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

Chu Xianlan's eyelids were tightly closed, and her fluttering eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings.

His appearance was originally handsome and bright, but now, his fair skin was stained with large patches of crimson. Because of the boy's restlessness, a strand of black hair stuck to the small mole under his eyebrow, and another strand stuck to his lips, which unexpectedly created a moist and seductive beauty that was visually striking.

Yi Chen stared blankly for a moment.

He seemed to be thinking about something, yet also seemed to be thinking about nothing at all.

Unbeknownst to them, their fingertips reached out and brushed away the wet hair that clung to Chu Xianlan's lips.

Perhaps because it was so hot, the boy chased after the coolness the moment his fingers touched his lips, rubbing them together.

Yi Chen's wrist trembled, his brain was electrified, and his pupils rapidly contracted to the size of pinholes.

The overwhelming sensation traveled from my fingertips straight to my heart.

Then, just like last time when he examined the wound on the tip of his disciple's tongue in Youxin Valley, his fingers, out of control, probed in again.

An even stronger aroma filled the surroundings than before.

Chu Xianlan instinctively disliked this intrusive feeling, finding it both irritating and strange. Even though she was not fully conscious, she tried to turn her face away and push the finger out, resisting this unreasonable manipulation.

"No... Waaah..."

Because of his disciple's subconscious resistance, Yi Chen's heart sank a little, and a sense of displeasure quietly arose, causing the spiritual mark between his brows to dim.

—Disobedient.

...Didn't you keep saying you liked me?

He was clearly captivated by her, and had even secretly prepared such an exquisite magical artifact, practically making his pursuit and affection public. Since he liked her and was so attached to her, why did he refuse her?

Besides me, who else can save you now?

If Chu Xianlan doesn't look for her, who else would she look for?

Even if it was just a fleeting hypothetical scenario, the thought of Chu Xianlan's fragile and unbearable appearance possibly being seen by someone other than himself filled Yi Chen with overwhelming indignation.

The fierce divine sense of the Nascent Soul stage cultivator swept across the entire Jade Capital Pavilion like an invisible giant wave. The creatures on the back mountain trembled in fear, hiding in their nests and not daring to peek out. Even the two spirits of heaven and earth in the courtyard were shaken out.

Only after thoroughly surveying the territory and confirming that there was no one else in the Jade Capital Pavilion did Yi Chen lower his eyes slightly, his gaze darkening as he looked down at the person in his arms.

His disciples should be disciplined by him, and he should be the one to solve all their problems.

Just like before.

There is only each other, and no one else.

Over there, Chu Xianlan struggled for a long time, but it didn't help at all; instead, she felt even more uncomfortable.

His meridians were already aching from the Gu worms, and his mind was a complete mess. There was a reassuring presence in front of him, but instead of finding relief, he was being bullied even more.

Instinct compels him to rely on this person, yet deep down he feels a fear of this out-of-control oppression.

On what grounds?

Why should I be suppressed and manipulated? He hasn't done anything wrong, so why is he being treated like this?

An inexplicable sense of grievance welled up in my heart.

The pent-up resentment finally erupted, and Chu Xianlan gritted her teeth with all her might!

Almost simultaneously, warm tears suddenly rolled down, burning the scarred skin. The boy's tears were like a shocking whip, striking the other person's taut nerves.

Yi Chen then came to his senses and stared blankly at the other person.

The darkness in his eyes, along with the overwhelming desire for control in his heart, quickly faded away, and his dark pupils returned to their usual state.

No...that's not right.

What am I doing right now?

Fear and self-loathing mingled in Yi Chen's heart. He couldn't understand why he had followed the guidance of the Entangling Fate Gu. His thoughts and actions were inexplicable.

He even...enjoyed the feeling of having his disciples completely under his control.

Yi Chen vaguely felt that the answer behind this was something he couldn't bear at the moment, nor dared to delve into.

"Don't cry."

He wiped away Chu Xianlan's tears, gently pulled her into his arms, and comforted her with a mix of helplessness and heartache.

"It's all my fault, don't cry, Xianlan."

Chu Xianlan was in excruciating pain, but the familiar tone of voice brought her back to her senses, and she slightly opened her eyelids.

His vision was blurry and he couldn't see clearly. What he saw in front of him was his master's self-reproachful eyes, not the villain who had just been tormenting him.

"Master..." Chu Xianlan felt a little relieved and snuggled closer into his arms, murmuring softly in a dependent manner.

"...Mm." Yi Chen responded softly, his palm reaching around the boy's back to pat him gently in reassurance, "Your master is here."

The dual cultivation techniques mentioned by the cultivators are divided into two types.

One is physical contact, and the other is the fusion of consciousness.

The effectiveness of the former depends on the method of contact. The most basic method is to clasp hands together, which is exactly the method Xie Qingying suggested for the master and disciple to alleviate the effects of the Entangling Life Gu.

But now, this method no longer works, so Yi Chen has to choose another way.

Open any dual cultivation manual in the world, no matter how different and complex the schools may be, and on the second page after the basic introduction, a more effective method will be mentioned—

Their lips and teeth touched, their breaths mingled.

It goes a step further than simple physical contact, and its effects are naturally more significant.

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes, his gaze deep, settling on his disciple's slightly parted lips.

Want to give it a try?

He kept reminding himself that he was only doing this to alleviate the effects of the Life-Binding Gu, and that it didn't have any special meaning.

Anyway... it's not the first time...

A hand covered in old scars gently lifted the boy's chin, with careful restraint.

Yi Chen hesitated for a moment, then pursed his lips and slowly lowered his body to get closer to Chu Xianlan.

A pale, icy blue light swept across the room, as if to bury some unspoken secret, and the previously flickering warm candlelight all went out at the same time.

The distance is getting shorter.

Yi Chen was extremely nervous, yet also seemed to have a faint sense of... anticipation.

This kind of thing... the first two times it happened, it was when Chu Xianlan took the initiative. From birth until now... he has never done it before...

Like this moment, while still sober and rational, one would actively approach someone, intending to make such an intimate gesture.

Not to mention, the other party was... his apprentice whom he had personally raised.

The boy's rich fragrance and warm breath were like a silent invitation.

In the boundless darkness, sight is completely deprived, and other senses become incredibly acute.

Chu Xianlan seemed to sense an unusual atmosphere as well. The other person's hot breath brushed against her lips, and she felt a sharp prick in her head from a sense of danger!

……and many more.

This situation! This feeling!!

It was only with great difficulty that he finally emerged from that awkward situation and everything returned to normal. His master was so kind; he even came to pick him up and bring him sweet cakes. He couldn't let something like that happen again!

Master's innocence... No... Absolutely not!

Chu Xianlan, drawing strength from who-knows-where, suddenly grabbed Yi Chen's wrist, panting anxiously, and cried out, "Master! Dual cultivation of spiritual sense! Yes, we can cultivate dual spiritual sense!!"

Yi Chen: "..."