When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

No matter how urgently Hua Ling tried to probe, Chu Xianlan refused to answer.

Hua Ling grumbled disdainfully, "Wooden stump, bark block, hollow bamboo."

Where do all these plant-based insults come from?

Chu Xianlan ignored her, she was in a state of confusion herself, how could she explain it clearly? Recalling her master's actions just now, her lips were tingling.

That audacious and rebellious disciple from yesterday is not him anymore.

Compared to his panic, his master seemed to take it all for granted.

Chu Xianlan didn't know how to describe the change in Yi Chen. His master still looked perfect and calm, but he still felt that... his master now was really hard for him to adapt to.

It doesn't seem real.

In Chu Xianlan's less than twenty years of life, when his understanding of love was shallow, even nonexistent, the person he admired and cherished most in his life suddenly said to him...

like.

He suddenly recalled the spears, swords, and halberds he had seen in the Thousand Refinement Hall when he was a child. Some were as clear as autumn water, some as cold as frost, and some as graceful as drifting clouds. He examined them carefully and found that each one was beautiful. But when they fell into his hands, they became broken copper and scrap iron, pearls covered in dust, and dull and without luster.

He once thought he would never wield a sword.

but it is not the truth.

Yi Chen told him that the sword that belonged to him had been in his hand for a very, very long time.

Like the moon rising above the branches, its gentle light filling my sleeves. Like a startled swan from beyond the heavens, its brilliance undiminished.

Chu Xianlan looked down at her palm.

He hadn't quite sorted out his thoughts yet, but he knew that if those intimate gestures happened to someone else, he would definitely resist and avoid them.

But if it's Master—

Some things, even just a brief recollection, made Chu Xianlan feel terrible. It seemed that, ever since her master first lost control and kissed her, aside from being frightened, she had never truly refused... Could it be that, in fact, she also quite enjoyed being close to her master?

Ah! How frivolous I am.

My head is spinning, and I'm thinking of making a jade pendant for my master again.

Make one... two... or maybe just make three hundred and sixty-five. A different one every day of the year. Categorize them by material, by style, by function—a dazzling array, changing them daily, so that Master can wear something he made himself every day...

Chu Xianlan shuddered.

No, giving away magical artifacts is clearly a way for artifact cultivators to woo their partners!

What is the relationship between him and his master now...?

Master didn't bring up the topic of "becoming Daoist partners" again, and he hadn't said he "liked" her yet, so he was too embarrassed to ask. Uh, it seemed like nothing really happened yet, and the two of them were just hanging on like this, in a state of ambiguity...

Continue making jade pendants under these circumstances—

Ahhh, Chu Xianlan, aren't you even more frivolous then?!

Yi Chen looked down at him and saw that his disciple's face was flushed and he seemed to be thinking about something.

He sighed inwardly, but was in a good mood.

Chu Xianlan had been looking like this ever since she left home.

All their thoughts were written on their faces, their gazes were undisguised, they would stare and then blush, then continue staring, completely unaware of their own behavior.

Yi Chen knew his disciple was always thin-skinned. He would definitely find it hard to accept what happened last night after he sobered up.

He had thought that since he already knew what his disciple was thinking, he had no worries, and the change in their relationship was... not something to rush.

Try to be more restrained, take it slow, and give him time to adapt.

Who knew that Chu Xianlan's reaction after waking up was even more unexpected...

cute.

Yi Chen was soft-hearted, and before leaving, he couldn't help but touch Chu Xianlan's face. The touch was warm and soft. Although he had stayed by Chu Xianlan's side all night, seeing the expression that instantly brightened because of him, he couldn't help but... restrain himself and get close to him.

Then Chu Xianlan was dumbfounded.

It hasn't recovered yet.

Come to think of it, he was the culprit. With that thought, Yi Chen's gaze fell, just as Chu Xianlan looked over, and their eyes met.

"!"

"..."

The atmosphere was strangely odd.

Yan Ling couldn't take it anymore, goosebumps rising all over her body, and she complained, "Hey, can you two be normal for once... ugh!"

"No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!" Hua Ling was enjoying the show when she suddenly covered his mouth.

"Xianglan," Yichen spoke first.

"Uh-huh?"

Chu Xianlan pulled her mind back to reality from the heights of her imagination.

"Once you advance to the Nascent Soul stage, we will leave this place."

Chu Xianlan processed those words, quickened her pace, and asked, "Master, you don't plan to stay in Peach Blossom Spring anymore?"

"Um."

"What! Are we finally leaving?!" Yan Ling responded enthusiastically.

After a few days of partying, he's pretty much tired of it all.

Yi Chen nodded. Hiding in Peach Blossom Spring was not a long-term solution. He had already made plans to investigate the mystery of his disciple's origins.

With their cultivation levels, it wouldn't be difficult for them to conceal their identities and appearances when traveling outside. Chu Xianlan is currently at the half-step Nascent Soul stage, and once her cultivation level is stabilized, she will have an extra layer of protection.

"But what about the kill orders from the outside world..."

Yi Chen said calmly, "Just kill one who comes."

The humiliation of being exposed in his true form by the Thousand-Frozen Iron that day has vanished. No matter how many times the world changes, the mortal immortal remains a towering mountain that people look up to.

Because Yi Chen still had some matters to discuss with Wei Jin, the two arrived at Xiao Huandu's residence. Chu Xianlan came back to her senses, shook her head, and was startled by the wine jars and shards scattered all over the ground.

The courtyard was so messy that there was nowhere to step.

What's going on? Junior Uncle has completely gone mad, drunkenly destroying Peach Blossom Spring?

"—Xiao Huandu!"

He called out from outside.

no response.

Chu Xianlan had some complaints about his brother, thinking to himself, "This fellow can't possibly wake up later than me, a person with a hangover," and immediately stepped into the courtyard.

Yi Chen grabbed him, "Wait a minute."

Inside the room, Xiao Huandu slowly opened his eyes.

A delicate fragrance lingers around the nose.

When he saw the scene before him clearly, his expression vanished almost instantly.

The morning light cast dappled shadows, and through the thin gauze curtains, a tall, slender figure stood before him.

The person was facing away from the bed and was not wearing anything on their upper body.

Her smooth, fair back was like a piece of fine, white jade, exposed to the air.

Her long, jet-black hair was like silk, with the ends falling just to her waist. Looking further down, a white undergarment hung loosely around her tight, narrow waist, but the garment was positioned very low, fully revealing the beautiful, barely visible indentation below her waist.

Xiao Huandu's eyes were fixed.

The other person did not turn around.

Even if he were reduced to ashes, Xiao Huandu would still recognize who he was.