Chapter 5 — Heart Cave Thien Kiep

My back hit the lake wall hard, there was no way back. The person stood right in front of him, his silhouette straight, his wet shirt clinging to his body, his black hair dripping with water, each drop rolling across his delicate collarbone. I trembled and clutched a piece of cloth in my hand, my heart was like a thunderous frenzy, I stammered with effort: "I...disciple...didn't mean...to secretly watch master take a bath!" Tu Bach tilted his head slightly, looking at me with deep eyes. In your eyes, I look like a startled little cat, my whole body is wet, cowering in the corner, my round eyes filled with tears, as if I'm just waiting for the owner to rub my fur. However... the person's lips curled up very slightly, it was almost difficult to tell the truth from the fake: "Don't sneak a look..." "Then... why is A Ly holding on tightly..." The person paused for a beat, his voice was even, as if he was telling a very calm truth - "... the master's internal storage?" Me: “…” A Ly, you're done! You dug your own grave and planted a tombstone! "Help!!! Dear Tu Bach, please kill me, quickly!!!" I almost burst into tears, threw the piece of cloth in my hand away, turned around, kicked the water and ran as fast as I could. But... My ankle was suddenly locked tightly by an ice-cold hand, the force of which gave me no way to retreat. The water splashed, my body was held tightly in place - there was no way to escape. “A Ly,” “Just in time… my teacher taught you an Ice Conjuring Technique.” His voice was low and gentle, without any trace of anger over the "desecration" earlier. On the contrary, the layer of mist in people's eyes seems to have dissipated a bit, being bottomless, making my heart skip a beat. Before he could recover, his wrist was pulled hard, and his whole body fell into that sturdy chest. The human heart beats steadily, with regular but heavy beats, as if echoing in the bones. The person was close to my ear, his voice was like a soft breath: "Calm your mind... calm your energy. Remember the mantra the teacher is about to recite: All things return to the sect; water turns into crystal..." My hands trembled, quickly forming seals with him. At that moment, something hot like fire gently touched my thigh - My heart was pounding, I didn't dare to turn my head, I quietly moved to the side, my cheeks were hot, I only dared to hold my breath and concentrate, repeating every word he said. A beat later, the dense fog in the back hall suddenly shattered into countless water droplets. Just as I was about to raise my head to look, my shoulder was immediately pressed down, my whole body was covered in someone's arms. In that moment, the steam condensed into ice, condensing out countless sharp ice tips that pierced Tu Bach's back from the air! “Master!!” The cry broke in my throat, my heart felt panicked as if it were being squeezed tightly. However, Tu Bach only slightly frowned, his left hand quickly made a decision, his right hand held my head tightly in his arms, his low voice rang right in his ear: "No problem." His voice was reassuring and firm, each word seemed to resonate with my heart, forcing my chaotic heartbeat to slow down. The distance is too close. My head rested in the crook of his neck, hot breath blowing on the wet skin. My eyelashes trembled slightly, accidentally brushing against the lipstick mole on my collarbone. At a moment's notice, I bent down and gently touched my lips, as light as a feather, and with just one touch, I left. The body stiffened slightly, the muscles tightened for a moment - after that, the arms hugged tighter, as if wanting to engrave my image deeply into the body. That day, I was forced to practice Ice Crystal Technique and forced to cast spells in a jade basin for an hour. When I left the back hall, my mind was dizzy, my whole body was exhausted as if my spiritual energy had been drained, and I felt limp as if I had no life left. The water vapor in the night wind, the cold breath that belonged to you... Everything mixed into a memory that was difficult to distinguish from unconsciousness. 