Yun Ye froze in place, the soft sensation lingering on his lips for only a fleeting moment. Bai Tu straightened up, averting his gaze awkwardly. His cheeks flushed a light red, clearly flustered.

“Ma-Master…” Yun Ye called out in a daze, but he didn’t know what else to say. He dumbly touched his lips, as if trying to confirm whether that had really just happened.

As his hand dropped, it accidentally knocked over several silver needles on his body. He let out a pained “ow!” and finally snapped out of his daze.

Bai Tu quickly grabbed his hand, fumbling as he tried to reposition the needles. “Don’t move around! These needles are sealing your meridians to keep your energy from leaking out. You…”

“Forget about them,” Yun Ye brushed the silver needles aside without a second thought. In the next instant, he grabbed Bai Tu’s hand and pulled him into his arms. “I’m just so happy, Master. So, so happy.”

Bai Tu let out a helpless chuckle. “You really… get satisfied way too easily.”

Yun Ye buried his face in the crook of Bai Tu’s neck without saying a word. Bai Tu patted his shoulder and said, “Alright, let me put the needles back in. Don’t you still want to recover?”

Yun Ye murmured a soft reply and obediently lay back down, no longer fooling around.

Bai Tu’s hand brushed over Yun Ye’s firm, smooth skin as he carefully found the acupuncture points and reinserted the needles one by one. His hands were pale and slender, his fingers delicate and graceful—almost fragile. The sight of them stirred up a restless heat in Yun Ye’s chest, leaving him feeling both flustered and tortured.

Thankfully, Bai Tu was skilled in medicine, and soon the needles were all back in place. He gently pressed a spot over Yun Ye’s heart.

In a low voice, Bai Tu asked, “Letting me draw your blood for refining medicine—didn’t it hurt?”

“N–” Yun Ye started to respond instinctively, but paused midway. Then, with a pitiful expression and a shift in tone, he said, “It did. It hurt a lot.”

Bai Tu saw right through the act but humored him anyway. “Oh? Then what should I do to make our little Yun Ye feel better?”

Yun Ye tugged at his sleeve, his voice soft and sweet. “Master, kiss me again—just a bit longer—and I won’t feel the pain anymore.”

Bai Tu slapped his hand away without hesitation, his tone cool. “You’re pushing your luck.”

Yun Ye looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.

It had to be said—he’d really figured out how to deal with Bai Tu by now.

Bai Tu felt his heart soften under that gaze. With a sigh, he adjusted Yun Ye’s loosened collar and leaned down slightly. “Fine. But you have to promise me—no more of that reckless nonsense.”

“But…”

Bai Tu pulled back just a little, trying to reason with him. “Losing a bit of my cultivation isn’t a big deal. But you… you’re in a position of power now, surrounded by hidden threats, eyes watching your every move. And yet, all you care about is my little bit of lost cultivation…”

He reached out to gently smooth Yun Ye’s hair and let out a quiet sigh. “How did I end up with such a foolish disciple?”

Yun Ye stared at him in silence, eyes unwavering.

Bai Tu narrowed his eyes and said in mock warning, “If you won’t promise me, I’m leaving.”

“Don’t,” Yun Ye quickly grabbed his hand. “I promise, alright?”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Bai Tu’s lips.

Yun Ye stared intently at that face now so close to his own, and finally understood why the world had tales of enchantresses who could bring down empires.

With someone like this by his side, forget politics or ambition—even if Bai Tu wanted his life right now, he’d give it without blinking.

And now, that very person was leaning in, those soft lips about to meet his own—

Suddenly, the doors to the hall were flung open. The royal physician stormed in, scowling. “I told you to give him his medicine and then leave! What, did the Immortal Lord send you to deliver some message of life and death that’s taking this long?”

Bai Tu nearly jumped like a rabbit caught underfoot, visibly startled. Instinctively, he shifted back to his usual composed self and straightened up with a guilty expression.

Yun Ye felt his breath catch in frustration, the moment ruined. If looks could kill, he would’ve tossed that old man straight out of the palace.

But the physician seemed completely oblivious, plopping himself down in a chair and grumbling with a glare, “Well? Hurry up and get out. Don’t keep His Excellency from resting.”

Head bowed, Bai Tu picked up the empty medicine bowl and replied, “Understood. I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait.” Yun Ye suddenly called out.

The physician frowned, but Yun Ye’s expression remained calm as he said, “Lord Physician, this one is meticulous and thoughtful. I was just telling him—I’d like him to begin attending to me here, starting tomorrow.”

Bai Tu froze for a moment.

What was he playing at now?

The physician didn’t quite understand where this sudden idea had come from and tried to dissuade him. “Your Excellency, there are already plenty of attendants in the palace…”

“I want him,” Yun Ye interrupted firmly. “No one else compares.”

The physician hesitated.

