My Daily Cultivation Life with a Clumsy Female Disciple

Chapter 408

Li Shiyin's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm was a momentous occasion for Dan Peak. The entire peak celebrated jubilantly throughout the afternoon until the moon began to rise, and the festivities gradually dispersed.

Those who came to congratulate Li Shiyin on her breakthrough were all cultivators, so naturally, there was no shortage of sparring and competitions. This one wanted to spar, that one wanted to compete, and another wanted to learn sword techniques. Li Shiyin welcomed all challengers, engaging in matches with everyone, even crossing swords with an infant barely six months old who wielded sword energy.

In such friendly matches, there was no real concept of winning or losing. However, after crossing swords, everyone had a clear sense of their relative strengths.

For Li Shiyin at this point, the strength of most Dao Sword Sect cultivators had become a visible, quantifiable value to her. Even for those stronger than her, she had a rough idea of when she might catch up to them.

Only Lu Junxing remained unfathomable to her.

"Senior Brother Lu is truly incredible," Li Shiyin sighed, lying on her back on the roof of the small cabin, her head resting on Qin Ran's lap as she gazed at the starry sky.

"The stronger Lu Junxing is, the more beneficial it is for you," Qin Ran said, one hand resting on her body, the other gently running through her silky hair. "Having a goal ahead of you means you'll never lack motivation to move forward. What's truly frightening is if there's no one stronger than you in the Dao Sword Sect or this Land of Immortal Legacy. That would be a terrifying situation."

"If there's no one here, there must be elsewhere!" Li Shiyin said with a laugh. "The Land of Immortal Legacy is just a remote area in the Lingnan Region. Maybe Senior Brother Lu and I are formidable here, but we might actually be weak once we leave?"

"Elsewhere, huh?" Qin Ran looked up into the darkness and sighed, "Do you remember Su Changqing and Bai Ruoxi? They were prodigious disciples of the Lingnan Immortal Sect. In this world, their strength sets the benchmark. They represent the highest tier of power."

"Of course I remember. Bai Ruoxi taught me the Immortal Seeking the Way and the War Spirit Art! How could I forget?" Li Shiyin recalled that brilliant pair of senior disciples who had profoundly influenced her early stages of cultivation. She knew she would never forget them. "I think I'm about as strong as Bai Ruoxi now, maybe a little stronger. But I'm still far from Su Changqing's level. Oh! Does that mean Senior Brother Lu is as powerful as Su Changqing?"

She realized this with a sense of shock.

"Lu Junxing is a typical case of being limited by resources," Qin Ran explained. "If he had also built his foundation on the Dao Scripture, he would indeed be as formidable as Su Changqing."

Who was Su Changqing? Someone who could comprehend sword energy and sword intent without even cultivating the sword path. Someone who could contend with the Devouring Demon Willow on the verge of Merger while still at the Foundation Establishment realm, and even stop its already rampaging willow catkins.

"Master..." Li Shiyin grabbed Qin Ran's hand resting on her body, hugging it to her chest and counting his fingers. She asked softly, "Are you worried about me leaving the Dao Sword Sect, leaving the Land of Immortal Legacy, and going out into the wider world?"

She could sense it from her master's expression and tone.

Before Li Shiyin had reached Foundation Establishment, even when she could contend with Nascent Soul cultivators, she knew there was still some gap between her and her master. But now that she had broken through, she was at early Foundation Establishment, and her master was also at early Foundation Establishment. It was hard to say who was stronger now.

Previously, her master could completely control her. If he told her to go east, she wouldn't dare go west. If she dared to go west, her master would... become very angry. When Su Changqing gave him that "Immortal Spirit Scroll," he didn't even ask her opinion before giving it to Huang Feiyu. But now, she felt that she was becoming a bit less controlled by her master. Although, she had never been very obedient to begin with.

"Ah!" Qin Ran sighed again, his hand running through Li Shiyin's silky hair, feeling it slip through his palm, then gently caressing her smooth cheek, feeling its warmth. He lightly pinched her cheek.

In fact, from the moment he first accepted this exceptionally talented disciple, he had considered this issue. But initially, he had thought that if she wanted to leave, he would just let her go. She was just a disciple after all. The sooner she left, the sooner he would have peace. But who could have anticipated that this foolish disciple would fall in love with him?

Fall in love with someone like him.

He couldn't bear to part with her now.

"You know that your master fears this world... I'm very afraid of death. I don't dare to leave this familiar, safe comfort zone. Before you came, I had never thought about leaving the Dao Sword Sect, or even Dan Peak," he murmured, his gaze unfocused.

"But actually, I've long since figured it out. When coming to a new world, one always needs a home. Before I had you, Dan Peak was my home; after having you, wherever you are is my home.

"We still have a long future ahead, and I know you won't be confined to the Land of Immortal Legacy. You're bound to venture out. You don't need to hold yourself back because of me, forcibly staying in the Land of Immortal Legacy. Your master won't be a burden to you..."

