Chapter 29: The Subtle Distance Between Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting Part 1

Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting were not particularly close as master and disciple. There had always been a thin veil of ice mist between them—not too distant, yet not too near. Getting too close would stir up a faint chill.

Bo Xuenong had always thought such a distance was ideal. They made a model master-disciple pair.

Lately, as Shen Yanting began drawing closer to her more frequently, Bo Xuenong suddenly realized she always felt Feng Yingbo did not seem like a proper master. In truth, it was she who secretly envied Feng Jin.

She yearned for Shen Yanting to get closer to her.

Yet when Shen Yanting did draw near, she could not help but worry. She feared her rough palm might scrape against Shen Yanting’s overly delicate skin. Now, with Shen Yanting’s fingertips lightly resting below her waist, she dared not move, afraid that Shen Yanting might not approach again next time.

Just then, Feng Yingbo spoke up and shattered the moment. A faint blush rose on Shen Yanting’s ear tips, unnoticed by most, and the hand pressed against her waist quickly withdrew.

Regret and disappointment surged in Bo Xuenong’s heart, mingled with a hint of anger.

Bo Xuenong had a vague intuition that if Feng Yingbo had not returned so suddenly, Shen Yanting’s touch would have explored even more places. Shen Yanting had seemed to be searching for something behind her just moments ago.

She could not help but resent Feng Yingbo for speaking out. Strangely, unlike before, she felt no surge of murderous intent amid the irritation.

Especially upon seeing Feng Jin climb onto Feng Yingbo’s back, one hand hooking around Feng Yingbo’s neck while the other desperately covered her mouth to prevent any more words from escaping—that comical sight slowly dissipated the resentment in Bo Xuenong’s heart. Of course, if Feng Jin could act a bit faster next time, she might be even more satisfied.

Bo Xuenong could not resist reaching back, her fingertips lightly brushing the spot Shen Yanting had just touched, igniting a wave of scorching heat. The burning sensation under her fingertip startled her into instantly pulling back, though the corners of her mouth unwittingly curved upward.

It might have been related to her cultivation technique, or perhaps to Divine Mountain Isolation.

When Shen Yanting circulated her spiritual power, the aura around her occasionally grew too low.

Today, whether it was the breath Shen Yanting had exhaled not long ago or the hand that had just landed on her, both were very cold. Strangely, the chill always dissipated quickly, leaving only lingering heat behind.

It was too hot.

Bo Xuenong let out a soft breath and could not resist channeling ice mist into her palm, reaching toward her lower back.

Before she could cool herself down, Shen Yanting had already grasped her wrist. She felt the external ice mist begin to condense uncontrollably.

Shen Yanting gazed at the mist in Bo Xuenong’s palm gradually forming an ice blade. Her index finger, gripping Bo Xuenong’s wrist, unconsciously tapped her wrist: “Xuenong, what are you doing?”

Bo Xuenong had of course seen the ice blade taking shape. Over the years, she had restrained her bloodline instincts but still could not resist studying killing techniques. Not only did the Suspended Ink Sword understand her, even her spiritual qi did—but… her spiritual qi had not yet learned to recognize people. The person before her was Shen Yanting.

Amid her annoyance, Bo Xuenong also felt some guilt and panic.

She feared Shen Yanting would see through the ice blade’s automatic formation to the unchanged bloodthirsty nature deep in her bones. She hurriedly curled her fingers, dispersing the ice mist: “N-No, nothing.”

Afraid Shen Yanting would notice something amiss, Bo Xuenong quickly turned around, her back to Shen Yanting.

In her haste to divert Shen Yanting’s attention, Bo Xuenong slightly perked up her hips: “Master, are you still looking for something?”

Shen Yanting’s expression stiffened, and suddenly she had nothing to say.

Fu Aoqing and Xiang Yu entered the courtyard a bit slower than Feng Yingbo. They had not seen Shen Yanting’s little actions just now and only felt the atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat peculiar.

Xiang Yu did not dare speak, but Fu Aoqing certainly would ask: “Senior Sister, what are you all looking for?”

A tail.