He held a high status in the Demon Abyss. Back when the previous Demon Lord reigned, he had been the imperial physician—and he’d even watched Yun Ye be born. Strict by nature, the physician had no qualms about scolding even the former Demon Lord when angered. That’s why he’d dared to confine Yun Ye for three days of enforced rest.

And these past few days, this young Demon Lord had been anything but cooperative, constantly trying to escape. Now, with this sudden request, the physician’s instincts told him Yun Ye was up to something again.

Yun Ye made him an offer. “Let him stay, and I’ll agree to rest a few more days—just as Lord Physician has asked.”

“…Truly?”

Yun Ye replied calmly, “Of course.”

The physician muttered, “…Do as you like.”

And so, starting the next day, Bai Tu was free to come and go from the side hall without any interference.

Bai Tu had already been worried about him, so this arrangement suited him just fine. Besides, Yun Ye never actually dared to order him around. When no one else was around, it was usually Bai Tu who ended up being cared for more than the other way around.

One day, just as Bai Tu was about to step outside, the light mirror hidden in his spirit pouch suddenly trembled softly. It slipped free from the pouch and floated before him.

A familiar face appeared in the mirror.

Bai Tu sat down in the room and greeted it coolly, “Senior Brother.”

Inside the mirror, Xun Yi narrowed his eyes and looked him over for a while. “From the looks of it, he’s treating you fairly well?”

Bai Tu asked, “Did you contact me for something?”

“Not really,” Xun Yi said. “It’s just… you’ve been gone for over half a month. I was concerned for your safety and thought I’d see if I could reach you.”

Bai Tu replied, “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother.”

Xun Yi paused for a moment, then said, “You seem to be living quite comfortably over there. But do you have any idea how things are on this side? The cultivation world is in a state of constant fear.”

Bai Tu’s eyes flickered slightly. “What happened?”

“It’s all because of your precious disciple,” Xun Yi replied. “Even though Yun Ye hasn’t made any move against the righteous sects, you know what those people are like. The moment they heard the Lord of the Demon Abyss had returned, they assumed the worst—that the mortal world would soon fall into chaos like before. Now they’re all on edge, scrambling to form some kind of alliance among the sects to stand against the Demon Abyss.”

“…I didn’t think things through,” Bai Tu said quietly. “I haven’t been well these days, but in a couple of days, I’ll go to Tianyan Sect myself and clear things up.”

“There’s no need for that,” Xun Yi shook his head. “Focus on taking care of your child. I only reached out to give you both a heads-up. If you’re truly worried, why not leave it to Yun Ye to handle?”

Bai Tu looked slightly surprised. “I thought… Senior Brother, you had a grudge against him.”

“Of course I do,” Xun Yi replied bluntly. On the other end of the mirror, he seemed to have found a place to lounge, reaching for a wine jug and taking a deep swig. “He’s the reason my little junior ended up like this, suffering in that kind of place. Am I not allowed to hold a grudge?”

Bai Tu chuckled softly and shook his head. “Why do you all assume I’m suffering? You, him… everyone. I’m doing just fine—no hardship at all.”

But Xun Yi’s expression shifted, growing serious as he stared at him intently.

“…What is it?”

Xun Yi’s voice lowered. “Do you know how long it’s been since you last smiled like that in front of me?”

Bai Tu froze, caught off guard.

Xun Yi didn’t look at him again. He took another slow sip of wine and said, almost lazily, “Back when your ascension failed and Master told you to switch to cultivating the Path of Severance, I spoke up. I told him it wouldn’t work.”

“You’re too full of emotion. You care too much—for people, for the world. There’s no way someone like you could truly walk a path of detachment. But Master said that’s exactly why you needed to. Because unless you let go of all that, you’d never be able to leave this world behind. If you wanted to ascend… you had to sever everything.”

“Afterward, you succeeded,” Xun Yi said, pausing briefly. “But you also started becoming less and less like yourself. And now… I think you’re starting to come back.”

Bai Tu hesitated. “I…”

He hadn’t realized it at all.

Perhaps life in the Demon Abyss had simply been too easy, too free. So much so that Bai Tu had forgotten his role, forgotten who he was supposed to be.

For the first time in all these years, he had let go of his identity as someone who had transmigrated. For the first time, he wasn’t carefully pretending to be someone else in front of others.

Then Xun Yi suddenly asked, “Do you remember the question Pei Ran asked you a few months ago?”

Pei Ran had asked him whether his feelings for Yun Ye were purely those between master and disciple.

Were they really?

“Of course—how could there be anything else between us…” Bai Tu’s voice trailed off abruptly.

But Xun Yi just chuckled, like he’d finally let go of a worry. “Relax, I was just asking casually. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Alright, you get some rest. The cultivation world still hasn’t found a way into the Demon Abyss yet. You don’t need to worry.”

