Chapter 47: Journey in the Mountains and Rivers (I)

Sui Ning… kissed him?

Xie Changzhou could hardly believe it; his back was straight and motionless. He felt the softness on his lips, and the sweet fragrance filled his senses. His hand on the armrest tightened in confusion.

Sui Ning pecked him repeatedly, holding his cold face in her hands with a gentle smile. “Xie Changzhou, why are you so good to me?”

Her nose tingled, her eyes were slightly red, and her long eyelashes trembled as she spoke with a hint of grievance, “You’re so good to me.”

She swayed and suddenly leaned into Xie Changzhou, who quickly embraced her, looking bewildered. “Ningning, you’re drunk.”

Snuggling close to his ear, Sui Ning mumbled, “Xie Changzhou, besides my parents, you’re the best person for me.”

“I’m so useless, always needing you to save me… I’m also lazy and don’t like to practice… and I’m stupid, always failing to learn spells.”

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Payokdt nzspla vs bkx, pbl bwttle bkp dlnj tldvzu. “Dkl Ubydtgbsw, obyv es usw zkjl ycswv xl?”

“Fwk Lkdt…” Dkl Ubydtgbsw’p hsknl oyp bsyapl yde oyax.

Fwk Lkdt nbwnjzle ytykd yde jkpple bkp nbllj, bla hsknl vldela. “Dkl Ubydtgbsw, R’hl qktwale kv swv…”

Fbl zyu sd bkx, nzspl vs bkp lya, lmbyzkdt oyax calyvb vbyv xyel bkp ryzl pjkd czwpb.

“R’hl qktwale kv swv…”

Dkl Ubydtgbsw oyp vyjld ycynj, bkp lulcasop qwaasokdt. “Ebyv’p oasdt, Lkdtdkdt? Ebyv’p byrrldle vs usw?”

Fwk Lkdt jkpple bkx ytykd, pxkzkdt yp pbl pyke, “R zkjl usw. R oydv vs cl okvb usw.”

“Ohld kq kv’p fwpv qsa sdl eyu, R zkjl usw.”

“Be with me, Xie Changzhou.”

Sui Ning straightened up and started counting on her fingers: “I’ll make pastries for you, and I’m beautiful, though not as much as you… hiccup…”

She was lost and let out a burp, then said, “I can do advanced math problems, speak English, sing, give speeches, and even win first place. I can also…”

Her eyebrows furrowed, and her expression was conflicted and troubled. She muttered to herself in a low voice, “What else can I do?”

In the moonlight, her dark and bright eyes sparkled, and her white, tender face was flushed with a hint of alcohol. As her breaths intermingled with the scent of alcohol, Xie Changzhou’s heart became soft and muddled.

He didn’t understand the unfamiliar words Sui Ning was saying. But he still understood her meaning.

He brushed aside the stray hairs that were blocking Sui Ning’s line of sight, and his eyes softened. “Ningning, you are good; you are the best woman I have ever met.”

“You are brave, resilient, and independent; you are better than me in many ways.” Xie Changzhou smiled gently, and his eyebrows curled up. “I’m lucky to have you, Ningning.”

Sui Ning smiled, and her eyebrows curled into a crescent moon. “Hmm, then promote me like that from now on!”

Xie Changzhou chuckled, his eyes bright, and his voice filled with a gentle laughter. “Yes, Ningning is very good.”

“Do you remember what I said to you in Yong’an City?” Xie Changzhou’s slender hand rested on her waist. His gaze was gentle, and his eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at her.

Sui Ning looked up, confused. “Huh?”

The scent of alcohol and sweetness mixed together on her body, making Xie Changzhou feel overwhelmed with love.

“Ningning, I said when we return to the Limitless Sword Sect, I hope you’ll give me an answer.” He lifted her head, which was about to slip off, and placed it securely on his neck. Sui Ning’s warm breath sprayed on his neck, and Xie Changzhou’s smile deepened.

“Of course it should be the man who confesses his feelings,” he chuckled, his eyes filled with tenderness. “I like Ningning, and I want to be with her. I want her to become the wife of the head of the Limitless Sword Sect and have children with her.”

“I spend all my spirit stones on Ningning, and I’ll get her anything she wants.”

“I’ll use my life to protect Ningning, and I’ll never waver.”

Xie Changzhou’s voice was soft and dissipated in the quiet courtyard.

“Ningning, will you accept me?” 

Ningning’s confused mind crashed, and she could only hear Xie Changzhou’s last words.

