Mistress Calls Su'er; Junior Sister Calls Kuai'er (54k)

A thin mist floats Lotus Birth Pool. The warm, moist vapor rises and meets the cold winter air, forming a layer of beautiful ice crystals that hang on the leaves of the surrounding trees, like sparkling little diamonds.

You Su stood outside the pool, where it was so quiet that she could hear only her own breathing.

Is it always this quiet when my Mistress is alone?

Isn't it... a little too lonely?

He Shutong's stunning figure was hidden behind the mist as she gazed tenderly at You Su, as if checking if the young man was injured.

"Mistress," You Su broke the silence first.

"Just returned to the summit?"

"Um."

You Su nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then added, "I wanted to let my Mistress know I was safe as soon as I got back... so I ventured into the forest without warning, hoping I didn't disturb Mistress..."

"Didn't you talk to your senior and junior sisters first?"

You Su shook her head.

He Shutong's smile deepened after receiving this reply, and she said softly:

"If I felt you would bother me, you wouldn't be able to get close to the Lotus Birth Pool at all. So come find your Mistress whenever you want, don't worry about these things."

The entire fairy forest outside moves according to He Shutong's will; if she doesn't want to, even the Third Elder will be turned away.

"Yes."

You Su nodded slightly. Logically, after reporting that he was safe, he should have left, but he hesitated, as if reluctant to leave.

Fortunately He Shutong didn't seem to want the boy to leave so soon either. She said softly:

"Tell me about your journey. You've done many things outside, but I know very little about them."

The following sentence contains a hint of resentment, but it is not resentment towards You Su, but rather resentment towards himself.

You Su's heart softened upon hearing this; he had no reason to refuse.

So he slowly recounted his experiences over the past few days. He knew the importance of reporting good news and not bad news, so he downplayed the thrill of the story and emphasized the final gains.

He naturally kept certain secrets to himself, including the name He Kongyue. After all, this was a surprise for his master's Mistress, You Su didn't want to reveal that he had already made contact with the He family. As for He Kongyue, who had a very strong presence in this story, he only briefly mentioned that he had made a new friend.

"Is your new friend a man?" He Shutong suddenly asked.

You Su was first taken aback, then felt somewhat embarrassed. Could it be that in his Mistress's eyes, he was just like Jia Baoyu, who only played with women?

"Of course it's a man."

Upon hearing this, He Shutong smiled with delight and asked a series of questions:

"What's his name? Is he from the Xuanxiao Sect? Or some other sect on Shenshan Mountain? Which family in Henggao City is he from...?"

"What did your Mistress ask him?"

"He's the first person you've ever admitted to being a friend, so of course I need to know him well enough so I can look after him if we see each other again."

You Su found it amusing and couldn't help but ask herself: Am I really that difficult to get along with?

The Mistress acted as if she were watching her own withdrawn child finally make his first friend. She felt gratified and wanted to hold onto that friend tightly, as if she was afraid he would stop playing with her child.

"There's no need for that, Mistress. It's not like I can't make friends."

You Su casually brushed it off, then changed the subject:

"Does Mistress have any friends? If I see them in the future, I can be more respectful to others and avoid embarrassing Mistress."

You Su's disrespect towards Venerable Jiyuan was enough to show that this blind man was fearless when necessary.

However, He Shutong couldn't answer for a long time. She seemed somewhat guilty and said in a sad voice:

"I don't have many friends... Perhaps, your master is one."

Her guilt was not without reason. Many young people's elders could bring blessings to their offspring through their accumulated connections, but You Su couldn't enjoy the conveniences she should have provided. He couldn't even really rely on her...

Upon hearing this, You Su felt deeply remorseful. Knowing that his Mistress had been cold and unapproachable in the past, he had asked this question on purpose, wasn't he just deliberately touching a sore Mistress?

"Are Mistress and Master... just friends?"

You Su asked the question almost subconsciously.

"I suppose so. Your master seems bold and magnanimous, but she's actually quite arrogant. The only person she can truly talk to is me, and I'm actually pretty much the same as her."

He Shutong smiled faintly, and then remembered the carefree Guan Chujun.

"I see..."

You Su fell into deep thought. He had thought that his Mistress and master were just ordinary senior and junior siblings, but in fact their relationship was better than he thought, which made him feel a little guilty.

"Then why did Master 'Mistress pretend to be his dao companion?"

"If it's not a fake knot, is it a real knot?"

He Shutong asked in confusion, looking at You Su's hesitant expression, her brows furrowing slightly, and her voice becoming more serious:

"Didn't I tell you to ask whatever you want? So there's no need to be shy."

