Mount Yu.
Under the clear, starry sky, the Mist Yu flowers swayed gently in the breeze.
Yu Xiang sat by the flowerbed, her head tilted up, gazing at the stars.
“What are you thinking about?” A mischievous, childish voice suddenly ca from behind her.
“Thinking about a certain man, perhaps?”
Yu Xiang turned around with a playful glare. “Master!”
Master grinned, her large robes dragging behind her small fra, and plopped down beside Yu Xiang.
“I… just miss Senior Brother a little.”
Xiang’er lowered her head and mumbled, “Why hasn’t he co back yet…?”
“What else could it be?”
Master said matter-of-factly, “That boy must have found another woman and forgotten all about us.”
“He’s probably surrounded by beauties right now, a loli on one side, a mature woman on the other, and a sweet young girl massaging his shoulders and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.”
Just imagining the scene made Xiang’er’s blood boil.
“Stinky Senior Brother. I’m not talking to him when he gets back.”
Seeing Xiang’er’s pouting lips, Master said with a mock-serious tone, “Our little Xiang’er is still too naive.”
“You know, the best way to prevent a man from cheating is to drain him dry.”
Xiang’er froze, her face flushing crimson.
“M-Master, don’t say such things…”
“Don’t underestimate this thod.” Master grinned, revealing her small fangs. “It’s very effective.”
“Just imagine, watching that boy, thin and withered, looking at all those beauties with desire but unable to do anything. It’s incredibly satisfying.”
Master spoke with the utmost confidence.
After all, Chen Yin wasn’t around. She could say whatever she wanted about him.
Yu Xiang blinked her long eyelashes, a hint of lancholy in her eyes.
“Let guess.”
Master suddenly put on a dramatic and exaggerated tone. “Oh my~ Did Senior Brother go see Senior Sister again? Is he happier with her than with ?”
“What if I can’t compare to Senior Sister in any way? What if Senior Brother doesn’t like anymore?~”
“Wuu, wuu, another day of failing as a fairy~”
Xiang’er ignored Master’s teasing and shook her head gently.
“I-I’m not thinking about those things.”
…No. Maybe a little.
But that was all.
She didn’t want to admit that she was jealous of Shen Shuanglian.
Jealous of her glamorous life, of her being the admired and adored Frost Moon Sword Immortal.
Jealous that when she stood beside Senior Brother, they looked like a match made in heaven.
As if she, the protagonist, was the one destined to be with him.
But she had nothing.
Just escaping from her painful and tragic past had taken all her strength.
And in the end, it was Senior Brother who had pulled her back from the abyss.
“If Senior Brother likes Senior Sister, I won’t be sad.”
Xiang’er said, as if talking to herself, “What makes sad is that I feel it’s only natural for him to like her.”
What makes sad is that when I see them together…
…I only feel a sense of loss and resignation.
As if, at so point, without even realizing it…
…She had already accepted the fact that Shen Shuanglian was the one who truly belonged with Chen Yin.
Master lowered her eyes and remained silent.
The wind on Mount Yu’s peak was chilly. Xiang’er hugged her knees and buried her head.
“Master, am I stupid?”
“You are indeed stupid.”
Master’s red lips parted slightly. “I never thought I would raise such a stupid disciple.”
“If I were you, I would just drug Chen Yin and lock him up on Mount Yu, not letting him go anywhere. He would spend every day eating, sleeping, and having sex with .”
“Who cares who he’s compatible with? It’s none of my business. I just want his body. If necessary, I’ll drug him and turn him into a mindless puppet who can only think about .”
Yu Xiang couldn’t help but giggle.
“Master… you’re so fierce.”
“My thods might be crude, but the logic is sound.”
Master said seriously, “If you keep being so passive, that brat might not just bring back a concubine next ti, but a whole family, children and grandchildren included.”
“Find an opportunity and just take him. Do you hear ?”
Yu Xiang blushed at Master’s blunt words and mumbled softly:
“Th-that kind of thing… let’s wait until Senior Brother cos back…”
Master glared at her with exasperation, then casually looked away.
“Since you’re so clueless, I’ll give you sothing to distract you.”
She tossed a book to Yu Xiang.
“What’s this?” Xiang’er picked up the book curiously.
But the next mont, her eyes widened in shock.
…The second volu of the “Quenching Nether Mantra.”
“Focus on cultivating this.” Master said nonchalantly, as if she didn’t care what she had just given her.
