Chu Xianning’s eyelashes slightly lifted.
Jiang Huai’s agreement was too easy, making it hard for her to not suspect he was hiding some ulterior motives. However, words once spoken could not be taken back, and it was too late to regret.
“Does Master’s movement technique have a mental cultivation method?” Jiang Huai innocently blinked at Chu Xianning.
“You…”
Chu Xianning’s words ultimately went unspoken. She gave Jiang Huai a deep look and finally walked towards the room. When she reappeared, she held a sheepskin scroll in her hand.
Jiang Huai took the sheepskin scroll, feeling as if he had gained a treasure. He had already secretly learned sixty percent of Chu Xianning’s movement technique. Now that he had the mental cultivation method, his winning chance naturally increased by another twenty percent. This was Chu Xianning; even when she knew it was wrong, she still ensured absolute fairness.
Only he constantly schemed with despicable and dark tricks to bully his Master.
***
Jiang Huai began to diligently comprehend the mental cultivation method in the courtyard.
The movement technique Chu Xianning used was called Flowing Wind Returning Snow. The mental cultivation method was not too difficult, and Jiang Huai quickly mastered it. Sitting in the pavilion and watching him practice the movement technique over and over, Chu Xianning gradually felt a trace of unease in her heart.
The only solace she could find was that she had proposed to fight Jiang Huai with her cultivation level of Void Refining first layer. Even if Jiang Huai’s Overlord Art was powerful and domineering, he had only cultivated it to the fifth layer. Relying solely on physical strength, he could contend with Spirit Transformation tenth layer, but without spiritual qi, he would exhaust himself before long.
She watched silently, and Jiang Huai occasionally asked her a few questions about the details of the movement technique. Despite a slight reluctance, she still answered them seriously.
The sun blazed in the sky. The master and disciple were thus comprehending the Dao and cultivating in the courtyard until the sky gradually darkened.
***
The courtyard was bathed in a soft glow.
Chu Xianning emerged after bathing, wearing a white silk nightgown, her collarbone dusted with moonlight.
Jiang Huai was already seated in the pavilion. The table was laid with small snacks to accompany the wine, and in the wine pot beside it was the Spring Autumn wine he had obtained from Sect Master Li Qiushan, a full pot.
Jiang Huai had never tasted this wine before. He had only heard Li Qiushan say that it was extremely potent and its spiritual qi could not be dispelled by half. As Chu Xianning sat opposite him, he raised the wine pot. Chu Xianning bit her lips lightly and whispered, “Pour a little less.”
“Hmm?”
“Spring Autumn wine is extremely potent; drinking too much… is not good.”
Jiang Huai obediently listened to Chu Xianning, pouring half a cup for himself and half a cup for Chu Xianning. There was still plenty left in the pot. Jiang Huai raised his wine cup and blinked at Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning raised her cup and took a small sip, her snow-white cheeks flushing with a rosy hue.
Jiang Huai took just a small sip and immediately felt as if a line from the tip of his tongue to his lower abdomen was burning. He hastily drank a mouthful of clear tea to suppress the burning sensation somewhat. The entire pavilion was now filled with a strong wine aroma, mingling with the faint fragrance from Chu Xianning. Within a few breaths, Jiang Huai vaguely felt a hint of intoxication.
It was indeed potent.
Chu Xianning looked at her wine cup, resting her elbow on the table, her fair and tender jade hand gently cupping her cheek. Her palm felt the heat instantly burning on her cheeks. She had drunk Spring Autumn wine before at Li Qiushan’s banquet; one cup had been her limit, after which she had returned to her courtyard and fallen asleep. But over the years, her alcohol tolerance seemed to have decreased. She had merely taken a small sip, yet her vision seemed to be becoming hazy.
“Where did you go wandering last night?” Chu Xianning suddenly asked.
Jiang Huai was startled. Before he could answer, he saw Chu Xianning lower her head slightly and mutter very, very softly, “You came back so late.”
“I went to accompany Wanwan. How did Master know I came back late?”
Jiang Huai looked up, but Chu Xianning did not raise her eyes. She just replied softly, “I drank too much and tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It took a long time before I faintly heard your footsteps.”
“Is that so…” Jiang Huai understood. “Then if Master still can’t sleep tonight, shall I tell stories to help Master sleep?”
“Do you take me for a child?”
“It’s better than tossing and turning with distracting thoughts, isn’t it?”
But as soon as Jiang Huai finished speaking, his Master’s fair and tender little leg under the table gently kicked towards him. “I am not having distracting thoughts.”
The drunk Chu Xianning was exceptionally cute.
“This gamble… did you deliberately trick me again?” Chu Xianning suddenly asked softly.
“Yes, yes,” Jiang Huai answered with utmost honesty.
“On what basis do you think you will definitely… win?”
“Master will know when the time comes.”
Chu Xianning pouted slightly, still looking down at the wine cup on the table, unwilling to look up at Jiang Huai. She continued to ask, “Then… if you win, what do you want to do?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“I am your Master; you… cannot think of anything too excessive.”
“But since Master promised me that whatever I do within five breaths will be considered as if it never happened, then I naturally cannot treat Master as Master at this time.”
Chu Xianning raised her head, her face flushed with shyness and annoyance. Looking at Jiang Huai’s feigned innocence, she couldn’t help but lift her leg from under the table and kick him again, muttering under her breath, “You scoundrel.”
However, this time, Jiang Huai seemed prepared. He gently grabbed her slender ankle again, his fingertips touching her smooth and tender foot sole. Her skin was as delicate as white jade cream, faintly cool to the touch.
