Chapter 224: Cutting Off Emotion, Severing Desire

"Brother Ji, would you like to join us for dinner tonight?"

"No, you go ahead."

"Are you waiting to see Miss Yan? Then let's wait together."

"I don't even know if I'll meet her tonight—she used to sneak out, so anything went, but now she's come as the Mirror Master, her movements are likely restricted."

"Then why don't you join us?"

"I'm using the time to cultivate."

"?"

"Feels like someone's eager to show off affection, yet worried I'll die from it—ultimately, it's just because my cultivation base is too weak."

Ji You picked up the mat from the floor and placed it on the bamboo mat, preparing for body refinement.

Women throughout history and across lands likely dislike secret affairs and prefer to be envied by all; he hadn't thought of this before, but today, whenever Yan Shu's gaze lingered on him, he vaguely understood.

Though her mouth was as hard as iron, she was still a woman at heart.

Kuangcheng and Wei Rui glanced at him, recalling the two glances from the carriage and the garden, their expressions thoughtful.

After the two left, the Rusheng Garden under nightfall fell utterly silent, save for the spiritual energy howling above one house, gathering and condensing under the moonlight into a faint blue, continuously surging into the Xianting residence.

At this moment, Ji You sat upon his bed, watching the spiritual energy fill his body; then, with a flick of his spiritual sense, it was as if a spark had been thrown into a pile of cotton—instantly igniting roaring flames.

This was his twenty-ninth time of faint spiritual illumination; the count was nearly approaching the previous barrier he'd encountered.

But in truth, these recent attempts had brought no tangible change to his body, nor any noticeable increase in qi strength or reaction speed.

Body refinement is about accumulation—all power builds up before bursting forth, so now he waited, as before, for that familiar constriction—but he didn't know how many more times it would take.

According to experience, a long period of aching should precede the constriction, yet he hadn't even felt the ache yet.

Body refinement continued until all sounds faded; Ji You's face gradually grew pale.

He took a deep breath, then slowly opened his eyes—and saw a slender figure standing in his room, her face lifted slightly, draped in a sliver of moonlight, cold and captivating.

The Xianxian Garden was vast; after leaving the small pavilion, Yan Shuyi had wandered endlessly.

From Rusheng Garden to Taiping Garden, then back again; now she stood in Ji You's room, silently watching the figure on the bed.

"Who are you?"

"?"

Ji You looked up at her, feeling baffled.

A beautiful immortal lady breaks into my room at midnight and the first thing she asks is who I am? What trick is this girl up to now?

Seeing he didn't answer, Yan Shuyi lightly turned her gaze away, then spoke coldly: "Though I don't remember you, I suspect we were once acquainted."

Ji You's expression turned grave: "Does the Mirror Master not recognize me?"

"The Heavens span boundless realms; to maintain a clear Dao-heart, I discarded part of my seven emotions and six desires, causing me to forget many people and events tied to them—but I still feel we once knew each other, which is why I kept glancing back at you on the carriage and before the pavilion, hoping to confirm… yet I still cannot recall."

"Why did this happen?"

Yan Shuyi lightly swept her wide immortal sleeves: "Cultivation is this way—cutting off emotion and desire, untainted by mortal dust, the heart holds only the Great Dao."

After long thought, Ji You couldn't help but twitch his lips: "So cutting off emotion's fine, but now we're cutting off fertility too?"

"?"

"Forget it. Since the Mirror Master doesn't remember, I'll tell you slowly."

Ji You rose from the bed, pulling on his outer robe as he spoke.

"No need," Yan Shuyi said coldly. "Cutting off emotion and desire is standard for those who ascend the Immortal Path. What is forgotten is meant to be forgotten—even if recalled, it holds no meaning."

"Then if you think so, why did you come to find me tonight?"

The young Mirror Master turned, leaving him a side profile: "Though I don't remember who you are, every time I saw you on the road or in the garden, you felt irritating. You're clearly not someone close to me. I've come to order you to leave at once—never show yourself before me again."

