Chapter 328: 328. The Real Little God (Second Update)

Translator: 549690339

Though they’d only known each other for a few days, Su Liang had been cautiously trying to figure out Qiao Cong, seriously “strategizing” him.

But at this moment, hearing Qiao Cong actively proposing to take her as a disciple, Su Liang was still very surprised.

Of course she had considered such a thing happening, but she just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Nangong Qian’s constant attempts to provoke her probably helped her case.

“To be honest, I couldn’t ask for more.” Su Liang looked at Qiao Cong and said, “I just wonder if Master has considered the conflicts between us?”

Nangong Qian didn’t really matter, as she had no real power to do anything. She relied on the favor of her elders, attempting to use them to achieve her goals. But as for her two elders, Nangong Lin was not around now, and Qiao Cong had chosen to remove her memory to completely change her.

The key issue was the twisted Nangong Lin and Qiao Cong’s grandson Situ Jing. In addition to their personal grudges, there was also the issue of opposing positions.

Seeing Qiao Cong silent, Su Liang chuckled lightly, “I just like to say the unpleasant things upfront to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“You called me Master first,” Qiao Cong frowned.

Su Liang’s face remained calm, “I won’t deny that, but what I want is a true master who can discern right from wrong, support reason rather than personal feelings, and stand by my side. I can understand Master’s feelings as an elder, so why not set a time limit for this master-disciple relationship?”

Qiao Cong’s eyebrows furrowed even tighter, “What time limit?”

“Until I leave here, we’ll have a master-disciple relationship. Master teaches me martial arts as payment for treating your granddaughter. When I leave, we’ll go our separate ways without owing each other anything,” said Su Liang seriously, “Because I can’t guarantee that I won’t go after Nangong Lin and Situ Jing. It’s not my choice, but they won’t let me go. And by then, Master wouldn’t have to worry about our relationship, and be caught in a dilemma.”

Su Liang’s words were generous, rational, mature, and even took into consideration Qiao Cong’s position and possible future confrontations.

But Qiao Cong suddenly became annoyed, “In your eyes, am I someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong?” He stormed off in a huff after that.

Su Liang blinked: … Wasn’t he? Could Qiao Cong have forgotten what he did for his grandson and granddaughter?

Of course, most people aren’t purely black or white, and rationality and emotions aren’t always perfectly balanced. Su Liang knew very well that Qiao Cong wasn’t like Nangong Lin, nor should an old man who’d lost his daughter be forced to choose between protecting his grandchildren and doing what was right – it was only human nature.

A person who had been righteous and kind all his life would do things he shouldn’t for the sake of his descendants. This was nothing new to Su Liang, who had lived two lifetimes.

But to harm innocent people for the sake of one’s children and grandchildren was wrong.

Su Liang knew Qiao Cong was conflicted. But precisely because of that, some things had to be clarified from the beginning, or they could be fatal in the future.

Qiao Cong was showing his affection for Su Liang at the moment, but when it came to major issues involving Nangong Qian and Situ Jing in the future, his inner scale might not tip in Su Liang’s favor. And if the opposite happened, he might see Su Liang’s opposition as a betrayal of their master-disciple relationship.

Qiao Cong was clearly a man of deep emotions. And Su Liang didn’t want him to think that once she became his disciple, she would love everything about him, reconcile with his family – Nangong Lin and Situ Jing – and become one of them.

She wasn’t, and she would never make peace with Nangong Lin. It was always going to be a fight to the death between them.

That being said, Su Liang was, of course, happy to take Qiao Cong as her master, but she hoped to put a time limit on their relationship, for the sake of everyone’s wellbeing.

…

As the sun reached its zenith, Su Liang was hungry and went to cook lunch.

Just as she finished cutting the meat, Qiuyue came over. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she walked a little slow. As soon as she saw Su Liang, she knelt down, “Thank you, Miss Su, for saving my life.”

Su Liang was a little baffled as Qiuyue started crying, “Yesterday, as a servant, I couldn’t disobey my lady. If not for Miss Su’s timely rescue, I would either be dead or crippled.”

Su Liang realized that Qiao Cong must have questioned Qiuyue. It wasn’t too stupid of Qiuyue to admit to the things Su Liang had accused her of since denying them would have been betting on whom Qiao Cong would believe – her or Su Liang. And Qiuyue was not his granddaughter. She had already made several mistakes that had annoyed Qiao Cong, so she had no choice but to confess truthfully.

Soon, Su Liang learned the real reason Qiuyue had come to her for help: “Please, Miss Su, save this slave. Master said he would take me to Jiaye City to sell me… I still have family in Hefeng City, and I want to go home…”

Su Liang furrowed her brows. Qiao Cong had always hated this good-for-nothing maid and didn’t want her around Nangong Qian any longer, especially after erasing Nangong Qian’s memory. Keeping Qiuyue around could risk her spilling some of the secrets, which wouldn’t be good for their cause.

