Jingliu stood calmly at the classroom door, looking at the empty room as faint ripples stirred in her heart.
He's not here either...
This scourge.
Jingliu slowly clenched her fists. Her fair hands trembled slightly, the knuckles turning white from the pressure.
Beneath the black blindfold adorned with a crescent moon, a pair of blood-red eyes glowed with a scarlet light.
A circular marsh of shadow materialized at her feet, and writhing black energy rose from its surface.
In the past, this would have been a precursor to an episode of Mara Corruption. But now that Jingliu had resolved that issue, it was more like her body was sending out a signal of intense craving.
The Star Ring pulsed with a faint itch at its three points, making her restless.
"Nngh..."
A coquettish moan escaped Jingliu's lips.
Ever since the Star Ring had been placed on her, she, like Kiana, was constantly being subjected to "erosion."
It was just that this erosion wasn't strong; even a normal person with a slightly stronger will could ignore it.
But she also had a Stigma carved into her lower abdomen. When her "Mara-like state" acted up, the sensations that had accumulated over time would erupt in an instant.
This wasn't entirely a bad thing, because after the eruption, the accumulated feelings would be completely cleared.
However, the duration of these "eruptions" varied. Sometimes it was a few minutes, other times several hours.
Either way, it was within the range of what Jingliu could "endure."
It was manageable.
It was far more bearable than the Mara Corruption of the past.
After all... the "Mara-like state" now brought not pain and hatred, but... pleasure and comfort.
However, for the current Jingliu, the thing she needed to restrain most was this indulgence in pleasure.
Jingliu's chest rose and fell slightly as she fought back the pleasurable gasps, calming the waves in her heart.
Even in this "eruptive" state, she could still maintain a calm expression, a steady posture, and a gait as light as the wind.
As expected of a sword cultivator.
As Jingliu walked along a green-belted path, the image of St. Freya Academy's swimming pool couldn't help but surface in her mind again...
How long will this take?
Even if Ye Feng's constitution was beyond that of a normal person, even if he could go on indefinitely.
Even so, even if they were to do it non-stop, the time scale would be extremely long.
"Damn it..."
Jingliu shook her head.
She was just one step from the finish line. How could she possibly give up?
All three of her [BEEPS] had been thoroughly played with by that shameless, wicked disciple. What was there left to hold onto?
No... even after all that, should I just let it go?
Should I just submit to him?
Never!
No matter what this NPC body became, Jingliu's heart remained as hard as diamond, unmoving.
Having come to this realization, Jingliu's expression became resolute once more.
Her long, fair legs strode forward, her chest filled with fighting spirit.
Jingliu felt as if she had returned to that time, back when she was still weak, when she had faced down celestial behemoths without a trace of fear.
Once, she had long since surpassed her own limits, hovering on the brink of Mara Corruption.
Now, this was merely another trial.
Jingliu had never been one to fear obstacles.
"Ever since I perfected my art, I have not ceased to seek a breakthrough for a single day. The end of this journey will certainly not be met with failure here..."
---o---
Afternoon. The sky was a vast, clear blue.
The golden sunlight of early spring洒落 lazily.
St. Freya Academy, in front of the central fountain.
"Hi, Master. I heard you've been looking for me?"
Ye Feng watched Jingliu walk towards him, the corners of his mouth slowly turning up.
The crescent-moon blindfold she wore could not shield her from Ye Feng's aggressive, scorching gaze.
"What can I do for you, Master?"
"..."
Ye Feng had deliberately guided her, spent so much effort, and now he was feigning ignorance. Jingliu's brow furrowed slightly.
Although this emotional shift was minor, Ye Feng felt a surge of joy.
He could now provoke Jingliu's emotions with just a few words.
"Could it be—"
Ye Feng suddenly closed the distance, pressing close to the beauty's crystalline white earlobe and blowing a puff of hot air.
"Have you come looking for your disciple... to join the faith?"
Jingliu's body buzzed with a slight tremor.
"You..."
Ye Feng looked at Jingliu with great interest. "Oh, am I wrong?"
"..."
Jingliu remained silent.
Ye Feng grew even more smug. He clasped his hands behind his back, looking at his Master with high spirits.
"If not, then why were you looking for me, Master? Speak quickly if you have something to say. I still have to go to Taixu Mountain. Speaking of which, I haven't had a proper chance to play with Cangxuan and Danzhu yet."
"..."
Another stretch of silence.
Ye Feng acted as if his patience had run out. He flicked his sleeve forcefully.
"In that case, let us part ways here. The mountains are high and the road is long. We shall meet again someday, Master."
Jingliu felt a knot of anger in her stomach.
The mountains are high and the road is long?
Isn't this entire world under your control?
But their countless deep exchanges had made Jingliu understand Ye Feng's subtext: If you don't say it, I won't be actively seeking you out in the future, Master. And if you want to see me, hehe, you'll have to depend on luck.
Jingliu watched Ye Feng's dashing departing figure. Finally, her cherry lips parted, and she said coolly:
"Wait."
Ye Feng's footsteps halted. He turned around, only to hear Jingliu say:
"You know my purpose in coming. Why must you ask?"
Ye Feng gave a wicked smile. "Because, I just want to hear you say it with your own mouth, Master. Why did you come looking for me?"
"...You are... lewd," Jingliu spat lightly.
Ye Feng said, "Oh my, even your insults sound so lovely, Master. It's a pity that after being immersed in the way of the sword for so long, your vocabulary is a bit lacking... Hm? Why are you looking at me with such a reproachful gaze? Am I not fulfilling my filial duty to you, Master?"
Ye Feng held out his right palm. "You have two wishes, Master. One is to slay an Aeon."
He then held out his left palm. "The other is to revive your dearest friend. Both of these wishes can be fulfilled simply by joining the faith with me. I too have been forgetting to eat and sleep, toiling tirelessly for your sake, Master."
Jingliu stared at Ye Feng with a heavy gaze, unwilling to listen to his sophistry.
Old Ye stopped teasing her as well.
Suddenly, a sacred golden light shone from behind him. Vast, divine music echoed around them, and the very order and rules of the air began to flow.
Immersed within it, Ye Feng seemed like an omniscient, omnipotent god descended to the mortal realm.
When he spoke, his words were a divine oracle.
"Master, are you willing to join me in the faith?"
Although Ye Feng wasn't much taller than her, at this moment, she felt an urge to look up to him.
Jingliu's fair throat bobbed. Finally, she spoke with a trembling voice.
"...Willing."
"Hm? Willing to what? Say it clearly."
Jingliu's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, her nails digging into her palms.
The peerless swordswoman took a deep breath. Her face returned to its cold and indifferent expression as she said softly, "I am willing... to join you in the faith..."