Chapter 44 (1/2)

44 – Trapped Her Long Enough

Early in the morning, the Merak Temple is shrouded in mist.

Qi Qiqi stepped out of the main hall and walked towards the wide square outside. Ye Zhen followed closely behind.

Despite the gray mist obstructing the vision, the two carriages parked in the center of the square are still conspicuous.

Several disciples are moving the luggage of pa.s.sengers into the carriages.

Her arms folded, Xia Xue's silhouette can be seen standing next to the carriages. As one of the Merak Temple's five Elders, she is naturally qualified to stand idly by.

Apparently aware that someone was approaching, Xia Xue tilted her head, and her gaze fell accurately on Ye Zhen. Ye Zhen's unveiled aura is really hard to ignore.

“Little Sister Temple Master, Uncle Teacher Ye.” After waiting for the two to approach, Xia Xue greeted them.

Ye Zhen nodded his head in response.

“Senior Disciple Sister Xia, are you ready?” Qi Qiqi glanced at the carriages and asked.

“Almost.”

“That's good then.” Qi Qiqi nodded, and then asked a little doubtfully: “Where's Qing'er?”

Gong Tianqing will also travel to Chang'an as a representative, but Qi Qiqi can't see her anywhere.

“She's arranging the luggage in the carriage, where else?” Xia Xue raised the corners of her mouth and teased, “Are you worried about your little disciple, Little Sister Temple Master? What a good teacher you are, just like a mother.”

“Not at all!” Qi Qiqi showed a look of embarra.s.sment, “I was just afraid that she'd oversleep and delay you, Senior Disciple Sister Xia, that's all.”

In fact, Gong Tianqing does indeed oversleep occasionally.

Xia Xue snickered a few times, but didn't go on.

The curtain of one of the carriages was lifted open, and a cute round face protruded out.

It was Gong Tianqing. She looked around a few times, and then her eyes finally locked on Qi Qiqi.

“Oh, Tea, Teacher!” Looking startled, Gong Tianqing quickly alighted the carriage and came to Qi Qiqi.

Then she made an “ah” sound, her tone a little high, “Vice, vice-Temple Master Ye …”

Probably because Ye Zhen's majestic aura was overwhelmed by Qi Qiqi's presence, Gong Tianqing took half a beat to notice Ye Zhen who was half-hidden behind Qi Qiqi.

“It seems that Martial Grandniece Gong is still rather afraid of me …” Ye Zhen sighed softly. He spoke very quietly, so only Qi Qiqi could hear him.

Why's that… Qi Qiqi still nodded.

Gong Tianqing resembled a frightened squirrel. Not only did she look away, but she also shrank into herself, looking smaller.

Ye Zhen's aura is too threatening. Naturally, it is one of the reasons why Gong Tianqing recoiled. But the most important reason is that Gong Tianqing is quite timid, especially when facing men.

Ye Zhen also knew about this, as Qi Qiqi has once mentioned it to him.

Trying to soften his expression as much as possible, he smiled and nodded to Gong Tianqing.

But… Gong Tianqing took a few steps back, scared.

The corners of your mouth twitching, do you call that a smile? Looking at Ye Zhen's forced smile, Qi Qiqi facepalmed helplessly.

Seeing Gong Tianqing react in this way, Ye Zhen felt awkward.

As Xue Qilin has said, Ye Zhen is a clumsy person who doesn't know how to express himself.

However, Xue Qilin has also said that Qi Qiqi is a clumsy person. In fact, the parties concerned are somewhat conscious of this.

In order to eliminate everyone's embarra.s.sment, Qi Qiqi cleared her throat.

“Qing'er, do you have everything you need?” After getting everyone's attention, she asked Gong Tianqing.

“I, I should have everything.” Gong Tianqing replied in an uncertain tone.

“What do you mean by you should have? You either have or don't!” Qi Qiqi originally wanted to say this, but when she saw Gong Tianqing's timid face, she couldn't bear it.

“Qing'er, you don't need to care about us.” Qi Qiqi said softly, “Go on and do your work.”

Gong Tianqing nodded repeatedly, and then climbed back into the carriage after excusing herself.

“I really wish Qing'er would be more confident.” Qi Qiqi sighed and murmured.

“I don't think there's anything wrong with her.” Xia Xue said to herself, “This is her true self.”

That's easy for you to say! Qi Qiqi vented secretly.

“What if she's bullied!”

Xia Xue still disagreed with Qi Qiqi's statement, “Who dares to bully her? Her teacher is the majestic Merak Temple's Temple Master.” She showed a profound smile and carried on, “and there's still the Young Ancestor in your corner, Little Sister Temple Master!”

When she heard that, Qi Qiqi indeed felt that few people would dare to bully Gong Tianqing… at least in the Merak Temple.

“But Qing'er still has to learn to stand on her two feet!”

“Although she's timid, but that doesn't mean she can't.” Xia Xue put a strand of hair behind her ear, “You're worrying too much, and are a bit nosy.”

Qi Qiqi folded her arms and retorted, slightly dissatisfied: “I'm not…”

Before she could finish speaking, Xia Xue interrupted and changed the subject, “Little Sister Temple Master, you didn't wake up the Young Ancestor today?”

Xia Xue may have just asked casually, but Qi Qiqi suddenly became strange, “She went into closed door cultivation.”

“Closed door cultivation!?” Xia Xue's eyes widened in surprise, “That Young Ancestor? How is that possible.”

Xia Xue unconsciously raised her voice and attracted the gazes of the surrounding disciples.

“Martial Niece Xia, your reaction is too exaggerated.” Ye Zhen cleared his throat and stated.

His face was a bit distorted as if he was holding back something, not letting it show on his face.

Not caring about Ye Zhen's reminder,  Xia Xue still looked at Qi Qiqi with a stunned expression.

“She left a note in her quarters stating that she went to the Sword Mound for closed door cultivation, and for us not to look for her.”

When Qi Qiqi saw the note for the first time, her expression was even more exaggerated than Xia Xue's.

Such a reaction is understandable. After all, the fact that the Young Ancestor is lazy is well-known throughout the Merak Temple.

After more than two months of contact with Xue Qilin, Qi Qiqi has never seen the other practice her skills.

This really isn't an exaggeration, but the naked truth.

Of course, who knows if she just doesn't train in front of others.

At this moment…

“Ah?” Qi Qiqi saw a thing.

“Qian Duoduo, what's that? Whose luggage is that?”

That thing is a chest at least six chi [1] long. Judging from the expressions of the two disciples, the chest should be heavy.

“That's something that the Young Ancestor instructed to load. I don't know what it is.” Qian Duoduo overseeing the whole operation promptly answered Qi Qiqi's question. This time around, he is also in charge of driving.

“…”

The Young Ancestor went into secluded cultivation? Qi Qiqi's gaze focused on the chest, feeling suspicious. She then remembered that Xue Qilin has proposed to let her go to Chang'an.

Don't tell me…

A box of that size is enough to hold a lot of things. Such as a person, a mechanical sword, or the Merak Temple's Young Ancestor and her new sword.

The corners of Qi Qiqi's eyes twitched, and she ordered: “Put it down.”