"Then... may I ask?"

"Um."

You Su mustered her courage, wanting to find out the answer:

"Doesn't Mistress like Master?"

?

He Shutong was taken aback. "Why are you asking this?"

"Ah? It's nothing... Mistress doesn't have to answer."

He Shutong keenly noticed that You Su had actually lowered his head. She looked closely and realized that the boy was blushing, which was extremely rare for him.

Although the reason for You Su's blushing was unknown, given He Shutong's earlier remarks, it was impossible for her not to answer.

"I have no romantic feelings for your master, and your master feels the same way about me."

She pursed her thin, red lips and added:

"But even if your master and I aren't truly dao companion, I am still your true Mistress. Or perhaps you harbor resentment towards this false title?"

Even now, she still doesn't understand why Guan Chujun insisted on disguising himself as a man to deceive You Su, but she has always been a person of her word and would certainly not take the initiative to expose Guan Chujun's secret.

"There's no resentment! Absolutely none!"

You Su quickly tried to prove himself.

It can be said that after hearing He Shutong's answer, You Su had no more reservations.

A sudden impulse arose within him, prompting him to bravely speak out what he had previously considered inappropriate:

"Actually, Mistress has more than one friend besides Master..."

He Shutong pondered for a moment, "You mean the Third Elder?"

Perhaps the Third Elder could indeed be considered one, but I owe her quite a lot... He Shutong thought to herself.

You Su gently gritted her teeth, raised her head, and her eyes gleamed slightly:

"The Third Elder is... me too... of course, Senior Sister and Junior Sister can be too."

He Shutong smiled gently, her eyes as clear as water, "You're all so young, how can you be counted?"

You Su retorted firmly, "Those who cultivate themselves naturally disregard age differences and have countless friendships that transcend age. As long as the friendship is deep and the people share the same ideals, how can they not be considered friends?"

He Shutong remained silent, deeply moved.

Was he trying to comfort me by saying I had no friends and wanting to befriend this old, faded woman?

This child is just too gentle...

"Learning is valuable when it comes to having a teacher, and it is also valuable when it comes to having friends. A teacher and a friend are equally good teachers and helpful friends. It is clear that teachers and friends can go hand in hand, and what does it have to do with things like age that are irrelevant? Doesn't your Mistress want to be friends with Su'er?"

You Su stared blankly at the woman behind the mist, his expression somewhat somber.

Su, Su, Su'er...?!

Before He Shutong could even speak, she was already stammering in her mind.

She always called You Su by her full name.

Even the Wangshu Fairy, whom they raised from childhood, is addressed simply as Wangshu.

Looking back on her life, she seemed to always keep her distance from people, and never once called someone by an affectionate name like 'Su'er'...

This isn't because she looks down on others; on the contrary, it's a way for her to protect them. Because she's closed off from love, she fears intimate relationships that might harm others.

Is this child... trying to get closer to me?

He Shutong hesitated, worried that she might harm You Su in the same way she had harmed her mother, her Mistress, and Jade Quiet Venerable.

But the warm pool water around her reminded her that she was no longer the same person she used to be. Her inner peace had melted away because of You Su, and she no longer needed to run away.

"Of course I'd like to be friends with... and Su'er."

He Shutong gently bit her bright red lower lip, a captivating blush rising to her cheeks. In the dead of winter, she found the warm pool rather too hot.

You Su smiled, as if he had suddenly relaxed.

"Mistress, I've made a new friend. Her name is He Shutong. I would appreciate it if Mistress could look after her for me as well."

He Shutong smiled broadly after being You Su, her smile as radiant as a blooming flower, brightening the entire world and captivating everyone with her beauty.

"Okay. I've also made a new friend. His name is You Su. Remember to show him some respect when you see him in the future."

Upon hearing this, You Su chuckled foolishly and scratched his head.

The sunlight was warm, He Shutong couldn't remember the last time she had smiled so openly.

I never imagined that there would be someone in this world who would joke with her like that. Actually, she wasn't a cold and boring iceberg at all.

She felt genuinely happy because her relationship with You Su had progressed further. Besides being a disciple and his Mistress, they were also friends, friends who could joke around with each other.

Very nice...

She just didn't know that if You Su didn't care whether she was his real Mistress or not, why did he ask her if she liked his master?

Does this... affect their ability to make friends?

Winter days are always shorter.

By the time You Su came out, it was already getting late, and Ji Lingruo and Wangshu had returned to Lotus Peak.

Wangshu was overjoyed and waved his arms, shouting "Junior Brother!"

