The cold rope made Chen Yuyang’s wrists ache.
He had been roughly thrown into a corner of the room.
Looking around, he realized this was clearly a woman’s bedroom.
Moreover, Chen Yuyang recognized it; it was no different from Tai Lingxuan’s room in the real world.
Chen Yuyang felt a secret doubt.
Didn’t she say she was going to punish him?
Why did this woman tie him up and bring him to her room?
Tai Lingxuan stood before the young man, looking down at him with a face that remained icy.
“Do you realize your mistake?”
Chen Yuyang moved his wrists slightly; they were barely movable.
Meeting Tai Lingxuan’s gaze, he asked calmly, “What wrong have I committed?”
“You still dare to be stubborn!”
Tai Lingxuan took a step forward, her slender finger pointing at the young man’s arrogantly raised head.
“Seducing a disciple of my sect and speaking flippantly to me—you were caught red-handed, yet you still have the audacity to ask what wrong you’ve done!”
Despite the harsh reprimand, Chen Yuyang stared back at her without backing down, his gaze steady.
“I only followed my heart. Ling Xi gave me her sincerity; how could I fail her? As for you, Senior…”
Chen Yuyang paused, his gaze becoming as hot as fire.
“I fell for you the moment I saw you. How could I go against my heart?”
These bold and blunt words made Tai Lingxuan’s heart skip a beat.
She wanted to refute him, but she first felt an indescribable heat surge from the depths of her heart to her limbs, making her mind waver.
‘What is going on… I… I actually felt a trace of some strange… excitement because of this brat’s words?’
‘No! Something is wrong!’
Tai Lingxuan suddenly snapped back to her senses and shook her head violently.
How could she possibly have this kind of feeling for a man she had only met a few times—a man who had defiled her disciple?
Tai Lingxuan took a deep breath, suppressing the restless urge within her.
Suddenly, she leaned down and grabbed Chen Yuyang by the collar, pulling him close to her.
She questioned him fiercely, “Who exactly are you! Speak the truth! What is your purpose in coming to my Hehuan Sect and approaching me?”
“Chen Yuyang of the Chen family from the South Domain! I’ve already told you!”
Chen Yuyang’s collar was gripped tight, making his breathing labored, but he still kept his head high and answered in a steady voice.
“Nonsense!”
Tai Lingxuan applied pressure with her hand, and a wave of spiritual pressure bore down on him.
“Don’t even think about lying to me. Tell me, who sent you!”
“I told you, no one sent me!”
Chen Yuyang’s voice rose a few notches.
“If I must say it, then I came here on my own! I only arrived here by accident and met you, Senior…”
Chen Yuyang met Tai Lingxuan’s gaze again, his tone softening.
“I simply grew to admire you, Senior. Everything comes from my sincere heart; it has nothing to do with anyone else!”
“I don’t believe it!”
Tai Lingxuan shook her head violently, her teeth clenched.
She could not accept this explanation.
She did not want to believe it, nor did she want to acknowledge it…
Tai Lingxuan stared fixedly into Chen Yuyang’s eyes, trying to find a trace of a lie.
However, she only saw a look of complete honesty.
Seeing that she still didn’t believe him, Chen Yuyang stopped arguing.
He simply looked down at his chest and said calmly, “If you truly don’t believe me, Senior, then feel free to cut open my chest and see if the heart beating inside is a sincere one.”
‘A sincere heart…’
Tai Lingxuan was stunned.
She dazedishly murmured those words.
Looking again at the young man’s sincere expression, as if he were ready to face death, her hand suddenly let go of his collar.
She retreated two steps unsteadily, her body leaning weakly against the table behind her.
Those words were like a sharp arrow that precisely pierced a certain defense in her heart.
But how could this be?
How could she easily be moved by a man… She was the number one genius of the North Domain, Tai Lingxuan!
She was the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect!
Tai Lingxuan closed her eyes tightly and then snapped them open, staring at the young man.
Her voice could not stop trembling.
“No, I… I won’t… believe your flowery words… It is impossible for me… to be moved by you. It’s impossible… impossible…”
Tai Lingxuan clutched the front of her robe over her chest, murmuring to herself.
She could clearly feel her heart drumming wildly in her chest.
At the same time, an emotion that felt like it was about to erupt left her both confused and panicked.
Her body shook uncontrollably.
Tai Lingxuan did not understand why she was losing her composure so badly.
Clearly, she should loathe this guy.
Chen Yuyang continued to look at her with a calm gaze.
He knew it was normal for Tai Lingxuan to struggle.
He believed that deep in her heart, there was definitely a place for him.
It was just that in this dream world, Tai Lingxuan had hidden it all for some reason, replacing it with this illusory reality.
Now that he had appeared and spoken those words, her true feelings were being stirred, so it was natural for her to feel this way.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuyang faced the current Tai Lingxuan and continued, “To be honest, I don’t know what is deep in your heart, Master, or how you view me.”
His voice was steady as he continued, “But I am certain that in this life, you are my woman. No matter what happens or who comes, nothing can change that!”
These words were powerful and resonant, and they were Chen Yuyang’s most truthful thoughts regarding Tai Lingxuan.
The words hit Tai Lingxuan’s heart like a heavy hammer.
An suppressed, trembling groan escaped her throat.
Then, as if all the strength had been drained from her body, she went limp and looked as if she were about to fall.
Chen Yuyang’s eyes sharpened.
Spiritual energy surged within him, and the ropes—which hadn’t been much of a restraint to begin with—instantly shattered.
The young man lunged forward in one stride, firmly catching the collapsing Tai Lingxuan.
To his touch, her body was as hot as if she were suffering from a severe fever.
Their eyes met.
Tai Lingxuan felt the young man’s chest—it wasn’t exceptionally broad, but it was incredibly firm.
The scent belonging to him flooded her nose aggressively.
Chen Yuyang looked at Tai Lingxuan’s blurred eyes, which looked as if she were drunk or ill.
Lowering his head, the young man pressed a soulful and overbearing kiss onto the woman’s lips.
“No, don’t…”
Tai Lingxuan squeezed a weak resistance from her throat, but her body honestly softened.
She unconsciously met the young man’s kiss with greed, longing, and entanglement.
Her eyelashes fluttered before she finally closed her eyes, completely ceasing her resistance.
Feeling her change, Chen Yuyang wrapped one arm around her waist and, with a slight effort, lifted Tai Lingxuan into a horizontal carry.
He then carried the woman toward the bed.
This night seemed very long.
But for the two people lost in each other, it passed incredibly quickly, as if in the blink of an eye.
In the morning, Chen Yuyang slowly woke up.
He felt his muscles aching all over, especially his waist, which felt as if it had been snapped.
Rubbing his throbbing head, Chen Yuyang looked to his side, only to find the spot empty.
Tai Lingxuan had already gotten up and was sitting at the dressing table, applying her makeup in front of a bronze mirror.
Currently, Tai Lingxuan was wearing a purple robe embroidered with magnificent patterns, which made her skin look snowy white.
Between her carefully crafted brows and eyes, there was a trace of lazy charm.
“Master?”
Chen Yuyang spoke in a raspy voice, still dazed from sleep.
“Don’t call me Master!”
Tai Lingxuan glared at him through the mirror, snapping with mock anger, “How am I your Master? Or do you think calling me that is more… exciting?”
As she spoke, a blush crept onto the tips of her ears.
She remembered that throughout the night, during their intimacy, he had called her that.
Though the title felt strange, she couldn’t deny that… she seemed to have enjoyed it.
Chen Yuyang realized then that he was still in the dream.
However, he and his Master had already taken the final step in this dream; they had shared their bodies and their truths.
Could even that not wake her from this illusion?
What else was there in this dream that was worth her lingering, or was there some other knot in her heart that she hadn’t let go of?
Doubts intensified in Chen Yuyang’s mind.
Tai Lingxuan drew her eyeliner while secretly stealing glances at the young man on the bed through the corner of her eye.
She remembered his domineering posture over her last night, the gentle whispers and heavy breathing in her ear, and everything that had happened yesterday…
Though she was still somewhat unwilling to admit it, she couldn’t deny that every moment of last night had made her feel a sense of fulfillment and… satisfaction she had never felt before.
It was as if she had been longing for it for a very long time.
But as she thought about it, a strong sense of shame also welled up.
She had actually stolen her disciple’s man!
Not long ago, she had indignantly scolded and punished Ling Xi.
Then, she had turned around, brought Ling Xi’s man into her own room, and done such shameless things…
Could it be that her previous rage wasn’t because Ling Xi had broken the rules, but because she… had gotten there first?
“Sen… Senior, why are you dressing up so beautifully today?”
Chen Yuyang lifted the blanket and sat up.
His body was covered in scratches and hickeys.
As for his clothes, they had been torn to shreds the previous night.
Hearing the word “beautiful,” the corners of Tai Lingxuan’s mouth curled up imperceptibly.
Soon, she straightened her face and put on a serious expression.
“Today is the Sect Assembly.”
“Sect Assembly?”
Chen Yuyang frowned, feeling suspicious.
According to what Junior Sister Ling Xi had said before, wasn’t the Sect Assembly still fifteen days away?
Why had it suddenly been moved forward so much?
But on second thought, this was a dream after all.
It was normal for time to be chaotic, so there was no need to dwell on it.
“I see.”
Chen Yuyang nodded and moved to get out of bed.
“You are not allowed to get up!”
Tai Lingxuan suddenly turned around and spoke in a commanding tone.
“Today is an important day for my Hehuan Sect. You are a man; you are not allowed to show your face!”
Chen Yuyang understood and nodded, sitting back down.
“Last night…”
Tai Lingxuan’s cheeks flushed again.
“Last night, you rogue got the better of me… From now on, you are my man! Also, I will speak to Ling Xi and the others about this…”
‘The others…’
Chen Yuyang keenly noticed the wording Tai Lingxuan used, and his heart stirred.
‘Could it be that in Master’s subconscious, the people I have a deep relationship with aren’t just Junior Sister Ling Xi?’
Chen Yuyang didn’t point this out, only choosing to say, “I am single-minded toward you, Senior!”
“Bah, stop talking nonsense!”
Tai Lingxuan spat lightly, but her gaze softened with gratification.
“I know how you men are—all fickle playboys… As long as you don’t fail our sincerity, I will be satisfied.”
With that, Tai Lingxuan finished her makeup and left the room without staying a moment longer, leaving behind only the faint scent of lilies.
Chen Yuyang watched her retreating back.
Recalling what she had just said, he couldn’t help but feel caught between laughter and tears.
“Wait… Master, aren’t you letting me off a bit too easy?”