Looking at Liu Zixiao’s flawless face, cheeks flushed with a mixture of shyness and anger, Qin Yu’s smile deepened as he gently clasped her jade-like wrist, his figure leaning in close, whispering by her ear:

"Dao Bone — Master, don’t you want it too?"

That deep, magnetic voice made Liu Zixiao freeze where she stood.

Even when her close sister had spoken to her about it, she had made her swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao.

Yet Qin Yu was telling her this earth-shattering secret right to her face...

Liu Zixiao trembled within, waves rippling through her heart. Her rosy lips parted, pearl-like teeth gently biting down, as if suppressing something with all her might.

Dao Bone.

What cultivator wouldn’t desire a Dao Bone?!

"I am your master!"

Though she said this, her tone had obviously softened. Yet for some reason, something seemed to come to mind, and she grew inexplicably tense again.

"Isn’t my master the Sect Leader?"

With those words, Qin Yu was undoubtedly untying the knot in her heart.

At the very least, in front of the world, in the eyes of all the Immortal Sect disciples, there was no master-disciple bond between her and Qin Yu.

There was nothing improper for a disciple to cross their "master" in this case.

"You!..."

Liu Zixiao had wanted to call him ungrateful, but feared he truly meant to repay her kindness. So she retorted, "If that’s so, then go find your master instead."

Tch!

Qin Yu truly hadn’t expected that this usually cold, ascetic-spirited big sister would show such a coy, childlike side. These words were practically a feigned complaint.

For a moment, he was mesmerized by her.

Such close distance, being gazed at like that, made Liu Zixiao instinctively want to escape.

Coming to himself, Qin Yu suddenly pulled her into his arms. When she tried to struggle, he put on a serious face and said, "Master, your disciple is truly worried something unforeseen will happen."

Liu Zixiao paused, then snapped back in embarrassment and anger, "This is the Cyan Mist Hall. What could possibly happen here?"

"Your disciple is to enter the Secret Realm. It’s uncertain when I’ll return. And you, because of me, have damaged your cultivation. If something unexpected happens... You’ll be left here alone. How could I possibly be at ease?"

Qin Yu’s tone was low and weighted, each word clear as jewels, laying bare their dire straits.

If he couldn’t comprehend the Ancient Array in the Secret Realm, or worse, if something happened to him... Would Liu Zixiao, her cultivation wounded, be able to return safely to Cyan Mountain Sect?!

The chances were slim.

So, before entering the Secret Realm, he must heal this Liu "Master"...

"Don’t say such nonsense. With the Hall Master here, what could happen?"

Liu Zixiao was also infected by his heavy tone, feeling tense herself, even wanting to cover his mouth.

It was only once she saw the growing heat in Qin Yu’s eyes that she felt something was wrong... She realized, to her shock, that she was already snuggled in his arms!

At first, she’d only felt something gently pressed against her, instinctively thinking it was Qin Yu’s sturdy arm. But upon closer sensation, it was definitely not the touch of an arm.

"You... let me go."

Liu Zixiao’s face instantly bloomed with a vivid blush as she anxiously tried to break free from Qin Yu’s embrace.

But her strength had inexplicably turned soft and weak.

Naturally, Qin Yu wouldn’t let go. Instead, he wrapped an arm around his master’s waist, lifting her whole and seating her on his lap.

"You... Do you really want to go against your mas—"

"Mmph!"

Liu Zixiao was just about to question him, but before the words left her mouth, her cherry lips were gently sealed by Qin Yu.

The words hovering at her lips were swallowed down by Qin Yu. In that instant, her world went blank, her eyes wide, frozen in astonishment.

She clearly didn’t expect this rebellious disciple to be so bold!

To actually dare to treat his master like this...

This was the first time in her life she’d experienced such an indescribable sensation—a barely-there electric current silently swept across the lake of her heart, stirring ripples upon ripples.

She even forgot to struggle, forgot to resist—at that moment, all her strength seemed to drain away.

"In the end, I still couldn’t escape..."

"Heh! Truly a rebellious disciple!"

She knew it!

So was Yin Qinghe.

So was she!

In the end, she compromised. Gradually, she... accepted it.

A while later, Qin Yu lifted her face, gazing at his master, already swept away by desire, and the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

If it weren’t for wanting to give her a good experience—not fumbling hastily on the Flying Ship—how could he have waited till now?!

"Master, let your disciple help you..."

"Let me heal your wounds."

Liu Zixiao didn’t reply, only buried her face in his chest. Her hands, that had once pushed him away, now gradually twined around him.

"Only this once!"

She whispered in Qin Yu’s ear, a promise for him, but also for herself.

Just this once!

Only for healing!

As long as Su Xiyue doesn’t find out, as long as the Sect Leader does not know, everything... could be as if nothing ever happened.

"Ngh!..."

With a cry of pain, Liu Zixiao furrowed her slender brows, tears welling in her misty eyes, sliding down her cheeks and onto the bedding below.

And then—three thousand four hundred and fifty-two words are omitted.

...

The firelight danced, falling sparks resembling red cords, tying the two together as one.

...

[Liu Zixiao Romantic Point: 35 (Affection Awakens)]

[Emotion Point from Liu Zixiao: +3]

Qin Yu truly hadn’t expected that this ever-cool, ascetic master would already harbor feelings for him.

When had it started?

He couldn’t tell, either.

Just a few more Romantic Points, and soon it would reach the "inseparable" stage.

By then...

Would it really only be this once?!

Liu Zixiao truly cried.

She’d always been especially afraid, which made her all the more tense.

When a person tenses up...

She’d thought—she probably wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for several days.

Soon, she realized something strange.

It felt as if a wisp of unknown energy was helping soothe her pain, and it quickly worked.

In just moments, Liu Zixiao felt much more at ease.

"Huh?!"

In surprise, she focused her senses on the wisp of energy.

It was like wind, yet not wind.

Like rain, yet not rain.

It seemed to have no definite shape, like the warm sun—wherever it touched, that splitting pain dissolved quickly.

"Is that... the thing that can heal wounds?"

A glimmer of realization dawned in Liu Zixiao’s heart.

Just a moment ago, she still thought it absurd—how could healing result from something like... this?!

Now, experiencing it herself, she finally believed.

Qin Yu truly hadn’t deceived her!

Relieved, Liu Zixiao continued to observe, sensing the wisp of energy’s path within her.

Because she simply couldn’t control it, she could only let things proceed as they would.

Soon, that wisp of energy flowed into her meridians, and wherever it passed, the injuries in her meridians were alleviated. Soon, it reached the dantian.

Though it was nowhere near fully healed, the relief was dramatic—most importantly, it stopped the continued deterioration.

Just this tiny wisp, just this short time, was more effective than taking several Third Level Healing Elixirs and nurturing her wounds for over a month!

It seemed her nearly irreversible injuries really could recover.

Just as Liu Zixiao rejoiced, after the energy left the dantian, it continued flowing through her whole body.

At first, she didn’t pay it much mind.

After all, most of her injuries were in her meridians and dantian. The other parts of her body weren’t hurt.

Soon, she sensed some subtle changes occurring within her...