As for selling Qiuyue to Jiaye City, Su Liang guessed it was related to her own intentions of sending a message there. Qiao Cong had said Jiaye City was not close, so it probably wasn’t somewhere he would usually go for purchases.

“Miss Su, please be lenient and don’t bear a grudge against this poor servant for any past misdeeds… If I’m sold off, I’ll never be able to come back home in my lifetime…” Now in tears, Qiuyue collapsed on the floor.

Although Su Liang had never had servants herself, she knew their plight in this world. With Qiuyue’s looks, she would either be bought to become a concubine or sold to a brothel. Big households would not buy servants of Qiuyue’s age.

“Get up. I’ll try to talk to Master on your behalf,” Su Liang said. Qiuyue hadn’t committed any serious sins. Even when carrying out Nangong Qian’s plot, she had been forced to go as far as attempting self-harm. It was truly beyond her control.

“Thank you, Miss Su! Thank you!” Qiuyue couldn’t believe Su Liang had agreed to help, and as she crawled back to her feet, crying and laughing with gratitude, she kowtowed three times.

Su Liang spoke indifferently, “You just need to focus on your own tasks and take good care of your lady, whether or not you end up leaving.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll return to my room now,” Qiuyue agreed. She thanked Su Liang once more before leaving, her steps noticeably lighter than before.

…

As the courtyard filled with the aroma of cooked meat, Qiao Cong returned from outside with a live rabbit. He tied the rabbit’s leg to the fence before walking over to Su Liang.

“We’ll do it your way.” Qiao Cong said and walked back to his room without waiting for Su Liang’s response.

Su Liang thought this was for the best. Emotional debts were hard to owe and even harder to repay, and when there were conflicts, it was better to treat it as a transaction.

After lunch, Su Liang called Qiuyue to carry her and Nangong Qian’s meal back to their room.

Su Liang and Qiao Cong sat facing each other in the courtyard as usual.

“I’ll write the letter as soon as possible. Master, when do you plan to go to Jiaye City?” Su Liang asked.

Qiao Cong replied, “Once Qian’er’s condition stabilizes, it will take three days to go there and back.”

“Do you plan to sell Qiuyue off, Master?” Su Liang inquired.

Furrowing his brows, Qiao Cong asked, “What did she tell you?”

At this moment, Qiuyue was eavesdropping at the door, listening attentively.

“Master, she is human too, with parents and family. She hasn’t committed any major wrongdoings,” Su Liang said with a slight sigh.

“She’s just a maid.” Qiao Cong blurted out.

Su Liang knew that this was a deeply ingrained idea, but since she had promised Qiuyue, she would not give up, “Master, people cannot choose their own background. What if Aunt Xiang had been cast out and bought to be a maid? What if my family was destroyed and I narrowly escaped and was sold to a brothel? She is a person, not a horse or a cow to be dealt with at will. I believe in karma in this world, and the different ranks of people are not eternal and unchanging. Just like now, I want to go home as soon as possible, rather than be used and manipulated by someone like Nangong Lin and then have my memory erased.”

Qiao Cong put down his chopsticks, squinted at Su Liang, and after a moment of silence, said, “You are different from that maid. But since you are pleading for her, let her stay.”

In the room, Qiuyue covered her mouth, trying not to cry out loud. It was a good thing that she could stay, and she would eventually leave with Nangong Qian. Otherwise, with no one to escort her and being so far away, she would not dare to go home on her own. But as a mere maid, who would bother to send her back?

“That’s fine. She may not know how, but she can learn. I will tell her not to speak when she shouldn’t,” Su Liang said. Sending Qiuyue away and bringing in another maid might not be any more reliable. Su Liang couldn’t be expected to wait on Nangong Qian all the time.

…

In the afternoon, Qiuyue came to thank Su Liang again, who only reminded her to do her duty, talk less, work harder, and never mention the past to Nangong Qian again.

Qiuyue naturally agreed and promised to repay Su Liang’s kindness.

Later that night, Nangong Qian woke up.

Su Liang was already asleep, so Qiuyue called Qiao Cong to come over.

Qiao Cong watched over Nangong Qian, and after she regained her consciousness, he told her about her identity, their relationship, and how the past was not important and could be forgotten. He advised her to focus on her recovery from now on.

Qiao Cong also mentioned Su Liang, describing her as his disciple, a peer of Nangong Qian, and a divine doctor who was specifically invited to treat her.

Nangong Qian was in poor spirits and soon fell back into a deep sleep.

The next day, Su Liang and Qiao Cong finished building the planned kitchen together. It was made of bamboo, airy and bright, and could keep out the rain. They just had to be careful not to start a fire.

