“Hiss!”
Ling Xiaodong drew in a sharp breath.
Miss Fang’s palm was exceptionally cold, delicate and smooth, without the calluses typical of ordinary rural women. It seemed she had never done any heavy labor.
With such soft and tender hands, she effortlessly executed a Dragon-Grasping Palm technique, seizing Ling Xiaodong’s vital pulse so firmly that he couldn’t move.
Under the flickering candlelight in the room, her ordinarily plain and fair face seemed to shimmer with mystery and subtle allure. Her exceptionally fair and soft body was sitting directly on Ling Xiaodong’s stomach.
Fang Xiaosi’s red lips parted slightly as she leaned close to his ear, their chests pressed together, skin touching without any barrier.
She whispered softly, “Young Master Ling, will you give it to me?”
Ling Xiaodong was bewildered by this sudden intimate scene. What kind of charm did he possess to make Fang Xiaosi, the village head’s daughter, throw herself into his arms? Could it be that she had never seen a man before?
While he was lost in such wild thoughts, he suddenly sensed something was off.
Fang Xiaosi was sitting completely on him, her build similar to Xiao Yan’s, but her weight was less than half, so light he barely felt her presence.
“Miss Fang, why are you so light?”
Fang Xiaosi was startled; she hadn’t expected him to ask such a question in this situation. Her delicate arms quickly propped up his chest as she sat up, her eyes darting nervously, her expression unexpectedly flustered.
She stammered, “I-I guess it’s because I’m rather thin.”
“Knock knock knock!”
There was a knock at the door again.
“Ling Xiaodong, are you asleep yet?”
It was Yue Yingying’s voice.
Fang Xiaosi’s expression changed, seemingly fearful of Yue Yingying outside. She quickly released her grip on his chest, rolled off the bed, threw on a coarse cloth, and leapt out the window.
Leaving Ling Xiaodong alone in the room, confused.
“Not yet.”
Hearing his reply, Yue Yingying pushed the door open and entered.
“Ah! Why are you naked? Shameless!”
With a slam, the wooden door was forcefully shut by the flustered Yue Yingying. She covered her flushed face. In the dim light of the Snake Cave, she had kept her eyes shut and dared not look, but now she saw clearly enough.
“All right, Master, come in.”
Yue Yingying steadied her breath outside, calming her reddened cheeks before pushing the door open again.
“I have something to tell you.”
*****
The next morning.
Thick fog blanketed the mountains. Tender green leaves dripped with raindrops from last night’s rain. After yesterday’s heavy downpour, the entire forest had been cleansed of dust, revealing a fresh new appearance.
Outside, birds chirped joyfully in the forest, their calls rousing Ling Xiaodong from his sleep.
He opened his drowsy eyes and was about to get up when he felt something pressing on his arm.
Turning his head, he saw his master’s exquisitely beautiful sleeping face. Her petite jade nose slightly moved as Yue Yingying remained in her slumber.
Oh, right!
Ling Xiaodong recalled that his master had come to find him last night.
Still groggy, a mischievous impulse surged through him, and he reached out to pinch her nose to wake her, without considering the consequences.
Just as his fingers were about to touch her nostrils, he hesitated.
Not because he was afraid of trouble if Yue Yingying woke, but rather because a bolder idea formed in his half-awake mind.
Ling Xiaodong quietly rose, lowered his head to admire Yue Yingying’s innocent, adorable sleeping face, then bent down and lightly pecked her thin cherry lips.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water—just a touch and then retreat.
He pressed his pounding chest, trying to calm his heavy breathing.
Yue Yingying’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her breathing steady, seemingly unaware of this disciple’s daring act.
Not wanting to disturb her sweet dream, Ling Xiaodong quietly got out of bed, opened the wooden door softly, then slowly closed it behind him.
Not long after he left.
Yue Yingying suddenly opened her eyes wide, filled with shock and disbelief. Her slender, white fingers touched her lips, and rosy clouds bloomed across her cheeks.
*****
Ling Xiaodong ate breakfast in the village first. When Fang Xiaosi met him, both felt somewhat awkward, but they tacitly pretended nothing had happened.
Fang Xiaosi led him to fetch some white paper and fresh beast’s blood from the village to substitute for the yellow talismans and cinnabar.
She also solemnly handed Ling Xiaodong a wooden sword.
The wooden sword looked ordinary and roughly carved; at first glance, one might think it was just a child’s toy.
Ling Xiaodong twirled the wooden sword in his hand and weighed it carefully.
“What is this?”
“This is a sword made from the branch of the divine Fusang tree. It can harm ghostly creatures that ordinary weapons cannot touch. It’s a sacred relic of our village.”
“A sacred relic?”
Ling Xiaodong immediately stopped twirling the sword. He had thought it was just an ordinary peachwood sword for exorcism—who knew it was their sacred treasure.
“To exterminate that ghost dragon, it’s best to do it at noon when the yang energy of heaven and earth is at its peak. If we set out now, the timing should be just right. Oh, by the way, where’s Miss Yue?”
“My master? I’ll go call her now.”
Ling Xiaodong scratched his head awkwardly. He knew Yue Yingying usually slept until noon. She was probably still sound asleep now.
On his way back, he unexpectedly met Yue Yingying coming toward him.
Her expression was sour, eyes fixed straight ahead as if she hadn’t seen him at all.
“Good morning, Master. You’re up early today?”
“Mm.”
Yue Yingying’s reply was a bit cold.
But Ling Xiaodong didn’t mind; his master was often grumpy after waking up, and he was used to it.
After Yue Yingying finished breakfast and packed up, everything was ready. The two stood at the village entrance, where Fang Xiaosi led the villagers to see them off.
Fang Xiaosi stepped forward, clasped her hands solemnly, and said, “Young Master Ling, travel safely. Wishing you great success in your martial journey!”
“Thank you for your kind wishes.”
Ling Xiaodong clasped his hands in return, bidding farewell to the warm villagers of the Daughter’s Village, then set off with Yue Yingying in search of the ghost dragon.
The familiar mountain path was still as difficult as before. Fortunately, Fang Xiaosi had given him a machete to clear the thick brush ahead.
“Miss Fang said that after walking another hundred zhang, we’ll see a small pool. That’s where the ghost dragon dwells.”
“Mm.”
Yue Yingying’s reply remained as simple and straightforward as ever.
She kept her head down, hurrying along without looking at Ling Xiaodong.
“Master, are you feeling unwell?”
Ling Xiaodong noticed Yue Yingying seemed a bit off.
“No.”
What now? Is it that time of the month?
Ling Xiaodong shrugged helplessly and didn’t pry. Women always had those days.
He just kept swinging the machete, cutting through branches, pressing onward toward their destination.
By midday, the sun stood high overhead when they heard the sound of flowing water ahead.
Ling Xiaodong crouched low, hiding behind branches as he peered forward.
A ghostly black dragon coiled atop a large stone in the middle of a small pool, resting.