Master's body was so close to her.
Zhao Shuning had not been immune to daydreaming about her master.
When she was Ye Ling, she had imagined countless times what it would feel like to hold her master in her arms.
Zhao Shuning feared nothing in this world, except when facing Yan Ruyu. Her heart would turn timid.
So, she was a coward.
Whether as Ye Ling or after becoming Zhao Shuning, she never dared to express her feelings to her master.
In the past, taking advantage of her small stature, Zhao Shuning could act like a child, jump into Yan Ruyu's arms, act coquettishly for a hug, and sneak a little feel.
But now, her body had grown up.
Every part of her body had developed well.
If she were to hug her master and take liberties now, Zhao Shuning would think she was being too brazen.
"Creak—"
Zhao Shuning's door opened.
She turned around in surprise. "Master, I locked the door from the inside."
"I opened it," Yan Ruyu replied.
Then, they saw Lin Qingying slowly enter Zhao Shuning's room.
"Master, should I go down and take a look?"
"No need."
Zhao Shuning sat still.
"But what if she comes out when she doesn't find me here?"
"She won't."
Sure enough, after entering, Lin Qingying didn't come out when she didn't find Zhao Shuning. Instead, she swaggered over to light a lantern and rummaged through her room.
"I'd like to see what kind of beauty products this so - called number one beauty in the world uses to keep her skin so good."
"All day long, she just hides in her room playing with calligraphy and paintings. I don't know who she's putting on an act for."
Zhao Shuning turned around, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Listening so openly with her master to someone scolding her, it felt so strange.
Lin Qingying rummaged through Zhao Shuning's wardrobe and found a box in the very corner.
When she opened it, she was stunned.
"Is it really the Gathered - Sleeve Immortal Flowing Dress in this world?"
It was the first time Lin Qingying had seen such a delicately made dress. The light - blue fabric was extremely smooth. The embroidery on it was all stitched by hand - embroiderers, stitch by stitch. Moreover, it was worth mentioning that this Gathered - Sleeve Immortal Flowing Dress used double - sided embroidery. Whether viewed from the front or the back, it was an excellent and high - quality dress.
"Doesn't Ning'er like this dress? How could you be willing to give it to her?"
Zhao Shuning replied, "You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. I'm willing."
"Master will give Ning'er a better set in the future, okay?"
"Ah? Okay. But this Gathered - Sleeve Immortal Flowing Dress is so exquisitely made. If there's something better than it, it should be the phoenix coronet and wedding robe of a bride on her wedding day."
Zhao Shuning said it without thinking, but Yan Ruyu took it to heart.
He looked at Zhao Shuning's profile.
Was Ning'er hinting at something to him?
"Master, don't look."
Yan Ruyu's gaze had never left Zhao Shuning. So he didn't understand why the little girl covered his eyes the next moment.
After a long, long time.
Zhao Shuning removed her hand.
By this time, Lin Qingying in the room had already changed into the dress.
At this moment, she was spinning in front of the bronze mirror, admiring her own beauty.
"Master, it's an eyesore."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Zhao Shuning thought about the scene she had just seen and was glad that she had acted quickly. Otherwise, if her master had seen Lin Qingying's body, he wouldn't have been able to sleep for several nights.
"A Buddha depends on its golden coating, and a person depends on their clothing. It's not that Zhao Shuning is good - looking. It's because she dresses well. Whoever wears this Gathered - Sleeve Immortal Flowing Dress will be the number one beauty in the world."
"I don't know where that Zhao Shuning has gone. But even if she comes back, given her silent and introverted personality, she won't say anything to me."
Lin Qingying sat down and dressed herself in front of the bronze mirror.
Thinking of Zhao Shuning's usual dressing style, she unconsciously imitated it.
"Master, do I look okay?"
"Yes, Ning'er is so beautiful that she outshines everything in the world."
Zhao Shuning nodded contentedly.
She said unconsciously, "Look at Wen Bo. Although he's the sect master of the Celestial Immortal Sect and has taken the beauty - preserving pill, in my opinion, he should be much older than my elder brother, Zhao Huai. If my elder brother were still alive, he would never—"
As she spoke, Zhao Shuning's voice grew softer.
Yan Ruyu said, "Ning'er, those things are in the past. Don't think about them anymore."
Zhao Shuning was silent for a long time.
She raised her eyes and said calmly, "I don't miss him anymore. It's just that I haven't gotten rid of this habit yet."
After saying that, without waiting for Yan Ruyu to reply, she raised her head and looked at the stars in the night sky.
When she was a child, whenever she couldn't control her tears, she would always look up at the sky and force the tears back.
Zhao Shuning was seventeen years old.
Zhao Huai had been dead for more than a year.
But sometimes, she still thought of that young man.
That gentle young man would smile at Zhao Shuning and say that he would protect her.
"Ning'er."
"I'm okay."
Zhao Shuning lowered her head and then said, "Master, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. In the past year or so, I've recovered. My elder brother is gone, but as you said, he's just protecting me in a different way."
"Okay."
"Moreover, I still have many important people. I have my father, mother, grandfather, uncle, Zhao Xiangxiang, Xie Yu and others. Most importantly, I still have you, master."
Yan Ruyu smiled and stroked Zhao Shuning's hair.
Zhao Shuning said, "Master is the most important person in my life. Whether I'm Ye Ling or Zhao Shuning, you've always been by my side."
"Master, you have thousands of disciples. Am I the most disappointing one?"
Yan Ruyu frowned slightly.
"I don't have many disciples."
"Ah?"
"In the Eastern Ze Wilderness, you're my only disciple."
"Then, master, have you taken in many female disciples?"
"No. I've only taken in two female disciples."
A hint of jealousy welled up in Zhao Shuning's heart. She knew she shouldn't ask, but she couldn't help it.
"Is the other woman very outstanding?"
"Yes."
"Can I know her name?"
"Her name is Luo Qiu."
"I see, master. You don't need to say any more."
The name Luo Qiu was a legend to the people in the Eastern Ze Wilderness, no, to the people on the entire Kyushu Continent.
Zhao Shuning forced a smile, as if to cover up her somewhat out - of - control tone. She deliberately said, "She is indeed much more outstanding than me."
"Ning'er is the most outstanding one in my heart."