Bai Qianqian’s gaze was somewhat hazy, her fingers even uncontrollably rubbing Lin Xinyi’s soft earlobe.
Luo Qingyao stood frozen in place, words reaching her lips but not knowing how to speak them out.
“This person really doesn’t look like a good person at all; she definitely has ulterior motives toward you!”
“I also…”
Bai Qianqian, for reasons unknown, looking at that beautiful face, her body unconsciously leaned in closer and closer.
There was even an instinctive pull, as if guided by some unseen force.
She gently parted those lips, her fingers passing through the teeth to touch the soft tip of the tongue, feeling the warmth enveloping her fingers.
In that moment, a restless feeling slowly emerged from within her heart.
Seeing Bai Qianqian’s extraordinarily bold actions, Luo Qingyao felt words reach her lips but didn’t know how to say them.
Bai Qianqian, however, didn’t stop her movements; she even grew bolder, drawing closer to the other.
“So fragrant…”
Drawing near, Bai Qianqian greedily savored the lingering fragrance among the strands of hair.
Lin Xinyi was still lost in pleasant dreams, completely unaware that her body was being touched without restraint.
Luo Qingyao watched quietly from the side—from initial bewilderment, to slight surprise, and then to silent reticence, eventually devolving into emotional numbness.
“Bai Qianqian, stop… stop playing around…”
Even Luo Qingyao’s own words carried a note of uncertainty.
Bai Qianqian not only showed no fear, but even pulled open the other’s collar, leaving a pink mark on that slender neck.
A mere mortal doing such things to a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, without the cultivator even being aware—such absurdity would be unbelievable if told to anyone.
Bai Qianqian’s gaze wandered continuously, and when her eyes focused on that slender body and proud figure, her fingers stirred with unconscious restlessness.
“No, if I go too far, I’ll be discovered…”
Bai Qianqian’s face was already flushed with excited crimson.
After forcibly restraining her restless right hand, she touched the ring once more.
With the touch of the ring, Luo Qingyao’s figure reappeared, slowly floating in mid-air.
She raised her hand as if to say something, but the words caught at her lips.
She scratched her head awkwardly, opened her mouth again, but ultimately just sighed.
“You… well… ah, forget it…”
“Sister Luo, thank you for your help. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine…”
Although Bai Qianqian couldn’t see Luo Qingyao just now, she knew that after Lin Xinyi drank the tea, her gaze had focused on her at one point.
But the subsequent muttering to herself—no need to think, it was Luo Qingyao making excuses for her.
“You… you…”
Although Luo Qingyao desperately wanted to say something caring, watching Bai Qianqian’s hands continuously caressing Lin Xinyi’s legs even while talking to her, she suddenly felt that her own future seemed hopeless.
“Even if I ran away, I’d probably be caught and brought back. Sister Luo, don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself…”
“Mm… ah, you be careful…”
All of Luo Qingyao’s words could only condense into that one phrase.
But when the other stopped touching the ring, the connection between them was severed once more.
Although Luo Qingyao didn’t quite understand Bai Qianqian’s behavior, it didn’t affect her determination to protect Bai Qianqian.
Bai Qianqian, her face flushed, leaned down and placed a kiss on those soft lips, then even went further, gently biting the soft lower lip with her teeth.
Only after that did she reluctantly return to the bed, pretending to be unconscious.
“For a moment, I couldn’t tell which one was truly pitiful…”
Luo Qingyao seemed to have experienced too much in just a short while, as if reevaluating this future disciple of hers.
And after Bai Qianqian lay back down on the bed, though her gaze remained calm, the smile at the corners of her mouth couldn’t be suppressed.
Night’s love was always so brief.
In the Mini Grotto-heaven, the three of them spent this peaceful night without incident.
It wasn’t until the next morning that Bai Qianqian slowly sat up from the bed and, with a casual tug, tore off the bandages on her body.
“Looks like you’ve recovered pretty quickly too~”
Lin Xinyi had woken up earlier.
After checking her body for any other issues, though she wanted to call out to Luo Qingyao for clarification, the other wasn’t willing to come out, leaving her helpless.
Then she turned her head and found Bai Qianqian also awake.
“Did you rest well yesterday~”
Lin Xinyi leaned in with concern, gently stroking the other’s head.
