Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 468 - 242: Become a Disciple of the Female Master?

Chapter 468: Chapter 242: Become a Disciple of the Female Master?

Despite Jiang Yi’s warning, Jiang Shouzhong still took it to heart.

Currently, the Inner Defense, the official and the Liushan Division are all searching for him, indeed making Li Nanshuang’s courtyard a likely target for close surveillance.

Jiang Shouzhong didn’t return to the courtyard; instead, he found a secluded spot to open the envelope, taking out the intelligence that Jiang Yi had helped gather for review.

The intelligence on Shan Dongchuan was fairly comprehensive.

Shan Dongchuan was currently forty-two years old and had spent a few years as a soldier on the frontier.

In a campaign against Nanjin Country, he had unfortunately been captured. Later, along with other captives, he took advantage of an unguarded moment of the guards and escaped, eventually being rescued.

Because he brought back some intelligence, he was awarded military merits.

As Yanrong continued to grow stronger and Nanjin Country signed a ceasefire agreement with Dazhou, Shan Dongchuan returned from the front lines. After some maneuvering, he became a member of the Liushan Division in Donglingzhou’s Xiangcheng as a supervisor.

Two years passed, and he was transferred to Qingzhou, eventually being promoted to a managerial position.

Jiang Shouzhong studied this intelligence over and over but didn’t find anything unusual, aside from the fact that the man had risen through the ranks a bit too smoothly after his return from the frontier.

Of course, it’s quite normal for a capable person to have a smooth career progression.

But now that it had been confirmed that Shan Dongchuan was a member of some mysterious organization, looking back at his path of promotion was somewhat incongruous.

Seeing the name Nanjin Country in the letter, Jiang Shouzhong was reminded of the youth he had debated with in the temple the previous day.

The boy was from Nanjin Country.

Could this kid have some connection to Shan Dongchuan?

But to link them together based solely on this piece of information would be rather rash.

With the alliance between Dazhou and Nanjin Country, there had been an increase in the number of merchants and civilians from both sides, so the presence of people from Nanjin Country in Dazhou was not unusual.

"Where could that kid be since he didn’t show up yesterday?"

Jiang Shouzhong tapped the paper with his finger and decided to investigate at the Jinse Pavilion that evening after some thought.

For now, he needed to find Dugu Luoxue to solidify Jiang Yi’s identity.

This identity could be used for many things.

Luckily, in the envelope, Jiang Yi had included the current address of Dugu Luoxue. She had bought a small courtyard in Qingzhou with the intention of residing there for a while to refine her spirit.

...

When Jiang Shouzhong found the address noted in the envelope, what caught his eye was an extremely simple and almost shabby small courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard, an ancient well stood silently, its rim weathered.

Beside the well, there was a humble vegetable patch, lush and vibrant, where stubborn green vegetables grew.

The surrounding fence was made up of hedges, arranged with care.

It was hard to imagine that the vice-leader of the Wanshou Mountains and Rivers would purchase such a humble abode.

Surely she couldn’t be short of money.

However, this worldly-detached place, steeped in a profoundly tranquil atmosphere, did match the image of the reclusive and ascetic female master.

"Master Dugu?"

Jiang Shouzhong called out.

The courtyard was silent; no one responded.

Had she gone out?

Jiang Shouzhong scratched his head, saw the half-open door, and instinctively approached.

Gently pushing the door open, he was greeted by a serene room.

In the dimly lit room, a woman dressed in coarse clothes with a simple coiffure secured with a wooden hairpin, sat calmly by the window.

The woman’s hands were busy with needle and thread, intently mending garments.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the cracks of the window grille, casting a mottled pattern on her figure, crowning her with a soft glow, cold and holy.

Jiang Shouzhong was momentarily mesmerized, but quickly coming to his senses, he cleared his throat, "I thought you might not be here."

"I was waiting for you," replied Dugu Luoxue, her expression indifferent, as if she had expected his arrival.

Jiang Shouzhong felt inexplicably self-conscious and sheepishly said, "I’ve given it some thought and concluded that becoming your disciple temporarily wouldn’t be such a problem after all."

"What do you mean by temporary?"

Dugu Luoxue lifted her head to look at the man.

Under the light of the window grille, her stunning beauty was even more evident. Her skin was creamy and her appearance ethereal, like a celestial being who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.

Jiang Shouzhong made an awkward sound, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Once a master, always a master," Dugu Luoxue spoke with her sweet voice, an air of cold detachment and otherworldliness about her, "In my place, there is no temporary. Think it over before you seek me out again."

This woman really was stubborn.

A bookworm, truly stupefied by too much studying.

Jiang Shouzhong was at a loss for words, but then a stroke of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind, and his eyes lit up.

Wait a minute!

Who is taking on a master right now?

It’s Jiang Yi, right?

What has Jiang Mo to do with it?

What does it have to do with Jiang Shouzhong?

When the time comes, just up and leave, who could stop him?

Realizing this, Jiang Shouzhong bowed and said, "Forever it is... Disciple Jiang Yi pays respects to Master."

"You’ve thought it through?"

"I have," he replied confidently.

"Then go ahead with the master-apprentice ceremony," Dugu Luoxue said casually.

The master-apprentice ceremony?

Jiang Shouzhong’s expression soured as he said in a stern voice, "Is it to kneel? I’m sorry, Master, but in our hometown, we don’t kneel lightly, except for..."

Except if I were kneeling behind you.

Of course, those words would remain unspoken.

With a delicate lift of her pinky finger, Dugu Luoxue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke calmly, "A respectful bow will suffice."

Jiang Shouzhong let out a sigh of relief.

