Chapter 995: Master is Right!

The weapon was exquisite. Ye Wenxin wanted to tell Han Shanxue that a dagger was not enough to bribe her with.

Han Shanxue suddenly cut her own finger.

Blood oozed from her fingertip and transformed into a blood-red ice flower. It was a delicate and beautiful thing with distinct patterns on the surface.

Ye Wenxin knew the blood was valuable, but it also came at a price.

“Answer my question,” Han Shanxue pressed.

The red ice flower floated in the air. Ye Wenxin would receive the reward if she squealed.

But she refused. “No. I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone about it.”

Although her heart ached at missing out on such a good item, the truth would only bring more trouble. Han Shanxue stopped insisting. With a tap of her finger, the red ice flower reverted into liquid blood and dripped onto the back of her hand.

Han Shanxue raised her hand, intending to lick the blood clean. Even if unintentional, it was the first time she showed a seductive side before Ye Wenxin.

The blood was too precious for her to waste even a drop. It was a pity her foolish disciple wouldn’t receive this blessing.

But she didn’t know why Ye Wenxin was making such a strange expression while staring at her.

Attempting to use the remaining blood to tempt Ye Wenxin, Han Shanxue reached out again. But Ye Wenxin misunderstood, thinking her master was giving her a treat.

She happily lapped up the rest of the blood.

Minus all the colorful details, Ye Wenxin felt her cultivation subtly improve, almost like a breakthrough.

But it hadn’t been long since her last breakthrough, so she dismissed the notion.

Ye Wenxin continued sitting there, seizing the moment to study Fenghua Xueyue’s ice.

A chill rose from her hand the next second, and an ice block larger than her fist appeared. Had the blood accelerated her mastery over ice?

“Master, the blood contains Han Shanxue’s and Lady Snow’s essence. That’s why you’re progressing so quickly.” Ghost Mother’s voice echoed in her mind with perfect timing.

Ye Wenxin felt something was off. Ghost Mother never gave pointless reminders. Unless—

“Master, remember to feed me once you’ve finished refining that blood essence into your own.” Ghost Mother’s true motive emerged. She still craved the euphoric feeling Ye Wenxin’s blood had given her last time.

Ye Wenxin ignored her.

“Master, don’t play dead!” Ghost Mother exclaimed impatiently. “I will jump out right now and tell Han Shanxue I’m not dead!”

She knew Ye Wenxin didn’t want her to get stronger, but she was obsessed with the power in Ye Wenxin’s blood. She must have it.

Unable to bear the litany of curses in her mind, Ye Wenxin finally responded.

“Is the umbrella sword under your control or mine?”

Ghost Mother shut up.

Then, she started fake-crying, accusing Ye Wenxin of being heartless and more shameless than ghosts.

Ye Wenxin said nothing. She quietly summoned Liuli and asked her to keep Ghost Mother company inside the umbrella sword for a while.

Liuli cheerfully agreed. Not long after, only her giggles and Ghost Mother’s miserable screams remained.

Ye Wenxin smirked.

Sensing Han Shanxue’s gaze, she opened her eyes and saw her scanning the room.

“Master, is something wrong with my room?” asked Ye Wenxin.

“There was something unclean, but it’s gone now,” Han Shanxue replied. She didn’t know what had managed to escape her sight so quickly.

Her observation startled Ye Wenxin. She figured Liuli had caused a disturbance entering the umbrella sword just now. Usually, no one would have noticed, which again proved how extraordinary Han Shanxue was.

Ye Wenxin brushed it off. “Maybe Youqiu got lonely.”

Han Shanxue immediately went silent and tossed another book to her.

[Spirit Communication]

By studying this book, one could see supernatural beings invisible to the naked eye.

It was another unique copy. Not even Celestial Master Zhong’s memories had a record of it.

But Ye Wenxin was already studying three techniques at once. It wasn’t the right time to take on a fourth. She expressed gratitude, put the book away, and resumed her meditation.

Eventually, a rooster crowed, signaling dawn’s arrival.

Neither Ye Wenxin nor Han Shanxue had slept. After cultivating with spirit stones the entire night, both felt brimming with energy. They could fight three hundred rounds without issue.

An incense stick of time later, someone knocked on Ye Wenxin’s door.

Sister Hong had come to wake her as usual. Smiling, she greeted, “Celestial Master Ye, good morning.”

“Good morning, Sister Hong.” Ye Wenxin replied politely.

A veiled Han Shanxue appeared beside her.

Sister Hong paused, puzzled that someone had appeared in Ye Wenxin’s room earlier than her. But she quickly regained her usual expression and greeted Han Shanxue as well.

Han Shanxue gave a wordless nod.

Sister Hong casually chatted with Ye Wenxin. “You two cultivated all night?” she asked.

“Yeah, what else would we be doing?” replied Ye Wenxin. The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she recalled the beautiful night.

Honestly, cultivating was far better than spending the night in Huang Hanyan’s room. Ye Wenxin almost felt like she was falling in love—

—With Han Shanxue’s storage ring.

Sister Hong covered her mouth, snickering. “You’re still young, Celestial Master Ye. One can do many things at night.”

“Our night of cultivation was pretty uneventful. What do you do at night, Sister Hong?” Ye Wenxin calmly tossed the ball back, curious how Sister Hong would respond.

She was in a pleasant enough mood to flirt.

“Hm, come over tonight, and I’ll tell you.”

Sister Hong wasn’t some shy young girl. She was in her thirties, almost forty. She knew that some things required a more forward approach.

Maybe because of her family background, she had developed a special attachment to Ye Wenxin—a youth who needed care.

Ye Wenxin opened her mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

Han Shanxue’s cold voice cut in.

“Cultivators should abstain from worldly desires.”

“Master is right!”