The Price of Observation and the Return of a Vow

Chapter 12: The Price of Observation and the Return of a Vow

Observation is a window for humans to understand the world. It is not just about looking at the surface of things, but also about the ability to explore in depth.

People must learn to observe. In this complex world, information is pouring in like a tide. If we only look at it superficially, all we get is some superficial fragments.

True observation, much like that of a keen explorer, delves into every hidden corner of the jungle, refusing to let even the most subtle clue escape notice.

It transcends mere sight; it demands contemplation.

When one beholds a blooming flower, merely appreciating its vibrant hues and graceful form offers only a fleeting visual pleasure.

Yet, when we delve deeper, pondering the reasons for its bloom—is it the sun’s generous gift, the soil’s rich nourishment, or the intricate dance of insect pollination?

Such contemplation imbues the act of observation with a profounder significance.

Thus, to observe with true diligence, one must draw near.

To truly grasp the essence of things, one must cast aside all aversion and observe with unwavering earnestness.

These were the tenets her Master had instilled in Mu Qingli.

And now, she was meticulously observing Lin Mo.

An observation up close, leaving not the slightest gap between them.

Mu Qingli’s sole intent was to investigate why Lin Mo could alleviate her backlash, and to comprehend the source of the enchanting fragrance he exuded.

Slowly, Mu Qingli unfastened the garments she had dressed Lin Mo in, then bent low, her face nearly pressing against his chest as she meticulously scrutinized every inch of his skin.

Beyond the mere scent, the closer she drew to Lin Mo, the more the frigid qi of her Profound Yin Physique seemed to completely dissipate, her body embraced by a warm, comforting current.

This warmth provided a perfectly balanced sense of ease.

It was as if she had been transported back to her childhood, to those bitter winter nights when, after completing her Bright Jade Profound Yin cultivation, she would shiver uncontrollably, her hands and feet numb with cold, her fingers afflicted with chilblains.

Her Master, wrapped in a thick quilt, would tenderly cradle her, reaching a hand beneath the covers to gently massage her cold, stiff limbs, coaxing her tensed body to involuntarily relax.

With spiritual energy, her Master would create a current of warmth, akin to the softest breeze of spring, caressing every inch of her skin, seeping into her pores strand by strand, dispelling the deep-seated cold within her.

That cherished, warm moment felt precisely like the present.

‘And yet… Master doesn’t seem to smell as fragrant as Lin Mo.’

‘No, no! How could Lin Mo possibly compare to my Master!’

‘Don’t forget your objective, Mu Qingli!’

‘You are pressed so intimately against this odious man not because the scent Lin Mo emits is pleasant, absolutely not for the sake of a more delightful aroma, but for the truth!’

‘I am here for the truth!’

‘To refine the cultivation technique!’

‘To fulfill Master’s dying wish!’

‘This is a humiliation I must endure!’

‘Precisely!’

“Sect Master… why is your face pressed against my chest…?” Lin Mo inquired, a nervous tremor in his voice.

Mu Qingli had almost buried her face in his chest, the warm, moist breath from her mouth and nose making him feel as though he were being scorched by a relentless flame.

He had no notion of what transpired within the minds of these madwomen; Mu Qingli might appear utterly captivated, her face flushed scarlet, pressed against his chest, allowing her soft bosom to gently rest upon his abdomen.

Who could say if, in the very next second, she might suddenly turn hostile, exclaiming, “Ah, you foul man, how dare you defile my pure and noble self?!”

Only to then proceed to pummel him mercilessly.

This was no mere exaggeration; Qiu Yue had engaged in such antics before.

Back then, Qiu Yue would frequently utter words that made his heart flutter, like “I love you,” “I like you,” or “You are mine.”

At that time, Lin Mo, having watched many Japanese anime, had once harbored a naive and ridiculous fantasy: ‘Could it be that Miss Qiu Yue truly likes me?’

‘Were those declarations of “love” not mockery, but genuine affection?’

‘Isn’t this how it always goes in manga and anime?’

‘A young lady accustomed to the intrigues and feigned civility within noble families, she, living in such an environment, might have long forgotten how to express love normally, perhaps even resorting to seemingly venomous words to treat me.’

‘She knew how to say “love,” but not how to show it.’

‘At such a moment, shouldn’t it be my turn, as the “male lead,” to demonstrate how love should be expressed?!’

‘To show, through action, how love is expressed!’

‘As for why he considered himself the male lead… wasn’t it because he was still alive and hadn’t been slapped to death by Qiu Yue!’

Consequently, one day, Lin Mo mustered his courage, pulled Qiu Yue into his embrace, and even patted her head—only to be met with a brutal beating!

A brutal beating!

His skin was torn and flesh lacerated!

From then on, Lin Mo knew he had been wrong.

‘Qiu Yue simply enjoyed tormenting him!’

‘All those “love” and “I like you” were nothing but lies!’

‘He must be wary and vigilant, never falling into a woman’s trap!’

‘Therefore! Even Mu Qingli, he absolutely must not…’

“Sect Master…? Are you listening to me?”

Hearing Lin Mo’s voice, Mu Qingli snapped out of her immersion! She abruptly pulled her face away.

She suddenly realized what she had just been doing…

Instantly, the atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

Mu Qingli’s face flushed crimson; she… she actually…

Seeing Mu Qingli, who looked as though steam might burst from her, Lin Mo understood that the Sect Master’s embarrassment was about to reach its peak.

‘Based on my many years of anime-watching experience—if I don’t say something now, I’m going to be physically erased from memory.’

“Se-Sect Master! Is… is my heartbeat alright? I’m a man; cultivating a female cultivation technique surely causes rejection, right?”

