Spectating the Angsty Romance of the Master and Disciple from the Sect Next Door Chapter 54

The next day, Li Jin’an attended the Grand Competition between the two sects in full regalia, once again dressing herself like a festive red envelope.
She had figured it out: since she couldn’t avoid it, she might as well let the storm rage even fiercer!
Anyway, her heart would pound and her face would flush, so wearing red clothes made it less obvious. If she wore white like Xie Huaixue and then blushed, everyone within ten li would know that Jijin Sword Sovereign had been teased crimson by Immortal Venerable Qingxiao.
Although Li Jin’an fundamentally didn’t care if the world knew that the cultivation realm’s most famous rivals were secretly engaging in romance… Hiss, these terms don’t seem quite right, never mind, as long as the meaning gets across.
However, Li Jin’an greatly cared about the fact that Jijin Sword Sovereign was utterly defenseless before Immortal Venerable Qingxiao, that just a few words could transform her from an unruly Sword Sovereign into Xie Huaixue’s pet sword cultivator, and that this fact might be exposed, making her seem utterly unsophisticated.
She felt this couldn’t be blamed on her.
Firstly, the mainstream in the cultivation world dictated that sword cultivators befriended and companioned with their swords, with a significant portion even treating their natal swords as dao companions. Swords and the Sword Dao were the most important existences in their lives, as if everyone was telling her that a sword cultivator should be single-mindedly devoted to their sword, and anyone with distracting thoughts was not a good sword cultivator.
Of course, there were also unconventional sword cultivators, like her master, Chixin Sword Lord. However, even now, Chixin Sword Lord, Yinyue Monarch, and Jingting Dao Lord—these three great seniors of the ‘Jun’ generation—remained negative examples in Li Jin’an’s eyes. Never mind that Li Jin’an hadn’t had any worldly desires for over a thousand years; even if her heart were to stir with spring feelings, she’d be scared back into her shell by “what’s wrong with adding me?”
So, it was no wonder Li Jin’an was so well-behaved in front of Jingting Dao Lord. Who wouldn’t be afraid?!
This was too perverted!
It wasn’t physical destruction, but a shocking blow to the mental plane.
Secondly, her surroundings didn’t create a good environment. Not just her, but all her acquaintances in the same generation were single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, utterly uninterested in matters of romance or dao companions. They frantically rushed to cultivate, spar, enter secret realms, hunt demonic beasts, actively earn spiritual stones… they were so eager they wished they could trade love for breakthroughs in cultivation realms. Just like Jiang Fengmian, who had a crush on Xie Huaixue but never mentioned it, in the face of cultivation and the Great Dao, love was not worth mentioning!
They were all hindering her!
Of course, Li Jin’an would never admit that everyone else was influenced by her. In fact, she was the one cultivating the most desperately.
The main point was that having Xie Huaixue looking down upon all living beings from her divine altar was already difficult enough. For a group of self-proclaimed geniuses who were just starting out to face such a heavy blow, and finally come to terms with it, only to have Li Jin’an still leaping about, causing an immense commotion, cultivating, practicing sword arts, entering secret realms, and going to battlefields—that would be fine. But when she couldn’t defeat Xie Huaixue, she would take her anger out on them. Who could endure that?!
Therefore, they had no choice but to sacrifice their future romantic relationships. Otherwise, if they fell too far behind, they wouldn’t even qualify to be Li Jin’an’s punching bags.
Finally, there was Li Jin’an’s occasionally erratic mind and stiff, stubborn mouth. For over a thousand years, her mind had only been filled with swords and defeating Xie Huaixue, and her mouth uttered harsh words daily. Even if Xie Huaixue said she liked her now, Li Jin’an would have the ability to turn a joyous occasion into a funeral.
Her sword brain was now veering wildly in the opposite direction, never to return. Unfortunately, there was still that stiff, stubborn mouth that spoke against her true feelings, blocking the way.
Alright, these were all excuses. After delivering the message yesterday, she had fled in a panic.
It really wasn’t that she was cowardly… Okay, fine, she was cowardly.
It was simply that yesterday’s atmosphere was very subtle. After Li Jin’an finished saying she would deliver the message to that Sword Sovereign for Qingxiao, Xie Huaixue’s gaze, obscure and dark, stared intently at her, from her eyes to her lips, then to her neck. That light, fleeting gaze was incredibly penetrating, as if it wanted to dismantle Li Jin’an and devour her whole.
Li Jin’an vaguely felt herself transformed into a soft, sweet pastry, peeled, washed clean, and daintily placed on a plate, cautiously awaiting Xie Huaixue to pick her up, meticulously taste her from inside out, and then evaluate just how delicious she was.
