Minglong

Chapter 377 The Foolish Disciple

Linde Hall.

Many imperial physicians stood waiting outside the side hall, while Emperor Qian, Zhao Xiao, also stood outside the hall comforting Empress Xu, who had come upon hearing the news.

"She just fainted from fright. Miss Zisu is examining her; she'll be fine..."

The hall was quite quiet. Lin Zisu, still wearing her black and green cloak, sat beside the bed, taking the pulse of the reclining Jinzhiyuye with a look of surprise in her eyes.

"This Qilin blood is incredibly potent. My Qi Sea is already showing signs of condensation like dew. If I fully absorb it, I might be able to catch up with my grandmaster. However, this substance should only enhance physical strength and not affect the soul. Why is the person still unconscious...?"

Linghu Qingmo sat down in front of him, looking at his master who had suddenly run back with concern:

"Master, why did you suddenly come back? Did something happen in Yanbo City?"

Nangong Ye could no longer maintain her usual aloof and elegant sword immortal demeanor; her mind was filled with thoughts of how shocked and disgusted Ling'er would be when she discovered the absurd things she had done.

The dignified leader of the Dan Ding Sect outwardly upholds the righteous path, but in secret, she seduces her son-in-law, shares a husband with a vixen from the Gu Poison Sect, and even uses shameful methods to please men...

I might as well just die...

Nangong Ye's eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

"Hey?"

Lin Zisu had revived the patient several times, but it was strange that the patient would suddenly go black as soon as he woke up.

Fortunately, she had brought the "Cannot Die Pill" with her on this trip. Seeing that ordinary methods were no longer effective, Lin Zisu took out a pill from her waist and put it between her cherry lips.

The "cannot die pill" is a potent stimulant that can prevent people from fainting or having a mental breakdown even in extreme environments, and its effects certainly live up to its name.

When Nangong Ye woke up again, she found Qingmo still in front of her, and Ling'er was still watching the absurd things she had done. She was heartbroken.

But this time, no matter what I did, I couldn't faint. Countless thoughts flooded my mind, and I felt as if the sky had fallen...

"Master?"

Linghu Qingmo grasped his hand, his eyes filled with concern:

"Why aren't you saying anything? Xie Jinhuan wouldn't..."

Nangong Ye felt like he had suffered social death, utterly ashamed to face Qingmo, but he couldn't faint or pretend to be stupid, so he could only respond in a dazed and confused manner:
"No, Xie Jinhuan is safe and sound."

"Then why is Master acting like this..."

Nangong Ye knew he could no longer hide it. Before leaving, he had sworn to confess upon his return, but now that he could no longer conceal it, he considered his options briefly and first looked at Zisu:
“Miss Zisu, why don’t you wait outside for a moment? I have something I’d like to discuss with Qingmo privately.”

Seeing that the patient was no longer dizzy, Lin Zisu didn't say anything, put away her medicine box, and left the dormitory.

Linghu Qingmo sat down in front of his master, holding his hand, his gaze serious:
"Could it be that something happened to Master? Is it serious?"

It's very serious...

Nangong Ye suppressed his scattered thoughts, and after a moment of contemplation, he mustered his courage and said:
"You came to Zihui Mountain when you were six years old. I raised you and have always admonished you to be pure of heart and desire and to adhere to the righteous path. But I... sigh, I am not as pure of heart as you imagine..."

Linghu Qingmo blinked, considered for a moment, then suddenly his whole body trembled, revealing a strong killing intent:
"Master, why are you suddenly saying all this, and behaving so strangely? Did Xie Jinhuan do something disrespectful to you during this trip? That lecherous scoundrel..."

"Eh?!"

Nangong Ye, not wanting to ruin his disciple's marriage prospects due to his own misdeeds, quickly shook his head.
"No, he... he respected me very much and even gave me the Azure Dragon God that he had stolen."

"what?"

Linghu Qingmo was a little confused by this, and after careful consideration, he tentatively asked again:
"How could his Daoist heart be impure? Could it be that Master developed impure thoughts towards Xie Jinhuan because of this?"

Nangong Ye had already been tempted, but he couldn't agree directly, so he could only respond in a low voice:
"Even I, as your teacher, can't say for sure. Perhaps those involved are too blind to their own perspective..."

Linghu Qingmo was shocked to see that his otherworldly master did not deny it decisively!
But upon careful reflection, it seemed that everything had been foreshadowed. Linghu Qingmo thought for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and said:

"Last year in Xirong, Xie Jinhuan went mad and hugged his master. His master was upright and pure, but he didn't blame him. Last time at the Marquis's mansion, I used your body to help him... and you even got your face dirty, but you didn't feel resentful. That can only mean that your master doesn't dislike Xie Jinhuan."

