After all, they were in public. Qi Zhi hurriedly circulated his inner energy to steady his legs that were about to transform.
Water, he needed water.
Qi Zhi got up, his lips slightly pale, and he exaggeratedly grimaced, pretending to be in pain:
"It hurts so much." His legs were really hurting.
The other Taoist priests and tourists heard the commotion and looked over.
Bai Shuishui furrowed her eyebrows. Seeing he was still hale enough to exaggerate, it couldn't have been a hard fall. So she explained: "I didn't even touch you."
"Can you help me up?" Qi Zhi looked at her.
Surprisingly, Bai Shuishui read a few words of 'pitiful' from his expression and quickly pulled him up.
Qi Zhi took the chance to stand up and secretly swallowed a pill.
In order to quickly transform into human form and join the Taoist temple, Qi Zhi had been cultivating his body since he arrived.
Although he had taken human form ahead of time, his current form wasn't yet completely stable.
One of Qi Zhi's reasons for staying at the temple was for Bai Shuishui, the other was to consolidate his cultivation.
The spiritual spring in the rear mountain of the temple was greatly beneficial for monsters and spirits' cultivation. It was a priceless treasure in this Dharma Ending Age.
The original owner was thrown into the spiritual spring by Bai Shuishui, and in just a short while, his injuries began to improve.
So Qi Zhi had always been thinking about the spring water.
Enduring the pain in his legs that felt like walking on a thorny path, Qi Zhi returned to his temporary residence and took a moment to meditate and adjust his breath. His complexion eased slightly.
Qi Zhi closed his eyes, extending his divine sense and found people at the temple were either taking a nap or worshiping in the hall.
Rarely was there no one in the back mountain, so Qi Zhi made up his mind to go to the spring.
On his way, Qi Zhi encountered the abbot, and nodded in greeting.
The abbot, half-asleep, rotated his prayer beads in his hand and chanted, "Infinite blessings from Tianzun." [The lord of heaven in Taoism]
Qi Zhi's eyes flickered slightly. The abbot was a highly accomplished Taoist master, and he probably had already seen through his merman identity.
"Thank you, Taoist." Qi Zhi said no more and flashed straight to the rear mountain.
Since the advent of the technological era, Taoist temples in the Dharma-ending Age were connected to the tap water system, so Taoist priests rarely ventured through mountains and waters to fetch spring water as they did in the past.
Gradually, the living spring here became deserted, but today it was a fortunate opportunity for Qi Zhi.
At the end of the winding path, he finally came across a clear pool of living water. Qi Zhi took off his clothes and leapt into the water, splashing water droplets that merged back into the clear spring again.
A white light flashed, and suddenly a merman with a half-human, half-fish tail appeared in the spring.
"Hu." Qi Zhi flicked his fish tail a couple of times, lowered his eyes and let the water from the spiritual spring nourish his fish body.
After half an hour, feeling his body repaired, Qi Zhi opened his eyes. He happily swam a few laps in the spring before transforming back into human and coming ashore.
"I should soak for a few more days here, making the most of it." Qi Zhi thought.
*
Flowers drop from plants and grass grows abundantly, while orioles fly around and butterflies flutter and play together.
Worthy of being far away from the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, Lingyun Taoist Temple, not to mention the melodious birdsong and fragrance of blooming flowers, even the air on the mountain was clearer than anywhere else.
Qi Zhi took a deep breath of fresh air, looked up at the rosy dawn's glow, and a faint and elegant smile appeared on his lips.
"Good morning, Taoist Bai."
Qi Zhi saw Bai Shuishui practicing martial arts from afar and called out to her, performing the Taoist arching salute at the Taoist gate.
Bai Shuishui seemed not to hear him, still engrossed in her set of boxing techniques. It wasn't until a quarter of an hour later that she stopped and slowly regulated her breathing, calming her rapidly beating heart caused by the workout.
She looked at Qi Zhi with clear eyes and replied in her flat and calm voice, "Good morning."
Seeing him in a deep blue Taoist robe today, her eyes flickered slightly. Looks like he really planned to stay at Lingyun Temple for a while.
Qi Zhi noticed Bai Shuishui's scrutinizing gaze and winked at her, "Do I look good in Taoist robe?"
