Chapter 109: World Three [23]

Jing Ke wasn’t oblivious to her little disciple’s unusual state, but she misinterpreted the expression, thinking her little disciple simply wasn’t used to this atmosphere and was therefore exceptionally tense.

“Is there any light wine?” Jing Ke asked the girl beside her.

“Yes, Guest. Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch it right away.” The girl peeling fruit was very sensible and immediately went to bring out a small pot of fruit wine with an extremely mild flavor.

Jing Ke poured a little out and sniffed it. Only after confirming the alcohol content was negligible did she pour a bit into another cup and place it in front of her little disciple.

“Don’t be too tense here. You can relax a bit.” Jing Ke said. “This wine is very mild. You can drink a little.”

“Y-Yes, Master.” Luo Yuezhu licked her lips. Remembering her goal was to break her master’s fixed impression of her, she downed half the cup without thinking.

Luckily, it truly was extremely low-alcohol wine. Luo Yuezhu felt no discomfort after drinking it; it was more like drinking sweetened water.

“Master, is this fruit wine? It tastes a little sweet.” Luo Yuezhu said. It was somewhat different from the wine she had imagined.

“Yes, it’s more suitable for someone your age.” Jing Ke said, lifting the wine pot and pouring another half cup for her disciple. “But since it’s your first time drinking, don’t overindulge. Half a pot at most.”

The obedient little disciple nodded and drank half cup after half cup. Only when her master stopped pouring for her did she reluctantly curb the urge to drink the fruit wine like water.

Jing Ke strictly controlled her little disciple’s alcohol intake, not letting her drink a drop more, but she placed no such restrictions on herself. Relying on her Inner Strength to neutralize the alcohol, she switched to a large bowl and began a drinking contest with Yin Honglian.

Yin Honglian was a lover of wine herself. Having someone to accompany her, she let loose completely. By the end, she didn’t even bother with bowls, adopting an extremely bold method of drinking straight from the wine jar.

Jing Ke, naturally unwilling to fall behind in drinking, also began competing directly with the wine jars.

Both Jing Ke and Yin Honglian could use Inner Strength to dispel the effects of alcohol, so they were very fired up. After each downing three jars of wine, neither was defeated, truly treating wine like water.

However, though they weren’t drunk, after drinking so much, they inevitably needed to find a place to relieve themselves, unwilling to carry around bellies full of liquid.

Thus, Jing Ke and Yin Honglian temporarily left the room for certain reasons, leaving Ye Wenxin and Luo Yuezhu alone inside.

Ye Wenxin and Luo Yuezhu had once been opponents in the arena. Ye Wenxin didn’t find losing to a fifteen-year-old girl too hard to accept, but she couldn’t help feeling somewhat envious.

Envious that Luo Yuezhu had such a selfless and fiercely protective master. Envious that Luo Yuezhu could peacefully shelter under her master’s wing, only needing to live happily and carefree, without worrying about those anxiety-inducing, sleepless issues.

“Would you like to try some?” Seeing Luo Yuezhu’s gaze frequently drift towards the wine jars, Ye Wenxin offered. “Although your master doesn’t want you drunk, I think a small sip shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then… I’ll trouble you, Heroine Ye.” Unable to control her curiosity, Luo Yuezhu picked up her own cup and handed it over.

“Not at all.”

Ye Wenxin said. She didn’t choose the strong liquor Jing Ke and Yin Honglian were drinking, but instead took the relatively milder clear wine beside her and poured Luo Yuezhu half a cup.

Luo Yuezhu first sniffed it. Finding the smell not pungent, she then raised the cup and downed it in one gulp.

Mm, this cup of wine tasted a little different from before. It wasn’t as sweet, but it felt… not bad at all?

Just as Luo Yuezhu was savoring the aftertaste of the clear wine, the room door was suddenly pushed open with a bang. A drunken male customer staggered inside.

“Beauties, little beauties, here I come…” the man mumbled as he walked. Seeing the room full of pretty girls, his bleary eyes brightened.

“Young Master, you’ve made a mistake. This is another guest’s room.” The two girls nearest the door reacted quickly, trying to shoo him away.

“Get lost! These are the beauties I ordered! Could I possibly mistake them?” Even drunk, the male customer’s strength was considerable. With a shove, he pushed the two musicians to the ground.

Ye Wenxin frowned. Seeing the man heading her way, she gripped her sword, wondering whether to knock him out directly or teach him a lesson.

As Ye Wenxin hesitated, Luo Yuezhu drew her sword with a sharp ring. Without hesitation, she pointed the blade’s tip at the man’s throat.

If he dared take one more step forward, the sharp sword would pierce his throat.

