Chapter 196: A Pupil Worth Teaching

The letter was filled with requests for advice and various complaints.

The young Princess was still not very good at handling state affairs, and she remained innocent and pure in front of her sweetheart.

It wasn’t until the last page that Jing Tan’er revealed her true colors, questioning him with an overbearing and tsundere attitude.

“If I don’t summon you, don’t you know how to take the initiative and pay your respects? What an ill-mannered Consort Princess!”

The Empress’s tone seemed to have grown even more forceful, but the deep longing hidden behind her resentment practically spilled off the paper.

Yun Liu chuckled and shook his head.

He also missed that three-stage laugh characteristic of a Noble Young Lady.

It was a pity that Hidden in Mist Peak was missing a young general in this year’s Great Competition; otherwise, Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran wouldn’t have stood a chance.

Suddenly sensing a fluctuation of cold energy from Celestial Phenomena Peak, his heart stirred, and he put the letter away.

In the faint rain of the cold night, droplets turned into ice crystals the moment they fell upon Celestial Phenomena Peak, causing the temperature to plummet.

When Yun Liu arrived at the pavilion, Yan Bingling was sitting cross-legged in mid-air.

Demonic energy surged around her as she struggled to endure.

Sensing an intruder, the white-clad woman arched an eyebrow.

Several streaks of Sword Qi shot out, only to melt into water droplets just before they reached the young man’s eyes.

“Liuer?”

“I’m here.”

Yun Liu broke through the ice prison and placed a Fire Spirit Pill into Yan Bingling’s mouth.

He pressed his palms against her back, releasing spiritual energy.

His Sacred Fire burned brightly, helping her alleviate the Yin Cold Demonic Syndrome.

As a stream of heat flowed into her body, the restless demonic energy resisted even more fiercely.

It seemed to awaken certain unknown, beautiful memories, causing a backlash against the Ming Lord Physique.

Yun Liu’s face turned pale and then flushed.

He felt the Sacred Fire continuously devouring the demonic energy, but the small temple of his Jade Palace at the Foundation Establishment Stage was already filled to the brim.

It was almost unable to hold any more.

In a state between dreaming and waking, Yan Bingling giggled one moment and frowned the next.

Her expression shifted repeatedly as her Dao Heart struggled against her demonic form.

She both craved Yun Liu’s closeness and feared hurting him.

“It’s so cold… hold me tight… No, don’t come over! You’ll get hurt!”

Bang!

The demonic energy vibrated, and the young man was blown back, crashing against the wall.

He had failed after all.

His timely appearance had instead intensified the nightly demonic invasion, drawing out the dark side of her Sword Heart.

At least Yan Bingling had recovered enough to contend with the syndrome.

It was a good sign that it had taken this long to relapse.

“Hehe… hehe…”

A sickly, flirtatious giggle reached his ears, making Yun Liu’s scalp tingle.

What was meant to come had finally arrived.

After the last hearty battle, his feelings upon seeing this version of his Master again were complicated.

He feared her falling ill, yet he also feared her not falling ill.

It was a feeling that was difficult to describe in words.

The Magic Fallen Fairy, his foster mother who had not appeared for a long time, broke free from her shackles.

She turned and threw herself into her beloved son’s arms, greedily sniffing his scent.

“What? You look disappointed. Then I’ll just roll back into the Sea of Consciousness and continue serving that cold, aloof fairy!”

Yan Bingling pouted with a cold smile, but as soon as she turned her face away, he pulled her back by the waist.

His Master was quite cute when she was jealous of herself.

“I couldn’t be happier. It’s just that since I’ve returned, my body has been getting weaker day by day.”

Yun Liu lightly stroked Yan Bingling’s cheek and shook his head with a wry smile.

She licked her lips and gave a low, mischievous giggle, as if reminiscing about that coming-of-age ceremony.

The battle had been fierce and quite bloody; she couldn’t remember the specific details.

Yan Bingling only remembered that the high ground had been lost, and the enemy’s offensive had come in wave after wave, leaving her unable to stand straight.

‘Well, it must have been a brilliant, evenly matched contest. The boy is a quick learner!’

