"Xiaoxiao, I'm going to bring your Mistress some food. Make sure you practice your swordsmanship with Qing Yueqiu, okay?"
"...Mmm."
"Xiaoxiao, let's go practice our swordsmanship."
"Um, Senior Sister, I'm not feeling well. You go on ahead. I'll be there in a bit."
Qing Yueqiu nodded. She never bothered to wonder whether people were telling the truth or not; the only words she trusted were her Master's. What anyone else said didn't matter.
After Qing Yueqiu left, Yu Xiaoyan was finally alone.
The snow at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion fell without end. Before long, the snowflakes had formed a small cap of white on Yu Xiaoyan's head.
The young girl anxiously brought her fingers to her mouth, gnawing on her soft fingertips.
'What do I do... Am I supposed to give control of my body to that wench? How could I?!'
'Let that wench command my body? Let her touch Master's hand, nestle against his chest, breathe in his scent, and feel his reassuring warmth?'
'How could I ever accept that!'
Yu Xiaoyan hatefully threw her sword to the ground.
As if sensing the violent turmoil in Yu Xiaoyan's Heart Lake, a languid and bewitching voice sounded within her Sea of Consciousness.
"Xiaoxiao, how rare... to see you this panicked."
"What's it to you?!"
"You were feeling quite blissful just a moment ago. To be that happy, you must have seen our dear Master, hm? But now you're suddenly so agitated—did Master tell you something unpleasant?"
"..."
'This thing... she can't see or hear, but she's still disgustingly sharp...'
'So-called talent... it's sickening!'
"Aren't you going to tell your big sister? Honestly. I even helped you comprehend Sword Intent, yet you're still so cold to me. If you had just let my consciousness take over for a moment when Master was holding and praising you—just so I could feel his warm embrace for myself—I might have thought you had a conscience, little sister.
Oh well. I can look at your memories when you fall asleep anyway. Hehe~"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaoyan's pupils flickered. Her hands were clenched into fists so tight the knuckles had turned white, as if hinting at a decision she had just made.
'If this woman is going to find out sooner or later... I might as well tell her myself.'
...
Pei Yuhang carried a tray of exquisitely prepared dishes to the secluded room where his Dao Companion, Ye Liyuan, was in cultivation.
The moment he opened the door, an incredibly dense wave of Life Spiritual Qi washed over him, making every pore on his body feel cleansed and refreshed.
He quickly shut the door behind him, afraid that this precious Life Spiritual Qi might dissipate.
"Liyuan, you look so much better now!"
Pei Yuhang said happily, gazing at the naked beauty before him.
After Pei Yuhang had rescued her from the Celestial Tribulation, Ye Liyuan's skin had been deathly pale. She was like a willow catkin in the wind, threatening to drift away from him at any moment.
But now, after drinking from the Fountain of Youth, Ye Liyuan was like a parched riverbed blessed by the Spring Dew. Her complexion was rosy, her skin tender and flushed with red. Her once-withered hair was soft and lustrous again. Her entire being radiated the vigorous, youthful Life Force of a girl in the prime of her teens.
Seeing his Dao Companion's recovery at this moment, Pei Yuhang felt that even if he had really been... 'had' by that Witch, Shang Miaoyan, it was all worth it!
As Ye Liyuan was being watched by Pei Yuhang's excited gaze, a shy blush appeared on her long, slender neck.
She grabbed a light blue dress from the side to cover her beautiful body, then glanced back at Pei Yuhang and whispered, "Stop staring... you shameless Ah Han."
"What's the big deal? We've been an old married couple for thirty or forty years. I know exactly where every mole on your body is and which spots are the most sensitive!"
Outside, he was always the aloof, ascetic White-clothed Sword Immortal. But in front of his beloved Dao Companion, he was like a vibrant young man again, proudly boasting to Ye Liyuan about their private bedroom affairs.
"Ahhh—don't say that out loud, you stupid Ah Han!"
Ye Liyuan covered her face and turned her back to him, refusing to let Pei Yuhang see her.
Pei Yuhang, however, just gave a wicked smile and reached out, grabbing her small, cool, and smooth jade-white feet.
"Hmph. Watch as I, your husband, reassert my authority!"
As he spoke, he gathered a ticklish Spiritual Qi in his fingertips and began to knead her flawless, priceless soles, sometimes hard, sometimes soft.
The comfortable and perfectly ticklish foot massage made Ye Liyuan want to moan out loud, but not wanting to let Pei Yuhang get too smug, she could only suppress it, letting out soft hums as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Pei Yuhang's fingers were somewhat rough from years of gripping a sword.
But that roughness was perfect for the massage.
As Pei Yuhang continued his rhythmic massage, his rough thumbs working over her tender soles and between her cute, pearl-like toes, Ye Liyuan, whose small feet were already very sensitive, finally couldn't take it anymore. Clutching the light blue dress to her body, she collapsed to the floor. Her body went limp, and fine beads of sweat trickled down her long, swan-like neck.
"Liyuan, you're really weak, you know."
Pei Yuhang didn't pass up the chance to tease his Dao Companion, who prided herself on being a strong woman.
This goading tactic naturally spurred his Dao Companion, who had been half-limp with pleasure, back to life. She pounced into Pei Yuhang's arms like a little beast, baring her teeth and claws as if ready to fight him.
"Liyuan, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Behave yourself for now!"
"No! You're the one who started bullying me!"
"Aren't Dao Companions meant for bullying?"
"Nonsense! Other people cherish their Dao Companions. Not like you, you're so rough!"
"Then I'll go bully other Fairies from now on!"
"You dare!"
Ye Liyuan opened her mouth and bit down on Pei Yuhang's neck.
Pei Yuhang willingly dispersed his protective Spiritual Qi, afraid of hurting her with the rebound. He tilted his head, letting his Dao Companion leave a mark on his neck that declared her sovereignty.
Ye Liyuan lifted her head and looked at the exclusive seal she had stamped onto Pei Yuhang's body, her heart swelling with pride.
"You'd better not get rid of this bite mark, okay? I'll check again in two days. If it's gone, I'll just give you another one!"
She raised a fist and shook it in front of Pei Yuhang, speaking menacingly.
"Alright. Bite me all you want, as long as you don't get tired."
Pei Yuhang watched his Dao Companion, now brimming with youthful vitality, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
Ever since Liyuan's Cultivation reached the Divinity Transformation realm, it had been a long time since they had let go of their inhibitions and played around like this.
'I've really missed this.'
Pei Yuhang's gaze softened. He gently placed a hand on Ye Liyuan's head. She didn't resist, obediently nestling into the Sword Immortal's embrace.
SNIFF SNIFF~
Ye Liyuan's previously docile eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of hostility.
"Why does your chest smell like another woman's sachet... and are these salty tear stains...?"
"Uh, it's Xiaoxiao... You know how she is. That girl is just like Yueqiu was when she was little, always rushing into my arms. The stains are because she was just crying."
"Crying?"
Ye Liyuan's attention was successfully diverted.