When Bai Tu arrived outside Lingxu Cave, he saw the sword light flashing from a distance.

Dozens of immortal swords hovered outside the cave, surrounding a familiar figure in the center. Bai Tu immediately recognized this as the Tianyan Sect’s Zhu Xie Sword Formation.

The Zhu Xie Sword Formation was a secret technique of Tianyan Sect, comprising five levels. What was currently in use was the lowest level. Any cultivator below the Nascent Soul stage who was struck by it would undoubtedly suffer internal injuries and be bedridden for several days.

And on top of that, Yun Ye was a demon.

If this sword formation hit, it would surely force him to reveal his true form.

Bai Tu’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.

Who gave them the audacity to use the Zhu Xie Sword Formation on his disciple?

Around them, the wind howled. Yun Ye was trapped within the sword formation, his clothes torn in several places by the sword intent, with faint blood seeping from the fabric. Despite this, there was no sign of panic in his eyes.

Across from him stood a figure holding a long sword, his expression full of provocation.

“Why aren’t you so proud anymore?” The man sneered, his tone filled with contempt. “Truly a useless waste. I really don’t understand what exactly Immortal Lord Zhaohua saw in you.”

He paused for a moment, then added. “Could it be true, as the rumors say, that there’s some unspeakable secret between you two?”

Yun Ye’s eyes darkened, and the black aura in his palm began to condense. Faint demonic light flickered in his eyes. In a low voice, he said. “I’ll give you one chance to take back those words.”

“Arrogant! Fall, sword!” The man shouted.

Yun Ye’s lips curled into a grin, and a trace of bloodthirsty pleasure appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to charge at the sword formation, a sudden gust of wind rose beside him, and a hand pressed firmly onto his wrist.

As the wind blew, the once menacing Zhu Xie Sword Formation instantly collapsed, its dozens of immortal swords losing control and falling to the ground, automatically flying back into their sheaths. With the sound of swords sheathing, the demonic light in Yun Ye’s eyes faded, and he looked up to meet a pair of pale, shallow eyes.

“…Master?”

Bai Tu averted his gaze and used sound transmission to scold. “What nonsense are you doing? Do you want people to discover your identity?”

Yun Ye immediately stopped his previous expression, lowered his eyes, and put on an appearance of grievance. In a soft voice, he said. “Master, you’ve only just arrived. I almost lost my life here.”

As he spoke, he pitifully grabbed Bai Tu’s hand.

His hands were exquisitely beautiful—fair and strong, with long, well-proportioned fingers. When Bai Tu grasped them, they felt soft beyond belief, nothing like those of an immortal cultivator who had suffered years of hard training, but more like the hands of a pampered young master from a noble family.

Yun Ye’s fingertips seemed to casually trace across Bai Tu’s palm. He lowered his voice and asked. “Master, why are your hands so cold?”

A chill ran down Bai Tu’s spine, and he nearly couldn’t resist slapping Yun Ye.

As a wolf demon, Yun Ye’s body temperature was naturally higher than that of ordinary people. Bai Tu had just soaked in the cold spring, and the chill still lingered in his body. Now, with Yun Ye’s touch, he felt as though his hand was burning, and it brought back memories of the intense heat from last night when he was held and thrust against repeatedly.

After what had happened last night, how could this person touch him so casually?!

Was this person’s skin made of stone?!

Bai Tu pushed Yun Ye’s hand away and turned his back, refusing to look at him. “Kneel!”

Yun Ye stared at the slender, white-clad figure before him.

The robe, adorned with water cloud patterns, wrapped around the lithe, slender frame, emanating an air of formality and purity, like an ethereal being. The long black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, carrying a hint of morning dew, obscuring his waist, which seemed delicate enough to break with a single touch.

Yun Ye’s gaze lingered on the narrow waist, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s appearance was renowned in the cultivation world. His face was undeniably handsome, though not without flaw.

At least, that’s how Yun Ye saw it.

To him, the person always appeared cold as frost, devoid of emotion—his face’s charm seemingly diminished by the lack of warmth. His eyes, which should have radiated with tenderness, instead held an austere, almost ascetic air due to their pale color. It made him seem distant, rigid, and ultimately uninteresting.

But the more he looked like this, the more Yun Ye felt compelled to “provoke” him, to see him blush in embarrassment, to witness him lose control in panic.

This thought had plagued Yun Ye since the first day he became Bai Tu’s disciple.

No, perhaps it had been there even earlier.

Yun Ye still remembered the first time he met Immortal Zhaohua, that was in his past life. At the time, he had been abandoned by his wolf pack, with nowhere to turn. Just as his life was nearing its end, Immortal Lord Zhaohua appeared.

