Chapter 99: Another Mark on My Neck? Senior Sister, Are You a Dog?!

Morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting dappled light on the head of the bed.

Gu Lan was awakened by a faint, stinging pain.

"Hss…"

He groaned drowsily and instinctively reached out to touch his neck.

Where gauze had originally been wrapped, the bandage was now gone.

In its place was a burning sensation, as if… someone had sucked on it fiercely.

"You're awake?"

A cool voice with a hint of unnatural stiffness came from nearby.

Gu Lan opened his eyes to see Jiang Wanqing sitting upright at the vanity table by the window.

Holding a wooden comb in her hand, she was absentmindedly combing her jet-black long hair.

She was already fully dressed in a spotlessly white Daoist robe. Sitting straight-backed, she had reclaimed her image as the distant Senior Sister.

If one ignored her earlobes, which were flushed almost translucent red.

"Good morning, Senior Sister."

Gu Lan pushed himself up, feeling that he had slept extraordinarily well, his exhaustion from recent days completely swept away.

"Senior Sister, you're up so early?"

"Mhm, I'm used to it."

Jiang Wanqing did not turn around, merely observing Gu Lan's reaction through her reflection in the bronze mirror.

Gu Lan pulled back the blanket, got out of bed, walked over to the bronze mirror, and leaned in to look.

Upon taking a look, he froze completely.

On the side of his neck, where he had ruthlessly burned himself to cover Saintess Ji Wushuang's hickey, the burn scar had faded significantly. Over that light pink scar was a fresh, vivid…

…hickey.

This mark was even larger and deeper than the one Saintess Ji Wushuang had left behind.

It even carried a trace of Ice Spiritual Qi, domineeringly asserting ownership.

"This…"

Gu Lan touched the mark and turned to look at Jiang Wanqing with a strange expression.

"Senior Sister, did a mosquito get in last night?"

"And this mosquito… has quite the bite, and it carries the ice attribute?"

*Clack.*

Jiang Wanqing set the comb down hard on the table, turned around, and looked at him calmly.

"When I changed your medicine last night, I noticed the wound was a bit inflamed, so I… sucked out the poisoned blood for you."

"What? Do you have an objection?"

Gu Lan: "…"

Sucked out poisoned blood?

Anyone could tell that was an excuse!

Who sucks out poisoned blood and leaves a heart-shaped mark?!

And this location… was clearly meant to cover up the previous spot!

"No objection, absolutely no objection!"

Looking at her "expose me and I'll silence you forever" expression, Gu Lan's survival instinct kicked in instantly.

He sidled up, hugged Jiang Wanqing's shoulders from behind, looked at the perfect couple in the mirror, and chuckled mischievously:

"I just think Senior Sister's technique for sucking poison is truly brilliant."

"Not only did it heal my injury, but it also stamped me with a seal."

"Now the whole Sect knows I belong to Senior Sister."

"In the future, when I walk outside, I'm afraid I'll be killed ten thousand times over by the glares of those male Disciples who have a crush on Senior Sister."

"Scared?"

Looking at his smug, beatable smile in the mirror, the corners of Jiang Wanqing's lips couldn't help but curl up slightly.

"Scared?"

Gu Lan puffed out his chest with an arrogant look.

"I, Gu Lan, don't even know how to spell the word 'scared'!"

"Being stamped by Senior Sister is their honor… oh wait, no, it's my honor!"

Saying that, he planted a heavy kiss on Jiang Wanqing's cheek.

"Thank you for the treatment, Senior Sister. I like it very much."

Jiang Wanqing's cheeks grew warm, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she took his hand in hers, her fingertips gently stroking his palm.

"As long as you like it."

She spoke softly, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes.

"Remember this: in the future, your body can only have my mark."

"If I ever see another… 'mosquito bite' again…"

Her eyes turned cold, and she made a snip gesture with her fingers like scissors.

"I'll sew that mosquito's mouth shut!"

Gu Lan felt a chill down his neck.

What Fairy? This was clearly a little tigress guarding her food!

But…

It felt so good.

"Understood! Mission guaranteed!"

Gu Lan stood at attention and saluted, before grinning cheekily again.

"Then Senior Sister, since the injury is healed and it's daylight, shouldn't I… go claim my new Immortal Cave?"

At yesterday's grand ceremony, the Sect Master had rewarded him with an Immortal Cave on Qianlong Peak, plus a whole bunch of rewards he had yet to collect.

"Mhm, go ahead."

Jiang Wanqing stood up and helped adjust his collar.

Although the hickey was still clearly visible, she had no intention of covering it for him. Instead, she deliberately pulled his collar down a bit, as if afraid others wouldn't see it.

"Qianlong Peak is rich in Spiritual Qi and is a good place to Cultivate."

"You've just had a Breakthrough into Late Foundation Establishment, and now is the time to stabilize your Realm. Don't go running around everywhere all day."

"Got it, got it. Senior Sister is even more naggy than my mom."

Gu Lan grumbled with a smile, then slipped out of the room like grease on a shoe before Jiang Wanqing could blow her top.

"Senior Sister, remember to leave the door unlocked for me tonight!"

"Get out!"

Accompanied by a flustered and angry shout, a pillow flew out and slammed into the doorframe.

Gu Lan burst out laughing, feeling in high spirits.

…

Outside Qinghui Peak.

It was early morning, and many Disciples were taking in and exhaling Qi, Cultivating in the mountains.

When Gu Lan strutted out of Senior Sister's Immortal Cave flaunting that vivid hickey, the entire Qinghui Peak fell silent.

Everyone's eyes widened, as if they were witnessing something unbelievable.

"Holy crap! Is that Gu Lan?"

"Did… did he spend the night in Senior Sister's room?!"

"Heavens! Look at his neck! Is that… a hickey? That's definitely a hickey!"

"My heart is broken! Senior Sister's aloof persona has completely collapsed!"

"What magic does Gu Lan have? Not only is he living off a woman, but he's doing it so thoroughly! Even Senior Sister has fallen for him?"

Feeling the gazes around him—filled with shock, envy, or admiration—Gu Lan wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, he held his head even higher.

He even intentionally slowed his pace, greeting a few acquaintances he passed.

"Morning, Senior Brother! Practicing swordplay?"

"Morning, Junior Sister! Looking good."

His smug, gloating attitude was enough to make anyone grit their teeth in hatred.

"This kid… is way too arrogant!"

Not far away, a few Inner Sect Disciples who had long harbored crushes on Jiang Wanqing gathered together, their eyes bloodshot with envy.

Ignoring the murderous glares around him, Gu Lan buoyantly took to his flying sword.

"Qianlong Peak is like a monk monastery—not even a dog would live there."

"I'd better head to the Treasure Pavilion first to see what treasures they have, and while I'm at it…"

He glanced back at the sneaky tails following behind him, a cold smirk curling on his lips.

"…and swat these annoying flies while I'm at it."

"Looking for trouble? Perfect, I'll use you all to test out my newly learned tricks!"