Bai Qianqian, feeling the tenderness of her words, for some reason showed a hint of enjoyment in her eyes.
“Very well. I feel like it’s been tamed enough now. Perhaps it’s time~”
A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Lin Xinyi’s mouth.
Seeing the other so docile under her hand, she had probably left a pretty good impression by now.
“This rebellious disciple has probably completely let her guard down around me, thinking I’m just a kind-hearted person~”
Especially when she saw Bai Qianqian slowly lowering her head, a blush appearing on her cheek, she became even more certain of her thoughts.
But Bai Qianqian wasn’t moved by the other’s tenderness at all; she hadn’t even absorbed much of what Lin Xinyi had just said.
“Her fingers are so soft, so long… I wish she would touch me more…”
Seeing that the other showed no resistance, Lin Xinyi seized the opportunity.
First, she brought out the three cultivation manuals, then put on her understanding-big-sister smile and sat directly beside her, trying to make the relationship appear closer.
“I can see you’re naturally gifted, so I’ve decided to take you as my direct disciple. What do you think, little one~”
Lin Xinyi sat beside her, reaching out to stroke that soft cheek.
Bai Qianqian breathed in the fragrance emanating from her, felt the softness pressing against her shoulder, and the flushed intoxication on her face deepened.
As one who knew everything, Luo Qingyao slowly turned her head, unable to bear watching further.
At this point, she couldn’t even say who was scheming against whom.
“I…”
“I know you have many questions, but being my disciple comes with many benefits. I’ll give you this grotto-heaven as a welcome gift—what do you say~”
Lin Xinyi was afraid the other would refuse her.
If she really was rejected, she couldn’t resort to force.
If she left a bad impression and let the other develop, wouldn’t she still come after her later?
“I…”
“Ah, don’t rush to refuse. I know this is sudden, but I went to great trouble to save you mainly because I saw your talent and wanted to take you as my direct disciple~”
Lin Xinyi’s words were gentle, but her eyes had already scanned Bai Qianqian, sitting on the bed, no less than ten times.
To prevent refusal, she had even offered this Mini Grotto-heaven as a gift.
After all, who could resist a warm little home?
“Besides, cultivation grants immortality. Don’t you want to live longer~”
Lin Xinyi extended a fingertip to gently lift Bai Qianqian’s chin, staring intently at her, leaving her no room to think.
After all, Bai Qianqian was still just a child.
Immortality and increased power—these were simple, easily understood benefits for a child.
“I… I’m willing…”
“Such a wise choice~”
Lin Xinyi maintained an expression of expected outcome on the surface, but inwardly she was nearly overjoyed.
This way, everything was under control.
But what Lin Xinyi didn’t know was the real reason for Bai Qianqian’s agreement—it wasn’t the benefits Lin Xinyi had offered.
Bai Qianqian watched the delighted Lin Xinyi stand up.
Looking at her back, that willow-slim waist as she turned away, Bai Qianqian instinctively raised her hand, wanting to touch it.
Fortunately, reason finally stopped her, and she withdrew her hand.
“No need for formal apprenticeship gifts; I’m not bound by trivial formalities~”
Just as Lin Xinyi turned around, she noticed the other’s gaze fixed on her body.
She lowered her head in slight confusion, wondering if there was something strange about her.
“What, the Mini Grotto-heaven isn’t enough? You want this dharma robe I’m wearing too~?”
Lin Xinyi tugged at the corner of her robe.
The dharma robe she wore was indeed extremely comfortable.
She just hadn’t expected that Bai Qianqian, still a mortal, would be so greedy.
But Lin Xinyi was in an excellent mood now, so she didn’t refuse outright.
“This robe has excellent defensive properties. If you want it, it’s not impossible~”
Bai Qianqian had only been quietly watching Lin Xinyi, but when she heard that the other was willing to give her the dharma robe, her eyes even widened a little.
Lin Xinyi thought to herself that children really did like beautiful clothes like this.
“Ah, since you want it so badly, I’ll take it off and give it to you later~”
“Mm mm…!”
Luo Qingyao, watching from the side, felt a bit more disdain for Bai Qianqian’s excitement over a mere dharma robe, thinking how easily satisfied she was.
However, Luo Qingyao, who had been hiding without revealing herself and had witnessed everything from beginning to end, was already massaging her forehead in frustration.
“Ah, hopeless…”