Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 106

Chapter 106: The Love Between Master and Disciple

Jiang Hanzheng couldn’t quite describe how he felt at the moment. Perhaps it was like being pulled from the depths of despair straight to heaven by his master.

The hand covering his cheek was cold yet warm. He grasped it tightly and pressed it to his body, as though he couldn’t wait any longer.

Although his expression still retained a shred of restraint, he knew clearly that his reason was slipping away bit by bit.

He wanted to be close to his master, had fantasized about him. But in those secret dreams during the quiet of the night, he had only ever imagined kissing his master passionately or holding him tightly. As for anything beyond that, he didn’t really understand.

Jiang Hanzheng wanted to go further but could only feel an anxious impatience.

He Lang noticed the restlessness beneath his exterior and decided not to tease him anymore.

With a few deft movements, he unfastened his buttons. “How about this? Huo Yiyang is indeed good-looking, isn’t he? That day, your master stared at him for so long—I’ve never seen your master look at me that way.”

…

Jiang Hanzheng didn’t try to hide his unease or explain himself. Instead, he lunged forward abruptly and embraced his master.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he finally bit into the shoulder he had been gazing at for so long. The faint scent of skin reached his nose, and he inhaled deeply. His tone was sour as he spoke.

He Lang froze for a moment before letting out a low sigh. “You stubborn boy. It seems the matter with Huo Yiyang wasn’t anyone else’s doing but yours.”

Aside from continuing to cultivate, Jiang Hanzheng’s thoughts were consumed by how to cling to his master.

Jiang Hanzheng blinked but still refused to admit to his master’s accusations. What he said was what he truly felt—he wasn’t a child anymore. How could he not understand? Yet his gaze was filled with melancholy. He didn’t dare refute his master and could only mumble softly, “I understand. I just… Master…”

Unbidden, memories of Huo Yiyang resurfaced in his mind. The sweetness in his heart turned bitter again, as though he was torturing himself.

He Lang didn’t seem angry. Naturally, Huo Yiyang’s importance couldn’t compare to the little disciple in his arms. He pretended to be stern and tapped Jiang Hanzheng on the forehead. “You little rascal. Your master and he are perfectly innocent—why are you taking it out on someone uninvolved?”

Jiang Hanzheng’s voice was soft, and there was no hint of a smile on his face. He couldn’t let go of the jealousy that almost overwhelmed him.

He undid the sash at his waist. A chill swept over him as the silky fabric slipped down, revealing his slightly slender shoulders and pale chest.

Jiang Hanzheng acted as though he was justified, showing no remorse. He even wanted to retort, “Huo Yiyang? Innocent? Even if he died a thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough!”

He Lang saw his behavior as childish tantrums and didn’t bother to explain further. Instead, he deliberately nipped at Jiang Hanzheng’s Adam’s apple, delivering an ambiguous signal.

Jiang Hanzheng quickly lost control, entirely at He Lang’s mercy. His mind was utterly consumed, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

At the same time, He Lang didn’t forget to channel spiritual energy, refining it between the two and guiding Jiang Hanzheng to absorb it.

After an intense session of dual cultivation, Jiang Hanzheng was still dazed, as though he was floating in the clouds. He stared at his master’s face with adoration, pouring out his feelings without a second thought. He no longer cared about the conventions of the master-disciple relationship. “Master, your disciple loves you.”

Reaching this point, he had surpassed ordinary disciples by an insurmountable margin. Petty rivalries, rumors, and competitions for resources no longer concerned him.

Jiang Hanzheng’s eyes were glued to his master’s pale body, his breath hitching as he struggled to contain himself.

Through their dual cultivation, his spiritual power had indeed improved. He had now reached the Nascent Soul stage, with a fully-formed nascent soul in his dantian. He was firmly established as the foremost disciple of the sect’s younger generation.

He knew his master was exceptionally skilled in guiding cultivation, but he hadn’t realized his master could also teach him in this area.

He could speak sweet nothings to his master and others alike, yet he couldn’t casually utter the words “I love you.”

Seeing the benefits dual cultivation brought to their cultivation, He Lang seemed to have resigned himself to it. Jiang Hanzheng, however, believed it was purely a matter of practice.

“That day, was master with Huo Yiyang like this too? Clothes removed, so close and intimate.”

Perhaps due to his lost soul or the burdens of his past, He Lang had never treated words like “love” lightly.

He Lang was resting with his eyes closed. Hearing Jiang Hanzheng’s sticky, sweet confession, his brows twitched. “It was merely a fleeting indulgence. What do you know of love?”

His master didn’t rebuke him or express much surprise. Jiang Hanzheng paused, realizing that his master might have anticipated this long ago.

But even so, He Lang had sternly punished the senior brother and pretended as if nothing had happened.

In truth, He Lang had treated himself as a cauldron, sacrificing his own vital energy to refine it into spiritual power for Jiang Hanzheng. This was the real reason behind Jiang Hanzheng’s rapid improvement.