The blade, having tasted blood before, emitted a cold gleam. Perhaps it was the pricking pain at his throat, or perhaps the man wasn’t completely dead drunk, but realizing his life was threatened, he sobered up at incredible speed.

“Sorry, I… I went to the wrong room…” the man stammered, swallowing hard as he retreated.

“Apologize.” Luo Yuezhu said with a frown.

The man froze, then took another step back. “Sorry, sorry, I’m truly sorry.”

“Not to me. To the two ladies you pushed down.” Luo Yuezhu corrected.

Having already seen blood, Luo Yuezhu knew very well she didn’t need to waste time and energy on such people. Just drawing her sword would solve the problem fastest.

“Sorry, ladies, I’m sorry…” Though somewhat disgruntled, the man lowered his head and apologized.

“Compensate them.” Luo Yuezhu added. “Then get out.”

“Yes, yes, compensation, compensation.” Cold sweat beaded on the man’s forehead. Sensing the killing intent emanating from Luo Yuezhu, he didn’t dare argue. He quickly fished out some silver scraps and handed them to the two girls.

Seeing Luo Yuezhu give no further orders, the man clutched his throat, where a trickle of blood flowed, and fled.

Ye Wenxin marveled at the girl’s boldness and decisiveness. She couldn’t help saying, “Heroine Luo, it seems this isn’t your first time experiencing such a thing.”

Luo Yuezhu calmly sheathed her sword and sat down. “Master took me traveling for several years. Though I’ve never been to a place like Phoenix Cry Tower, I’ve seen plenty of drunk men trying to harass women in restaurants.”

“How did your master usually deal with those people?” Ye Wenxin asked curiously.

“It depended on the situation. Some had a hand chopped off by Master; some just had a finger cut.” Luo Yuezhu recalled. “If they were using their martial prowess to act recklessly, Master would cripple their martial cultivation and turn them into cripples.”

Ye Wenxin nodded slowly. Judging by this, Jing Ke seemed to lean towards the righteous side of the Jianghu. Otherwise, she couldn’t have raised such a disciple.

Phoenix Cry Tower reacted quickly too. Though the Madam didn’t come personally, two more girls were soon sent to the room. They also announced that all expenses for the evening were on the house—they could eat, drink, and enjoy themselves without paying any extra.

Luo Yuezhu and Ye Wenxin were reasonably satisfied with this outcome. The latter, without any politeness, ordered a bunch more fruit platters and fine wine, preparing for the two who’d return from the lavatory to continue their contest.

Upon hearing of the incident, Jing Ke’s first reaction was to check on her little disciple. Only after confirming that not a single hair on her little disciple’s head had been harmed did she relax and return to her seat.

“Jing Ke, you shouldn’t treat your precious little disciple like a child anymore. She’s the Martial Arts Tournament Champion, a young prodigy who defeated the Right Protector in front of everyone.” Yin Honglian said, deftly opening another wine jar.

“Want to continue? No cheating with Inner Strength this time.” Yin Honglian raised an eyebrow at Jing Ke.

Jing Ke also opened a jar of wine. “Fine. But drinking without stakes is boring. How about adding a wager?”

“Sure, what kind of wager?” Yin Honglian wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

“If I win, you let me order you around for a month.” Jing Ke said. “And vice versa. If you win, I’ll run errands for you for a month.”

“Really? You want to play that big?” Yin Honglian hesitated to agree so easily.

“If you don’t dare, we can change the terms.” Jing Ke said, not afraid of losing at all.

“A month is too long. Let’s change it to three favors. Three favors that don’t involve sect lineage and don’t drag too many people in.” Yin Honglian cautiously patched the terms.

Yin Honglian wasn’t a gambler. She also knew perfectly well that Jing Ke wanted no part in the messy affairs of the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance. If she truly lost a month of her time, the cost would be unbearable.

“Fine. Three favors it is.” Jing Ke said. From Yin Honglian’s reaction, she gleaned quite a bit of useful information.

It seemed the Devil Sect hadn’t set their sights on her. Yin Honglian’s lingering here was mostly driven by her own ulterior motives.

Let her guess, what could Yin Honglian’s ulterior motives be?

Yin Honglian didn’t want to inherit the Sect Leader position, much less engage in any rebellion business. So why was she staying here? What benefit could she gain by staying?

After a rapid mental brainstorm, Jing Ke gave the other woman a meaningful look.

If it wasn’t for her sect’s lineage, then it seemed she just wanted to use her as a shield against the Devil Sect Leader. Was she being used as an excuse to slack off?

Yin Honglian felt Jing Ke’s gaze was a bit unnerving, making her rub her arms involuntarily. “Then it’s settled! No one can use Inner Strength to cheat. The first one to slump on the table loses!”

“Alright. First jar.” Jing Ke picked up her wine jar, lightly clinked it against Yin Honglian’s, and then started gulping it down.

