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

Yi Chen snapped out of his daze and realized that his disciple's current condition was abnormal.

He had seen Ji Cheng'an go mad and lose control in the Discipline Hall, blurting out his true feelings without restraint. Now that he thought about it, it was probably related to Qiao Yu's Gu worm.

Chu Xianlan is in a similar situation at this moment.

So, because his mind was disturbed by the Gu worm, he blurted out some things he shouldn't have said.

Yi Chen looked at him with a complicated expression.

Everyone else who was poisoned was venting their discontent and obsessions, so why did his disciple... just spout such obscure and cloying things...?

Could it be... that this is the only thing that can be called an obsession for you?

Faced with his disciple's wild and unrestrained ramblings, Yi Chen could only pretend not to hear and continue trying to help the man up.

"Let me finish!"

Chu Xianlan pouted in dissatisfaction and playfully shook off his hand.

"..." Yi Chen felt a slight headache, sighed deeply, and softened his tone, "Listen to me, stop making trouble."

But the soft voice in her ear was still persistent. Chu Xianlan curled her index finger, a gesture that was rather rebellious, and brushed aside Yi Chen's long hair that was scattered on his cheek, gently stroking the outline of the other's eyes.

The slight warmth emanating from his fingertips made Yi Chen's mood even more complicated. He felt uncomfortable all over, as if the heat was contagious to him.

For the first time, the dignified Immortal Lord Jixue felt slighted.

Unfortunately, the disciple is now under a spell and can only talk nonsense. Even if he tries to reprimand him, it's like talking to a brick wall. He just can't bring himself to say the harsh words that are on the tip of his tongue.

But Chu Xianlan's next words struck Yi Chen's heart like a thunderbolt.

The boy tilted his head, his tone both bewildered and curious, "Hmm? Master, why is there a thin line between your eyes...it looks a bit like...a cat? Don't move, let me take another look..."

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Yi Chen felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

His aura instantly turned several degrees colder.

Yi Chen's gaze locked onto Chu Xianlan's bewildered eyes, and he almost immediately realized something.

His half-demon origins are a taboo subject in the world. Although the power of the lunar eclipse stage can affect both demons and half-demons, there is a seal personally placed by the True Man of the Moon within his body, which has never malfunctioned over the years.

Let alone revealing flaws twice in one day, even when the power of the lunar eclipse was at its peak, it would have been impossible for anyone to see through it.

...Could it be that the seal has become loose?

However, the True Man of Pointing to the Moon is currently traveling far and wide, and his whereabouts are difficult to find. The matter of the seal can probably only be confirmed when he returns.

At this moment, Chu Xianlan said earnestly, "It's a little different from usual, but it's really beautiful, like the most expensive, the finest, and the most perfect moonstone."

Yi Chen looked at the boy's pure, unadulterated eyes, like a pool of amber, and was slightly taken aback. The myriad thoughts in his heart gradually calmed down in a strange way.

In the past, he had imagined countless possible reactions from his disciples upon learning his identity.

One can even foresee the utter disillusionment that young man, who wholeheartedly worships Immortal Lord Jixue, will feel upon learning that his revered master is actually a half-demon. Perhaps all his past respect will turn into deep-seated hatred.

But he hadn't anticipated the current situation.

He did not show the slightest fear or disgust that he had expected.

It seemed that in the boy's eyes, the marks that symbolized his alien bloodline were not a symbol of calamity, but a rare and precious treasure.

Fortunately, Chu Xianlan was delirious at the moment, her words were incoherent, and she was not concerned about Yi Chen's eyes at all. Instead, she became agitated.

"Master, you're so good to me! Why are you so good to me? You support me in crafting magical weapons, teach me how to use a sword, even though I'm always causing trouble and giving you a lot of trouble... You're the best master in the world, no one can compare! You're really... really good... handsome!!"

Yi Chen: "…………"

The bright moonlight shone on the slightly stiff face of the white-robed swordsman.

A torrent of compliments poured out of the boy's mouth, and Chu Xianlan's expression was extremely serious, without the slightest hint of deliberate boasting or exaggeration.

But as he spoke, his expression changed, and his bright eyes and brows suddenly drooped, like a listless puppy after being soaked in the rain.

"But you don't know, my dreams are filled with you..."

Yi Chen's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of panic rose within him. He was even afraid to listen to what he was about to say.

"I can't tell anyone about this, I can't tell anyone. Forget it... Even if I did, no one would believe me. They might even think I've gone mad," Chu Xianlan frowned slightly, her tone becoming increasingly dejected. "I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I've tried, tried to change things, tried many methods, but I can't do it. I can only keep it to myself and think about it over and over again."

Yi Chen felt as if his brain was being bombarded by an overwhelming amount of information.

He's all I dream about?

Thinking about it over and over again in my heart?

It's amazing that he could say such things. Chu Xianlan must be really confused, daring to blurt out any nonsense.

They truly have no idea what subtlety is.

Suddenly, a phrase came to mind—"haunting and captivating." Yi Chen's brows furrowed instantly; he simply couldn't bring himself to apply that phrase to the relationship between himself and his disciple.

...Besides, what kind of dream was it?

Knowing that this relationship was ultimately hopeless, he projected all his outrageous fantasies into his dreams.

In Chu Xianlan's dream, what role did his master play? Was he an unattainable phantom, or... an even more unbearable object of fantasy?

Yi Chen originally thought that although his disciple harbored feelings of affection, he at least knew his limits and wasn't so reckless. However, even in his dreams, he couldn't escape these romantic entanglements...

Is this something a proper monk should do?

Thinking of this, Yi Chen felt a mixture of disappointment and anger, and with a sense of frustration, he coldly looked away.

At this moment, Chu Xianlan covered her face, her voice low and hoarse:

"...This is the first time I've encountered something like this. Sometimes I'm afraid, afraid that things in my dreams will come true, because I don't want to see you go against your heart and do things you don't like."

The implication in his words was too obvious. Yi Chen was taken aback and looked back at Chu Xianlan, seeing clearly the pain and struggle on his face, and... understood the deeper meaning behind it.

In fact, Chu Xianlan knew deep down that her thoughts were wrong. It wasn't that she didn't understand, but that she couldn't control herself.

Because it was the first time in his life that he had someone he admired, and that person was his own master, he was at a loss and didn't want to see his dream come true.

Despite yearning to get closer, they are also afraid of the consequences of getting closer. They do not expect a response and prefer to be content with the status quo and maintain the superficial master-disciple relationship.

How contradictory, and how agonizing!

This realization struck Yi Chen as utterly absurd.

...And, it seems rather pitiful.

The subtle displeasure caused by being caught up in romantic fantasies disappeared, replaced by a deeper sense of responsibility.

In just a few words, Yi Chen's expression changed repeatedly, and he himself didn't even notice the rich range of emotions that could appear on his face.

He really didn't know what to do with his disciple.

Yi Chen listened in silence, his gaze deepening slightly, and lowered his voice to ask, "...Do you really know what you're saying?"