TDCM Chapter 25

 Chapter 25 - Longing for a Kiss

Ye Chenyuan couldn’t understand why Yuan Chu was punished. When he asked her, she wouldn’t answer. She only replied that she had done something wrong and was going to Everlasting Heavenly Barrier to reflect on her errors.

Ye Chenyuan held suspicions in his heart. After Yuan Chu left, he prodded Little Aunt Qiu for answers.

Little Qiu was very touched seeing the two children care so much about each other. It didn’t take much prodding for her to sigh in surrender.

“My Lady is being punished because the sect master found out she gave you the ten thousand year spirit essence.”

It was because of the spirit essence?

Ye Chenyuan asked, confused, “Could that spirit essence have been the sect master’s…”

“No, no.”

Little Qiu lowered her voice. “The sect master was angry because that ten thousand year spirit essence is a treasure My Lady’s mother specially found for her when she was still alive!”

She paused and continued, “My Lady became a Nascent Soul through forceful methods. Therefore, her foundation and mind aren't stable. It’s easier for her to get internal demons than other Nascent Souls. There’s also a bigger chance for her to experience Qi Deviation. So My Lady’s mother found this ten thousand year spirit essence for her because she was afraid she would succumb to her demons. It would help secure her soul in times of danger. And since My Lady gave the spirit essence to you, the sect master would naturally be enraged when he found out. That’s why he punished her.”

Ye Chenyuan’s heart couldn’t stay calm at these words. The ten thousand year spirit essence was unexpectedly so important to Master!

He wallowed in self-blame. “So that’s how it was. Unfortunately, I already used a pearl of spirit essence. But in the future, I’ll definitely find better soul securing treasures for Master. I won’t disappoint her!”

Ye Chenyuan’s words moved Little Qiu. Although this child was young, he was truly very understanding.

“It’s enough as long as you have heart. In the year My Lady is away, you have to cultivate well. That is the best repayment for her. I have to send My Lady her meal now. We can continue speaking when I return.”

Ye Chenyuan’s eyes brightened at her words. “Sending her meal? Let me go!”

Little Qiu was a bit conflicted. “With your cultivation, I’m afraid you’ll be hurt by the poisonous air if you visit Everlasting Heavenly Barrier. It’s better if I go.”

“I won’t!” Ye Chenyuan hurried said, “This is also a kind of cultivating. Auntie, let me go!”

Little Qiu couldn’t dissuade him. “Then… Okay! You have to be careful. If something happens, send a summoning talisman to me.”

“I understand.”

A moment later, Ye Chenyuan left to bring the food Little Qiu prepared to Everlasting Heavenly Barrier. After he left Frost Sword Peak, his expression immediately turned desolate. It was nowhere near as lively as when he was in front of Little Qiu.

“What do you plan on doing?” In his sea of consciousness, Venerable Li asked.

Ye Chenyuan shook his head, sighing. “I have to give the spirit essence back to Master. It’s so important to her; I can’t have it. Only, the sect master already punished Master to reflect for a year. Is there any way to make him change his mind?”

Venerable Li wanted to say something but hesitated. "Okay, since you already decided, I won't say any more."

Although the ten thousand year spirit essence was very precious and also very important to them, this was Yuan Chu's life insurance. They couldn't have it.

Everlasting Heavenly Barrier lived up to its name. There were sheer precipices and overhanging rocks everywhere. And there wasn't a single plant or beast to be seen, as if it were a piece of abandoned fallen land. Not to mention the poisonous air. If accidentally grazed by it, the pain was like being whipped in the soul. Thus, Ye Chenyuan had to be very cautious here.

He reached Yuan Chu's reflection place after a bit more than two hours' flying on his sword. When he thought of how she was forced here because of him, he felt felt a deep pain in his heart.

Back when he was still in his clan, once anything bad happened, those brothers of his always framed him. They pushed him out to die and used him as a stepping stone. But Yuan Chu...

