Chapter 724: If you’re cruel, then I’m crueler (2/2)

Without asking much else, Long Feiye left. He didn’t look for Han Yunxi immediately, but went first to instruct a few of his subordinates to keep an eye on Duanmu Yao’s movements. It was impossible to spy on the sword sect master, but he could at least keep tabs on Duanmu Yao. With that, he’d be certain to see how master would save her.

By the time Long Feiye returned to the main hall, Han Yunxi was leaning against the pillars outside with her hands crossed over her chest. She stared blankly at the skies, spacing out. There was no sense of self-preservation with this woman at all, so she didn’t even notice when he walked up behind her.

“What are you thinking about?” Long Feiye asked.

Han Yunxi jumped and prepared to turn, but Long Feiye had already hugged her from behind. “What are you thinking about? Will you tell me?”

“I was thinking of you,” Han Yunxi said honestly.

“Come on, let’s go to Abstinence Courtyard,” Long Feiye grasped her by the waist and flew off the mountain peak.

“Just what’s going on? Cang Qiuzi’s power’s grown to the extent that even your master dreads him?” Han Yunxi asked.

When Long Feiye summarized the situation, Han Yunxi broke into a disdainful laugh. “So it was because the sword sect master’s lost his disciples’ hearts. Serves him right! But Duanmu Yao didn’t accuse you of anything ridiculous, right?” She was still worried about that.

“Master knows exactly what’s going on in his heart. Don’t bring that up with him anymore,” Long Feiye intoned.

“Alright. The big picture is more important,” Han Yunxi didn’t like arguing with Duanmu Yao anyways. In any case, she’s suffered plenty these days.

“I’m going to borrow the Abstinence Courtyard’s quarters to enter closed door cultivation for a month. How about you docilely wait on Granny You during that time?” Long Feiye asked. He didn’t mention anything about unsealing the Lustbite Seal.

Han Yunxi nodded without hesitation. “As long as you don’t chase me off the mountain, I’m willing to wait on anyone.”

Long Feiye gave her a helpless, doting look. “I can trust a person like Granny You. Before I finish my closed door cultivation, don’t leave the Abstinence Courtyard.”

He couldn’t calm his heart to control the Lustbite Seal if Han Yunxi was by his side. But if he left her at Nine Xuan Hall, Duanmu Yao would definitely create a ruckus. Master’s condition wavered as well, so that’d only make Long Feiye worry. Only the Abstinence Courtyard and its Granny You had proper limits for speech and action. She wouldn’t seek trouble for Han Yunxi without reason, while Duanmu Yao and Cang Qiuzi had enough scruples about the place to leave it alone. Even if they did drop by, Granny You wouldn’t just sit by and watch.

“I won’t go anywhere. I’ll just sit by your doorstep everyday to stand guard!” Han Yunxi teased.

“Really?” Long Feiye asked.

“Really!” Han Yunxi was certain.

“Then your lordship will never come out. I want you to guard me for the rest of your life,” Long Feiye smiled.

Han Yunxi didn’t know when Long Feiye had gotten into joking so much, but she grinned back. “If you dare to stay in there after a month, I’ll leave Celestial Mountain and never come back!”

Long Feiye tightened his grip on her as they landed on the roof of Celestial Mountain’s audience hall. He locked gazes with Han Yunxi and said, “Han Yunxi, why did your lordship never realize before that you were so cruel?”

“If you’re not cruel, I won’t be either. But if you’re ruthless enough to toss me aside, I can be more ruthless and not want you at all,” Han Yunxi replied seriously. Her words were like a vaccination for Long Feiye. In the end, she was still worried that he’d end up sending her down the mountain when mid-autumn rolled around.

A satisfied Long Feiye felt equal parts helpless and doting. In the end, he pulled her head to rest against his chest and sighed softly, his voice very, very soft. “You’re the only one your lordship can’t treat cruelly…”

—

Once they arrived at the Abstinence Courtyard, Granny You emerged to personally welcome them both. She was going to take him to the abstinence hall when Long Feiye said, “A moment. How about waiting for my master so we go in together?”

“The sect head is coming personally?” Granny You was surprised.

“Master was in closed door cultivation and didn’t go down the mountain when your lordship was married. Now that Yunxi’s arrived, I should naturally invite master to a cup of tea,” Long Feiye replied. In other words, he was going to formally introduce Han Yunxi to the sword sect master!

Although they’d already met, it was a completely different story from Long Feiye’s formal proposal. If he hadn’t mentioned it, Han Yunxi would have forgotten that she was here to “meet the parents,” as it were. Granny You examined Han Yunxi and recalled the wild rumors still flying outside. Perhaps they have some logic to them after all. Han Yunxi might be a woman who doesn’t know martial arts, but she’s certainly not someone to cross.

“Then let’s go to the tea room. It’s been ages since I’ve drank Feiye’s tea, so I rather miss it,” Granny You smiled. On the way, she asked, “Yunxi, why don’t you practice martial arts?”

Years ago, Long Feiye had determined Han Yunxi to be hopeless at the art and unable to cultivate internal energy. Despite this, Han Yunxi was rather embarrassed to admit such a thing on Celestial Mountain grounds. Long Feiye simply pretended he didn’t hear the question and ignored it. But Granny You was persistent.

“Feiye will be serving his punishment for one month. Yunxi, since you have nothing to do then, why don’t this old woman arrange for a few disciples to teach you martial arts?”

“The Abstinence Courtyard’s already used up its quota for recruiting new disciples this year, correct?” Long Feiye asked.

Granny You laughed. “My Abstinence Courtyard doesn’t have the fortune of accepting Qin Wangfei as a disciple. I’m only afraid that she’ll be bored, so it’s something to relieve her idleness.”

“Many thanks to Granny You for the gracious intentions. Yunxi won’t be bored, there’s plenty for Yunxi to do!” Han Yunxi mediated quickly. It was already shameful enough that she didn’t know martial arts. Suppose Granny You discovered that she was a natural good-for-nothing at the art? How could she handle the revelation?