Several people followed Li Qingqing toward the so-called hot spring.
It had to be said that in many ways, Mo Ruxue’s temperament truly deserved the title of the best under heaven.
Li Qingqing had once been a disciple of Linxian Sect—and had even been exposed as an undercover agent of the Demon Cult. Yet Mo Ruxue, as the Sect Master of Linxian Sect, showed no unusual emotions whatsoever when facing her.
Zhu Yuexi, walking behind Mo Ruxue and watching Li Qingqing arrange everything for them, couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling crawling over her skin.
…
The residence itself wasn’t very large. At the very least, it was far smaller than what one would expect for someone of Xu Sheng’s status as the Valley Lord of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons.
So it didn’t take long before they arrived at the hot spring.
The moment the courtyard gate was pushed open, Mo Ruxue sensed that the spiritual energy in the air carried a faint effect of clearing heat and neutralizing toxins.
It seemed Xu Sheng hadn’t lied after all.
“This is the hot spring. Only the Valley Lord is allowed to bathe here.”
Mo Ruxue, who had just been feeling slightly pleased, immediately showed a strange expression upon hearing this.
Although the water here was flowing water regulated by formations, the mere thought that Xu Sheng had once been here, completely unclothed…
Combined with his identity—and the nature of their transaction—
Mo Ruxue suddenly felt her face grow warm.
The environment of the hot spring was quite pleasant. Though it was within a small courtyard, the ground was paved with stone steps. Flowers and plants grew all around, and decorative screens provided privacy while maintaining elegance.
Zhu Yuexi had originally been in a good mood upon seeing such a setting, but after hearing that remark, she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable. Or perhaps, even if she didn’t feel uncomfortable at first, she felt like she should force herself to.
She tugged lightly at Mo Ruxue’s sleeve.
“Master, how about we forget it? How effective can this hot spring really be?”
Mo Ruxue hesitated slightly, but since it concerned Zhu Yuexi’s condition, she shook her head.
“No. Since we’ve come this far, we should follow Doctor Xu’s arrangements.”
Zhu Yuexi wanted to say more, but seeing Mo Ruxue’s firm attitude, she knew she wouldn’t be able to persuade her.
…
After changing into the bathrobes prepared for them in a separate room, both found that the sizes fit perfectly.
Li Qingqing had already left the courtyard, leaving only the master and disciple by the hot spring.
Zhu Yuexi, dressed in her bathrobe, revealed her fair, lotus-like legs. She gently dipped her foot into the water to test the temperature before slowly stepping in.
The robe fell.
Mo Ruxue, meanwhile, sat at the edge of the stone steps. After confirming with her spiritual sense that no one was nearby, she slowly extended her delicate feet and dipped them into the water.
Zhu Yuexi soaked in the spring, facing Mo Ruxue.
For some reason, after seeing something, her face suddenly flushed, and she quickly turned her head away.
“M-Master… aren’t you coming in?”
For reasons she couldn’t explain, even though Xu Sheng wasn’t present, just thinking that this was where he usually bathed made Mo Ruxue feel inexplicably shy.
“I’ll pass… This hot spring is more important for you. If I go in, it might dilute its medicinal effects.”
As she spoke, Mo Ruxue seemed to think of something else, her cheeks growing slightly red. She raised her hand and lightly pointed—causing the screen in the water to shift, separating her from Zhu Yuexi.
“Focus on soaking. I’ll call you after fifteen minutes.”
…
If Mo Ruxue hadn’t been able to probe with her spiritual sense, she might have suspected the hot spring had some strange additional effects.
She patted her cheeks lightly, trying to calm herself.
Over the past few days, something about her condition had felt off. Though she had no experience with matters of emotion, she could clearly sense the changes within herself.
Just as she was trying to recall when exactly things had started to feel wrong, footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.
Mo Ruxue’s eyes widened in alarm, a chill running through her. With her spiritual sense spread out, it should have been impossible for anyone to approach her unnoticed.
A face flashed through her mind, and her fear eased slightly.
She turned around.
It was Xu Sheng, also dressed in a robe.
With a faint smile, he stepped forward and placed a finger against Mo Ruxue’s lips, stopping her from speaking.
He glanced toward the screen, signaling her to stay quiet.
By all rights, she shouldn’t have listened to him. His actions were clearly inappropriate—especially since she was only wearing a bathrobe, and her disciple was just behind the screen.
Yet Xu Sheng did nothing further. With a casual wave of his hand, a formation appeared between them.
The formation was incredibly subtle. Without Ninth Realm cultivation, even Mo Ruxue wouldn’t have noticed it.
And its function was… soundproofing.
After setting it up, Xu Sheng sat down beside Mo Ruxue, leaving only about a fist’s distance between them.
He naturally placed his feet into the water, even letting them brush lightly against hers for a brief moment.
Mo Ruxue startled like a frightened deer, wanting to pull away—but afraid that any sudden movement might disrupt the formation. So she stiffened, completely still.
“Relax. Just treat this like your own home.”
Xu Sheng didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with his behavior.
He looked directly into Mo Ruxue’s eyes—his gaze not particularly intense, but completely unhidden.
Mo Ruxue felt her cheeks grow even hotter and could only turn her head away.
Seeing this, Xu Sheng didn’t press further. He also turned his gaze toward the hot spring.
Specifically… toward her feet.
Mo Ruxue curled her toes in the water, trying to avoid his intrusive gaze.
“I didn’t expect that even the ‘best under heaven’ would have such beautiful feet.”
Before she could respond, Xu Sheng spoke casually.
Mo Ruxue froze completely, taking several seconds to process what he had just said.
It was true that she was often regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world. But the cultivation world was conservative. Even when she had already made a name for herself, and even though many admired or coveted her, she had never heard such blatantly improper words.
What did he mean… her feet were beautiful?
Did this person feel no shame at all?
“Splash—”
Mo Ruxue abruptly pulled her legs out of the water and hid them beneath her robe, curling up with her chin resting on her knees.
It was strange. Normally calm and composed, unaffected even when facing a former traitor of her sect—yet in front of Xu Sheng, she repeatedly lost her composure.
Xu Sheng couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction.
“Hey, hey… why are you acting like I said something awful? I just gave you a compliment. Complimenting your face is still a compliment, and complimenting other parts is too. Is telling the truth not allowed?”
As he spoke, he mischievously extended a finger and lightly poked the small toe she hadn’t fully hidden…
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