Jiang Hanzheng was entirely unaware of this. He simply believed his fast progress was due to his own effort, allowing him to close the gap with his master.

Once, he could only look up at his master’s unattainable heights. Now, he had the chance to stand as an equal—or even surpass him. How could he not feel a rush of pride and excitement?

But knowing his master’s nature, he feared that once he fully matured, his master would cast him aside, treating him as an independent adult no longer in need of care.

Sensing Jiang Hanzheng’s mix of joy and melancholy, He Lang paused and asked softly, “Isn’t being stronger than your master a good thing?”

Jiang Hanzheng hesitated, unsure whether to agree. Outwardly, he had to deny it, but deep down, the thought wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

If strength meant having control, didn’t it also mean he could decide how his master treated him? Didn’t it mean he could keep his master by his side forever?

Jiang Hanzheng didn’t answer directly. Instead, like a spoiled child, he buried his head in He Lang’s chest, nuzzling against him before biting lightly at his collarbone. He murmured, “Master, I still want…”

Feeling his spiritual energy stir, He Lang raised an eyebrow, fully aware of what Jiang Hanzheng wanted. But his expression remained calm.

“If you can advance another minor realm this month, we’ll do this again.”

He spoke with a steady composure, treating the matter as a form of reward. He showed no concern, knowing this was precisely what motivated Jiang Hanzheng.

For someone at Jiang Hanzheng’s level, advancing further was no easy feat—especially within a month. Even for someone with a single spiritual root, such a timeline was demanding.

But Jiang Hanzheng agreed readily, wagging his metaphorical tail like an eager puppy, his eyes shining with determination.

Since his master had set the condition, he would obey, even though his current progress was already extraordinary.

Because he knew his master’s goal had always been this: not for him to simply be excellent, but to truly achieve immortality, attain success and fame, and be recorded in the annals of legend.

But having reached this point, he had gained applause and admiration, and he had also gained his master. He felt gratitude and contentment in his heart, and the tension that had always gripped his nerves had indeed slightly relaxed.

Jiang Hanzheng nuzzled against He Lang’s chin and cautiously asked, “Master, why are you still so strict about cultivation? Is your disciple still not good enough?”

He Lang opened his eyes to look at him. “Oh? So you think you’re good enough now? Is the Nascent Soul stage your ultimate goal?”

He still remembered, years ago, how that young boy had told him his goal was to achieve immortality. Now he had indeed done well, reaching the Nascent Soul stage within a century. Just two or three more stages and he could attempt to ascend. How could he have lost his conviction on this last stretch of the journey?

Jiang Hanzheng immediately caught the underlying meaning of these words and quickly shook his head in denial.

He didn’t understand why his master was so insistent, but since this was the path his master had set for him, he had no choice but to follow it to the end.

Not giving him time to think further, He Lang patted his forehead and urged him to go cultivate quickly.

Although Jiang Hanzheng felt tired, he still wouldn’t disobey his master’s orders. Acting playfully, he begged for some affection, extending a finger and gesturing, “Just one kiss, just one.”

He Lang observed him for a few seconds before finally nodding. Jiang Hanzheng immediately closed his eyes, tightly pursing his lips in both nervousness and anticipation.

Getting the kiss he had dreamed of, Jiang Hanzheng felt as though he had infinite energy coursing through his entire body. With a revitalized spirit, he quickly departed to continue cultivating.

Even so, his respect for his master remained unchanged, and his words were always filled with reverence.

His lips trembled slightly, as if he could barely resist the urge to open his eyes.

He Lang’s kiss arrived as promised, landing lightly on his lips. The faint texture of his lips seemed to imprint itself into his mind, leaving a mark for him to trace over and over. The faint warmth, like a branding iron, left an indelible impression on his heart.

The worldly glories of wealth and power were but fleeting clouds in the river of time. Only by ascending to the celestial plane and joining the ranks of the immortals could one achieve eternal pursuit.

Just for these words, he could tirelessly train day and night. Was this child truly so hungry for progress?

He Lang curved his lips slightly, studying his figure as he departed. It seemed that this was not bad either—this child had become much more agile.

Feeling a bit downhearted, he reluctantly pulled his hand away from He Lang.

When Jiang Hanzheng first met He Lang, he was too afraid to even look him directly in the eye. Even exchanging a few words with him would leave him trembling, and he could replay the encounter in his mind for an entire night. But now, not only could he monopolize his master’s attention, but he could also get physically close to him. His behavior had grown much bolder, and taking liberties or acting spoiled had become common.

Seeing that He Lang remained silent and unresponsive, Jiang Hanzheng, no matter how impatient, dared not act rashly. Despite his anxiousness, he still carefully asked, “Master? Are you going back on your word? Or do you dislike it when your disciple touches you? Then…”

“Whether it’s a dream or not, you’ll know soon enough.”

By now, He Lang had spent many years in this cultivation world. No matter how novel the world was, he must have grown tired of it.