Ye Chenyuan pursed his lips. Only Yuan Chu would unhesitatingly help him and defend him.

If he couldn't persuade the sect master to revoke his command, then he would accompany her every day. If she was to be punished, it shouldn't be her alone suffering punishment!

Organizing his thoughts, Ye Chenyuan walked deeper into the cave. Suddenly, a spirited voice called out,

"Little Qiu~ is that you? I smell baked spirit beast egg!"

A cheerful figure bounded over. When she saw it was Ye Chenyuan, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Why did you come? Could it be Little Qiu was lazy and ordered you to come? It’s too dangerous here!”

Ye Chenyuan hurriedly shook his head. “It wasn’t Little Aunt Qiu. I wanted to come.”

He put the things on the stone table, his expression dispirited. “Master, so it was because of me you were punished. Disciple is useless!”

When he finished speaking, a box suddenly appeared on his hand. It was the box used to hold the spirit essence. “These were given to you by your mother. I can’t have them. Master, you should take them back!”

Yuan Chu looked at the box and then looked at him. It’s definitely Little Qiu who told him.

She frowned. “But you clearly need it more than I do!”

She said it so matter of factly. In the beginning, Venerable Li wasn’t powerful and couldn’t help him. But later, Venerable Li helped the male lead escape death multiple times. Only, every time, Venerable Li would fall into a deep sleep because he exhausted his soul force. The male lead would have to expend great effort searching for soul nourishing objects.

And the ten-thousand year spirit essence was the best for soul nourishing. In the male lead’s hands, they would be used to the fullest!

Her thinking was completely justified, so she nodded forcefully when she finished speaking, as if it would be a great waste if the male lead didn’t want them.

Ye Chenyuan’s heart shook. He stared at her, speechless. She, couldn’t she get clear on the main point? Couldn’t she think more about herself?

Ye Chenyuan strived to look serious. “You have more use for it! I can’t have it. In the future, I’ll find even better soul settling artifacts for you. You can’t refuse them!”

Yuan Chu looked at him, puzzled. Why was he suddenly so excited?

And how could she suffer Qi Deviation? This was clearly underestimating someone!

She sighed. “I’m giving it to you, so take it. Even if you don’t use it, Venerable Li can. Anyway, I’m still young. It’s fine if you repay me with good things you find in the future. I certainly won’t try to be polite!”

Grinning, she took the box and then put it right into the Sky Pearl. “Are you sure you want to continue arguing about that silly spirit essence? I’m starving. You know, I haven’t shed the need to eat yet!”

Ye Chenyuan’s gaze was disapproving. But letting her go hungry made his heart hurt. He quickly unpacked the food, covering the entire stone table.

He secretly thought, The sect master will definitely come find me anyway. I’ll just give it to him then and let him give them back to Master.

Although his expression was full of helplessness, his heart held a kind of joy like bubbles in honey, rising one after another.

He was truly lucky to have a master who always cared about him.

Yuan Chu indeed still needed to eat. Similarly, she still had to sleep at night. After all, she’d feel satisfied if she ate, and she enjoyed sleep, so she wouldn’t shed these worldly desires.

Her round cat eyes shone when she saw the table filled with delicacies. “Then I’ll dig in now! I remember you still eat too? Come on, let’s eat together.”

A pair of jade chopsticks stuffed in his hand, Ye Chenyuan seemed to have something more to say.

Yuan Chu was too lazy to listen to his nagging. He opened his mouth, and she stuffed a piece of spirit beast meat into his mouth. She asked, elated, “Isn’t it delicious? But no matter how good Little Qiu is, she can’t beat you! You have innate skill!”

Even now, she still remembered the meat Ye Chenyuan roasted!

But Ye Chenyuan’s face was flushed red. That pair of chopsticks, it had been used by Master! They had shared a pair of chopsticks!

Ye Chenyuan averted his gaze. Only after he swallowed everything in his mouth did he stammer, “Th-then I’ll cook next time!”

