Chapter 4 - A Token of Affection, The Undying Immortal Scripture

To read 219 chapters of the book I wrote, patreon.com/Guts02

Xu Yang glanced at Situ Qingqing, who lay beside him pretending to sleep. Her lips were pursed around a strand of her hair, and her cheeks were tinged with a lingering blush. She looked utterly worn out, as if she'd been through an ordeal, her energy barely present.

"Let's see if you'll dare talk so big next time!" Xu Yang muttered to himself. He reached over to warm his hands on the soft jade bowl nearby before getting up from the bed.

Situ Qingqing, half-asleep, let out a small hum, listening to the quiet sounds of Xu Yang getting dressed. She waited until the room fell silent before timidly opening her eyes, her gaze filled with embarrassment.

"Did… did Master really leave?" She whispered softly, sneaking a glance toward the door.

But there he was, walking back in with a teapot.

Swish—

Situ Qingqing panicked, closing her eyes again, pretending to still be asleep.

"Still pretending, are you? I saw you wake up," Xu Yang teased, setting the teapot down as he looked at her with an amused expression.

Caught in the act, Situ Qingqing could only abandon the pretense. She avoided meeting Xu Yang's eyes, instead turning her face away, her lashes trembling slightly.

"Master, I wasn't pretending. I truly fainted."

Though it sounded like an unconvincing excuse, she was telling the truth.

Xu Yang had indeed been quite persistent in his pursuit of "gains," and given her naturally delicate constitution, it was only normal for her to feel faint afterward.

Unfortunately, despite his efforts, Xu Yang hadn't managed to reap any rewards this time. He suspected the problem lay in his approach, but since there was no way to test that theory now, he would have to find another opportunity in the future.

"I believe you," he said with a small smile. "Your voice is hoarse; here, have some water."

Xu Yang poured her a cup of tea, gently helping her sit up.

Her body was already soft and weak, and hearing Xu Yang mention her hoarse voice, she practically melted against him, leaning softly into his arms. "Master…"

Seeing her like this, Xu Yang didn't push her further. Instead, he brought the cup to his lips, took a sip, and leaned down, offering the water to her directly.

Situ Qingqing's energy seemed to return a bit, though the blush on her face grew even more alluring. "Master?"

"Yes?" Xu Yang asked.

"You feel… like a different person. The old you would ignore all worldly matters and focus only on cultivation. Beyond guiding us in our training, you never showed us much care…"

"So, my feelings for you were something I could only keep hidden, never daring to express."

"When you fell into misfortune, I lost control and… acted disgracefully toward you."

"I thought for sure you would hate me, but…"

Situ Qingqing spoke softly, her voice full of emotion.

"And yet, not only did I cover for you, but I also took advantage of the situation?" Xu Yang asked, smiling.

"Well… technically, it was I who took advantage of you," she murmured, her cheeks flushed.

"Doesn't matter who took advantage of whom." Xu Yang leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "It's not that I've changed, but rather, I had a realization. Even if I focus solely on the Dao and detach from the world, true immortality is hard to grasp."

This was a story Xu Yang had prepared in advance to help his disciples understand his newfound approach to life.

"Master, please don't think like that. You're the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the Qingming Sect; even the Grand Elder has said you have the potential to reach the Void Shattering level," Situ Qingqing said, trying to comfort him from his embrace.

"Even reaching Void Shattering only grants a lifespan of a few thousand years. True immortality is still far off," Xu Yang sighed deeply, then looked at her with a mischievous smile. "Qing'er, could it be that you don't like the new me? If that's the case, I can always go back to my old ways…"

He made a show of getting up to leave.

"Huh?"

Situ Qingqing panicked, somehow mustering the strength to grab hold of him tightly, pulling him back down. Xu Yang hadn't expected this, and he stumbled, ending up with Situ Qingqing pressing him down beneath her.

She winced slightly, but still moved to sit astride his lap, clinging to him like a koala. "I… I like this new you, Master. I just don't know if you feel the same way about me."

"It seems Qing'er hasn't been taught a thorough enough lesson."

Xu Yang was a man of action; he held her by the waist, intending to turn her over.

Situ Qingqing trembled, whispering, "No need, Master… Qing'er understands your feelings now."

"Are you sure?"

"Master, please have mercy on me!" she pleaded, her voice trembling with an edge of desperation.

If she went through any more, she'd feel like her bones were coming apart.

Seeing her close to tears, Xu Yang thought to himself, Looks like I've finally convinced her completely.

"Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Why are you crying like a little child?" Xu Yang said, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes in a gentle, jade-like tone.

After a bit more coaxing, Situ Qingqing lay curled up against him, her shoulders trembling, still sobbing softly.

Xu Yang hadn't expected his casual remark to scare her so much. The Supreme Yang Physique really did live up to its name!

"Qing'er, if you stop crying, I can grant you something special."

He patted her snowy shoulder, speaking to her as one would to a child.

"Really?" Her crying stopped immediately. She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes, filled with expectation.

It actually worked… Xu Yang thought, somewhat surprised, but kept his face serious as he asked, "Yes, really. What would you like?"

"I want Master's jade pendant from your waist!" Situ Qingqing replied, as if she'd been waiting for this opportunity.

A jade pendant? Well, it's just a jade pendant… Xu Yang thought, inspecting the piece to ensure there was nothing special about it.

"Here." He handed the pendant to her.

"Master actually gave me this pendant!" Situ Qingqing's face lit up as she took the pendant, stars shining in her eyes as she looked at Xu Yang, her heart racing with excitement.

Master had once said that this pendant was the only memento left to him by his mother and held deep meaning.

If he was giving it to her… could this be…

A token of affection!

This must be a token of affection!

'Oh my god, Master must really like me!'

"Master, I'll treasure this jade pendant forever!" Situ Qingqing's cheeks flushed with a blush that spread to her ears and down her neck. After carefully storing the pendant, she pulled out an ancient jade slip from somewhere and offered it to Xu Yang. "Master, this is the most precious thing I own. Today, I want to give it to you!"

Situ Qingqing looked at Xu Yang with wide eyes, as if terrified he might refuse her gift.

"Since Qing'er is so sincere, I'll gladly accept," Xu Yang said, taking the jade slip. Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Situ Qingqing has gifted the host a heaven-rank incomplete technique, the Sun God Immortal Scripture, triggering a hundredfold critical return—acquired: The Undying Immortal Scripture!]

"An unexpected surprise!"

Xu Yang's eyes widened slightly, a hint of excitement flashing in his gaze.

To read 219 chapters of the book I wrote, patreon.com/Guts02