Chapter 360

Like the vast majority of elders in the Wanjian Sect, their master had a rigid and traditional personality, being a strict and meticulous orthodox sword cultivator.

This time, a small prank by Xu Ye ended up implicating others. Although Wen Hemian smiled and said he didn’t mind, their master was still thoroughly infuriated.

After a round of criticism and reprimands, he ordered the two of them to serve half a month of punishment under the Disciplinary Hall.

To this day, Xu Ye still remembers the words their master said back then—things like “no respect for one’s master and elders” and “as a senior sister, failing to set an example and allowing your junior brother to fool around.”

Every sentence felt like a hammer striking his eardrums.

His heart was bitter and sour, and he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of injustice on behalf of Senior Sister Su.

Yet Su Qinghan herself seemed entirely indifferent to it.

She listened calmly, responded coolly, and from start to finish maintained an earnest demeanor, her expression remaining unchanged throughout.

When working alongside him at the Disciplinary Hall doing hard labor, she remained distant and indifferent.

“What do I do?”

Xu Ye banged his forehead against the wooden desk, looking utterly drained, like a shriveled dead fish.

His body and mind were both utterly exhausted, and even his voice was filled with despair: “Do you think Senior Sister Su hates me?”

Senior Brother Xie from the same sect shook his head, sighing dramatically.

“Did you apologize to her?”

“Of course I did.”

Xu Ye lifted his head from his arms.

“She simply replied with a casual ‘It’s fine’—but being dragged into something for no reason at all, anyone would feel upset, right?”

“That’s where you’re mistaken. Su Qinghan isn’t an ordinary person. As long as she has her sword, nothing else matters to her.”

Senior Brother Wang, who was known for his romantic escapades, chuckled knowingly.

“Besides, doesn’t she usually treat you exceptionally well, almost as if she’s biased toward you? There’s no way she’d get mad over something like this.”

Xu Ye froze, struggling to digest those words slowly.

Two particular syllables burned his ears.

“Bi-biased?”

“You didn’t notice?”

Senior Brother Xie tapped the desk with his knuckles, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Who else but you has Senior Sister Su ever bought sweets for? Who else has she willingly skipped sword practice for, just to accompany them down the mountain for fun?”

“I still remember that time when we went demon hunting, and you, Xu Ye, vanished for no apparent reason.”

Senior Brother Wang rubbed his chin, clicking his tongue in feigned exasperation as he glanced at Xu Ye.

“It was already getting dark, demons were emerging, and it wasn’t safe to venture deeper into the forest. But Senior Sister Su wouldn’t listen to reason and insisted on searching for you. And what did we find? You had accidentally fallen into a hunter’s trap.”

Xu Ye blinked in confusion.

That day, he had tumbled into a pit dug by someone.

When he came to, he was already back at the inn.

Senior Sister Su had been sitting by his side.

When she saw him wake up, she merely sighed softly and said, “Don’t wander off again.”

“Still, just saying sorry won’t be enough for something like being sent to the Disciplinary Hall.”

Senior Brother Wang, with his vast experience, took a sip of water to moisten his throat.

“Did you give her anything as a token of apology?”

Xu Ye nodded vigorously.

“I gave her gifts!”

Seeing both senior brothers look intrigued, Xu Ye obediently elaborated, “Uh… a hairpin adorned with emerald clouds, an Eight-Treasure Flowing Cloud hairpiece, and a white jade bracelet…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Senior Brother Wang almost spat out his water.

“You gave her those? Do you think Senior Sister Su would even use such things?”

Xu Ye stared at him blankly.

“Think about it. Senior Sister Su always wears plain white robes, and her hair is tied with nothing more than a simple ribbon. When has she ever used anything so fancy?”

Senior Brother Xie took over.

“In my opinion, rather than thinking of her as a ‘woman,’ she’s more of a sword fanatic. If you want to make her happy, why not give her some magical tools to enhance her sword?”

“But…”

Xu Ye tried to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

After a while, he muttered dejectedly, “Then what should I do to restore a bit of my image in her eyes?”

“To catch Senior Sister Su’s attention, the first way is to make your swordsmanship advance by leaps and bounds, far surpassing hers.”

Senior Brother Wang pursed his lips and shook his head, continuing, “As for the second way… Do you remember how Senior Sister Su loves that big dog raised by Elder Qingyun?”

***

Senior Brother Wang’s plan was simple.

Su Qinghan rarely took an interest in anything other than sword training, but she would occasionally play with Elder Qingyun’s dog.

“If Senior Sister Su likes animals, she’ll naturally have a good impression of someone with a kind heart. This is your chance to shine!”

His exact words were: “First, get close to that dog. Then take it for a walk in the mountains. Meanwhile, we’ll come up with some excuse to bring Senior Sister Su there. When she looks up and sees you happily bonding with the dog, she’s sure to be moved!”

