208: Chapter 208 Is he leaving?

Ling Xiaotang had long since grown accustomed to it.

She sat cross-legged to the side, a Pill Manual held in her hands, reading with great interest without even raising her head.

In her eyes, the "quarrels" between her Revered Master and Senior Ye...

Were like a fixed script that played out every few days.

She had gone from her initial nervousness and worry to her current state of being completely unruffled.

"Revered Master is only sharp-tongued; she wouldn't actually do anything to Senior Ye," Ling Xiaotang thought to herself.

...

A few more days passed.

This morning, Nangong Zili sat alone in the quiet room deep within the Immortal Cave, meditating cross-legged.

The morning light spilled through the window lattice, coating her in a soft, golden halo.

She closed her eyes and focused, her internal magic power circulating slowly to repair her injuries.

After these days of recuperation, combined with the nourishing effects brought by Dual Cultivation with Ye Changge, her injuries had mostly healed, and her magic power had recovered to thirty or forty percent.

At this rate, she would be completely recovered in a few more months.

This should have been a good thing.

But Nangong Zili could not bring herself to be happy.

Because she had discovered a terrifying thing—

She liked Ye Changge more and more.

This realization was like a bucket of ice water, chilling her from head to toe.

She was starting to find Ye Changge pleasing to the eye.

It wasn't the kind of "having to look" pleasing, but a heartfelt appreciation.

Everything made her feel... comfortable.

She even began to look forward to the time spent alone with Ye Changge.

Whenever night fell and Ye Changge came to her side, a trace of... secret joy would actually surge in her heart?

And when the Dual Cultivation ended and Ye Changge rose to leave, a faint sense of loss would well up in her heart again.

"What is wrong with me?" A storm brewed in Nangong Zili's heart.

She knew clearly that she was not the type of person to fall in love with someone so easily.

She had cultivated for over two hundred years and roamed the Cultivation World; what kind of outstanding talents and geniuses had she not seen?

Those so-called "favored sons of heaven" were nothing more than clowns in her eyes,

Not even worthy of a second glance from her.

She had always been cold-hearted and indifferent, and she held the matters of men and women in contempt.

In her understanding, emotions were nothing but stumbling blocks to cultivation, weaknesses, and flaws.

But now—

She had truly developed feelings of love for Ye Changge.

It was a genuine... fluttering of the heart.

"Could it be that he used some kind of trick during Dual Cultivation?" This thought flashed through Nangong Zili's mind, but she immediately dismissed it.

She was a Core Formation True Person with a powerful Divine Sense; if Ye Changge had tampered with her, it would be impossible for her not to notice.

Moreover, she carefully recalled the details of every Dual Cultivation session; Ye Changge had indeed only normally operated the Dual Cultivation Technique and such, without performing any evil arts.

Then where was the problem?

Could it be... that she had truly developed genuine feelings for this little Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

"Impossible!"

Nangong Zili shook her head violently, throwing the absurd thought out of her mind.

Who was she? The Spider Gu Envoy of the Five Gu Sect, a Core Formation True Person, an existence who had roamed the Cultivation World for over two hundred years!

How could she possibly fall in love with a little Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

A... green boy nearly two hundred years younger than her?

But no matter how she denied it, the throbbing in her heart was real.

She even began to feel that if they just continued living like this, it seemed... not bad.

As soon as this thought popped up, Nangong Zili startled herself.

"Have I been hit by some kind of charm technique!"

A storm raged in her heart, yet her face remained as calm as still water.

She took a deep breath, suppressed the panic in her heart, and began a cold analysis.

She was very clear about the effects of the Love-Locking Gu.

That Gu insect would only make her feel a sense of closeness toward Ye Changge; it would not change her true heart.

Which meant—

Her feelings for Ye Changge were real.

"No, this won't do!"

Alarm bells rang loudly in Nangong Zili's heart.

She could not allow herself to fall into such a dangerous emotion.

Emotions were a weakness, a flaw, and the greatest obstacle on the path of cultivation.

She had cultivated for over two hundred years and had finally reached this step with great difficulty; she absolutely could not let a man ruin her Dao path.

"I must leave this place."

Nangong Zili made a decision in her heart.

She stood up, straightened her clothes, and went to Ling Xiaotang's side.

Seeing her Revered Master enter, the girl looked up, a sweet smile appearing on her face:

"Revered Master, why have you come?"

Nangong Zili did not waste words and spoke directly:

"Xiao Tang, we are leaving."

Ling Xiaotang was stunned, the smile on her face freezing:

"Ah? Right now?"

"Yes," Nangong Zili's tone was firm. "Revered Master's magic power has recovered fifty to sixty percent, and my injuries are no longer a major concern.

As long as we don't encounter a top-tier Core Formation Late Stage like Bai Qingyi, I am still confident in my ability to escape from an ordinary Core Formation True Person."

She paused and continued:

"Furthermore, as long as we reach the border, the Sect will surely send people to meet us. By then, we will be safe."

Hearing this, Ling Xiaotang fell silent for a moment.

She looked up and gazed at Nangong Zili.

In those clear eyes, the usual innocent playfulness was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness and determination.

"Revered Master..."

Ling Xiaotang's voice trembled slightly.

Then, she made a move that Nangong Zili never expected—

She rolled out of bed, bent her knees, and knelt straight down before Nangong Zili.

"Xiao Tang! What are you doing?" Nangong Zili's brow furrowed slightly.

Ling Xiaotang knelt on the ground, looked up, her eyes slightly red, yet she struggled to keep her voice steady:

"Revered Master, Xiao Tang... Xiao Tang doesn't want to go back."

Nangong Zili was taken aback: "What did you say?"

"Xiao Tang wants to stay by Senior Ye's side," Ling Xiaotang's voice was soft, yet exceptionally firm. "I don't want to go back to the Five Gu Sect."

Hearing this, Nangong Zili was completely stunned.

She widened her eyes and looked at her disciple in disbelief, as if she were meeting her for the first time.

"You... what did you say?" Nangong Zili's voice even changed pitch.

"Xiao Tang wants to stay by Senior Ye's side," Ling Xiaotang repeated, her voice even firmer. "To repay his life-saving grace and accompany him."

Nangong Zili felt as if the sky had collapsed.

Her disciple, the disciple she had raised with her own hands, actually wanted to stay by a little Foundation Establishment Cultivator's side?

"Are you mad?" Nangong Zili took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. "Do you know what you are saying?"

"Xiao Tang knows." Ling Xiaotang knelt on the ground, looked up, and looked directly into her Revered Master's eyes. "Xiao Tang knows what she is saying and knows what she is doing."

"What do you know!" Nangong Zili's voice suddenly rose. "Although this mission failed, it was not our fault, but rather the defeat of the two True Monarchs. Upon returning to the Sect, rewards will be given according to merit, and both of us can obtain a large amount of Military Contribution!"

She crouched down to look Ling Xiaotang in the eye, her tone becoming urgent: