Chapter 135: The Choice (Part 7)

Shen Suwei held her for a moment before pulling her down to sit. “Why did you come here?”
“I thought you went to Qiu,” Xu Qianyu said. “Why aren’t you staying at the sect? Why are you here?”

Her gaze fell on the book on the desk, turned face down. Just as she was about to open it, Shen Suwei moved faster than her, pressing her hand down, pulling the book out, and with a flick of his fingers, the book flew back to its original place.

He spoke in a calm, neutral tone, “There are some matters these days, so I will stay here to look through the scriptures.”

Xu Qianyu looked at him intently and said, “Then I will stay here as well.”

When Xu Qianyu looked at someone, she was extremely focused, and no one could resist such a gaze.

Shen Suwei did not tell her to go back, but instead took a cup and poured her some tea. Xu Qianyu’s face brightened with joy. “I’ve been here a few times before, but I didn’t know there was a pool here.”

“The spiritual pool is below the mechanism; it only opens when in use.”

The floor of the library was dedicated entirely to sect scriptures, and entry required a disciple’s inner command. In order to avoid disturbing others and to help him restrain his inner demons, Xu Baopu had specially activated this peaceful pool here. One had to admit, the thoughtfulness was evident.

Even if someone discovered his unusual behavior, they would only think he frequently entered the library because he was urgently looking for something.

But he explained to Xu Qianyu, “Senior Brother told me to soak in this spiritual pool to help heal my injuries.”

Xu Qianyu was about to ask about his injuries when Shen Suwei grasped her hand and said, “I’m fine.”
“I’m about to bathe.” Shen Suwei’s gaze fell on her fingers, and he loosened his grip slightly, standing up. His dark eyes met hers as he said, “Wait for me here; don’t come over.”
His tone was gentle, yet his serious manner made it clear there was no room for disagreement. Xu Qianyu nodded. After watching him walk out, she saw him lower the bamboo curtain, shutting her off from the room.

Xu Qianyu understood that this was one of those times where it would be inappropriate to watch.

He had lowered the curtain, and that was just as well. Once he was gone, Xu Qianyu immediately ran to the bookshelf and found the scripture he had just turned over, the one he hadn’t wanted her to see.

Xu Qianyu had a great memory; she had only glanced at the cover once, but it left an impression. She quickly pulled it out and began flipping through the pages.

This scripture was all about the rules and etiquette of the Penglai Immortal Sect.

She guessed the thickness and flipped to the page she was looking for—it was the one on the cultivation partners’ bond!

Xu Qianyu read through it rapidly. The book explained that cultivation partners were companions in cultivation, mostly male and female, but occasionally same-sex pairs, although same-sex cultivators couldn’t “dual cultivate”; they simply practiced together.

In the relationships within the Immortal Sect, the bond between cultivation partners was the closest, far surpassing that of fellow disciples. When forming a cultivation partnership, it had to be bound by soul, with both parties thriving or suffering together, supporting each other. If one perished, the other would be greatly affected.

The next page recorded the concept of dual cultivation. There was a large illustration beside it. Xu Qianyu glanced at it but quickly turned the page when she found the positions awkward and unappealing.

She quickly returned to the desk, her mind still racing with the idea of how a cultivation partner’s relationship was closer than that of fellow disciples. Her heart began to race.

Closer than the bond between fellow disciples. It was too tempting. Was Senior Brother considering this matter? Why didn’t he mention it?

Xu Qianyu picked a grape from the gold platter, but it tasted bland. She paced back and forth, her curiosity getting the better of her, and she squatted down to sneak a peek through the bamboo curtain.

She could vaguely see the hem of Senior Brother’s clothes brushing the ground. He first tidied up the scattered items before going to bathe. His belt first dropped, followed by the soft outer garment.

Before entering the water, Shen Suwei had the habit of neatly folding his clothes. He suddenly felt a breeze from behind, turned around, and saw a hand reach out from under the bamboo curtain, pulling the outer garment he had dropped on the floor inside.

Shen Suwei: “…”

Inside the curtain, Xu Qianyu hurriedly spread the outer garment flat.

