“To become my disciple, you must first find a way to cure your Master’s illness.”
Bai Yue twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger, her tone righteously confident, not mentioning her own shamelessness in making demands right after taking on a disciple.
“Okay.”
Mu Chenxi agreed without hesitation.
Even if Bai Yue hadn’t said it, she had planned to investigate Bai Yue’s constitution anyway—this was just going with the flow.
“And, if you have spirit stones, you need to spend them for your Master.”
Bai Yue secretly glanced up at Mu Chenxi, her gaze landing on the bulging Storage Pouch at her waist.
Anyone who could take out a Warm Sun Jade was surely a little rich lady.
“Okay.”
Mu Chenxi nodded again, her fingertip tapping the Storage Pouch, unconcerned about material possessions.
“And one more thing—help your Master find your Grandmaster. She’s been gone for two years, her life or death unknown. I want to search for her.”
Bai Yue simply treated Mu Chenxi like a wishing machine, entrusting even the matter of finding her own Master.
“Okay, I’ll help Master search for Grandmaster too.”
Mu Chenxi’s answer was still crisp, without a trace of hesitation.
“Very good. Most importantly, you must protect your Master and put my safety first.”
Bai Yue straightened up, looking serious.
“Okay.”
Mu Chenxi nodded solemnly, determination filling her ice-blue eyes.
“For now, that’s all. The rest can be added later.”
Bai Yue waved her hand, growing more audacious, with no sense of a Master’s dignity.
“Alright, then let’s begin the disciple ceremony.”
As Mu Chenxi spoke, she tried to sit up, clearly wanting to perform the formal rite for becoming a disciple, worried that Bai Yue might regret it if she was late.
“Stop, stop, stop! Lie down and behave!”
Bai Yue hurriedly pressed her shoulder, pushing her back into her embrace.
“No need for all those useless formalities. It’s too pretentious.”
“But the disciple ceremony…”
Mu Chenxi nestled in Bai Yue’s arms, her fingertips clutching the edge of her clothes.
Bai Yue didn’t seem reliable at all—without a proper ceremony, she was always afraid Bai Yue would go back on her word.
“What’s more important than sincerity in a disciple ceremony?”
“Your Master is still waiting to use your Warm Sun Jade.”
As she finished speaking, Bai Yue shamelessly stretched out her hand to Mu Chenxi.
“Oh, here.”
Mu Chenxi quickly fished out the Warm Sun Jade from her Storage Pouch and handed it over, afraid Bai Yue would change her mind.
Bai Yue received the jade happily, her lingering conscience reminding her of the need for a return gift.
But after rummaging through her shabby Storage Pouch, there was nothing decent besides a few pieces of broken Red Wood and some life-saving items—which she couldn’t bear to part with.
Nothing else qualified as a proper gift.
“Hahaha, Chenxi, your Master hasn’t prepared a return gift yet.”
She laughed dryly, scratching her head and looking guiltily at the lake.
“I’ll owe you for now and make it up to you later according to your needs.”
It was just empty talk from Bai Yue, but Mu Chenxi, straightforward as she was, took it seriously.
She raised her eyes to Bai Yue, her ice-blue pupils lighting up.
At this moment, she truly had a pressing need—one that only Bai Yue could satisfy.
“Master, could you allow me to observe your body as a return gift?”
Mu Chenxi braced herself, sitting upright and leaning forward slightly, her tone exceptionally earnest.
Last night, the bottleneck of the Taishang Forget-Emotion Sword Art had loosened, intensifying her obsession with the sword.
She couldn’t care less about formality now.
Bai Yue’s peach blossom eyes widened instantly, her hand trembling so much that the Warm Sun Jade nearly slipped to the ground.
“Chenxi, what did you just say?”
She couldn’t believe it.
Mu Chenxi always seemed so proper—how could she say something so improper?
“I wish to observe your body, Master.”
Mu Chenxi’s gaze fell squarely on Bai Yue’s chest, fixed and unyielding, repeating herself with the same sincerity.
Bai Yue’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest, her voice trembling.
“We’re both women. What’s there to observe? Have you gone astray in your cultivation?”
She muttered inwardly.
Had Mu Chenxi injured her spirit while practicing the sword, losing all resistance to her natural charm?
“To be honest, Master, I already secretly observed you last night.”
