After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Started Pursuing My Master - Chapter 313

Chapter 313 A Tinge of Guilt

“And that’s it? After the mermaid turned into foam, is that where the story ends?”

Mu Yao lay in bed, her eyes wide open, looking at Jiang Huai sitting beside her. All her sleepiness had gradually dissipated at this moment. Jiang Huai had told a fantastical story about a mermaid from the deep sea and a prince from an ordinary country. In the end, the mermaid gave up on killing the prince and turned into colorful foam under the sunlight.

“That’s where it ends,” Jiang Huai replied softly after taking a sip of tea from the cup on the table.

He couldn’t be bothered to think of a new story. The tale of the sea’s daughter had become his formula for lulling to sleep.

“Why?!”

“Why what?”

“Why can’t people who love each other end up together?!”

Mu Yao’s voice was full of reproach towards Jiang Huai, but he just looked at her innocently, “There are always many things in the world that don’t go as people wish.”

Mu Yao clenched the blanket, her shoulders trembling slightly with anger, but Jiang Huai still looked innocent, as if he didn’t feel the slightest sadness for the mermaid in the story. Of course, the person who writes the story is always so heartless.

She suddenly believed that Jiang Huai was Ah Mumu, but what of it?

“You should sleep,” Jiang Huai said to her softly.

“You tell me such a story and yet you expect me to fall asleep quickly?”

“I couldn’t think of a good story on the spot. I’ve told this story many times, and it’s easy not to make mistakes when repeating it.”

“Have you told this story to many women?”

“Yeah, by the time I told it to you, it was probably the fourth or fifth time.”

Mu Yao threw off the blanket and suddenly sat up in bed, leaning on the edge. She brushed the hair from her cheeks behind her ears, her eyes seriously looking at Jiang Huai, her delicate lips pouting slightly, “I don’t want to hear a story that others have heard. I want a story that belongs only to me.”

“There aren’t any left,” Jiang Huai shook his head.

“It’s not that there aren’t any, you just don’t want to tell me.”

“Yes,” Jiang Huai nodded, still looking innocent.

He didn’t owe Mu Yao anything. It was just that he had been bored and annoyed by Mu Yao earlier, so he had come back to the courtyard to vent his anger by beating her up. At this moment, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt or remorse, just innocently looking into her eyes.

In a way, Jiang Huai Jr. was also someone who enjoyed teasing.

Seeing Mu Yao’s infuriated expression, it was as if he could hear the little devil in his heart snickering. But soon he reined in his mischievous thoughts and said innocently, “Even if you don’t sleep, I should go back.”

“You… you can’t go.”

Before Jiang Huai could decide to stay, Mu Yao reached out and gently grasped the hem of his clothes. But this time, her tone was not commanding but more like a coquettish plea. However, this time Jiang Huai was not as gentle as before and asked, “What should I stay for?”

“You can do whatever you want… I… am okay with it.”

As she said this, Mu Yao leaned forward slightly, and the neckline of her dress slipped down a bit, revealing a small patch of snow-white soft flesh between her breasts. But Jiang Huai remained unmoved, as if he saw nothing, and shook his head lightly, “I don’t have anything I want to do.”

“Am I not pretty enough?”

When some girls say this, there might be a sense of self-degradation, but Mu Yao was an exception. She was indeed particularly beautiful, inheriting her mother Mu Lingwan’s beauty, and her father was also a famously handsome man. The girl in front of him had a delicate face, exquisite features, and a graceful figure. Although slender, her body still had soft and curvy lines where it mattered. Now she was wearing a thin white camisole nightgown, and her slender legs beneath the hem, with her small feet peeking out, were slightly pinkish.

Although her demeanor was still somewhat youthful and her body not fully matured, she had the air of a white jasmine.

Her skin was fair, as smooth as milk, and her whole body seemed to emit a faint fragrance. But Jiang Huai just blinked innocently, “So what if you are?”

“Then why aren’t you moved?”

“There are so many beautiful women in this world. If I were to be moved by every one I see, I would have been tormented to death by greed long ago.” Jiang Huai had already stood up and slowly pried her fingers off the hem of his clothes.

“My mother is Mu Lingwan, and my father is the Go Saint.”

“So what?” Jiang Huai looked at her helplessly.

“If you’re nice to me, they will be nice to you too. From then on, you can have whatever you want in the Eastern Region…”

Jiang Huai laughed wryly and shook his head, “I don’t care, and I don’t need it.”

“You don’t care? Why don’t you care?”

“Why should I care?” Jiang Huai’s gaze towards her now carried a hint of pity.