“That’s more like it. Let’s see if you still dare to lie to me.”

“I wouldn’t dare, never again.”

“Where’s my reward, then? I’ve been a good girl lately and haven’t caused any trouble!”

The white-clad fairy pouted and asked for a kiss, biting down directly.

She was like a burning iceberg—bone-chillingly cold, yet capable of making every one of Yun Liu’s blood vessels explode.

“Hehe, surrendering already? Your body is as honest as ever!”

Yan Bingling’s eyebrows curved as the corners of her mouth turned up, sensing the defiance and rebellion.

She opened her eyes, two small hearts thumping wildly within them, and gripped the unsheathed blade.

“Forgotten the pain once the wound healed?”

“Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? Weren’t you the one who fled in panic!”

Yan Bingling gave a playful smile and hooked her finger.

An ice spike pinned her long hair up, sounding the horn of war.

“Fine. Since you’ve forgotten, I’ll help you remember it well!”

Yun Liu took a deep breath, deciding to help his Master fill in the blanks of what happened after she lost consciousness.

He had to admit that deep down, he was actually looking forward to it, hopelessly infatuated with the sickly state of the Magic Fallen Fairy.

The weapons clashed, and Sacred Fire merged with ice once more.

Yan Bingling arched her neck, her arches tensing.

She hurriedly covered her mouth to stop a high-pitched scream.

By the time she realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

A new driver has no sense of moderation.

Once the accelerator is pressed, there is no stopping.

The Sacred Fire surged straight into the clouds, sending the defeated general to the heavens.

“No… wait, Liuer, wait a moment. Let Master—”

“I won’t wait.”

“I haven’t… ah… how could you… eek!?”

That night, Yan Bingling finally recalled the fear of being dominated by the Sacred Fire, fighting until she wept and lost her voice.

Forget about being unable to hold the high ground; even her base had been forcibly pried open.

The long-standing desire was finally filled, and she returned fully loaded once again.

An evenly matched duel?

It was a total slaughter!

“I’m sorry, my voice was a bit too loud just now.”

After a thirty-minute speedrun, Yan Bingling was completely defeated.

She knelt by the bed, sobbing, with no trace of her previous hostility.

When she bit her lip and squeezed out those words, her Cloud Robe was already soaked through.

She felt as if she were floating atop the clouds and couldn’t come down.

If this continued, her consciousness would drift away again, and she would have to give the body back.

“You’ve improved, though you only lasted a little bit longer than last time.”

“Hmph… I wasn’t in top form today. I’ll let you off for now.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing!”

Yan Bingling, who had just raised her head, lowered it again.

She didn’t dare to be arrogant anymore; her dignity as a foster mother had long been shattered across the floor.

Clearly, she was the enlightenment Instructor, but young people these days were truly outrageous—they didn’t understand how to respect their elders at all!

Only then did Yun Liu cease his fire.

He continued to circulate his power to disperse the demonic energy and used medicine to help regulate her body.

After being disciplined, Yan Bingling was much better.

She curled up in her beloved son’s arms like a kitten, exceptionally cherishing every second she had out in the open.

As the demonic energy dissipated, it meant the Awe-inspiring Sword Heart would regain dominance.

She also realized that the time she had to “steal a taste” was becoming shorter and shorter.

“I’m really unwilling… I don’t know when we’ll meet again.”

The ice-cold eyes of the jade-like beauty in his arms flickered, and two small hearts appeared faintly.

She could be replaced at any moment, so she refused to fall asleep, clutching the young man’s sleeve reluctantly.

Yun Liu said softly, “As long as you come, you’re always welcome. This is our secret; we won’t tell her.”

“Really? You’re not allowed to lie to me again.”

Hearing this, Yan Bingling revealed a smile.

She finally felt at ease enough to close her eyes, though her small hand still gripped Yun Liu’s sleeve tightly.

He did not pull away.

He simply stayed by the bedside, protecting her with his Sacred Fire.

It was another night spent away from his own quarters.

When he woke up in the morning, Yun Liu rubbed his temples.

Perhaps because he was too exhausted, he had actually fallen asleep leaning against the bed.