Seeing Jing Ke start, Yin Honglian didn’t idle either and quickly followed suit.

Without the Inner Strength cheat, the alcohol quickly began to erode their sobriety. Especially given their bold drinking method. Within a quarter of an hour, Yin Honglian was already looking somewhat unsteady.

“Come on, bottoms up!” Yin Honglian said. After finishing a jar, they switched from jar-to-jar to bowl-to-bowl.

Jing Ke clinked her bowl crisply, then drained it, showing the inverted empty bowl as proof.

Yin Honglian didn’t want to fall behind, but by the fifth bowl, she couldn’t hold on anymore. Thud! Her head hit the table with a crisp sound.

“She lost.” Jing Ke, her face equally flushed and reeking of alcohol, said. “Hall Master Ye, please confirm the result of our contest.”

Ye Wenxin glanced at the unconscious Yin Honglian and sighed slightly with resignation. “The Left Protector lost. Heroine Jing is the victor. I bear witness.”

“Right. Then that’s it for tonight. Let’s head home.” Jing Ke said. She stood up, seemingly clear-headed, but her gaze was still somewhat unfocused. After looking around twice, she finally pinpointed her little disciple’s location.

“Yuezhu, we’re going home.” Jing Ke beckoned to her little disciple.

“Yes, Master. Let’s go home.” Luo Yuezhu immediately moved to her master’s side, wanting to reach out and support her.

But Jing Ke was quicker. As soon as her little disciple approached, she simply draped an arm over her, half leaning on the disciple who was less than half a head shorter.

“Come on, let’s go back.” Jing Ke repeated.

“Right away, Master.” Luo Yuezhu replied, swallowing silently as she supported her master towards the door.

–

When Jing Ke’s group of four had arrived, they had come openly on horseback.

But going back, Luo Yuezhu faced a dilemma.

Although her master wasn’t completely passed out, in this drunken state, she couldn’t feel at ease letting her master ride a horse alone.

After a brief hesitation, Luo Yuezhu decided to share a horse with her master. Master would sit in front, and she would encircle her master from behind. This way, there would definitely be no accidents.

Riding back wasn’t difficult, but how to care for her drunken master at bedtime was the problem.

Letting her master, reeking of alcohol, just go to sleep was something Luo Yuezhu couldn’t do. But to help her master bathe… wasn’t that too much of an overstep?

Luo Yuezhu was deeply conflicted. Hearing Little Mu say the hot water was ready, she still helped her master over there.

“Master, the hot water is ready. Do you need… need me to help you wash up?” Luo Yuezhu asked, blushing.

“Mhm, the hot water’s ready? Let’s take a bath then.” Jing Ke said, letting her thoughts sink into a comfortable haze.

Being drunk actually felt quite good. Besides, her little disciple was right beside her. She would surely take good care of her and wouldn’t let her be sold off.

“Master?” Luo Yuezhu didn’t understand this statement. ‘Let’s take a bath then’—did Master agree or not?

“I’m here, little disciple.” Jing Ke said, reaching out to test the water temperature. Then she started tugging her sash loose.

“Master!” Luo Yuezhu’s voice became a little panicked.

“I’m here, little disciple~” Jing Ke drawled out the last syllable.

Jing Ke was drunk, but not completely wasted. She knew she should bathe, change clothes, and then sleep.

So, Jing Ke swiftly stripped herself bare, immersing everything below her neck into the hot water.

Luo Yuezhu’s face turned bright red. Reason told her she should close her eyes, leave this place, and wait for her master to finish bathing and come out on her own.

But the feelings already sprouting within her rooted Luo Yuezhu’s feet to the spot, as if nailed to the floor. No matter how red her face got, she didn’t take a step back.

“Master?” Luo Yuezhu called out tentatively. She didn’t retreat but advanced, taking a small step forward, getting a clearer view of her master’s body submerged in the hot water.

“Here~” Jing Ke responded, squinting as she enjoyed the hot bath. “Little disciple, what is it?”

“Master, do you need me to… help scrub your back?” Luo Yuezhu said, swallowing silently, simultaneously despising her own actions and being unconsciously tempted.

“Sure.” Jing Ke didn’t think much of it and simply lay forward against the edge of the tub.

With Jing Ke’s movement, the water in the tub rippled, first revealing a smooth, pale back, then the shoulder blades and faint dimples at the waist, all exposed to Luo Yuezhu’s gaze.

Luo Yuezhu nervously licked her lips, rolled up her sleeves, and then began scrubbing her master’s back with a towel.

Luo Yuezhu’s mind was a mess, especially when her fingers touched her master’s back, making her tremble involuntarily.

The back-scrubbing didn’t take long, but Luo Yuezhu never left from start to finish. She helped her master scrub, dried her body, and finally dressed her in loose undergarments and a robe.