She looked at him through her misty eyes and met his gentle and misty gaze.

His eyes were warm and affectionate, with a misty layer at the bottom, and his gaze towards her was particularly gentle.

Ning Ning reached out and stroked his eyebrows and eyes. His high cheekbones and glassy eyes showed compassion.

She liked the way Xie Changzhou looked at her. Unlike his indifference and alienation towards others, his eyes were soft and affectionate towards her, even though he wasn’t aware of it.

Sui Ning’s face was full of joy, and two dimples appeared on her cheeks. She raised her head slightly and kissed his cheek lightly, her voice particularly crisp.

“I do; from now on, you are mine!” Sui Ning hugged his neck and kissed him again.

Her voice was particularly soft and lazy: “Now, I’m going to tell you my rules. The rules are that the path must be followed!”

She straightened up and held his face. Ah Yan was flipped over by her and continued sleeping.

Xie Changzhou chuckled, “Sure, Ningning, go ahead.”

Sui Ning counted on her fingers and said, “Firstly, you cannot be alone with someone of the opposite sex; otherwise, you must recite the ‘Book of Male Virtues’ one hundred times.”

“Secondly, you cannot have close relationships with others; otherwise, you will be punished as a warning to others.”

“Thirdly, if unmarried, one must remain pure and virtuous, and if married, one must remain faithful to their spouse.”

“Fourthly, when Sui Ning speaks, what she says is always right.”

Sui Ning glared at him and patted his shoulder heavily, her voice sternly saying, “Do you understand? It is everyone’s responsibility to uphold male virtues!”

Her round eyes widened, her fair face turned red from the alcohol, and her rosy lips slightly pursed.

Xie Changzhao was briefly stunned, but then his eyes curved with a smile. The shallow pupils were filled with happiness as if they were about to overflow, and his warm gaze carefully traced her eyebrows and eyes.

“Okay, Ningning.”

Xie Changzhao whispered, “I will definitely uphold… male virtues.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but laugh again. Sui Ning’s mischievous personality often left him unsure of how to react. Her thoughts were too unique—different from any other woman he had ever met.

But he loved her for it.

Free-spirited, courageous, and tough.

Under the moonlight, Xie Changzhao’s face was as radiant as jade, with warm and clear features, and his gentle gaze was focused on her. He was pure and noble, not like an ordinary person.

Sui Ning was a bit out of it, feeling that he was particularly good-looking, even better-looking than anyone she had ever seen.

“Boyfriend, you’re so handsome; let me give you a kiss!”

She held his face and gave him several kisses in a row. Xie Changzhao blushed from her kisses, his heart becoming soft and muddled.

As the alcohol surged, Sui Ning hooked her neck around his, burying her head in his neck. Her hot and wet breath sprayed onto his skin, and he quietly held her, with warm and pure spiritual energy flowing through her meridians, resolving the alcohol in her body.

Soon, the sound of her regular breathing could be heard, and Xie Changzhao turned his head to look at her.

Sui Ning’s thick and dark eyelashes trembled lightly as they hung down, covering her lively and bright eyes and casting a faint shadow on her fair face.

He had never felt so relaxed before, as if all his heavy responsibilities had dissipated, and he could only see her and wanted to see only her.

The chaos of the demon clan, the rebellion of the demon realm, the affairs of the sect—he had thrown them all aside.

Right now, he could only see her.

Xie Changzhou remembered what his master had told him: “Zi Yue, those in positions of power do not need emotions, as they will only become your weakness.”

In the past, he had never doubted his master’s words, but now he only wanted to say to him:

“He was wrong.”

He needed Sui Ning’s love, and he wanted her to become his weakness.

He was willing to bow down and submit to her.

“Ningning.” Xie Changzhou lightly kissed her forehead, his voice hoarse and hot.

“Love me, please.”

Never change your mind; never leave me.

The spiritual energy in his dantian was faintly restless; the suppressed demonic energy was gradually creeping out; something in the depths of his consciousness was quietly sprouting; and the sword hilt beside him emitted a buzzing sound. The pure sword energy caused the tassel on the sword handle to sway gently, and the fluttering flow of revitalization swayed lightly.

But he didn’t want to care; his crow-like long lashes hung down to cover the emotions in his eyes, gently embracing Sui Ning in his arms, the warm spiritual energy soothing her fatigue.

The heavy clouds shrouding his head gradually thickened, the stars were sparse, and pear blossoms fluttered throughout the garden.

