Chapter 15

"Heh." Pei Yuhan hadn't expected Lin Yi to have already spoken to Li Tiaodeng about these matters. Hearing the question now, she suddenly felt a wonderful sense of mutual understanding between them.

Pei Yuhan shook her head, hiding the slight flush on her face. She was becoming more and more in sync with Lin Yi, this Rebellious Disciple. "What glory? Before, there were a hundred or so people; now, including you, there are only five."

Li Tiaodeng blinked. Did she just see a flush flash across Grandmaster's face?

"You also have a Junior Martial Uncle who has gone to the Yueming Domain. We will let you meet him when there is an opportunity in the future."

"Tiaodeng understands." Li Tiaodeng nodded.

Perhaps it was because the two were becoming more familiar with each other, or perhaps it was because Yu Xiaotang had joined the conversation, but Li Tiaodeng's expression became increasingly relaxed.

By evening, the restaurant waiter delivered the dinner dishes.

Lin Yi and the others did not need to consume grains, but Li Tiaodeng could not. She was still a Mortal, and a Mortal who had fled from a famine at that. Yu Xiaotang could not either; she had just started Qi Refining and had not yet achieved Bigu (fasting).

"Eat slowly."

Li Tiaodeng wolfed down her food. That Fairy-like appearance had long since vanished. The distant, elegant look in her eyes was replaced by obvious satisfaction.

Lin Yi used his spiritual energy to pass the dishes over. Pei Yuhan and Su Lingshu only tasted a little, while Yu Xiaotang ate until she looked like a little smudge-faced cat.

"Whew…" Li Tiaodeng let out a long sigh of relief.

Only now did she feel she had truly returned to this world. Even though Lin Yi had taken her as his disciple before, it had only given her a slight sense of reality.

Li Tiaodeng felt her whole body warming up. Her features were as beautiful as a painting, though the grease on the corner of her mouth was a bit of an eyesore.

Lin Yi took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of Li Tiaodeng's mouth.

Li Tiaodeng froze. Then, relying on the warm, golden light in the inner room, she hid the blush on her face.

"Th-thank you, Master…" Li Tiaodeng's voice trembled slightly.

Pei Yuhan frowned slightly. Watching this scene, she felt a sense of familiarity no matter how she looked at it.

Yu Xiaotang blinked, not paying any attention, and continued eating her food.

Su Lingshu glanced at Lin Yi indifferently and let out a soft huff, feeling some dissatisfaction in her heart—perhaps disdain for Lin Yi's flirtatious nature again.

Lin Yi could truly be considered wronged.

He had done the same when taking care of his Junior Sister before; it was completely an instinctive action.

By the time he was halfway through, he realized his behavior was a bit inappropriate; he should have just handed the handkerchief to Li Tiaodeng.

But since he had already done it, it would be awkward to pull his hand back, as that would only make him look more guilty.

Lin Yi kept his expression normal and placed the handkerchief by Li Tiaodeng's hand. "There is no need for this in the future. When outside, one must pay more attention to the reputation of the Cold Palace."

It seemed to be nothing more than a Master's instruction and concern.

Li Tiaodeng pursed her lips. From Lin Yi, she seemed to feel that fatherly sensation again… yet Lin Yi was clearly just a young man not much older than her.

It must be some technique for preserving one's youth.

Li Tiaodeng suddenly thought of the novels where Immortals drank morning dew, slept in the phoenix trees at dusk, sat amidst the sea of clouds, and watched the vicissitudes of life.

"Yes, Tiaodeng will keep that in mind…"

A deep flush appeared on Li Tiaodeng's face. She despised herself in her heart; her Master was so pure, how could she defile him in her thoughts like that!

"Master…" Li Tiaodeng covered her head with a thick quilt. She didn't want to listen, but she really had no choice.

Li Tiaodeng felt that the figure in white, pure as snow, in her heart was gradually becoming stained with dust.

She poked her head out from under the quilt and silently watched the moonlight outside casting its clear brilliance, filtering through the window lattice and into the room.

She could hear the gentle voice of that beautiful figure from the day becoming excited.

"Grandmaster…" She had thought she was mistaken, but it turned out she wasn't… Grandmaster and Master really were in that kind of relationship…

But according to what Grandmaster said today, she was a Soul Transformation expert, and Master was a Golden Core Cultivator…

Master… you have suffered…

Li Tiaodeng felt a bit uncomfortable. Grandmaster, whom she had originally thought was as pure as snow, had such an unknown side, making a move on her own disciple…

No, no, I cannot gossip about Grandmaster.

"Eh?" What is this? Junior Martial Uncle's voice?

Li Tiaodeng froze. With a flash of thought, she understood the logic behind it.

It must be that Grandmaster, to prevent the matter from leaking out, had let Junior Martial Uncle participate as well, right?

Looking at Master's indifferent demeanor, he didn't seem like someone who was fond of women. He had always stayed with his Dao Companion and had never acted inappropriately toward Grandmaster or Junior Martial Uncle.

It was Junior Martial Uncle who would shyly look at Master from time to time…

And what about Master's Dao Companion, the Master's wife? Li Tiaodeng remembered that Master and the Master's wife's room was on the other side.