7 After that "incident in the jade basin", I no longer dared to hide from you. Fortunately, Tran Tinh Hao is coming - every three years the Sword Sect organizes a Grand Dynasty Conference, which on the outside is said to be a sword contest between immortal sects, but in reality it is to select elite disciples for the Sword Sect. In her previous life, at this Great Dynasty Assembly, Tran Tinh Hao stood out from her peers. Thanks to a coincidence, she was accepted by Tu Bach as the last disciple - It was also she... who became the reason why I died with thousands of arrows piercing my heart. In my previous life, I was absent at this Grand Dynasty Conference because I was out practicing. But in this life... I must do my best to prevent Tran Tinh Hao from entering the Sword Sect - only by cutting off the roots can I preserve my life. On the day of the Great Court, the atmosphere was solemn and unprecedented. On the high hall covered with clouds, Tu Bach's body was dressed in a mysterious imperial robe embroidered with silver, with a neat hem and a tall, straight figure, like a fairy painting. {Read full on page Nguyet Hoa Cac} The person sat neatly on the dais, his expression was pale but the aura around his body was heavy, causing the surrounding servants to consciously step lightly and breathe slowly. I, as your only disciple, sit at the throne on the left, right next to you. The tip of his finger gently turned the wine cup, intending to lift it to his lips - Right at that moment, a familiar voice rang out in his consciousness: "A Ly, don't drink too much." I shook my hands slightly, raised my eyes and looked over. Tu Bach still maintained his posture, not looking at me, as if the words just now had never existed. I followed his gaze and turned my head to look - To the far away stone steps, a group of young disciples were leisurely entering. The leader - dressed in white as snow, back straight, chin slightly raised, eyes bright, the whole person exuding a brilliant aura. That is Tran Tinh Hao. She is like the sun at noon, shining brightly, making it difficult for people to ignore. No wonder... in his previous life, Tu Bach broke his rule and accepted her as his last disciple. A feeling of discomfort rose in my chest, I picked up the cup of wine, tilted my head back and drank it all. The alcohol smell burns my throat, I just want to swallow the lump in my heart. Up high, Tu Bach frowned slightly, his eyebrows furrowed, but in the end... did not say a word. The Great Trieu Assembly began, swords flashed ten thousand feet, and chants resounded. Just like in his previous life, Tran Tinh Hao overwhelmed the whole school. Her swordsmanship is neat and decisive, each move is like falling rain and flowing water, and even carries a soft beauty that makes the viewer's breath quicken. Behind me, Sword Sect disciples began whispering: "Hey, who is that female disciple? Why is she so powerful?" "Haven't you heard? This year, Saint Venerable will accept one last disciple." "Really? I think... this Tran Tinh Hao is very suitable." “If she is accepted... some people will be jealous and will abandon their sect and leave their sect.” The whispers stabbed straight into my ears, my chest felt like it was on fire, my hands trembled slightly, and finally I lifted the cup and drank it all again. The strong alcohol slid down the throat, both spicy and burning, the throat was as dry as fire, but it didn't feel any better. There was a soft call nearby ear: "Sister Phuong... Thanh Ton told you to... drink less." My finger stopped on the rim of the cup, my heart trembled slightly, but in the end I still ignored it and raised the cup... In my eyes, the color of the wine was as red as blood. In my chest, waves of smoldering surge up. A Chu didn't know when he was standing behind me. I gently waved my hand and lazily said a sentence: "Tell master... I am no longer a child, I know how to be reasonable." But as soon as the words came out, I clearly felt a hot gaze from the high platform in front, like a sword gently placed on the back of my neck, making my scalp tremble. I moved my body slightly, deliberately avoiding that line of sight, pretending to be calm and not looking over. The competition below ended, Tran Tinh Hao won, like in his previous life. She smiled faintly, gently put away her sword, stepped forward, bowed and bowed, her voice rang out clearly: "Junior Tran Tinh Hao, pay homage to Saint Venerable, respectfully greet the elders." Tu Bach's eyes still stopped at me, never withdrawing - until A Chu reminded him in his ear, he calmly opened his mouth: "Not bad. A good seed." As soon as the words ended, the elders around the stage nodded in praise: "Yes, very good qualifications, rare talent." “If accepted by Saint Venerable, it will definitely become a pillar of the Sword Sect.” But... from beginning to end, Tu Bach never mentioned the matter of accepting disciples. I drank an entire bottle of strong wine, and the spicy yeast gradually rushed straight to my head. His head was a bit dizzy, his vision was a bit blurry - Suddenly, below, Tran Tinh Hao's voice rang out clearly in the silence: "Holy Venerable!" "Disciple... vows to worship and enter your sect. Study and practice with senior sister Phuong Ly, working hard for the Sword Sect!"