Chapter 127: Back into the Dream.
The atmosphere was extremely silent and awkward. Qiao Wan swallowed her spit and stuttered, trying to break the awkwardness a bit: "S-senior, I'm fine now."
After saying that, she anxiously waited for Miaofa's reaction.
Miaofa raised his head upon hearing her voice, glanced at Qiao Wan, and inexplicably closed his eyes again. "Let's go."
After saying that, he cleanly cut off the spiritual connection with a wave of his hand.
The plains, the sea, and the bodhi tree quickly receded. Qiao Wan's vision blurred, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself still in that dim and rundown little black room.
It's over.
There seemed to be a lingering scent of incense and blood in her mouth. After a moment of daze, Qiao Wan silently buried her head and bumped it against the wall.
Bang, bang, bang--
So embarrassing ORZ
Bang, bang, bang--
Thinking about the scenes in the dream world, Qiao Wan's face turned red. Although she had known Miaofa senior for a long time, and he was the one who patiently comforted her when she cried her eyes out with snot and tears, she had never thought about him in a romantic way.
Thinking about the majestic appearance and broad chest of the Buddha, Qiao Wan's mouth twitched.
It was mainly because of the divine solemnity! Who would have feelings for the Buddha!
However, just a moment ago, she shook her tongue and Miaofa's lips.
Qiao Wan closed her eyes in pain and continued to hit her head against the wall.
Bang, bang, bang -
After all, having exercised her body, she was tough, so it wasn't a big problem to bump into things.
While bumping, Qiao Wan continued to be conflicted.
To be honest, she didn't really care about losing her first kiss. Instead of being concerned about the first kiss, it was more like feeling embarrassed about how to face Miaofa in the future. Miaofa didn't actually intend to passionately kissed her, it was just the anger and impulse of the demonic force in her mind, wanting to chew and devour the fresh flesh and blood in front of her.
With this thought, a sense of guilt suddenly arose, and Qiao Wan silently held her head.
Just because she didn't care about it, doesn't mean Miaofa didn't care about it.
Maybe because Miaofa's Buddha light is too dazzling and his demeanor is too serious, he accidentally broke a rule. Qiao Wan was startled and felt guilty and overwhelmed.
After bumping her head, Qiao Wan lay on the bed, silently gazing at the stars.
Apart from the overwhelming guilt and pressure, whenever she recalls the scenes in the dreamland of her sea of consciousness, she feels a strange sensation rising within her.
Their chests pressed together, their lips intertwined.
Although Qiao Wan had read some adult books before crossing over, her only real experience was with Pei Chunzheng. Pei Chunzheng had never kissed her, except for that one time in the illusion of the Mudstone Secret Realm, when he gently pressed his lips against hers.
She realized that desire, just like hunger, makes men and women passionately entangled, uncontrollably craving to devour each other.
She had never experienced such intimacy and ambiguity before.
As Qiao Wan thought about this, her eyes dimmed and she suddenly felt a bit confused. She remained silent and tightly pursed her lips, feeling a subtle heaviness in her heart.
It wasn't solely because of Pei Chunzheng, but it wasn't unrelated to him either.
Mainly, she realized that she had been foolish in the past, a complete idiot.
Realizing this, Qiao Wan quickly shook her head, pushing aside these chaotic thoughts. She focused her mind and carefully reorganized herself.
The Venerable One felt no romantic feelings towards her. Since it didn't involve any romantic feelings, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Emotions and love only hindered her speed in wielding the sword!
After coming to this realization, Qiao Wan raised her hand and wiped away the blood oozing from her forehead. She closed her eyes again and entered a state of deep meditation. The next morning, she got everything in order and hurried to find Li Pan.
This time she used the bigger sword.
While the smaller sword was busy with the legal conference, Qiao Wan used a bit of her spiritual consciousness to bring the bigger sword back to Buping College.
In the academy, there was no need to hide anymore. Qiao Wan happily took out a butterfly-shaped hairpin and put it on her head. She walked into the "library" under the morning light.
A man was already sitting at the table, with a cup of tea in front of him and a book spread on the table.
Qiao Wan politely approached and greeted, "Senior."
Li Pan looked up and replied, "Please have a seat."
Seeing that Li Pan's cup of tea was almost empty, Qiao Wan picked up the teapot and refilled it before sitting down. She asked, "Senior, is there something you wanted to discuss with me?"
Li Pan raised his eyes and looked at Qiao Wan. "Is the Three Transitions Bodhi Pill still with you?"
Li Pan had come to ask her about progressing in her cultivation.
Since she had received the Three Transitions Bodhi Pill specially awarded by the Great Hall of Light, she should eat it quickly and focus on her practice.
Qiao Wan nodded quickly in response to the important matter and took out a small white bottle from her pocket.
Li Pan examined the small white bottle and asked, "Who do you want to give this medicine bottle to? Lu Cixian or Qiao Wan?"
After some hesitation, Qiao Wan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with Lu Cixian."
