Chi Ning had never experienced a scene that gave him a bigger headache.
Gu Lingxiao cried full of genuine emotion, the tears falling from his eyes like raindrops. Between the fingers that rubbed at his face, he snuck a look at Chi Ning’s expression.
Why was he crying? Chi Ning took a handkerchief from his sleeve helplessly and handed it to Gu Lingxiao.
“I’ll accompany you, alright?”
Gu Lingxiao climbed up his arm. “I’m not copying those sutras or whatever.”
“Okay. No copying.”
Only when Chi Ning agreed with everything Gu Lingxiao said did his eyes clear up, like rain clouds disappearing. Gu Lingxiao wiped away his tears and looked down over his nose at Tao Yu, asking, “What are you doing here?”
Tao Yu’s hands were tied together as he hastily apologized to Gu Lingxiao. It was as if his face had been changed for a new one. No trace of his haughty airs and graces from the previous day could be seen, as he only earnestly called Gu Lingxiao his junior brother.
Masters mostly refrained from interfering with disagreements between disciples. Chi Ning sighed, telling Tao Yu, “To prevent others from saying I pamper my disciples, you two will settle this matter yourself.”
Gu Lingxiao silently watched that elegant figure depart, faintly feeling that his Master was different in this life.
Tao Yu was the youngest son of a wealthy and powerful family, and since entering the sect, had always been spoiled rotten by his fellow disciples. Never had he suffered this kind of humiliation.
He stepped forward and purposely bumped against Gu Lingxiao’s shoulder. “Don’t be too full of yourself, Gu Lingxiao. Without Immortal Chi sheltering you, you’re nothing but an orphaned stray.”
“A mutt like you isn’t worthy of Jade Foliage Peak.”
“Your spiritual roots aren’t pure. You’re a waste of space and you’ll never be anything more than that!”
Gu Lingxiao hated people calling him a mutt the most.
As soon as he heard this phrase, that terrible feeling of being laid bare in broad daylight, and stared at by those evil people, would submerge him again.
Damp, dark, and cold, it wormed its way into his bones.
Gu Lingxiao felt that he had already tried his best to be kind and gentle. After being reborn, he restrained his evil tendencies, to prevent bringing his Master trouble.
But why were there always nutcases like this?
As they barked out obscenities, their hideous attitude really made one feel nauseous.
“Sure. I’ll show you today whether I’m worthy or not.” Red flashed in Gu Lingxiao’s pupils.
Tao Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Gu Lingxiao’s countenance was gloomy and dangerous, like a sinister bird of prey locking on its target.
It was nothing like an eight-year-old child!
“What are you doing? Let go of me.”
Tao Yu’s right arm was lifted up by Gu Lingxiao, and, with a nimble twist from Gu Lingxiao, like an old tree branch dropping down, a faint cracking sound could be heard.
Tao Yu screamed in surprise, deathly pale, as a piercing pain shot up his arm.
Not allowing the other a chance to breathe, Gu Lingxiao’s five fingers stretched towards the pit of Tao Yu’s stomach, actually wanting to seize his spiritual root.
Right before disaster struck, Shen Qiuting pushed Tao Yu aside, his heart burning with anxiety.
“Gu Lingxiao! You’re crazy!”
Gu Lingxiao took the opportunity to clutch Shen Qiuting by the neck, his expression calm as he said, “You want to get in my way?”
His fingers twined with demonic energy squeezed, and blue veins bulged from Shen Qiuting’s fair skin.
The flames of fury seared away at his rationality, and Gu Lingxiao almost forgot that the person before him was his closest friend.
The hatred was like a sharp sword, ruthless and vicious, and a shrill shriek sounded in his heart. “So what if he’s your friend? He dares to disobey you, so he must die!”
Shen Qiuting’s face was purple as he neared total suffocation. He forced out through gritted teeth, “If Tao Yu and I die… What will Immortal Chi think…”
Chi Ning…
A trace of reason emerged in Gu Lingxiao’s eyes.
The fingers around his neck slowly loosened, and Shen Qiuting collapsed to the ground, exhausted, clutching his chest weakly as he coughed.
Gu Lingxiao retreated by a few steps, his gaze sweeping over Tao Yu. Tao Yu’s legs shook violently and he begged fearfully, “J-Junior brother Gu, please spare me.”
With a flash of his blood-red pupils, Gu Lingxiao wiped the two others’ memories with magic. He turned to leave.
A giant iron pot was propped up in Alkaid Palace’s kitchen, flourishing with firewood. The syrup cooking inside gurgled and bubbled.
Chi Ning knit his brows as he listened to the lively sound of the boiling liquid.
He’d lived for hundreds of years, yet the first thing he made in this kitchen was tanghulu.
Seeing the bright red and plump haws in the bowl, Chi Ning decided to retreat. “Zong Dai, you do it.”
“Me?!” The eldest disciple who was currently conscientiously adding firewood raised their head in surprise. “I can’t. I might blow up the kitchen.”
Chi Ning shot him a profound glance. “I’ll protect you with a magical formation. You won’t be harmed.”
Having just washed the haws, Chi Ning’s long sleeves were rolled up, and the lustrous and fair fingers were still dripping water. His whole body felt a little wet.
A fuzzy head suddenly poked out from the doorway. It was Gu Lingxiao, who returned wearily.
“Why do you seem a little pale?” The sensitive Chi Ning quickly detected his disciple’s irregularities, but his experience was limited, so he only knew to gently feel around Gu Lingxiao’s forehead. “Have you caught a cold?”
The coolness spread across his forehead. A heavy storm surfaced in Gu Lingxiao’s heart, and the poisonous weeds which had spindled out now subsided softly.
He lifted his fingers and took Chi Ning’s hand in his, holding it firmly in his palm.
Chi Ning was alarmed at first, and slowly tried to draw back his fingers. But Gu Lingxiao wouldn’t allow it, and only tightened his grip, like a beast staking its territory.
Zong Dai turned just in time to see this scene, of the two holding each others hands affectionately in silence.
With a tremble of the hand which had been holding the haws, the entire plate of red fruit tumbled into the boiling syrup.
With a bang, the pot lit with fire.
Zong Dai held his chest. “…Junior brother Gu is truly bold.”
