Shi Ji Gets Jealous, You Treat Your Disciple Better Than Me

After returning from Chentang Pass, time seemed to slow down.

The eerie White Bone Cave was replaced by the magnificent and ancient Azure Stone Palace. The deathly aura and lingering resentment in the mountains were swept clean, replaced by a steady and vibrant Dao Charm.

For the next few days, Qin Feng poured almost all his attention onto Nezha.

Inside the quiet room, the young Nezha sat cross-legged on the jade bed, his eyes tightly shut, his small face filled with seriousness.

Qin Feng extended a finger, hovering above Nezha's head. Wisps of gray airflow, finer than a strand of hair, slowly descended and entered Nezha's crown.

This was the Chaos Origin Qi, refined to its absolute purest form.

As soon as this Chaos Qi entered Nezha's body, it acted like the most skilled divine craftsman, beginning to completely reshape Nezha's lotus form.

Nezha's small body began to emit a faint gray halo. Black, foul-smelling impurities occasionally seeped from his skin's surface, only to be instantly evaporated by the Chaos Qi.

His Foundation, which belonged to an Innate Spiritual Treasure, was being dismantled bit by bit, then reassembled in a more ancient, more dominant, and more perfect manner.

Throughout the entire process, Nezha felt no pain whatsoever. Instead, he felt warm all over, as if he were bathing in the warmest hot spring, so comfortable he almost moaned aloud.

Shi Ji stood silently at the entrance of the quiet room, watching it all.

She could feel the terrifying yet magnificent power contained within the gray airflow. That power seemed to transcend the Heavenly Dao itself; it was the Origin of all things.

And Qin Feng, without the slightest hesitation, was using this power to cleanse and strengthen a child.

Such a feat, let alone in the Primordial World, was likely something even the Dao Ancestor Hongjun could not achieve.

An hour later, Qin Feng slowly withdrew his finger, and the light emanating from Nezha gradually subsided.

The little fellow let out a long breath of stale air and suddenly opened his eyes, two beams of golden light flashing and disappearing.

He leaped off the jade bed, stretching his limbs. He felt an inexhaustible supply of strength coursing through him, and his mind was clearer than it had ever been.

"Master!"

Nezha called out crisply, his eyes filled with adoration and reverence.

A faint smile appeared on Qin Feng's face as he ruffled the boy's hair.

This smile was different from the indifference he showed to enemies, and different from the playful amusement he displayed when plotting against opponents. It was pure, gentle, carrying the affection of an elder for a junior.

"Your Foundation is stable. Cultivate diligently from now on and do not slacken."

Qin Feng's voice was as calm as ever, but Nezha heard a hint of concern within it.

"Yes! Your disciple obeys!" Nezha puffed out his small chest and replied loudly.

Seeing this, Qin Feng smiled again and flicked his finger.

A mass of Chaos Qi swirled in his palm, transforming in an instant into a lifelike Vermillion Bird Divine Bird the size of his palm. It flapped its wings, circling and dancing in the quiet room, scattering specks of brilliant sparks.

Nezha's eyes instantly lit up, like two brilliant black gems.

He reached out a small hand, curiously trying to touch the Vermillion Bird. The bird, as if possessing sentience, obediently landed on his fingertip, nuzzling him with its little head affectionately.

"Wow!"

Nezha exclaimed in delighted surprise, all his attention captured by the magical little bird. His giggles echoed through the quiet room.

Qin Feng sat quietly beside them, watching Nezha play with the Chaos Vermillion Bird, the faint smile never leaving his lips.

He even patiently began to explain the rudimentary principles of the Fire Law to Nezha in the simplest terms, weaving the profound truths of the Great Dao into this small game.

The scene was harmonious and warm.

But to Shi Ji, standing at the entrance of the quiet room, it stirred an inexplicable, subtle emotion within her heart, one she hadn't even noticed herself.

A sour, a bitter taste.

She looked at Qin Feng's profile, at the pure tenderness and patience on his face, a look he had never shown her.

This man had confronted Saints for her, leveled Chentang Pass for her, and rescued her from the oppression of the Chan Sect.

He had given her a home called the Azure Stone Palace and provided her with a sense of security she had never known.

His affection for her was possessive, domineering, the kind of "You are my woman, no one can bully you" declaration.

Shi Ji was deeply infatuated with this feeling, willing to sink into it and offer him everything she had.

But...

She watched Qin Feng teaching Nezha, and the feeling was more like a loving father patiently guiding his child's first steps.

That tenderness was unadulterated by possessiveness, devoid of any domineering aura, as pure as a clear spring.

She realized she was, in a way, jealous.

Jealous of a child.

The moment this thought arose, Shi Ji's cheeks flushed slightly, and a wave of shyness washed over her.

What is wrong with me? Nezha is like a child she watched grow up. Qin Feng being good to him should make her happy.

Yet, that sourness spread through her heart like a vine, tightening its grip.

She silently retreated, returning to the main hall. Absentmindedly, she brewed herself a cup of immortal tea but didn't drink it for a long time.

In her mind, Qin Feng's gentle gaze and doting smile as he looked at Nezha replayed over and over.

He had never seen himself smile like that before.

Night fell.

Moonlight flowed like water, filtering through the palace windows and casting a clear glow on the floor.

Nezha had long since fallen asleep to Qin Feng's stories, covered by a thin blanket woven from clouds and mist.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the main seat of the grand hall, eyes closed, resting his spirit. The entire palace was so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat.

A faint, elusive fragrance drifted in.

Qin Feng knew it was Shi Ji without opening his eyes.

Her footsteps were light, carrying a hint of hesitation, and finally stopped beside him.

Shi Ji carried a plate of freshly picked immortal fruits, still dewy, and gracefully walked to Qin Feng's side.

She gently placed the jade plate on the low table, but instead of naturally sitting in Qin Feng's lap as usual, she chose a nearby futon and sat down quietly. Her head was bowed, her hands twisting the hem of her clothes, and she remained silent.

A subtle atmosphere permeated the air.

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze falling on the exquisite figure beside him.

She was wearing a snow-white palace gown today. Under the moonlight, her skin seemed even fairer than snow. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her bowed, graceful neck formed a captivating curve.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Feng's voice broke the silence, as gentle as ever.

Shi Ji's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

She kept her head bowed, remaining silent for a long time, as if making a difficult decision.

Finally, as if gathering all her courage, she abruptly lifted her head.

Her eyes, usually cool or charming, were now misty and blurred, as if shrouded in an unshakeable sense of grievance. She stared directly at Qin Feng.

Biting her red lower lip with her pearly teeth, her voice was soft and gentle, with a barely perceptible tremor and a hint of coquettish complaint.

"Dao Brother Qin Feng..."

"Now that you have a disciple, do you not love me anymore?"

She paused, as if feeling that this was not enough to express her feelings, and mustered more courage to add.

"You treat him... better than you treat me..."

As her words fell, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

This almost spoiled question was like a stone cast into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples of ambiguous affection on Qin Feng's heart.

He looked at the beautiful goddess before him, her eyes reddened, her face clearly displaying "I'm jealous." He was stunned for a moment, then understood.

A hint of amusement, a hint of understanding, and a hint of uncontrollable doting surged in his heart.

Qin Feng didn't speak. He merely leaned forward slightly, reached out, and gently pinched her pointed, snow-white chin.

His gaze became intense, with a hint of possessiveness, and he looked deeply into her misty eyes.

"Silly girl."

A playful curve formed on Qin Feng's lips. His voice was deep and magnetic, like a feather lightly tickling Shi Ji's heart.

"Can a disciple and a Dao Companion be the same?"