Ever since returning from Chentang Pass, life seemed to have slowed down all at once.
That sinister White Bone Cave had been replaced by the grand, ancient Azure Stone Palace. The deathly aura and resentment in the mountains had been thoroughly cleansed away, replaced by a steady yet vibrant Dao aura.
Over the following days, Qin Feng devoted nearly all his attention to Nezha.
Inside the quiet chamber, little Nezha sat cross-legged atop a jade bed, his eyes tightly shut and his small face filled with concentration.
Qin Feng extended a finger over Nezha's head. Strands of gray airflow, finer than hair, slowly descended and entered through the crown of Nezha's head.
It was Chaos Origin Qi, refined to the utmost extreme.
The moment this Chaos Qi entered his body, it became like the most skilled divine artisan, beginning the most thorough reconstruction of Nezha's lotus incarnation.
Nezha's small body began to emit a hazy gray glow. From time to time, traces of foul-smelling black impurities seeped from his skin, only to be instantly evaporated by the Chaos Qi.
His foundation as an Innate Spiritual Treasure was being broken down bit by bit, then reassembled in an older, more domineering, and more perfect manner.
Throughout the process, Nezha did not feel the slightest pain. Instead, he felt warm all over, as if he were soaking in the warmest hot spring, so comfortable that he nearly moaned aloud.
Shi Ji stood at the entrance to the quiet chamber, silently watching everything.
She could sense just how terrifying and magnificent the power contained within that gray airflow was. It seemed to stand above the Heavenly Dao itself, the origin of all things.
Yet Qin Feng used such power without the slightest hesitation to cleanse and reconstruct a child's body.
Such extravagance was unheard of even in the Primordial World. Perhaps not even Dao Ancestor Hongjun could produce it.
An hour later, Qin Feng slowly withdrew his finger, and the glow around Nezha gradually receded as well.
The little fellow let out a long breath of turbid air, then abruptly opened his eyes. Two flashes of golden light vanished in an instant.
He leaped down from the jade bed and stretched his limbs, feeling as though his entire body was filled with inexhaustible strength. He felt refreshed beyond measure.
"Master!"
Nezha called out brightly, his eyes filled with affection and worship.
A faint smile appeared on Qin Feng's face as he rubbed Nezha's little head.
This smile was different from the coldness he showed his enemies, and different from the amusement he displayed when plotting against opponents. It was pure and gentle, carrying the loving kindness of an elder toward a junior.
"Your foundation has stabilized. Cultivate diligently in the future, and do not grow slack."
Qin Feng's voice was as calm as ever, but Nezha could hear a trace of concern within it.
"Yes! This disciple obeys!" Nezha puffed out his little chest and answered loudly.
Qin Feng smiled again at that, then flicked his finger.
A mass of Chaos Qi shifted within his palm and, in the blink of an eye, became a lifelike Vermillion Bird Divine Bird the size of a palm. Flapping its wings, it circled through the quiet chamber, scattering brilliant sparks of fire.
Nezha's eyes instantly lit up like two glittering black gems.
He reached out curiously to touch the Vermillion Bird. As though it possessed intelligence, it obediently landed on his fingertip and affectionately rubbed its little head against him.
"Wow!"
Nezha cried out in delighted amazement. His entire attention was captured by the magical little bird, and his giggles echoed through the quiet chamber.
Qin Feng sat nearby, quietly watching Nezha play with the Chaos Vermillion Bird, the faint smile never leaving his lips.
He even patiently explained some basic principles of the Law of Fire to Nezha in the simplest language possible, weaving the profound truths of the Great Dao into this small game.
The scene was harmonious and warm.
But in Shi Ji's eyes, standing at the entrance to the quiet chamber, it stirred an unfamiliar and strange feeling within her heart.
Sour and bitter.
She watched Qin Feng's profile, watched the pure gentleness and patience on his face that he had never shown her before.
This man had confronted a Saint for her, leveled Chentang Pass for her, and rescued her from the oppression of the Chan Sect.