This bit of pity nearly drove Mu Yao mad. She began to feel an indescribable anger, so frustrated she wanted to tear her hair out. The pity in those eyes was so… detestable, making her want to pounce on Jiang Huai and bite off his neck, or gouge out his eyes and swallow them.

“You speak so lightly, as if you’re the only sober person in a world of drunkards. You don’t care? Do you know how many people envy, how many people try to ingratiate themselves with my parents, and yet my parents never deign to give them a glance. You, you… why don’t you care?”

Jiang Huai watched as Mu Yao’s breathing became more intense along with the rise and fall of her chest, but instead, he reached out and rubbed her head, saying, “Do you know? Even the smartest person, once they get angry, the words they say tend to sound a bit stupid.”

“Everyone lives for different purposes. Some want immortality, some want fame and fortune, some want power and influence. I don’t think I’m any better than them. On the contrary, I’m much weaker than them. Because of my laziness, I don’t want much, just a simple life. I want to spend every day with someone I like, fighting against the boredom of the past.”

“What they care about, I just don’t care about, and what I care about, maybe they don’t care about either. There’s never been a distinction between high and low, noble and humble.” Jiang Huai’s palm still rested on Mu Yao’s head, and he suddenly felt like he was petting a cheeky cat.

Alright, he did think Mu Yao was a bit like a cheeky cat.

Mu Yao just snorted coldly, “Don’t care? You don’t care about fame, then why did you come to this Eastern Region competition?”

“Because the spots for the Five Domains Grand Competition are obtained from the top five in the Eastern Region competition. I want to be in the top five, then participate in the Five Domains Grand Competition, and get the leaf from the Tree of Life to treat my master’s old injury.”

After a moment, Jiang Huai shook his head again, “Never mind, it seems I can’t make it clear to you.”

“It’s not that you can’t make it clear, you just don’t want to talk to me…”

“Why talk so much when reason doesn’t prevail?”

Mu Yao took a deep breath, and this time it wasn’t Jiang Huai prying her fingers off his clothes again and again, but she voluntarily let go of his robe and pointed to the door, “Jiang Huai, I’ll give you two choices.”

Her eyes began to redden inexplicably.

“Go ahead.”

“Stay with me tonight.”

“And the second option?”

“Get out!! Leave now!”

“Alright then.” Jiang Huai turned and left the room, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

But after a few steps, Jiang Huai faintly heard the sound of Mu Yao smashing things and breaking dishes. He hurriedly quickened his pace. Indeed, it’s best not to provoke such a hot-tempered young lady.

Women are so scary.

…

Returning to the front of the courtyard, Jiang Huai paused for a moment.

Because at this moment, under the tree in his courtyard, Xu Qing, dressed in a jade-white cheongsam, stood there. The light of the evening glow filtered through the leaves and fell on her cheeks. When she heard footsteps, she turned her head, and Jiang Huai curiously asked her, “What are you doing here?”

The cheongsam she wore was elegant and warm, outlining her figure just right without appearing vulgar. Her temperament was naturally serene, like a lotus flower emerging from the water. Paired with the magnolia flowers embroidered on the cheongsam, it was hard to tell who complemented whom.

“A few days ago, I was idle at Qingmu Immortal Palace, and my mother taught me to make sachets… I made a couple extra by hand…”

Xu Qing’s voice was no longer as shy as before, and she finally dared to look him in the eyes, her voice still soft and gentle, “Take a look and see if you like it. If you do, keep one… if not, I’ll keep it…”

“May I see?”

Xu Qing suddenly took out several sachets, each embroidered with different floral patterns, very delicate embroidery. Each sachet had a distinct fragrance, and Xu Qing patiently explained to Jiang Huai what spices she had put in each one. Jiang Huai sniffed each one closely and finally chose a dark blue sachet.

“Since you’re here, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”

“Mm-hmm.” Xu Qing nodded lightly and followed him into the house. Walking beside her, Jiang Huai noticed she was wearing a pair of jade-white high heels, which made her appear even taller. Her waist was straight, and her posture was light and graceful as she walked. Her black hair was coiled behind her head, secured with a wooden hairpin.

Jiang Huai suddenly remembered the time he had drunkenly walked with his arm around Xu Qing’s waist… Fortunately, he was now mostly sober and wouldn’t act like before.

“Have you been drinking again?” Xu Qing seemed to smell the faint scent of alcohol on him and asked softly.

“I had a few drinks with Qingmu True Person and the Go Saint. Mu Yao was there too. I just came back from her place.”