Shen Yanting certainly could not say that, or Bo Xuenong might really sprout one from somewhere.

She remained silent, and Bo Xuenong said nothing either.

Fu Aoqing walked over and helped Feng Yingbo pry Feng Jin’s hand away, then asked again: “What are you looking for?”

Ignoring Feng Yingbo’s resentful gaze, Feng Jin jumped down from her back and asked solemnly: “Grandmother, how did you all return so quickly?”

Her face appeared calm and unhurried, but her inner voice was a chaotic mess, filled with screams and questions that rang out simultaneously, so noisy that Bo Xuenong wanted to return the mind-reading ability to her.

【Feng Jin: Dead System! When will Feng Yingbo fix her habit of blurting things out! If she angers Senior Sister and offends Elder Shen, we’re done for! We can’t really go throw ourselves at the Female Protagonist, can we? I’ve put all my points on Senior Sister!】

【System: The host can fully consider Bo Xuenong’s suggestion to strategy conquer the Female Protagonist for points. With points, you can exchange for even stronger abilities to punish evil and promote good for more points—a virtuous cycle…】

…

Seeing Bo Xuenong’s gaze fall on her, Feng Jin unconsciously clutched her chest and pointed at Bo Xuenong’s ear.

Feng Jin was signaling Bo Xuenong not to listen to her inner voice, but Bo Xuenong pretended not to see. After all, she could not control it.

Besides, who was to blame but Feng Jin for not remembering her words? If she remembered them firmly, she would not fear Bo Xuenong killing them. Without that fear, Feng Jin’s inner voice would not ring out.

Did that mean in Feng Jin’s eyes, she was someone who went back on her word and might renege at any moment?

Bo Xuenong recalled how in the previous moment she had decided not to harm Fu Aoqing or the others, only for killing intent to arise the next instant due to subjective assumptions. Feeling guilty, she touched her arm, her gaze unconsciously darting left and right. Suddenly, she caught sight of the silent Shen Yanting.

Every word she had said just now was sincere.

She did not need any freedom. She only needed to always stand behind Shen Yanting.

Bo Xuenong was more than willing for Shen Yanting to arrange everything for her, as long as Shen Yanting liked her and kept her around.

These years, she had been striving in that direction. She did not know why Shen Yanting had suddenly thought of giving her freedom, which scared her to the point of wanting to cry.

Compared to being left to roam free, she preferred being under surveillance.

The only trouble might be secretly striking from the shadows, but now that she had the System, the Exchange Space allowed her to kill discreetly. Even that flaw was gone. She wished Shen Yanting would keep an eye on her twenty-four hours a day… No, better scale it back, or Shen Yanting would be too exhausted.

As Bo Xuenong’s thoughts wandered further astray, they suddenly circled back.

Since Shen Yanting was unwilling to dictate her life, could she just ask directly?

Bo Xuenong sidled closer to Shen Yanting: “Wife, do you like people who keep their word?”

Shen Yanting could not fathom Bo Xuenong’s intentions, but keeping one’s word was certainly a fine quality in her book.

She nodded lightly: “Mm.”

“Then you must like me even more!” A smile lit up Bo Xuenong’s eyes and brows, her voice softening further: “Because I am.”

Bo Xuenong took Shen Yanting’s hand and slowly placed it on her face, rubbing her softest cheek lightly against the palm: “I definitely will be.”

Shen Yanting now understood what Bo Xuenong intended.

She seemed prepared to firmly remember her words and change herself in that direction.

Shen Yanting did not want to dictate Bo Xuenong’s life, but… she did hope Bo Xuenong could overcome her bloodline and become someone without major flaws in character.

In the end, Shen Yanting did not refute Bo Xuenong’s idea. She nodded gently: “Mm, I do like that.”

“I like Wife’s trustworthiness too!”

“…”

It felt a bit off.

Shen Yanting sensed something amiss but before she could speak, Bo Xuenong guided her hand down to her neck: “Wife, when you lead me in the future, always tug here. It’s softer and more tender.”

Shen Yanting increasingly felt Bo Xuenong resembled a little beast—one stubbornly trying to shove a leash into her hand.