He had given her a home called Azure Stone Palace and a sense of security unlike anything she had ever known.
The way he treated her was domineering and forceful, filled with the possessiveness and declaration of, "You are my woman. No one is allowed to bully you."
Shi Ji was utterly enamored with that feeling, willing to lose herself in it and offer everything she had.
But...
As she watched Qin Feng teach Nezha, that feeling seemed more like that of a loving father patiently guiding his child through their first unsteady steps.
That gentleness contained no possessiveness, no domineering aura. It was as pure as a clear spring.
She realized that she was actually a little jealous.
Jealous of a child.
The moment that thought arose, Shi Ji's cheeks grew faintly hot, and a trace of embarrassment welled up in her heart.
What was wrong with her? She had watched Nezha grow up too. Qin Feng treating him well should have made her happy.
Yet that sourness spread silently through her heart like creeping vines, winding tighter and tighter.
She silently withdrew and returned to the main hall. Distractedly, she brewed herself a cup of Immortal Tea, but did not take a single sip for a long while.
Over and over in her mind echoed Qin Feng's gentle gaze and indulgent smile whenever he looked at Nezha.
It seemed he had never smiled at her that way.
Night fell.
Moonlight flowed like water through the palace windows, spilling a clear radiance across the floor.
Nezha had long since fallen into deep sleep to the sound of Qin Feng's stories, covered by a thin quilt woven from Cloud Mist.
Qin Feng sat cross-legged in the seat of honor within the main hall, resting with his eyes closed. The entire palace was so quiet that one could hear their own heartbeat.
A faint fragrant breeze drifted in.
Without opening his eyes, Qin Feng knew that Shi Ji had arrived.
Her footsteps were soft and hesitant, eventually stopping beside him.
Shi Ji carried a plate of freshly picked Immortal Fruits still covered in dew as she gracefully approached Qin Feng.
She gently set the jade plate on the table, but instead of naturally sitting in Qin Feng's lap as she usually did, she chose a meditation cushion beside him. She sat quietly with her head lowered, twisting the hem of her clothes in her hands without saying a word.
A subtle atmosphere spread through the air.
Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze falling upon the stunning figure beside him.
Today, she wore a long, snow-white palace dress. Under the moonlight, her skin appeared even fairer than snow, while her dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Her lowered, graceful neck formed a heart-stirring curve.
"What is it?"
Qin Feng's voice broke the silence, as gentle as ever.
Shi Ji's body trembled almost imperceptibly.
She kept her head lowered and remained silent for a long time, as though making some difficult decision.
At last, as though she had gathered all her courage, she suddenly raised her head.
Her eyes, usually cold or alluring, were now veiled in mist, as though filled with an inexpressible grievance. She stared straight at Qin Feng.
Gently biting her rosy lower lip with pearly teeth, she spoke in a soft, quiet voice that carried a nearly imperceptible tremble and hint of coy reproach.
"Fellow Daoist Qin Feng..."
"Have you... stopped doting on me now that you have a disciple?"
She paused, as though feeling that those words were not enough to express how she felt, then gathered her courage and added another sentence.
"You treat him... even better than you treat me..."
The instant those words fell, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.
That almost coquettish question was like a stone tossed into a still lake, instantly stirring circles of ambiguous ripples in Qin Feng's heart.
He looked at the breathtaking goddess before him, her eyes reddened and her face clearly declaring, "I'm jealous." He was first stunned, then understood.
A trace of amusement, understanding, and irrepressible indulgence rose within him.
Qin Feng said nothing. He merely leaned forward slightly and reached out, gently pinching her pointed, snow-white chin.
His gaze turned scorching, carrying a hint of aggression as he stared deeply into her misty eyes.
"Silly girl."
A teasing curve rose at Qin Feng's lips. His voice was low and magnetic, like a feather lightly brushing across Shi Ji's heart.
"Can a disciple and a Dao Companion be the same?"
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