After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Started Pursuing My Master - Chapter 251

Chapter 251 Regression

Early in the morning.

Jiang Huai led Luo Qingyu, who was dressed in her clothes, back to the courtyard.

Wen Wanwan stayed in the yard to teach Wen Fufu swordsmanship and did not follow. Luo Qingyu wore a black cheongsam, her slender figure completely concealed within the dress. Luo Qingyu, at this moment, had shed some of her youthful naivety, her body seemingly becoming more supple and juicy.

Upon returning to the courtyard, Luo Qingyu cuddled into Luo Yueguan’s embrace. Luo Yueguan gently wrapped her arms around Luo Qingyu’s back, then reached out to pinch her cheek, her eyes smiling.

Luo Qingyu was really good at acting coquettishly, even Jiang Huai didn’t know where she learned it from, as if she was a natural. Back in the yard, Jiang Huai led Luo Qingyu to prune the flowers and plants, then went with her to the Tianxuan Sect’s trading street to buy ingredients for lunch and dinner.

Tonight, Luo Qingyu would sleep in Jiang Huai’s courtyard, so they wouldn’t go to Wen Wanwan’s place. Tomorrow, Jiang Huai would go to see Wen Wanwan again. This had all been arranged in advance by Luo Qingyu and Wen Wanwan. There were times when the sisters needed to present a united front, and times when they enjoyed each other’s exclusive company. Jiang Huai didn’t need to worry too much about it, which left him with mixed feelings.

For lunch, Jiang Huai was very particular about cooking. He prepared six dishes for four people, four with light flavors and two with stronger tastes, which Luo Yueguan preferred. When Luo Yueguan used to come to play in the courtyard, Jiang Huai would prepare the meals in the same way.

Despite no apparent change from the past, Luo Yueguan still gave Jiang Huai a deep look.

She couldn’t make a scene in public, so aside from giving Jiang Huai a deep look, she had no other choice. After lunch, Jiang Huai took Luo Qingyu for a leisurely stroll. Holding Luo Qingyu’s soft, slightly cool little hand, she walked with a spring in her step, fluttering like a butterfly.

The two of them walked and stopped, stealing kisses and hugs when no one was around. Eventually, they reached Lingxue Lake and chose a shady spot under a tree to quietly sit and fish. They were lucky today, each catching a fish. Carrying the fish home, Jiang Huai went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, with Luo Qingyu helping him by his side. They cooked one fish steamed and one boiled, along with some other dishes.

After dinner, Jiang Huai and Luo Qingyu went for a walk in the bamboo grove in the backyard. They had also visited the Ziyun Branch Pavilion during the day, where Jiang Huai bought a book of qin music, a new piece composed by a musician over the past two years. He played the qin in the bamboo grove, while Luo Qingyu, dressed in a black cheongsam, danced to the music, with the wind rustling through the bamboo.

Luo Qingyu’s body became more and more flexible.

When Jiang Huai stopped playing, Luo Qingyu cuddled up to him. In front of them was a small pot of bamboo leaf wine and some snacks. They sipped the wine in small mouthfuls. Occasionally, Luo Qingyu would lean in with wine in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, looking innocently at Jiang Huai. When Jiang Huai kissed her, some of the wine would inevitably spill from the corners of their mouths. It was just as well that they were going to bathe together soon.

Fortunately, when they went to the bathhouse, Chu Xianning seemed to have gone out for a walk with Luo Yueguan, otherwise Jiang Huai always felt a strange sense of embarrassment. He didn’t do anything with Luo Qingyu in the bathhouse; they just applied bubble flower dew to each other and soaked for a while before getting dressed and returning to the room. Luo Qingyu didn’t go to bed immediately but sat down on a chair.

Her innocent eyes blinked as she looked at Jiang Huai, her delicate toes wiggling. Then she reached out her hand, “Give me the flower dew, Brother Jiang Huai.”

“What for?” Jiang Huai asked, puzzled.

“It’s been a long time since I stepped on Brother Jiang Huai. Last night, Brother Jiang Huai even helped Sister Wen Wanwan punish Qingyu. Now it’s Qingyu’s turn to punish Brother Jiang Huai.”

“Hmm? How come I remember also helping Qingyu bully Wen Wanwan?”

“No matter, you bullied Qingyu too.” Luo Qingyu tilted her little face up slightly, then huffed and commanded, “Brother Jiang Huai, sit still and don’t move.”

Jiang Huai could only laugh and cry, but obediently sat down. Luo Qingyu had just bathed, and there were still some water droplets on her slender white legs. She stretched her delicate legs straight, then bent over slightly, pouring the flower dew on her instep, and then spread it evenly with Jiang Huai Jr., making sure even the gaps between her toes were fully covered.

“Who is better, Qingyu or Sister Wen Wanwan?”

“Of course, it’s Qingyu.”