When Sui Ning woke up, she opened her eyes to see a pair of bright and dark eyes.

Ah Yan was holding his small face, and when he saw Sui Ning wake up, his childish features wrinkled as she complained, “Sui Ning, it’s already afternoon!”

Sui Ning’s consciousness was still a bit confused. She lazily wrapped herself in the blanket, and it took her a while to understand what Ah Yan meant by “afternoon”.

Afternoon—that was from one to three in the afternoon.

She had slept until the afternoon.

“Sui ning, how can you sleep more than our Tiger tribe? You don’t seem like a human cultivator at all.”

Their Tiger tribe needed to sleep for at least five hours, and they tended to sleep deeply, often needing to set up protective barriers to prevent anyone from harming them while they were asleep.

But Sui Ning slept just as heavily.

He had called her several times.

Sui Ning turned over and hugged the blanket, her voice hoarse from just waking up. “I had a little drink; let me sleep a bit more.”

As soon as she closed her eyes, some scenes appeared in her confused mind.

A scorching kiss, a deep confession, and her…male morality literature.

Sui Ning suddenly opened her eyes, her heart beat faster, and her pale face turned red.

Ah Yan turned over from behind her and looked at her with some confusion. “Sui Ning, what’s wrong with you?”

He reached out to touch her face and felt that it was burning hot.

“Sui Ning, your face is so hot.” Ah Yan was a little worried.

Sui Ning suddenly became fully awake and felt nothing but regret. Why couldn’t she black out when she was drunk!

She confessed to Xie Changzhou, grabbed his face like a hooligan, kissed him fiercely, and said some nonsense to him.

More importantly, she promised to be with Xie Changzhou!

Sui Ning’s face became even hotter, her heart pounding like thunder. She buried her head in the blanket in frustration, letting Ah Yan pull at her without letting go.

The system came out with a sarcastic comment: “[I reminded you yesterday that Xie Changzhou was coming.]”

Sui Ning didn’t want to face it. The words she said last night floated up in her mind, each one making her toes curl, as if she wanted to dig a hole and hide in it.

The system was a little confused. “[Host, this is your mission. You will have to agree with him sooner or later and let him perceive that love is your task.]”

“[Host, do you also like Xie Changzhou? Do you regret it now?]”

Sui Ning was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond.

Ah Yan was still crying and calling out to her, “Sui Ning, what’s wrong with you?”

His young voice was filled with anxiety; he was constantly fiddling with Sui Ning’s blanket. Sui Ning helplessly lifted her head and hugged him.

“I’m fine.”

Her face was red, and the sweat on her forehead dampened her stray hair. She held Ah Yan in her arms, rubbing his furry head gently.

Ah Yan felt comfortable being rubbed and lazily nestled in her arms.

“[Host, you don’t really regret it, do you?]”

The system’s voice was incredulous, as if she were a despicable woman toying with someone’s feelings.

“[Host, you were kissing and hugging Xie Changzhou yesterday and even promised him. Don’t deny it now.]”

Sui Ning was speechless and quickly interrupted it: “Shut up, when did I say I regretted it?”

“[Don’t you regret it?]”

Sui Ning was silent; Xie Changzhou’s words from last night were still vivid in her mind.

She had never seen him so happy, gentle as water, his eyes bright, as if only seeing her.

He said he liked her and would protect her with his life.

Until death do us part.

Her heart suddenly felt a scorching sensation in her chest, spreading a tingling sensation that wandered through every inch of her veins. She could hear her own heartbeat getting faster and faster.

The system also didn’t speak, and the room fell into silence for a while; only Ah Yan’s occasional comfortable breathing could be heard.

After a while, a soft voice came.

“I have no regrets.” Sui Ning gently rubbed Ah Yan’s fluffy little head with her chin and suddenly laughed softly: “System, you’re right.”

“Not being with him, I might regret it.”

She paused, then continued, “No, I will definitely regret it in the decades of my life after him.”

She was young, and girls her age are usually infatuated. Xie Changzhou was so good to her and so outstanding. How could she not like him?

“I want to help him eliminate his inner demons and successfully ascend.” Sui Ning smiled, her dimples showing.

After Xie Changzhou ascended, she could leave and live her peaceful life, and he could do his thing as an immortal.

Sui Ning chuckled and said, “I’m going to see my mom. I don’t know if I’ll cry when I see her.”

Although she was clearly laughing, the mechanical system still detected her sadness.

