In the days following his punishment of Su Tao’er using the so-called Sect Rules, Si Yan noticed that the girl was somewhat avoiding him. Every time they met, her gaze would flicker and dart away, making Si Yan feel a bit guilty himself.
However, this did not last long. Things gradually returned to their usual state between them, as if nothing had ever happened. Si Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, having worried that a moment of self-indulgence might have cost him his disciple.
Of course, when he had struck Su Tao’er that day, he hadn’t used much force. The intensity was well within his control. If he had actually damaged such a beautiful and delicate place, Si Yan would have been the one most heartbroken. Besides, the punishment was merely a trumped-up charge he had placed on her.
If it weren’t for the sake of getting close to her beauty, why would he be so shameless?
In reality, Su Tao’er was simply too embarrassed to face Si Yan. She was an unmarried young woman who had been raised for over ten years with the belief that men and women should maintain proper distance. Even her hands had never been touched by anyone other than her brother or elders. Yet, who could have known that after coming to the Destiny Pavilion to seek the Tao, she would not only have to lie on her Master’s lap but also have her buttocks slapped? The crisp *thwack* of those strikes… oh, just thinking about it made her want to die of shame. If word got out, she would never be able to marry.
What man would want a girl whose private areas had been touched by another?
‘If it comes to that, then Master, you’ll really have to take responsibility!’
As for whether it was painful, when Su Tao’er returned to her room and checked herself, she found it was only slightly red and swollen without any real injury. Si Yan’s strikes had been all bark and no bite. Although they sounded loud, they felt more like a touch. By the time she woke up the next morning, the pain was gone, and she felt perfectly fine.
The most crucial factor was that Su Tao’er believed her Master was a man so serious that he was meticulous to a fault. Since he was a father or brother figure to her, she was certain he possessed no wicked thoughts. Conversely, she felt she was the one harboring so many small, stray thoughts, which made her feel incredibly guilty.
‘This is my Honored Master.’
‘In terms of seniority, he is like a father or elder brother to me!’
‘I absolutely cannot have those kinds of fantasies!’
‘That would be a great taboo of human relations!’
Si Yan naturally did not understand what Su Tao’er was thinking, but he had learned a lesson of his own: he shouldn’t be too devious for now. He was truly afraid of letting his true colors show.
Setting that aside, Si Yan didn’t have to worry much while teaching Su Tao’er. Her comprehension was excellent. She had already memorized the first three styles of the Thirty-Six Styles of Azure Stars he had taught her. She was already relying on the mental cultivation techniques within those styles to begin condensing the Power of the Three Souls. Before long, she would be able to step into the Three Souls Realm!
To become a true cultivator and aim for the Divine Realm, one had to sense the Power of the Three Souls, reach the Seven Po Realm, and condense a Primordial Spirit. Currently, Su Tao’er still had a long road ahead of her.
The Water-Fire Flower and other medicinal herbs gathered previously had been handed over to Bai Lan for refining. It would take about half a month for the medicinal properties to fully develop.
Si Yan’s lessons for Su Tao’er mostly took place during the day. Between sessions, there were rest periods where Yuling, the housekeeper of the Destiny Pavilion, would serve afternoon tea. The various pastries and bean curd soups he prepared almost never repeated. In this regard, Su Tao’er felt extremely lucky. In the past, the teachers who taught her were all white-haired old men who smelled of decay. Furthermore, that was within the walls of the Imperial Palace. How could it compare to the freedom here, where she felt as light as a little bird?
However, Si Yan felt his requirements were already very strict. Whether it was the precision of her sword movements or the physical exertion required, the standards were quite high. Yet the girl’s energy was abnormally exuberant. No matter how tired she was from practice or how much Stellar Qi she consumed, she remained enthusiastic by the time afternoon tea arrived. It was as if she hadn’t lost any stamina at all as she joyfully stuffed sweet cakes into her mouth. The girl had a great appetite; if she wasn’t careful, she would even finish Si Yan’s portion.
Su Tao’er took a blissful sip of tea and sighed. “The flavor is truly wonderful! Senior Brother Yuling’s skills are amazing! It’s even better than the food in the Imperial Palace!”
Yuling was present today, but he didn’t react to the praise. Instead, he was squatting in a corner of the courtyard, motionlessly watching ants.
Si Yan cleared his throat and reminded her, “Tao’er, why did you eat Master’s portion too?”
With crumbs of sweet cake still on her lips, Su Tao’er looked surprised. “Ah… ? That was yours, Master? Tao’er thought they were just placed together, so I ate them all…”
Si Yan sighed helplessly and said dotingly, “Fine, what’s eaten is eaten. It’s no matter. You’re still young and growing, and you’re using a lot of energy, so you should eat more.”
As he spoke, Si Yan reached out, picked the crumb from the corner of Su Tao’er’s mouth, and popped it into his own. He smiled and added, “It’s fine for Master to have a few leftovers.”
Su Tao’er was dazed for a moment before realizing what had happened. She lowered her head in embarrassment and giggled.
At that moment, a voice spoke up. “Sixty years ago during the Mid-Autumn Festival, I accidentally ate one of his mooncakes, and Honored Master nearly threw me onto the moon. Little Junior Sister is truly fortunate; Master dotes on you so much.”
Su Tao’er turned around and saw the First Senior Brother who usually leaned against the tree. He was currently leaning against a pillar behind her, still maintaining his dashing pose.
Hearing this, Si Yan’s expression immediately soured.
Then, the voice of Yuling, who was watching ants in the back, echoed gloomily. “Thirty-two years ago, on the 18th day of the 12th lunar month, I was thrown into a frozen river…”
Si Yan’s face darkened further.
At this time, someone was heard walking over with light steps. Bai Lan arrived, still dressed as a scholar and holding a folding fan. He chimed in, “Little Junior Sister is indeed fortunate. However, I am not a glutton, so Master has never beaten me over trivial matters like food.”
Seeing the three of them intentionally teasing him, Si Yan said with an unfriendly look, “Lan’er, if you would act more normal and stop wearing those gaudy clothes, Master would dote on you as well.”
But immediately after, Su Tao’er heard the First Senior Brother burst into an uncontrollable, strange laugh. “Weren’t those clothes Bai Lan wore as a child personally tailored by you, Master? You made our Junior Brother so addicted to them that even you have a headache now…”
Before Mo Junheng could finish his sentence, Si Yan released a terrifying aura, his face turning quite ferocious. Mo Junheng hurriedly tried to cover his tracks. “Master made many clothes for us in the past… Master treats us extremely well.”