Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 401 387: Master, I Don't Want You to Be So Experienced... I Want You to Be a Little More Innocent

On the snowy night, a cold wind swirled with snowflakes between the two of them.

The silver-haired girl's long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a shadow beneath her eyes. She bit her lower lip, holding an umbrella over her master beside her to shield him from the snow. The paper umbrella swayed gently in the blizzard.

"Master, you're just too kind..."

Qing Yueqiu's voice was as soft as snowflakes landing on the umbrella, tinged with an irresolvable melancholy. "Kind people are the ones who get taken advantage of by the wicked."

Pei Yuhang turned to look at his disciple, his eyes filled with gentle confusion.

"Alright, Yueqiu, what's gotten into you today? You've been acting strangely. How have I been taken advantage of?"

He reached out to brush the snow from Qing Yueqiu's shoulders. His fingertips paused as they touched her slightly trembling shoulder. "Is something weighing on your mind?"

"Ngh..."

Qing Yueqiu turned her face away, the tips of her ears flushing red.

As if in a fit of pique, she tilted the umbrella further toward her master, not wanting him to see her reddened eyes. "It's nothing, it's just..."

Her voice caught, and she quickly cleared her throat. "It's just that seeing you hesitate to act against that masked Demoness made me feel... very uncomfortable."

Qing Yueqiu muttered in a barely audible voice, "She must be ugly... that's why she wears a mask."

After saying this, she seemed to realize how petty she sounded. As if regretting her slip of the tongue, she secretly glanced up to gauge her master's reaction, hoping he hadn't heard her jealous remarks.

But obviously, no matter how quiet she was, her voice couldn't escape the ears of a Void Refining Cultivator like Pei Yuhang.

"Yueqiu, are you jealous?"

Pei Yuhang chuckled softly and pulled the girl's beautiful figure into his arms.

"Why would you be jealous of a strange woman?"

"I'm not jealous... I'm just worried about you, Master. I'm afraid you'll be taken advantage of." Qing Yueqiu turned her face away, her long eyelashes casting a shadow below as she stubbornly pressed her lips together.

"Hey, you're underestimating me, don't you think?" Pei Yuhang raised an eyebrow, gently pinching her reddened earlobe between his fingers.

'How am I underestimating you... You're clearly tricked into bed by bad women all the time.'

'When I had nothing, I was content just to be by Master's side.'

'But now that my wish has been granted, the greed in my heart is growing like weeds—I want more of his affection, more of his attention... and to fix the regret that can never be undone.'

She closed her eyes in anguish, her slender shoulders trembling slightly.

'Why... why couldn't I have met Master sooner?'

'If I could go back in time, I would have protected Master's purity and never let that evil Sect defile him in the slightest.'

'A first meeting as pure as snow, a shy getting-to-know-you period, exchanging our first time under a tree full of pear blossoms...'

'I was ignorant, and he was inexperienced... but it was so wonderful.'

'Innocence is what's best.'

'I was just a blank slate, but Master was so experienced.'

Back then, Qing Yueqiu had naively thought that being guided by such an experienced master gave her a great sense of security.

But thinking back now, she realized how laughably childish she had been.

'His experience means Master has seen too many women, and the passion in his heart has already faded.'

'The feeling I give Master isn't new or fresh, not something worth remembering.'

'Because he's already used to it. For me, it was a wondrous and beautiful night.'

'But for Master, it was just another day.'

She was a raging fire, while her master was a basin of stable, lukewarm water.

She didn't want her master to be so calm now. Qing Yueqiu wanted to be special in his heart; she wanted him to act more excited, a little more desirous.

But in the end, it was just a vain hope.

She would never get to experience her master's passion from his more innocent days of first love.

"Yueqiu, it's getting late. You should go back and rest."

Pei Yuhang's low voice whispered in her ear.

The White-clothed Sword Immortal glanced at the moon, turning to leave, but a delicate, jade-like hand grabbed his sleeve.

"What is it?"

Pei Yuhang looked back at his eldest disciple. The cold, beautiful, silver-haired girl was pressing her lips together, as if she had something to say.

"Master, you... haven't been to my room in a long time. Can you stay with me tonight?"

A dewy voice that tugged at the heartstrings flowed from the girl's throat.

Unfortunately, Pei Yuhang had been hassled by Jiu for half the night. On top of that, his "senior sister" had paid him a midnight "visit" only to get away, leaving him feeling rather discomposed. He was in no mood to appreciate the amorous scene before him.

"Some other day, Yueqiu. The sun will rise in two hours. If Liyuan wakes up in the morning and doesn't see me, she'll be frightened."

"Master!"

Qing Yueqiu suddenly took a step closer, her voice growing louder.

"You usually wake up earlier than Mistress, right? Getting up early to cultivate is perfectly normal, isn't it?

Besides, Mistress isn't a child. Why would she panic just because she can't see you?

Don't... don't just coddle Mistress like a child!"

Qing Yueqiu stubbornly pulled at Pei Yuhang's arm, trying to drag him toward her room.

