Gu Qingying’s confession, half-true and half-false, was delivered with such passion and remarkable acting—her gestures perfectly timed—that it utterly stunned the just-awakened Lu Li.
So… this is what happened?
I fainted because the temperature in the Warm Pavilion was too high, and the steam stifled me?
And my Big Disciple lost control and hugged me, apologizing, because she was overcome with guilt and fear?
Lu Li looked down at the shivering, teary-eyed Big Disciple in his arms, then glanced at the Second Disciple, who nodded solemnly in agreement.
Most of his doubts faded away.
Although it still felt like something was off—for instance, he vaguely recalled being about to scrub Gu Qingkong’s back in the bathhouse…
But the memory was so hazy.
Perhaps it was just a fleeting illusion before he passed out?
By now, Lu Li was completely under the influence of Gu Qingying’s Cognition Modification System.
He failed to notice the flaws in Gong Shangyu and Gu Qingying’s stories, nor did he realize how odd it was that, as a dignified Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, he’d fainted simply because the bathwater was too hot.
Lu Li sighed at the thought.
He’d originally intended to push Gu Qingying’s hand away, but instead, he gently patted his disciple’s back, his tone softening.
“Sigh… There, there~ It was an honest mistake, so just be more careful next time. Don’t cry anymore—how does it look for a man to always be sobbing like this?”
Lu Li tried to comfort her with reason, completely unaware that this “man” in his arms was seizing the opportunity to greedily breathe in his scent, her heart pounding like a drum.
Gu Qingying was secretly delighted to hear Lu Li not pursue the matter further, and even comfort her, though she kept up the act on her face.
She let go with a few shaky sobs, stepped back with her head still bowed, wiped at nonexistent tears with her sleeve, and said softly, “Thank you, Master, for your generosity… I’ll be twice as careful in the future!”
***
Gong Shangyu watched this scene and silently complained in her heart that Lu Li was playing favorites.
They both made mistakes, yet whenever Gu Qingying did something wrong, Lu Li would always be forgiving.
When it was her turn, Lu Li would make a big deal out of it.
It was just like in her Former Life—Lu Li hadn’t changed one bit in this life.
Sure enough, whether in their Former Life or now, Master’s favorite was always that little troublemaker Gu Qingying.
While Gong Shangyu grumbled inwardly, Lu Li suddenly sat up and began checking Gu Qingying all over with a look of deep concern.
“Since you fainted with me, did you get hurt just now?”
Lu Li asked as he reached out to check on Gu Qingying, completely unaware that he was only wearing a bathrobe—and that the robe wasn’t even tied shut.
Seeing Lu Li’s bare chest, Gu Qingying’s mind instantly flashed back to the scene in the Warm Pavilion bathhouse.
“Uh! Wait, Master…”
Gu Qingying sprang to her feet, glanced at Lu Li—who was upholding the Good Man Does Not Take a Second Wife Policy—and quickly turned her head away.
Lu Li looked a little confused, unsure what Gu Qingying intended to do.
Feeling Lu Li’s calm gaze, Gu Qingying couldn’t help feeling a bit shy.
She quietly sat back down, blushing, and stammered to Lu Li.
Gu Qingying was secretly pleased that Lu Li didn’t press further and even comforted her, but she kept her acting up.
She let go with a few shaky sobs, stepped back with her head still bowed, wiped at nonexistent tears with her sleeve, and said softly, “Thank you, Master, for your generosity… I’ll be twice as careful in the future!”
Gong Shangyu watched this scene and silently complained in her heart that Lu Li was playing favorites.
They both made mistakes, yet whenever Gu Qingying did something wrong, Lu Li would always be forgiving.
When it was her turn, Lu Li would make a big deal out of it.
It was just like in her Former Life—Lu Li hadn’t changed at all.
Sure enough, whether in their Former Life or now, Master’s favorite was always that little troublemaker Gu Qingying.
As Gong Shangyu stewed inwardly, Lu Li suddenly sat up and began checking Gu Qingying’s body with concern.
“Since you fainted with me, did you get hurt just now?”
Lu Li asked as he reached out to check on Gu Qingying, still oblivious that he wore only a bathrobe—and that it hung open at the chest.
