**Chapter 708: Not So Annoying After All**
Early morning, in the courtyard.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard had become particularly subtle.
Fang Moye wore a gorgeous purple dress; the hem was long, and her posture was dignified, but her cheeks were incredibly flushed.
Chu Xianning, clad in a white Daoist robe, silently sipped her tea, saying nothing.
Jiang Huai innocently sat there, feeling completely guilty, as he believed he was innocent.
Chu Xianning, either forced or simply compelled to awaken, leaned against the bedside, watching a delicate drama unfold—her disciple bullying her master. It was the first time she had seen her master in bed, looking so degraded, so unrestrained, so… pleased.
Yes, Chu Xianning could feel it. At the very least, Fang Moye was indeed very happy.
Or rather, after reaching the limit of her shame under Fang Moye’s gaze, Fang Moye’s embarrassment collapsed entirely, and instead, she actively embraced Jiang Huai, kissing him so passionately that her drool fell upon her collarbone.
That was Fang Moye’s nature; when her shame reached its peak, she would resort to letting go of her dignity as a means of escape.
“So, Master, if you never intended to cultivate your heart, you could have just told me directly,” Chu Xianning said, gazing at Fang Moye before her.
Now, it was Fang Moye who appeared to be the reprimanded one. She hesitated for a long moment before gently nodding and then lowered her head to look at her toes beneath her dress, afraid to raise her gaze again.
“You’re not allowed to laugh.” Chu Xianning shot a glance at the amused Jiang Huai and splashed tea on his face. “Since Master has set a soundproof formation, intentionally unraveling it just to watch me laugh at Master?”
Jiang Huai silently took out a handkerchief to wipe his face, stifling his laughter as he helplessly replied, “I just wanted Master to hear it directly. Otherwise, if I were to report to Master, what if you didn’t believe me?”
Chu Xianning shot him a sidelong glance and huffed coldly, “Your little schemes won’t escape my notice.”
Jiang Huai suddenly felt a bit guilty.
He had indeed unraveled the soundproof barrier partly because he wanted to see Chu Xianning’s reaction, to witness her when she felt both humiliated and angered, at a loss for what to do. He thought that at this moment, she would look especially cute, much like peach blossoms blooming in spring, fragrant and delightful.
“The month will soon pass, and then… I will take good care of you,” Chu Xianning snorted, casting a proud glance at him.
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but harbor thoughts of his own.
What method did Chu Xianning have of dealing with him on the bed? The greatest punishment was simply to remain seated on him without moving, not allowing him to stir at all, just tightening her grip on him. Jiang Huai had pretended to beg for mercy from Chu Xianning, making her think it was a severe punishment.
But in reality, it was quite the opposite.
“Smile?”
Chu Xianning pulled out a long whip.
Jiang Huai immediately wiped his grin off his face, but his thoughts could not help but wander—what else could Chu Xianning do to punish him?
Chu Xianning looked at Jiang Huai, who struggled to contain a smile, a hint of melancholy surfacing in her dark eyes.
She had only habitually warned and intimidated Jiang Huai, but when it came to genuinely considering how to deal with him, she found herself at a loss. It seemed that no matter what she did, it was a reward for him. Even if she demanded he seriously lick her feet, he would likely accept with joy.
Just as she was pondering this, the door to the courtyard suddenly opened. In an instant, Chu Xianning recognized it was Luo Yueguan, as only she would enter unannounced. Today, Luo Yueguan was dressed in a black qipao that accentuated her alluring figure, paired with a small shawl and dark high heels, a smile gracing her lips.
However, upon seeing the peculiar expressions on the faces of the three in the courtyard, Luo Yueguan blinked in curiosity. “What’s going on here?”
“Just chatting,” Chu Xianning replied coolly, casting a warning glance at Jiang Huai.
Perhaps what happened this morning was something Chu Xianning preferred to keep within their family. Jiang Huai obediently fell silent as Luo Yueguan cheerfully approached him, “What? Did you anger your master again?”
