Chapter 117: Even Immortals Get Hungry

“Did you bring Shadowmoon?”

He turned to look at me and asked.

“I did.”

At his question, I turned around, reached into the bundle on my back, drew out the Shadowmoon Sword, and held it out to him.

“Here you are, Master.”

Purple Lotus took Shadowmoon from me and said, “Since we are here today, I shall teach you a sword technique called ‘Moon Embraces the Long Rainbow.’”

“Yes, Master.”

I nodded earnestly. When he gave a slight nod, he turned and stepped into the riotous flower meadow.

This was the first time he had danced for me. His long moon-colored robe, illuminated by the setting sun, glowed a vivid crimson. His long sword swept through the air, his wide sleeves billowed and danced—everything before my eyes seemed both dreamlike and real, too beautiful and dazzling to be true.

The red spider lilies beside him swayed gently with the movement of his sleeves. Petals severed by the sword blade whirled through the air along with the fabric, then gradually withered and fell, one after another, into the pond nearby. Tiny droplets splashed upward, sending out circles of ripples so faint they could scarcely be seen.

Purple Lotus came to a stop and walked over to me. He held the sword out and said, “Little Fish, perform the technique I just used for me.”

“What? A sword dance?”

What sword dance? I had been paying attention only to Purple Lotus just now. How could I possibly have noticed what technique he had performed among the flowers?

Purple Lotus gave a slight nod. “You have been my disciple for several days now. It is time I taught you a technique or two. Take Shadowmoon and perform the move I just demonstrated.”

“Oh!”

I accepted the sword with a pout. Lowering my head, I tried hard to recall the sequence he had used. I held the sword in my right hand, pressed the index and middle fingers of my left hand together, and raised them to my chest. Then I stepped forward with my right foot, leaving my left foot behind. After that… I seemed to have spun once among the flowers.

As I thought through the movements, I gripped Shadowmoon and spun once in the flower meadow. Unfortunately, the hem of my robe caught on a branch, making it difficult to move.

Honestly! Were these flowers bullies? Why did they behave so obediently when Purple Lotus danced with his sword, yet come out to cause trouble the moment I tried?

I was so irritated that I wanted nothing more than to raise my sword and cut the branch down, but Purple Lotus was right there, and I did not dare.

Pouting, I glanced at the branch tangled around my hem, then looked up at Purple Lotus. What was I supposed to do? Should I continue the sword dance or not? Holding the sword up while bending over was exhausting. I was beginning to think I could not hold out much longer.

“Your movements are stiff. There is not enough strength in your hands, and your footing is unstable.”

As he spoke, Purple Lotus bent down and carefully loosened the branch from my robe. Then he straightened, took hold of Shadowmoon in my hand, and pressed it firmly back into my grasp.

“Grip the hilt tightly. Put some strength into it.”

Standing behind me, he spoke softly.

“Mm!”

My face flushed as I answered. I felt his body slowly draw near. One of his hands closed firmly over the hand gripping Shadowmoon, while the other wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against him.

“Do not let your attention wander. Follow my movements slowly.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Do not be nervous. Keep your breathing even.”

Purple Lotus’s voice sounded beside my ear again.

“Yes, Master.”

I tried my best to steady my breathing, no longer allowing my body to remain so tense.

We were standing far too close. The warm breath from his words swept directly across the back of my ear, lifting the wisps of hair at my temples before brushing over my chin.

It tickled terribly.

I had never imagined that one day I would be able to stand so close to him. One of my hands was clasped tightly together with his, while the other was held firmly against my chest in his grasp. Guided by him, I followed the sword movements and practiced the technique he had just taught me.

The setting sun sank gradually toward the west, and the last slanting rays on the horizon slowly disappeared. After Purple Lotus patiently taught me the technique for the fifth time, I finally mastered Moon Embraces the Long Rainbow.

“Come. It is already so late. Let us return to Azure Luan Hall.”

With that, he handed me the Shadowmoon Sword and turned toward a meadow of red spider lilies, their vivid blooms glowing with enchanting beauty.

I reached out to take it, picked up the scabbard and bundle from the ground, sheathed Shadowmoon, and packed it away. Then I slung the bundle over my back and hurried after him.

“Master, are you still angry?”

Standing behind him upon the clouds, I asked in a small voice.

“Angry?”

He gave a soft laugh. “What do you think I should be angry about? Should I be angry because you disguised yourself as a man and came to Cloudveil Mountain to make trouble, or because you secretly released the Blood Ginseng?”

“Uh…”

At the mention of the Blood Ginseng, my conscience began to prick me again.

I had always merely suspected that he knew I had released it. Since he had said nothing, I had pretended not to know—and pretended that he did not know either. Now that he had brought it up so casually, I lowered my head, suddenly too ashamed to face him.

“These matters need only be known by me. Though you are a woman, the rules of Cloudveil Mountain have never forbidden us from accepting female disciples. So do not dwell on this any longer.”

“Yes, Master. But Little Fish also released the Blood Ganoderma that was meant to heal your wounds. Will you be angry with me over that?”

Still uneasy, I asked him again.

“The wounds on my body have remained for three thousand years. They cannot be healed in a moment. Blood Ganoderma is exceedingly rare, and it is difficult enough to encounter even once in a lifetime. Since I was unable to obtain it, I cannot blame you. It can only mean that the time for my wounds to heal has not yet come. So, Little Fish, do not keep tormenting yourself over these matters. It is already so late. Are you not hungry?”

“I am!”

I nodded obediently. I raised my hand over my head and hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out and clutching his sleeve tightly.

“Then let us go back and cook. I am a little hungry too.”

“Do immortals get hungry as well?” I wondered aloud.