One of my fairy-like friends

Even with her master's aloof nature, her delicate body felt soft and fragrant as jade when held in her arms.

"I just wanted to know, why are you so wary?" Gu Hanshuang crossed her arms, her figure was very good, and this posture made her look even more stunning.

Can someone with such "excess fat" really wield a sword well?

"Could Fairy Gu really be considering becoming my Daoist partner?"

"Is it not possible? If I think it's appropriate, it's not impossible. I've heard some folk tales, which are generally about a man and a woman who are destined to be together, but because the woman is proud and doesn't want to believe in fate, she resists it very much. In the end, the woman is often conquered in various ways. She says she doesn't believe in fate, but the story often ends with the two getting married, and in the end, she is still deeply trapped in fate."

"Although I don't believe I'll necessarily be controlled by fate, I'm not as resistant as you think, otherwise I would have killed you with a single sword stroke long ago." Gu Hanshuang's expression was calm. Killing was as commonplace to her as breathing, and she considered it insignificant.

“I can resist so-called fate, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are indeed a suitable person for me, I don’t mind letting this so-called fate become a reality.” Gu Han Shuang is not rigid. She will not completely resist everything that may be related to “fate” just because she wants to defy it.

Fate does not necessarily mean tragedy. Some things, some destinies, do not need to be rejected, do they?

"Does Fairy Gu think I'm suitable?" Mingyan asked with a smile.

"Based on my current observations, to be honest, I don't think you're a good match for me. However, do you remember those folk tales I just mentioned?" Gu Hanshuang said calmly.

"Many of the women in those folk tales share my current thoughts, but those stories often lead to the same conclusion: they all believe that the man in the story has nothing that can 'move' them, but they often end up falling in love with him later on because those men always seem to have some unknown shining qualities. Perhaps, I can also find these qualities in you?"

Mingyan shook his head. "Fairy Gu, you're overthinking it. A story is just a story and doesn't mean anything. Unfortunately, I don't have any outstanding qualities."

Gu Hanshuang smiled gently, "From what I can see right now, I don't see anything in you that makes my heart race, but I don't mind spending more time with you. I'm a very patient person."

“I don’t know why you have this illusion that you might like me, Fairy Gu. Now that things have come to this, I have to remind you again that I already have someone I like. I admit that you are an extremely outstanding woman. You are very famous in the Southern Continent. You are both the number one genius and the number one beauty in the Southern Continent. There are many men in the world who are more worthy of your attention than me.” Ming Yan shook his head. “There’s no need to waste your time on me.”

"There are many?" Gu Hanshuang's lips curled up. "Even if I really wanted to find a Daoist partner, I wouldn't be so casual. Although I don't know what kind of physique you have, I can be sure that your growth is far superior to most other people. In my eyes, among all the men I have met so far, only you are qualified to walk hand in hand with me."

"Your strength leaves me with few options. At least for now, in my opinion, you are the most suitable person for me, despite your many problems."

"So you chose me for that reason?"

"I only have two choices, at least for now: either you, or no Daoist partner." Gu Hanshuang stood with her hands behind her back, a faint smile on her face. Her smile was different from other women's; it always carried a hint of disdain. "You know, it wasn't just me. The Demon King Bai Ze said something similar to Yu Mudan. He told Yu Mudan that she too would become your destined Daoist partner. That woman can't defy fate. If you two really end up together..."

"Even in that situation, I wouldn't dare kill you. The Moon Shadow Saintess is a saint. Even if I escape to the ends of the earth, she can still find me. Did you see what happened to that evil monk? He was reduced to ashes because he threatened your life. If I really killed you, my fate would probably be even worse than his. So rather than let you side with her and become a great enemy on my path, it's better to keep you by my side."

“I am not a tool for your power struggles.” Ming Yan frowned. “I will not get involved in your disputes.”

"Your stubbornness is just like that of a heroine in a folk tale." Gu Hanshuang chuckled twice, her tone full of sarcasm. "It's alright, I told you, I have patience."

Chapter Twenty-Two: What's Wrong with a Kiss?

Mingyan felt that Gu Hanshuang exuded a sinister aura, and she was very different from the aloof female sword immortal he had imagined.