“You… tell me now… what do you want to do?”
“No, no. If Master is prepared in her heart, it will be much less fun.”
Chu Xianning’s other leg also lifted and kicked him again. But as she kicked the second time, it was also caught by Jiang Huai. This time, his Master’s jade-like feet were placed entirely on his legs. He had no desire to drink anymore; he just wanted to continue pinching and rubbing.
“You only know how to… bully me.” Chu Xianning’s eyes locked onto him. As if seeking revenge, she raised her head, picked up the wine cup in her hand, and looked at Jiang Huai in front of her. “Drink it… all.”
Jiang Huai had to use one hand to pick up the wine cup and drain the remaining wine in one gulp. Instantly, his body felt like it was burning like fire. Chu Xianning’s cheeks flushed even more deeply, and her eyes quickly became hazy.
However, Jiang Huai did not expect that Chu Xianning did not retract her legs when he raised his hand. Both of her fair and tender jade feet were still obediently resting on his legs, as if waiting for him to play with them. Jiang Huai lowered his head slightly, watching her slender and petite toes curl slightly. He couldn’t help but pry them open one by one, playing with them to his heart’s content. Chu Xianning finally reacted, pushing her leg forward in dissatisfaction, and her toes poked his lower abdomen.
“It hurts,” Jiang Huai cried out pitifully.
“That’s what you deserve.”
So Jiang Huai began to retaliate by kneading the acupoints on Chu Xianning’s smooth and slippery soles. Chu Xianning’s waist straightened slightly, but she surprisingly did not retract her legs. Jiang Huai felt a strange surprise in his heart.
“You… bullied me like this… the bet… you can’t… bully me anymore…” Chu Xianning’s voice trembled slightly.
“Then I won’t bully you anymore.” Jiang Huai immediately withdrew his hands as a sign of innocence.
Shyness and annoyance surged through Chu Xianning. She retracted her legs beneath the skirt hem. But this time, her fair and tender little feet moved closer and stomped hard on Jiang Huai’s foot. Jiang Huai gasped in pain and looked at Chu Xianning in front of him. “Do you want to drink half a cup more? This pot seems like it can last for two more days.”
“No… I can’t drink too much today. I have to go out tomorrow…”
Jiang Huai was stunned for a moment, then realized that a month had passed since Chu Xianning last dealt with the drawbacks of the Flower Spirit Physique. This time, his Master was going to the secret chamber at the foot of the mountain again. But when he thought of that scene, Jiang Huai felt his blood surge and become difficult to calm.
Perhaps it was due to the effects of the wine, but he became audaciously bold. “Master, how do you usually quell the desires of the Flower Spirit Physique in the secret chamber?”
Chu Xianning was stunned. After a few seconds, she turned her face away and replied guiltily, “Silently recite the Heart Clearing Incantation and circulate spiritual qi to suppress the blood.”
“Just like that?” Jiang Huai blinked innocently.
“Just like that!” Chu Xianning’s tone became slightly more hurried.
But Jiang Huai’s mind was filled with fantasies of his Master lying alone on the bed, gently caressing herself with her fingertips. For someone as aloof as Chu Xianning, what would it be like when she pleasured herself? Jiang Huai’s head started to spin, and even his breathing became rapid.
“What are you thinking about?!” Chu Xianning seemed to sense his change. She picked up the chopsticks from the table and knocked lightly on Jiang Huai’s head, bringing him back to his senses. The guilty Jiang Huai naturally dared not agree. “Nothing, I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
“It’s not… what you’re thinking.” Chu Xianning couldn’t help but explain again.
“Mm, I believe Master. Chu Xianning never lies,” Jiang Huai nodded innocently again.
But these words sounded somewhat sarcastic to Chu Xianning’s ears. However, the more shy and annoyed she became now, the more it seemed to confirm Jiang Huai’s guess. Chu Xianning felt a sense of inexplicable grievance in her heart.
Chu Xianning turned her face away, unwilling to look at Jiang Huai anymore.
“Did the pill for clearing the heart last time have any effect, Master?” Jiang Huai suddenly asked softly.
“Yes,” Chu Xianning replied coldly, seeming unwilling to engage with him.
“The spirit herbs used for refining medicine last time were too young, so their efficacy was not great. After the Moon Wave Continent Grand Competition ends in a few days, I will go to Ziyun Pavilion. I will find some spirit herbs with good efficacy then. After refining them next month, it should alleviate many, many of Master’s troubles.”
“Oh,” Chu Xianning stood up.
“Where is Master going?”
“To bathe.”
“Did you just finish bathing?”
“None of your business.” Chu Xianning turned and walked towards the bathhouse. After a few steps, she glanced back at Jiang Huai and warned, “No… peeking.”
Jiang Huai had no choice but to wait silently outside the bathhouse. After a while, Chu Xianning emerged from the bath. She was only wearing a white bathrobe, the belt at her waist tied tightly. However, the collar in the front had parted slightly, revealing a small patch of fair and tender skin. Jiang Huai only intended to steal a glance but found he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Normally, Chu Xianning’s dresses were exceptionally dignified and proper, leaving no opportunity to glimpse any of her skin. Even though he knew that stealing another glance would likely result in Chu Xianning beating him severely, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but look for a little longer. Just as Jiang Huai was prepared to face her wrath and looked towards Chu Xianning’s face, he realized she was just lowering her head, her eyes cast down, seeming to be unable to stand steadily.
He came to Chu Xianning’s side, gently supported her slender shoulders, and led her towards the room.