“No, no, no! How could I? I would never make Master angry,” Jiang Huai hurriedly answered.
Luo Yueguan turned her gaze toward Fang Moye, and upon noticing the rosy blush on her cheeks and the hint of flirtation in her eyes, she suddenly paused, then chuckled playfully, “Hmm? Did Fairy Moye just get… a little nourishment?”
As a fellow woman, she could easily see Fang Moye’s current state. Luo Yueguan thought the three of them were outrageous, engaging in such mischief so early in the morning. But upon glancing at Chu Xianning, she realized she seemed perfectly normal. Thus, she puzzled over it and conjectured, “Could it be that you and the Ancestral Master were cultivating, making your master jealous?”
Jiang Huai stood up and pulled Luo Yueguan into his embrace, then held his hand over her mouth to silence her.
Luo Yueguan’s eyes darkened momentarily.
“Isn’t it enough to stop talking?” After some stammering, Jiang Huai finally released his grip, only to hear her pout, “I want to eat glutinous rice cake wrapped in lotus leaves.”
“I’ll make it for you later. Be good.”
“Shouldn’t you be coming to me tonight?” Luo Yueguan huffed softly, her tone somewhat playful.
Indeed, Jiang Huai thought he should treat Auntie Luo well.
But in the next moment, Luo Yueguan licked her lips, looking at Fang Moye. “Fairy Moye, I have many insights on cultivation. Would you like to come to my courtyard tonight for an in-depth discussion?”
In that instant, Fang Moye suddenly felt a rush of excitement.
In the past, when she was in the upper realm, she had cultivated with Jiang Zhi and Ning Yuzhu; those memories lingered in her mind. She didn’t mind that kind of cultivation—in fact, the absurd and illicit thrill of being bullied while being kissed made her feel increasingly satisfied. But now, being beside Chu Xianning, she had to maintain her composure and replied coldly, “No need.”
Chu Xianning sighed lightly. “Master can do whatever she wants, without needing to worry about my opinion.”
Chu Xianning was never bad at picking up on subtleties; often, she simply found it too bothersome to speak.
Jiang Huai left to make glutinous rice cake wrapped in lotus leaves, while Luo Yueguan stayed in the courtyard, beginning to exchange insights on heart cultivation with Fang Moye. Chu Xianning, finding Luo Yueguan too bothersome, retreated to the pond’s edge and gazed at the lotus flowers, lost in thought.
She could still faintly hear Luo Yueguan asking Fang Moye what position she liked best or where she preferred to be bullied, which suddenly made her feel the urge to walk over and give Luo Yueguan a hard slap.
Goodness, had she been a bit too irritable lately?
……………………………………
At night.
Jiang Huai quietly snuck into Luo Yueguan’s courtyard. At this moment, Luo Yueguan was dancing alone under the moonlight, without anyone to accompany her. She danced solo in a beautiful light purple skirt, her figure graceful and flexible.
“Where’s Qingyu?” Jiang Huai curiously asked.
“She’s sleeping over at Wanwan’s place, hmm. Do you want us mother and daughter to serve you together again?” Luo Yueguan’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“If it’s like last time… I might break…”
She referred to the time when she and Luo Qingyu had shared sensations together, nearly dancing all night and waking up the next morning to find the sheets uncleanable.
Jiang Huai knew that the sisters in Wanwan’s courtyard often slept together; their fragrant and soft friendship was cute. He was also aware that Ning Yuzhu was currently the most popular because she was soft and sweet-talking, and her massage skills were top-notch.
Jiang Huai sat at the table, watching Luo Yueguan dance beneath the moonlight. At this moment, her smile was sweet, and her eyes gentle. As the dance concluded, her body slid into his embrace, and she straddled him, pulling out a length of rope.
Jiang Huai winked at her, “Are you planning to tie me up and bully me again?”