Ji You froze at the words: "So it's like this…"

Yan Shuyi's gaze flickered with cold intent: "As the Mirror Master bearing the responsibility of Spirit Sword Mountain, anyone who blocks my path must be slain."

Ji You stepped forward, staring at her for a long while: "Actually, I'm your husband. But… you don't care anymore, do you?"

"?"

A flicker of killing intent rose in Yan Shuyi's eyes—but as the stranger stepped closer, his chest drawing near, her killing intent inexplicably faded, and she glanced up, studying his balanced features.

After a long silence, the young Mirror Master narrowed her eyes: "You, this stranger, are truly hard to deceive."

Ji You grinned sheepishly: "Honestly, you startled me when you came in—but upon reflection, there were flaws."

Yan Shuyi looked at him curiously: "What flaws?"

"If you didn't remember me, you wouldn't remember that stalk of wheat—so why would you carry it with you on your carriage?"

The young Mirror Master narrowed her eyes: "So that's the slip-up. You, this lecher, pay too much attention to the Immortal's palanquin."

Ji You sensed her aura: "You've broken through?"

The young Mirror Master nodded lightly: "After returning to the mountain from the New Era, I touched the threshold, then secluded myself for half a year—now I've finally crossed it."

"How is Spirit Sword Mountain?"

"Since my breakthrough, Heaven's Sword Peak has stabilized. Many spirit-state clans who once clung to Spirit Sword Mountain have now seen clearly—today, all came to pay homage, and I've met them one by one. But I truly don't like this feeling."

Yan Shuyi turned to gaze out the window at the night: "It feels… like wearing a mask I must wear."

After saying this, the young Mirror Master suddenly saw the stranger raise his arm—and then, her cheeks flushed as she spread her arms wide.

Ji You wrapped his arms around her slender, delicate frame, acting like a dramatic actor: "Past affairs are but fleeting clouds. Since the Mirror Master has forgotten them all, clearing your Dao-heart, let me carry you back."

Yan Shuyi nestled in his arms, speaking softly: "You're surprisingly perceptive. Perhaps this is the best choice."

"Goodbye, Mirror Master."

"Mm."

Yan Shuyi suddenly remembered something, looking up at him: "I heard you arrived in the same carriage as the Yu Danzong girl, Yuan Caimei?"

Ji You looked down at her: "Aren't you supposed to not know who I am? How do you know so much?"

Yan Shuyi watched him with interest: "Just now, you told Gongshu Chou a story—you said New Era had a woman in the courtyard, and you missed her after she left. But I know you have two women in your courtyard. Which one do you miss?"

Ji You opened his mouth, thought for a long while, then said: "There's some jealousy here."

The next instant, the room erupted in a clatter of bells and crashes.

But before long, Yan Shuyi's lips were sealed, her body softened, yet her wide eyes blazed with killing intent—she bit down several times, trying to sever his tongue.

How bold—kissing me again…

After a few moments, the young Mirror Master grew quieter, her ivory fingers gripping Ji You's collar, tugging unconsciously.

After a long while, Ji You released her lips, staring at her: "I thought you couldn't leave your quarters—why did you come here in the middle of the night?"

"I had nothing to do, so I wandered the Immortal Garden at night. When returning, I sensed spiritual energy being drawn here—curious, I came to investigate, and didn't expect to meet you."

So you suddenly meet a stranger, then kiss him?

Ji You was used to her speech patterns by now; he didn't find it strange: "Let me feel the aura of the Boundless Realm?"

Yan Shuyi nodded subconsciously, stepped out of his arms, waved her hand to shield the room's heavenly patterns, and gestured with her eyes for him to move aside.

Ji You stepped back, took a seat on the mat beside the low tea table by the window—and the moment he sat, a crushing pressure slammed down like a cliff descending, pressing his shoulders heavy.

But this pressure wasn't merely the weight of Heaven's Dao—it carried a suffocating sensation that made his whole body tremble.

The Boundless Realm…

So this is what it feels like to face the Boundless Realm directly.

The day on the carriage, when I impulsively kissed Yuan Caimei—I now realize I was flirting with death.

