Ling Huan woke up.
His eyelids felt as if they were weighed down by something heavy, so he didn’t open them right away.
Instead, a faint floral fragrance lingered around his nose.
The slightly damp air, mixed with the scent of moist earth, helped his scattered thoughts slowly come together.
There was no such floral scent in his own room.
It seemed he was alive—saved by Teacher.
[Mission Complete]
[Violated another’s will, threatened others with life and death, and used moral coercion!]
[Evaluation: Perfect!]
[Reward: 500 Spirit Stones!]
So this counts as doing evil, too.
As expected, ever since the system upgrade, its judgments about good and evil are incredibly superficial.
Ling Huan wasn’t in a hurry to get up.
Instead, he savored lying in Jiang Yue’s bed.
Clearly, Jiang Yue’s bedding was the same as his own—even made by the same carpenter—yet the comfort was worlds apart.
Whenever he wanted to use it, Jiang Yue would always refuse.
Now that he had the chance, Ling Huan was determined to enjoy it thoroughly.
“Since you’re awake, why are you still lying in bed?” Jiang Yue said coldly.
Hiss… That tone was not friendly.
She was still quite angry.
“Hehe…” Ling Huan laughed awkwardly, “Well, isn’t it because… Teacher’s bed is so comfortable? I finally got a chance—”
“Touch me and you’ll die, don’t you know that?!”
Jiang Yue’s voice suddenly rose, almost shouting.
“Of course I know.”
As Ling Huan spoke, he tried to get up, but Jiang Yue pressed him back down with her ruler against his forehead.
“Lie down and speak! I just finished cleansing your poison, don’t move!”
Though she shouted, it was obvious most of Jiang Yue’s anger had faded.
She was just mad that he’d done something so reckless.
“Because I believed Teacher would save me, so Teacher wouldn’t have a chance to be angry anymore.”
Ling Huan grinned foolishly.
“Nonsense! How can you gamble with your own life like that? If something happened to you, how could I explain it to your parents, to your ancestors?!”
Ling Huan’s reasoning was simple, but that just made Jiang Yue more unable to understand.
Who bets their life just to stop someone else from being angry?
“Teacher is just mad, not seeking death! Why resort to such extremes!”
The more Jiang Yue spoke, the angrier she became.
She raised the ruler high, then brought it down hard!
But just as it was about to strike Ling Huan’s forehead, she suddenly restrained her strength.
A loud “smack” rang out, but it didn’t hurt—just left a faint red mark.
“Aiyo!”
Ling Huan immediately clutched his forehead and rolled back and forth, about to cry out in pain—
“Don’t play that trick.”
Jiang Yue’s attitude was firm.
“Answer my question.”
Seeing his act of playing pitiful didn’t work, Ling Huan could only give up and answer honestly.
“Teacher, if your body gets too angry, isn’t that a deadly problem, too?”
Jiang Yue choked up a little.
Luckily, she put her bamboo hat back on, so Ling Huan couldn’t see her expression.
She paused before speaking again, “Isn’t your own life more important than anyone else’s—”
“But Teacher is in my heart, so you’re not an outsider.”
Ling Huan answered directly, without the slightest hesitation.
Even though Jiang Yue had long known this, and felt it herself, hearing Ling Huan say it aloud still made her heart tremble.
The East Courtyard’s temperature was always pleasant, after all, Jiang Yue controlled it with an array.
But now, it suddenly felt stifling and hot, her cheeks burning, even her earlobes radiating heat, raising the temperature beneath her veil.
Jiang Yue turned her gaze away.
The scolding she’d meant to deliver was forced back down.
She was a teacher, a cultivator who had lived over a thousand years.
How could she be thrown into such disarray by a boy who’d only lived ten?
For once, Jiang Yue was glad for the veil that hid her face.
Still, she couldn’t lose in terms of presence.
“Such a smooth talker. Where did you learn that?”
Jiang Yue lightly tapped Ling Huan’s forehead with the ruler.
“Innate talent!”
“And what use is that talent? Enough, keep resting. Once I’ve observed you for a while and nothing’s wrong, you can leave.”
“Okay, Teacher~”
“Don’t drag out your words.”
“Yes!”
Ling Huan replied vigorously, but he suddenly had a new question: “Teacher, you’re not calling me Young Master anymore?”
He’d always wanted Jiang Yue to drop the honorific, but she’d always said their statuses were different and refused.
Now, after waking from being poisoned, she’d changed her way of address.
Could this mean her favorability had increased?!
Jiang Yue paused for a moment, but soon relaxed.
She seemed to have accepted it.
But when she saw Ling Huan’s beaming face, looking as if he was proud to have finally succeeded, she couldn’t help but feel a little competitive.
“I’m angry, so of course I won’t call you ‘Young Master’.”
Jiang Yue, almost like a child, refused to give in.
Ling Huan thought about it and found it reasonable.
When people are angry, who cares about such things?
So, he’d been overthinking it.
But that was fine.
There would be plenty of time in the future.
Sooner or later, he’d get Jiang Yue to accept him.
With the system’s help, would he ever worry about not curing Jiang Yue’s face?
One day, her favorability would reach MAX.
She’d be cold to outsiders, but gentle with him—a beautiful teacher!
A strong, elegant teacher!
Harem Encyclopedia +1.
Ling Huan didn’t covet her body, but who wouldn’t enjoy being pampered by a beautiful, older woman?
Of course, if it was possible to covet, he’d certainly do so.
Hehe.
“Next time, don’t do something so reckless. Just talk it out—your teacher isn’t that unreasonable.”
Jiang Yue instructed.
But Ling Huan remembered very well the last time he’d made her angry.
She’d refused to say a single word to him, giving him the cold shoulder.
Not only not speaking—she didn’t want to listen, either.
Still, best not to mention that now.
“Yes, Teacher. Your student will remember.”
Good.
From the sound of Jiang Yue’s voice, her mood seemed almost recovered.
Time to ask what had really happened.
But… Where was Luoling?
“Teacher, where is Luoling?”
Jiang Yue shifted slightly, letting Ling Huan see behind her.
At that moment, Yin Luoling was lying on two long benches pushed together to make a bed, with nothing beneath or over her.
Her hands were crossed over her chest… making her look like she was ready for a peaceful burial.
“Teacher… is this…?”
“She just fainted. She hasn’t woken up yet.”
Why did it feel like every time Yin Luoling was mentioned, Jiang Yue’s tone changed?
Did she really dislike her that much?
But Yin Luoling had only been in the Ling Residence a short time.
What could she have done to earn Jiang Yue’s ire?
“Why… not put her on the bed?”
Ling Huan was puzzled.
“Your situation was critical, and the bed’s too small.”
Small… really?
Hearing Jiang Yue’s reply, Ling Huan looked around.
This bed—never mind squeezing in Yin Luoling—there’d be room for even Jiang Yue and three people.
But his instinct told him not to pursue the question.
So he immediately changed the topic.
“Then… what exactly happened? What made Teacher so angry?”
Jiang Yue didn’t hide anything, recounting everything Yin Luoling had done.
Including what she’d said.
After hearing it all, Ling Huan felt his scalp go numb.
His little sister’s emotional intelligence… was a bit low.
Could she really say that?
Wasn’t that basically courting death?
And to treat someone without consulting them… that was just asking for trouble.
Besides, it wasn’t even a life-or-death situation.
Hiss…
Ling Huan just felt a headache coming on.
Good thing he’d risked his life.
Otherwise… who knew how he’d ever soothe Jiang Yue…
Looked like he needed to work on improving his little sister’s emotional intelligence.