Earlier, she had bought fabric at the cloth shop, but she couldn’t be sure of the measurements, so she hadn’t made the clothes. When she was in the outer sect, she had learned the technique of making clothes. With a few measurements, like sleeve length, hem length, and waist size, she could tailor the fabric. Now was the perfect opportunity to get the measurements.

She quietly measured the outer garment. Her sewing skills were poor, and each measurement came out different, making it quite confusing. Slowly, she got more and more delayed.

By the time she finished cutting all the fabric, she didn’t know how much time had passed. The sounds from outside had gradually faded. She quietly pushed the outer garment outside, unsure if it had been noticed, feeling quite nervous. She also peered outside through the curtain.

Shen Suwei was facing away from her, immersed in the pool, but his clothes were neat. He had been bathing for a long time, perhaps because he was waiting for the outer garment and hadn’t come out yet.

She then slipped out, picked up the outer garment, and walked toward him. Just as she took the first step, Shen Suwei, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, softly said, “Go back, don’t come over.”

“But you’re already dressed,” Xu Qianyu stopped for a moment, and seeing that he didn’t stop her, she continued forward.

The outer garment was large, dragging on the ground. Xu Qianyu lifted it higher, folding it on her arm. The mist gathered, clinging to her skin.

At that moment, the sword qi moved, suddenly stirring the water in the pool, sending it splashing into the air in a silver-white arc. Xu Qianyu instinctively opened the outer garment and held it in front of her. But the outer garment was just a thin piece of fabric, unable to block the water, and she was soaked in an instant.

Water dripped down the edges of her clothes, splashing onto the ground.

The pool water was warm, avoiding her head and face. It wasn’t aggressive but instead gently and heavily adhered to her body. Still, Xu Qianyu was caught off guard and drenched. She stared wide-eyed, frozen in place.

She wasn’t someone who could be taken advantage of.

After a while, she looked at her clothes, fuming, and went to the front, scooping up pool water to throw it at Shen Suwei.

He closed his eyes and accepted it, slightly tilting his head, letting the water slide off his face.

Opening his eyes, another two swords Qi struck, splashing water onto Xu Qianyu’s waist.

Xu Qianyu stopped being angry, and instead, her playful side came out. She scooped up water to throw back, playing with her senior brother.

It was unclear how long they had been playing. She was soaked through, feeling a bit of cold, so she kicked off her shoes and socks and jumped into the pool. As soon as she entered, the sword Qi, which had been woven into a net in the mist, lifted her up, keeping her above the water.

No matter how much she tried to dive down, Senior Brother wouldn’t let her go.
“You can’t go down anymore.” Shen Suwei, with slightly raised eyes, looked up at her and said, “Let me help you dry off, alright?”

It seemed as though he absolutely needed an answer from her, so Xu Qianyu nodded slightly.

She was lifted by a sword Qi and gently placed at the edge of the pond, her legs submerged in the water.

She watched as Shen Suwei swam toward her. His long hair floated in the water, darkened by the moisture, almost as black as his pupils. In the mist, he exuded an eerie, profound, and dangerous beauty.

His icy cold hand brushed against her ankle, and Xu Qianyu shivered. Shen Suwei suddenly tightened his grip. “Sit still; don’t move.”

Xu Qianyu tilted her head. She couldn’t move at all!

Invisible frost-like sword Qi erupted from all directions in the pond, silently binding her entire body. She called out, “Senior Brother.”

She saw Shen Suwei holding her ankle, with droplets of water clinging to his long, dark lashes. He lowered his head and kissed the side of her leg, and the water droplet fell sharply.

Xu Qianyu shivered. At the same time, strands of sword Qi softly brushed against her eyelashes and cheek, seeping into her collar and sleeves. The breeze blew through, drying the water droplets but leaving behind a faint chill on her skin.

Her clothes slowly dried and puffed out. Through the entire process, he never once raised his eyes.

But Xu Qianyu could feel it—an invisible, overwhelming sword Qi filled the entire room. His sword qi was him, touching every inch and every part of her.

Xu Qianyu couldn’t bear it; her lashes fluttered, and her mind was immediately thrown into disarray. Shen Suwei looked up at her.

He realized he enjoyed watching Xu Qianyu lose herself. He liked seeing her like this—completely focused on him.