Su Yi Shui nodded slowly this time, but just as Ranran was about to ask him what was the price he had paid and how he had severed his emotions, he suddenly reached out and hugged her, his arms tightening around her until she found it a little difficult to breathe.
Through their damp clothes, she could even feel his heart beating violently. With his chin rested on her head, he spoke in a low voice, "Someone decided to compensate for my sins with her life without asking me...This kind of self-righteousness person, should I forgive her?"
Ranran didn't have time to think about who that annoying person might be. She was struggling to breathe with her master hugging her so tightly. "Shifu… I can't breathe… Are you feeling unwell?"
As she spoke, Ranran noticed that the talisman bottle on her master's neck glowed with a red light again, but before she could exclaim her alarm, she was startled once again by Su Yishui's actions.
Shifu was not only hugging her now, but he was rubbing his chin against her ear, exactly like… the playful little tiger.
Su Yishui seemed to also realize that his emotions were getting out of control. He struggled to suppress his strange actions, before reluctantly letting go and stepping back a bit, taking a deep breath before saying, "There are some side effects after using the Beast-Taming Art. The effects will pass in about a month….will be fine after time passes, just don't come near me these few days."
Ranran blinked, recalling the descriptions about Beast-Taming Art from the books. This kind of technique, which involves placing one's soul in a spirit beast, would cause the practitioner to adopt the habits of the beast for a long time… So few people personally used such techniques.
The little Gengjin White Tiger liked to act spoiled and snuggle into her arms to be petted, scratching its chin and fur… Did Shifu just have the urge to act like a tiger and wanted her to scratch his chin and stroke his fur?
Seeing Shifu seemingly looking very upset, as if compelled by a strange force, Ranran reached out and stroked his long hair. Su Yi Shui seemed surprised by Ranran's action, his eyes widened, but his body involuntarily leaned closer to her again.
The side effects of Beast-Taming Art were still evident, and its not easy to break the habits even after transforming back into a human form. The usually serious Shifu was now...adorable. Ranran couldn't help but chuckle, but faced with such a handsome human-shaped big cat, she also found it rather difficult to take action.
Su Yishui stared at her playful and cute smile, his eyes suddenly turning slightly red, just like when he had been possessed by the Spirit Spring at the Military Platform before, exactly the same!
Oh no! Ranran exclaimed inwardly, but before she could check if the Spirit Spring on his neck had leaked out, he reached out and held her neck. In the moment Ranran looked up, her Shifu's slightly moist lips stuck onto hers...
Of course, afterwards, Ranran expressed great understanding towards her master. It was just a side effect of possessing the white tiger. The little tiger often liked to be affectionate like this with her, sticking to her face…
For the sake of protecting her, Shifu transformed into the white tiger, and now he has these uncontrollable side effects!
She tried to calm herself down and rationalize the sudden situation, telling herself that she was just being kissed by the playful tiger.
But being kissed by a playful tiger wouldn't give her this tingling sensation, being unable to move… This...was completely different!
After she dazedly let Shifu kiss her for quite a while, Ranran finally came to her senses. She pushed him away, and then tore down the mountain with long strides...She actually ran all the way to Uncle Master Zeng's villa.
It has been three days since her daughter had suddenly arrived. She showed no signs of wanting to go back.
It was great that Ranran could visit her parents, but seeing her daughter looking distracted every day… could it be that she had offended Master Su and had been expelled from the sect?
Qiao lian and Carpenter Xue were now working in Zeng Yi's villa, had good income and lived as well as the rich masters in the town. They even had little maids and servants now.
And all of this was thanks to Master Su. So Qiao lian naturally wanted to find out what was wrong with her daughter. If her daughter didn't want to go back, they wouldn't want to take advantage of Master Su's kindness. They would have to apologize to the Master. But if her daughter had suffered grievances on the mountain, they would have to back her up and then leave together.
"Mother… it's nothing. I just missed you, so I came to see you."
Qiao lian didn't believe her and couldn't help but point out to her daughter, "It's a three to five day journey from Western Mountain to this place! How did you come here?"
After coming out of the Marrow-cleansing Pool, Ranran's body was light and agile, so although it was a three to five day journey for ordinary people, she could reach it after half a day of running.
