In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

Xu Shi smiled and stopped teasing her. "I know you're filial to your master. Your medicine is very effective. Thank you."

"……Really?!"

Pan Ling burst into laughter through her tears and fawned over him, "Then shall I brew some more for Master?"

Then I fed it to my master myself...

Actually, she had done this before when Xu Shi was unconscious, but the other person was not conscious at the time and didn't feel anything except for getting a good look at her master's good figure...

Seeing her master standing before her, full of energy again, the little lewd girl couldn't help but let her imagination run wild once more.

"No need for that, you're all better now, why take any medicine?"

Xu Shi waved his hand and pointed behind him, "Why don't you come over and give your teacher a shoulder massage?"

"Okay...no, I won't come."

The foolish apprentice snapped out of his daze, blushing and shaking his head rapidly.

"Ok?"

Xu Shi frowned. Had this little brat gone too far?

"Pinching is fine, but Master has to answer one question for me."

Pan Ling asked earnestly, "Could you tell me... what exactly happened to my junior sister?"

Despite being busy these past few days, she hadn't forgotten a thing about what happened during the battle against the Sea God. After returning, she and her sister pestered Xia Ke'an to ask her about it several times, but each time the other pretended to be ignorant and fooled her.

Xu Shi raised an eyebrow, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

It turns out the silly apprentice didn't rebel against the teachings, but rather grew more capable... He actually knew how to use the opportunity to negotiate with his master?

It's a small matter, but it shows that she has grown. She no longer just passively accepts the tyranny of her bad master... That's good.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

"Then stop pinching. Come on, let's have our good daughter do it."

He wasn't buying it, and immediately ignored the other person, turning to greet Xia Ke'an instead.

The old lady rolled her eyes at him and said, "What great thing have you done that you need someone to massage you?"

But even though she said that, she knew what Xu Shi'an was thinking, so she readily agreed to the request.

"Hey?"

Seeing this scene of fatherly love and filial piety, Pan Ling was stunned and stood there at a loss.

How could this happen?

"...Silly apprentice, the premise of negotiating terms is that you need to have equivalent bargaining chips, okay?"

Xu Shi smiled and looked at her, saying, "I don't necessarily expect you to do anything, so of course you're useless doing this."

"Hmm... I know."

Having her little scheme exposed, Xiaoling lowered her head.

"However, the idea is still good and deserves praise."

Xu Shi wasn't really trying to make things difficult for her, so he quickly changed the subject, "Come on, give your master a good shoulder massage. I'll tell you when I feel better."

"Yes."

Pan Ling dared not refuse, so she obediently went over and carefully began to massage the wicked masseur.

As I massaged her, her face turned red again. I had secretly peeked a few times before, but I was too embarrassed to touch her. I didn't expect my master to have such a great figure; I could feel it even through her clothes...

"That's right."

Xu Shi thoroughly enjoyed it. The little girl's slender hands were soft and delicate, and he could sense a hint of shyness in her movements. The effect of relieving fatigue might not be very strong, but it was definitely comfortable.

Isn't the whole point of taking on apprentices to enjoy this kind of treatment?! (Shouting)

So he stopped teasing the two sisters and said leisurely with his eyes closed, "Your junior sister is indeed a very powerful 'Chosen One,' in terms of level... she's on par with Cheng Gu Jian."

"...Really?!"

Upon hearing this, both Feng and Ling were stunned.

Having witnessed her unleash her power, it's impossible for the two of them to have been completely oblivious. However, given their low level and unclear perception, they couldn't possibly have imagined it.

Grand Duke Gu Jian! Everyone knows he's terrifyingly strong in terms of ability alone. Within the entire empire, perhaps only the Pope of the Holy See can rival him. Who would have thought that Xia Ke'an, who spends her days playing and frolicking with them, is actually at this level?!

But when Pan Ling tried to ask something else, Xu Shi chose to remain silent.

The meaning is clear. That's all I can tell you. Figure it out yourself.

Ugh, what a bad master...

"So you're this amazing, Junior Sister?"

Pan Feng, being more straightforward, was mostly shocked, and when he looked at Xia Ke'an again, his eyes even held a hint of admiration.

This is simply a case of admiring strength. It's obvious the white-haired loli isn't a combat type, but whatever her type, being on par with Cheng Gujian is already quite remarkable, right?! Originally, she called Xia Ke'an "Junior Sister" out of playfulness, but now it's from the bottom of her heart…

The older woman was a little unhappy, not because of anything else, but because the bad father was treating her like a mere tool!

