---

Just as I was thinking about how to break the tense atmosphere, Feng Yexiao spoke up, “Master, I miss you so much. For these five years, I’ve thought of you constantly. I’m so happy to finally see you today.”

Hearing this, my hand shook. I didn’t expect Feng Yexiao to still hold on to those feelings. Is my charm really this great?

Feng Yexiao ignored my surprise and continued:

“For these five years, I’ve been practicing day and night and reading ancient texts, all to become stronger and worthy of you, Master.

“Master, what I’ve said isn’t to gain your sympathy; I just hope you won’t abandon me again. During the five years you left me at the sect, I missed you so much.”

As he spoke, I could clearly sense his voice choking up. I still steeled my heart and rejected him, saying, “Yexiao, it’s not appropriate between us.”

Feng Yexiao turned and looked at me with his tear-filled eyes, arguing, “But Master, what does it mean to be appropriate or inappropriate? Master, you haven’t even tried; how can you definitively say we’re not suitable for each other?”

“…”

“Master, can you let me stay by your side?” After saying that, he gently held my hand and leaned his cheek against it.

I was too shocked by Feng Yexiao’s confession to notice the fleeting darkness in his eyes.

---

18

In the end, I let Feng Yexiao stay to recover from his injuries… but I never expected him to want to travel with me.

Honestly, I didn’t really want Feng Yexiao to follow me around.

After all, we hadn’t clarified our past situation, and I had left. Now, letting him follow me felt… wrong.

So, I tried my best to persuade him, but he wouldn’t budge; scolding him didn’t work either. If I slapped his left cheek, he’d just offer his right cheek for me to hit…

What a stubborn brat!

I considered sneaking away again, but he always caught me and blocked my path…

After all, over the past five years, he had become more diligent in his cultivation, boosted by the bloodline of an ancient divine beast.

Now, he was no longer that little guy from before; his cultivation was on a completely different level.

After pondering for a long time, I compromised with him…

I absolutely wouldn’t admit it was because his cultivation had far surpassed mine.

Since I couldn’t drive him away, I decided to have an open conversation with him.

Perhaps this would help him see me as a mentor and maintain a proper master-disciple relationship.

Without hesitation, I called Feng Yexiao to the front hall and asked, “Yexiao, um… did you read the letter I left you?”

“I did, Master.”

“Then you should know that I won’t pursue the matter regarding your… past actions. I hope our relationship can remain a pure master-disciple bond.” I emphasized the word “pure.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Yexiao lowered his head and said softly, “I understand, Master.”

“!”

He agreed so quickly that I was a bit shocked. I thought Feng Yexiao would persistently cling to me!

Just like that, Feng Yexiao stayed by my side and traveled with me…

---

19

Feng Yexiao acted respectfully during the day, behaving like a proper disciple without any inappropriate actions, as if we were a legitimate master-disciple pair.

Everything seemed fine, except that I dreamt every night about Feng Yexiao being “rebellious” toward me…

The first night I had that dream, I was so startled that I couldn’t wake up.

In the dream, I was entangled with Feng Yexiao, and the scene was truly embarrassing. Even now, recalling it sends shivers down my spine.

The next day, I woke up with two dark circles under my eyes and secretly observed Feng Yexiao. I noticed that over the years, he had grown taller; his nose was high and straight, and his gaze was deep—he looked quite handsome.

But I wasn’t that desperate! I had just seen him for the first time yesterday, and now I was dreaming about him!

Feng Yexiao noticed my gaze and turned to smile at me.

I quickly smiled back, cursing myself internally.

Nevertheless, I firmly believed that the dream was just an accident.

That night before falling asleep, I specifically recited the calming mantra, thinking that I’d surely sleep soundly until dawn.

However, to my surprise, I still had a dream…

In the dream, the main characters were still Feng Yexiao and me, but the setting had changed again.

The content was largely the same; it was once again a scene of us entangled…

The next day, I decided I couldn’t let this continue.

Since I dreamed while sleeping, then not sleeping at all should work, right?

After all, for a cultivator, not sleeping doesn’t matter.

That night, I sat cross-legged in my room, but I still fell into that strange dream…

To my astonishment, this time it was even worse: Feng Yexiao and I were wearing red wedding attire, in a bridal chamber!

I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t asleep this time, but I woke up from the dream…

After three such dreams, I couldn’t claim that it had nothing to do with Feng Yexiao; I didn’t believe that anymore.

---

20

However, during the day, I observed Feng Yexiao and found him still acting respectful, truly trying to be a good disciple, leaving me no room to find fault.

I searched everywhere for a solution, and out of desperation, I finally sent a message back to ask the sect leader about why cultivators have such vivid dreams.

Of course, I didn’t dare to mention the embarrassing nature of my dreams…

“A cultivator shouldn’t have such vivid dreams. If you’re experiencing this, there are only two possibilities.

“One is that there’s a monster or cultivator skilled in dream manipulation nearby; the other is that someone has developed a mental demon because of you, causing you to become the protagonist pulled into the dream.”

“…”

After finishing, the sect leader added softly, “However, in the cultivation world over the past few hundred years, most people with mental demons have developed them due to their cultivation. The second possibility is less likely.”