Chapter 4 Part 1
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 4: Walking With An Lan Through the Long Years (1)
That night by the pool, An Lan held onto Bai Lian’s foot and squeezed it for hours.
Fortunately, Bai Lian’s body was sensitive, but with deliberate effort, she could maintain her composure effortlessly.
This was where Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian truly shone!
“This is talent,” she thought to herself, shaking her head silently.
As the eastern sky grew tinged with the light of dawn, An Lan finally let go of Bai Lian’s foot.
People have limits.
At least, she couldn’t keep holding Bai Lian’s foot forever.
After all, she was the Immortal Heavenly Lord, not some weirdo obsessed with massaging her disciple’s feet.
An Lan carefully helped Bai Lian put on her shoes and socks.
The faint fragrance in the air gradually dissipated, and everything returned to normal.
Once she finished, An Lan raised her head and began teaching Bai Lian in a serious tone.
“I just showed you the Feet Watching Method!”
Bai Lian blinked in confusion.
Feet Watching Method?
An Lan nodded solemnly. “That’s right, the Feet Watching Method!”
It was a term she had come across in a medical book a few days ago.
Standing up, she towered slightly over Bai Lian, who was sitting on the stone steps.
With a stern expression, she explained, “The so-called Feet Watching Method is a way to treat patients through foot massage!”
Bai Lian quickly understood.
So what the master was describing was just a foot massage.
But why massage my legs? Is there really something worthwhile to rub there?
Noticing a task notification suddenly pop up with a reward of 11 Hard Skill points, Bai Lian wisely chose to keep quiet.
She gently placed her hands on her knees, nodding softly while watching An Lan continue her explanation with evident nonsense.
I see.
I understand.
My master truly lives up to her reputation as the illustrious Immortal Heavenly Lord!
An Lan smiled, using scriptures to justify the benefits of the Feet Watching Method.
“Read more books!”
“…”
“The effects might not be immediately apparent, but if practiced consistently for over a hundred days, the benefits will be immeasurable. If you believe in it and commit to it, great things will happen!”
Bai Lian raised an eyebrow.
“Does this mean I need my master to massage me ninety-nine times?”
What nonsense!
An Lan glared at her fiercely.
She snapped, “I’m only doing this as a favor for you running all over the place looking for medicine when I was injured last time. Otherwise, I’d lock you in a dungeon to reflect on your behavior!”
“…”
Wait.
If Bai Lian wasn’t mistaken, the dungeon on Qiongming Peak had already been converted into her master’s cave.
Deciding it was best to play dumb as usual, she maintained her innocent expression.
“Ninety-nine times? Hmph, do you think I have nothing better to do?”
Of course not, Master.
Before Bai Lian could explain, An Lan pressed on with her stern tone, leaving no room for argument.
“Nine times. At most, I’ll treat you with the Feet Watching Method nine times. If your injury isn’t healed after that, even if the sect leader pleads for you, I won’t bother with you anymore!”
“…”
Bai Lian was stunned.
Something felt off.
But…
“I suppose I’ll remain a good disciple to my master after all,” she thought.
An Lan folded her arms across her chest, her blue eyes reflecting Bai Lian’s image. Her expression was unreadable.
The evening breeze gently lifted the sheer chiffon draped around her body, making her appear ethereal, like a fairy.
Under the moonlight, the pale blue collar tied with a delicate ribbon highlighted her petite figure.
[Master, when will you grow up?]
Bai Lian’s gaze softened, and if one looked closely, they might detect a hint of fondness in her eyes.
An Lan, oblivious to this, waved a hand.
“Can you stand up?”
Bai Lian nodded.
Her foot had been held in her master’s hand for so long that maintaining the same posture had grown uncomfortable.
However, during the massage, her master had infused vital energy into her body. Instead of pain, she felt as relaxed as if she had been soaking in a hot spring.