Seeing the girl's resolute attitude, Pei Yuhang knew that getting any sleep tonight would be difficult.

He had no choice but to compromise. "Alright, Yueqiu, I'll come to your room for a cup of tea, but I'll head back after a little while."

'Just sit for a bit?'

'Whatever. Master is someone who compromises easily. As long as I can get him into the room.'

'Sitting for a bit will turn into *doing* a bit...'

Qing Yueqiu nodded, then silently hugged Pei Yuhang's arm, holding his hand tightly in her warm embrace.

At this time of night in the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, it was just the two of them.

She could be openly affectionate with her master.

'But why is my heart pounding while Master's expression is so calm?'

Qing Yueqiu felt it was a little unfair.

"Master."

"What is it?"

"How do you feel, with me holding your arm like this?"

"It's nice. If you're feeling a little cold, you can snuggle into my arms."

Pei Yuhang gave his usual gentle smile.

"..."

Qing Yueqiu fell silent for a moment, then held out her small hand, lacing her fingers through the gaps in his to interlock their hands.

"Master, do you feel anything now?"

'Feel anything? Is Yueqiu asking me how it feels to hold hands...?'

The romantically experienced Pei Yuhang seemed to understand what was troubling Yueqiu.

'Does she feel unloved?'

Pei Yuhang tightened his grip on her hand, then spoke to her ears, which were flushed red from the cold wind.

"Holding your hand, I feel very happy."

Pei Yuhang thought this must be the answer Qing Yueqiu wanted to hear.

But even a "King of Prison Sea" like Pei Yuhang couldn't always figure out the thoughts of a sharp-minded young woman.

Evidently, when she was doubting whether her master still had any passion for her, no sweet nothing he could say would reach her heart.

"Master... you're very practiced in your answers."

Qing Yueqiu lowered her gaze, chuckling softly.

But her crimson-tinted eyes revealed a hint of disappointment.

'The pulse in Master's wrist didn't quicken at all.'

'He's just comforting me.'

'Using those same tactics... who knows how many women he's comforted with them.'

'I hate it... Not Master, but I hate that his tenderness and emotional intelligence were only developed for me after being "trained" by other women.'

'Thinking about it now, there are traces of other women's "training" in everything Master says and does.'

'So annoying...'

Qing Yueqiu pulled Pei Yuhang's hand, her pace quickening.

She couldn't wait to get her master back to her room.

She would use her own warmth to cover up the traces of other women on him!

...

...

Just as Qing Yueqiu had thought, Pei Yuhang was ultimately a man who compromised.

At first, Pei Yuhang played hard to get, eager to leave after just one cup of tea.

But under Qing Yueqiu's persistent coaxing, Pei Yuhang finally agreed to have a few drinks.

One cup after another.

Some was "accidentally" spilled on him, and Yueqiu then offered to serve her master in his bath...

"Yueqiu, the sun is already up. I really have to go."

Pei Yuhang sighed softly as he recalled the absurd events of the latter half of the night.

How did sitting turn into—

"Master, you can't leave..."

The girl's low whimpers sounded exceptionally soft in the quiet morning, like a rain-soaked feather falling weightlessly upon one's heart.

Her slender arms wrapped around Pei Yuhang's waist from behind, her fingertips trembling slightly, as if afraid that if she let go, he would dissipate like a drifting cloud.

Pei Yuhang froze for a second, then sighed softly. He placed his hand over hers, which were clasped in front of his waist, and said gently, "Yueqiu, stop fooling around."

His voice was still gentle, but it carried an undertone that brooked no refusal.

However, the girl pressed her forehead against his back. Her silver hair was a messy tumble, a few strands soaked with a light sweat, sticking to her porcelain-white skin. She refused to let go, just repeating in a low, stubborn voice, "Master..."

Pei Yuhang turned around, his long fingers gently cupping her face.

He brushed aside the silver hair on her forehead, which was stuck together with fragrant sweat, and then lightly placed a kiss there.

"Yueqiu, when I have time later, I'll come back and keep you company, alright?"

"..."

'Of course it's not alright. I only want you now... but Master seems determined to leave.'

Qing Yueqiu's eyelashes trembled, her lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

Pei Yuhang thought he had successfully placated the girl. He straightened up, draped on his outer robe, and tied the sash. The warm morning light filtered through the window lattice, outlining his slender figure.

Qing Yueqiu watched Pei Yuhang get up, dress, and finally walk towards the door. She clicked her tongue.

She reached out a hand, then pulled it back.

CREAK—

The wooden door was slowly pushed open by Pei Yuhang.

A morning breeze carrying a chill rushed in, scattering the sweet, amorous air of the room.

Then Pei Yuhang gently closed the door, separating the world inside from the world outside.

Qing Yueqiu stared blankly at the closed door.

After a long moment, she gently caressed her fair, flat stomach and sighed faintly.

"...Baby, you have a philandering daddy."

Qing Yueqiu murmured, her fingertips slowly tracing the corner of her forehead where he had just kissed her. A faint warmth seemed to linger there.

But in the end, it was bound to grow cold.