“Hmph, if Sister Wen Wanwan asks Brother Jiang Huai when she’s alone, Brother Jiang Huai will definitely answer the same way.” Luo Qingyu’s eyes became more playful, her delicate feet gently coming together, her soles as smooth and creamy as milk.

…

Early in the morning.

Luo Qingyu, as Jiang Huai expected, refused to get out of bed, insisting on hugging the quilt and sleeping soundly, even a couple of spanks on her little bottom did no good. This was after she had taken care of Jiang Huai twice with her tender little feet the night before. In the end, she didn’t even have the strength to take off the black silk stockings she had put on, and it was Jiang Huai who picked her up and placed her in the tub to wipe her body, as she was almost falling asleep.

Jiang Huai tucked Luo Qingyu in and stepped out. Chu Xianning was already up, and he went to prepare breakfast, but Luo Yueguan was still asleep, so he brought two bowls of noodles to Chu Xianning first, placing both bowls on the table. Jiang Huai ate his noodles heartily, and after filling his stomach, he rubbed his belly and looked up to see that Chu Xianning’s bowl was still half full. She put down her chopsticks and dumped the remaining noodles into his bowl.

“Eat up.”

Jiang Huai obediently finished them all and put down his chopsticks.

Today, Chu Xianning was still dressed in a white gown. Her fairy-like master favored plain colors, almost all of her clothes were either black or white. She looked ethereal and gentle in a white dress, like a white flower, and not overly seductive in a black dress. The black dress contrasted with her pale skin, making her seem even more untainted by the world.

Chu Xianning didn’t speak, just silently walked to the pavilion. Jiang Huai had nothing better to do, so he followed her to the pavilion and set up the Go board. This time, Chu Xianning let him off a bit, and the game went quickly. The two of them played a close match, which meant Chu Xianning was in a good mood. Otherwise, if she played seriously, Jiang Huai had no chance of winning.

Unless he cheated, but that would be no fun.

Neither spoke during the game, but Jiang Huai hesitated several times.

Chu Xianning didn’t speak either, but she seemed to notice his hesitation and just waited silently.

After three games, Luo Yueguan still hadn’t woken up. Jiang Huai suspected whether Luo Yueguan had secretly peeked again last night. Then he thought his idea was strange; maybe she hadn’t?

He looked up again at Chu Xianning’s pale cheeks, and she just looked back at him calmly.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Jiang Huai hesitated once more.

Chu Xianning began to collect the Go pieces, seemingly ready to go out for a walk. Jiang Huai thought for a moment and then spoke up, “I have something to say.”

“If you don’t want to say it, you don’t have to.”

“It’s not that. I just don’t know if Master wants to hear it… If Master wants to hear it, I’ll say it.”

“What is it?”

“About Luo Yueguan.”

“Speak, I’m listening.”

“Could you promise not to hit me after you hear it?” Jiang Huai shrank his head a little.

“I can’t promise that.”

Chu Xianning shook her head, “But you don’t have to say it.”

“I’ll say it anyway.” Jiang Huai sighed lightly, gathered his thoughts, and slowly began.

“Starting with the trip to Qingxuan Sect with Wen Wanwan…”

Jiang Huai had seriously considered this two days ago. He felt it was necessary to tell Chu Xianning about it, so he told her almost everything that had happened recently, glossing over the more intimate details, but not hiding them. After finishing, he scratched his head, “That’s about it.”

He dared to say “about” because the most excessive thing he had done was to kiss Luo Yueguan voluntarily. If he had initiated the intimate moment by the bath, he wouldn’t dare mention it even if he had ten times the courage.

He was a bit afraid to look into Chu Xianning’s eyes, but when she spoke, he still looked up.

“Do you like her?” Chu Xianning asked softly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. There was no anger, just deep eyes that Jiang Huai couldn’t see clearly.

“I can’t say for sure. At first, I swore I didn’t want anything to happen with her… but it seems like even I’m gradually getting caught up…” Jiang Huai bowed his head slightly.

Although confessing felt like he was about to be beheaded, the heavy stone in his heart had finally fallen. He confessed these things to Chu Xianning because he wanted advice from her.

He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t discuss this with Wen Wanwan or Luo Qingyu; he could only turn to Chu Xianning. He knew that Chu Xianning truly considered Luo Yueguan a friend and that she understood Luo Yueguan better than anyone in this world.

“Do you think she likes you?” Chu Xianning asked softly.

“There might be some… but how much… I can’t say… I always feel like she likes me, maybe just to fill some void in her heart… but I can’t be the one who truly changes her… The more I think about it, the more confused I get, Master… did I do something wrong again?” Jiang Huai looked down dejectedly.

Chu Xianning’s expression was blank, but after a moment, she stepped on Jiang Huai’s foot with the tip of her crystal high heels, causing him to howl in pain.

