Chapter 351: 351. Deep affection and strong loyalty between teacher and disciple

Feng Qin slipped down from the wine jug, almost losing her pants.

She looked annoyed, but also puzzled. Her disciple was back from a trip, yet instead of being welcomed by Ling Xiaoyue, her master hid in fear.

What was she afraid of?

Fang Zhou and Yu Qing arrived outside the Mountain Protection Array, unlike Ling Xiaoyue who would swagger in, they signaled the elder guarding the gate to let them in.

Feng Qin approached and opened a small hole in the Mountain Protection Array to let the two in.

Seeing Feng Qin again, Fang Zhou felt a bit awkward, as he had previously been caught using the True Eye to secretly peep, akin to being stopped in the street for harassment like a lecher.

Fortunately, Feng Qin’s expression remained normal and she showed no ill will towards Fang Zhou.

Yu Qing greeted Feng Qin. After a few words exchanged, Fang Zhou also chimed in before bidding farewell.

After Fang Zhou and Yu Qing had gone some distance, Ling Xiaoyue gradually emerged from the clouds seated on her wine jug.

She gazed towards the direction where Fang Zhou had gone, a look of surprise in her eyes, muttering to herself, “What’s up with this kid… advancing to Innate so quickly?”

Though the Innate Realm was nothing to Ling Xiaoyue, and she could easily dispatch it, she was clear that Fang Zhou had only been cultivating for a year.

Achieving Innate in just a year, wouldn’t he surpass her as a master in a few more years?

How would she exploit her disciple, then? How would she maintain her authority as a master?

Upon seeing Fang Zhou’s advancement to Innate, Ling Xiaoyue, as the master, felt more scared than surprised. She still wanted to exploit her disciple for a few years, but he already showed signs of turning the tables. How could she tolerate this?

Moreover, Fang Zhou’s advancement speed was too unusual; transforming from a rookie to Innate in just a year is impossible even for a genius.

Not even if he was a reincarnated big shot, the objective conditions wouldn’t allow it.

Although Ling Xiaoyue herself had taken just over a year to go from Qi Refinement to Innate, she had special reasons; it was different for Fang Zhou.

Unless this kid is just like her!!

Ling Xiaoyue’s eyes flashed with a glint. She had always sensed that Fang Zhou was hiding some secret, but she didn’t care; it was normal for kids to have their own thoughts.

But now she couldn’t ignore it anymore; she had to strip this kid bare to see what’s under the hood, and also check what big secret he was hiding.

Feng Qin approached, “Surprised, aren’t you?”

Ling Xiaoyue turned to look at her, “You knew all along?”

Feng Qin offered a faint smile, recounting her journey escorting to the capital of Chu Kingdom, finally sighing, “Seeing your disciple advance to Innate in just a year utterly shocked me; I got to see what a true genius is.”

Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, patting Feng Qin’s shoulder forcefully, “I told you before, this is what I call the ‘shepherd-style’ education, fully tapping into his potential. If handed over to your Heavenly Sword Sect, he’d still be a little Qi Refinement practitioner. Aren’t you impressed with me?”

Feng Qin showed disdain, thinking Ling Xiaoyue’s ‘shepherd-style’ education was merely throwing seeds and letting them grow on their own. A regular genius could’ve been ruined under her care if not for Fang Zhou’s own talents.

As Feng Qin was about to speak, she suddenly displayed a surprised expression, looking behind Ling Xiaoyue.

The boastful Ling Xiaoyue sensed something amiss, quickly turned around, and spotted her beloved disciple hovering not far away, quietly watching her show off.

Master and disciple silently locked eyes. Ling Xiaoyue, never one to feel embarrassed, swiftly adapted, opening her arms lovingly, “Disciple, Master missed you so!”

Fang Zhou also opened his arms and flew over, hugging Ling Xiaoyue tightly, “Master, I missed you too!”

Feng Qin, looking at this ‘deep master-disciple’ relationship, felt goosebumps all over, hurriedly flying away to avoid any further revulsion.

Ling Xiaoyue curiously asked, “Disciple, how did you discover me?”

She thought she had hidden well. Even if Fang Zhou had advanced to Innate, he shouldn’t have discovered her.

Fang Zhou said with deep affection, “This is the proof of our deep master-disciple bond. I didn’t notice anything, but my intuition told me you were here.”

This was partly true; he hadn’t actually detected Ling Xiaoyue nearby, but his intuition suggested this rascal was close. This kind of intuition hadn’t existed before his advance to Innate.

After leaving, Fang Zhou instructed Yu Qing to help with something then secretly returned, and sure enough, he caught Ling Xiaoyue sneaking out.

As for proof of deep master-disciple bond, well!

Upon hearing Fang Zhou’s words, Ling Xiaoyue appeared moved, hugging her disciple tighter, though internally flustered.

Darn it, how did this brat find me?!

Through their telepathic bond, both could sense each other’s emotions, akin to accidentally stepping in dog poop.

Fang Zhou curiously asked, “Master, did you hide when you saw me because you did something shady while I was away?”

Ling Xiaoyue immediately retorted angrily, “Nonsense! Is Master that kind of person?”

Fang Zhou curtly responded, “Yes!”

Ling Xiaoyue was indignant again, “Silence, you ungrateful disciple! How dare you doubt your master’s character?”

Fang Zhou smirked, “You feel guilty, why don’t you come back to Moon Viewing Peak with me and see if you did anything shady?”

Ling Xiaoyue instinctively averted her gaze, “Master has to leave for a while. You head back first.”

“What’s the rush? Moon Viewing Peak isn’t far; let’s go back and talk.”

“No, Master has urgent matters; release me quickly.”

“Come back with me first!”

Ling Xiaoyue tried pushing Fang Zhou away, but he held her tightly, refusing to let go.

After several attempts to push him failed, Ling Xiaoyue knew Fang Zhou was no longer the weakling he once was, easily dealt with by just a finger.

She simply hugged him back, squeezing tightly, making it hard for Fang Zhou to breathe, “Will you let go?!”

Fang Zhou used all his strength, tightly wrapping his arms around Ling Xiaoyue, “I won’t, unless you come back with me!”

The master and disciple began a contest of strength; one attempting a hold of death, the other striving for a grip of life, their bones straining audibly.

Fang Zhou hadn’t expected that even after advancing to Spiritual Innate, with nearly a hundred points in attributes, he still couldn’t compare to Ling Xiaoyue. Her arm strength was overwhelming, nearly crushing his bones.

With defeat looming, Fang Zhou slid his hand down, pinching Ling Xiaoyue’s backside with two fingers and twisting clockwise.

“Ah!”

Ling Xiaoyue cried out in pain, glaring at Fang Zhou. She hadn’t expected this brat to be so despicable, resorting to such lowly tactics upon losing the contest.

Since you’ve breached the limits first, don’t blame Master!

Ling Xiaoyue also reached down, pinching and twisting Fang Zhou’s backside.

Fang Zhou grunted in pain, using both hands to grip Ling Xiaoyue’s buttocks, while Ling Xiaoyue, not to be outdone, grabbed Fang Zhou’s rear end, twisting vigorously.

Master and disciple shifted their duel to a battle of pinching buttocks, glaring at each other with a desire to pinch the life out of the vile person before them.