Ji Lingruo spat lightly, and only after You Su entered did she feign composure and say:

"You're still willing to come back?"

You Su was in a great mood and simply laughed it off.

Ji Lingruo felt a surge of curiosity and used her elbow to push away You Su, who was leaning towards her.

"Why do you always look so disgusting every time you come out of Master's place?"

How did I become disgusting?

"His... laughter was disgusting..."

Ji Lingruo a disdainful twitch at the corner of her mouth.

"Because my junior brother was very happy, extremely happy."

Wangshu Fairy looked into You Su's eyes, You Su quickly looked away as if he were doing something wrong.

"I'm naturally happy that my Mistress praised me."

"Praise you? Praise you for what?" Ji Lingruo asked curiously.

With her senior sister present, You Su couldn't lie or make excuses, so she had to tell the truth:

"My Mistress complimented me on how well I dressed."

Ji Lingruo raised her eyebrows and looked You Su up and down.

Only then did people realize that You Su's outfit was a departure from his previous all-black style. Instead, it was predominantly a dark black with red undertones, interspersed with silver-gray silk threads embroidered with auspicious clouds and dragons, making You Su appear extraordinary.

Ji Lingruo nodded repeatedly, quite satisfied with You Su's outfit.

"Not bad, not bad, True Person quite presentable..."

But remember, a woman's mood changes faster than turning the pages of a book. She immediately grabbed the soft flesh between You Su's waist and abdomen, and said in a dangerous tone:

"But I don't remember packing this for you... Tell me! Which woman bought it for you?!"

Wangshu, remembering her junior sister's instructions, sniffed the air and reported:

"Reporting, junior sister, there are two flavors, one is from a woman, and the other... should be from a man."

"It really does smell like a woman's fragrance!" Ji Lingruo to pinch it.

You Su hadn't expected the two to team up like this, and explained helplessly:

"This dress was a gift from He Kongyue, not bought for me by any woman."

Wangshu leaned closer and sniffed a few more times, then nodded and said, "Junior Brother wasn't lying. The scent of these clothes is indeed very familiar; it's He Kongyue."

?

You Su raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Didn't Brother He say he'd never worn these clothes before? How come he's already showing his true colors... But it's fine, at least I don't have to waste my breath explaining anymore."

"With my senior sister here, why would I lie? As for that woman, she is actually Tao Yaoyao, another personal maid of the Hua Jing, First Seat, who is also Sister Yiyi's sister. She was the one who brought Brother He and me back. Since we were in the same sedan chair, it's inevitable that she picked up some of our scent," You Su continued to explain.

Upon Ji Lingruo also released her grip:

"Why wear someone else's hand-me-downs? People will think we can't afford them. Change them quickly, and I'll take you shopping at Henggao City sometime. You can buy as many of these clothes as you want."

Ji Lingruo a miser, but being a miser doesn't mean not spending money; it just means spending money within a certain limit.

She was about to become a wealthy stocking tycoon, so naturally she was willing to décor her man nicely.

"Mmm! I want to buy one for my junior brother too!" Wangshu Fairy clenched her fists, also looking forward to it.

You Su looked flattered and asked in surprise, "Has the royalties for 'The Return of the Return of the Condor Heroes' been paid?"

Ji Lingruo gave a mysterious hum, "You'll find out then. Elbow! Come to Ancient Moon Residence, I'll treat you to a good meal to welcome you back!"

After saying this, the girl walked out with a bold, crab-like gait, and Wangshu Fairy took the initiative to go over and take her arm.

You Su felt incredibly happy as she smelled the familiar fragrance filling her nostrils and quickly followed.

"Lotus Peak is still the best..."

The night was deep and cold, with sparse stars hanging in the sky.

The weather has been getting colder these past few days, and even cultivators at the Spirit Platform Realm can no longer act as recklessly as before.

Underneath the bed in Ji Lingruo's room was a space resembling a heated kang bed, filled with several pieces of Fire Rainbow Stone for heating. Not only was the bed warm, but the entire room was also filled with a cozy atmosphere.

This is a treasure sent to her by the Third Elder. It is a kind of Spirit Stone that comes from the edge of a volcano and was traded from the Eastern Ying Continent. It contains fire-attribute Mystic Qi absorbed from the volcano. Every winter, this kind of Spirit Stone is especially sought after in the Central Yuan Continent.

Since receiving this stone from her hometown, Ji Lingruo has never actually used it, as it is not only hard to buy but also a consumable item.

But she used it today, I don't know why...

The door creaked open gently.