She startled, left one sentence, and vanished in a flash.
“I’ll go deliver the message for you!”
A soft chuckle came from behind.
Li Jin’an arrived at the Dao Sect’s training grounds, scowling and crossing her arms. She had spent the entire night in Qingxiao Peak’s guest room pondering, recalling the kiss that had blasted her out of the illusion, and finally realized what Xie Huaixue’s gaze had truly meant!
Xie Huaixue was unable to control herself and wanted to kiss her!
Her mind automatically helped recall the addictive sensation when she had licked and bitten—soft, with a hint of coolness and sweetness, going straight to her heart. It was more effective than any elixir in the cultivation world. When she kissed, her very soul trembled; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been directly blasted out.
She, without a teacher, fantasized about the delightful sensation of firmly grinding Xie Huaixue’s lips…
Li Jin’an sat by the window, silently sighing at Qingxiao Peak’s moon.
If there was something to say, she should just say it. Why hide it?
If she didn’t say it clearly, how was she supposed to guess?!
She had thought Xie Huaixue wanted to eat people, who knew she wanted to kiss her mouth!
To say she didn’t regret it would be a lie, but what was done was done. She couldn’t possibly sneak into Xie Huaixue’s cave dwelling in the middle of the night and ask if she wanted to kiss her, could she?!
Li Jin’an, with a strong “sour grapes” mentality, consoled herself: their feelings hadn’t been clearly expressed yet, so what was kissing each other at this point? Later, she could kiss as much as she wanted!
Yes, that’s right!
“…”
Because Jingting Dao Lord had called Xie Huaixue away, Li Jin’an had to come to the training grounds alone from Qingxiao Peak. Just as she was feeling annoyed, she saw the three little fools leisurely approaching behind Jiang Fengmian.
She couldn’t help but narrow her eyes.
The three, suddenly feeling a chill, didn’t even look up to glance around. They immediately stood straight, puffed out their chests, and smiled shyly, acting incredibly well-behaved.
Jiang Fengmian, walking in front, saw Li Jin’an, her eyes lighting up. She hurried over, pointing backward as she was about to say, “Jijin, your three disciples are truly…”
Three pairs of big eyes blinked at her.
Jiang Fengmian also widened her eyes. These three weren’t like this a moment ago!
“What’s wrong with them?” Li Jin’an casually asked. However, not wanting to take on troublesome disciples, she heartlessly added, “Aren’t they perfectly fine? Sensible and polite, how good is that?”
Jiang Fengmian fiercely closed her eyes. Good? What’s good about it?!
These three were simply opportunists, unfortunate children who knew how to act. First, they pretended to be well-behaved, then, upon realizing that she was indeed soft-tempered and had a very low bottom line, they started acting up. Only the eldest was slightly better, relatively steady, but not by much, because she would cover for the second and third ones!
The outer sect disciples of Xuanyu Peak lacked sufficient status, and moreover, they all had the gentle and approachable demeanor of their Peak Master Jiang Fengmian, rarely knowing how to refuse people. They were completely at a loss when dealing with the three Sword Sovereign disciples, bearing no complaints even when dragged into playing cards all night.
Last night, Jiang Fengmian was also gazing melancholily at the stars, for she realized she not only had to change herself but also the entire Xuanyu Peak!
Otherwise, they would forever be tricked by bad people into becoming dogs!
A few careless, half-hearted coaxing words, and they would grin happily, delighted beyond belief, answering whatever was asked, nearly pulling out all their family assets and displaying them before these three!
Li Jin’an interrupted her deep thoughts. “What exactly are you Dao Sect people up to? Why haven’t you released Qingxiao yet?”
Such conversations had happened many times before, so Jiang Fengmian didn’t suspect anything. “Perhaps the Sect Master has something private to discuss with Qingxiao. I haven’t received any message from the Sect Master, nor have the other peak masters or elders.”
From this sentence alone, one could tell Jiang Fengmian wasn’t much better off; she had no defenses against Li Jin’an, easily revealing the Dao Sect’s internal situation.
Fortunately, Li Jin’an had no ill intentions toward the Dao Sect… No, wait, she actually did in the past. She had wanted to cleave the Dao Sect’s founding ancestor’s statue with her sword. She only now regretted not doing it, otherwise her lustful desires for Xie Huaixue would be impossible to act upon.
“Alright.”
Li Jin’an continued waiting with crossed arms, instructing her three disciples to return to the Sword Sect’s contingent, at least allowing Jiang Fengmian to sigh in relief and not be depressed from babysitting.
Tan Yanyi looked back at her. “Then Master, aren’t you coming with us?”