Her mood wasn’t good.

The system stuttered and said, “[Host, don’t be sad.]”

As soon as it finished speaking, Sui Ning jumped up energetically and said, “Enough talk, let’s get up!”

System: […]

You recover quickly.

Ah Yan also jumped up, finally remembering the main task his master had assigned to him: “Sui Ning, my master sent me to find you.”

Sui Ning was surprised. “Find me?”

Ah Yan nodded and quickly got off the bed, pulling her hand away. “Yes, the master went to the Mingqing Hall for a discussion, so he asked me to find you and bring you to him when you wake up.”

“Go to the Mingqing Hall to find him?”

“Yes, but since you haven’t woken up, I’ve been waiting until now.”

Sui Ning furrowed her brows. The Mingjing Hall was where the seven peak masters discussed important matters, and even inner disciples were not allowed to enter. Why did Xie Changzhou want her to go there to find him?

Has something happened?

Without much time to think, Sui Ning quickly recited a spell to tidy herself up and carried Ah Yan as she flew towards the Mingjing Hall.

The Mingjing Hall was located on the main peak of the Limitless Sword Sect, a magnificent and tall building. The entrance of the hall faced the main gate of the sect, and one could faintly see Gusu city below.

When Sui Ning arrived, Xie Changzhou was seated on the main platform, while the other six peak masters were sitting on both sides.

As she appeared, all seven pairs of eyes turned to look at her, making Sui Ning suddenly nervous.

Apart from Xie Changzhou and the peak master of Fuling, the others are relatively old. They had gentle and kind expressions, exuding a pure and warm temperament, and their eyes carried a sense of inquiry as they looked at her.

Lu Guan, the peak master of Jianfeng, smoothed his white beard and spoke with a smile: “Is this Miss Sui Ning? She does indeed possess a beautiful appearance.”

Song Zhuo, the peak master of Duanjian Peak, agreed: “Indeed, to achieve the nascent soul stage at such a young age is truly remarkable talent.”

Several peak masters started joking around.

 “The owner of the Soul Seal Plate must have a strong and resilient character.”

 “Yes, even Jianzun praises her endlessly. She’s definitely extraordinary.”

 “I’ve been assisting Jianzun for so many years, but I haven’t heard him compliment me once.”

As the topic drifted further away, Sui Ning looked to the main seat for help, her black eyes filled with embarrassment.

Xie Changzhou was taken aback, understanding her meaning: “Since Ningning has already…”

“You guys, stop talking.” A clear voice interrupted the peak masters. Sui Ning was surprised and looked towards the source of the voice, meeting a pair of serene eyes.

She lazily leaned against the back of the chair, her beauty and grace emanating from her clear and translucent complexion and jet-black hair held up by a wooden hairpin.

Fuling smiled gently at Sui Ning. “You guys are making the little girl uncomfortable.”

Sui Ning’s heart warmed. Indeed, women understand women the best. Fuling was a beautiful and considerate older sister.

But the next second, Fuling’s lips curled into a playful smile. “Jianzun would be heartbroken.”

The smile on Sui Ning’s face froze, and her face flushed.

The peak masters were all stunned, their gazes shifting between Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou, their expressions holding deeper meanings.

Sui Ning: “…”

Is the cultivation world really this gossipy?

Seeing Sui Ning’s discomfort, Xie Changzhou sighed and spoke slowly: “Elders, we still have important matters to discuss.”

His clear voice carried the dignity and composure of a superior, and the peak masters immediately quieted down, putting away their casual demeanor and transforming back into the high-ranking peak masters within the sect.

Although they are much older than Xie Changzhou, they never dare to treat him as a junior. In terms of both strength and intelligence, Xie Changzhou far surpasses them. In the world of cultivation, the strong are respected, so they willingly assist Xie Changzhou in governing the people.

Lu Guan pointed to the empty seat next to him and said, “Miss Sui Ning, please sit here.” Sui Ning nodded slightly and took Ah Yan’s hand to sit down.

Fuling, sitting opposite her, noticed her somewhat restrained manner and lightly laughed, saying, “Miss Sui Ning, there’s no need to be so formal. We didn’t invite you here for anything major.”

Before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Fuling continued, “It’s just that the beast can’t be killed, and there’s some unrest brewing.”

“What? That’s not a big deal?” Sui Ning looked at her incredulously, her voice slightly agitated. “If the beast doesn’t stay in the Void and can’t be killed, and it comes out of Mo Huai’an’s body, it will really wreak havoc. At that time, Demon Lord Shen Jie and Devil King Lian Heng will likely intervene, and it could lead to a fierce battle.”

