Chapter 223: A Calculated Scheme (Part 2)
Ever since Qiao Wan left the cave and started moving around, many disciples in Kunshan had been paying attention to her actions, curious to see how she would react.
Even the Kunshan disciples who had previously looked down on her couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for her. After all, they were all disciples, and Yuqing Spiritual Master was showing too much favoritism.
But to everyone's surprise, Qiao Wan , as the center of attention, remained calm in her every move. The very next day, she even climbed Yuqing Peak and brought a jar of tea leaves for Zhou Yan .
This is what Zhou Yan said yesterday, saying that the tea is delicious and hoping to get some. Asking for tea is fake, but using it as an opportunity to ease the relationship between master and disciple is true.
Qiao Wan entered Yuqing Hall and casually placed the tea leaves on the table, looking towards the side hall. She calmly and politely said, "Spiritual master, I have brought the tea leaves you wanted."
After a while, a majestic and cold figure walked out of Yuqing Hall. Zhou Yan, wearing a simple robe, nodded slightly and his gaze landed on her face. "Thank you for going through the trouble to bring it. Have a seat and have a cup of tea."
Qiao Wan didn't object, drank a cup of tea, exchanged a few polite words, and then turned and left.
It was when she was leaving Yuqing Peak that she encountered Lu Pihan.
After blocking a few attacks for Mu Xiaoxiao, Lu Pihan seemed even thinner and weaker. His eyes were bruised and he looked as if he had lost weight.
Qiao Wan paused slightly and greeted him proactively, "Elder Martial Brother."
But her footsteps didn't stop.
Lu Pihan didn't show any expression on his face. He simply lowered his eyes and replied softly.
Then they passed by each other.
To others, it seemed like after this incident, Qiao Wan suddenly understood something and stopped causing trouble. Perhaps she had been trying to get the attention of her superiors before, but after this incident, she realized her position and obediently stayed in Kunshan.
In the following days, Qiao Wan ran to Yuqing Peak very diligently.
The relationship between master and disciple slowly returned to the previous state of being harmonious yet distant.
However, because of Qiao Wan's obedience, Zhou Yan felt a little uneasy. He wanted to make it up to her, but didn't know where to start.
When Qiao Wan stepped into a side hall of Yuqing Hall again, Zhou Yan had just woken up. He hadn't slept all night, his long hair was loose, and he was sitting by the window, lost in thought.
It wasn't until a calm voice of a young girl suddenly sounded at the door.
Qiao Wan approached and greeted the spiritual master.
Seeing her, Zhou Yan relaxed his furrowed brows and said, "Please have a seat."
Then followed a long period of silence.
The only sound around was the howling cold wind on Yuqing Peak.
Finally, Zhou Yan broke the deadlock, "Wan'er, how long have you been under my tutelage?"
After some thought, Qiao Wan answered, "Thirty-four years, six months, and three days."
Zhou Yan froze suddenly, his cold gaze fixed on her face, filled with indescribable emotions. After a while, he sighed, "It's impressive that you remember so clearly."
"I remember how you used to help me take care of my white hair when you first came up the mountain," Zhou Yan paused and lowered his eyes, "Would you be willing to help me comb my hair again, as my disciple?"
Just combing hair.
Zhou Yan's hair was smooth and sleek. Qiao Wan calmly took a comb from the table and stood behind the man.
The icy comb touched Zhou Yan's scalp, causing him to tense up for a moment before slowly relaxing. He closed his eyes to fully enjoy the gentle itchiness of the comb massaging his scalp.
It felt like there was a comb scratching gently and slowly in his heart, creating a slight itchiness.
When Qiao Wan first became his disciple, she was just like this. Back then, she was not tall and would stand on a stool to help him comb his hair.
Outside the palace, the snow was vast, but inside it was warm like spring with charcoal burning.
Although Qiao Wan herself thought it was extravagant to burn charcoal since cultivators could maintain their body temperature.
Putting aside these random thoughts, she focused and continued combing Zhou Yan's hair. As she watched the white hair fall from the comb, the atmosphere seemed to return to the warmth and closeness of the past.
However, this warmth and closeness was suddenly interrupted by another voice filled with disbelief.
Mu Xiaoxiao stood pale at the door and exclaimed, "Master... Teacher?!"