“Oh, do you want some more?”

Jiang Huai’s face instantly became guarded, “You know, I’m never quite myself when I’m drunk.”

Xu Qing looked at him innocently, “I know.”

“Then why do you ask?”

“I’m not afraid.” Xu Qing tilted her head up slightly, a playful smile seemed to linger at the corners of her tender lips.

Jiang Huai also began to smile, “Then let’s not drink anymore. If I drink again, my head will start to hurt.”

“Hmm? Does it hurt now?”

“It’s starting to a little bit, probably because it’s too cold on a snow-melting day.” Jiang Huai sat down on a chair, while Xu Qing had already started to make tea. She had prepared both wine and tea when she came, but now she didn’t take out the wine anymore. After preparing the tea, she stood up, brought the tea over to Jiang Huai, and then moved behind him.

“Sit up straight, I’ll rub your head for you,” Xu Qing said softly, bending over slightly near his ear.

Jiang Huai felt a bit awkward but still instinctively sat up straight. Xu Qing gently cradled his head, her fingertips were light, and her movements were as gentle as possible. Jiang Huai’s headache soon eased. Suddenly, he remembered something and said, “Do you remember what I told you before? If you want to open your acupoints, remember to tell me anytime.”

“I remember,” Xu Qing replied softly while gently massaging his head.

“Do you want to do it now? We’ll be going back to our homes in a few days, and it might be months before we see each other again.”

Xu Qing’s hands trembled slightly, and her voice seemed to carry a hint of melancholy, but she still shook her head gently, “Mm, let’s wait for later then.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because Mu Yao said… it involves taking off clothes and applying medicinal liquids…”

“You don’t have to strip completely, just changing into a thin dress would be fine. Is it because you’re shy?”

“It’s not entirely that…”

Xu Qing’s fingertips gently pinched Jiang Huai’s earlobe and whispered, “If you liked me, it probably wouldn’t matter, right? But if you don’t, having you see my body would make our interactions feel strange afterward.”

Jiang Huai was stunned for a moment before he softly replied, “That makes sense. We’ll do as you wish.”

Xu Qing bent over slightly, and Jiang Huai’s head was gently cradled back by her. He seemed to realize that the back of his head was unintentionally resting against the girl’s soft and warm chest. Xu Qing’s fingertips gently stroked his cheek, tickling him slightly, and she whispered, “But if want to open my acupoints for me, I would agree.”

“But after what we just said, it’s like I’m asking you to take off your dress for me to see…” Jiang Huai said with a sigh.

“Isn’t that the case?”

Xu Qing rested her chin gently on his forehead, her slender fingers, slightly moist, gently pinched his ear again, “Jiang Huai, do you think when you like someone, you’ll have desires for their body?”

“I guess so… sometimes I have them even when I don’t like someone.”

“Hmph, my mother says that’s how you men are.”

Xu Qing’s palm gently massaged Jiang Huai’s cheek, and he simply closed his eyes, listening to her soft voice, “I’ve already convinced myself that I don’t like you, but when my fingertips touch your skin, I still feel inexplicably flustered and uneasy… What should I do?”

Her voice was light, truly conveying a hint of distress. Jiang Huai opened his eyes and blinked innocently at her, “Maybe you’ll get used to it?”

“Then lie down for a while longer, don’t move, let me pinch you a bit more.”

“It’s quite comfortable, I don’t mind.”

Xu Qing chuckled softly, her fingertips followed the back of his head, gently grabbing his nape and kneading it, gradually moving to his shoulders, arms, and hands. Jiang Huai’s hand was caught in her palm, as if she was playing with a cherished treasure.

Jiang Huai was certain that if he were the one making these movements, it would seem a bit odd, especially considering how Mu Yao was cuddling him in the illusion, which was the epitome of a clingy woman. But now, as Mu Yao carefully held his fingertips, gently and tenderly kneading them, her eyes were inexplicably tender.

Eventually, they grew accustomed to each other. She had shed the heavy fantasies she once had about him from her heart, and she was no longer as shy as before. It was as if the two had truly become close friends, with no reason to take a step further, peaceful and serene.

After a moment, however, Jiang Huai suddenly felt an inexplicable unease.

It’s not that men and women can’t have pure friendships, but generally speaking, the one who firmly believes in pure friendship is often the one who is loved.

Compared to Mu Yao’s seemingly vindictive attitude of “if you don’t like me, I won’t let you be,” Jiang Huai suddenly realized that Xu Qing, who was by his side at the moment, was so much better that not liking her made him feel a twinge of guilt in his heart.