Just as Gu Qingying was in the Warm Pavilion, unable to stop herself from pouring cold water over her own head, she kept staring blankly.
Meanwhile, in the Dan Room of Duanqing Peak, Lu Li and Gong Shangyu were engaged in an animated discussion about alchemy.
At this moment, Lu Li and Gong Shangyu had already been discussing the detailed process of refining Zhujidan in the room for quite some time.
Although Lu Li’s theoretical knowledge of alchemy was extensive, his practical experience, especially his precise control of fire and technique during alchemy, was indeed lacking.
Gong Shangyu, however, relied on her experience as a dan cultivator in her previous life to give Lu Li plenty of valuable advice.
What surprised Lu Li even more was that his newly accepted Second Disciple, Shang Baiyu, was just like a worm living in his belly.
Every time a new idea about alchemy popped into his mind, Shang Baiyu would always voice it before he could.
If Gong Shangyu knew what Lu Li was thinking, she would definitely laugh out loud.
After all, all her alchemy skills were taught to her personally by Lu Li himself!
Naturally, everything developed according to the thoughts in Lu Li’s own mind. In other words, the one discussing alchemy with Lu Li in the Dan Room right now wasn’t Gong Shangyu at all, but rather a Lu Li from the future.
It was precisely because of this that the more Gong Shangyu and Lu Li exchanged their alchemical insights, the more they found themselves in sync, to the point that, by the end, they were as if two kindred spirits, deeply understanding and appreciating one another.
Gong Shangyu became more and more excited as the conversation went on, her face flushed red and her little cheeks glowing, while her heart was brimming with pride as she thought to herself.
…I never expected that I could see an expression of admiration on Master’s face~
Master, you taught me in my previous life, but this time it’s my turn to teach you~
“So, after adding the Condensation Dew Herb, you must immediately turn the Pill Furnace fire to a gentle flame, nurturing it carefully with spiritual power for about four whole quarters of an hour. During this time, not even a trace of impatience is allowed, or the medicinal properties may conflict, resulting in…”
Gong Shangyu was just getting to a critical point when—
“Boom!!!”
Suddenly, a dull explosion erupted from the spare small Pill Furnace in the corner of the Dan Room!
Immediately after, a thick, burnt-smelling black smoke surged out from the gap in the furnace lid, filling almost half the Dan Room in an instant!
As it turned out, Lu Li, while listening, had subconsciously split his attention to control the small Copper Pill Furnace he used for practice.
Carelessly, he lost control of the fire and the furnace exploded on the spot!
Hack hack…
Because Lu Li was closest to the Pill Furnace, he bore the brunt of the smoke and immediately started coughing uncontrollably.
By the time he waved his sleeve to disperse the smoke around him, he was already in quite a sorry state.
At this moment, Lu Li’s face was covered in black ash, his robe sleeves and front were dusted with soot, and even his hair seemed to carry a lingering smell of smoke and fire.
“Uh… a mistake, just a mistake.”
Lu Li awkwardly reached up to wipe his face, but only smeared more soot from his hands onto himself, making him look even more ridiculous.
“Sigh… It seems my Control Fire Technique is still a bit lacking…”
He looked at his own sorry appearance and smelled the obvious burnt scent on his body.
Shaking his head helplessly, he said to Gong Shangyu, “Baiyu, let’s stop here for today. Your words have been very detailed, I need some time to process them. I’ll go to the Warm Pavilion to wash up and change my clothes first. We’ll discuss further another day.”
Gong Shangyu saw Master looking as if he’d just crawled out of a coal heap, and, barely suppressing her laughter, rose respectfully and saluted.
“Yes, Master. This disciple takes her leave.”
She then watched Lu Li as he brushed the soot from his body and headed for the Warm Pavilion, without a trace of suspicion in her heart.
She simply thought that her Master was fastidious and couldn’t stand all that soot and smoke, so naturally he would go bathe and change clothes.
Gong Shangyu also turned back to her own room, savoring the time she had just spent alone with Master discussing alchemy, clearly in a very good mood.
She even found her anger at Gu Qingying for ruining her plans slightly faded.
But this lighthearted mood stiffened abruptly after she returned to her room and drank half a cup of tea!
She froze, the hand holding her teacup tightening, and nearly spilled the tea.
She suddenly remembered a crucial, deadly detail that she’d overlooked, which struck her like a bolt of lightning!
Wait a minute!
Where is Master going?