Hearing these words, Li Shiyin suddenly panicked. She quickly sat up, hugging Qin Ran's hand and asking anxiously, "Master, are you trying to send me away? Don't you want me anymore?!"

Qin Ran shook his head, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers, and said softly, "Silly disciple, how could I ever part with you?

"I'm saying that later, after we've settled matters with the Dao Sword Sect, we can go out together. How could someone as silly as you manage without me? A fool like you wouldn't last three episodes out in the wider world."

"Hehe!" Li Shiyin finally relaxed, gently bumping her forehead against Qin Ran's, then giving him a quick kiss on the lips before lying back down in his arms. "Master, I understand. From now on, I'll protect you with my sword, and you'll protect me with your brain. We're the most perfect combination in the world."

"Master, Master..." Her mind was full of peculiar thoughts. "When we roam the jianghu in the future, we'll need a catchy title. I've heard that those wanderers from North Chu all have impressive nicknames, like 'Blood-Handed Butcher,' 'Invincible Loner,' 'Little Flying Dagger Li,' or 'North Chu Sword Saint.' We need a powerful, resounding title too.

"Master, how about we call ourselves the 'Deadly Couple'? When people hear it, they'll know we're a married couple, one man and one woman, and that we're terrifying."

Qin Ran shook his head repeatedly, saying, "That sounds terrible. We might as well call ourselves the 'Divine Eagle and Heroic Couple.'"

"Do we have an eagle?" Li Shiyin asked, puzzled.

"We have Chasing the Wind..." Qin Ran pondered, "How about the 'Mystic Tiger Couple'?"

"Are we taking Chasing the Wind with us when we go out?" Li Shiyin asked, then quickly lowered her voice, "I mean, are we not taking Qi Qi, Liu Xiaoji, and You You?"

"Chasing the Wind looks good, it can help us maintain our image," Qin Ran said seriously. "Chasing the Wind is also very powerful. If someone tries to rob us, we can let Chasing the Wind deal with them. How can we easily show our hand?"

"But Chasing the Wind eats a lot," Li Shiyin pointed out another concern.

Qin Ran hesitated, "That's true..."

"And also..." Li Shiyin tried to hold back her laughter as she raised another point, "Master, you're such a big bad guy, how can you call yourself a hero?"

"I'm a big bad guy, and you're a little bad guy!" The big bad guy Qin Ran pinched the little bad guy Li Shiyin's nose, speaking nonsense with a straight face, "Besides, you don't understand. This is what I call chaotic justice. Although I'm cunning and treacherous, kill without mercy, commit heinous crimes, and am unforgivable, I'm actually a good person. I aspire to justice in my heart. Someone like me can also be called a dark hero."

"Master, you're talking nonsense again..."

"How about 'Gotham's Guardian'?"

"No way!"

The two continued to whisper and chat on the rooftop until late into the night, until the moon rose from the east and climbed to its zenith overhead, never separating.

There was a strange emotion in the air, an odd atmosphere between them, as if they were waiting for something...

Li Shiyin had reached Foundation Establishment, fully embarking on the path of cultivation. There was no longer any need to worry about losing cultivation by breaking her virginity.

Moreover, she clearly remembered her master saying that after she reached Foundation Establishment...

"Master..." In the end, it was the emboldened lover who spoke first. Li Shiyin sat in Qin Ran's arms, hugging his waist, her small face buried in his neck. Her voice was softer than a mosquito's buzz as she murmured, "You said... you said... after I reached Foundation Establishment... Now I've reached Foundation Establishment."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Ran's heart began to flutter. However, he was still concerned that his soul and body had not fully merged, leaving a knot in his heart.

After some thought, he said, "You've only just formed your Golden Core today. Your cultivation isn't stable yet. Let's wait until it stabilizes."

He thought to himself, "Let's put it off a bit longer! Perhaps after practicing the Raging Waves Visualization Method, my soul and body will fully merge."

Hearing this, Li Shiyin paused, then said, "My Foundation Building cultivation is solid, and I've been in closed-door cultivation for three months. Even though I've just formed my Golden Core, it shows no signs of instability. Besides, you saw me cleave through the lightning tribulation with my sword today, Master."

"I see your cultivation is so solid," Qin Ran sighed, as if he had just realized this. He continued to make excuses, "Although we're both cultivators, our parents are still alive. We should meet our parents, match our birth charts, choose an auspicious date, pay respects to Heaven and Earth and our elders, and only then can we enter the bridal chamber."

Li Shiyin couldn't take it anymore. She lifted her little head from Qin Ran's shoulder, still hugging his waist, her starry eyes fixed on his face as she said in a cool voice:

"Master, you've already met my parents and brother, and they have no objections to you. In fact, they hope we'll marry soon. I've been asking to meet your parents for years now, not just once or twice, but you always make excuses. As for birth charts, auspicious dates, and Heaven and Earth - can they stand against my sword? Master, you're a Golden Core cultivator, and so am I. You say that cultivation is about defying entropy, going against the heavens. Do you really respect Heaven and Earth?"