Yuan Chu gave him a look of approval. But she said no more because she was busy eating! The other good thing about this cultivation world was that the food was delicious! Besides the taste, it was also very good for the body! Such a blessing!

Speaking truthfully, seeing Yuan Chu eat was a blessing. How did she eat with such relish? Especially her cute little mouth, where a bit of powder from the pastries remained. He stared, feeling a sudden urge.

It scared him when he realized when realized what he was thinking. How could he stare at Master's lips? Although they truly did look small and sweet, she was Master!

He tried to conceal his emotions by throwing himself at the food, but his eyes flickered and landed back on Yuan Chu’s face.

Master… she seemed to have already forgotten about her kiss.

Ye Chenyuan was a bit disappointed. Speaking of kisses, his only memory of them was from when he was still very young. Once, before he slept, his mother kissed him lightly on the forehead.

They were both kisses, yet Yuan Chu’s kiss left him with an unforgettable yearning.

But she seemed to have forgotten already.

Ye Chenyuan’s mood fell. He swallowed a bowl of rice, barely touching the dishes.

Yuan Chu didn’t wait for him. Taking advantage of his daze, she had already finished eating. She cast a cleaning art on herself, rubbed her stomach, and stood up.

“I accidentally ate too much... “ Somewhat distressed, she looked at her chubby fingers, worrying for her future body shape. But when she remembered that losing weight was a simple matter for cultivators, she immediately relaxed.

Ye Chenyuan saw that she was done and put it all away.

Yuan Chu yawned cutely. Realizing Ye Chenyuan was still there, she asked, puzzled, “Why haven’t you gone back yet? The Everlasting Heavenly Barrier has little spiritual energy, it’s not good for your cultivation if you stay long.”

Ye Chenyuan naturally knew this already, but he still replied, “It’s desolate here. I was afraid Master would get bored, so I’ve decided to stay here and accompany you!”

“Ah?” Yuan Chu had never thought that the little guy was so filial. But he was ten years old now, the fidgety age for boys. Even if he wanted to, he probably couldn’t stay long, right?

She thought carelessly and said, “Then do what you’d like. You can stay a bit longer, but you have to go back in a moment. I get sleepy when I’m full, let me sleep a bit.”

Her eyes had already closed by the time she said this. She crawled onto the stone bed on the side. The environment was awfully simple and crude. Clearly, Yuan Chu;s heart was big. It only took a second for her to fall deep asleep.

Now, Venerable Li sighed, deeply moved. “Not to mention anything else, just in terms of treating you well, she is already a qualified master.”

Anyway, he was still teaching Ye Chenyuan. There was no need to fear that she’d lead him astray.

There was a bad taste in his mouth as he watched her sleep. “She didn’t have to suffer. It’s all because of me…”

Venerable Li couldn’t stand seeing Ye Chenyuan guilty. “Enough, just be good to her in the future!”

Ye Chenyuan nodded. “I will.”

Saying this, he also climbed onto the stone bed. He sat cross legged next to Yuan Chu and started cultivating.

Normally, he could quickly enter a meditative state. He had a calm character. He was always very conscious when he cultivated. But the milky fragrance on Yuan Chu’s body distracted him. He closed his eyes. He’d think of her lying next to him and somehow think of that kiss...

His heart burned slightly. Why did he constantly think about it?

Ye Chenyuan’s heart wouldn’t settle. He opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Chu. She was truly sleeping. Her breathing was even, her mouth curving up slightly as if she was having a good dream.

Her face was very white. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly. Her little mouth was chubby. It definitely wouldn’t taste bad to take a bite.

No, Yuan Chu was his master! He couldn’t do that!

Ye Chenyuan resolutely shook his head. But after closing his eyes for a while, he opened his eyes again, defeated. That pair of beautiful eyes stared at Yuan Chu once more.

It was as if he was possessed, like something was luring him forward. He sat next to her, hesitating. Finally, he slowly leaned down...

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