"Xie Jinhuan is too outstanding; it's only natural that he would easily attract women's hearts. Now, Xie Jinhuan has risked everything to seize this opportunity and give it to Master. No woman in the world could remain unmoved… Did Master say anything to him? Does he know that Master has feelings for him?"

?

Looking at his naive and innocent disciple, Nangong Ye was in turmoil.

"He...he knows a little, but he's of good character and would never have wronged you. This time, he even found you a divine weapon that's extremely rare. It was I who was bewitched and failed to uphold my principles, getting too close to him..."

Linghu Qingmo blinked, somewhat puzzled:
"Master, do you mean that you, the most beautiful woman in the Taoist sect, took the initiative to get close to him, but he remained unmoved because of me and still treated you as an elder? Why was he unmoved?"

"what?"

Nangong Ye froze, scrutinizing Qingmo to see if his foolish disciple was possessed.

Linghu Qingmo was able to ask this question because in her heart, her master was the most aloof, upright, and beautiful fairy in the world. No one in the world should be able to refuse such a righteous and stunning beauty.

Xie Jinhuan may seem righteous but is actually wicked, but as someone close to him, how could she not know Xie Jinhuan's personality?

Although she looks very abstinent, she is more lewd than Nai Duo in private. She and Ling'er are easily aroused, and she even used her master's body to hold and feed him, which the lecherous man loved.

Now that Master is taking the initiative to get close to him, how could that lecherous man possibly resist...?

However, this question was indeed problematic, and Linghu Qingmo added:

"I'm not saying he should accept it, but the master's conditions are what they are. There was a lot of physical contact before. If he takes the initiative to get close, he probably won't be able to withstand the test."

"How did Master get close to him? Was it through words of concern, or did he overstep the boundaries? Physical contact is normal when you're out and about. He might be missing out on Master's feelings..."

"..."

The absurd things Nangong Ye did shattered Ling'er's worldview, and she didn't dare to speak even if she wanted to be honest. At this moment, her lips moved, but she didn't know how to respond.

Seeing that his master remained silent, Linghu Qingmo guessed that he had just fallen for her but was too shy to express it directly. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Fate is predetermined, and no one can change it if you encounter it. The fact that Master dared to tell me this so frankly shows that he is still clear-headed. Master has raised and taught me, and I will never blame him. If Master truly cannot suppress his distracting thoughts... then I will cultivate in seclusion on the mountain from now on..."

Nangong Ye was taken aback and quickly held down his foolish disciple:
"What are you saying? You're already engaged, and you're deeply in love; it's impossible for you to sever those ties..."

Upon seeing this, Linghu Qingmo countered with a question:

"Can Master sever the emotional ties in his heart?"

"..."

If Nangong Ye could have severed it, he would have done so long ago. He wouldn't have ended up in this state of being a fallen fairy. Although he didn't say anything, his evasive eyes said it all.

Seeing that look in his eyes, Linghu Qingmo knew that her master was hopelessly in love:

“My master won’t let me go back to the mountain to cultivate in seclusion, but he won’t let me… Even the witches of the Witch Cult wouldn’t do such a thing, how can we, the cultivators of the Pill Cauldron Sect, be so disregard for propriety? Didn’t you see how badly Master Li was scolded by Sect Leader Lu just for keeping a mistress…”

Nangong Ye wanted to say that the demoness and her disciples were very cunning, but how could a righteous fairy compare to a demoness in terms of mediocrity? Qingmo's words made him feel somewhat ashamed, and he could only say:

“It’s normal to encounter inner conflicts on the path of cultivation. I’ll find an opportunity to ask your grandmaster how she responded. I will follow whatever arrangements my master makes.”

"This matter is due to my impure mind, which caused me to have inappropriate thoughts. It has nothing to do with Xie Jinhuan, so please don't hold a grudge against him."

Linghu Qingmo truly hadn't expected that her aloof and icy sword immortal master would encounter such a love tribulation, but since things had come to this, she could only sigh softly.

“My master’s orders are as firm as the heavens. I will naturally listen to whatever my master says. If my grandmaster reprimands my master, my master shouldn’t take it too hard. In any case, I will always consider you my master…”

Seeing that Qingmo was still trying to comfort her, Nangong Ye felt a pang of self-reproach and shame, feeling unworthy of being a teacher. After a long silence, he reached out and hugged Qingmo.
"I've finished everything at Dragon Bone Beach. I'll be back in a few days, and we can talk then. You're thinking of thanking Jin Huan, aren't you? Why don't you go and take a look?"

"Alright, Ling'er isn't finished yet, Master, tell her to come back early."

Nangong Ye closed his eyes, trying to find the soul imprint, and went back to hide and calm down. However, he soon discovered that the Great Immortal Zisu was still too domineering.

The "Cannot Die Pill" not only prevents fainting, mental breakdown, and madness, but also prevents the soul from leaving the body and abandoning the physical form. It forces the mind to remain conscious and experience all kinds of physical and mental torment...

(End of this chapter)