It sounded like a flawless plan.

As expected of Senior Brother Wang!

Xu Ye and Su Qinghan had been doing hard labor in the Disciplinary Hall for less than half a month.

Most of their time was occupied, leaving only the nights free.

Brimming with determination, Xu Ye spent three nights befriending the dog.

By the fourth evening, he could finally take it out for a walk.

“Just leave it to us!”

Senior Brother Xie smiled confidently.

“We’ll make sure to bring Senior Sister Su over for you!”

Thus, Xu Ye began his eagerly anticipated dog-walking.

The Wanjian Sect, like the Xuanxu Sword Sect, was built among steep mountains, with many slopes that were exhausting to climb.

After a full day of labor in the Disciplinary Hall, Xu Ye was already running low on energy.

But the thought of Senior Sister Su and the sight of the lively dog before him filled him with endless motivation.

A cup of tea’s time later.

Xu Ye beamed with joy as he chased the dog, laughing like a giddy sprite: “Don’t run! Haha, wait for me!”

An incense stick’s time later.

Xu Ye began to sense something was off.

Why hadn’t Senior Sister Su arrived yet?

Half an hour later.

Xu Ye was gasping for breath, dragging his tired body as he called out weakly to the dog: “Don’t… don’t run anymore. I can’t… keep up…”

Two hours later.

Xu Ye finally stopped.

Before him lay the dog, collapsed on the ground, tongue lolling and twitching.

He had worn the dog out.

The snow that night was heavy, and Senior Sister Su still hadn’t shown up.

Xu Ye tilted his head back to gaze at the sky at a 45-degree angle, speechless.

At this moment, a grave question haunted him: How was he supposed to carry this half-man-tall dog back?

***

The snow was particularly heavy tonight.

Senior Brother Xie and Senior Brother Wang had been sneezing non-stop while waiting for Su Qinghan to finish comprehending her sword intent.

Comprehending sword intent was a crucial milestone for a sword cultivator, and distraction was strictly forbidden.

Though they were anxious, the rules left them no choice but to wait quietly.

When Su Qinghan finally sheathed her sword, more than an hour had passed.

Her expression was as frosty as ever, her voice crisp like snow.

“What is it?”

The two spoke in unison, “We’d like to spar with you at Cuizhu Peak!”

Cuizhu Peak was precisely the mountain where Xu Ye had been walking the dog.

Su Qinghan rarely turned down challenges, so without much thought, she agreed and followed them to the location.

This mountain’s paths were rugged and ever-changing, its rocks jagged and peculiar.

In winter, the scenery was especially serene and romantic—a perfect setting for nurturing relationships.

Wang and Xie exchanged shifty glances, searching for Xu Ye.

Surprisingly, it was Su Qinghan who first paused, her voice deepening.

“I think… I see Junior Brother Xu.”

She hesitated and added, “And a dog.”

“Where, where?”

Senior Brother Wang’s heart leaped, but when he didn’t spot Xu Ye immediately, he reflexively replied, “Xu Ye, uh, often plays with Elder Qingyun’s dog. They’re very close!”

Su Qinghan’s tone carried a hint of doubt. “He… often does this?”

“Of course, it’s for exercise—”

Before he could finish, the two followed her gaze into the dimly lit forest and spotted a familiar figure.

Their excited words caught in their throats.

Xu Ye was trudging forward with a grim expression, seemingly oblivious to their presence.

On his head… he was carrying a dog.

If it were a small dog, that might have been acceptable.

But this was a massive dog, half as tall as a person, perched atop his head in a bizarre manner.

Both man and dog wore expressions of utter despair, tongues lolling and eyes half-closed.

The dog’s eyes were filled with confusion and tears, its limbs pathetically curled.

Upon closer inspection, it was even foaming at the mouth, occasionally letting out mournful howls.

As for Xu Ye…

The snow fell in flurries, the north wind howled, and the snow had turned his hair white. Combined with his hunched back, trembling legs, and wrinkled face, at that moment, Xu Ye looked as though he had aged ten thousand years—a pitiable old man crushed by life’s burdens.

Senior Brothers Wang and Xie pretended to admire the scenery.

Su Qinghan asked, “Does Junior Brother Xu often… carry a dog for weight training?”

Perhaps hearing the commotion, Xu Ye raised his twisted face and met Su Qinghan’s hesitant gaze.

What is love in this world, but a torment beyond words?

Senior Brother Wang let out a strangled cough, his mind blank, at a total loss.

Senior Brother Xie tactfully averted his gaze, considering whether to change sects.

As for Xu Ye…

After a few seconds of stiff silence, he weakly said, “Help.”