The tea is easy to handle.

Jiang Shouzhong picked up the cup on the table, but he didn’t find any tea leaves. He said helplessly, "Master, shall we make do with some boiled water? Or should I go buy a packet of tea leaves?"

"I only drink tea, and I must have it now."

Dugu Luoxue spoke indifferently.

Alright, testing me just after becoming your apprentice, trying to pick on me, huh?

Woman, you underestimate me.

"One should think of the source when drinking water, and recognize tea not by its form."

Jiang Shouzhong poured a cup of clear water, slightly bowed, holding the tea cup with both hands, and respectfully offered it.

"Please enjoy the tea, Master."

Dugu Luoxue coldly said, "Colorless, leafless, formless, where is the tea?"

Jiang Shouzhong’s handsome and masculine face showed a trace of warmth as he said leisurely, "Water without leaves, even clear soup can still be called tea, the essence lies not in the physical form but in the state of the mind... If one has the root of wisdom, one can taste a myriad of flavors."

But Dugu Luoxue still did not take the tea cup; instead, her pretty face took on a frosty tint as she said coldly,

"To arrogate the name of tea to mere water without leaves is like mistaking fish eyes for pearls, not only failing to embody the Dao of tea but actually losing the true flavor. Jiang Yi, do you think this cleverness will help you achieve the Great Dao?"

This woman just doesn’t stop, does she?

Jiang Shouzhong furrowed his brow and stood straight as he said,

"The ’tea’ you speak of is but a thing that, among grass and trees, meets water and exudes fragrance; it depends on external things.

But the tea in my heart is formed by the heavens, shaped by the earth, in the human heart!

Life is like tea, all forms are non-forms... Master, it turns out you are also someone who judges by appearances.

It seems your own cultivation is not so impressive after all. The Great Dao you speak of is nothing special!

This cup of tea, Master, you better not drink it!"

Jiang Shouzhong casually threw the water from the cup behind him, with a free and easy gesture.

But strangely, the water he spilled did not fall; instead, it eerily suspended in mid-air, as if being gently held by an invisible hand.

Gudu Luoxue gazed deeply at Jiang Shouzhong, her eyes flecked with indescribable emotions, and gradually her lips revealed a smile, "Perhaps, this is fate. Mine, as well as yours."

She raised her fair hand.

The tea cup in Jiang Shouzhong’s hand landed in her palm, and the water floating in the air naturally fell into the cup.

In an instant, a fragrant tea aroma filled the air.

Dugu Luoxue elegantly lifted the tea cup, took two sips, and said softly, "From now on, you and I are master and disciple."

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Shouzhong also showed a smile, his worried heart settling down.

It is amusing to think about.

Jiang Mo’s master is Sword Demon Yan Changqing, and Jiang Yi’s master is the world’s number one female master Dugu Luoxue... Tsk, both quite prestigious.

"This gift, consider it a meeting present for becoming my apprentice."

Gudu Luoxue lowered her head to bite off the thread, handing over the sewn item to him.

Jiang Shouzhong looked at it and was a bit dumbfounded.

Socks?

This is the first time he’d seen a master give socks to a disciple?

This mountain master really has some odd ways of thinking.

But the female master’s sewing is indeed quite good; she will surely be a good wife and mother after getting married.

"Next, I’ll teach you a set of verbal instructions that you should recite to yourself three times a day, consider it homework from your teacher."

Dugu Luoxue stood up and walked out of the room.

Jiang Shouzhong followed behind, expectantly asking, "Is it a cultivation technique?"

Dugu Luoxue shook her head gently, "It’s just a mental method to calm the mind and rid it of desires."

Desireless?

Jiang Shouzhong immediately became wary.

Is she starting to brainwash me?

But when he thought about how her Daoist School’s influences had no effect, he didn’t care anymore.

Gudu Luoxue stood quietly in front of the vegetable patch.

At this moment, Jiang Shouzhong noticed that there seemed to be an aura of immortal energy swirling around the woman, ethereal as if from a fairy.

At this moment, the woman revealed a beauty beyond the mortal world, untainted by the dust of the earth, like the gently falling snowflakes in deep winter that melt upon touch, making people afraid to defile, for fear of tainting that pure beauty.

When Jiang Shouzhong came back to his senses, he was startled to find a set of verbal instructions in his mind, similar to phrases of Dao meant to purify the spirit.

Jiang Shouzhong fell into contemplation, silently reciting.

"Whether you recite it or not is up to you; I won’t supervise your homework."

Dugu Luoxue’s eyes were like cold pools, her tone steady and unrippled, "However, there is one thing you must do as long as I am by your side."

"What is it?"

Jiang Shouzhong asked curiously.

...

A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Shouzhong was holding a needle and thread, clumsily mending an old garment under Dugu Luoxue’s guidance.

Looking at the crooked stitches, Jiang Shouzhong’s mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he said with resignation,

"Master, a gentleman can be killed, but not humiliated. I really can’t do this woman’s work, you might as well let me cook instead."

Dugu Luoxue looked at him, "Can’t do it?"

"Can’t do it!"

Jiang Shouzhong threw aside the garment.

Dugu Luoxue stared at him for a while, then said indifferently, "Then forget it, at least it proves that in this respect, I am better than you."

Jiang Shouzhong suddenly tasted the flavor of the situation.

This woman couldn’t possibly be trying to show off on purpose, could she?

Upset about the earlier defeat, now she’s seeking to settle the score with needlework? Just like a little girl, so childish.

"Master, I might not be as good as you in sewing, but I am skilled at massage,"

Jiang Shouzhong pondered for a moment, then smiled, "How about I give you a massage?"