Or rather, she can't be described as aloof at all. If she were truly aloof, it would be like her master, who always exudes a subtle sense of distance.

You can clearly feel her concern and her care, yet you seem unable to get close to her.

Although I once held her in my arms and cuddled her to sleep, did that truly bring me closer to her?

Sometimes, Mingyan felt a great distance from his master, and even when he got very close, he could not erase that distance.

Watching Gu Hanshuang walk away, Ming Yan withdrew his gaze and noticed that his senior sister was walking over. Her gaze was slightly different from usual.

"Junior brother."

The voices were also slightly different, but Mingyan didn't know what that meant.

"Senior Sister," Mingyan smiled, "what did you talk to Master about?"

"About Gu Hanshuang." Yue Qingying walked over and stood next to Ming Yan. "I just saw Gu Hanshuang smile a few times. It's hard to imagine that a woman like her would smile like that."

"Senior sister, are you referring to that contemptuous smile she had?" Mingyan laughed. "We were just talking about Jade Peony. I wonder what kind of conflict exists between these two women."

"Conflicts between women can be big or small. You shouldn't be curious. Once you're curious, you'll easily get dragged into it," Yue Qingying said with a smile, reaching out to pinch Mingyan's cheek.

“Of course I know, that’s why I didn’t ask.” Mingyan nodded.

"Good boy~" Yue Qingying's smile deepened as she took Mingyan's hand and intertwined her fingers. "Junior brother, I was thinking about some things just now."

"What is it?"

"I'm wondering, if you become a Daoist partner with someone else, will you still be this close to your senior sister?" Yue Qingying's voice was very soft, as if she lacked confidence.

"Why would you consider such a question?" Mingyan asked in surprise. "Shouldn't this be something you don't need to consider? Do you think that if I become a Daoist partner with someone else, I will become estranged from you?"

"That's hard to say. What if your partner thinks it's inappropriate for us to be too close?" Yue Qingying chuckled at Ming Yan's reaction.

"Do you mean we're too close?" Mingyan asked. "Like the training we've been doing?"

"Including these... What if your partner can't accept these things and wants you to keep your distance from me?" Yue Qingying smiled slightly, nodded gently, and asked.

"Will we have to do these things again?" Mingyan was a little confused. Wasn't this all training? Shouldn't it end when the training is over?

According to Mingyan's understanding, hugging and holding hands with his senior sister should be considered normal.

The training content was indeed... a little... a tiny bit... too intimate.

But that's still crossing the line, Mingyan thought for a moment and said, "I will persuade her."

"really?"

"Of course, when have I ever lied to my senior sister?"

Yue Qingying looked at Ming Yan, smiling with a hint of allure. She reached out and kissed Ming Yan on the cheek. "Then, what if she saw this scene?"

"Senior sister and junior brother, what's wrong with kissing on the cheek?" Although Mingyan felt that this was a little too intimate, it was better not to say it in front of his senior sister. Besides, kissing on the cheek, although it might be a little intimate, should be acceptable, right?

"Then... how about this?" Mingyan hadn't turned around yet when he suddenly felt a soft touch on his lips. He snapped back to reality and realized that his senior sister had actually kissed his lips. Yue Qingying didn't kiss him for long; she pulled away as soon as she touched him.

Mingyan trusted Yue Qingying too much, and when he smelled the fragrance on his senior sister, he lowered his guard, so much so that he didn't even have time to react when Yue Qingying suddenly attacked him.

"How about this, Junior Brother? Do you think your future Daoist partner will be angry if this is the case?" Yue Qingying asked with a smile, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of allure.

Mingyan subconsciously pursed his lips. To be honest, he didn't mind the fact that the world kissed him. His senior sister was beautiful and fragrant, a peerless beauty. He was already familiar with her scent, so he wouldn't feel disgusted when she kissed him.

But is this really good?

Just like my senior sister said, won't my future Daoist partner be angry about being so intimate?

Mingyan suddenly remembered his sister's words...

Daoist partners can be intimate, but she can't? Shouldn't she be even closer to them than her Daoist partners?

So... is the same true for my senior sister?

Mingyan was a bit confused. He was completely overwhelmed by these matters of romantic relationships. He knew absolutely nothing about them and had no experience whatsoever; he basically relied on his senior sisters and older sisters for advice...