She and Ling Qiu had joined the sect late, missing the previous Grand Competition between the two sects, so they didn’t know about these matters.
“As the Sword Sect’s representative, your master must uphold the sect’s prestige and not lose morale. I won’t be joining you.”
The three disciples’ eyelids twitched. Helplessly, as their words carried little weight, they could only return to the Sword Sect’s contingent with heavy steps under Li Jin’an’s inexplicable gaze.
Junxing Sword Lord was conversing and verbally sparring with a Dao Sect elder. Xiaoxiang Sword Lord, seeing them return, nodded and motioned for them to sit.
“Greetings, Sword Lord,” Qi Lingzi said succinctly after sitting down behind her. “My master said she needs to uphold the Sword Sect’s prestige.”
In that instant, Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and Junxing Sword Lord, who was not far away, felt their vision go dark.
The layout of the training grounds was thus: a combat stage in the center, spectator areas on both sides, with the waiting disciples also in these areas. The high platform at the very front was reserved for Jingting Dao Lord and the elders of both the Daoist and Sword Sects. The Dao Lord sat in the main seat, and the elders of the two sects sat on either side.
This meant that when Jijin Sword Sovereign said something shocking, the disciples below couldn’t hear it, but the elders on the high platform heard every word, with no escape.
Sword Lord Xiaoxiang calmly said, with a tone of long-suffering resignation, “At least this time it’s only our two sects, and we’re all familiar faces. The other minor sects attending aren’t here; even if they were, I doubt they’d dare to gossip.”
The other minor sects were affiliate branches of the Dao Sect. When the main family had a joyous occasion, they naturally rushed to offer congratulations. The Sword Sect also had many such minor sects. Even Sword Lord Xiaoxiang, whose temperament was as calm as water, was a true Sword Cultivator of the Sword Sect and held no regard for these minor sects.
Junxing Sword sovereign sighed, “It can only be this way.”
Li Jin’an didn’t have to wait long. Jingting Dao Lord and Xie Huaixue slowly arrived one after the other, followed by a procession of people, including the Dao Sect’s Young Sect Leader.
Everyone in the audience rose in unison to bow to Jingting Dao Lord. Li Jin’an was no exception, though she didn’t need to bow deeply; a cupped-hand salute was sufficient.
In the midst of the salutes, Li Jin’an noticed Jingting Dao Lord looking her way. She even winked, her smile bright yet mischievous.
Li Jin’an didn’t understand at first, but she understood when she sat down.
She and Xie Huaixue sat on either side, occupying the lower right and lower left positions respectively, with Jingting Dao Lord seated directly in the center.
This meant that any communication they might have, whether through words, glances, or spiritual transmissions, would be impossible to hide from Jingting Dao Lord…
Given Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s status and position, she naturally had the qualifications to sit there. Even the Young Sect Leader would have to yield to her. However, in terms of seniority, there were elders older than Xie Huaixue.
Some Dao Sect elders had even watched her and Xie Huaixue grow up and were quite fond of them.
If an elder with more seniority had been seated there, others wouldn’t have said anything, and Li Jin’an wouldn’t have objected.
But it was Xie Huaixue who sat opposite Li Jin’an, and Jingting Dao Lord still wore that smile. The word ‘deliberate’ was practically written on her face!
It was obvious, Jingting Dao Lord’s old habits were flaring up again!
Li Jin’an couldn’t understand. Did that old Jingting Dao Lord have some mission to forcefully insert herself into others’ affairs?
And it had to be people from the Sword Sect’s Jijin Peak and the Dao Sect’s Qingxiao Peak!
The last pair Jingting Dao Lord meddled with was Chixin Sword Lord and Yinyue Monarch.
She just didn’t get it. Did Jingting Dao Lord have some obsession with their lineage and traditions?
Is she just going to keep harassing people from our two lineages, huh?
So, when Jingting Dao Lord rose to encourage the disciples from both sects, Li Jin’an unhappily crossed her arms. Her slender phoenix eyes tilted upwards, her gaze practically spitting sparks at people.
Xie Huaixue lowered her gaze, saying nothing, missing Li Jin’an’s glare.
Li Jin’an became even angrier. Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she smiled brightly.
The elders and peak masters on the high platform no longer paid attention to Jingting Dao Lord’s polite remarks. Openly and secretly, their attention was fixed on Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable.
After Jingting Dao Lord finished speaking and sat down, Li Jin’an cleared her throat, lifting her eyelids. She smiled sweetly at Xie Huaixue and said, “Qingxiao Immortal Venerable, do you have any intention of revising the sect’s historical records with me?”