This robe was the most ordinary style, a straight-cut garment with a slightly old grayish appearance, exactly the same style Bai Shuishui was wearing.
Bai Shuishui: "..."
"No need to say it, I already know that I, this great lord, am unparalleled in beauty." Qi Zhi smiled proudly. He was the most beautiful merman of the merfolk, he was handsome in everything he wore.
Bai Shuishui didn't want to entertain Qi Zhi and walked around him to the other side.
Qi Zhi raised an eyebrow and strode over to her side, then crossed his hands around the back of his head, walking backwards:
"Bai Shuishui, you haven't answered my question yet." Qi Zhi called her by her real name.
Bai Shuishui stopped, looked at him in silence, and felt her temples throbbing. "Didn't you already answer it yourself?"
Miraculously, Qi Zhi could hear helplessness in her words.
Rarely seeing her emotional fluctuations, Qi Zhi gazed at her with his amber-like eyes, teasingly pestering her, "Now I want to hear your answer."
Really unreasonable.
Bai Shuishui sneered inwardly, feeling slightly annoyed.
This person was actually bothering her with such a boring question.
Bai Shuishui, who had always been kind-hearted, looked at him with deep eyes, unable to come up with any sharp words to say.
Finally, she cajoled him as if coaxing a child, "It looks good. Mr. Qi is handsome and looks good in anything."
Hearing her call him handsome, Qi Zhi looked at her scorchingly: "See, we're dressed the same."
So?
Bai Shuishui looked at him in confusion.
Qi Zhi understood her gaze. He leaned slightly closer to her ear, whispering mysteriously, "Hehe, it's a couple outfit."
Hearing this, Bai Shuishui first blanked for half a second before anger flashed across her face. She swung a hand chop towards Qi Zhi.
Just which nook this lunatic creep came crawling out from?
It pissed her off!
Qi Zhi, who had received a slap in the face, just stood there giggling foolishly.
Hehe, Shuishui looks so cute when she's angry.
Bai Shuishui's chest heaved up and down, being molested for the first time in her long life, she felt both annoyed and angry.
She quickly strode towards the scripture hall, preparing for her morning lesson.
Qi Zhi watched her leaving back, his mischievous smile faded. His eyes were filled with a mesmerizing light, capable of capturing people's hearts and souls.
*
Barely settling down in her usual spot for morning class, Bai Shuishui suddenly felt a conspicuous unfamiliar presence beside her.
That jerk of a man is here again.
Seeing Bai Shuishui glancing his way from the corner of her eye, Qi Zhi flashed her a toothy smile. His sunny and cheerful expressions were discordant with the solemn atmosphere.
The Taoists were chanting their morning lessons while a few scattered believers were paying respects to the Taoist deities.
Qi Zhi tactfully quieted down next to Bai Shuishui, pretending to worship the gods properly without disturbing her.
After the morning class ended, just as Bai Shuishui was about to relax, she heard Qi Zhi ask, "Shuishui, what were you guys chanting just now?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you," Bai Shuishui replied somewhat impatiently, feeling annoyed with him.
"Taoist Bai won't even tell me this much?" Qi Zhi raised his brows and glanced at her again. Cupping his heart as if in pain, he said melodramatically: "Ai, it seems that I, Qi Zhi, am not destined for Taoism. This matter of temple renovation..."
"Qi Zhi!" Bai Shuishui looked slightly annoyed.
The next second, Bai Shuishui realized she was getting too worked up and silently recited a heart calming mantra before calmly responding: "Today's morning lesson was the Heart Seal Scripture."
Hearing her answer, Qi Zhi's eyes lit up and he became more lively: "Wow~ what's the content of the Heart Seal Scripture...?"
Someone please save me!
Bai Shuishui walked out with a sullen face, while Qi Zhi continued to babble beside her.
A few fellow Taoists who saw smiled amiably and someone joked: "Junior Sister Xianyu's fate has arrived."
Modern Taoists could freely choose their partners for marriage, so Qi Zhi's persistent pursuit of Bai Shuishui would surely lead to misunderstandings among other Taoists.
"Senior Brother, be careful with your words."
