Chapter 22: Following one’s heart, one slips through the cracks

Bai Qianqian’s eyes caught a glimpse of Lin Xinyi’s slender back, and she unknowingly fell into a daze.

She was so captivated that she unconsciously sat up.

At this moment, Lin Xinyi was resting with her eyes closed, completely unaware of Bai Qianqian’s small movements behind her.

‘Luo Qingyao is acting so abnormally. She must be plotting something bad. I need to be more on guard…’

Lin Xinyi recalled the other woman’s strange reaction earlier and couldn’t find peace of mind.

She could only circulate the spiritual energy within her body while sitting by the edge of the bed, feeling as though Luo Qingyao was hiding something from her.

‘That girl can make me faint for no reason. How can I trust someone with those kinds of methods? What if she didn’t just want me to faint…’

The thought worried Lin Xinyi.

However, if she took the ring off now, wouldn’t she be doing exactly what Luo Qingyao wanted?

Once the control of the formation was gone, Luo Qingyao would directly tell Bai Qianqian everything she had seen.

Her meticulously crafted mask would shatter, and she would have no way to survive.

‘Qianqian, it’s this person! On the surface, she acts gentle and kind, but her heart is actually pitch black. She wants to teach you a wicked cultivation technique and then destroy you!’

‘What! Master… I didn’t expect you to be that kind of person. I trusted you so much, so I’ll just have to destroy you too to compensate myself — ‘

Lin Xinyi shuddered just at the thought of it.

Bai Qianqian seemed harmless now, making her almost forget that when the girl actually took action, she was no different from a lunatic.

‘Sigh… this feeling of having my hands tied is truly unpleasant…’

After slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Lin Xinyi opened her eyes.

She originally intended to find something to pass the time or consider whether she should return to the Grotto-heaven for a look.

However, at that moment, a wet, slippery sensation brushed against her neck.

Lin Xinyi’s heart instantly skipped a beat.

Before she could react, a pair of hands slowly wrapped around her waist.

“Master…”

Lin Xinyi spun around abruptly, only to find her eyes meeting Bai Qianqian’s, who was hugging her from behind.

The two of them stared at each other in silence.

Then, Bai Qianqian’s fingers didn’t stop.

Instead, they moved upward, even using her hands to lift the weight of Lin Xinyi’s chest.

“You… what are you doing?!!!”

Lin Xinyi finally snapped out of it.

She immediately turned and pushed the girl away, then clutched her chest and took two steps back, her eyes filled with wariness.

‘When did this girl wake up? Damn it, why did I fail to sense anything again?’

Lin Xinyi’s mind was in a turmoil.

Meanwhile, Bai Qianqian, who had been pushed back onto the bed, lay there motionless.

Although she wanted to pretend she was sleepwalking, it was obvious that such a facade wouldn’t work in this situation.

‘Ah, how troublesome. I watched too intently and accidentally moved my hands…’

Even in this situation, Bai Qianqian calmly sat up.

Lin Xinyi clutched her chest.

Although she didn’t want to admit it, those hands had clearly been taking liberties with her just now.

‘I’m usually the one taking advantage of others and teasing them. How did I end up being teased by this rebellious disciple…’

Lin Xinyi gritted her teeth, clearly confused by the sudden assault.

After taking a deep breath, she forced herself to appear calm, crossing her arms over her chest as she scrutinized the other with a cold gaze.

“Explain yourself, my good disciple…”

“Master, I just woke up and saw the exhaustion in your eyes. I only wanted to give you a massage to relieve your fatigue…”

Facing the interrogation, Bai Qianqian didn’t even blink as she blurted out the excuse she had just come up with.

Lin Xinyi remained skeptical of her words.

After all, who gave massages starting with the chest?

“You! You’re trying to brush me off with those words? I…!”

Lin Xinyi feigned anger, trying to get the other to confess.

However, Bai Qianqian insisted that she only wanted to help her relax.

Seeing how certain the girl was, Lin Xinyi found herself at a loss for words.

‘Could it be that I really misunderstood her…’

Lin Xinyi began to hesitate, wondering if it really was just her own misconception.

But when she looked into the girl’s eyes, despite being the one who was taken advantage of, she somehow felt a sense of guilt in her heart.