A pair of eyes stared at her face in disbelief, trying to hide their surprise. "Younger martial sister... it's you!"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked like she had just gotten out of bed. Qiao Wan hadn't seen her for a few days, and now she noticed that Mu Xiaoxiao's footsteps were unsteady. The left side of her face was swollen and there was a visible whip mark. She seemed to have lost her vitality and looked disheveled and pale.
When Precept Hall punished her, Mu Xiaoxiao had tried to dodge, but the whip landed squarely on her face.
Even with the best medicine from Xixia Peak, the swelling caused by Precept Hall's whip couldn't be alleviated easily. The main purpose was to set an example, similar to the ancient practice of tattooing as a punishment.
The expression on Mu Xiaoxiao's face resembled a person caught in the act. Qiao Wan's mouth twitched, and she instinctively put down the comb she was holding.
To her surprise, before she could speak, Zhou Yan frowned and spoke first. "Mu Xiaoxiao, what are you doing here?"
"I... I..." Qiao Wan stuttered as she looked at Zhou Yan and Mu Xiaoxiao , lost for words.
Qiao Wan didn't know what was happening between Zhou Yan and Mu Xiaoxiao , but Mu Xiaoxiao herself understood very well.
Her master... was disappointed in her.
After being brought back from Precept Hall, she was placed under house arrest by her master. Xiao Song was ordered to keep an eye on her, and she wasn't allowed to leave the residence without his permission. But just now she overheard Xiao Song mentioning that Qiao Wan had been going to Yuqing Peak these past few days.
She worried...
Now, seeing the hairpin in Qiao Wan's hand and thinking back to the intimate scene she had witnessed at the door, tears welled up in Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes. She stammered, "I... I just miss my master..."
However, Zhou Yan didn't react the same way as before. A hint of gentle expression appeared on his normally cold face.
Zhou Yan closed his eyes, not looking at her, and his voice was cold and stern. "Go back."
Mu Xiaoxiao was taken aback, her tears still lingering, caught in her eyes and unable to fall.
"Master...?"
Zhou Yan said, "Go back."
"Master?"
Mu Xiaoxiao had just taken a few steps forward when a chilling sword aura suddenly blocked her path.
Zhou Yan lowered his hand, still keeping his eyes closed. He said, "Leave!"
Mu Xiaoxiao froze and looked at Qiao Wan . Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, "Master... are you doing this for younger martial sister?"
Before she could finish speaking, another chilling sword aura grazed her swollen cheek.
"Leave! Are you not even going to listen to what I say?!"
Mu Xiaoxiao eyes turned red, and she stood still with cold hands and feet. Her swollen face felt a sharp, burning pain.
Seeing that she still didn't move, Zhou Yan no longer held back. He used a sword aura to forcefully push the young girl out of the room, leaving behind a closed door.
Staring at the closed door in front of her, Mu Xiaoxiao felt as if she had been slapped hard and splashed with cold water. She stood motionless.
Bang!
The palace gate closed heavily.
Only then did Zhou Yan tiredly open his eyes.
Before, Xiaoxiao was spoiled too much, which caused her to develop such a personality. Zhou Yan intentionally restricted her to temper her, but he didn't expect... Mu Xiaoxiao's behavior disappointed him so much.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yan couldn't help but take another glance at Qiao Wan in front of him.
The girl stood calmly with clear eyes.
She was smart, well-mannered, and resilient.
Comparing the two, it made them both seem so rare.
There was a brief silence, and Zhou Yan tiredly said, "Forget it, let's stop here."
These days, he often wondered if Qiao Wan really didn't care anymore.
But at this moment, he didn't want to think about anything anymore.
This is how it should be.
For him and Qiao Wan, to maintain this distant and polite relationship was already enough.
"I will discipline her, your elder martial sister." Zhou Yan hesitated for a moment before adding, "You don't need to worry about it."
"Alright." Qiao Wan calmly replied with a bow, "I will remember your advice."
This was what she wanted to do.
Qiao Wan thought expressionlessly, she finally figured out how to get closer to Zhou Yan during this time.
Adding icing on the cake is not as good as giving a helping hand in times of need, and Mu Xiaoxiao already knew how to act cute and adorable.
But what she could do was something that Mu Xiaoxiao couldn't. For example, helping Zhou Yan with his worries and comforting him, as he was physically and mentally exhausted. While it is beneficial for one's well-being to act cute and adorable, constantly taking care of the messes could even make a deity tired and fed up.
Compared to that, what most people value is practical benefits - someone who can be by their side to share responsibilities and hardships.
In the process, she would find a way to obtain the Evil Sword Book that her senior had instructed her to get.
