Translator: Kelaude Editor: Milkbiscuit
âYour Cave Master is really gutsy, since he isnât willing to come out and meet me, then I suppose I will just have to go in and see him myself.â Qing Ju smiled as she walked towards the silent quarters.
QianâEr was a little anxious now, the Cave Master was still naked and taking his bath. Other than XueâEr and herself being allowed to enter, how could she let an outsider in? So she took a step forward, and blocked Qing Juâs path, âThe Cave Master is in the middle of his bath, please wait for a moment Little Auntie.â
Qing Juâs expression instantly turned cold, as she glared frostily at QianâEr.
She could let Miao Yiâs disrespect pass, but a mere Cave Masterâs little girl daring to get in her way, did they truly think she was this easy going?
Upon receiving her glare, QianâEr was completely terrified, and could only bite her lip before getting out of the way.
After seeing her green dress depart, Yan Xiu quickly pulled Zheng Jinlong and Wang Zifa from the side and asked in a low voice, âWhat exactly happened?â
âAye! Itâs hard to explain; the Cave Masterâs trip to South Edict Manor didnât end well this time. He almost lost his life on the way back....â the two of them briefly explained what had happened.
Yan Xiu breathed in a breath of cold air when he heard the whole story, he hadnât expect their Cave Master to be so ferocious, and was actually able to kill two Cave Masters.
QianâEr and XueâEr were also completely taken aback, they didnât think their own Cave Master was actually so powerful that other Cave Masters were not even a match for their own....
Inside the silent quarters, when he saw Qing Ju walking in with her face all smiling, Miao Yiâs eyes widened in bewilderment thinking he must have been mistaken. He quickly searched to his left and right, grabbing a piece of cloth into the water and covered his crotch, as he anxiously said, âHow did you come in here!? Didnât anyone tell you I was in the middle of a bath!?â
âIt is unwise to use these kinds of excuses to avoid me. Why donât you spare a thought and figure out who in your East Arrival Cave would dare stop me? You reap what you sow.â Qing Ju stood firmly by the side of the pool without a trace of fear in her eyes, and snickered, âItâs no big deal even if I saw anything. Not to mention, youâre covering it so tightly that I canât see anything at all.â
âLittle Auntie, I sincerely admit I was wrong. Why donât you head outside first, I will come over in a moment.â Miao Yi didnât know whether to laugh or cry, as he begged for mercy.
âNo need. This is quite nice, at least youâll be a little more honest.â Qing Ju raised the hem of her skirt, and slowly crouched by the poolside. She extended her arm, gathering some water in her hand, before splashing it onto Miao Yiâs face and sighed, âDonât tell me you actually believed the Manor Head had only assigned me to just simply escort you back?â
Miao Yi had completely admitted defeat. What sort of woman, when seeing a man in the middle of a bath, didnât even have any trace of shame? He could only sigh back, âLittle Auntie, what are you trying to say?â
Qing Ju asked, âDo you have complaints regarding the fact that the Manor Head had been biased towards Xiong Xiao?â
âI wouldnât dare!â said Miao Yi, before adding another line out of indignation. âBut those with eyes could easily tell that Xiong Xiao had been acting.â
âSo what? Itâs not a problem for the Manor Head to set things right,â said Qing Ju in return. âDo you even have the qualifications for him to do so? The reasoning is very simple. Regardless of how well the Manor Head has been treating you, you still donât have the qualifications to replace Xiong Xiao. Do you honestly believe that the Manor Head will be willing to lose a major general for the sake of a weak cultivator such as yourself? Forgive me for being blunt, but if Xiong Xiao had turned furious out of shame and killed you on the spot, the Manor Head still would not have done anything to him, because you are not worthy. If it were not for the Manor Headâs honor, do you think Xiong Xiao would not dare do so?â
The brutal truth finally made Miao Yi sober up. He silently regained his composure, mute as a fish. He understood that his own disposition was the problem - he had been too sure of himself and had asked for too much. What qualifications and what right did he have to make Yang Qing run errands for him? He should have realised his own weight in the great order of things.