The young Mirror Master glanced sideways at him; soon, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

The stranger was only at the Tongxuan Realm—by all logic, he should've been crushed beneath her pressure; this was her revenge for his flirtatious ways.

Yet the stranger didn't collapse—he remained seated as before, only his hands resting on his knees clenched tightly, knuckles whitening under the crushing qi.

Yan Shuyi dispersed her aura, dashed to his side, and felt the faint heat radiating from him.

The stranger was still refining his body.

And his physical strength far surpassed his last state—the heat was stronger.

Yan Shuyi recalled how he'd once explained his body refinement theory during winter hibernation—she realized he'd been persistently trying.

But the problem was: his actual realm hadn't grown. According to her earlier estimate, he should've already touched the threshold of the Rongdao Realm.

"Why haven't you broken through yet?"

Ji You, feeling the pressure vanish, shook his hands: "I should've broken through—but I hit a moral trial I couldn't pass."

Yan Shuyi stared at him for a long while: "What did you see during your moral trial? Why couldn't you pass?"

"I saw silver. I saw dead commoners. I saw old, long-forgotten things. And I saw your feet…"

Yan Shuyi stared at him for a long while, then lifted her gaze—he immediately understood, opening his arms to draw her into his embrace.

The famed young Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain would never initiate a hug—only the stranger could initiate it, and she'd reluctantly accept.

Ji You felt the plump curve of her buttocks pressed against his thigh, smelled the scent of a young girl.

Yan Shuyi kicked off her shoes and socks, barefoot on the mat, thinking of their earlier conversation—suddenly realizing he'd distracted her.

He still hadn't answered about Yuan Caimei.

They spent a full day and night in the carriage—surely they didn't behave properly…

She remembered how Yuan Caimei, during New Era, had looked at her lip wound with envy.

Ji You sensed her jealousy, and asked curiously: "I heard she said you swore sisterhood as children, vowing to be lifelong friends."

Yan Shuyi's face darkened—she thought: I misjudged that…

At six or seven, she only knew how to play; she had no other playmates. When she met Yuan Caimei, she was overjoyed—back then, she didn't even know what a man was, let alone that sisterhood could mean this.

No—Yan Shuyi suddenly frowned—she realized she'd been led astray again.

Yuan Caimei wanting to marry him was her own business—but she had no relation to this man before her.

We merely crossed paths a few times during our cultivation journey, and met again occasionally while traveling.

With such a distant relationship, why tell him about childhood matters?

The young Mirror Master looked up at him, intending to project some lethal intent, but found Ji You suddenly leaning in—her crimson lips parted slightly, her eyes fluttering unconsciously.

I never said I'd marry you—we're not even close—but every time I kiss you, you always lean in.

Ji You wrapped his right arm around her waist, his left hand cradling her rounded buttocks, pulling her fully into his embrace.

I really want to, after all, it's been half a year.

This isn't like before, when we could meet within the Book of Heaven—this half-year truly held only three letters.

The young Mirror Master's buttock was touched; her cheeks flushed instantly, her eyes snapped open, blazing with murderous intent—but after a few tender kisses, her fury melted away.

At that moment, she couldn't help but reach out; the wide sleeves of her Mirror Master's immortal robe slipped down, revealing arms like jade-carved lotus stems that encircled his neck. Her proud eyes refused to close, yet her long, curled lashes began to flutter rapidly.

The grove of the Former Sages was lush with vegetation, so as night fell, insect chirps filled the air.

Amid the insect chorus now came a soft smacking sound, sinking into the boundless silence.

Ji You held the young Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain, thinking he'd originally wanted to see whether Yan Shuyi, that prideful little brat, liked being spanked.

There were plenty of opportunities—but after much hesitation, he never dared to act.

I'll find another chance. What if I get a black eye? How would I face anyone tomorrow?

After a long while, Ji You lifted his head, breaking their lips apart, and saw the young Mirror Master in his arms breathing lightly, frowning slightly as she studied him with a piercing gaze.

"What's wrong?"

"Spirit Sword Mountain and your Book of Heaven Academy have always had many conflicts. Now that we share the same grove, contact is inevitable—your Book of Heaven disciples should abide by the rules more strictly."