I knew you'd rather have your apprentice massage your shoulders... Tch.

But upon hearing this, her displeasure vanished instantly. She put her hands on her hips smugly and said triumphantly, "Hmph, of course!"

It's clear that some people have perfectly integrated into the "children" stage; their speech and actions are full of childlike innocence...

"Shocked as you may be, don't stop what you're doing!"

Xu Shi reached out and patted Pan Ling, "Go check on your teachers' wives later... and..."

"Ok?"

"Do you have any history books about the Hualan Empire? Get me a set; I want to study them carefully."

……

the other side.

When Xie Qingyan found Xia Wuyou and Jiang Chengcheng, the two of them were already waiting for her.

They knew in their hearts, could they really be sleeping with her forever? Some things needed to be clarified sooner or later.

"You came?"

"I am coming."

"You shouldn't have come."

Why shouldn't I be here?

Xie Qingyan was speechless at the question; what a strange turn of events.

"You...you shouldn't have come."

The person who asked the question was Xia Wuyou, who was also momentarily speechless upon hearing this counter-question.

I found it interesting when Xu Shi asked me that question a long time ago, so I just used it. But now it seems that it didn't work well. It didn't have the desired deterrent effect. Instead, it made the air more awkward and strangely funny.

"Because you hate me?"

The fiancée, however, was quite frank and asked directly.

Hey?

Xia Wuyou was dumbfounded. How could it unfold so directly? Why don't you take a few detours first?

"Actually, it's not that... okay, you're right."

But since the other party had asked, she thought it wouldn't be right to beat around the bush anymore, so she simply admitted it openly, "I do dislike you a little... you know that, right?"

"Of course I do."

Xie Qingyan wasn't angry; she just smiled self-deprecatingly. "After all, I did think about harming Xu Shi before. You all care about him, so it's normal for you to dislike me."

The self-deprecation was tinged with bitterness, because if things hadn't turned out this way, she would definitely be Xu Shi's rightful wife, instead of being overtaken by countless others and unable to even find a place for herself... But it was all her own doing, and she could only bear the bitter consequences herself.

However, despite this, there was little regret in her tone. What's done is done, and she hadn't taken their engagement seriously back then. What could she change by bringing up the past now?

Even if they hadn't reconciled, at most it would have been temporary regret, and wouldn't have really made her despondent and turn her into a whiny, resentful woman.

So she is very honest, that's just her personality.

Xia Xiaomao remained silent, listening quietly as she continued.

“But that was before. Now that Xu Shi and I have reconciled, I don’t want things to be too awkward between us.”

Xie Qingyan composed herself and said calmly, "I don't need your approval, but at the very least... let's keep to ourselves?"

Xia Wuyou hesitated, completely unprepared for her to say such a thing.

Just as she herself said, Xia Xiaomao really didn't like Xie Qingyan. Her earlier words in a moment of panic, "You're just blinded by that woman Xie Qingyan," were the best evidence. In her heart, the other party had always been a bad woman, and she was even wary of her.

Or perhaps it's just her cat-like nature at work; she gets upset when someone else shares the profits.

However, the other party's attitude took her by surprise, forcing her to re-examine the relationship between the other party and Xu Shi.

She was willing to die for Xu Shi back then, right? Judging from this, Xie Qingyan's words were definitely not false, and her appearance didn't seem like she was lying at all.

She also knew the other person's personality. For Xie Qingyan, who was proud and arrogant, to say such a thing was already a sign of lowering her stance, a very, very low one.

This humble stance isn't for you, Xia Wuyou, but rather a concession made out of genuine concern for Xu Shi.

Thinking about it this way, Xia Wuyou's hostility lessened considerably. Besides, to be fair, the other party was actually her benefactor; without her help, her aunt might not have made it through...

"Well, there's no need to say that..."

She thought for a long time before stammering, "Then, from now on I'll call you Sister Qingyan?"

Being addressed as "elder sister" doesn't mean she has to be subservient; it's just a common way of determining seniority.

But her attitude was self-evident; the momentum she had painstakingly built up was easily and completely undermined by a few words from the other party.

She didn't want to put Xu Shi in a difficult position either; even if they kept to themselves, it wouldn't look good... In fact, she thought it was quite cool that he could say that, and she admired him quite a bit.

Let's leave it at that then. Consider it repaying her for saving her aunt...

"Okay, Worry-free sister."

Xie Qingyan's brows relaxed upon hearing this, clearly satisfied with the answer.