Mu Chenxi didn’t hide it, speaking openly.
“Perhaps your innate charm is special. I was moved, and the sword art’s bottleneck loosened.”
Bai Yue’s face turned even redder, blush spreading to her ears.
“What sword art do you cultivate? How could this happen?”
“Taishang Forget-Emotion Sword Art.”
“Isn’t the Taishang Forget-Emotion meant to sever emotions and desires?”
Bai Yue forgot her embarrassment, leaning in with curiosity.
This sword art’s path was completely different from what she’d heard.
“I can’t figure it out either. But being moved actually loosened the bottleneck.”
Mu Chenxi frowned, unconsciously rubbing the Sword Sheath with her fingertips.
“Master, please allow me to observe once more. I’m certain I can recapture last night’s feeling and perhaps break through completely.”
Her gaze fell on Bai Yue again, filled with sword obsession.
“No way! Absolutely not!”
Bai Yue waved her hands frantically, her face flaming.
“I’m your Master—I sell skills, not my body!”
Taking in a disciple was one thing, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist.
No way could she agree.
“Master, just one look.”
Mu Chenxi’s ice-blue eyes were pleading, her obsession with the sword lowering her usual restraint.
“Still no!”
Bai Yue turned away, but her fingers stroked the Warm Sun Jade in her arms.
Remembering that she’d have to rely on Mu Chenxi to find Grandmaster in the future, her heart softened.
She couldn’t just keep asking for favors without compromise.
She scratched her head, conflicted, frowning in thought.
“How about your Master tries a different method…?”
Mu Chenxi’s eyes brightened.
“What method? Will it move me?”
“Don’t move.”
Bai Yue took a deep breath, face red, and lifted both hands, fingertips gently touching Mu Chenxi’s cheeks, slowly cupping her face.
She leaned forward slightly, silver hair cascading onto Mu Chenxi’s shoulders, carrying a faint scent of grass and wood.
Her red lips softly pursed, drawing closer to Mu Chenxi’s face.
Mu Chenxi froze, staring blankly at Bai Yue.
The other’s fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose, and those rosy lips grew larger in her vision, her heartbeat spiraling out of control.
The next moment, a soft sensation fell on her pale cheek.
“!”
Mu Chenxi’s entire body trembled, ice-blue eyes snapping wide, cheeks flushing so red they seemed to bleed.
Her heartbeat thundered like a drum; even breathing was forgotten.
This sensation…
Even stronger than last night!
Inside her, the Taishang Forget-Emotion Sword Art began operating on its own, spiritual energy surging into her body as if drawn by an invisible force.
A massive vortex of spiritual energy formed above her head, and even the broken bamboo by the lakeshore trembled in the unseen current.
Bai Yue lifted her head in panic after the kiss, stunned at the sight of the swirling spiritual vortex.
She’d only kissed a cheek, yet her disciple was on the verge of a breakthrough?
She stared in shock at the spiritual power erupting around Mu Chenxi.
Good grief—was her disciple so tightly suppressed before? Had she been holding back too much!?
Before she could process it, the spiritual energy around Mu Chenxi suddenly stagnated.
A mouthful of crimson blood spurted forth, splattering onto Bai Yue’s gray Dao Robe, blooming like a red plum blossom.
“Chenxi!”
Bai Yue quickly reached out to support her swaying form, her voice trembling with panic.
“Master, I’m fine.”
Mu Chenxi panted, her eyes shining with brilliance.
“I broke through—to Core Formation mid-stage. Master’s method truly works. My heart was pounding just now…”
Her gaze lingered on Bai Yue’s lips, her tone tinged with impatience.
“Can we try again?”
Bai Yue’s mouth twitched. She quickly straightened her still-blushing face and cleared her throat.
“Chenxi, how can cultivation be so impatient? You just broke through and spat blood. Heal yourself first.”
Mu Chenxi looked inward at the rampaging spiritual energy, realizing she needed to stabilize her realm.
She fished a bottle of Healing Pills from her Storage Pouch, swallowed one, and sat cross-legged to meditate.
As she refined the medicinal power, she tried to recall the sensation from moments ago.
Her fingertips unconsciously brushed the place where she’d been kissed, determined to etch that fluttering feeling deep into her memory.
Kyot!