novelraw Chapter 63: A "Shared Bath" with Master
Chapter 63: A "Shared Bath" with Master
"Xiaoxiao, are you sure you want to start consuming the Spirit-Storage Pill to cultivate now? It's only been five days since you started practicing the Divine Soul Secret Technique, right?"
Pei Yuhang looked at his young disciple, his voice tinged with worry.
"It's fine, Master. Don't underestimate my prized comprehension! I've already completely mastered the first chapter of that Divine Soul Secret Technique. There's no problem at all."
Yu Xiaoyan smiled at her master, the determination in her eyes seeming to say, 'Master, please have a little more faith in me.'
'As if!'
In truth, three days ago, urged on by her "sister's" incessant nagging, Yu Xiaoyan had already memorized the first chapter of the Dark Monarch's Seven Profound Scripture—the introductory Secret Technique for the Divine Soul—until she knew it by heart. And with the full support of her "sister's" Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, she had quickly grasped its mysteries.
But she kept dragging her feet, not wanting to cultivate any further.
Like a stubborn holdout, she put it off day by day, completely lacking the motivation to continue her cultivation.
But how could Yu Gu Nan not know about her little schemes?
If it were any other matter, Yu Gu Nan might not have cared about her younger sister's selfish little thoughts. But now, she was infinitely close to the moment she could escape her prison, and she had no more patience to wait.
'Xiaoxiao, if you keep trying to fool me like this, don't blame me for taking over your body and personally explaining to Master's wife what a wicked disciple you are! A seemingly innocent little fox who constantly wants to replace her!'
'You wouldn't want Master's wife to know what a wicked disciple you are, coveting your own master, would you?'
"..."
Faced with Yu Gu Nan's threat of "mutual destruction," she finally conceded.
And that's what led to today's little performance for her master.
Pei Yuhang didn't know about the complicated situation behind the scenes. He only saw his young disciple's determination for her and her sister to be together.
He had always enjoyed helping others achieve their goals, especially when it came to his own direct disciple.
'Since Xiaoxiao is so eager, there's no time to waste. Let's get started right away.'
"Xiaoxiao, I'm going to take you to the source of the Cold Earth Spring. The low temperatures there are difficult to endure, even for Cultivators. You must be careful."
"The Cold Earth Spring? Is that the place where you often go into seclusion, Master?"
"Yes. It's where I suppress the excess Yang Fire in my body. Besides its extreme Cold Attribute, the Cold Earth Spring also has the miraculous effect of calming the mind. It can help you smoothly reach the state of 'No Self' while you cultivate the Divine Soul Secret Technique."
At this, Pei Yuhang looked at Yu Xiaoyan seriously and gave a stern warning. "Xiaoxiao, when you perform the Divine Soul Fusion, you must not let your mind wander. If something goes wrong with your Divine Soul, it will be a huge problem."
"Understood."
Yu Xiaoyan nodded, showing that she would definitely listen to her master.
'After all, even though I'm very resistant to this Divine Soul Fusion, I value my own life more. I don't want any accidents before I can get together with Master.'
Pei Yuhang opened a Teleportation Scroll. As he poured Spiritual Qi into it, the small Teleportation Array within the Scroll activated. Several arcs composed of Spirit Runes emerged from the Scroll, enveloping the two of them.
"Xiaoxiao, I'm starting."
As Pei Yuhang finished speaking, the Teleportation Scroll began to warp the space around them. Yu Xiaoyan felt her vision get washed out by a white light and a faint pulling sensation from a vortex. When she opened her eyes again, she found she was no longer in the courtyard of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.
Before her stood a Bronze Gate. There was no telling how many years it had stood there; the reliefs carved on it were already blurred and indistinct.
The entire Bronze Gate was covered in a thick layer of white frost, a testament to how cold it must be inside.
'This is where Master usually cultivates? Just how potent is the Yang Fire in his body that he needs this level of cold to barely suppress it... Can Master's wife handle that?'
'And... I'll be bathing in the Cold Earth Spring to cultivate later, right? The water I'll be in is the same water Master bathed in before... Will it have his scent in it?'
'Wait, Xiaoxiao, what are you thinking! How could something like spring water, which gets replaced, possibly retain Master's scent?'
Yu Xiaoyan shook her head, dispelling the strange train of thought that was running away with her.
Meanwhile, Pei Yuhang had already undone the Restriction on the Bronze Gate. With a two-handed push, accompanied by a teeth-grinding CREAK, the Bronze Gate swung wide open.
A visibly icy current gushed out from within, and howling ice particles pelted the master and disciple outside like tiny knives.
Yu Xiaoyan circulated her Spiritual Qi with all her might to protect her body, but she still shivered from the cold. Her delicate skin, once a rosy pink, instantly turned deathly pale.
Just then, she felt a large, warm hand rest on her shoulder. In an instant, warm Spiritual Qi rose within her body like a blazing sun, dispelling all the cold.
Yu Xiaoyan's ragged breathing gradually calmed. This warm feeling made her feel so safe.
"Thank you for saving me, Master."
"Don't thank me. It was my oversight. For an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator like yourself, this Cold Earth Spring is indeed a bit dangerous. I shouldn't have used myself as a benchmark."
"But since we're already here, I'll have to trouble you to endure it, Xiaoxiao, and complete the initial stage of your Divine Soul Fusion. I will be behind you to transfer Yang Fire to you at all times, ensuring you won't be harmed by the cold qi entering your body."
Yu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up when she heard this.
'Doesn't that mean... Master is going to bathe with me!'
A blush appeared on the lovely girl's face. She nestled like a delicate bird against Pei Yuhang's firm arm and murmured, "Then I'll leave everything to you, Master~"
「A moment later.」
Yu Xiaoyan looked at Pei Yuhang with a peculiar expression. "Master, don't we need to take off our clothes to bathe in the Cold Spring?"
As she spoke, a hopeful light gleamed in her eyes.
"If this gauze dress gets wet and sticks to my body, it'll be so annoying... I think it would be better if we changed our clothes before bathing, Master."
"I don't think Master's wife would get angry, right? After all, it's to help a disciple with her cultivation and all..."
Before Yu Xiaoyan could finish, she was cut off by Pei Yuhang's voice.
"Don't worry, Xiaoxiao. I've cast a Magic spell on you that will keep your clothes completely dry. You don't need to worry about a thing. I've definitely thought of more than you have!"
Pei Yuhang's tone was proud, as if he were showing off to Yu Xiaoyan. 'See? Isn't your master prophetic, predicting things with divine accuracy?'
The corners of Yu Xiaoyan's glistening lips twitched awkwardly.
"Yes, yes, Master is so... thoughtful. Hahaha."
Pei Yuhang didn't know why, but his little disciple, who had been so cheerful and excited just a moment ago, suddenly wilted, losing all her vibrant energy.
'It's probably because she's about to start the Divine Soul Fusion. It's her first time doing something like this, so it's natural to be nervous.'
Pei Yuhang and Yu Xiaoyan sat down together in the frigid spring water. He pressed his hand firmly against her back, continuously channeling Fire Yang Qi into her to ensure she wouldn't be frozen solid by the cold.
Yu Xiaoyan felt the tearing sensation of ice and fire warring inside and outside her body. Tiny beads of glistening, fragrant sweat formed on her smooth forehead.
"Master, I'm starting."
With that, she took out the Nine-Striped Top-Grade Divine Storage Pill and swallowed it in one gulp.