Li Tiaodeng silently listened to the faint sounds by her ear. So that's how it is…

Master and the Master's wife… were being treated like this by Grandmaster. Master was forced to satisfy the demands of Grandmaster and Junior Martial Uncle, while the Master's wife was left alone in an empty room.

Li Tiaodeng had already understood everything. She gently closed her eyes.

The balance within the Cold Palace Sword Sect was being carefully maintained by Master.

To protect the Master's wife from being threatened by Grandmaster, Master had voluntarily thrown himself to the tigers, and Junior Martial Uncle had joined in after understanding all of this.

And what kind of role was she? Li Tiaodeng was a person who repaid kindness. She decided: she would save Master and the Master's wife from this den of beasts!

Chapter 26: Cannot Treat Master Like This

Meanwhile, next door. Lin Yi gently caressed his Master's beautiful face, which was already flushed.

Lin Yi gently kissed the corner of Pei Yuhan's lips, then, meeting her slightly doting gaze, leaned in again.

"Mm…" Pei Yuhan's ink-black hair was scattered across the bed. She embraced Lin Yi with the tenderness of a mother, allowing Lin Yi to leave marks on her body.

"Senior Brother… you only know how to play with Master…" Yu Xiaotang, behind him, hugged Lin Yi's waist and hung onto his back like a little koala.

Lin Yi turned his head helplessly and left a kiss on Yu Xiaotang's forehead. "Xiao Tang, you can't be jealous, okay."

Yu Xiaotang pouted. If she didn't take the initiative, Lin Yi would probably only let her have a taste of the soup.

Yu Xiaotang leaned into Lin Yi's ear and gently nibbled on his earlobe. Her warm breath carried a seductive tone in this cold night.

"Hmph, I won't, I also want to be with Senior Brother…" Yu Xiaotang suddenly pushed Lin Yi into Pei Yuhan's embrace, then, working with the smiling Pei Yuhan, flipped Lin Yi over.

Lin Yi let the two of them do as they pleased with him.

Pei Yuhan held Lin Yi in her arms. She was actually slightly shorter than Lin Yi, but at this moment, it looked completely like she was merging Lin Yi into her own body.

Yu Xiaotang chuckled, then hugged Lin Yi's waist without hesitation. She blinked at Lin Yi, and then…

Next door, Li Tiaodeng covered her head with the quilt again.

Her long, slender hair was tangled into a mess inside the quilt. She sighed slightly.

She could never bring herself to hate Grandmaster and Junior Martial Uncle; after all, she could feel their attitude, but she didn't want them to treat Master like this…

Just thinking about how Master, who was like an Immortal in white, was being toyed with like this under their hands…

She always felt a sense of heartbreak. It was as if she were seeing that beautiful woman being dragged into an alley by several men all over again.

And… the Master's wife must also be tossing and turning, inevitably heartbroken.

Li Tiaodeng stared blankly at the moonlight outside the window. The snow clouds had long since dispersed. Whether it was because of the actions of the Qi Refining practitioners in the city or not, the faint moonlight shining on the cold snow carried a pink atmosphere.

No, that's not it; it must be because of next door!

Li Tiaodeng closed her eyes again. She realized something was wrong with her. She held her body tightly, curling up into a ball.

Wait! Li Tiaodeng groped by her side. A delicate handkerchief was grabbed into her hand. Because it had an automatic cleaning function, it was still as clean as new.

Fortunately, it hadn't been lost. She let out a slight sigh of relief.

Li Tiaodeng opened her eyes in the darkness. Then, she closed them again.

However… Li Tiaodeng subconsciously gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand.

The sounds by her ear were still intermittent, and occasionally there were speaking voices, but she couldn't hear them clearly. She only knew that they were mostly women's voices; perhaps Grandmaster and Junior Martial Uncle were teasing Master…

Li Tiaodeng recalled the young man's broad back, which was taller and larger than the city beneath her feet. The young man's gentle, jade-like face appeared before her.

"Master…" Li Tiaodeng found her body beginning to feel a bit hot; perhaps the quilt was too thick.

"Master…" Li Tiaodeng's voice was a bit hoarse. She coughed lightly, and finally, it wasn't so strained.

But… Li Tiaodeng sensed her heart beating faster and faster. An inexplicable craving made her swallow, and she still kept her eyes closed.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly lifted the handkerchief and gave it a light sniff.

A faint, elegant fragrance wafted over. This was not the scent on her own body… but she had smelled it when she was pulled by Lin Yi.

Qi Refining practitioners had removed all their impurities, and their bodies would naturally emit a special fragrance.

Li Tiaodeng felt her behavior was too disgusting. She didn't want to do this. She clenched the handkerchief and placed it on the cabinet beside her.

Master treated her so well; was she to become someone who betrayed her Master and ancestors? Li Tiaodeng felt ashamed of her behavior.

She closed her eyes tightly, preparing to ignore those sounds and fall asleep. Inhale—exhale— The cold moonlight shone on her face.

How about? Just one sniff? A thought suddenly flashed through Li Tiaodeng's mind. She had already smelled it anyway; what would it matter to smell it one more time?

She touched her lips, as if the feeling of Lin Yi wiping the corner of her mouth earlier was still lingering.

Li Tiaodeng tremblingly took the handkerchief down from the cabinet, and then, as if unable to wait any longer, covered her mouth and nose with it… Sorry… Master…