Chapter 10
Xiao He shook his head, indicating that he didn't know when Elder Martial Brother would return. Qiao Wan stopped asking.
Xiao He was a beginner with low cultivation, waiting outside the cave, his face turning pale from the cold.
When Qiao Wan left, she wrapped herself in a cloak. Before leaving, she untied the cloak and suddenly exclaimed, "Who are you?! How did you appear here?!"
A cloak fell from the sky.
"Elder martial sister?!!"
Thinking there was an enemy attack, Xiao He hurriedly took off the cloak from his head, but Qiao Wan had already hopped onto her flying sword and disappeared.
The consequence of throwing the cloak to Xiao He was that Qiao Wan's hands and feet were frozen, causing her to almost stumble off the sword.
When she arrived at the side hall where Mu Xiaoxiao lived, Qiao Wan hurriedly put away her sword and stomped her feet.
But as she was about to enter the hall, she hesitated.
During her moment of hesitation, faint voices came from inside the hall.
A woman's voice.
Was that Mu Xiaoxiao?
Qiao Wan was surprised.
Did Mu Xiaoxiao wake up?
The woman's voice was gentle, as if afraid to disturb someone. The lingering tone gave a warm feeling.
"Master..."
This gentle voice now seemed panicked. After a while, it lowered and turned into rapid breathing and sobbing.
Qiao Wan was stunned and instinctively regulated her breathing. She retreated into the shadows, feeling overwhelmed.
With the fluctuating tone, she couldn't help but think more!
Thinking about the scene in the book where Mu Xiaoxiao was pressed against a wall, eyes wet, biting her lip stubbornly, looking soft and delicate, Qiao Wan froze.
Oh my goodness!
Could it be what she's thinking?!
Should she run now or be more cautious and find a suitable opportunity to escape?
For a moment, Qiao Wan was caught in a major dilemma of her life.
Inside the room, the girl had red eyes from crying, gasping for breath.
The candlelight reflected on Mu Xiaoxiao, making her look like a delicate rabbit, with slightly red eyes and glistening tears.
Her cheeks were smooth and fair, like a budding flower in early spring.
Thinking about the sweet scent on her lips, Zhou Yan's Adam's apple bobbed. His face was slightly embarrassed, and his breathing was a bit chaotic. Knowing that if he let it continue, he would make a mistake, Zhou Yan closed his eyes and calmed himself.
The young girl looked at him sadly, like a little hamster. She never expected her master to do such a thing.
Her master, who was usually as proud and aloof as a celestial being, had just...
Mu Xiaoxiao couldn't look away, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Xiaoxiao..." Zhou Yan opened his eyes, his voice deep and low. In his usually cold eyes, there was a hidden darkness.
Hidden in the shadows, unable to escape, Qiao Wan listened to the conversation from the corner of the wall. Her heart sank, feeling shocked and frustrated.
She couldn't listen any longer.
She had to leave. Qiao Wan made up her mind and started to retreat, holding her sword gently.
Her cultivation level was too low. Just as she took a step forward, Zhou Yan, who had just calmed down in the hall, sensed something wrong. He furrowed his brows and swiftly intercepted her sword, demanding, "Who is it?!"
After seeing the person in front of him clearly, Zhou Yan couldn't help but show surprise.
"Wan'er... it's you?" Qiao Wan looked at her master's handsome face and couldn't help feeling distressed.
It was a disaster.
The wind and snow covered Yuqing Peak, leaving only the light of the stars, shining upon everything.
Zhou Yan frowned and spoke sternly, "Why are you here?"
Unable to escape, Qiao Wan quickly composed herself, trying not to show any strangeness. She respectfully saluted with her sword, "Disciple has something to report to master."
"Report? Why are you here so late to report something?" Zhou Yan's face turned cold as he felt both surprised and angry.
After Mu Xiaoxiao woke up earlier, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotions. He forgot to pay attention to the surroundings. Now that he saw Qiao Wan, he couldn't help but worry about how much she had seen.
Qiao Wan said, "Disciple came to ask master for the Immortal Lotus Pill."