“Sui Ning, don’t worry,” Xie Changzhou said calmly, with a soothing look in his eyes.

Fuling sipped her tea, and her long eyelashes covered the emotions in her eyes. She looked at Sui Ning and said softly, “You can kill it.”

Sui Ning’s heart sank, and her eyebrows furrowed tightly. “Elder, what do you mean?”

Fuling looked up at her, her expression calm and serene, and said word by word, “I mean what I said. Sui ning, you can kill it.”

“The beast?”

“Only you can kill it.”

Sui Ning’s hand clenched tightly on the seat, and her heart seemed to skip a beat as she looked incredulously at Xie Changzhou.

“Ningning, news came from the Jing Chan sect that the beast suddenly went berserk for some reason, and its wounds quickly began to heal. Even the Jing Chan sect’s exorcism array couldn’t suppress it.”

He paused; his thin lips pursed tightly, and a gloomy expression flickered across his glassy eyes. His clear voice was somewhat chilly.

“Only the wounds you left on it have not healed.”

Several peak masters looked at her, their faces heavy, sweeping away the previous ease.

Ah Yan was still young and asked in a childish voice, “Why didn’t your wounds heal, Sui Ning?”

Sui Ning’s throat was dry as she looked at Ah Yan’s round eyes, and his white and tender face was full of confusion.

She smiled at him and pinched his little hand. “I don’t know either.”

Her face was calm, but her heart was gradually accelerating, and she quickly summoned the system.

The system was also shocked: “[Host, I don’t know either.]”

Sui Ning’s heart sank completely. She was just an ordinary person, and even her cultivation was forced upon her by the system. How could she possibly defeat the ancient demon beast that even Xie Changzhou and Master Dingyuan couldn’t kill?

Xie Changzhou and Fuling’s words meant something, and she understood it clearly.

It meant that she had the ability to kill the ancient demon beast, which also meant that once this matter was leaked out, the entire world would be in chaos.

The demon clan will try their best to kill her, and the major sects will do everything they can to vie for her, attempting to uncover her secrets and exhaust her last bit of utility value.

At that time, would Xie Changzhou be implicated because of this?

Sui Ning looked over at Xie Changzhou, and his face was also full of coldness, with a depressing and killing aura emanating from his body.

Her heart felt sour. Xie Changzhou certainly didn’t want her to be pursued and fought over like this, and when that time came, he would face the entire demon realm and cultivation world.

Her eyes reddened slightly, and Xie Changzhou was a bit at a loss, saying, “Ningning, don’t be afraid. Only a few elders from the Jing Chan Sect know about this matter. Don’t worry.”

His eyes toward her were gentle and firm. “I will protect you. Don’t be afraid.”

Sui Ning shook her head. Of course, she wasn’t afraid of the demon clan. She was just a little worried…that Xie Changzhou would be implicated because of her.

Lu Guan let out a sigh and said in a slow voice, “So, Miss Sui Ning, we need you to go to Jing Chan Sect once.”

“Only you can kill the beast and save Mo Huai’an.”

The entire hall fell into silence, with no one speaking.

After a while, a voice came from above.

Xie Changzhou said softly, “If Ningning doesn’t want to, she won’t go.”

Sui Ning was stunned, and FuLing’s action of drinking tea paused as she looked at him in surprise.

Lu Guan and the others looked at him incredulously, with their expressions showing the same surprise.

FuLing said blankly, “Jianzun, only Miss Sui Ning can kill the beast.”

So he knew what he was saying, didn’t he?

Xie Changzhou’s expression remained unchanged, and his eyebrows were aloof and plain. “Killing the beast is too dangerous. It requires entering its sea of consciousness, and Ningning is only at the nascent soul stage, afraid she cannot handle it.”

“Resealing it is what I can do.”

Sui Ning looked at him from across the void, and after a long time, she laughed.

A gentle smile graced her beautiful face as she softly said, “I’m willing.”

Xie Changzhou furrowed his brows, “Ningning, this is not a small matter.”

Sui Ning lightly laughed, “I know.”

She slowly stood up and looked at the several peak masters, repeating each word with emphasis.

“I’m willing.”

Xie Changzhou was willing to break his own principles for her, and she was also willing to be brave for him.

She didn’t want to be a burden to him.

She wanted to stand by his side.