Chapter 284: Protagonist, the Wet Look
Dark clouds obscured the sky, and a fine rain lingered, casting a thin veil of mist over Tianyun Peak. The lamplight, softened by the mist, seemed to wrap the mountain peak in a halo.
Ye Anping returned from Moon Spring Peak on his Flying Sword. As he approached the Three-Bay House cluster, he looked towards their dwelling, the one he shared with Xiao Yunluo. Of the ten Three-Bay Houses nearby, only their home was unlit.
Ye Anping descended on his Flying Sword and landed at the entrance to his Three-Bay House. He took out his key from his Storage Bag, his mind still preoccupied with matters of the Imperial Sect. He had previously estimated that the Imperial Sect’s affairs would take at least another half a year, so he had planned to rest at Xuan Xing Sect for a month or two, allowing his Junior Sister to consolidate her cultivation and Feng Yu Die to practice the first incomplete scroll of the Xuan Yin Art.
However, Si Xuanji had taken Xiao Yunluo there three months ago. A quick calculation revealed that the turmoil at the Imperial Sect would begin in at most five months. Five months was neither short nor long. The Central Domain and the Western Regions were quite far apart, and travel alone would take two to three months. Chasing after Xiao Yunluo would likely be impossible, so his only option now was to revise the strategy guide.
“I hope Brother Liang can make it in time,” Ye Anping sighed. He reached out and pushed open the courtyard gate, thinking of returning to his room for a hot bath and a good night’s rest. He still hadn’t recovered from being nearly drained by his Junior Sister earlier.
But the moment he stepped into the courtyard, he froze. Why was Xiao Yunluo’s bedroom door open? Had Senior Sister Bai finished cleaning and forgotten to close it? Ye Anping felt a hint of confusion and quickly prepared his Spirit Sword, tiptoeing closer. He leaned against one side of the doorframe and cautiously peeked inside.
He saw Feng Yu Die and Xiao Tian squatting by the red wooden bed inside the room. Their backs were turned to him, and they were engrossed in something they were holding.
What? Why did they sneak in here? What were they looking at?
Ye Anping hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, he tiptoed into the room as quietly as possible, creeping up behind Feng Yu Die and Xiao Tian. Seeing that he had approached them without being noticed, Ye Anping grew more confused. He stood on tiptoe and craned his neck, looking at what Feng Yu Die was holding, over their heads.
*Swish—*
Completely unaware of Ye Anping behind her, Feng Yu Die turned to the next page of “Immortal Palace Erotic Illustrations.” On it, two meticulously drawn figures were positioned one above the other, the man holding the woman’s legs, and the woman holding the man’s legs. At the top, there were four characters annotating it: “Embracing Bliss.”
The illustrations in the book naturally did not stir any ripple in Ye Anping, who was well-traveled and experienced. Even though the copy in Feng Yu Die’s hands was much better than the coming-of-age gift he had given his Junior Sister previously. However, Ye Anping was still slightly surprised and slowly shifted his gaze to Xiao Tian beside her.
Feng Yu Die was so engrossed, and it was her first time seeing something like this. But what about you, Xiao Tian?
Feng Yu Die turned another page and pointed to a picture, asking, “Xiao Tian, are real sparrow-sparrows like this? The one Jiujiu sent last time was different.”
*The last one was just half of this.* Xiao Tian nodded absentmindedly. *Yu Die, this drawing is a bit exaggerated. Anping is much cuter, and doesn’t have that much fur.*
?
Ye Anping’s lips parted slightly; he could barely contain himself. He reached out and snatched the book from Feng Yu Die’s hands, closing it.
“Aiyah?!” *Aiyah?!*
Feng Yu Die and Xiao Tian cried out in unison, turning around in alarm. Upon seeing Ye Anping, they both looked somewhat embarrassed.
“Young Master Ye, you’re here?”
*Anping, you heard…*
“… …”
Ye Anping remained silent, looking at the cover of the book.
— “Immortal Palace Erotic Illustrations – Deluxe Edition.”
The edges of the book cover were bordered with gold foil. In this world, without printing machines, books were already expensive. To be bordered with gold foil and contain illustrations made it astronomically priced. He had wondered before where Xiao Yunluo got so many imperial books from. These didn’t seem like books confiscated from other disciples.
Ye Anping’s expression was indifferent. He held up the book and asked, “Sneaking into someone else’s bedroom to spy on their privacy, who was the mastermind here?”
