Lu Xingzhou was now extremely glad that he was already a high-tier Fourth Grade and almost ready to break through to Third Grade. Because he could hold his breath for a long time, he could endure being smothered indefinitely. The effect of this “facial cleanser” could make one feel eternally blissful. What was this softness and sweetness? Moreover, with his hands still cupping the “full moon,” it was a double delight. Lu Xingzhou simply wanted to fall asleep right there and never move again.

Unfortunately, Ye Tinglan couldn’t endure being “face-washed” with breasts indefinitely. She was starting to feel it, her breathing becoming ragged. Finally, she cupped Lu Xingzhou’s face with both hands and lifted it, saying, “Is there no end to this? Are you going to fall asleep if I don’t say anything?”

Lu Xingzhou mumbled, “I still want more…”

“Shameless. Did you forget you’re supposed to be healing?”

Lu Xingzhou reluctantly moved up a little, wanting to kiss her for his “healing.”

Ye Tinglan’s communication jade slip vibrated once more. She glanced at it to see it was Yuan Muyu again, and Ye Tinglan rejected the call. She was about to kiss her man; who had the patience to deal with her?

The man leaned in to kiss her, and simultaneously, the jade slip vibrated stubbornly. Thinking that spiritual communication didn’t require her mouth anyway, Ye Tinglan connected to the spiritual link while kissing the man, irritably asking, “What do you want? Aren’t you annoying?”

Yuan Muyu had the illusion of going back many years, except back then, she was the one who often said those seven words to her sister during her rebellious phase. Now, the boomerang was coming back to hit her. This included all the rejections too…

Yuan Muyu angrily retorted, “You’re asking me what I’m doing? What do you mean by impersonating me?”

“What do I mean? You idiot, you’ve been used, and as your elder sister, I’m cleaning up your mess, clarifying the details so you know what’s going on. I haven’t even asked you to thank me, and you’re coming to demand an explanation? If you’re so brave, go publicize it and claim it wasn’t you!”

Yuan Muyu choked, “You know I’m not asking about that!”

“What then? Tell me, how would I know if you don’t say? Mmm.”

Yuan Muyu: “?”

What was that sound?

That didn’t sound like spiritual communication; was Ye Tinglan making a sound with her throat? In what situation would someone’s throat make that kind of sound?!

At this moment, Ye Tinglan also opened her eyes somewhat resentfully, looking at Lu Xingzhou. Lu Xingzhou had clearly sensed that her spiritual attention was distracted by something else. His right hand, which had been covering the “full moon,” moved and gave a squeeze. This made her instinctively hum, but since her mouth was being kissed, she couldn’t make a clear sound, resulting in that guttural noise.

Yuan Muyu’s furious spiritual message continued to echo in the sea of souls: “Ye Tinglan! What was that sound just now?!”

Ye Tinglan had originally intended to scold Lu Xingzhou a little, but her sister’s shouting made her rebellious. “What sound I make is none of your business! I haven’t even blamed you for disturbing my good time, and you’re so loud?” She simply didn’t answer. Instead, she deliberately intensified her lip and tongue movements, kissing with audible smacks.

Yuan Muyu: “???”

What was that sound now?!

“Ye Tinglan! Are you listening to me?!” Yuan Muyu was so furious that she no longer used spiritual communication but shouted out loud.

Lu Xingzhou’s movements paused. Why did he seem to hear a “fish’s” voice? So, was this lady actually having a conversation with a “fish”? For a moment, he didn’t know what thoughts were brewing in his mind. He simply moved his hand, which had been inside her skirt, out and with both hands, tore open Ye Tinglan’s collar.

Ye Tinglan was about to reply when she was stunned by the tug, asking, “What are you doing?”

Yuan Muyu: “You’re asking me?! I’m asking you!”

Ye Tinglan: “…Go away, I’m not talking to you.”

“Then who are you talking to?”

“None of your… Mmm-hmm… Gentler…”

Yuan Muyu fell silent.

Ye Tinglan looked resentfully at the young man with his head buried in her chest; he had even started biting… With Yuan Muyu still on the call, she didn’t know how to stop him. A faint malicious thought also emerged in her heart: “What if Yuan Muyu listens?” She gritted her teeth and simply didn’t try to stop the “little wolfdog.” Her tensed body softened instead, and she leisurely replied via spiritual communication, “What, do you have an opinion on me letting my disciple ‘serve’ me?”

Yuan Muyu angrily demanded, “Who is your disciple?”

“None of your business. Do you want to come back and be a Junior Aunt?”

“Ye Tinglan! Is it Lu Xingzhou?!”

“Guess.”

“You!” Yuan Muyu was about to explode with anger when she suddenly realized something wasn’t right and fell silent.

Leaving aside whether Lu Xingzhou would seek a “substitute” for her, let’s assume he might, after all, her elder sister did resemble her. But who was Ye Tinglan? She had been the world’s number one for so many years and controlled the Tianyao Holy Land for just as long. Within the realms of both Human and Demonic races, she was a figure whose mere stomp could shake mountains. Would she just casually throw herself at a man with low cultivation? Yuan Muyu herself knew how much her sister put on airs, how many shackles she imposed upon herself. Even when her sister ran away, she couldn’t drop the pretense of the Tianyao Holy Lord, always maintaining a stern face like a reclusive old nun. Would such a person, during this short “journey south to Tianshuang,” get entangled with a man and utter lewd sounds for her to hear? Was this possible?

There was only one truth! Ye Tinglan was doing it on purpose, trying to provoke her into seeking her out, and then setting a trap to capture her and bring her back.