She silently withdrew her hand and said no more.

Shen Yanting had fallen silent, but Fu Aoqing, who had witnessed everything, had plenty to say.

After a brief daze, Fu Aoqing touched her lips and said with a strange expression: “You… you’ve really gotten into character.”

Before Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting could respond, Feng Yingbo chimed in: “Isn’t that what you arranged?”

Feng Yingbo clearly harbored some dissatisfaction toward Fu Aoqing, who noticed it as well.

She pulled Feng Jin to her side: “Feng Jin helped arrange it too. Why not blame her?”

Feng Yingbo let out a soft hum and did not reply.

Bo Xuenong guessed she was dissatisfied with Feng Jin too but, as a doting mother, could not bear to scold her child and could only stew in silence.

Seeing them all quiet, Fu Aoqing dragged chairs into the courtyard and invited them to sit: “We just took a look around the village. I didn’t expect it to be so well-preserved. It feels like nothing has changed—the lotus pond, the fish pond. Even after centuries, they’re still there. I remember Aunt Gui taking us to pick lotuses, dig lotus roots, and catch fish. Once, Big Flower Cake fell into the fish pond, and her hand got bitten by Little Turtle…”

Fu Aoqing immersed herself in memories, chuckling at the fun parts.

Her parents had died young, but she had never felt mistreated. The villagers were all kind; she grew up on meals from many families without hardship. All she could recall even now were good times.

Only then did Bo Xuenong fully understand why Shen Yanting temporarily did not want to tell Fu Aoqing about the village’s situation. In Bo Xuenong’s limited memories related to Fu Aoqing, she had never seen her so joyful. As her lifespan dwindled, she had been filled with more worries. Her calm acceptance of death did not mean she wanted to die.

What human cultivator pursued immortality if they wished for death?

Bo Xuenong listened silently as Fu Aoqing recounted the past. Her own childhood memories were not very clear; she recalled people only by nicknames—Granny Gui, Aunt Gui, Big Flower Cake, Little Quail Greens, Little Turtle, Black-headed Fish… She had forgotten why they were called that, but speaking of them brought undisguised joy and longing.

Fu Aoqing suddenly let out a wistful sigh: “If I’d known my talent was so mediocre, I really should have stayed in the village. Maybe we could have grown old together and died together. Even in the underworld, it would have been a lively bunch, better than waiting alone to die like this.”

Feng Yingbo was displeased and lightly kicked Fu Aoqing: “Aunt Fu, aren’t we accompanying you?”

Fu Aoqing glanced sideways at Feng Yingbo, her expression growing more melancholic: “You won’t die with me.”

“You…” Shen Yanting patted Fu Aoqing: “Is that Aunt Gui you mentioned the daughter of Granny Gui?”

“No.” Fu Aoqing sank back into memories. After thinking for a long time, she said: “Aunt Gui was Granny Gui’s daughter-in-law. Her husband passed early, so she lived with Granny Gui raising her daughter. Their bond was even closer than most mothers and daughters.”

Bo Xuenong suddenly thought of Gui Nianqin and the pale, frail girl on the bed: “Did that Granny Gui have no other children?”

“None.” Fu Aoqing shook her head: “Granny Gui had only one son. After he died, she lived with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Big Flower Cake was Granny Gui’s granddaughter, my best playmate as a child. My parents died very early, so Granny Gui and Aunt Gui often took me to stay at their home, sleeping with Big Flower Cake. Big Flower…”

Fu Aoqing grew happier the more she spoke, chatting endlessly about that childhood companion. Long-blurred memories gradually sharpened.

Gazing at Fu Aoqing, radiant with joy and delight, Bo Xuenong felt unprecedented sorrow for someone other than Shen Yanting.

They had not seen the Big Flower Cake from Fu Aoqing’s tales at the Gui Residence. Those who vanished into the Spring Seal Eternal Light Array likely met only one end: death.

—

Night gradually fell. A crescent moon climbed the treetops, its pale light slowly descending to blanket the courtyard and climb onto everyone’s robes.

The gossamer moonlight softened their gentle features even more.