Looking at Lu Li’s exposed chest, Gu Qingying’s mind automatically flashed to what she’d seen in the bathhouse earlier.
“Uh! Wait, Master…”
Gu Qingying jumped up, glanced at Lu Li, who was faithfully practicing the Good Man Does Not Take a Second Wife Policy, and quickly turned her head away.
Lu Li looked puzzled, not understanding Gu Qingying’s intentions.
Feeling Lu Li’s steady gaze, Gu Qingying grew even more bashful, quietly sitting back down and, face flushed, said awkwardly to Lu Li.
“Um… Master, your robe isn’t done up properly~”
Gu Qingying pointed to Lu Li’s exposed, muscular chest.
Lu Li looked down at his open bathrobe, let out a helpless chuckle, and hurriedly fixed his clothes
Gu Qingying, meanwhile, kept sneaking glances, her heart itching.
“Sorry, Master… That was my fault just now~”
Gu Qingying’s cheeks turned crimson, her delicate face as if painted with rouge.
“I know—it was all just an accident,” Lu Li waved a hand, indicating she shouldn’t worry.
Gu Qingying clung to her clothes, her mind a complete blank.
She spoke with unease, “Master… just now, it was Qingkong’s fault.”
“So please punish me! Only then can I truly make amends to you!”
“If it’s not enough, you can hit me twice!”
Hearing Gu Qingying’s dangerous offer, Lu Li hurriedly stopped her.
“Sigh… No one is perfect. Besides, you didn’t do it on purpose. You made the bathwater too hot out of good intentions.”
“But… but Master! I…”
Gu Qingying trailed off, recalling Lu Li’s figure in the bathhouse just now.
Immediately, her blood surged and her ears burned, as if her skin might catch fire.
Watching the stubborn and single-minded Gu Qingying, Lu Li suddenly had a bright idea.
He grasped her wrist and comforted her.
“Aiya… It’s nothing! How could Master possibly punish you for such a small thing~”
“After all, you’re Master’s most treasured disciple!”
Lu Li spoke gently, but Gu Qingying wasn’t really listening.
Her mind was filled with a single thought: I’m Master’s most treasured disciple.
I’m Master’s most treasured disciple.
I’m Master’s most…
On the side, Gong Shangyu watched, feeling more and more uncomfortable.
She’d meant to trip up Gu Qingying, but ended up helping that little rascal instead.
Just watching Gu Qingying acting spoiled in Lu Li’s arms made her stomach churn.
She quickly coughed loudly, forcibly pulled Gu Qingying away, and smiled at Lu Li.
“Hehe~ Master, you really are magnanimous. Senior Brother meant well, even if things went wrong. Please don’t blame him.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him from now on, so he won’t act on impulse and cause trouble like that again.”
“You’ve just woken up, Master, you should rest well. We won’t disturb you any longer!”
Lu Li looked at his two sincere and respectful disciples.
Though he still felt something strange about today’s events, weariness and lingering dizziness kept him from thinking too hard about it.
He just thought—these male disciples really were less troublesome than those female disciples in the game!
“Mm… Let’s just leave it at that. You both may go.”
He waved his hand, lay back down, and felt completely exhausted, wanting nothing more than to rest.
Gu Qingying and Gong Shangyu, as if receiving a great pardon, hurriedly bowed and took their leave.
After closing the door behind them, they exchanged a glance and both saw relief and gratitude in each other’s eyes.
Gu Qingying touched her still-burning cheeks, quietly savoring the memory of diving into Master’s arms, her heart pounding with both shyness and delight.
Gong Shangyu raised an eyebrow and silently mouthed to Gu Qingying, “Nice acting~”
Gu Qingying shot her a glare, but couldn’t help the slight upward curve of her lips.
And so, the storm set off by Gong Shangyu was, for the time being, safely smoothed over.
Meanwhile, in his room, Lu Li stared at his pillow and quilt, muttering to himself.
“Hmm? Is it just my imagination? Why do my pillow and quilt feel less comfortable than before?”
He picked them up and inspected them several times, confirming they were the same as always, which only made him more confused.
“Hiss… There’s nothing really different about them…”
“So it really is just my imagination?”