His hand gripped her neck with a slight force, while the other hand, with a touch of roughness, slipped inside through the torn collar.
The girl in his arms shivered violently as if struck by lightning; her tightly closed eyes abruptly opened, and the fire in her red pupils was almost about to burst out!
"You... How dare you...! Do you even know who I am!"
"Why wouldn’t I dare?"
Chen Ye’s face was almost touching hers, and he could clearly see the glistening tears hanging on her long eyelashes,
"Don’t you love to toy with people’s hearts? Don’t you adore watching others drown in the ugliness of desire? Now, I’ll let you taste this powerlessness too!"
...
Outside the cave, the light was dim, and the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.
Li Qiuyun stood prettily at the cave entrance, her elegant brows tightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes filled with lingering worry.
She paced back and forth in place, constantly looking toward the abyss-like, beast mouth-like cave.
It’s been nearly one two-hour period.
Since Uncle Chen and Qing Jun went in, no sound had come out, as if they’d been completely swallowed by the endless darkness.
"How could he... How could he just rush in with a child!"
Li Qiuyun’s heart was filled with both worry and blame.
She regretted not stopping him more firmly just now.
But when she thought of Chen Ye’s calm, confident demeanor, her blame turned into a sense of powerlessness and a trace of unacknowledged... resentment.
After all, Uncle Chen was never one to play by the rules.
Just trust Uncle Chen...
Li Qiuyun’s rational side told herself this, but her emotions weren’t controlled by reason—much like her feelings for Uncle Chen.
"Fairy Li, don’t worry."
Seeing her in this state, Gao Ming quickly stepped forward, chuckling nervously as he reassured, "Steward Chen is blessed, surely he’s found something and is focused on research. We will... just wait a bit longer."
Although he said these words, he’d already cursed Chen Ye a thousand times in his heart.
Was he worried about Chen Ye’s life or death?
Though their enmity had passed, it didn’t mean Gao Ming had much respect for Chen Ye!
He was afraid!
Afraid that the Lingyin Sect steward might die inexplicably on his Jade Lizard Association’s turf!
If the sect pursued it, how could he bear the responsibility?
Time passed second by second.
The air at the cave entrance seemed frozen, pressing down on them with an unbearable weight.
"Fine, wait a little longer, just another two-hour."
Finally, out of trust for Chen Ye, Li Qiuyun forcibly suppressed the worry in her heart.
However, she also secretly decided,
If after another two-hour, Uncle Chen still doesn’t come out, she’ll inform the sect and go to rescue him!
...
At Granny Li’s small courtyard, there was a rare calm and warmth.
The evening sun’s glow fell through the courtyard’s fence, illuminating Zhiwei’s cool yet focused little face.
She sat upright on a small wooden stool, holding a long, slender embroidery needle, clumsily threading through a piece of brand-new fabric.
The small hands that had wielded the Canchen Sword, creating sharp sword blossoms, now seemed a bit unmanageable with a small embroidery needle.
Several times, the mischievous needlepoint pricked her fair fingers, producing tiny beads of blood, causing her to furrow her pretty brows slightly.
"Oh, my dear girl, be careful,"
Granny Li watched her, both feeling sorry and amused.
She set down her task and walked over to Zhiwei, holding her little hand to guide her,
"You see, you hold the needle like this, relax your wrist, look, isn’t it now not pricking your hand?"
Under Granny Li’s patient and gentle guidance, the crooked stitches finally started to become more even.
"Granny,"
Looking at the still somewhat awkward needlework on the fabric, a hint of frustration flickered across Zhiwei’s little face,
"Am I really stupid?"
"Silly child, what nonsense!"
Granny Li affectionately stroked her head,
"You, dear, are naturally a good seedling for sword practice; it’s normal not to be good at girlish things like this. But... Granny is curious why an Immortal Disciple like you suddenly decided to learn this?"
Zhiwei’s little face suddenly flushed inexplicably.
She lowered her head, long lashes fluttering nervously, stammering, "I... I just saw Granny’s embroidery was good and wanted... to learn, that’s all, since... there’s nothing else to do."
"Really?"
Granny Li had lived for several decades, how could she not see through this little girl’s thoughts? Watching Zhiwei’s embarrassed look, she purposely elongated her voice, teasing,
"I think, it’s not being idle, but wanting to hand-make a caring garment for your master, right?"
"I didn’t!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Zhiwei reflexively retorted, but the voice was soft as a mosquito’s buzz, lacking any confidence.
Her little secret was uncovered so easily by Granny Li.
Yes...
She did want to do something for her master.
Master was always so hardworking, worrying about their cultivation, distressed about the mess in Lisong Valley, and dealing with enemies like Wei Cheng who harbored ill intentions.
She was of low cultivation, unable to be of much help.
Unlike her sister apprentice who’s lively, able to soften master with playful antics and innocent child talk.
The only thing she could think of was this clumsy way to sew her gratitude and affection for her master into the fabric, stitch by stitch.
But...
Thinking of her loud sister apprentice, always sticking to master, a sense of indescribable guilt welled up in Zhiwei’s heart.
Was her "secret" effort to win master’s favor considered... competing with her sister?
This thought made her already rosy face burn even more intensely.
Seeing the little girl across her in self-conflicted turmoil, face flushed nearly steaming, Granny Li was secretly amused but decided not to tease her further.
She simply patted Zhiwei’s shoulder affectionately and softly said:
"Silly child, respecting elders and wanting to do something for them is the most normal thing in the world. It’s not called competing; it’s called... a thought."
"It’s the most normal thing in the world?" Zhiwei murmured to herself.
And Granny Li’s words, as ethereal as the clouds on the horizon, came from afar:
"Yes, many families’ children secretly compete for favor, let alone those royal children in the mortal world—even their competitions are real sword and gun fights..."