Lin Xinyi recalled how she had originally taken her as a disciple only because she saw her beautiful features and concluded she was a beauty.

Later, she discovered the girl possessed a rare treasure, a natural Supreme Artifact, and intended to kill her and seize the treasure as she usually did.

Looking at it now, Bai Qianqian’s behavior didn’t seem like much of a big deal.

“Fine, fine. Since you have such intentions, I will accept the sentiment. But you are not allowed to approach me so suddenly next time!”

“This disciple understands…”

Bai Qianqian lowered her head slightly, looking as if she had realized her mistake.

Luo Qingyao, who was hiding nearby, had been so frightened by the scene that she didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

She had thought Bai Qianqian was a goner for sure after being caught, but she didn’t expect Lin Xinyi to let it go entirely.

‘Is this woman a fool?’

Luo Qingyao’s evaluation of Lin Xinyi instantly changed from “wicked woman” to “fool.”

As an Immortal Venerable, if anyone touched her body without permission, cutting off their hands would be a minor punishment.

A killing blow would be considered mercy.

Lin Xinyi was surprisingly broad-minded.

“Since you’re awake, you might as well learn this technique…”

Lin Xinyi had planned to wait until the girl woke up naturally before arranging the next step.

But as punishment for touching her, she would naturally make her study the new technique well.

“Don’t beg for mercy later — “

Looking at the jade slip thrown her way, Bai Qianqian didn’t study it immediately.

Instead, she played her role to the end, putting on a moved expression.

“I offended Master just now, yet Master did not punish me and even gave me a technique to learn…”

“Uh… as long as you know you were wrong, there’s no need for punishment.”

“Master is magnanimous. This disciple will certainly not forget this…”

Bai Qianqian slowly stepped down from the bed and bowed with her hands clasped in front of her.

Seeing her like this, the anger in Lin Xinyi’s heart mostly dissipated.

“At least you have some manners. Alright, go and learn it. If there’s anything you don’t understand, I can give you some pointers — “

Lin Xinyi waved her hand, pretending not to care.

However, she felt quite gratified.

After all, who wouldn’t feel good standing in the position of a superior?

“Thank you, Master…”

Bai Qianqian’s tone was flat.

But what no one noticed was that while she was bowing, she could no longer hide the curl of her lips.

Bai Qianqian kept reminding herself to stay calm in her heart, fearing she would lose her composure like she did just now.

“Why is your face so red?”

“I…”

When Bai Qianqian slowly stood up straight, she forgot to check her expression.

Her intoxicated eyes and flushed cheeks made her look completely like she was in heat.

Lin Xinyi noticed it at a glance.

Bai Qianqian didn’t expect to make another mistake in such a small matter.

Just as she was thinking about how to explain, a smile appeared on the corner of Lin Xinyi’s mouth.

Seeing this, Bai Qianqian swallowed the explanation she was about to give.

“It seems that practicing the Jade Maiden Dual Cultivation Record is taking a heavy toll on your mind. Don’t worry, as long as you practice well, I will give you some rewards — “

As Lin Xinyi spoke, she pulled a chair over and sat down.

She slowly crossed her legs and used her toes to stroke Bai Qianqian’s calf.

Her appearance was no different from a temptress from a demonic sect.

Bai Qianqian narrowed her eyes slightly.

She hadn’t expected the other woman to attribute her abnormality to a normal reaction from the cultivation technique.

It saved her the trouble of explaining.

“Master… my… my body is so hot — “

Bai Qianqian didn’t explain.

Instead, this misunderstanding suited her perfectly.

She pretended her legs were weak and knelt on the ground.

With a look that wasn’t entirely an act, she gently grasped the foot extended toward her, which was encased in a white boot.

“Master, what is the reward? I… I think I want it now…”

“Hmph, I really wish the old you could see yourself now. You don’t even have any dignity left — “

Lin Xinyi looked at Bai Qianqian, who was holding her foot with both hands.

The girl reached out and hugged it gently, pressing her face against Lin Xinyi’s calf.

There was no trace left of the decisive, righteous Saintess from her memories.

‘I really want to see her fall even further — ‘