The Sect Master in the Gift Box - Chapter 3

The world was vast. Surely, if I made myself scarce, the great sect master would never catch me.

So although I kept moving from place to place, I felt fulfilled, carefree, and happy.

Until one day I opened my bamboo gate as usual and found a familiar face on the other side.

The instant our eyes met, Weixi’s red lips parted. I slammed the courtyard gate shut and bolted out the back.

I glanced over my shoulder twice as I ran. Fortunately, he hadn’t followed.

I worked even harder to conceal my whereabouts, reassuring myself over and over that perhaps it had only been a coincidence.

One day, out in the street, I happened to pass a lovely, frail young man.

We would simply have walked past each other, but he suddenly caught my sleeve. “My lady, are you from Mount Jiumeng?”

He was looking at my wrist. I wore a string of round, spring-green beads, standard attire for disciples of Mount Jiumeng.

There was a pleading note in his voice. “Could you take me there?”

Before I could answer, I felt a gaze fasten on my back.

I turned. Two paces away stood Weixi, frowning at me. His expression was almost… reproachful.

“Is he more interesting than I am? Is that why you’re avoiding me?”

How could I possibly answer? Without a second thought, I took to my heels again.

After that, I decided to keep to myself and stay out of busy streets altogether.

Barely two days later, however, my friend Qintiao sent word that her spirit beast had been badly poisoned and asked me to cure it.

I had to go to Spring City. To hide from Weixi, this time I covered myself from head to toe, leaving only my eyes visible.

I could guarantee that even Master wouldn’t recognize his own disciple if he passed me on the road.

Once I’d cured Qintiao’s spirit beast, I got up to leave. As I walked, I marveled at how she’d managed to keep two spirit beasts all to herself.

She really did have the best of both worlds. Lucky little wretch. If only I could take her place for an episode or two.

I was so absorbed in the thought that, as I rounded a corner, something suddenly tightened around my waist.

Someone caught me, pressed me against a red brick wall, and bit my lower lip with an angry fierceness.

Pain and tingling swept through me. My knees nearly gave way, and I began to slide down.

He caught me halfway and held me against his chest.

Weixi rubbed my lips hard with his hand, his voice full of aggrieved anger.

“Tired of me already? Is that why you keep hiding?”

I was astonished. Wasn’t the Wuliang Sect supposed to shun desire? Why was Weixi embracing and kissing me the instant we met?

I ventured cautiously, “Sect Master, have you stopped following the Path of Emotionlessness?”

“Sect master?” He looked utterly baffled. “Who’s a sect master?”

“Have you left the Wuliang Sect?”

He only asked in surprise, “And what on earth is the Wuliang Sect?”

He didn’t seem to be pretending.

An idea struck me. I took his wrist and checked his pulse.

Well, well. A mortal body again?

Had Weixi failed his first trial and gone off to undergo another?

This time, I would make amends. I absolutely would not hinder his path to immortality.

I respectfully clasped my hands in salute. “I wish you every success with your trial, Sect Master. I’ll take my leave.”

I was just about to step away when Weixi reached out and embraced me from behind.

He bent over, nuzzling the side of my neck, his low, husky voice carrying a hint of temptation.

“Where are you going now? Don’t you want to do something fun with me?”