When Qiao lian heard that her daughter had run here, she was truly shocked and at the same time, deeply appreciative of Master Su's truly miraculous abilities to have trained her weak daughter to possess such divine skills.
Seeing her daughter had become so healthy, Qiao lian naturally felt relieved. After confirming that her daughter was not injured or endured any grievances, she urged her daughter not to be lazy. Since she had rested here long enough, she should quickly go back to continue to work on her cultivation.
After perfunctorily agreeing, Ranran turned around and sat down limply on a lounge chair in the garden.
It was easy to run down the mountain, but how to return naturally was another matter.
Ranran was now deeply regretting, why did she ran so far on impulse.
Wasn't it just being kissed by Shifu? Its not like she had not been kissed by a tiger before, and in fact, there wasn't much difference if one thought hard about it.
Thinking about it this way, perhaps it wasn't only embarrassing for her that day; Shifu must have felt many times more flustered as well. Especially after her running away in this way, he must have been even more mortified?
Moreover, Shifu's eyes turned red. Could it be that his body is too weak, so he's been affected by the Spirit Spring's corrupting influence?
The more Ranran thought about it, the more worried she became. She got up with a grunt , not even caring to take the stir-fried pork and pickled vegetables that Qiao lian had prepared for her, and decided to return to Western Mountain right away.
But she did not expect that, as soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Second Uncle Master.
Seeing her, Yutong said crossly, "Ranran, why did you run off without a word? Do you know how worried we've been as we looked for you these past few days!"
In truth, Yutong didn't know why Ranran suddenly left the mountain that day.
Their Master had also chased after her that day. However, by night time, he had returned, looking like he was in an icehouse. The Master, who had regained some vitality, became frosty once more.
Qiu Xier and the others were worried about Ranran and had searched the town below but didn't find her. Last night, when the Master instructed her to look for Ranran at the villa and bring the medicinal tree root water she had been drinking over as well.
When Ranran took the tree root water, she felt deeply ashamed again. Even at this point, Shifu was still worried about her old illness and sent someone to bring her medicine.
Yet she completely disregarded Shifu's body which is still not fully recovered, and ran off on her own. Just think, how wrong was she?
Shifu! I've been unfilial, running away like this and not staying by your sickbed and serving you with all my heart!
With this in mind, Ranran drank the medicine water in one gulp, wiped her mouth and prepared to return to Western Mountain with Second Uncle Master. But Yutong stopped her, "Master said, you miss your parents, so you can stay here for a longer time. I've brought the tree roots for you to make the medicinal water, so you can stay as long as you want…"
Ranran listened to this with her mouth slightly gaping, feeling unsure if Shifu was going to expel her from the sect.
Actually Yutong was also very curious about what happened between the two of them that day after they had gone. She couldn't understand why Ranran had fled all the way here and refused to see anyone.
When Second Uncle Master asked, Ranran, who was usually very frank and direct, started to speak hesitatingly. She didn't want to tell others about Shifu's condition.
If others misunderstood Shifu's character and thought he was morally flawed, it would be her fault as a disciple. Besides, she had thought that Second Uncle Master, who had been by Shifu's side for so many years, might have some kind of special relationship with him.
She didn't want to say anything that might harm the relationship between Shifu and Second Uncle Master…
But if Shifu didn't want her to return, that made her even more uneasy. She was worried that something else might have gone wrong with his health during this time.
Now in Western Mountain, her cultivation was second only to Shifu. If some mishap happened to Shifu, only she could help him redirect spiritual power and protect his body…
Thinking of this, she couldn't stay any longer and was determined to go back with Second Uncle Master.
But if Shifu didn't want her to return, that made her even more uneasy. She was worried that something else might have gone wrong with his health during this time.
Now in Western Mountain, her cultivation was second only to Shifu. If some mishap happened to Shifu, only she could help him redirect spiritual power and protect his body…
Thinking of this, she couldn't stay any longer and was determined to go back with Second Uncle Master.
Second Uncle Master couldn't understand what Ranran was thinking either. Seeing her insistence, she could only bring her back again.