“You’ve been listening for so long; you must not have heard anything unusual, right? Inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation (TL Note: The four diagnostic methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine) – these are common methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine!”

“Yes, yes! That’s right! Your cultivation is shallow, but your insight is considerable.

You, your peculiar physique, this Sect Master hasn’t fully researched yet, and there are many conjectures.

To-to-today, let’s stop here!

Let me, your master, go research some ancient texts for reference first!”

Mu Qingli seized the opportunity to dismount (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to take advantage of a situation to gracefully exit or back down), quickly getting off Lin Mo.

“Your body is unharmed, and the Bright Jade Profound Yin is operating normally.

Tonight, familiarize yourself with the technique.

Tomorrow, I will return to ensure you fully enter the path.

Furthermore, you are not permitted to leave this room.

Should you wander off, I will make your life a living hell!”

Uttering a harsh threat, Mu Qingli bolted out the door as if fleeing.

Seeing that Mu Qingli hadn’t beaten him, Lin Mo’s hanging heart finally settled.

It seemed that as long as he was careful, there would be no problems.

Lin Mo let out a sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped another predicament.

‘Speaking of which, I’ve entered the path… does that mean I’m a cultivator now?’

With that, he leaped off the bed.

His body felt incredibly light and vibrant.

He sensed a faint, almost imperceptible current of qi flowing gently through his meridians.

He felt completely refreshed, as if possessing inexhaustible energy, his strength significantly increased.

Unfortunately, there was nothing around for him to test his strength on.

Though the room contained furniture, it lacked excessive decoration.

There was only a bed, a table, and a chair, and nothing else.

Fortunately, Lin Mo could perceive his changes in another way.

His senses.

His senses had become extraordinarily sharp.

Subtle sounds he had never noticed before now clearly registered in his ears; he could hear the rustling of distant leaves, a sound like a gentle whisper; he could hear the scurrying of insects in the grass, like a miniature symphony.

His eyesight had also vastly improved.

He suddenly realized he could discern the room’s layout in the dark, despite having night blindness which made it difficult to see anything at night.

Even his sense of smell had sharpened, allowing him to distinguish various scents in the air: the richness of floral fragrances, the freshness of soil, and the faint aroma of decaying leaves in the forest.

Concurrently, he perceived something entirely new—spiritual energy.

It was akin to seeing countless particles of various kinds floating in the air under the sunlight with the naked eye; he also saw those pure and flawless things, though they were difficult to discern clearly.

And he wasn’t using his eyes, but rather… a ‘Divine Sense’ (TL Note: A spiritual perception ability often found in cultivation novels).

However, his Divine Sense could not be used for long, and soon a wave of fatigue washed over him, leaving Lin Mo feeling somewhat dizzy.

Lin Mo sat on the bed, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his face alight with excitement.

‘I’ve become a cultivator!’

‘Once my cultivation advances, won’t the vast world be mine to roam?

Then, escaping will be a simple matter, won’t it?!’

Remembering Mu Qingli’s instructions, Lin Mo promptly began circulating the Bright Jade Profound Yin technique.

Logically, a cultivation method passed down by the Xuan Nv Sect should only be suitable for women, with men encountering numerous obstacles during practice.

After all, if the physical structures of men and women differed, their meridians would also be different, wouldn’t they?

Yet, when he circulated it once, he encountered no obstacles; instead, it flowed with remarkable smoothness.

‘Could it be… I possess both Yin and Yang physiques?’

‘Or is it—due to the system within me?’

After much thought, Lin Mo quickly abandoned his struggles; after all, it was best to set aside things he couldn’t comprehend for now.

‘Anyway, as long as there’s no discomfort, I’ll just circulate it a few more times to get familiar with the technique.’

‘First, I cultivate!’

‘Just you wait, Qiu Yue!

I’ll come back for my revenge sooner or later, hmph hmph!

Once my cultivation reaches mastery, you’ll be finished!’

‘A gentleman’s revenge, though delayed by ten years, is never too late!’

Meanwhile, on another side of the Xuan Nv Sect—

“Welcome.

I never imagined that, besides Liu Ruyan, our sect would gain such a remarkably talented disciple.

This is truly a blessing for our sect.”

Elder Qing You was personally receiving a distinguished guest who had traveled a great distance.

The distinguished guest wore a bamboo hat, with a black veil concealing her noble countenance.

“The same to you, Grand Elder.”

“However… I don’t quite understand.

What do you need the list of newly selected disciples for?” Saying this, Grand Elder Qing You placed a scroll on the table.

This was not a secret for the Xuan Nv Sect, and the fact that the other party had paid such a high price just to obtain it truly perplexed Qing You.

“I have my reasons, Grand Elder, I have my reasons.” The distinguished guest slowly removed her bamboo hat, revealing long, azure hair that cascaded down like a waterfall.

Qing You didn’t understand, but she accepted it.

Everyone had their own thoughts, and there was no need to forcefully pry.

Still, curiosity lingered.

After all, the Xuan Nv Sect had never had much connection with her illustrious and renowned family, and now, in its decline, it was even less able to associate with them.

She had been wondering how to establish a connection, and now the connection had proactively presented itself.

Qing You could only attribute it to the good fortune of the Xuan Nv Sect.

Only she—Qiu Yue herself—knew what this reason was and what price she had to pay.

Perhaps others would call her foolish if they knew.

But Qiu Yue felt it was nothing; she had someone far more important.

Now that she had found him again, she absolutely would not let him escape this time.

She loved the person; even without limbs, he would still be that person.

This time, she would eliminate every possibility for Lin Mo to escape.