Immortal Lord Zhaohua shone like a light, illuminating his bleak, hopeless life and occupying everything within it.

Yun Ye followed Immortal Zhaohua to the Tianyan Sect. Though Immortal Lord Zhaohua never met with him directly, he would always secretly help him whenever he was bullied. He even disguised himself and taught Yun Ye cultivation techniques, aiding his practice.

That fool always thought he was hiding his actions well, but little did he know, Yun Ye had been aware of everything from the start.

The person who appeared as cold as ice on the outside was, in reality, soft and kind-hearted. Just like now—though he seemed high and mighty, he looked just like a small, clawing rabbit, making one want to pull him close and protect him dearly.

Yun Ye’s lips curled up faintly as he slowly knelt down on one knee, obediently bowing behind Bai Tu.

Seeing this, the person who had initiated the sword formation showed a look of smug satisfaction.

His name was Mu Xi, a disciple of the sect leader of Tianyan Sect. He was talented, with profound cultivation, and held a high reputation within the sect.

Mu Xi had entered Tianyan Sect at a young age, and the person he admired most was Immortal Lord Zhaohua, he had even offered to join Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s sect.

But had never been accepted.

Why? Even if he wasn’t qualified to be Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s disciple, he certainly didn’t deserve to be called a useless failure who couldn’t form a Golden Core after ten years of cultivation.

Fortunately, this person was about to be expelled from the sect.

Thinking this, Mu Xi felt a sense of smug satisfaction. He stepped forward and properly bowed to Bai Tu, saying. “Greetings, Immortal Lord Zhaohua. Junior Brother Yun Ye injured a disciple guarding the forbidden area and escaped the restricted grounds. I was about to follow the sect rules and take him into custody.”

Bai Tu’s expression turned cold as frost as he turned to Yun Ye and asked. “Is that true?”

“Master, I—”

“Silence.” Bai Tu interrupted him without hesitation. “You still have a reason after injuring a fellow disciple?”

Yun Ye closed his mouth sulkily, and Bai Tu continued, “You are to transcribe the scriptures three hundred times. Go to the Discipline Hall later to receive your punishment.”

“…Understood.”

Mu Xi’s smug expression grew even more pronounced, but then he heard Bai Tu speak softly. “It’s been a while since I last visited the front mountain. I didn’t realize your formation skills had advanced to this level. But there’s one thing I’d like to know…”

Bai Tu raised his eyes, a hint of coldness flickering in his gaze. “When did the sect rules state that the Zhu Xie Sword Formation could be casually used against fellow disciples?”

Mu Xi was taken aback. “Immortal… Immortal Lord…”

Bai Tu replied coldly. “The Zhu Xie Sword Formation is a formation used by the Tianyan Sect to defend against enemies and exterminate evil. It cannot be used without the elders’ permission. Yun Ye has not been sentenced yet. Who gave you the authority to use the formation against him?”

Mu Xi clenched his hands at his sides and muttered, “…Disciple acknowledges his mistake.”

“That’s good.”

As soon as Bai Tu’s words fell, a gust of wind suddenly rose beside him, sweeping all of the disciples into the Lingxu Cave.

“According to sect rules, unauthorized use of a major formation should be dealt with by the Sect Leader personally. The Sect Leader is currently away, so you’ll remain here to reflect on your actions. When the Sect Leader returns, he will decide your punishment.”

“Immortal Lord, please forgive us, Immortal Lord—!”

The barrier of Lingxu Cave closed, cutting off the disciples’ voices.

After dealing with the matter, Bai Tu finally turned to look at Yun Ye, who was still kneeling obediently behind him, silent.

Bai Tu said. “Get up. Let’s go back.”

Yun Ye remained still. “I’ve been kneeling for too long; I can’t stand up.”

His beautiful eyes were cast downward, his tone tinged with a sense of grievance, as if Bai Tu had truly done something to him. There was no trace of the fierce, domineering figure from last night.

Bai Tu, however, was reminded of the aches in his waist and backside every time he looked at this person making his frustration flared up.

He pursed his lips, muttering, “Then stay kneeling,” before turning and disappearing into the sword light.

Bai Tu summoned his immortal sword and returned to the Luoxia Peak.

Luoxia Peak was like spring all year round. The snowmelt from the high mountains gathered at the foot of the peak, forming a lake, its greenish jade-like surface nestled among the towering hills. A row of willow trees along the shore had just sprouted new buds, and a gentle breeze carried the faint scent of fresh grass.

Bai Tu sat in a pavilion in the middle of the lake, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip, which helped to ease some of the frustration in his heart.

He prided himself on being straightforward, and if he had accidentally crossed paths with someone, he could have played it off as if nothing happened. But of course, that person was the child he had raised since childhood.