When they returned, Ranran didn't see Shifu. She heard that he had started seclusion again, and stopped his meals.
But he had just suffered a serious internal injury and needed recuperation, so fasting was obviously not ideal right now.
Ranran bought premium beef brisket in town. She also remembered that Shifu liked to eat sweets, so she also bought sweet chestnuts to cook with fatty duck. As for dessert, she added some almond pastries with sheep cheese, paired with a mellow Two Springs Yin Hao Green Tea.
*银毫绿茶 银毫 yinhao is the fresh new green leaves from tea bush
She arranged a full tray and then carried it lightly, jumping all the way to the mountaintop.
The little tiger was lazily sunbathing at the entrance of the cave. When it saw Ranran, it immediately wagged its head and swished its tail.
Ranran placed the prepared meat bones and cut chicken pieces in front of it. The shrunken tiger didn't eat much, but it was very particular and preferred the bones with some meat on and the crispy bone parts of the chicken was its favorite.
After feeding the little tiger, Ranran hesitated at the entrance of the cave for a while before entering with the tray.
But as soon as she entered, she did not see Su Yishui but smelled a strong scent of alcohol.
When she went in, Ranran saw small wine jars on the ground.
It seemed like Su Yishui was too drunk to be up, and sprawled on the stone platform.
A person who was usually so disciplined, with strong willpower, Ranran silently looked at the neatly arranged wine jars and the neatly folded semi-old clothes next to them. She really admired Shifu so much. Even when he got drunk, he didn't allow his surroundings to be dirty and messy…
If it weren't for the fact that he was lying there sprawled out, one would think he was just taking a nap, and not being drunk.
Shifu… could it be that he had been drinking to drown his sorrows because he thought I resented him?
Thinking of this, Ranran slowly crouched down, gently touching Su Yishui's head. It was obvious that the aftereffects of the Beast-taming technique were still there. When her slender fingers touched his long hair, he couldn't help but lean his head towards her hand like the little tiger.
Ranran found that she had no resistance to this cat-like attribute. Although Shifu was more haughty and aloof than the Gengjin White Tiger, but...stroking his hair, he was still very pleasant to touch.
At this moment, the drunk Su Yishui, seemed to sense someone beside him and suddenly opened his eyes.
When he and Ranran locked eyes, he suddenly sat up straight, staring at her big eyes.
Ranran didn't expect Shifu to wake up so soon, and she had not even withdrawn her hand that had been petting his head. She cleared her throat, pointing to the tray beside her and said, "Shifu, I've made food for you… eat some while it's hot…"
Su Yishui looked at the steaming hot food and then at the run-away young girl who had returned. In the end, without saying anything, he quietly put on his outer robe, then picked up the bowl and chopsticks and ate heartily.
The master and disciple seemed have a great rapport and neither brought up the incident under the pavilion during the rain. After Ranran cleared away the small wine jars, she couldn't help but ask, "Shifu… do you like Second Uncle Master?"
Su Yishui just finished his meal. After setting down his chopsticks, he took a sip of green tea to cleanse his palate, then looked up at her, silent for a moment before saying, "I thought, you were going to ask if I like you..."
Ranran smiled in embarrassment, "There is no need to ask. Shifu, you treat all of us disciples with great care."
How many masters in this world would risk their lives to save their disciples?
Su Yishui's eyes seemed to lose their light for a moment, and he asked coldly, "Didn't you already leave? Why have you returned?"
Ranran bit her lip and said in a small voice, "I came back because I was worried about Shifu…"
Su Yishui glanced at her and this time answered her previous question, "Your Second Uncle Master has someone she loves and they even have a child, living in the town below Western Mountain. My liking for her is the same as liking Yuchen, Qiuxier and Gao Cang."
Having been here at Western Mountain for so long, Ranran never expected that Second Uncle Master had a child. She couldn't help but be very shocked, "What? How come I didn't know?"
She was so astonished by this gossip, so much so that she did not realize that Shifu's "liking" solely did not include Xue Ranran.
As it turned out, there were many things about Western Mountain that she, a small rookie, didn't know! Second Uncle Master indeed had a six-year-old son.
