The white-robed cultivator landed on a blue stone by the stream, his features relaxed and clear.
His tone carried a hint of a casual smile. “Lumian, this Seat has arrived.”
The girl in the jade-green gown raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she squinted at him. “A mere Little Ling, yet you dare to show off like this.”
The white-robed cultivator didn't bicker with her, getting straight to the point. “Alright, alright. Where is it broken this time? I'll go fix it.”
The girl in the jade-green gown stood on her tiptoes, pointing her slender finger toward the southeastern corner of the sky-screen, her cherry lips parting slightly. “There.”
Without another word, the white-robed cultivator tapped his toes and soared into midair.
Various spiritual runes flashed in his eyes as his gaze carefully swept along the flow of the array's pathways. Within just a few breaths, he identified the root of the malfunction.
The damaged part of the array core was not inside the valley, but by the riverbank on the outskirts of the valley—
That was a key node where the sect-protecting array connected to the external spiritual vein. Having been soaked in the medicinal qi of the valley for years, even the river water carried a faint shade of jade-green.
With a movement of his body, he transformed into a streak of white light and flew straight toward the outskirts of the valley.
The girl in the jade-green gown also lifted her skirt and followed closely behind, her jade-green hem leaving a fleeting shadow through the forest.
As soon as the two landed by the riverbank, they ran into several Spring-Return Valley disciples carrying medicinal baskets.
Upon seeing them, everyone hastily bowed and said in unison, “Valley Master.”
Then, they turned to the white-robed cultivator and bowed respectfully. “Taixu Sacred Lord.”
The girl in the jade-green gown nodded slightly, and the white-robed cultivator also gave a faint nod in acknowledgment.
However, after taking only a few steps, the white-robed cultivator felt that something was amiss—
The gazes of those disciples just now kept shifting back and forth between the two of them, their eyes carrying a hint of an indescribable, knowing smile.
Could they... think there was something going on between the two of them?
The moment this thought popped up, the white-robed cultivator stiffened all over, letting out a sharp, sudden gasp.
Clearly, this shocking realization had thoroughly startled him.
The girl in the jade-green gown was completely baffled by his sudden outburst.
She tilted her head to study his strangely expressive face, whispering to herself:
Is Little Ling out of his mind?
Should I give him an examination later?
Where should I start examining him first?
If I tie him up in the valley's secret room and examine him slowly...
As she thought about it, her toes inside her embroidered shoes involuntarily curled up.
This is too exciting...
While she was lost in her wild fantasies, the white-robed cultivator had already walked up to a half-man-tall, black array stone by the riverbank.
The surface of the array stone was carved with intricate spiritual runes, with faint jade-green spiritual light seeping from the cracks, though several lines had already dimmed and fractured.
He placed his fingertip on the array stone and frowned.
“The spiritual vein foundation of this array core is completely ruined. I might as well just replace it for you! That way, I won't have to keep coming over so often...”
As soon as he finished speaking, two voices rang out simultaneously:
“No way! This array was laid down by my late master. This Valley Master refuses to replace it!”
“No way! This array was laid down by my late master. This Valley Master refuses to replace it!”
“Little Ling, why are you copying this Valley Master?”
“Little Ling, why are you copying this Valley Master?”
Again, in unison.
The girl in the jade-green gown instantly flared up with anger. She raised her foot and kicked hard toward his butt.
The white-robed cultivator was already prepared. He dodged to the side and avoided the kick.
The girl in the jade-green gown had put plenty of force into the kick. After missing him, the residual force rushed straight toward the river surface.
With a loud splash—
The jade-green river water whipped up a wave several chang high, and a deluge of water splashed down toward the two of them.
Unhurriedly, the white-robed cultivator flipped his wrist and summoned an umbrella.
Its surface was painted with light clouds and mountain patterns. Holding it in front of them, he shielded the girl in the jade-green gown completely under the umbrella.
The waterfall crashed onto the umbrella and then slid off.
In the space behind the umbrella, the mountain wind swept in, carrying the jade-green water and the scent of medicine.
Despite the surging waves, not a single drop of water touched them.
Holding the umbrella handle, the white-robed cultivator turned his head and looked helplessly at the girl in the jade-green gown.
“Lumian, can you please not hit people at the drop of a hat? You can't even tell friend from foe!”
“Ah—”
The white-robed cultivator suddenly felt a massive force strike his butt. Together with the umbrella, he flew straight into the river, turning into a drenched white chicken.
On the bank, the girl in the jade-green gown raised her exquisite chin, her eyes brimming with mischief.
“Humph, a mere Little Ling, yet you dare to show off in front of this Valley Master!”