“I want you to reach the Grand Clarity Realm within three years.”
Yu Xiang stared at the demonic cultivation manual, her breath quickening. After a long silence, she looked up. “Master, why…”
“What? You think this is sothing precious?”
Master scoffed. “It’s just a worthless street stall item, like the ‘Tathagata Palm’ or the ‘Nine Yang Divine Art.’ It’s just a scam to trick little kids out of their money.”
…What a joke.
Yu Xiang had been cultivating demonic arts for so long, and she had only just finished the first volu.
The demonic path guarded this technique closely. Even Yu Xiang, before mastering the first volu, wasn’t allowed to see the second.
But she never imagined she would find it in Master’s possession.
“B-but Master, this is a demonic cultivation technique. Are you sure?”
“Who cares if it’s immortal or demonic?” Master waved her hand dismissively. “A cat that catches mice is a good cat. If it suits your physique and helps you improve your cultivation quickly, why not practice it?”
“What’s so bad about demonic arts? If anyone has a problem with it, tell them to co find .”
Yu Xiang stared at the manual in her hand, lost in thought.
“I know what you’re thinking. You don’t need to know everything.”
Master said softly, “Anyway, since that brat isn’t here for the next few days, just focus on your cultivation.”
“…After all, ti is running out.” Master’s eyes flickered subtly. Yu Xiang didn’t hear those whispered words.
At the Xiaoxiang dical Clinic, in Ya Ya’s ward…
Nan Xiaoxiang sat at the table, her slender fingers resting on Ya Ya’s wrist, her eyes lowered in concentration.
After a mont, she withdrew her hand.
“…Her ridians are healed, and there’s no sign of any hidden ailnts.”
“She can be discharged.” She said calmly.
Luo Luo and Chen Yin both breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s great! We can finally go ho!”
Chen Yin bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Miss Nan.”
“It was nothing.”
Nan Xiaoxiang, however, didn’t seem pleased. She didn’t even look at him, just raised an eyebrow slightly:
“If there’s nothing else, please leave, Young Master Chen. There are other patients waiting for a room.”
“Ahem… Are you in such a hurry to get rid of ?” Chen Yin asked cautiously.
“Thank you for your self-awareness, Young Master Chen.”
“Ah, won are such heartless creatures.”
He sighed dramatically. “I thought after our secret rendezvous under the moonlight, after all those scandalous things we did, you would be a little more reluctant to see go.”
Nan Xiaoxiang turned to him, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
“Please don’t ruin my reputation, Young Master Chen. Nothing happened between us.”
“Well… sothing could happen.” Chen Yin winked at her. “If you’re willing.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m not!”
They bickered like children, their playful banter making Qingying smile faintly.
“Sister Nan, we’ll be going now.”
Seeing the adorable Luo Luo, Nan Xiaoxiang’s expression softened. She leaned down and said gently:
“Take care on your way ho.”
“Okay!” Luo Luo nodded obediently with a smile.
“Hey, hey, what about ? Why the special treatnt?”
Chen Yin said with a sullen expression. “Why are you so gentle with Luo Luo but so sarcastic with ?”
“Because I speak differently to humans and demons.” Nan Xiaoxiang retorted smoothly.
Qingying couldn’t help but chuckle.
Seeing Chen Yin being put in his place was quite satisfying.
Chen Yin grumbled for a while, then finally said, “Fine, I won’t argue with a woman.”
“Let’s go, Luo Luo. Bye-bye.”
“Good riddance.” He added with a playful glare.
This ti, Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t even bother responding.
After they left the clinic, Nan Xiaoxiang stood in the courtyard, watching their retreating figures.
Then, she flipped her hand, revealing a token in her palm.
…If Chen Yin had seen it, he would have recognized it as the token Ju Shaohé had been wearing.
All of Ju Shaohé’s belongings had been taken by Chen Yin, yet sohow, this token had ended up in Nan Xiaoxiang’s possession.
A thoughtful expression appeared in her eyes, and after a mont, she called for the housekeeper.
“Housekeeper, prepare the carriage. I’m going on a trip.”
“Miss, what about—”
“Don’t ask. The fewer people who know about this, the better.” She said, her lips parting slightly. “Just tell everyone I’m visiting my family.”
The old housekeeper sighed helplessly and bowed. “Yes, Miss.”
After the housekeeper left, Nan Xiaoxiang turned and looked towards the distant eastern horizon, her gaze clear and unwavering.
…That was the direction of the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
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