Only then did Zhou Yan suddenly remember. He had been busy healing Mu Xiaoxiao today and forgot about Qiao Wan's request.
Thinking about it, Zhou Yan furrowed his brows deeper. "I will have Xiao He deliver the medicine to you. But since you're asking for it, why hide in the shadows?"
"Did I teach you to do such a thing on a regular basis?!" Qiao Wan was now about 70-80% sure, just based on Zhou Yan's frightening expression.
No way... Qiao Wan was dumbfounded.
She never knew that her master would engage in a forbidden love relationship with his elder martial pupil.
In "Immortal Ascending Road," it didn't mention anything about this. However, the ambiguous relationship between Zhou Yan and Mu Xiaoxiao in the plot was indeed unclear.
Now that she had stumbled upon her master and elder martial sister playing a forbidden love game, Qiao Wan quickly lowered her head and didn't say much. "Disciple knows she made a mistake."
Zhou Yan remained silent, just staring at her.
Qiao Wan lowered her head even further, her palms sweating uncontrollably.
The wind howled on Yuqing Peak, but she felt as if she was in a furnace, sweating profusely and struggling to catch her breath.
Zhou Yan's gaze passed over her face.
Qiao Wan, with her head lowered and gripping her sword tightly, felt cold sweat trickling down her forehead. It was indeed unfair for her to be treated this way, considering she was his disciple. But ultimately, she knew she was at fault. In this suffocating silence, Zhou Yan finally spoke up, "Your sword."
Upon hearing Zhou Yan's words, Qiao Wan breathed a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, she unfastened her sword and handed it over to him, extending her palm towards him.
Zhou Yan took hold of the sword's sheath and struck it down heavily. The sound of the sheath hitting flesh echoed through the air.
Zhou Yan was known for being cold and meticulous. Normally, if she made a mistake, she would either be punished or put in confinement. Qiao Wan was shocked and obediently extended her hand, hoping Zhou Yan would end this and let the matter pass.
Revealing someone else's secret usually doesn't end well. The more secrets one knows, the shorter their life tends to be. Qiao Wan was well aware of this fact.
Furthermore, Qiao Wan knew exactly what Zhou Yan's action meant. He chose not to investigate further and only gave her a small punishment to let the matter go.
Yuqing Peak was naturally cold. Qiao Wan's fingers became stiff and unable to move. As the sheath fell, the palm of her hand quickly swelled up.
Her master, Yuqing Spiritual Master, was meticulous to the point that he would only strike her palm about fifteen times. But each of those fifteen strikes was unbearable.
Her palm soon lost all feeling and started to bleed. The blood congealed as soon as it was touched by the cold wind.
As Qiao Wan watched the sheath rise and fall, she silently counted in her heart.
Ten, eleven, twelve...
When she reached the thirteenth strike, the wind and snow suddenly intensified around her.
Before Qiao Wan could react, a tall and thin figure appeared in front of her.
The sheath struck the newcomer's slender arm before he had a chance to retract it.
Snap.
The young man furrowed his brows and released his grip without making a sound, but his feet remained in place.
In the chilling night, with the cold wind and bitter snow filling his lungs, Lu Pihan coughed weakly and lifted his eyelids. "Disciple pays respects to Master."
Qiao Wan was taken aback.
Elder Martial Brother?!
At the same time, Mu Xiaoxiao, who had been waiting for Zhou Yan's return, stepped out of the side hall and was startled by the scene in front of her.
Once the intense wind and snow settled down, she could clearly see the man in the midst of the harsh weather. A smile formed on her face like a little bird, and she happily called out, "Elder Martial Brother! You're back!"
Qiao Wan and Lu Pihan turned their heads towards the sound at the same time.
The author has something to say:
The master-disciple relationship seems to be quite interesting. Especially Zhou Yan and Mu Xiaoxiao.
What made you think that the monk was a muscular guy?!
Pay attention, "The monk is dignified and beautiful, with a hint of sharpness, like the glow on a thin red blade, revealing the charm. The monk is a strict and fierce beauty!"