For most of the time, Nangong Qian was sleeping, and since she had forgotten her past, she couldn’t cause trouble.

Qiuyue became more diligent. She carried half a bucket of water instead of a full one, took the initiative to water the plants in the backyard, and even offered to help Su Liang with laundry, but was declined.

Qiuyue suggested she wanted to learn how to cook from Su Liang, who did not refuse, and let her start as an assistant.

In addition to the previous swordsmanship, Qiao Cong taught Su Liang a few more sword techniques.

At first, Su Liang found it difficult, but she soon discovered that they seemed to be derived from the Luoying Swordsmanship, although more intricate and more powerful.

When Su Liang asked Qiao Cong about it, he told her that these were the true ultimate techniques of the Luoying Swordsmanship.

Su Liang asked hesitantly, “Gu Ling doesn’t know these moves. Did Nangong Lin deliberately not teach him, or did Master not teach Nangong Lin?”

Qiao Cong squinted and said, “Apart from me, only you can do it. But you practice so poorly that it’s useless and a waste to teach you.” And with that, he walked away.

Despite his dismissal, Su Liang was delighted. She was just starting and hadn’t mastered the techniques yet, but she believed she would get better with more practice, although perhaps not by too much. Qiao Cong had said earlier that because she started late, she wasn’t suitable for the Luoying Swordsmanship, which required strong inner energy to support. Even if she mastered the techniques, their power would be limited.

However, she could teach Gu Ling! If Gu Ling used them, their full power would be unleashed, and his chances of killing Nangong Lin would be even greater. After all, even Nangong Lin didn’t know these moves.

As for why Qiao Cong didn’t teach Nangong Lin, Su Liang guessed it might be because he knew Nangong Lin’s true nature and didn’t like him, or perhaps Qiao Cong was afraid that if he taught Nangong Lin, his usefulness as a master would be up?

The latter was indeed possible. Su Liang thought that Nangong Lin, who was so arrogant, was willing to let Qiao Cong control him and hadn’t tried to get rid of Qiao Cong because he had a purpose, and it might be to obtain the secret ultimate techniques of the Luoying Swordsmanship.

If Nangong Lin knew that Qiao Cong had taught the techniques he desired to Su Liang, she wondered how he would feel…

Su Liang carefully memorized and practiced the techniques repeatedly. Qiuyue couldn’t help but praise her when she passed by, “Miss Su is truly diligent. No wonder she could become the Martial Arts Champion!”

…

Su Liang had written a letter the day before and handed it to Qiao Cong unsealed, not concerned if he read it because the purpose was just to let her family know she was safe. She wasn’t sure where she was.

Qiao Cong had originally said he would wait until Nangong Qian’s condition stabilized before leaving, but on the day he was preparing to go shopping, he told Su Liang that he was planning to go to Jiaye City for a trip and asked if she needed anything else.

Su Liang thought for a moment and asked Qiao Cong to pay attention to the situation outside and tell her about it when he returned, and to buy some books as well.

Qiao Cong agreed, saying that he wouldn’t be back until tomorrow evening, and asked Su Liang to take care of everything here.

…

Two days later, Qiuyue had her period and felt too weak to move.

Su Liang told her to rest and not do any work.

At mealtime, Qiuyue asked Su Liang if martial artists also felt terrible during this time.

Su Liang replied that they did, but those with strong bodies would have milder symptoms.

“My mother said that after getting married and having children, the pain will be gone…” Qiuyue said with a pale face, “Miss Su, when you get married, your children will definitely be the prettiest in the world.”

Su Liang didn’t pay attention to Qiuyue’s compliments, but suddenly thought of something and froze.

In this world, there was no reliable contraceptive method that wouldn’t harm the body. After consummating their relationship, she and Gu Ling could only use the most direct method to try to prevent pregnancy, but it wasn’t foolproof.

Now she remembered that on the day they found out that the three soldiers had been captured, and the enemy wanted her to exchange them, both she and Gu Ling were in a bad mood. They indulged themselves in “exercise” to relax.

Now that she thought about it, those days were her ovulation period. What if…

But it was still too soon to judge since her next period hadn’t arrived yet. However, once this idea crossed Su Liang’s mind, she couldn’t suppress it and kept thinking about it.

“Miss Su? Miss Su, what’s wrong?” Qiuyue noticed Su Liang’s strange expression and pulled her sleeve.

Su Liang came to her senses and shook her head, “I’m fine.” She then taught Qiuyue how to rub and press acupuncture points to alleviate discomfort.

“It really doesn’t hurt as much, Miss Su is indeed a divine doctor,” Qiuyue said with a sense of discovery.

After dinner, Su Liang returned to her room, closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently touched her flat belly, looking a little dazed, “There couldn’t really be a little god in my stomach, could there…”