Didn’t… didn’t Master just say he… was going to the Warm Pavilion to wash up?!
Then… what about Little Junior Sister, Gu Qingying?!
I remember she said earlier that she felt overheated from cultivating and went to the Warm Pavilion to cool down, right?!
Ah!
Oh no… if I remember correctly, that little thing Gu Qingying seems to have taken Yiqingsan, right?
As Gong Shangyu thought of this, her face instantly turned deathly pale!
Ah!
This is bad!
Really bad!
The moment Gong Shangyu thought of her junior sister under the influence of Yiqing Powder, she suddenly remembered that her completely unsuspecting Master was heading straight to the Warm Pavilion bath—just the two of them, a man and a woman, alone in that empty pavilion…
Ahhhh… isn’t this like dry firewood and raging flames, ready to ignite at the slightest touch?!
Doesn’t this mean I just… pushed Master right into that little green tea Gu Qingying’s hands?
“Bang! Thump!”
Gong Shangyu slammed her teacup on the table, then stood up and paced around the room in agitation, her pink eyes filled with regret, anger, and a hint of fear and panic that even she couldn’t admit.
“It’s over, it’s over! How could I forget something like this!”
“Gu Qingying! You little wretch! Don’t tell me… you’re really going to take this opportunity to do something to Master…”
Gong Shangyu couldn’t bear to think any further!
Did I just orchestrate everything so perfectly, only to end up handing over Master to my most hated little junior sister?
So… what is this called?
Isn’t this just lifting a rock and smashing my own foot?
Ahhh…
Gu Qingying!
You little brat, if you really dare to do anything to Master, I’ll never forgive you!
Cursing inwardly, Gong Shangyu wasted no time—she immediately activated time-stop and rushed toward the Warm Pavilion bath!
Master!
You must be all right!
Please, you must be there waiting for me!
***
Time slipped back a few minutes.
After parting with Gong Shangyu, Lu Li headed straight for the Warm Pavilion, intending to bathe in the Spirit Pool of Duanqing Peak.
Inside the misty, steamy Spirit Pool of the Warm Pavilion, Gu Qingying was enduring unprecedented torment.
Gu Qingying lifted a wooden bucket high and let the spring water pour down over her head, but it did nothing to quench the burning evil fire raging inside her.
At this moment, Gu Qingying was curled up in the corner of the bath, hugging her trembling body tightly with both arms, her white teeth clenched in an effort to use pain to preserve the last shred of reason.
“Mm, Master…”
Gu Qingying’s broken moan slipped from her lips, and in her mind, she couldn’t help but picture Lu Li’s handsome features and gentle voice.
But each time this happened, the restlessness inside her would flare up like a wild fire, making every bone and muscle in her body ache and burn.
Just as Gu Qingying’s reason was about to be devoured by this tidal wave of desire…
“Splash!!!”
The bath’s wooden door was pushed open, sending a faint ripple through the water in the pool.
In the hazy mist, a tall, slender figure slowly approached.
Seemingly unaware of the oddity in Gu Qingying’s corner, the figure casually untied his hair ribbon, letting his jet-black hair fall loose, which only made his exposed shoulders and neck seem more elegant and sharp.
Seeing this, Gu Qingying, wrapped in her bathrobe, felt her pupils contract sharply and her body freeze on the spot.
Ah… it’s Master!
Why is he here?!
Through the swirling steam, Gu Qingying could clearly see the smooth lines of Lu Li’s back, and the faintly visible muscles at his waist beneath the loosely tied white bath towel.
Crystalline droplets rolled down his delicate collarbone, traced across his firm chest, and disappeared into that suggestive piece of cloth.
At this moment, Lu Li’s upper body was bare, only a white bath towel wrapped around his waist.
“Hmm? Qingying?”
Lu Li had obviously noticed Gu Qingying in the corner of the bath as well.
He paused while untying his towel, raising his brows in surprise.
“So… you’re here too.”
Gu Qingying snapped back to herself and hurriedly turned away, her voice trembling violently.
“Ah… M-Master! Why are you here?!”
“Oh? Why? Is it wrong for me to come here?”
As he spoke, Lu Li walked over at a leisurely pace.
Through the thick steam, he could vaguely make out the curled-up figure in the corner of the bath and thought his Big Disciple was acting unusually shy.
“Uh… n-no…”
Gu Qingying’s voice quivered, and she suddenly felt the heat she’d just suppressed with cold water start surging again in her dantian.
“U-uh… ah! Master…”