âThis time I have completely thrown aside all caution to the wind with Xiong Xiao. He will surely seek retribution in future. If he comes at me secretly, I am afraid not even the Manor Headâs words will be able to stop him.â
Miao Yi said in a hushed voice, this was what he was truly worried about.
Qing Ju smiled, âThe Manor Head knows that you are worried about this. For that matter, if the Manor Head had asked you to let him go instead, but you found an opportunity to strike at him in secret, would you let him go then?â
Miao Yi was dazed, but after a moment of thought, he spoke in full honesty, âI wouldnât!â
âThatâs right, so do you understand now?â
âBut itâs not the same, Xiong Xiaoâs abilities are far stronger than mine; he could make a move on me at any time, but how would I dare touch him now?â
âThen do you wish for the Manor Head to be by your side and protect you everyday? Some things, you will just have to rely on yourself, others wouldnât be able to offer you more than that. The fact that the Manor Head sent me here to counsel you is already an act of great benevolence, not many will get to enjoy this sort of treatment; if you still have complaints then thatâs not my problem anymore.â
Miao Yi slowly nodded his head, âI understand.â
âThe Manor Head has asked me to relay a few words to you - donât blame him for being unjust, he protected Xiong Xiao today, but in the future, he could just as easily protect you. However, the prerequisite is that you, Miao Yi, possess the qualifications to replace Xiong Xiao. He will promise you one thing; if one day you have the capability to do so, forget about killing Xiong Xiao, it wouldnât be a problem even if you wanted to take over Mount Shaotai. When that happens, the Manor Head will just open one eye and close the other, and the position of Mount Shaotai Mountain Chieftain will be yours! Forcing the others to submit and promoting you to your Cave Master position was already an exception; he wonât be able to keep making exceptions just to help you, because the Manor Head wouldnât be able to justify it to the others. In the end, you will still have to show your own capability.â
After she had finished speaking, Qing Ju patted Miao Yiâs bare shoulder, using the opportunity to take advantage of his skin, and stood up, âRegardless of whether or not you have managed to think through things, I will only speak up to here. Alright, seeing as I was able to witness the Great Cave Master Miao in the bath, then this trip has not been wasted. If I continue to stay any longer, people might begin to suspect that I have done something improper to you. Take your time in the bath, I have already accomplished what the Manor Head asked of me, so I shall return to South Edict Manor now.â
Miao Yi hurriedly spoke up, âPlease wait, let me send Little Auntie off.â
âOh!â Qing Ju turned around, staring between his legs at the area being tightly covered up by his hands as he sat in the water, and teasingly said, âAlright then, hurry up and stand up, Iâll wait for you to send me off!â
âUhh.....â Miao Yiâs face twitched, as he was thinking, âHow am I going to stand up if youâre still here!?â
Qing Ju chuckled, then turned around and left, âNo need to send me off.â
There were some things that she had not, and would not voice out loud in front of Miao Yi. Miao Yi was someone Yang Qing thought highly of, yet Xiong Xiao had made a move on him behind his back, it would be odd if Yang Qing was fine with this. However, now that South Edict Manor was being being heavily surveyed from the School of Blue Jade. Yang Qing was already short of manpower, so he could not take his anger out.
When Miao Yi came out of the water and put on his clothes, he ran outside and asked, only to find out that Qing Ju had already left. Yan Xiu had even sent Zheng Jinlong and Wang Zifa to escort her, making the two of them run back and forth, but that was also something that they couldnât help but do....
Behind his back, QianâEr and XueâEr both felt like they had something they wanted to say but didnât. They were wondering if the Cave Master had any clothes on when that Auntie Qing Ju went in, but some things they knew, were not in their place to question.
Even though the two of them knew that they were the Cave Masterâs handmaidens and that they didnât have any right to interfere, but they were still a little jealous; they felt that they were the only ones who could enter when the Cave Master was taking a bath. How would it seem if other women, especially the Manor Headâs handmaiden, walked in on that? Shameless!
âCave Master, is everything alright?â to his side, Yan Xiu asked.
Miao Yi shook his head as he pondered, but he didnât answer the question, âIâm going to take a look at the newly built ships by the seaside.â
Yan Xiu had reported earlier that the dock and ships had been finished, but sadly Miao Yi never had the time to go and see it.