After Yu Xiaoyan successfully advanced to the Golden Core realm, Qing Yueqiu, the eldest disciple who had been lost in a daze of pleasure, was instantly struck by a sense of crisis and began to cultivate even more diligently.
Her intense ambition even led the silver-haired girl to temporarily abandon her bad habit of sneaking into her master's room to steal his toothbrush, allowing her to beco healthy and self-disciplined.
Unfortunately, with less than five days left before the Sect Grand Competition, Pei Yuhang felt that such a short period wasn't enough. Even if she succeeded in Crossing the Tribulation, she wouldn't have ti to recover from the injuries and restore her body to its peak condition. Thus, he halted Qing Yueqiu's cultivation and told her to focus on mastering the power she already possessed.
「The day before the Sect Grand Competition.」
Qing Yueqiu sat atop the black-tiled roof, gazing up at the moon. The twinkling stars reflected in her crimson eyes, her thoughts a mystery.
The Luminous Shadow Sword, absorbing the Moonlight Divine Light, hovered beside her like a loyal protector.
TAP.
A figure in white landed behind the girl, but the sudden sound didn't put Qing Yueqiu on guard. She knew that unique fragrance could only belong to one person.
She could leave her back to him without a second thought.
Pei Yuhang lacked the usual airs of a master. He sat down naturally beside Qing Yueqiu and began to speak as if they were friends.
"Yueqiu, you don't need to put too much pressure on yourself for the Sect Grand Competition. Just do your best."
Pei Yuhang's tone was as gentle as ever, yet the light in the girl's eyes dimd.
She pursed her lips, a look of unwillingness on her face.
"Master, please don't lower your expectations of . I will take first place!"
Her tone was stubborn, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Pei Yuhang's sleeve, her obsession with earning his approval at its peak.
This obsession worried Pei Yuhang greatly. He had cultivated for so long and had seen far too many Cultivators et unfortunate ends because their obsessions ran too deep.
He didn't want his own disciple's path to be clouded by obsession.
'But the Sect Grand Competition is about to begin. If I have a heart-to-heart talk with Yueqiu now, it will only affect her state of mind...'
Pei Yuhang thought for a mont and decided it would be better to wait until after the Sect Grand Competition to have this talk with his disciple.
'For now, I should just encourage her so she can enter the Sect Grand Competition with the best possible mindset.'
Qing Yueqiu's long, delicate eyelashes trembled. She clutched her master's sleeve anxiously. When she noticed she had wrinkled his clothes, she hastily tried to let go and apologize.
Just then, she suddenly felt warmth envelop her hand.
When Qing Yueqiu realized her master was holding her hand, she stopped struggling. She lowered her head shyly, letting Pei Yuhang hold it.
"Yueqiu, I believe in you."
"I believe you can take first place in the competition! After all, you said you've already won once in the Divine Sword Pavilion's Illusion Realm."
Her master's affirmation made Qing Yueqiu's face light up with joy. Her crimson eyes shone incredibly bright as she said earnestly, "Master!"
"I will win the championship!"
'I must prove my own strength! Prove that I'm strong enough to protect you, to drive away all those wicked won who covet you!'
She didn't say the last part out loud, instead repeating it over and over in her heart.
......
「The next morning.」 As the pale light of dawn broke over the horizon, the first rays of morning fell upon the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.
Pei Yuhang opened his eyes. His movent naturally woke the woman in his arms.
After Pei Yuhang's careful "guidance in dual cultivation" the previous night, the exhausted Ye Liyuan was clearly worn out and needed much more sleep.
"Liyuan, you keep resting. I'll take the two of them to the Sect Grand Competition."
Pei Yuhang gently pressed the acupoints on his Dao Companion's temples, causing her to let out a couple of comfortable murmurs.
"Mmm... It's all your fault... For an important occasion like this for Yueqiu and the other, I, their master's wife, was supposed to be there... But you bullied too much. I even begged for rcy, you brute..."
"And... how are you so experienced...?"
His Dao Companion's last words made Pei Yuhang's expression stiffen.
Fortunately, Ye Liyuan was only half-awake. After a few sleepy murmurs, the gentle massage of Pei Yuhang's fingertips lulled her back into dreamland.
Once he was sure Liyuan was fast asleep, Pei Yuhang carefully covered her with the blanket. He then took his clothes and left the room, not wanting the sound of him getting ready to disturb her rest.
After washing up in the courtyard, Pei Yuhang was a picture of otherworldly grace. His face was as handso as sculpted jade, and his white robes flowed elegantly, making him look like a banished immortal stepping out of a painting.
He was taking his disciples to the Sect Grand Competition today, and so as not to diminish the prestige of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, he had taken great care with his appearance. The effort made his aura seem even more otherworldly.
Unfortunately, his two disciples didn't seem pleased that their "guardian" had dressed up so splendidly for the occasion.
Yu Xiaoyan's cute brows furrowed. She circled Pei Yuhang twice like a little puppy, sniffing to the left, then sniffing to the right.
Qing Yueqiu's pretty face was also filled with anxiety. She stared at him so intently it was as if she feared a thief might steal him away.
"Master, can you wear a conical hat to cover your face? And it would be best to get a dingy black cloak and wrap yourself up tightly from head to toe."
Yu Xiaoyan tugged on Pei Yuhang's hand, her expression very serious.
"I think my junior sister is absolutely right. As the saying goes, one shouldn't flaunt their treasures. Master, you must learn to hide your brilliance."
Qing Yueqiu, who had always diligently followed her master's teachings, was now turning the tables and lecturing him instead.
"..."
Pei Yuhang was speechless. He reached out with his large hands and vigorously ruffled both his disciples' heads, saying helplessly:
"What in the world are you two thinking? I finally take the trouble to dress up a bit to make a good showing for you two, and you want to hide?"
As her master's large hand playfully squished her face, Yu Xiaoyan mumbled in a tone of pure enjoynt, "Mmm... My senior sister and I... are obviously worried about you being targeted by wicked won, Master!"
"Even if you're not thinking about us, you should at least think about the Master's wife, right? She definitely wouldn't feel at ease with such a handso Master walking around outside... you're guaranteed to be seduced away by so wicked Fairy!"
"Besides, Master, you're so devastatingly handso. If you ended up seducing soone else's Dao Companion... you'd definitely make countless enemies!"
Pei Yuhang gave Yu Xiaoyan a flick on the forehead.
"What is this little head of yours thinking about all day? How old are you, already talking about gossipy things like seduction..."
'Besides... Shang Miaoyan is watching like a hawk right now. How could that possessive, wicked woman possibly allow her 'property' to be coveted by other won?'
Pei Yuhang didn't voice that last thought. He sighed, and finally giving in to his two disciples' nagging, put on a Magic Artifact Ring capable of reducing his presence.
"Let's go. We're heading to the venue for the Sect Grand Competition now—the Celestial Lock Islands."
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