I feel like something's not right... but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Mingyan thought about it, but couldn't figure it out, so he gave up on thinking about it.

“Senior sister and I are senior sister and junior brother, so our relationship is very close. Kissing is a way for people with a close relationship to express their feelings. Daoist partners can kiss, so senior sister can kiss too... right?” Mingyan said, “So, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong with kissing?”

Yue Qingying paused for a moment, then nodded and smiled, "That's right, exactly."

Seeing his senior sister's approval, Mingyan touched his lips and asked, "Then why are you worried that my future Daoist partner will be angry?"

Mingyan pondered this question and felt as if he had grasped something important. If his senior sister was worried, did it mean that doing so was actually wrong?

In fact, apart from Daoist couples, no one should use this method to express the intimacy between two people.

But just as he was about to think it over, his senior sister pulled him into his room.

Yue Qingying closed the door, then turned around and threw herself into Mingyan's arms. "Junior brother, hold your senior sister tight."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan instinctively pulled Yue Qingying into his arms, and then felt Yue Qingying reach out and cup his cheeks, her pretty face flushed as she leaned in and kissed his lips again.

Come again?

But... it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong?

She kissed him for a while before releasing him, her face flushed and her eyes watery. "Junior brother, don't you really hate me?"

"Why would I hate it? Senior sister's lips are soft, sweet and fragrant. It just feels a little strange. Is it really okay to be so intimate? But then I thought about it. Senior sister and I are both people who are willing to give their lives for each other. A kiss doesn't seem so bad. After all, we can entrust our lives to each other. A kiss really seems insignificant."

Hmm... thinking about it this way, does that mean I can kiss my master too?

Yue Qingying paused for a moment, then her face turned slightly pale...

"Junior brother, I had a strange dream..."

"What dream did you have, senior sister?"

“I dreamt that…the dark turmoil had come…I dreamt that Empress Qingzi died in battle…I dreamt that my master fell…In the aftermath of that dream, I dreamt that you died in front of me…You died in front of me to save me…It felt so real, I believed it every time.”

"I also dreamt of your sister. At first, I didn't know who she was, but after you told me about her, I found out..."

"I dreamt that she sat before your grave, her face unchanged, but her hair had turned snow-white, and she withered away before your grave..."

Mingyan was taken aback and noticed that Yue Qingying's eyes were filled with tears, and her pretty face was filled with deep sorrow.

“Junior brother, I keep having this dream. Every time I calm down to cultivate, I fall into the dream. It's strange because I haven't been sleeping, yet I'm dreaming out of thin air... I feel like it's a premonition... a premonition of the future..."

"So... promise me, don't trade your life for mine. Promise me... don't let me die before you, okay? I know this is too much, an unreasonable request, but in the end of that dream, I could only watch you die in front of me and bear all this sorrow alone."

"So, can you grant your senior sister's willful request? Don't die before I die, okay? I've been heartbroken so many times, and I want my junior brother to experience that feeling of heartbreak..." Yue Qingying cried, yet smiled at the same time. She cupped Ming Yan's face, her expression a mixture of crying and laughing, making it impossible for Ming Yan to tell.

Mingyan fell silent. He couldn't agree. Although he didn't know why his senior sister would have such a dream, he would do anything for her if his death could save her life.

Mingyan came to his senses and realized that he had been caring about his senior sister for so long.

"Please, Senior Sister... I beg you..." Seeing Ming Yan remain silent, Yue Qingying couldn't help but shed large tears, her face streaked with tears, a heartbreaking sight.

Seeing this, Mingyan nodded, "Okay, I promise you..."

Yue Qingying nodded, and Mingyan wiped away her tears with his hand.

"Just kidding..." Mingyan added in his mind.

Yue Qingying kissed Mingyan's lips again, this time with extraordinary passion.

In those dreams, Mingyan always risked his life to protect her.

Again and again, over and over again.

She never had a chance to say the last word to him. He must have had something he wanted to say, but he hadn't had the chance yet.

She couldn't shake the image of that selfless figure who stood in front of her.

When did I start having this dream?

It seems to have started from the first time I met him.

The two were not yet familiar with each other, and at first she only felt the sadness of her master's departure.