Bai Shuishui stopped in her tracks and looked at Qi Zhi expressionlessly. Her tone became slightly stern, "Mr. Qi, please restrain yourself and stop pestering this humble Taoist."
Qi Zhi blinked and pretended to be innocent: "But yesterday, you personally promised to take care of me."
When he uttered the last three words 'take care of me', Qi Zhi enunciated heavily, a smug look on his face like a cunning fox who had successfully tricked its prey.
Bai Shuishui was so angry, her body trembled slightly. She clenched her right fist, poised to strike the shameless bastard.
Seeing that he had made her so angry that she became a puffer fish, Qi Zhi chuckled lightly. His round amber eyes fixed on her as his tone rose, "Shuishui ah—"
"This poor Taoist is Xianyu. Mr. Qi, please address me as Taoist Bai or Taoist Xianyu." Bai Shuishui almost gritted her teeth to say these words.
Qi Zhi took a few steps forward, approaching her side, and spoke leisurely, "We're already so familiar with each other, why does Shuishui still regard me as an outsider."
He called her "Shuishui" so affectionately.
Bai Shuishui couldn't bear it anymore, and swung a fist at Qi Zhi, wanting to make this unabashed bastard realize her strength!
Qi Zhi caught her fist and clicked his tongue. "Monks shouldn't resort to violence."
Monk was how Buddhists were addressed.
"I'm a Taoist, not a monk!" Bai Shuishui was surprised that he could catch her punch.
In an instant, Bai Shuishui extended her right leg, and she and Qi Zhi began exchanging blows.
Qi Zhi fought seriously, and the passing Taoists thought that the two were comparing skills so they stopped to watch.
"Sister Xianyu's moves are getting faster and faster," one of the Taoists sighed.
"I didn't expect Mr. Qi to be so skilled, it's really rare."
Qi Zhi deliberately went easy on her, which made Bai Shuishui even more angry. She was so irritated that she struck Qi Zhi's abdomen with a move.
Qi Zhi took the chance to grab Bai Shuishui's arms and teasingly whispered in her ear: "If you want to touch my abs, just say so. There's no need to be so subtle."
Damn it!
Bai Shuishui was furious, her pretty face flushed red with anger as she fiercely elbowed Qi Zhi.
Qi Zhi released her, and seeing that she hadn't landed a hit, Bai Shuishui also stopped fighting and retracted her stance.
"Shuishui is really amazing," Qi Zhi's gaze was approving. Bai Shuishui's martial arts were better than he imagined.
Bai Shuishui's face was taut, she glared at Qi Zhi before storming off straight to find her master.
This jerk had been on the mountain for two days, and he had made her so angry that she was fuming. Whoever loves it can take care of him, I'm not doing it anymore!
"Master," Bai Shuishui complained as she entered the quiet room where her master resided, "Can you assign someone else to take care of Mr. Qi..."
Seeing her stomp off angrily to the abbot, Qi Zhi innocently touched his nose. I just want to get closer to you.
With Bai Shuishui gone, Qi Zhi scratched his head and boredly whistled.
Seeing his careless appearance, a few Taoists, considering that Xianyu was their junior sister, spoke up:
"Mr. Qi, Junior Sister Xianyu has grown up in the Taoist temple since childhood and isn't an ordinary woman. It's really not appropriate for you to pester a Taoist disciple like this."
"Oh—" Qi Zhi drew out the syllable, then casually placed his hands behind his head.
"I'll be going back first then."
Hearing he was going back, the Taoists thought he meant he was going down the mountain to return home. However, they watched speechlessly as Qi Zhi walked further into the depths of the Taoist temple.
"..." So, when exactly are you leaving?
Today was not a good day to tease Shuishui again, so Qi Zhi headed straight for the spring water on the back mountain.
Until dusk, the setting sun slipped down the Lingyun Peak, casting golden crimson rays onto Bai Shuishui's face.
Bai Shuishui, being deceived by her master, walked out of the quiet room with a defeated look in her eyes.
Just now... what exactly did the Master say?
Bai Shuishui looked blank for a moment before sighing inwardly. Forget it, Qi Zhi was the patron funding the temple repairs, so she would just try to avoid him as much as possible.
"Xianyu—" Suddenly, someone called Bai Shuishui.