Bai Tu opened his mouth. “Senior Brother, I…”

Xun Yi shook the wine jug in his hand. “I’ve got to go. Pei Ran’s been nagging me to quit drinking lately—can’t let him catch me.”

With that, a shimmer of light flashed across the surface of the mirror, and Xun Yi’s figure vanished from view.

Bai Tu set the mirror aside and sat there in silence for a long while.

Those who ascend through the Path of Severance must not form attachments to the mortal world. That was a law set by the heavens—and a rule Bai Tu had agreed to the moment he arrived in this world.

That question… he should not have hesitated to answer.

But now…

As if sensing his restless thoughts, the little one in his belly gave a soft movement.

Bai Tu placed a hand gently on his rounded stomach, soothing it. His voice was low and soft. “Alright, no more thinking. Let’s go find your father.”

When Bai Tu arrived at the side hall, the witch doctor had just finished inserting the needles into Yun Ye and left to prepare his medicine. Bai Tu walked over to the bedside and quietly began helping Yun Ye get dressed.

Yun Ye keenly sensed something was off. “Master, what’s wrong?”

Bai Tu shook his head. “It’s nothing…”

Yun Ye’s gaze was intense. “Master is lying to me.”

“I’m not.”

Yun Ye stared at him for a moment, then shifted to the inner side of the bed. “Then… would you lie down with me for a while?”

“Alright.” Bai Tu nodded and lay down beside him.

Yun Ye propped his head up on his hand, studying Bai Tu carefully. Bai Tu felt a little uneasy under his gaze and turned his head away. “What are you staring at me for?”

Yun Ye flashed him a small smile. “Master is handsome.”

Bai Tu found himself momentarily speechless, his irritation melting away. Then, remembering something, he added, “I just contacted Senior Brother.”

Yun Ye’s brow furrowed slightly. “Him again…”

Bai Tu: “Listen to me…”

Yun Ye interrupted, “I don’t want to. My master is communicating with another man—I’m jealous.”

Bai Tu lightly tapped his forehead. “I was only discussing matters of the cultivation world with him… The sects are planning to form an alliance to stand against the Abyss of Demons.”

Yun Ye showed no sign of surprise and responded indifferently, “I know.”

Bai Tu: “You knew already?”

Yun Ye smiled. “The Abyss of Demons isn’t as isolated as you think, Master.”

Bai Tu sighed. “That makes things easier. I came to discuss this with you. Once you’ve recovered in a couple of days, I’ll take Wu Jiu to Tianyan Sect. The misunderstandings between you and the righteous sects can’t be delayed any longer… Are you even listening to me?”

Yun Ye toyed with Bai Tu’s fingers, his gaze lowered. “I am.”

“Then you—”

Yun Ye tilted his head, his eyes glinting with mischief. “If Master wants to leave the Abyss of Demons, shouldn’t you do something to please me first?”

Bai Tu frowned. “Yun Ye.”

Ever since that day when Bai Tu had taken the initiative to kiss him, Yun Ye had become increasingly audacious. Now, no matter how trivial the request, he always had to negotiate terms—whether it was as small as holding hands or as bold as a kiss on the cheek. His childishness was beyond words.

Before Bai Tu could react, Yun Ye flipped over and pinned him down, murmuring a playful threat, “Hurry and please me, Master, or I won’t let you leave the Abyss of Demons.”

“You—”

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Bai Tu instinctively tried to sit up, but Yun Ye held him down firmly, pressing his limbs in place.

The gauzy bed curtains drifted down, concealing the scene as Yun Ye pulled the blanket over them both. From the outside, it would appear as though only one person lay on the bed.

The approaching footsteps entered the room but didn’t come near the bed—judging by the faint rustling sounds, the person seemed to be tidying something on the desk.

Bai Tu shot Yun Ye a glare, only to meet his amused gaze.

Lowering his head, Yun Ye pressed a soft kiss to Bai Tu’s forehead. His lips traced a slow, melting path from the space between Bai Tu’s brows to his eyelids, then finally to the shell of his ear.

Bai Tu trembled, his body turning weak under the lingering touch, unable to suppress a slight shudder.

“Don’t move,” Yun Ye murmured against his ear, his voice laced with mischief. “Unless, of course, Master wants to be discovered.”

As he spoke, Yun Ye placed light kisses near Bai Tu’s ear. “A dignified Immortal Lord of the righteous path, disguising himself, sneaking into my chambers… and even climbing into my bed.”

Bai Tu’s face burned, as if he had truly done something shameful and was on the verge of being caught. His fingers instinctively tightened around Yun Ye’s robes.

With a chuckle, Yun Ye carefully pulled him into his arms, his voice laced with amusement as he finished his sentence:

“Master, don’t you think this feels a bit like…”

“A secret affair.”

=^_^=