Seeing Ye Anping’s expression, Feng Yu Die cowered slightly and immediately blamed Xiao Tian. “Xiao Tian told me to come!”
*Ah?! Yu Die…* Xiao Tian paused, noticing that Ye Anping seemed angry. It quickly explained, “Anping, this… I just wanted to teach Yu Die…”
“You are the spirit of the Heavenly Scroll of the Dao. You should be helping Feng Yu Die fulfill her destiny. Instead of teaching her good things, you teach her to steal?”
*I… I was wrong.* Xiao Tian said with a wronged expression, lowering its head and pouting. But then it thought of something and added, *But! Isn’t Yu Die ignorant of these things? No one has ever taught Yu Die these matters before, so why don’t you teach her?*
The ball was suddenly kicked to his feet, and Ye Anping didn’t know how to return it. He turned to look at Feng Yu Die again and only then noticed that she was drenched. She seemed to have run through the rain. Her Xuan Xing Sect uniform was transparent, revealing her skin, and her silver hair was also wet, with water droplets clinging to it.
He froze for a moment, then instinctively averted his gaze. He quickly took a towel from his Storage Bag and threw it at Feng Yu Die’s head. “Here, dry yourself.”
“Oh! Thank you.” Feng Yu Die took the towel and rubbed her head. She asked, “Young Master Ye, speaking of the book’s illustrations…”
Ye Anping immediately interrupted, “Don’t ask. If you want to ask, go ask Senior Sister Xiao.”
“Oh…”
Ye Anping was silent for a moment. He completely ignored Xiao Tian’s expectant gaze, wanting him to teach Feng Yu Die, and changed the subject. “How is your practice of the Xuan Yin Art coming along?”
Hearing Ye Anping ask about this, Feng Yu Die quickly removed the towel covering her head and asked, “I was just about to ask! I’ve been practicing for three months, but I don’t feel any benefits, and my body hasn’t changed much. The Heavenly Scroll of the Dao doesn’t have detailed records, and Xiao Tian doesn’t know either.”
“The Heavenly Scroll of the Dao doesn’t have records?”
*There was someone called ‘Bone Xuan Yin’ who mastered a divine ability a long time ago.* Xiao Tian added. *Anping, is it this one? The scroll’s writing is very vague.*
“Yes, it’s a divine ability left by that person…” Ye Anping nodded and explained, “The Xuan Yin Art is a Dragon Taming divine ability, which matches your Saint Emperor Dragon Body. It can also be used to tame other dragons, for example…”
“For example?”
For example, Xiao Yunluo… Ye Anping found it difficult to say. But in the game, Feng Yu Die did indeed ride Xiao Yunluo everywhere in the later stages.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Ye Anping said, raising his hand to stop the conversation. He changed the subject again. “My Junior Sister should have returned to your Three-Bay House. You should go back and tidy up. We need to head to the Central Domain in a few days.”
“Ah? Leaving again… We just got back, didn’t we?”
“There’s been a sudden development.”
“Then I’ll go back and tidy up now!” Feng Yu Die pouted, then, clutching the towel Ye Anping gave her, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving.
After she left, Ye Anping sighed softly and turned to look at Xiao Tian, who was floating beside him with a pathetic expression. Xiao Tian then gave him a seductive glance, as if trying to butter him up. Ye Anping was not swayed. He frowned and said, “Xiao Tian, if you do any more of these nonsensical things, from now on…”
*Ah… Anping, I meant well~ Look… if Yu Die learns it…*
“You decide for yourself.”
Xiao Tian pouted. *Okay…*
Ye Anping gave it a disdainful look. He glanced at the book in his hand, then paused, and asked again, “By the way, where was this book originally placed?”
*Inside the pillow.*
Ye Anping walked to the bed, stuffed the book back into the pillow, and then turned to go back to his own room. However, upon entering his bedroom, the image of Feng Yu Die, completely drenched, suddenly flashed in his mind. He muttered reflectively, “Did I unconsciously avert my gaze just now?” He asked himself the question, frowned, and clicked his tongue, answering, “It must have been an illusion.”
Ye Anping took off his rain-soaked robes and walked to the desk in his room. He lit the candle lamp and took out the Returning Star Bell that Qiu Shui Rou had given him earlier. Looking at the bell, his eyes were filled with worry.
“Si Xuanji… sigh—” Ye Anping sighed and gently flicked the jade bell with his index finger.
*Ding-a-ling—*
The bell’s sound was light and pleasant, echoing in the room.
…
