CH 8

“You can’t go in, you can’t go in.” Outside the Evening Snow Spring, a green-feathered bird blocked Gu Lingxiao’s path. This green kite was Chi Ning’s spiritual pet, and was rather intelligent. “He’s bathing right inside, you hooligan.”

It meant that Chi Ning was currently cultivating in the cold spring, and didn’t let outsiders enter.

“I’m here to find something.”

After waking from his nightmare, Gu Lingxiao felt around for his jade pendant instinctively, and searched under his pillow, but came up with nothing. He had carefully wrapped the broken pieces of the jade pendant in a handkerchief, but now it was gone.

Chi Ning must have taken it.

The rims of Gu LIngixao’s eyes were bright red, and he gave off a dangerous air: The keepsake that his mother had given him, even if it shattered, it couldn’t be taken away by others. 

The green kite continued to twitter: “Wait a little. Xianzun will be angry.”

“How noisy.”

Gu Lingxiao pushed the babbling green bird three zhang back, and walked into the depths of the cold spring.

The Evening Snow Spring formed from the thawing of underground ice veins millenia old. Its ice floes and scattered snow never dissolved. The area around the spring was as piercingly cold as the bitter winter, and most flora were incapable of surviving there. Only the pine trees and plum blossoms were able to thrive with fragrance.

Gu Lingxiao didn’t bother to hide his footsteps or breaths. With Chi Ning’s cultivation, he must be well aware that there was an intruder.

But Gu Lingxiao caught a glimpse of his shizun through a cluster of plum blossom branches, and Chi Ning’s eyes were still shut, completely ignorant of his surroundings.

Chi Ning leaned against the edges of the pool, half of his hair immersed in its water. There was no difference between his cold white skin and the frost.

Gu Lingxiao stretched out a hand to push aside the flower branch, his gaze sweeping over the lines of Chi Ning’s neck and shoulders. The skin there was delicate and tender, and a single pinch would leave behind a red mark that wouldn’t fade for a long while.

He seemed absent-minded, and his hand accidentally squeezed. With a “snap”, the branch in his palm snapped.

With a quiver of his long eyelashes, Chi Ning swiftly glanced to where Gu Lingxiao stood.

A burst of white wind mixed with snow attacked Gu Lingxiao, and Gu Lingxiao immediately raised a hand to block it.

He was a little upset. Upset that he had alarmed such a beautiful scene of such a beautiful person.

In a flash, the wind and snow scattered, and Chi Ning appeared in front of his disciple with his clothes neat and tidy.

Chi Ning’s brow was slightly wrinkled, and his face was pale. His body was bound with a thick chill. With such a frail and sickly demeanor, one couldn’t help but covet every cun of skin and flesh beneath his lapels.

“What are you here for? Did the green kite let you in?”

How long had Gu Lingxiao been there? How much had he seen? Chi Ning’s heart thumped uncontrollably. Such an obedient child shouldn’t be misled.

Gu Lingxiao didn’t answer his shizun’s questions. He spread his right hand and lifted it out, saying, “Give it back.”

This statement came out of nowhere with no explanation, yet Chi Ning understood.

His fingers reached inside his wide sleeves, and when they emerged again, in the center of his palm was a smooth and glossy jade pendant.

It was whole and well, and a mountain green ornament had even been added to the bottom.

​Having returned the pendant to its rightful owner, Chi Ning’s fingers left Gu Lingxiao’s hand as soon as they brushed against it, like the tips of a willow lighting against the surface of the water.

Perhaps because it was so cold, Chi Ning’s voice was a little quiet, and trembled. “Since it’s so important, you must take care to look after it. If it breaks again, I…”

I won’t be consuming my spiritual energy to mend it for you again.

Chi Ning bit his lip and swallowed back the rest of his words. 

Spending some spiritual energy wasn’t that important, while this disciple of his meant a lot to him.

The cool jade was gradually heated by the warmth of this palm. Gu Lingxiao stared blankly for a long time. He felt moved, suspicious, hateful. Many feelings fizzled in his chest like boiling water.

Even a skilled cultivator had trouble defying the heavenly principles. It was difficult for a broken piece of jade to become whole again, and to do so one would have to pour out a generous amount of spiritual energy, consuming their cultivation.

Such an arduous yet unrewarding task, and yet Chi Ning carried it out for him without another word.

Gu Lingxiao’s emotions were complicated. Since he reincarnated, shizun was very good to him, exceptionally good.

But he couldn’t help but fear that it was only a false display of affection, nothing but honeyed words….

The pain of having his spiritual root dug out was forever a purgatory in Gu Lingxiao’s heart. If he gained goodwill towards Chi Ning over such minute matters, he would always vividly recall all the biting events of the past. 

Chi Ning didn’t know the thoughts in his disciple’s heart, and upon seeing Gu Lingxiao look down and cease to speak, he only thought his honey was too touched.

“It’s late, go back and sleep.” Chi Ning’s expression carried heavy fatigue.

The two went their separate ways. Chi Ning walked into Alkaid Palace, closing his bedroom door tight, and his ramrod straight back finally bent, unable to carry its heavy burden.

He staggered towards his bed, and his jet-black strands of hair turned white, falling against his back like snow.

“Hurts…”

As if a club were beating at his brain, Chi Ning sank into his bedding, rubbing at his temples, quietly moaning in pain. 

These feeble groans died in the darkness, unheard by a single soul.