Ji You looked at her cold little face: "Does what we just did count as following the rules?"

"Emmm… I suppose it does."

"?"

Ji You sighed softly as he watched her shrink like a kitten.

This little devil—she's kissed me like this and still won't yield. When will she ever call me "brother"?

In truth, Yan Shuyi had grown slightly accustomed to sighing softly around him; during winter hibernation, she'd even pouted and coaxed him. But times were different now—she feared being coddled too much, becoming too soft, and losing her edge when others saw her again.

Without coldness, without lethal intent, no one would fear a young girl.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the window; both froze, breath held, feeling the urgency of being caught in a secret tryst.

But soon, a bird flapped out the window, and both exhaled in relief.

Yan Shuyi, sensing the high risk, rose from his arms: "Late-night visitors shouldn't linger—I'm returning."

"See you tomorrow?"

"I'll stroll through the county town tomorrow. No audiences."

"When?"

Yan Shuyi fell silent for a moment, glancing at him from the corner of her eye: "Mao Hour. Early, when fewer people are around."

Ji You looked up at her: "Perfect. I'll return from breakfast and resume cultivation."

"What's that to me? Why are you so diligent?"

"I want to grow strong quickly—so I can marry whoever I want, without fearing anyone's gossip!"

The young Mirror Master smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt, glanced at him, her heart stirred slightly—but she said nothing, only thought: Who I marry is none of my business. Then, with a delicate tip of her snow-white toes, she stepped into the air, leaving behind a ripple of silver-blue energy, and vanished gracefully.

The Boundless Realm of the Upper Five Realms—coming and going without sound, as if one step spans infinity.

Inside the red-candle pavilion, Ding Yao and Ding Wanqiu were waiting, suddenly sensing a surge of spiritual energy, and turned around at once.

Their young Mirror Master had returned—her lips were red, but her brow was furrowed.

She'd tasted this before during her Nascent Soul stage—this wasn't the taste of the green salt used by strange men for brushing teeth.

Ding Yao's gaze dropped to Yan Shuyi's snow-white feet: "Mirror Master, where are your shoes?"

Yan Shuyi froze slightly—when he held her, she'd taken off her shoes… and never put them back on…

The young Mirror Master fell silent for a moment, then another pulse of spiritual energy surged beneath her feet, and she vanished from the red-candle pavilion, reappearing in the opposite residence—where she saw a broad, bare chest, startlingly close.

The first time Yan Shuyi came here, Ji You had just finished a body refinement session, leaving his skin slick and sticky.

Fortunately, every room in the Former Sages' Grove had a bathtub, equipped with a device to maintain constant water temperature.

He had already stripped off his clothes, revealing a body with defined, full, and powerful lines, barefoot on the floor.

The young Mirror Master, who should have taken her shoes and left, now crouched on the ground, shoes still in hand, eyes half-lidded, unconsciously stealing glances—until her gaze drifted downward without her will.

Her crimson lips parted, her eyes widened—she snatched up her shoes and vanished from the residence in an instant.

When the aura of the Boundless Realm is concealed, even a Cultivation of the Void Realm or the Fusion of Dao Realm cannot detect a trace.

But Ji You's spiritual sense was extraordinarily strong—even without sensing aura, he could feel the disturbance in the wind.

He stared at the spot where Yan Shuyi had vanished, stunned for a long moment.

She… just came here? Or was it an illusion?

Ji You looked down beside that spot—a sliver of moonlight lay on the floor, and in it rested a single white sock.

He'd noticed earlier that Yan Shuyi had forgotten her shoes and socks—but now the shoes were gone, leaving only the sock.

The young Mirror Master had finally… seen the very thing she was meant to see first.

Will she come again?

Ji You sat bare-chested on the edge of his bed, warmly awaiting her—waiting for a long time.

But as the night deepened, he saw no further movement; he picked up the young Mirror Master's sock, bathed, and climbed into bed.

Yan Shuyi, back on her own bed, lay wide-eyed, cheeks flushed, unable to sleep for a long while…

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(End of chapter)