There was no situation more awkward than this.

Nevertheless, he had to have a proper talk with that person.

Barely a moment after sitting down, Bai Tu heard the familiar footsteps behind him. Just as he was about to turn around, a figure suddenly pressed against his back.

A deep, husky voice whispered in his ear, low and soft, carrying a hint of grievance. “Master, why didn’t you wait for me?”

The warmth of the breath against Bai Tu’s ear made him tense, and when he tried to move, he couldn’t break free.

His heart raced violently for a moment, and he forced himself to keep his voice calm. “Let go.”

“Not letting go,” Yun Ye tightened his arms around him a little more, pouting. “Master, why are you being so fierce with me today? Did I do something wrong to make you angry?”

You really don’t know what you’ve done?!

Bai Tu gritted his teeth in anger, and with a bit of force, he shoved Yun Ye away.

“Master, I didn’t mean to hurt them,” Yun Ye misunderstood, thinking Bai Tu was mad about the trouble he caused today. He quickly explained, “I just woke up and couldn’t find you. I couldn’t leave Lingxu Cave, so I asked a disciple to check on you. But… you know how they see me as a thorn in their side, and since Brother Mu was patrolling the forbidden area, it led to some unpleasantness.”

Yun Ye half-squatted beside Bai Tu, looking up at him with gentle eyes. “Master, you were so busy last night, and then you left without a word this morning. I was just worried about your health.”

He—he—what was he even saying?!

Bai Tu felt his face burn with embarrassment, turning his head and answering stiffly, “I—what is there to worry about with me?”

Yun Ye’s gaze fell on the reddening tips of Bai Tu’s ears, and silently, he held back the rest of his words.

It was just a few injured disciples, was it really worth getting this angry? Even his ears turned red from it?

After a brief pause, Yun Ye spoke again, “Master, last night…”

Bai Tu was on the verge of burning himself into a red-braised little rabbit. He feared that if Yun Ye said anything else shocking, he’d lose all composure, so he hurriedly interrupted. “Last night was just an accident, you don’t need to dwell on it.”

“How can that be?” Yun Ye reached out and gently placed his hand on Bai Tu’s, speaking softly. “Master used a lot of spiritual energy to help me dispel my heart demon. How could I not be concerned?”

As he spoke, Yun Ye took out a small cloth pouch. “I just went to the Pill Refining Hall and picked up some tonics. Master, you should take them.”

“No, you…” Bai Tu finally realized something was wrong. His lips pressed together as he tentatively asked. “What do you remember about last night?”

Yun Ye frowned in confusion but answered. “I only remember that my heart demon entered my body, and you protected me. After that, it felt like I fell into some kind of dream, but when I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything.”

“This…”

Bai Tu was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.

He had heard that those who are possessed by their heart demons often forget everything they did once they regain clarity.

So, Yun Ye didn’t remember anything that happened last night?

A sense of relief swept over Bai Tu, and he steadied his breath, adopting a serious expression. “It’s fine that you don’t remember. I helped dispel your heart demon last night. You’re fine now, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Yun Ye gazed at Bai Tu’s face, but a sense of disappointment quietly stirred within him.

In truth, he didn’t forget everything.

When the heart demon took over, he had plunged into an unprecedentedly enchanting dream.

In the dream, this celestial being, so cold and aloof, lay beneath him, soft as if turned into a spring breeze, offering himself freely, allowing him to do as he pleased.

Years of infatuation turned into reality in an instant. The dream was beautiful and vivid, and even the sound of each of the other’s breaths—those sighs of pure ecstasy, and the quiet whimpers of someone who couldn’t bear more—felt as if they were right in his ears.

If that were true, how wonderful would it be?

But alas, after the dream shattered, this person remained as distant and unreachable as ever.

Yun Ye lowered his eyes, hiding the sadness in them, and obediently replied. “Understood, Master.”

Bai Tu who was completely oblivious to the unusual reaction of his disciple had spent the entire morning fretting over the matter. Now that he saw Yun Ye didn’t remember anything, his mood lifted to the point where he almost wanted to skip in place. Even the soreness from the night before seemed to ease.

Suppressing his giddy thoughts, Bai Tu waved his hand and began to dismiss him. “Alright, since you’re fine, go to the Discipline Hall and accept your punishment.”

Yun Ye looked pitifully at him. “Do I really have to go?”

Bai Tu’s expression turned serious. “Go now, and don’t come back until you’ve copied the scriptures three hundred times.”

“…Yes, Master.”

=^_^=

The Author has something to say: Bai Tu: So happy, doing a bunny spin.gif

Yun Ye: Don’t get too excited too soon.

A certain bun: Surprised? Thrilled?