Qin Ran's eyes darted about, unable to meet Li Shiyin's gaze.

"Even as cultivators, we should still report to the sect and inform our friends and family," he said, his voice lacking conviction. Li Shiyin didn't reply. Her eyes were colder than moonlight, her gaze carrying a hint of sword intent. She had lost her patience and asked directly, "Master, are you impotent?"

Qin Ran's head snapped up. How dare this silly child ask such a thing?!

"What do you mean, impotent? How am I impotent?!" When it comes to such matters, any man would panic.

"Then why do you ignore all my hints, smart as you are? I've shamelessly thrown myself at you multiple times, and you always find excuses! If it's not impotence, what is it?" Li Shiyin demanded. "Even if you are, I don't mind. I love you for who you are. But you should tell me, it's not a big deal. Besides, in the world of cultivation, there are many miraculous techniques. We could find one to reshape your body. Just be honest with me!"

"Shh... Keep your voice down!" Qin Ran covered Li Shiyin's mouth with his hand, saying quickly, "Alright, alright, I'm not impotent. I can do it. I'm perfectly healthy."

"Good!" Li Shiyin grabbed Qin Ran's hand away and continued, "So you can do it, but you won't consummate our relationship. Do you find me unattractive? Do you not like me?"

Qin Ran looked at Li Shiyin and sighed, "Can't you feel whether I like you or not?"

"Master, you're too deep. You could easily be deceiving me," Li Shiyin said. She took Qin Ran's hand and pressed it against her full left breast. "Feel my heart, then you'll know what it means to like someone!"

She placed her other hand on Qin Ran's chest... She thought she would hear a calm heartbeat, but instead, she heard a heart pounding like war drums, like the clamor of a battlefield.

She looked up into Qin Ran's eyes and saw him gazing at her tenderly, saying softly, "Our hearts beat as one. As much as you love me, I love you just as much."

Her hand unconsciously loosened its grip.

"If you trust me, let's wait a little longer. Sex is part of love... an important part, but not everything," Qin Ran seized the opportunity to say. "We're just one step away from that."

Li Shiyin's excited heart slowly calmed down. She thought, perhaps Master truly has some unspeakable difficulty?

She took a deep breath and stood up from Qin Ran's embrace.

In the moonlight, she stood with her back to Qin Ran, looking ahead at the stone sculpture of Qin Ran next to the cabin, which she had carved five years ago as a scratching post for Chasing the Wind.

Her memories began to churn, quickly retracing the five years since she first met her master.

Her heart began to boil again.

"You know now, I'm a normal man. What normal man wouldn't want to sleep with the woman he loves..." Qin Ran was still making excuses.

"Qin Ran," Li Shiyin called out flatly.

Qin Ran instantly fell silent.

"That year, I was only sixteen. I ran away from an arranged marriage and came to my brother's Tian Ce Army camp. When I heard the Dao Sword Sect was recruiting, I snuck away again to join. After going through numerous trials, I finally stood in the Dao Sword Sect's main hall, becoming your disciple," Li Shiyin said, looking up at the azure sky.

Qin Ran also looked up, gazing at Li Shiyin's cool, graceful silhouette in the moonlight before him. He didn't know what she was trying to say.

"I was sixteen that year. This year, I'm twenty-two," Li Shiyin said, her words carrying no deep meaning, just a simple statement: "I've loved you for five years."

She turned back, looking down at Qin Ran sitting on the roof ridge. Her figure blocked the moonlight, leaving Qin Ran entirely in her shadow. "In North Chu, girls can marry at thirteen. By eighteen, they're considered old maids. If we had married five years ago, our child would already be running around the mountain, chasing after me..."

Qin Ran inexplicably felt the woman before him seemed unfamiliar and terrifying. He weakly said, "Sixteen to twenty-two are the most beautiful years of a woman's youth. There's no need to waste them on having children..."

"I've spent the most beautiful years of my youth loving you!" Li Shiyin suddenly bent down, grabbing Qin Ran's collar, and said coldly, "So I don't want to wait anymore!"

"What are you doing?!" Qin Ran exclaimed in shock. "Stop! I'm your master!"

"Master?" Li Shiyin sneered disdainfully. She exerted force, tossing Qin Ran into the air. She stepped forward, extending her arms, and caught him horizontally in her embrace. "Is this the first day you've known me? Don't you know I've always disregarded authority and never respected teachers or elders?"

"Today, whether you can or can't, it doesn't matter! You don't have a choice anymore!"

"Li Shiyin! You've gone too far!" Qin Ran shouted in Li Shiyin's arms, but his words carried no hint of intimidation.

"Qin Ran!!!" Li Shiyin responded even louder, clearly more intimidating. "I'm going to defy the heavens!"

With that, she carried Qin Ran and jumped off the roof. In the clear moonlight, their shadows merged as they disappeared into Qin Ran's room.