In order to continue on the path of cultivation during the Law Conference, one needs to be willing to invest.
Li Pan clearly agreed with her choice. "In that case, let's begin. I'll be here to look after things."
After swallowing the Three Transitions Bodhi Pill, Qiao Wan quickly sat cross-legged to digest it.
With the pill in her stomach, she didn't experience any adverse reactions. Instead, she felt a warm flow spreading from her dantian to her limbs, which was very comforting.
This warm flow is what "transforms" the cultivators' bodies.
Absorbing spiritual energy and discarding impurities is also a skill for cultivators. Most people consider natural-born geniuses to be those who have a natural affinity for spiritual energy and can absorb and digest it well.
The Three Transitions Bodhi Pill can enhance the absorption of spiritual energy for cultivators.
Qiao Wan calmed her mind and guided the warm energy to circulate through her body's meridians. With each pass, the exhaustion in her body seemed to be gently relieved. Her perception of the spiritual energy around her became more sensitive, and she consciously guided the thin spiritual energy in the air to enter her skin.
At that moment, Qiao Wan had a faint premonition.
She might be about to advance.
While Qiao Wan meditated, Li Pan calmly watched the young girl in front of him. She seemed a little off when she first arrived, but now her presence became even more profound. With a steady and grounded approach, step by step, she pursued her cultivation, which was quite impressive for someone her age.
It's very familiar.
As Li Pan watched, he thought to himself.
She resembled the man from his memories, who had a calm and composed demeanor, yet was ferocious in battle.
Building a foundation, breaking through.
Qiao Wan joyfully opened her eyes, "Senior! I've made a breakthrough!"
After the Cen family's one-day foundation building, there were no signs of any advancement in her. Now, she finally climbed to a small level, and Qiao Wan couldn't help but excitedly burst into laughter.
This advancement naturally happened effortlessly, like a piece of cake.
Li Pan raised the corners of his lips, his deep and pleasant voice spoke, "Congratulations."
Seeing Qiao Wan successfully advancing, Li Pan stood up and didn't plan to stay any longer. He specifically left Qiao Wan some time to digest it on her own. "I'll go check on the Green Waist group."
As Li Pan walked away, Qiao Wan closed her eyes and continued to digest the hot flow in her body, feeling energized.
But suddenly, a white mist began to rise before her eyes.
Qiao Wan was stunned for a moment.
Was she dreaming?
After a moment of confusion, Qiao Wan immediately found the reason.
It seemed that just after advancing, both her physical and mental state were in a state of excitement. Unconsciously, she came into contact with someone's dream.
Lifting her footsteps, Qiao Wan followed the white mist ahead.
The white mist gradually dispersed, revealing a faint silhouette of the dream owner.
As soon as she saw this silhouette, Qiao Wan stood frozen in place.
It was Zhou Yan.
She would definitely not mistake this silhouette.
This was Zhou Yan's dream.
In this dream, it was not Yuqing Peak or Kunshan. It was a small familiar-looking village situated at the foot of the mountain. The village had a moderate number of households, and because it was located within the prosperous mortal kingdom of Dongshang Country, the people in the village lived comfortably.
The man had disheveled white hair, silently gazing at a field. Under Zhou Yan's gaze, there was a skinny girl with yellow hair, vigorously wielding a rake to unearth sweet potatoes. Her movements were precise and clean, each thrust of the rake revealing a few large round sweet potatoes.
Qiao Wan, with yellow hair, squatted on the ground, picked up a sweet potato, cradled it in her arms, and walked over to Zhou Yan. She looked up at the immortal-like swordsman before her, dressed in pristine white attire.
Wasn't this him from her childhood?
Qiao Wan stared in surprise and disbelief.
She vaguely remembered this memory after her spiritual sense broke through the Yuan Ying. At that time, Zhou Yan was determined to take her as his disciple. To show her respect for this immortal master, Qiao Wan, with her blond hair, specially dug up two sweet potatoes from her own field and cooked them as a gift.
Qiao Wan held a few yams in her arms as she walked along the path in the field with Zhou Yan.
After all, Zhou Yan's spiritual sense was at the Dividing Body stage.
Qiao Wan was taken aback as she saw a man on the path suddenly turn around and shout, "Who is it?!"
Oh no.
Qiao Wan's heart skipped a beat and she quickly stepped back!
But it was too late, her gaze collided with Zhou Yan's.
In that instant, she clearly saw shock and disbelief in Zhou Yan's eyes. Within a moment, his expression changed to a hint of weariness.
Without thinking too much, Qiao Wan didn't dare to delay even for a second. Her heart pounding, she quickly retreated.
Opening her eyes, Qiao Wan felt a jumble of emotions.
Since the execution, Qiao Wan hasn't seen Zhou Yan. Why did she end up in Zhou Yan's dream?
What surprised her even more was that there was also a version of herself in Zhou Yan's dream, with her hair dyed yellow, waving a pitchfork and digging up potatoes.
