Chapter 165

Editor: Sahloknir

Gu Qiushu said he wanted to go to the bathroom, so Shi Qing couldn’t exactly refuse to let him out.

But he did exclaim regretfully as he sat back, “How unfortunate. Only an hour more and Xianzhang would’ve been set for the next few days. Now all my work earlier went to waste. I’m going to have to start all over again when you get back.”

Gu Qiushu’s brows furrowed more and more.

Shi Qing was basically saying that he cut the acupuncture session short by an hour for no reason. He actually made things worse, because they would need to start all over again when he got back.

Anger inexplicably surged in his heart.

How can this person, the veritable head of a sect, be so unaware of his own limitations?

How could a mortal possibly withstand such exertions?

He didn’t know where the anger he was feeling came from, but the emotion bled through his tone. “Since it’s that troublesome, you needn’t bother with it. I’ve grown used to this pain already.”

But Shi Qing didn’t give a damn about his patient’s wishes. He muttered to himself, “Who cares if you’re used to it or not? I’m going to treat you no matter what.”

“Alright, alright. Since you want to go to the washroom then go. I’ll start again when you get back.”

But the white-robed Xianzhang who was supposed to get up didn’t move. He just stared coldly at Shi Qing like he owed him eight million dollars.

Usually, anyone else he stared at like this would break out in a cold sweat as all the hairs on their body stood on end. They would start guiltily thinking about if they had done something wrong.

But since it was Shi Qing…

The colder Gu Qiushu’s expression was, the more unrestrained his smile became and the more his eyes gleamed with interest. “I thought Xianzhang needed to use the washroom? Why aren’t you getting up?”

“Oh…”

Just one word, but it took on a whole eight different meanings when Shi Qing said it.

The Steel Bones Sect Master had a wicked smirk on his face. He smugly reached over to remove those silver needles. “I almost forgot. The needles need to be taken out.”

His hand only brushed against one needle when the previously silent Gu Qiushu suddenly intercepted him. Shi Qing’s eyes were still tinged with humour when their gazes met.

Gu Qiushu pursed his lips with a frosty expression. He looked down. “Continue administering acupuncture.”

“Huh? Didn’t Xianzhang say that you needed to use the washroom?”

“I suddenly don’t need to anymore.” Gu Qiushu replied dismissively.

Only when Shi Qing shrugged and started reluctantly resuming treatment did he look at him again.

He looked at the tiny beads of sweat that formed as time passed.

He also watched as Shi Qing’s smile faded into a frown. Those clear, pretty eyes gradually began to glaze over.

But despite this, those slender, fair and well maintained hands never faltered as they applied needles to his body.

At this moment, Gu Qiushu truly believed that Shi Qing only intended to heal the sick and save lives.

He could’ve just closed his eyes and pretended not to see, or he could have started to recite mantras in his head to calm himself. But for some reason, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from this strange, enigmatic person.

Little by little, time passed.

Finally the person in front of him breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He smiled. “All done.”

This smile was different from any he had shown before. Instead of frivolous or mischievious, it was filled with nothing more than honest, relaxed joy. It made Shi Qing look closer to his actual age.

However, this small, pure smile was not the only thing Gu Qiushu noticed.

He also saw how pale Shi Qing was and his faintly trembling lips as he spoke.

But despite being in this state, this person didn’t seem to care at all. He was even casually humming a tune under his breath as he removed the silver needles from Gu Qiushu’s body.

“Alrighty then.”

When the last silver needle was taken out, the youthful Steel Bones Sect Master, who should’ve been brimming with energy at his age, relaxed even further. He seemed exhausted and pale even as he laughed.

He loomed above Gu Qiushu smugly, but the man couldn’t bring himself to feel any dislike. Shi Qing sought praise from him, “How about it? Doesn’t hurt anymore, right? I can fix a small problem like yours with a wave of my hand.”

Before, Gu Qiushu hated people who sought praise the most.

He felt that such people did everything with an agenda in mind.

But as he slowly got up and glanced towards Shi Qing’s smug expression, he actually found him honestly adorable.

The white-robed Xianzhang had long become accustomed to being cold. His voice was still clipped even when he felt no animosity. “Many thanks.”

“Oh? How rare to hear those words from our Gu-xianzhang.”

The laughter of the person in front became more joyous and unrestrained. Unfortunately, Shi Qing only got to laugh a short while before he swayed and fell backwards. Gu Qiushu stepped forward subconsciously and caught him in the nick of time.

“Shi Qing?!”

Even he himself didn’t notice the note of urgency that broke through his always cold tone.

He didn’t notice, but Shi Qing did.

Shi Qing’s body had lost all strength. He didn’t act shy either, casually leaning into Gu Qiushu’s lap. Even though he was so very pale and weak, that didn’t stop him from teasing people as usual.

With a smile on his bloodless lips, he giggled and asked Gu Qiushu, “Xianzhang, since when did you care so much for me? Could it be that you were entranced by my limitless charisma?”

His words inexplicably made Gu Qiushu frustrated on the inside. He coldly reprimanded Shi Qing like he usually did. “Still joking around at a time like this?”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he froze.

Gu Qiushu would normally only use this tone with juniors he was close with. Ye Zi for example.

Gu Qiushu had been obsessed with cultivation since he was a child. He was no gentleman. Although he still looked after the disciples he hadn’t had much contact with, he didn’t feel a need to guide them. As a result, he wasn’t as harsh with them as he was with Ye Zi.

