Chapter 10

In the year since Liu Chengzhi went down the mountain for his training, Luo Chu received letters from him almost every single month.

Luo Chu figured, if it weren’t for the fact that cultivators below the Golden Core stage couldn’t use flying message techniques, Liu Chengzhi would probably be buzzing nonstop right by her ear every day.

Ever since Liu Chengzhi returned, although he handled everything flawlessly and served Luo Chu with utmost care and comfort, he’d become a lot quieter—didn’t stick to her like glue the way he used to, either.

Instead, it was Elder Su from Nanyue Peak who’d frequently drop by Qingya Peak for a chat, usually singing praises about Liu Chengzhi’s stellar performance over the past year: slaying demons, subduing monsters, and wherever he went, he’d help the people in need.

Luo Chu felt a bit melancholic.

She chalked Liu Chengzhi’s change in attitude up to teenage rebellion.

In the bamboo forest, Liu Chengzhi was cultivating.

His longsword gleamed like a blade of light, his spiritual energy soaring like a rainbow piercing the sky—just like his cold, distant temperament.

“Senior Brother, Senior Brother, can I practice swordsmanship with you?” Zigui ran over, panting and cradling an orange tabby cat in his arms.

His eyes sparkled with awe and envy as he watched Liu Chengzhi’s swordplay.

The young man didn’t respond, nor did he pause.

In a flash of sword light, a three-inch-deep, three-foot-long gash was sliced cleanly into the massive boulder across from him—neat and sharp.

“Senior Brother, do you not like Zigui?” Zigui plopped down on a tree stump nearby, resting his cheeks in both palms.

His baby fat hadn’t completely faded, giving him a round, adorable look.

The orange cat licked its paw and meowed at him.

“No,” Liu Chengzhi replied.

“That’s good then! I really like Senior Brother. Master used to tell me all the time that you were amazing—super good-looking, trained super hard, and even handled daily chores like a pro. Sigh, when will I ever become someone as awesome as you?” Even little Zigui had his own little worries.

The boy’s sword paused mid-air.

“Master… really said that to you?”

“Yeah! Master also told me that you suffered a lot when you were little. She said when you came back, I must treat you well. She said you’re a really, really good person.”

“How good?”

The boy’s voice was no longer steady and calm—it had a dash of youthful playfulness in it, a kind of half-joking delight.

“Super super super super super good!” Zigui raised both hands and gestured wildly as he spoke.

But when he turned back around, the young man’s figure had vanished.

Only the empty bamboo forest remained in front of him.

Bamboo leaves rustled and fell.

But strangely, there was no wind.

Liu Chengzhi stood at the doorway of Yinbing Pavilion, holding a freshly brewed pot of tea and a plate of peeled dried fruits, yet he hesitated to go in.

Master should be napping now… After living with her for so long, Liu Chengzhi had already memorized all of Luo Chu’s daily habits like the back of his hand.

Softly, Liu Chengzhi called out, “Master, your disciple is coming in now.”

It sounded like he was speaking to the person inside… but also like a murmur to himself.

The classical desk, upright green bamboo in ceramic pots, and the wall hung with ink paintings of mountains and rivers—all simple and elegant.

Liu Chengzhi stepped in.

The moon-white sheer curtains gently fell, and a cool, delicate fragrance filled the air.

Just like Master’s scent…

The one lying on the bed had her black hair fanned out, white robes flowing.

Flecks of sunlight filtered through the window, falling across her body—she looked like a fairy who had descended into the mortal world.

Dust motes danced silently in the air.

The scene was so beautiful, it felt wrong to disturb it.

In that moment, Liu Chengzhi suddenly felt as though everything else in the world had lost its color—and only she remained vivid in his eyes.

He set the tea and dried fruits down on the table, then walked slowly toward the bed, as if bewitched.

“Master,” he whispered.

His voice was so soft, it seemed to melt into the dust on the floor.

He looked at Luo Chu’s sleeping face—those delicate eyelashes, her high, petite nose.

His gaze slowly drifted lower and landed on her slightly parted, rosy lips.

Liu Chengzhi’s breathing grew uneven.

He leaned in closer to the bed, inch by inch.

He wanted to kiss her.

But… going against hierarchy like that—Master wouldn’t like it.

“Master.”

Liu Chengzhi leaned in even closer.

“Your disciple honors and loves you.”

“Honor—as in respect.

Love—as in devotion.”

“Mmm… hotpot…” the person on the bed murmured vaguely in her sleep.

“Whatever Master wants, your disciple will bring it to you,” Liu Chengzhi said gently.

“M’kay,” Luo Chu replied in a dazed, sleepy mumble, as if she heard him in her dream.

Liu Chengzhi stared at her deeply.

The corners of his lips lifted into a soft smile, his mismatched blue-and-yellow eyes glowing with tenderness.

No one knew how much time passed before he quietly withdrew.

The door of Yinbing Pavilion closed behind him without a sound.

At dinner, Luo Chu felt something was… off.

Liu Chengzhi seemed preoccupied.

She talked to him, but several times he didn’t even hear her—completely distracted.

Zigui’s attention was also totally locked onto the strange little creature he picked up from who-knows-where today.

He didn’t even offer her food like he usually did. Even that fool, Chun Desi, was so caught up arguing with the little beast that he forgot all about her.

(T/N: this is actually the orange cat name..in previous chapter, i translate it as dumbass but i feel it is not accurate so i just stick to Chun Desi/Stupid Enough to Die.)

Luo Chu didn’t feel like forcing herself into their world, so she turned her attention to the creature instead.

It had a bare body, horse legs, and bull horns.

Its entire size was about two apples tall, yet its temper was something else—constantly howling at the drop of a hat.

Luo Chu looked at it once.

It looked back at her.

She looked again.

It looked again.

She stared.

It stared right back.

After a while, Zigui glanced at the creature, then at Luo Chu, and asked, “Master… do you two know each other?”

Luo Chu: …Not exactly.