Chu Xianning felt a bit dazed.
She suddenly recalled seeing Luo Yueguan cultivate her Immaculate Golden Body before. At that time, she had stayed by her side to guard her. Cultivating the Immaculate Golden Body had a critical stage: no matter how much pain one endured, they absolutely could not faint. Fainting would mean all their previous efforts were in vain and could even lead to meridian damage.
Back then, Luo Yueguan had writhed on the ground in agony, tears streaming down her face. Chu Xianning, standing by, was at a loss and could only watch her silently. Later, she finally thought of something and tried to pull Luo Yueguan into her embrace, but Luo Yueguan bit down hard on her shoulder, as if trying to crush it.
Now, her disobedient disciple was also cultivating the Immaculate Golden Body, but she didn’t know what to do. Perhaps the only thing she could do was slightly lift her white and tender little feet, just to satisfy the little bastard’s voyeuristic desires at this moment.
It felt strange. Chu Xianning always felt a little awkward.
“If it hurts that much… shout it out. I won’t laugh at you,” Chu Xianning said softly after a moment of hesitation.
“I’m actually fine.”
“So you’re still concerned about your image?”
“I still have to maintain some dignity in front of Master, occasionally.” Jiang Huai’s voice trembled slightly.
Under the serene moonlight, Chu Xianning’s slender figure swayed. The gentle breeze rustled her skirt hem, revealing her warm and delicate calf along with the hem.
“But I think you’re shameless more often than not,” Chu Xianning grumbled in dissatisfaction. She stood up, her white and tender little feet touching the ground. She quickly approached Jiang Huai and took out a handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat beads from his cheeks.
Jiang Huai’s body suddenly stiffened.
Although Chu Xianning’s eyes still held a hint of coldness, Jiang Huai seemed to glimpse a trace of unintentional tenderness. Chu Xianning’s movements were so serious, and her gentle eyes gazed at him so softly, that Jiang Huai felt as if he were about to melt.
“How much longer?”
“The time it takes for one incense stick to burn.”
“Mm, I’ll wait for you,” Chu Xianning said softly.
The handkerchief in her hand gently wiped Jiang Huai’s sweat. Jiang Huai stood rooted to the spot. At that moment, he suddenly heard a ding-ding-ding sound in his ear. It was the System, issuing another strange mission. He quickly scanned it. It wanted him to embrace Chu Xianning in front of him, taking advantage of his current pain, as Chu Xianning wouldn’t bear to hit him.
But Jiang Huai didn’t reach out.
He was covered in sweat, and he was worried about soiling Chu Xianning, who had just bathed.
The courtyard became tranquil, the sound of falling petals so clear it seemed amplified. Jiang Huai heard his own rapid, heavy breathing. For some reason, he took a step back and said softly, “It’s okay… I’ll go bathe later. Master doesn’t need to wipe my sweat for me.”
Chu Xianning tilted her head slightly.
Her eyes gazed at Jiang Huai in front of her.
Why had this little scoundrel suddenly changed his ways?
However, Chu Xianning had never liked to force things. So, she simply stood silently in front of Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai gazed at Chu Xianning, her beauty exquisite and refined, as pure and cold as a Moonlit fairy. Sometimes Jiang Huai felt Chu Xianning was untouchable. Yet, paradoxically, Chu Xianning would occasionally reveal her own emotions, her joys and sorrows, and throw a tantrum.
So sometimes Jiang Huai couldn’t tell if he was being too greedy. Just when he thought he would give up, Chu Xianning would inadvertently reveal a gentle and charming side, making him start to fantasize again.
This period as long as it took for one incense stick to burn felt exceedingly long. Sweat had already soaked through Jiang Huai’s clothes. He could barely open his eyes. Finally, his Immaculate Golden Body reached the eighth level.
Jiang Huai took out a second pill. This ninth level was even more brutal than the eighth. He felt a bit cowardly, but he had to go to Dragon Burial Valley in two days. More strength meant more capital for self-preservation. He couldn’t delay any longer, so he gritted his teeth and swallowed the pill as well.
Chu Xianning returned to a chair on the side and sat down, curling herself up. She slightly lowered her head, took out a small porcelain bottle, and poured some of the cool, transparent liquid within onto her snow-white foot sole, gently smoothing it with her fingertips.
“What is this?” Jiang Huai asked curiously, his body trembling.
“It’s flower dew that Luo Yueguan gave me. She said it’s for moisturizing the skin and it makes you smell nice.”
“So that’s how she got that scent…” Jiang Huai suddenly understood. Hmph, all external things. It was nothing compared to the natural fragrance of his Master.
Just then, Chu Xianning was meticulously spreading the flower dew onto her foot sole with her fingertips. Her snow-white foot sole gradually began to glow, looking incredibly alluring. Her adorable toes, like Crystal grapes, wriggled slightly. The shimmering flower dew quickly enveloped her little feet, and she stretched her calves, gently swaying them in the air, waiting for the flower dew to be absorbed by her skin. Jiang Huai was momentarily captivated. “Why did Master suddenly decide to apply this?”
“She gave it to me, and it would be a waste not to use it,” Chu Xianning said softly. “She also gave me nail polish to apply, but I haven’t used it yet.”
“Then I’ll help Master apply it later?”
“Better hope you don’t faint.”