Jing Ke’s drunkenness had actually dissipated considerably after the bath. Seeing her little disciple diligently attending to her, she was happy to be lazy, not lifting a finger herself, enjoying the care.

She had painstakingly raised this little disciple for five years. What was so bad about having her assist with a bath just once? It wasn’t an unreasonable request.

Her little disciple had no family or elders left. As her master, she naturally was her elder.

“Master, should I escort you back?” Luo Yuezhu asked.

“Yes, I’m a bit tired.” Jing Ke didn’t refuse, eyes half-closed as she replied.

“Master, this way.” Luo Yuezhu didn’t know how many times she’d swallowed nervously now. With considerable inner turmoil, she held her master’s hand and led her back to her room.

After taking off the outer robe, Jing Ke, wearing only her undergarments, cooperatively lay flat on the bed, letting her little disciple tuck the blanket around her.

“Master?” After blowing out the candles in the room, Luo Yuezhu couldn’t help calling softly.

Jing Ke heard her, but she didn’t respond, instead directly trying to summon sleep.

Before Jing Ke could drift off, she realized her little disciple hadn’t left as she’d assumed. Instead, she actively approached the bed, finally stopping near the edge.

Before Jing Ke could open her eyes, she felt her little disciple’s loose strands of hair gently brush against her cheek. Then… her lips seemed to be touched lightly.

Mm? Mm? Mm!

What was this? Why had her little disciple bent down and kissed her?

If a disciple wanted to show closeness to her master, a kiss on the cheek was enough. Why did her little disciple go straight for the lips?

Jing Ke was shocked. Jing Ke’s breathing became erratic. Jing Ke chose to open her eyes directly, unerringly meeting the gaze in her little disciple’s eyes—filled with suppressed, yearning love.

“M-Master!” Already feeling guilty, the discovery that her master had suddenly opened her eyes made Luo Yuezhu recoil in fright. Stumbling, she lost her footing and fell backwards, landing inelegantly on her rear.

“I’m here, little disciple.” Jing Ke shook her head, dispelling the remaining tipsiness.

“You kissed your master just now… it’s because you wanted to be close to me, right?” Jing Ke asked.

Luo Yuezhu just sat on the floor, looking at her master helplessly.

“It was just a disciple’s closeness to her master, right?” Jing Ke asked again.

Having been in love before and not suffering amnesia, Jing Ke still had some common sense. She knew ancient people were very restrained in expressing closeness.

Kissing the forehead or cheek could be explained as familial affection, but mouth-to-mouth… that was… not quite right.

Luo Yuezhu desperately wanted to say yes, to give a reasonable explanation, turning her love for her master into so-called closeness.

But Luo Yuezhu tried to open her mouth, yet found herself utterly incapable of uttering the word ‘yes’.

Meeting her master’s gaze under the dim moonlight, Luo Yuezhu tried to muster her courage. “Master, your disciple… this disciple… harbors… different feelings for you.”

“Different feelings?” Jing Ke’s eyelid twitched. An idea she had once considered but quickly dismissed resurfaced.

“Yes, Master. This disciple… this disciple admires Master. This disciple likes Master.” Luo Yuezhu said, shifting from sitting to kneeling on the floor.

“Master, this disciple knows she shouldn’t harbor such thoughts. But Master, this disciple truly likes you and wants to be with you.” Luo Yuezhu said.

Luo Yuezhu’s voice gradually grew louder. Perhaps it was the delayed effect of the alcohol, but she suddenly felt emboldened.

“Master, this disciple knows her error, but she does not wish to correct it. Can Master give this disciple a chance?” Luo Yuezhu looked up at her master sitting on the bed, her gaze unwavering.

Luo Yuezhu: “Master, what the girls at Phoenix Cry Tower can do for you, this disciple can do too! And this disciple can do it even better!”

“Can Master grant this disciple an opportunity? This disciple doesn’t need any title or status, as long as Master can accept this disciple.” Luo Yuezhu asked.

“Please, Master, give this disciple a chance to prove herself. This disciple’s performance will absolutely not be worse than those girls!” Luo Yuezhu’s words were resolute, leaving Jing Ke utterly stunned.

Jing Ke could barely understand the first part of her disciple’s words. It was simply that her little disciple had confused gratitude and affection, familial love and romantic love, mistakenly believing she had fallen for her.

But what came after… what was all that? What did she mean, ‘what the girls at Phoenix Cry Tower can do for you, this disciple can do’? ‘This disciple’s performance won’t be worse than those girls’?

She hadn’t had any illicit dealings with the girls at Phoenix Cry Tower herself! How was she supposed to give her a chance?

Did she want a chance to give her shoulder massages, pour tea, and fetch water?