Time marched on to midday.
Xiao Ruoching’s eyes clearly showed surprise, so much so that the steaming water she was holding in a basin spilled out.
She let out a soft exclamation, then looked at Su Bei, somewhat awkwardly.
Before Su Bei could even sigh, this figure—immeasurably more real than the one in his dream—flung herself into his embrace.
Although it was a fierce ’plunge,’ even in his newly recovered state, he didn’t feel the slightest weight.
Su Bei tried to move. Thankfully, he still had sensation from the neck down; he wasn’t a cripple. He patted her back, and Xiao Ruoching pulled away from his embrace. She then stood up, looking at Su Bei and said cheerfully, "Master, the meal has been reheated many times. Everyone is here. You’re finally awake..."
"How long was I asleep?"
Su Bei and Xiao Ruoching shared a smile. He threw off the covers and stretched his limbs.
His body still ached terribly, but he figured a few days of quiet recuperation should be enough for him to recover.
Xiao Ruoching blinked her clear, autumn-water eyes and turned her face slightly away, offering him a view of her stunning profile.
Perhaps it was due to the second layer of the dream realm, but his mindset was now distinctly different. Looking at his eldest disciple, he no longer felt that prior restraint in his heart, replaced by a more carefree feeling.
He lamented inwardly. She was just his disciple, still so young. His affection at this moment wasn’t born from mature consideration. If, one day, she were to leave him for someone she loved, could he truly let her go? He found himself growing increasingly hesitant, a sense of guilt toward her rising within him. Was it the influence of the recent Heart Demon Tribulation? He didn’t know, but deep down, he didn’t want such a thing to happen at all. He wished he could bind her to his side forever... He knew that getting her to ’change her heart’ wouldn’t be easy. And in the depths of his own heart, did he truly wish for her to change?
Being gazed at by Su Bei like that, Xiao Ruoching spoke softly, her voice like the hum of a mosquito, "Master..."
The Qingping Sword lay beside him. Perhaps due to absorbing so much heavenly lightning, it was noticeably more dazzling than before.
So this is the Late Stage Refining Void!
The improvements to his body were heaven and earth. His meridians probably wouldn’t be damaged so easily again, unlike before.
This system is such a con! If it weren’t for Key Smoke, I might have truly gotten lost in that Illusion World. It’s just a pity my life-saving hourglass is gone, just like that.
Following Xiao Ruoching, Su Bei hadn’t walked far before he encountered the Sword Maiden. The moment she saw Su Bei, her body trembled. Su Bei opened his arms.
She walked toward him, her eyes already red and brimming with tears. Gently, she wiped them away, her tear-streaked, pear-blossom-like face stirring compassion.
Su Bei sighed. Ever since I met this strong woman, he thought, she seems to cry more often when she’s around me.
"The scabbard Sword Maiden gave me was destroyed by the lightning..."
"You’ll have to give Master another one!"
His demand was somewhat unreasonable, yet the Sword Maiden nodded firmly.
Su Bei hugged her. The Sword Maiden, her face flushed, didn’t know how to react.
From a distance, Mo Li watched Su Bei intently, as if trying to read something from his face. After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward and asked, "Master, have you overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation?"
Su Bei nodded. Looking out at the clear, sunny sky, he suddenly asked, "By the way, who is the Sword Sect fighting this time?"
His disciples exchanged glances. Then, Xiao Ruoching, visibly excited, announced, "Master, the Sword Sect received a bye! We’ve successfully advanced!"
Su Bei blinked. His disciples all wore serious expressions. Deep down, he still found it hard to believe.
What were the odds? How could we be so lucky?
Then, another thought struck him, and he quickly asked, "What about Dan Wulan? How is she?"
The last image imprinted in his mind—aside from that cinnabar hibiscus tattoo below her navel—was Dan Wulan lying on the ground, apparently stunned by the lightning!?
"Ninth Uncle is fine. She woke up a while ago." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novᴇlfire.net
"Master, look! They’ve all come..."
At the dining table, the group was gathered together again after a long time. Dan Wulan sat close to Su Bei. Wenren Pingxin glared fiercely at Su Bei and said, "How many times are you going to make Senior Sister worry before you’re satisfied?!"
"Is a Heavenly Tribulation something one can undergo so casually?"
Not many people knew about Su Bei undergoing the tribulation. Most people in Wu City were still guessing which Sacred Land elder had successfully passed their tribulation.
Their guesses weren’t far off, though. Su Bei was indeed an elder—the Nineteenth Elder.
Su Bei gave a wry smile and scratched his head. He stood up, picked up the wine cup before him, and glanced around the table. Everyone was there, except for the Sixth Elder and Seventh Elder.
"To the Sword Sect’s bye and successful advancement! Cheers!"
The people at the table also laughed, though a touch of awkwardness was evident in their eyes.
Su Bei’s words were unexpected, yet also within expectations. Although they had already discussed it amongst themselves, their feelings were still complicated.
They all raised their wine cups.
When the meal ended and everyone had dispersed, Wenren Pingxin and several other senior martial brothers hurriedly left. The disciples cleared away the bowls and chopsticks. Dan Wulan and Dan Wuque also departed the courtyard, leaving Su Bei alone in the room once more with just his few disciples.