Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Seal Is Finally Broken

Shen Ruoxi’s eyes glistened with a faint sheen of water, but suddenly she caught sight of three figures ahead, a man and a woman, flanking an extraordinary elder walking toward them.

He had crane-like white hair but a child-like face, his posture nimble, exuding an ethereal and transcendent aura.

“Master.” Shen Ruoxi’s throat tightened, and the droplets in her eyes finally slipped down. She quickened her pace, took a few steps forward, knelt on both knees, and respectfully kowtowed thrice to her master.

“Get up quickly, you girl. You still know to come and see this old man. I thought you had long forgotten your master up in the clouds.” The old man’s voice carried a slight choke as he both scolded and dotingly helped her up.

“Master, I’m here, aren’t I?” Shen Ruoxi said coquettishly.

“Junior Sister!”

“Junior Sister!”

Her second senior brother and sister greeted her excitedly, and she responded to each, creating a warm and joyful scene.

Yet amid the laughter and joy, Ghostly Trace Divine Hand’s eyes quietly reddened.

He had taken in three male and three female disciples, a total of six, throughout his life, and while the world viewed him as aloof and detached from worldly desires, only for this little disciple did he remain deeply concerned.

“Come inside with Master.” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand turned and walked towards the Pill-Refining Hall.

“Mm-hmm!” Shen Ruoxi obediently followed behind her master.

Entering the Pill-Refining Hall, Ghostly Trace Divine Hand began fiddling with his various containers and asked, “Why did you suddenly think of coming to find Master?”

Shen Ruoxi pursed her lips, feeling somewhat aggrieved, saying, “Master, I have shamed you. I couldn’t continue with Xiao Chengyi, we have separated.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand was taken aback by the news, “Ah!”

He clearly didn’t expect to hear such news.

“It’s not my fault,” Shen Ruoxi continued, “He fought in battles for two years, and when he returned, he brought back a woman with a big belly, wanting to take her as a wife alongside me. Such a thing, how can it be tolerated?”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand’s eyes darkened, and he said in a deep voice, “He asks for death!”

Shen Ruoxi gently comforted him, “Master, although he was somewhat unworthy, he was at least honest.

Since he had already shifted his affections elsewhere, we are no longer close, so there’s no need for you to be angry.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand coldly spat out two words, “Useless.”

Shen Ruoxi giggled, “Master, don’t be angry anymore. Please unseal the disciple’s acupoints!”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand frowned and resolutely refused, “Absolutely impossible.”

Shen Ruoxi continued to plead, “Master…”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand coldly interrupted her, staring intently at her, “After unsealing the seal, what do you plan to do?”

Shen Ruoxi bit her lower lip, her fingers clenched tightly, eyes reddened, “Master, just as you imagined, I want to go to the border city to drive the Beichang invaders out of our Dayi Country and avenge my father and brothers.”

Upon hearing this, Ghostly Trace Divine Hand furrowed his brows, “If you’re willing to listen to Master’s words and marry a good man, then I will lift the seal for you.

But if you insist on going to the battlefield to kill enemies, that is absolutely not possible!

Have you thought about your deceased family? Especially your mother, ever since your father and brothers died on the battlefield, has she ever had a peaceful night’s sleep?

If it weren’t for you, she might have already followed them. You are her only reason to continue living. Now that she has passed away, do you still want her spirit to be restless in the afterlife?”

Shen Ruoxi felt a pang in her heart but still firmly grabbed her master’s arm, “Master, this is the Shen family’s mission!”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand’s eyes darkened, and he said in a low, powerful voice, “What mission? Defending the country and expelling foreign enemies, this is the mission of all Dayi Country people, not just the Shen family!

Master is old and seeks nothing but peace for all of you.

Your senior brother established Cloud-listening Pavilion, making numerous enemies; your senior sister ventured alone in the world, facing dangers constantly.

Each of you gives Master no peace of mind.

Qingxue, you don’t understand the pain of white-haired people sending off black-haired ones!”

At this point, Ghost Hand Immortal Trace’s tone softened, “Since you’ve returned, Master will have them prepare some good food for you, don’t think about anything else.”

Qingxue, a name given by her master after saving Shen Ruoxi following her disappearance from the Shen family, while in the valley.

“Master.”

“Being coquettish is useless, fulfilling your mother’s wish is filial piety of a child.”

“Master, I have to go to Moon Valley later, so I won’t eat here. Please unseal my Inner Strength first, I promise not to go to the battlefield temporarily.”

“You girl, aren’t you visiting Master?” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand pretended to get angry, blowing his beard and glaring.

“Master, I’ve been home only two days and found dark currents in the Shen Mansion.

Old Mrs. Xu actually recruited a group of dubious people, and what’s worse, she’s involved with strange men.

The night before, I caught them in a room, but my Inner Strength was lacking, and the scoundrel escaped.”

“Such a thing?” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand looked surprised.

Shen Ruoxi continued to complain, “Moreover, Pei Xuan, that kid, hit me so hard with a punch that I almost fainted!”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand immediately pulled Shen Ruoxi’s wrist over, placing two fingers on her pulse. After a moment, he said, “Did you take the Condensing Spirit Pill?”

“Chuntao forced it on me. I told her it was just a minor injury, but she insisted I take it, truly a waste of a good pill,” Shen Ruoxi said helplessly.

“What do you mean waste? Is Pei Xuan trying to die, daring to hurt you this gravely! Truly needs a beating!” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand said angrily.

Shen Ruoxi pleaded, “Master, please unseal my acupoints! Now, restrained as I am, I can’t fight, run, or chase, it’s truly too useless.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand lowered his eyes. In truth, he did not wish to seal Shen Ruoxi’s acupoints, but circumstances left no choice… He sighed, “Tell Master honestly, if I never unseal you, what will you do next?”

Shen Ruoxi’s eyes flashed with determination, “I want to clean up the Shen Mansion first, then go to the border city.

Even if I can’t go to the battlefield, being a military doctor would suffice. That’s where my father and brothers shed their blood, I must go.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand furrowed his brow, “Why? Even Master’s words are ignored?”

Shen Ruoxi cheekily smiled, “Master, you already know, it’s not the first time this disciple didn’t listen to you.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand lifted his hand, intending to strike, but Shen Ruoxi giggled and leaned closer to him, “Master, would you really bear to hit me?”

Ghost Hand Immortal Trace lightly tapped her forehead, smiling helplessly, “You chatterbox, Master truly wants to break your legs and keep you in the valley, at least you could live to be a hundred.”

Shen Ruoxi laughed, “Master, if you break this disciple’s legs, such days I wouldn’t want to live even for a day. I’d rather go to the battlefield and fight; being someone else’s bride is not my strength, even if someday I truly die in battle…”

“Phooey phooey phooey, don’t say such ominous things!” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand interrupted her and then asked, “By the way, why are you going to Moon Valley?”

Shen Ruoxi explained, “Taking the family to have some fun, they’ve been too repressed lately and need to unwind.”

Ghostly Trace Divine Hand hesitated but eventually compromised, “Alright! After unsealing your acupoints, remember not to use Inner Strength for five hours, let it recover naturally.”

“Master, you’re the best, truly the best master in the world.”

“Stop flattering,” Ghostly Trace Divine Hand said in a teasing scold.

After unsealing her Inner Strength, Shen Ruoxi suddenly remembered something, and quietly said, “Master, by the way, a family servant mentioned something. One day he encountered a person resembling a zombie in Old Mrs. Xu’s room; I’m wondering, could the Demon Sect from West City have already infiltrated the Capital City?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep