experiments or ask her master…

For such a matter, better not trouble her. The thought flickered briefly before being snuffed out.