“Two rebellious disciples… that’s enough!”
A vein bulged on Yu Yi’s forehead. Without a good word to say, she picked up Zi Kui and Ye Qingluan with her left and right hands, but then carefully set them aside, reluctant to be harsh.
That said, even though Yu Yi had freed her hands and was no longer supporting Lan Ling’er, Lan Ling’er didn’t slip off her body at all.
Lan Ling’er’s arms were tightly wrapped around Yu Yi. Even in deep sleep, she didn’t let go.
It was as if, in her subconscious, she couldn’t bear to have Yu Yi leave her side.
Zi Kui obediently stood to the side and stopped causing trouble. In contrast, Ye Qingluan started to pout.
“Master, that’s cheating.”
Ye Qingluan, who rarely stood directly on the ground, shifted her two small, bare feet back and forth and stammered:
“Master promised me a reward a long time ago, but Second Senior Sister cut in line. I know her matter was more important, but… I’m just a little unhappy.”
Hearing this, Yu Yi really couldn’t argue.
“Mm…”
From the time she brought Ye Qingluan back to Among the Colorful Clouds and entrusted her with the mission to guard the Everlasting Tribulation Sword, Yu Yi had gone to the Fengqing Sect and destroyed the Demon Sect.
Then she went to the Capital City, retrieved the soul essence from the golden-crowned crane, and then went to the River of Forgetfulness to bring back Zi Kui.
Thinking about it carefully, Yu Yi really had been putting off Ye Qingluan for quite a while.
“Master, do you think I’m not that important…”
Ye Qingluan said with a gloomy expression, rubbing her bare feet against the dirt on the ground.
For Ye Qingluan, whose feet almost never touched the ground, this action clearly showed that her feelings of inferiority were affecting her.
Seeing Ye Qingluan like this, how could Yu Yi let her be sad?
“Little fool.”
Yu Yi reached out her jade-like hand and gently stroked Ye Qingluan’s head.
“How could I ever think you’re not important?”
“Then, Master, when will this disciple’s reward be…”
“Wait until I’ve recovered a bit more energy. Helping Ling’er make her breakthrough to Grandmaster was quite draining on my mind and strength.”
As Yu Yi said, the dual cultivation she performed with Lan Ling’er was different from traditional dual cultivation.
Traditional dual cultivation allowed both parties to improve, a mutually beneficial result.
But the dual cultivation Yu Yi performed was like transmitting power, a one-sided sacrifice.
She transferred her purest power to Lan Ling’er, which meant she needed time to recuperate and slowly fill the void left by what she gave to Lan Ling’er.
It wasn’t that Yu Yi wanted to delay giving Ye Qingluan her reward again; it was just that she was really worn out right now.
“Recover energy? That’s my specialty.”
Ye Qingluan smiled confidently at this.
“Master, have you forgotten? The cup of red tea from before.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Yi couldn’t help but recall the scene where she was set up.
Although the special red tea Ye Qingluan made could indeed dispel fatigue and restore energy, before the energy came back, her body would become limp and weak.
That was when Yu Yi was at her most vulnerable.
Drink the sleeping black tea, then fast-forward to the part where Su Cheng played with her until she passed out.
If Ye Qingluan took that time to do something big, wouldn’t Yu Yi be in trouble?
Thinking of this, Yu Yi’s delicate body couldn’t help but tremble.
“No need. I just need to rest well.”
Yu Yi forced calm as she replied.
“That red tea, although very effective, is still a medicine. Natural recovery is better.”
“Then Master, come rest in my tree house!”
Ye Qingluan said with eager expectation.
“It gets plenty of sunlight, the forest breeze blows through, and there are no mosquitoes to bother you. In all of Among the Colorful Clouds, there’s no better place to recharge than my tree house!”
Yu Yi looked at Ye Qingluan’s hopeful eyes and finally let out a long sigh.
“Ah, well…”
“I won’t run away. You’re really something.”
“Master! Does that mean you agree!?”
Ye Qingluan instantly got excited. Beneath her clean, small bare feet, a patch of flowers bloomed, as if her heart was blossoming with joy.
“Yes, yes.”
Yu Yi smiled wryly and nodded repeatedly.
Looks like there’s no escaping this time.
In that case, she might as well accept it early.
“Kui’er, you girls take Ling’er back to her room to rest.”
Yu Yi instructed the other disciples.
“Yes, Master.”
Zi Kui and the others acknowledged, then with great effort pried Lan Ling’er’s tightly clasped hands apart and took her off Yu Yi’s back.
“…She’s so heavy. This is the first time I’ve seen Second Senior Sister sleep so soundly! Oh no, she won’t suddenly wake up, will she? If she hears what I said, she might beat me to death!”
“Doudou, don’t you like that kind of thing?”
“You know that? Hehe, I don’t like it that much. Wait, Senior Sister, you even know this?”
“I know pretty much all of your preferences. Except for Chi Ming.”
Chi Ming, not realizing that this “preference” was different from the other “preference,” chatted across different wavelengths with the other two as they carried Lan Ling’er away.
“Me? I don’t have any special preferences… Does training count?”
Only Yu Yi and Ye Qingluan were left.
“Master, please wait a moment.”
Ye Qingluan smiled at Yu Yi and then snapped her fingers.
The next second, two sturdy vines flew down from above.
Between the two vines, wooden planks automatically laid themselves down. When the vines touched the ground, a special bridge appeared before Yu Yi.
“Master, after you.”
Ye Qingluan bowed to Yu Yi, signaling her to go first.
Yu Yi said nothing and stepped onto the bridge, slowly walking toward the top of the tree.
Just then, a wonderful sight appeared.
Every time Yu Yi took a step forward, bright flowers bloomed beneath her feet and around her.
In an instant, the fragrance of flowers permeated the air, refreshing the mind.
When Yu Yi finally reached the treetop and stood before the exquisite, luxurious tree house, she looked back. The bridge leading to the ground had already turned into a flower bridge.
Standing here and looking out at the surrounding mountain forest, she could enjoy a different view.
The natural beauty she perceived was especially intoxicating.
Yu Yi then looked around and found that the treetop was truly a hidden paradise.
Besides the charming tree house in front of her, everything around seemed to have been carefully arranged by Ye Qingluan.
There was a small, delicate birdhouse, clearly showing a pair of birds snuggling together and sleeping.
Next to it hung nine small bridges and ladders leading to various tree hollows.
A few small squirrels poked their heads out of the hollows, curiously sizing up Yu Yi, as if seeing this new friend for the first time.
“Master, how is it?”
“Your disciple never really liked dealing with animals, but after going to the Capital City, I discovered that flowers, grass, and trees still can’t do without these creatures~”
Ye Qingluan clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at Yu Yi.
Her small body squirmed shyly, as if she wanted to be praised.
It seemed that both the birdhouse and the ladders and bridges convenient for reaching the tree hollows were all made by her.
It was a good thing that Ye Qingluan, granted eternal life by the Azure Wood Jade, had slightly improved her understanding of “life.”
“Very good. I also really like this little world of Qingluan’s.”
Yu Yi smiled and patted Ye Qingluan’s head.
This was her first time visiting Ye Qingluan’s Treetop Cave Heaven, and the scenery here was indeed very beautiful.
“Hehe, your disciple wouldn’t mind sharing everything here with Master, you know?”
Ye Qingluan opened the tree house door with heavy implications.
“Come on, Master. From now on, this is our private world for the two of us!”
Hearing her words, Yu Yi couldn’t help but feel something was a bit off.
Why did it feel so strange?