“Of course not,” Luo Yueguan poked him in the chest with her finger. “You’ve tied me up so many times; I want to tie you up once…”
Jiang Huai didn’t mind playing around with Luo Yueguan like this from time to time.
……………………………………
That night.
Chu Xianning went to bed early.
Fang Moye sat alone in the pavilion, deliberating for a long while before choosing not to burst out the door. Instead, she approached the door of Chu Xianning’s room and softly asked, “Is Ningning asleep?”
“It’s fine if Master thinks I am.”
“I’m not leaving.” Fang Moye hesitated for a moment. “I’m not familiar with her, and since I am her elder, I would rather not cultivate with Jiang Huai.”
The door was pushed open by Fang Moye. Chu Xianning was currently lying on her side in bed, wearing an ice silk nightgown, her quiet gaze fixed on her. Fang Moye’s cheeks heated up a bit. “I want to have a good talk with you…”
Chu Xianning lifted the covers and offered half of the bed to Fang Moye. After she lay down, smelling the faint fragrance of the sheets, she felt slightly at ease. After a long hesitation, she finally murmured, “I… never thought I would become this way. Perhaps this has always been my nature… or maybe…”
“Master doesn’t need to blame herself,” Chu Xianning interrupted. “If it’s something you love, it’s merely some intimacy between close friends. Binding yourself with shame is misguided and can hardly be considered cultivating the heart.”
“I realize… I’m always guessing wrong about Ningning’s thoughts. I often forget how many years I’ve been away from Ningning; she’s already grown up.” Fang Moye’s voice softened a bit as she also lay on her side, looking at Chu Xianning’s cheeks. “In the future, I won’t cling to my pride anymore; I’ll speak my heart to you.”
Chu Xianning let out a helpless chuckle but nodded gently. “Mhm.”
After a little while, Fang Moye quietly inquired, “What’s it like for Ningning and him when they usually cultivate together?”
Chu Xianning was slightly taken aback, then answered, “Most of the time, I lead.”
“Then… how does he bully Ningning?”
“Hmm?” Chu Xianning was puzzled, suddenly realizing what Fang Moye meant. She replied, “Of course, it can only be that… Master, are you talking about those unorthodox practices?”
Fang Moye felt a bit guilty, responding softly, “Actually, it’s not bad… If that guy always picks on one place, it’s inevitable that he’ll get sore. He needs… to take breaks…”
“I’ll make sure he rests when he’s supposed to,” Chu Xianning answered blandly.
“What if he doesn’t rest?”
“Then I’ll keep at it until he does.”
Fang Moye thought she had considered the same, but not long after, she was flipped and pinned against the wall by Jiang Huai, who bullied her mercilessly. He probably only behaved so obediently around Chu Xianning. After a while, she tentatively asked, “Ningning?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think there will come a day in the future when I, you, and he cultivate together?”
Chu Xianning pulled the blankets over her head, her tone suddenly a bit mournful as she replied, “He surely thinks so.”
“And what about you, Ningning?”
“I…” Chu Xianning was silent for a long moment before slowly answering, “If it’s with Master, then it’s not unacceptable.”
Luo Yueguan had always wanted to cultivate with Chu Xianning and Jiang Huai, but Chu Xianning had never agreed. Knowing Luo Yueguan’s character, she would undoubtedly engage in mischief then, and she didn’t want to be drenched in water from Luo Yueguan’s kisses.
But with her Master… it didn’t seem so unpleasant.
Coincidentally, she was often unable to fully satisfy Jiang Huai. Deep down, Chu Xianning harbored a slight desire for restraint—not because she was cold-hearted, but precisely because she sensed the joy derived from mischief. She worried that if she indulged in it, she might very well become the obedient little kitten in Jiang Huai’s arms.
Compared to becoming the obedient little kitten who was carelessly bullied for enjoyment, she genuinely preferred watching her disobedient disciple being completely submissive and docile beneath her.