Unfortunately, it was doubtful that Ye Zi could tell his shishu’s unique way of showing care from his cold, usually deadpan face.

Anyways, what ran through his mind every time he was disciplined wasn’t, “Ah, Shishu cares for me so much” but “Wuwuwuwu I pissed off Shishu again”.

The little youth would be discouraged for a while afterwards every time.

Gu Qiushu wasn’t good at interacting with others, but he wasn’t stupid either. He noticed how the juniors seemed dejected every time he cared (?) for them. Although he didn’t understand the reason, he decided to restrain himself.

His words earlier slipped out because of all the things that happened today.

Gu Qiushu froze for a second before tightening his grip on Shi Qing’s hand.

Even the disciples of the Heavenly Derivation Sect didn’t like to be scolded like this, let alone Shi Qing, the Steel Bones Sect Master who had always been spoiled and pampered.

The white-robed Xianzhang’s eyes dimmed slightly, but Shi Qing was not as angry as he thought. Instead, the young Sect Master smiled and reached up pat Gu Qiushu on the shoulder.

“I’m not allowed to speak anymore just because I’m a bit tired? Xianzhang, you’ve always been so cold to me since we’ve met. What’s changed all of a sudden?”

Gu Qiushu was slightly taken aback.

His cold eyes lit up slightly as he looked at the person nestled in his arms, smiling at him.

He paused. “Are you really doing this for my sake?”

“Who said this was for you? Do you really think that I, Shi Qing, am the kind of guy to do anything if there’s nothing in it for me?”

Shi Qing patted the white-robed Xianzhang on the shoulder rather condescendingly. “Isn’t it tiring to hold me like this for so long? Why not put me on the bed? I could use a nap after concentrating for so long.”

Gu Qiushu didn’t say a word, but his feet obediently carried Shi Qing over to the bed.

Despite his cold face and even colder eyes, he ever so gently placed the person in his arms on the bed.

Shi Qing was still restless even now. He turned over and propped his chin atop his arms, peering up at the person by his bedside.

“Xianzhang, has anyone ever told you that you’re too softhearted?”

Gu Qiushu’s expression was closed off. “No.”

In the face of Shi Qing’s unbelieving face, he added, “I’m of high seniority and I’ve been cultivating on the mountain since I was a child. The junior disciples avoid me like I’ll eat them or something.”

He was being truthful.

Even Gu Qiushu himself knew that the young disciples were afraid of him.

Don’t be fooled by how they yearn for him now. That’s only because they were captured. In this foreign place, Gu Qiushu was a beacon of familiarity and support.

Back at the Heavenly Derivation Sect, everywhere Gu Qiushu went would be deathly silent.

Shi Qing was quite understanding of this.

Gu Qiushu was their senior and quite cold by nature to boot. But most importantly, he was a genius personally brought back by the Heavenly Derivation’s Sect Master. He advanced in his cultivation at an insane rate that couldn’t be matched by most.

To these young disciples, whose cultivation progress was spotty at best, they were students attending remedial classes while Gu Qiushu was the top student amongst top students.

Combined with his status as a senior, it was no wonder none of them dared to act up in front of him. However, there was something they all forgot. Despite being their senior, Gu Qiushu was only twenty-five years old.

That was quite young in the cultivation world.

After all, cultivators tended to have long lifespans. In some cultivation families, 25 year olds were still treated like children by their elders.

Poor Gu Qiushu had grown up alone and lonely. The younger disciples feared him, and he wasn’t the type to deliberately try to please others either. It’s no wonder that he was so shook just because Shi Qing noticed that he had a heart buried deep below those icy layers.

Shi Qing deliberately slowed down his words, “They just don’t know better, that’s all. Gu-xianzhang, your heart is softer than any of theirs.”

Gu Qiushu didn’t say a word.

But when he noticed Shi Qing suddenly stop talking and hold his head with one hand, he frowned and went to sit on the edge of the bed.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired.”

Shi Qing put down his hand. He didn’t use his exhaustion to seek praise from Gu Qiushu like he would’ve before.

Instead, he glossed over it. “I’m just mortal after all. Unlike you cultivators, I can’t just do acupuncture willy-nilly without ending up like this.”

Gu Qiushu frowned. “You said before that you were a…pharmacist.”

“That’s right, a pharmacist.”

Shi Qing showed him his arm. “See this red line here? This represents you. If I cure you, my lifespan will increase by a certain amount.”

He pointed to the white area nearby. “That’s your shizhi’s.”

Gu Qiushu glanced between the long, thin red line and where Shi Qing was pointing.

There was nothing there.

“En, that’s right. It’s because your shizhi’s ailment is too insignificant.”

Shi Qing shook his hand out as he flashed an unrestrained smile at Gu Qiushu. “I haven’t thanked Xianzhang yet. Without you, I would’ve died today. By helping you take away three days of pain, my lifespan was extended by three days as well.”

“Ah, I’m so happy to be able to live three more days.”

Gu Qiushu’s pupils shook. He looked incredulously at Shi Qing, who was still smiling.

Shi Qing would only live three more days???

Author’s Corner

Shi Qing: Since you’re so easy to fool this time, then I’m not going to hold back~

Randomly sending out red packets ♡

Good night (°▽°)ﾉﾞ