Yuan Muyu’s anger immediately subsided. She sneered, “Your schemes are useless. You’ve gratuitously helped me gather information on the Ice Demon. Thanks, dear sister.”

Ye Tinglan: “?”

“No, what did this foolish sister imagine now?” Lu Xingzhou was already “nibbling cherries,” and Ye Tinglan truly couldn’t concentrate her thoughts. She said languidly and alluringly, “Suit yourself.”

Yuan Muyu still wanted to mock, “Still pretending?” but the call had already been cut.

Yuan Muyu was no longer angry. She calmly leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment, then called a subordinate inside. “Have someone contact the Hetao Sect of Bewitching Maidens,” she instructed, “and tell them I wish to see the Dark Lady.”

“Yes, madam.”

Meanwhile, Ye Tinglan grabbed Lu Xingzhou’s ear. “Have you gnawed enough?” she asked.

Lu Xingzhou blinked innocently. “Madam didn’t object just now,” he said.

“I was distracted! You took advantage of me!”

“Is that so…” Lu Xingzhou didn’t expose how little a dignified A-grade expert could be distracted by a mere conversation. It was clearly just her intentionally annoying Yuan Muyu, and he had merely cooperated. Now that she was done being angry, “Tool-zhou” was discarded. Of course, he wouldn’t mind more of this “annoying people” method.

Ye Tinglan glared irritably at the scoundrel. Her legs instinctively squeezed together a little. The price of “baiting the fish” this time was a bit painful. She hadn’t known that going deeper with a man could involve so many new sensations. That feeling was truly irresistible, both strange and comfortable, and inexplicably, she became all sticky… Just an hour ago, she had been telling her disciple that it was merely ordinary intimacy, nothing more… But now? She had almost gone much further.

Ye Tinglan didn’t dare to linger any longer. She decisively got up and straightened her collar, then turned back and glared fiercely at Lu Xingzhou. “Today, I’m going back to my own room. You go heal your injuries!” After saying that, she hurriedly left the room and went to the adjacent one, where she asked the inn for a bucket of hot water and got in. Soaking in the bucket, watching the steam rise, Ye Tinglan’s eyes gradually misted over, and she didn’t move for a long time.

Lu Xingzhou was also sprawled on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling, not knowing what he was thinking. That night, both of them were sleepless. The most interesting thing was that although they both knew the other was likely sleepless, neither dared to initiate contact, not even to speak. They simply watched as dawn broke in the east and sunlight spread across Tianshuang.

After a long night of flying, Dugu Qingli finally arrived in Xiazhou. The first thing she saw was Shen Tang and Anuoying accompanying a young man down the mountain. The man, laden with gifts, smilingly bid his farewell. Dugu Qingli immediately knew it must be Ji Wenchuan; no other guest would be escorted down the mountain by Anuoying. So, if she had arrived a moment later, Ji Wenchuan would have already left.

Dugu Qingli quickly suppressed her sword light and called out, “Mr. Ji, please wait.”

Ji Wenchuan leaned back, a hint of surprise in his expression. “Innate Ice Essence Sword Physique… Who are you, young lady?”

Anuoying rushed forward and rubbed against Dugu Qingli’s chest, exclaiming, “Sister Qingli, I miss you!”

Ji Wenchuan: “…”

Dugu Qingli awkwardly picked up Anuoying and explained to Ji Wenchuan, “Lu Xingzhou sent me to find you, Mr. Ji. He asked you to send a message to the Yin Corpse Sect, requesting their cooperation with him.”

Ji Wenchuan replied, “I’ve already sent it.”

Dugu Qingli: “?”

Ji Wenchuan added, “The King of Hell personally ordered it.”

Dugu Qingli’s face remained expressionless. So what exactly was my long night of travel for? Was it just to make space for that shameless couple? She looked at Anuoying in her arms and suddenly felt that they were kindred spirits.

Ji Wenchuan chuckled, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first. I still want to take this bone dragon to Old Man Yin Feng to help him research it.”

Shen Tang politely said, “Mr. Ji, take care.”

Ji Wenchuan looked at Shen Tang, then at Dugu Qingli. His expression finally showed a bewildered sense of strangeness, and he dared not ask more. He simply summoned his bone dragon and rode it away.

Dugu Qingli stood there awkwardly, holding Anuoying, and exchanged glances with Shen Tang, not knowing whether to say, “Sister, my master is stealing your husband… Oh wait, she’s currently using the title of Junior Aunt.”

A sudden inspiration struck her. She asked Anuoying in her arms, “Anuoying, do you miss Master? Shall I take you back to Master?”

Anuoying was overjoyed. “Yes!” she exclaimed.

“Oh,” Shen Tang tilted her head, reached out, and poked Dugu Qingli’s shoulder. “Qingli, long time no see, and you didn’t even say hello. Do you have something to hide?”

“How can you casually slander me?” Dugu Qingli said, stiffening her neck. “It’s… it’s just that the questions you asked when we parted made me feel awkward, and I didn’t know how to talk to you!”

“Is that so?” Shen Tang stroked her chin. “Just awkward, or is it truly because of something ‘ghostly’ that happened with that matter?”

“No, no,” Dugu Qingli stammered. “How can you slander someone’s innocence out of nowhere?”

Shen Tang chuckled, “So it’s still what you told me before, when I asked you about emotions, you said you would never experience such a day?”

Dugu Qingli froze for a moment. A memory she had almost forgotten suddenly flashed through her mind. A long time ago, she seemed to have had such a conversation with Shen Tang:

“I won’t have that day. My cultivation is unique; I am inherently emotionally detached. Besides, Master has been alone her entire life; I will only emulate her.”

“What if your Master finds a man?”

“That is something that will never happen.”