An Lan turned away. “If that’s the case, get up on your own. We should meet your martial sisters and return to Qiongming Peak.”
“Hmm.”
Pressing her hands against the cool, blue-grey stone, Bai Lian stood up.
An Lan walked ahead at a leisurely pace.
Bai Lian only needed to quicken her stride slightly to catch up.
“Master,” Bai Lian called softly.
She walked side by side with An Lan, their distance no more than a finger’s width.
Don’t touch me!
Startled, An Lan quickly stepped to the side, putting some space between them.
But as soon as she moved, she regretted it.
Will this seem too cold?
She had already scolded Bai Lian several times before. Would Bai Lian think she hated her?
So annoying.
She couldn’t bring herself to step closer either. That would be undignified for someone of her status as a master.
While An Lan was caught in her dilemma, Bai Lian unexpectedly moved closer again.
Ah!
Instinctively, An Lan dodged.
And then…
Damn it!
(〃＞皿＜)
An Lan’s face soured, as if she’d bitten into a bitter plum.
If she were alone, she would have pinched her cheeks in frustration.
At that moment, a droplet of water fell from the sky.
Plop.
It landed squarely on her nose.
“…”
Before wiping it away, An Lan glanced up at the sky.
But it wasn’t a sudden downpour or dense raindrops she saw.
It was a newly opened oil-paper umbrella.
She noticed the bamboo-woven ribs, the snowflake-painted surface, and the familiar hand holding it steady.
“It’s raining,” came a gentle voice, devoid of any irritation.
Was it?
An Lan said nothing.
The soft pattering of rain echoed above her head. Scattered droplets splashed onto her socks and shoes, leaving them damp.
“This is just a light rain,” she said, brushing it off. “I could cast a spell to dispel it.”
That was true.
However…
Bai Lian shook her head gently. “Some people like this rain. If it disappeared, they might feel sad.”
An Lan slowly turned her head to look at her.
Her usually sharp eyes softened, becoming more agile, more contemplative.
For a long moment, she said nothing. Finally, she managed to squeeze out a single word:
“Bai Lian the Saint?”
Bai Lian wasn’t sure if it was meant as a joke.
She had never seen this side of her master before. It was hard to imagine the illustrious An Lan being so irritable.
“Do you know how many people live in this world?” An Lan asked.
Bai Lian shook her head.
An Lan continued, “Neither you nor I know. Not even the Heavenly Lord of the Immortal World knows. So, do you plan to save everyone? Consider everyone’s feelings?”
Bai Lian stopped in her tracks.
The rain grew louder.
An Lan seemed to be lost in thought, as though recalling something.
But no memories surfaced.
It wasn’t amnesia; some memories had been deliberately erased. How could one remember what no longer existed?
The inability to control this left An Lan feeling unsettled.
Still, Bai Lian’s response met her expectations.
“I can’t save everyone,” Bai Lian admitted softly.
“Good.”
An Lan’s tense heart relaxed slightly.
A small, satisfied smile graced her lips.
At that moment, she realized how close they were—so close that if she leaned forward slightly, her nose would touch Bai Lian.
Closer than before.
Now, nothing stood between them.
And so be it.
An Lan looked ahead, no longer stepping out from under the umbrella.
Pointing forward like a commanding officer, she said loudly, as if to mask her unease, “Your Martial Sisters don’t have umbrellas. Let’s hurry and catch up with them.”
“Hmm.”
Let’s walk together through this rain-soaked alley and return home to a night filled with laughter.
As their shoes pressed against the damp bluestone slabs, each step sent water splashing, leaving ripples in their wake.
The story that belonged to Bai Lian was called Fireworks.
[We watched the fireworks side by side. It was beautiful.]
[The night sky was particularly bright.]
[As the light flashed by,]
[I realized—]
[I’m looking at you,]
[And you’re looking at me.]
The story that belonged to An Lan was called Liking.
[I don’t like close contact with the same sex. But if it’s her… it’s okay.]