Seeing Zhou Yan again, with his familiar and cold demeanor, Qiao Wan felt a pang in her nose, quickly blinked her eyes, regained her composure, and focused on her meditation, trying not to think too much.
But she couldn't calm her mind during the meditation. It had been a while since she had used the toilet, so Qiao Wan decided to continue her meditation while tending to her needs. She finished and left the study room.
At this time, Li Pan should be teaching Green Waist and the others. The area outside the door had been neglected, and weeds had grown.
Thinking about the scenes in the sea of consciousness dream, Qiao Wan decisively turned around and entered another thatch hut, grabbing a sickle on her way out.
Instead of daydreaming, it would be better to find something to do.
Before Zhou Yan took Qiao Wan to Kunshan, she lived alone and did things like farming and cleaning. Qiao Wan was proud to say that she was definitely skilled in these things! At that time, her dream was to be a frugal and diligent woman and marry Lu Tieniu from the village.
Rolling up her sleeves, Qiao Wan picked up a sickle and started cutting. After clearing the weeds and feeding the chickens and ducks, she busily enjoyed her work.
Suddenly, not far away, a disciple named Buping exclaimed.
"Venerable One, Venerable One!"
Qiao Wan raised her eyes.
She immediately saw a Buddhist monk wearing a jade-colored robe, emanating a radiant light. The monk walked towards her slowly, with a cold and solemn expression, like a blue lotus blooming in a forest of knives.
Qiao Wan: !!!
*
On Yuqing Peak.
The white-haired immortal slowly opened his eyes.
In her dream, that was Qiao Wan.
Zhou Yan sat in Yuqing Palace, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time, without uttering a word.
Until a light and melodious footsteps suddenly sounded, accompanied by a sweet female voice.
"Master."
Zhou Yan opened his eyes and saw his gentle and lovely disciple in front of him, Xiaoxiao.
Xiaoxiao blinked and looked at Zhou Yan with concern, hesitatingly asking, "Master, did you have a bad dream again?"
Ever since Martial Sister Qiao Wan left the sect, Zhou Yan often fell into a state of inner turmoil during meditation due to guilt.
Zhou Yan clearly didn't want to talk about it, so he nodded slightly and changed the subject. Xiaoxiao carefully approached him and knelt down, resting her head on his lap.
Zhou Yan tensed up slightly and let out a sigh, then gently rubbed the girl's head with his hand.
Meanwhile, in front of Yuqing Palace...
Pei Chunzheng spoke in a cold voice, "Is Yuqing Spiritual Master available?"
Xiao Song, the gatekeeper, already recognized the relationship between Pei Chunzheng and Elder Martial Sister Mu, and said with a cheerful smile, "Spiritual Master and Elder Martial Sister Mu are currently in the side hall. Do you need to find Spiritual Master for something, Senior Brother?"
Pei Chunzheng replied, "It's a matter concerning some fellow cultivators."
After Xao Song and I visited Xie, the young man picked up his pace and walked towards the side hall.
As we walked to the corridor, Pei Chunzheng's footsteps stopped abruptly, freezing in place.
The side hall door was not closed, and through the half-open door, we could clearly see what was inside.
The young girl rested her head on Zhou Yan's knee.
Their clothes intertwined.
They were intimately close.
Maybe because we were in Yuqing Palace, Zhou Yan didn't release his mental guard.
Realizing this, Pei Chunzheng tightened his grip on Snow Fright Sword and walked out of the side hall.
Xiaoxiao.
There was a subtle undercurrent between Mu Xiaoxiao and Zhou Yan, an almost imperceptible affection between them. He could vaguely sense it.
But as he watched this scene before him, there was no envy or jealousy as he had imagined. Pei Chunzheng didn't know why, but he suddenly thought of Qiao Wan.
When he spent time with Qiao Wan, what he saw most often was the girl with a poker face, wiping away her nosebleed and continuing on.
Qiao Wan was not one to be spoiled. Putting aside her fearlessness, she was actually quite ordinary, not much different from countless other girls in this world. Superficially, she liked attractive appearances, the fine fabrics and pretty accessories. When he was with her, she was so ordinary that he never had any other thoughts.
When it came to interacting with people, she wasn't particularly shrewd, but she was sincere. He often saw her blush a little and shyly lower her head when they got closer, but her eyes would secretly sparkle with a smile.
At such times, Pei Chunzheng would step forward, tightly pursing his lips, silently holding her hand. It felt like he could hear the fervent beating of the girl's heart by his ear, yet he maintained a calm expression.
Thinking about this, Pei Chunzheng closed his eyes and reassured his heart. Xiaoxiao was his only light, he had made a vow.
As for Qiao Wan... Did he regret it?
In just a few years of being together, he didn't show Qiao Wan any of the usual closeness between a man and a woman. Every time she tried to take a step closer to him, he would coldly reject her.
He might...
The young boy's throat felt tight and dry.
He started to feel some regret.