Because Second Uncle Master was responsible for purchasing things from the town below, she could visit her family below the mountain from time to time, reuniting with her child and lover. No wonder she occasionally saw Second Uncle Master buying some wooden toys.
That lover was a schoolteacher in the town below, thirty-four years old this year.
It was said that Second Uncle Master met him when she was sixteen, and they developed feelings for each other. However, Second Uncle Master did not marry him but only had a child with him. After weaning, she let the scholar surnamed Chang take the child down the mountain.
Later, Ranran curiously asked Second Uncle Master why she didn't marry, and Yutong sighed, "Since I've decided to follow Master in cultivation, I will have to abandon the secular world one day. I will follow my brother to serve Master, while he has his own worldly life to live. If I don't marry him, he can marry the woman he likes in the future, without carrying the reputation of being unfaithful. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Hearing Yutong's words, Ranran couldn't help but remember the two sealed memories she encountered on Tianmai Mountain. Cultivation was desirable for mortals, but if one had to give up all the beauty of the secular world, it wasn't as desirable anymore.
While applying medicine to the little tiger under the Pavilion by the pool, Ranran asked her Shifu who was drinking tea nearby, "What happened to Dun Tian's wife and child later on?"
Su Yishui put down his teacup, looked at the distant mountain ridges, and said mildly, "Dun Tian had a life-and-death battle with the Earth Demon. His wife and child were taken by the Earth Demon as hostages. To defeat the Earth Demon, Dun Tian had to achieve enlightenment and reach a state of no desires. So he did not rescue his wife and child; after he subdued the Earth Demon, he ascended."
Ranran drew in a cold gasp. Suddenly, she remembered that in Dun Tian's memories, she never saw the faces of his wife and child. When Dun Tian ascended, did he feel guilty towards his wife and child, so much so that he didn't dare to even think about how they looked like in his memories?
Thinking of this, Ranran felt quite bad and asked her Shifu softly, "Shifu, if one day, you are also faced with such a choice, would you sacrifice your greatest love like Dun Tian did to achieve enlightenment?"
Su Yishui heard her question but did not answer. Instead, he asked her, "What about you? What would you do?"
Ranran thought seriously. In her life, apart from loving her parents and Shifu, she also loved her Uncle Masters and senior brothers and sisters. If she had to exchange them for some stupid eternal youth, she would rather become an old lady with wrinkles immediately!
But hearing her words, Shifu furrowed his brow, grabbed her by the neck, brought her close, and said, "Remember, you should never sacrifice yourself for anyone! I risked my life in exchange for yours. In this life, you live for yourself only!"
Ranran did not understand what he meant. She thought by 'risking my life' he was referring to the previous incident when he saved her when he merged with the White Tiger.
But Shifu was not wrong to say this either. Without him, she would have died from illness long ago!
Now that she knew that Shifu and Second Uncle Master were not immortal companions, Ranran felt relieved. But being pulled so close by Shifu, she couldn't help but remember the last time Shifu had kissed her…
Could it be that Shifu is suffering from the aftereffects of possessing the tiger again, and he wants to be playful like the tiger with her?
Shifu could put his life on the line for her, how could she repay this kindness? Even if she gave her all, it wouldn't be too much!
With that in mind, Ranran reached out with her hand and scratched Shifu's chin a few times.
Su Yishui was stunned by the sudden action of her improper hand. While Ranran scratched his chin, she asked, "How does it feel? Do you feel comfortable?"
Whether words or actions, they all carry the same frivolous manner to harass decent people. Su Yishui had encountered this more than twenty years ago. However, back then, that striking and captivating woman had been full of carefree spontaneity, although teasing, he had never entered into her heart.
But the young girl before him now, although her actions are a little… impetuous, but her eyes are full of innocence and simplicity.
Whichever type, it would make a man feel like he's drinking aged mellow wine, drowning in it and never wanting to wake up…
Just as Ranran was about to pull away, Su Yishui caught her by her slender waist, his thin lips, faintly scented with wine, met hers again. But this time, it wasn't as gentle as before; Su Yishui let himself go completely, fiercely and passionately deepening this kiss.
Ranran was startled once again by her Shifu… This wasn't a tiger being playful? This was clearly a predator who caught its prey, devouring it whole!