“Don’t worry, who do you think I am? The iron-boned, unyielding Jiiang Xiaohu. This little bit of pain won’t defeat me.” Jiang Huai winked at Chu Xianning, though his face was contorted by the pain. Seeing him like this, Chu Xianning suddenly found it amusing and let out a soft laugh.
Jiang Huai rarely saw Chu Xianning laugh.
When they were young, Chu Xianning was always cold. She was gentle enough towards him, but laughter was exceptionally rare, as if the concept of laughter didn’t exist in her world. As Jiang Huai grew, he tried various methods to make Chu Xianning laugh, and it had yielded significant results these past two years. But ever since he had crippled his cultivation, Jiang Huai had almost never seen Chu Xianning laugh.
Jiang Huai gazed at Chu Xianning. Her white dress clung to her body, revealing a slender and snow-white collarbone. Jiang Huai’s mind was filled with thoughts of holding Chu Xianning’s slender ankle later and pinching her white and tender little feet to apply nail polish. Hehe, would Master blush?
Thinking about it, the pain didn’t seem so bad anymore. The time for one incense stick to burn was over, and the burning pain in his body finally began to subside. Jiang Huai let out a long sigh of relief, almost collapsing onto the ground. Fortunately, he managed to stand firm and walked towards Chu Xianning step by step. “Master, I’ve finished refining.”
“Oh…” Chu Xianning took out a small porcelain bottle. Inside was the nail polish liquid Luo Yueguan had given her, which could dye nails simply by applying it. This bottle was lotus root pink. Jiang Huai looked down at himself first. “Master, wait for me to bathe. I’ll be back soon.”
“Oh…” Chu Xianning nodded gently.
Jiang Huai ran to the bathhouse. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt as if the water in the bathhouse had a faint floral scent. He finished bathing quickly, changed into a new set of clothes, and returned before Chu Xianning. He took the porcelain bottle containing the nail polish liquid and was about to reach out to grasp Chu Xianning’s slender, snow-white ankle when Chu Xianning stiffened. Immediately, her white and tender little foot pushed against his chest, her face full of vigilance. “What do you want to do?”
“Huh? Didn’t we agree I’d help Master apply the nail polish?”
“Only on my fingernails,” Chu Xianning’s eyes were clear and cold. “I won’t give you a chance to take advantage of me.”
“…” Jiang Huai looked at her with a forlorn expression. He felt as if he had been tricked.
Fortunately, Jiiang Xiaohu was always adaptable. He brought a chair and sat beside Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning extended her hand to him. He gently grasped her snow-white wrist, then placed his palm against her tender little hand, picked up the nail polish liquid, and carefully applied it with a small brush.
Chu Xianning lowered her head slightly, gazing at his focused eyes.
In her memory, the young Jiang Huai was a cute little fellow, deserving of the description “carved from jade.” But as the little fellow grew up, his appearance quietly changed. His peach blossom eyes seemed to gaze at everyone with affection. Earlier, she had merely mentioned finding a Dao Companion for him, and overnight, countless female disciples sent paper cranes to her mountain, angering Chu Xianning so much that she didn’t sleep all night.
This guy had crippled his cultivation, but it seemed that based on his looks alone, many female cultivators would treasure him as a prize if he became their male consort.
Chu Xianning’s hands were slender, her fingers beautiful, as tender and white as green onions. Jiang Huai carefully applied the nail polish liquid, his movements slow. Fortunately, Chu Xianning was also patient.
After a long time, Jiang Huai finished painting both of her fingernails. Chu Xianning raised her hand to look at them, and Jiang Huai complimented her from the side, “They look beautiful.”
“They just have some color, nothing has really changed.”
“This warm color suits Master. It makes you look a little cuter.” As Jiang Huai spoke, he added, “How about we paint your little feet too?”
“No.” Chu Xianning lifted her leg and pressed it against his chest. “You’re just trying to take advantage of me.”
Jiang Huai lowered his head and looked at her white and tender foot pressing against his chest. His heart began to pound again. He decided that the Warm Jade Exquisite Melody tonight would be about this!
Warm Jade Exquisite Melody was A Mumu’s third major work after gaining fame. It told the story of a fallen scholar and a Fox Demon, a story that had to be told. Due to its beautiful writing and ornate language, it was highly favored by many female cultivators in the Eastern Region. And because of its many suggestive scenes, it was also circulated among male disciples. Jiang Huai had no intention of becoming famous. Unexpectedly, he had submitted it to Ziyun Pavilion on impulse, and within a month, it had become immensely popular throughout the Eastern Region. Jiang Huai even received about five hundred spirit stones in royalties each month.
This was not a small sum.
“Master, you misunderstand me.”
“Do I?” Chu Xianning tilted her head. “Then I’ll give you a chance to kiss me. Do you want it?”
Jiang Huai immediately lowered his head. The next moment, Chu Xianning’s foot had already swiftly lifted, pressing against his chin, tilting his head up high. Jiang Huai was forced to stare at the boundless night sky and heard Chu Xianning’s disdainful sneer, “Little scoundrel.”
“You’re not Chu Xianning. Give me back the Chu Xianning who always kept her word and never played mind games like this.” Jiiang Xiaohu was on the verge of tears.
“Proximity corrupts,” Chu Xianning’s toe poked his Adam’s apple. “No more inappropriate thoughts from now on. This is your first warning.”
“Then what’s next?”
“Next time, I’ll stomp on your face.”
“That’s so vicious?”
“It’s precisely that vicious.” Chu Xianning finally withdrew her foot and stood up. “I’m going to rest.”
