The sound of rain pattered outside the window, and Qingxin Hall was empty.
The wind blowing in lifted the unclosed pages of a book on the rosewood table, producing a rustling sound of flipping pages.
The two sounds intertwined into a strange symphony.
Scanning the room with his double-pupil eyes, Gu Shenzhi confirmed no one was present before heading toward the half-open window, thinking to prevent raindrops from wetting his master’s books.
In the dead of night, a lone man and woman in the same room, discussing sword techniques…
The more Gu Shenzhi thought about it, the more it felt wrong.
In the Lingjian Sect, even master and disciple of different surnames had to avoid suspicion during the day, maintaining a distance in line with propriety.
A female master summoning a male disciple to her chambers late at night for practice would, for anyone else, surely lead to a century of confinement at the Cliff of Reflection.
But Bai Qi was different.
She was the sect leader, and her words were the unyielding rules of the Yueying Sect.
Moreover, Gu Shenzhi didn’t believe his breathtakingly beautiful, coldly elegant master would harbor improper thoughts toward him.
If anyone had impure thoughts, it should be him.
A graceful snow-like figure danced lightly, a dreamlike beauty swaying.
Slap!
He struck himself hard across the face, cursing inwardly, “Beast, Gu Shenzhi! How dare you harbor ill intentions toward your master? Are you even human?”
While recalling the swordsmanship principles his master had taught him earlier, Gu Shenzhi removed the birchwood stand and carefully closed the window.
Suddenly, an ink painting on a page caught the corner of his eye.
The rice paper depicted a handsome young man in white, holding a green blade.
His features were sharp, his figure well-proportioned, with red lips, white teeth, and eyes bound by a pure white silk ribbon.
His ornate belt fluttered in the wind, lifelike and vivid.
There was no doubt—this was Gu Shenzhi himself.
In the entire Lingjian Sect, only he covered his eyes with silk.
Moreover, in the bottom left corner of the painting was a line of elegant regular script: Portrait of Gu Lang Testing His Sword.
Gu Shenzhi felt as if struck by lightning, a chill running down his spine.
His dark purple double-pupil eyes fixed on the painting.
He suddenly realized he might not understand his master as well as he thought.
Trembling, he flipped the page with his fingers.
Though touching his master’s belongings without permission violated disciple etiquette, since the painting was of him, he figured she wouldn’t mind.
As he turned the page, another portrait of himself came into view.
A young man sat cross-legged on a mat, eyes closed, exuding heroic charm.
His white robe was slightly disheveled, black hair falling loosely over his chest, revealing skin whiter and smoother than a woman’s.
He was strikingly beautiful.
In the bottom left corner, another line of small text read: Portrait of Gu Lang Rising in the Morning (In a Dream).
If the sword-testing portrait could be explained as a master’s affection for her disciple, this morning portrait, in Gu Shenzhi’s limited understanding, could only suggest blatant romantic feelings—perhaps even perverse ones.
Not to mention, the signature read “Gu Lang” instead of “Shenzhi.”
Shock gripped Gu Shenzhi.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his fingers flipped through the pages faster.
Portrait of Gu Lang Discussing the Dao, Portrait of Gu Lang Tying His Hair, Portrait of Gu Lang Slaying Demons…
It was all him—Gu Shenzhi.
Hundreds of pages filled with his portraits, each one vivid and lifelike.
At that moment, the image of Bai Qi as a cold, ethereal fairy crumbled in his mind.
His heart raced, and his hand trembled as it rested on the table.
Why had his master summoned him tonight?
Snow-like shadows moved through the courtyard, lanterns flared to life, and footsteps approached from outside.
The light steps thundered in Gu Shenzhi’s ears.
He hurriedly closed the book, restoring everything on the table to avoid suspicion.
If his master noticed he’d touched her pages, the atmosphere would surely be awkward.
Fairy Bai Qi entered gracefully, her jade-white shoulders steady, her slender, lustrous legs crossing as she walked.
She wore only a thin gauze robe, her delicate collarbone breathtaking, her snow-white abdomen flat without a trace of excess.
Her jade-like skin, exposed, was captivating and alluring.
Her dress, adorned with butterfly patterns, was exquisite, a departure from her usual simple elegance.
The hem was laced with intricate patterns, accentuating her full, shapely hips, almost sturdy enough to hold objects.
The front parted completely, revealing her straight, crystalline legs.
Seeing his master so enchanting, the young and reserved Gu Shenzhi was momentarily entranced, unable to speak.
“Shenzhi, what are you thinking about?” Bai Qi’s red lips parted, her voice clear as a mountain spring.
“Nothing, just… Master seems different today, and this disciple is a bit surprised,” Gu Shenzhi replied, hastily bowing respectfully.
Some things Bai Qi could think or do, but he could only quietly accept, lest he be accused of disrespecting his master—a grave offense.
“What do you think of your master’s appearance today?”
“A beauty that could topple nations, a fairy’s grace—Shenzhi has never seen such splendor.”
At this, Bai Qi’s lips curved into a charming smile.
“Shenzhi, you wouldn’t have fallen for me, would you?” she teased softly.
“This disciple wouldn’t dare,” Gu Shenzhi replied timidly, his cheeks flushing red.
“I’m only joking. How could cultivators indulge in worldly desires or fleeting pleasures? If lust arises, it can be extinguished with a thought. But true feelings… those are troublesome.”
Bai Qi took an unsharpened sword from the wall and approached the black-robed youth with a smile.
“If Shenzhi ever finds himself troubled by love, you must tell me. I’ll help you through it.”
“This disciple will remember.”
Holding the sword, Bai Qi walked to the front hall.
The cold moonlight highlighted her ethereal beauty, her dress flowing like a fairy descended from the Jade Pool, captivatingly stunning.
She turned, her cheeks flushed with a shy, youthful charm, and said, “Would Shenzhi like to see me perform a sword dance?”
Before he could answer, Bai Qi stretched her slender waist, rose on her toes, and began to dance like a butterfly.
Her snow-white figure was as light as a returning swallow, moving with the gentle evening breeze and soft moonlight.
Her jade hand drew the sword from its sheath, her wrist twirling lightly as the blade flashed like lightning, its gleam blending with her delicate form.
Soon, the dance evolved.
Bai Qi shed her outermost gauze layer, revealing her sensual shoulders, white and smooth.
Then, she untied the jade belt at her waist, letting the white lace dress fall to the ground.
Save for her peaks and hidden valleys, her fairy-like figure was fully revealed.
The sword returned to its sheath.
Her graceful form passed by Gu Shenzhi, not embracing him but lightly brushing his ankle with her jade foot in a flirtatious gesture.
When Gu Shenzhi came to his senses, Fairy Bai Qi had returned to her purest state, her flowing black hair her only covering.
With her seductive figure and suggestive movements, she drew his gaze.
The fairy master was elegant and unmatched off the bed, but on it, Bai Qi was utterly captivating and seductive.
“Shenzhi, why are you still standing there? Come here,” she called.
“Master, this… it’s not right. You just taught me not to indulge in worldly pleasures…” Gu Shenzhi declined.
“But I’m already beyond saving,” Bai Qi said mournfully, her beautiful eyes gazing at the black-robed youth with longing.
“What, must your master lower herself to beg you?”