When Su Yishui finally lifted his head like he still didn't get enough, his little disciple in his arms had melted into a puddle after the kiss.
Ranran instinctively wanted to run out of the cave, but Su Yishui, now experienced, held her slender waist tightly, "Where are you trying to run to? Didn't you say you'll take care of me until I have fully recovered?"
Even without looking in a mirror, Ranran could feel her cheeks slightly hot. Was this what they meant by heavenly tribulation, thunder and fire intertwining? Was it the feeling she just experienced?
This time, Ranran dashed away again. After forcefully pushing her Shifu aside, she ran back to her room, diving under the covers and refusing to come out…
Qiuxier noticed that her little junior sister, after returning from her visit to her parents, seemed to have lost her soul, always appearing preoccupied.
Even during her favorite pastry-making time, she could get distracted. Watching Ranran pour a bottle of dark soy sauce into the flour, Qiu Xier couldn't stand it anymore, but lean in and ask loudly in her ear, "Junior sister! Are you making savory almond pastries?"
Ranran then came back to her senses, looking at the dark-colored dough in her hand and exclaimed, "Oh no!"
Qiu Xier, understanding the situation, took the dough from her hand and threw it into a bamboo basket used for composting, then said solemnly, "Luckily, Second Uncle Master isn't here, or she would definitely feel sorry for the wasted flour… Ranran, you've been absent-minded these past few days, always skipping Shifu's classes. Either you claim to have a stomachache or a headache… Could it be that you didn't bathe in the Marrow-cleansing pool at Tianmai Mountain but in an infected pool?"
Qiu xier's words were not an exaggeration at all. Since the incident with second senior brother last time, Su Yishui seemed to have opened his spiritual sense as a good mentor, paying close attention to their studies, completely changing his previous lax and uncaring attitude.
But the usually diligent junior sister now seemed possessed by second senior brother, playing truant and feigning illness.
Yet, when it came to the junior sister, their now strict Shifu went back to being lax. If Junior sister said she was sick, Shifu believed her without question and never urged her to attend class.
Because Qiu xier couldn't cross the Snake Bridge at Tianmai Mountain, she was punished by Shifu to practice Light Body Skill. Everyday she had to walk back and forth on a hemp rope tied between two trees. If she fell, she had to skip dinner.
In just a few days, Qiuxier had lost alot of weight, her small pointed chin becoming prominent. So this morning, she tried to imitate junior sister and told Shifu her heels hurt, so she couldn't stand for long.
But unlike junior sister's situation, Shifu's kindness was nowhere to be found. After hearing her complaints expressionlessly, Su Yishui instructed her to fetch spring water up and down the mountain until her heels stopped hurting.
After Qiu xier's heels miraculously stopped hurting without any medication, she was particularly curious about junior sister's secret to faking illness.
Ranran let out a long sigh but then asked third senior sister out of the blue, "Senior sister, has Shifu ever been particularly close to you?"
Qiu xier thought for a moment and said, "The closest proximity was when I made a mistake in writing the Wind Control Technique, and Shifu punished me by hitting a ruler on my hands. Now whenever Shifu looks at me, I will break out in a cold sweat… Why, did Shifu punish you too?"
Ranran thought of the heated kiss she shared with Su Yishui in his arms, and her ears started burning.
Qiu xier didn't understand and, seeing junior sister blush, thought she might really have a fever, reaching out to feel her temperature in concern.
Just then, Gao Cang ran up from below the mountain, shouting loudly, "Junior sister, there's a package with your name on it at the Guest-Declining Stone down the mountain!"
Ranran peeked out from the kitchen window and indeed saw a delicate package in Senior brother's hands.
Seeing senior brother eager to open the package, Ranran hurriedly shouted, "Wait!"
Then she quickly jumped out from the window and said, "We don't know who sent this package; we can't open it recklessly. What if it contains Immortal Devouring Bugs? That would be disastrous!"
Upon hearing Ranran's reminder, Gao Cang got frightened and threw the package far away on the ground.
Having personally experienced the scene of Immortal Devouring Insects covering Tianmai Mountain, he still can't help but shudder at the sight of a red-headed fly now.