The girl spat at herself in the mirror and said "As expected," before continuing to comb her long black hair.

"Did you put your senior sister to sleep again?"

You Su sat down on his own, then picked up the teacup that Ji Lingruo had drunk from and drank it all in one gulp.

Ji Lingruo, "You thirsty devil!"

You Su chuckled, "Don't even mention it. My senior sister insisted that I make up for all the Green Grass I owed her these past few days. I talked to her for ages before I finally got her to sleep."

"You're disgusted with your senior sister?" The girl glanced at You Su.

"How could that be? I was just in a hurry to get to my junior sister's room."

"I didn't ask you to come." Ji Lingruo rolled her eyes playfully.

You Su tactfully took the wooden comb from the girl's hand and began to stroke her still-damp hair.

Ji Lingruo recalled the moment when Wangshu Fairy's mask shattered outside Moxie City. She pursed her lips and asked solemnly:

"Tell me the truth, what is your attitude towards your senior sister?"

You Su paused in combing her hair. "Of course, it's about my attitude towards my senior sister."

"You're just spouting nonsense. Do you like your senior sister?"

She wasn't blind; she had seen their interactions when they were alone, and they didn't seem like normal senior and junior classmates.

Although the relationship between her and her fellow disciple wasn't exactly normal...

You Su didn't really want to hide it, "It's probably liking, the kind of liking between a man and a woman."

Ji Lingruo knew this would be the answer, but she was still a little angry when she heard You Su admit it.

She turned around and, as if You Su her anger, twisted her waist.

You Su didn't cry out in pain; this was what he had to endure. Facing the girl who was the first to enter his life, he felt only guilt.

"Why do you always eat the grass near your own nest?!" Ji Lingruo.

"This wasn't intentional..."

You Su expressed his helplessness, saying that his personality meant that women from his neighborhood were more likely to win his heart.

Ji Lingruo asked this question not to complain about You Su, nor did she want to create an awkward atmosphere during their reunion.

The girl sighed:

Do you know what your senior sister looks like?

"When I got close to my junior sister, I didn't even know what she looked like."

Ji Lingruo shook her head. "It's different..."

"What's different?"

"Nothing."

Looking into You Su's eyes, Ji Lingruo suddenly realized that being blind was probably an advantage in her senior sister's eyes.

"My senior sister is a very kind person, we can't let her be sad, you know?"

The girl turned her head away again; she was actually very soft-hearted.

The difficulty of being a "neighboring grass" lies here: the grasses all know each other and are familiar with one another, making it hard for her to be ruthless enough to shut others out.

"I won't let my junior sister be sad either."

You Su put down the comb and began to massage the girl's shoulders with great care.

"You really have the nerve to say that," Ji Lingruo scoffed. "But don't expect me to help you. If you want to be unfaithful, then do it your own way. If I feel neglected, then I'll neglect you too. If you treat me badly, then I'll leave you! I won't hang myself on one tree, you hear me!"

Touched, You Su quietly kissed the back of the girl's head, taking a deep breath:

"I will never let my junior sister leave me."

Ji Lingruo's cheeks flushed with shyness. In truth, she wasn't entirely confident in her words. Even if You Su truly neglected her, would she really be willing to leave You Su?

You Su knew that the girl needed a sense of security, so he wrapped his arms around her neck from behind.

Ji Lingruo's body tensed up at first, but then she gradually adjusted and relaxed, leaning against You Su's chest.

The Fire Rainbow Stone continued to radiate heat, and the two remained in this tender silence for a long time. Ji Lingruo she was about to break out in a sweat from the embrace; why hadn't the blind man made his next move yet?

What's going on? Planning to spend the whole night cuddling?

She felt that You Su was the kind of person who would do such a thing, after all, he had just made a mistake and wanted to pretend to be a devoted and virtuous gentleman in front of her for one night.

But this lady not only wants your affection, she wants you to be profound!

Otherwise, wouldn't I have wasted my time using the Fire Rainbow Stone?

Didn't I just wear that special little top with the bow for nothing?

I can't very well take the initiative, can I?

To avoid wasting her previous preparations, she shifted her body slightly and sat down a little further.

I saw her slightly raise her left arm, begin to slowly rub it, and then gently clamp it between her arms...

You Su hissed, revealing a triumphant smile.

My junior sister is naturally proud and aloof, and she can never bring herself to talk about such matters between men and women.

He did it on purpose; he couldn't always be the one licking his boots.

A gentle rustling sound arose spontaneously; outside was the cold of winter, but inside it was a warm and humid spring.