“Don’t think that by showing such a repentant look, you’re innocent. If you had been indifferent to all her temptations from the start, things wouldn’t have developed to this point.”

“I admit my guilt.” Jiang Huai bowed his head obediently, admitting his guilt and accepting his punishment sincerely.

“What’s your purpose in telling me all this?” Chu Xianning’s fingertips gently pinched a Go piece, flipping it over in her hand, her voice cold and distant.

“I want some advice from Master… and I feel that I should tell Master about this… I can’t figure it out myself, I want to hear Master’s thoughts…”

“If you want my advice, I can only give you one kind. If you feel sorry for Luo Yueguan being all alone and want to help her out of pity, I won’t stop you. Maybe you can do it, or maybe you’ll suffer enough for your arrogant pity, and that’s your own doing.

Sometimes I think she’s naive, but she’s only like that in front of people she’s close to. It’s not her fault. She had a hard life in the past, so she’s full of resentment. Since you promised to be by her side and figure things out, then do what you promised.”

“But,” Chu Xianning’s voice became truly cold at this point, “when she tries to seduce you with her body to feel secure, you must not do anything you shouldn’t do to her, otherwise you’re just taking advantage of her, satisfying your own desires with her trust and dependence. What you do is up to you. If you want to indulge in your desires with her, I can’t control you.”

Jiang Huai listened seriously, pondered for a while, then looked up and nodded lightly, “I understand, thank you, Master.”

Chu Xianning looked at the Go pieces on the board, then said nothing more, just silently playing with the smooth jade pieces. After a while, Jiang Huai scratched his head and tentatively asked, “Master, don’t you have anything else… to say?”

“No.” Chu Xianning answered coldly.

“Just… that’s it?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

Chu Xianning looked at him calmly, “You never needed me to teach you anything. There are no absolutely right choices in this world. You can only choose a path you think is right and go forward without looking back. Once you’re sure, don’t turn back.”

“I know Luo Yueguan well enough. Her liking for you is like a drowning person clutching at a straw, but if one day she figures it out, she will let go on her own. No matter what, she has lived for six hundred years, and she understands many things better than I do. I’m not as good as her.”

“Master, aren’t you worried at all that I’ll be so enchanted by her that I’ll end up wagging my tail at her every day?”

“If you really liked her that much, you wouldn’t be discussing this with me.” Chu Xianning effortlessly guessed all of Jiang Huai’s careful thoughts, leaving him with no choice but to smile bitterly and nod.

After a moment, he added, “I have one last question.”

Chu Xianning looked at Jiang Huai with a calm and careful gaze.

“Master… are you angry now?”

“What do you think?”

“I wouldn’t dare to guess.”

“You’ve guessed it right.” Chu Xianning took out a section of the Snake Bone Whip, pointing towards the locust tree by the door.

Jiang Huai understood, stood up silently, and positioned himself with his back to the locust tree, allowing Chu Xianning’s whip to fall on his back. The pain made him grimace, but he tried hard not to make any sound.

“Do you know why I’m hitting you?” Chu Xianning’s voice was cold as ice.

“Master is not hitting me to vent her own anger, but to make me remember the words she has said, to learn a lesson.”

“Shall I continue?” Chu Xianning asked indifferently.

“Two more lashes, please. I’ve understood, Master.”

Chu Xianning swung the Snake Bone Whip expressionlessly. She didn’t hit hard, just enough to make Jiang Huai feel the pain without actually injuring him. After three lashes, she put away the whip, but at that moment, Luo Yueguan’s room door opened, and she looked in astonishment at Jiang Huai and Chu Xianning in the courtyard, “What are you doing? Chu Xianning… you!”

Chu Xianning looked at her calmly and put away the whip, “I’m disciplining my disciple, it’s none of your business.”

She wouldn’t tell Luo Yueguan about what Jiang Huai had said to her, nor would she advise Luo Yueguan on what to do. Everything was her own choice, and she had always been just an observer, choosing to remain silent, which was equivalent to leaving Luo Yueguan with some dignity.

Luo Yueguan had already hurried over, looking at Jiang Huai with concern. Jiang Huai waved his hand, “I’m fine, Master didn’t hit hard.”

“Then why did she hit you?”

“It’s really nothing, a Master doesn’t need a reason to discipline a disciple.” Jiang Huai also tacitly did not mention the conversation he had just had with Chu Xianning.

He saw the concern in Luo Yueguan’s eyes, shook his head lightly, “Really, it’s nothing. Sit for a while, I’ll go cook noodles for you.”

His voice was very gentle, without any hint of perfunctory politeness. When Luo Yueguan looked into his eyes, she found his expression both strange and familiar.

It was as if time had reversed back to April, when he brought Luo Qingyu back to the Qingxuan Sect to cure her Ice Soul Profound Body poison.