The white-robed cultivator popped his head out of the water and wiped the river water off his face, utterly exasperated.
“To hell with you, Bai Lumian! You're returning kindness with enmity!”
With a flash of his body, he returned to the bank and chanted a cleansing spell, dispersing all the water on his clothes.
However, his chest heaved up and down; he was clearly furious.
Turning his back to her, he said in a muffled, sullen voice:
“I'm not fixing it anymore! Find someone else to repair your array. Let whoever wants to do it do it!”
“Every time, I come over to do free volunteer work for you. It's fine that there's no reward, but now I even get kicked into the water by you!”
“I'm not doing it! I'm not doing it!”
The girl in the jade-green gown also felt that she had been a bit too much just now.
She tiptoed over, using her slender, scallion-like fingertips to gently tug his sleeve, shaking it.
“I'm sorry, Little Ling...”
“I was just playing a small joke on you. Don't be mad anymore, okay?”
The white-robed cultivator still put on airs, refusing to turn around.
The girl in the jade-green gown instantly grew annoyed. She let go of his sleeve and pointed at the white-robed cultivator's nose.
“Little Ling, don't push your luck! This Valley Master already apologized to you. What more do you want?”
Without a word, the white-robed cultivator raised his hand to tear open a spatial rift and prepared to step inside.
“What do I want?”
“I'm leaving!”
Seeing this, the girl in the jade-green gown hastily grabbed the white-robed cultivator's arm again, her face full of flattery.
“Hey, hey, don't go, Little Ling! I was wrong!”
“You are the most dashing Mahayana cultivator in the entire Xuanling Realm, a grandmaster in space, talismans, and arrays!”
“You surely wouldn't get angry with a little girl like me, right?”
Her amber eyes fluttered, her lips pursed into a soft curve, and her cheeks puffed out slightly.
With his back to her, the white-robed cultivator's shoulders twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
“Oh, what on earth will it take for you to forgive me!” The girl in the jade-green gown stamped her foot.
The white-robed cultivator finally turned around slowly.
“You want me to forgive you?”
“Yes, yes!” The girl in the jade-green gown nodded hastily.
The white-robed cultivator stared straight at her.
“Fine. If I do something out of line, will you forgive me as well?”
The girl in the jade-green gown was taken aback by his question.
Something out of line?
Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She instinctively pulled her hands to her chest, clenching them gently.
What does Little Ling want to do?
Could he be wanting to do... something to me?
Should this Valley Master indulge him?
And after indulging him, should I forgive him?
Her mind fell into utter chaos, and her cheeks gradually grew warm.
Seeing her silence, the white-robed cultivator sighed with feigned disappointment.
“See? If you won't forgive me no matter what I do, why should I stay here?”
As he spoke, he prepared to turn around and step into the spatial rift again.
“I'm off!”
“Wait!” The girl in the jade-green gown hurriedly pulled him back.
She bit her lip. As if having made up her mind, she raised her eyes to look at him.
“Fine! No matter what you do, I will forgive you!”
The white-robed cultivator paused in his tracks.
He turned around, looked at her eyes—which were clearly flustered yet desperately trying to play it cool—and suddenly chuckled.
“Alright then.”
He looked at her.
“Close your eyes.”
Close my eyes?!
The girl in the jade-green gown was instantly stunned.
Could this Little Ling really be trying to do something to this Valley Master?
Closing my eyes... could it be... a kiss?
Her cheeks instantly burned hot.
But that... that would be this Valley Master's first kiss!
Her heart thudded wildly, and she looked at him with a flustered gaze.
But on second thought, this dense block of wood seemed to have finally gained some sense.
If she rejected him now, she might never get another chance in the future.
The more the girl in the jade-green gown thought about it, the more panicked she became, the tips of her ears turning so red they looked ready to bleed.
She felt utterly self-conscious under the white-robed cultivator's intense gaze, but she still bit her lip and slowly closed her eyes.
The bright sunlight fell upon her face, her eyelashes fluttering gently under the warm light, and even the fine, soft peach fuzz on her cheeks was illuminated with soft clarity.
She held her breath, her senses suddenly becoming extraordinarily sharp.
The wind stopped.
The sound of flowing water seemed to drift away.
She could only hear her own heart beating.
Thump, thump.
In her perception, the white-robed cultivator's scent drew closer and closer.
Oh no, oh no! Are we really about to kiss?
He stopped. Is he going to kiss me now?
The girl in the jade-green gown was so nervous that even her fingertips trembled slightly.
BAM—!!!
A rushing wind carrying a massive force kicked her right in the butt.
Her entire body flew straight out.
At first, she had thought that the feeling of a kiss was supposed to make one feel like they were flying...
Rate on N.U.
