Ling Huan could sense it—Ling Xue was like a vampire, unable to accept sunlight and warmth.
The moment she was exposed to these, she became agitated and uneasy, as if her skin was being scorched in a raging fire, ready to be consumed at any moment.
“No… Don’t… Master, I beg you, please don’t treat me like this, you can’t treat me this way! I’ve said everything I should, you can’t do this to me!”
With a choked voice sticky in her throat, Ling Xue knelt on the ground, shamelessly hugging Ling Huan’s leg.
Lifting her tearful face, she cried out, “Master, I’ve already pledged my loyalty to you! I’ll do anything you want, but— but please don’t look at me with those eyes…”
Ling Xue’s voice gradually rose in pitch—from humble pleading, to shouting, and finally falling into utter despair and helplessness.
Ling Huan smiled without a word, only gently stroking Ling Xue’s head, softly brushing the dust from her face, his movements tender, without the slightest roughness.
His gaze overflowed with doting affection, as if he wished to drown Ling Xue in this damnable gentleness.
“No—”
Ling Xue screamed in agony, dragging out her voice.
She couldn’t accept it—she couldn’t accept that her destined person would look at her with such gentle eyes.
She wanted disdain, coldness, pain—not this damnable tenderness!
Her entire body rejected this warmth, convulsing on the floor, clutching her chest as if desperate to rip out her heart and throw away all the warmth stuffed inside.
“Little darling, what’s wrong?”
Ling Huan called to Ling Xue in a gentle, frail tone.
That voice dealt Ling Xue the final blow.
She flew into a rage, her blood surging backward.
With a violent cough, she spat out a mouthful of blood like a fountain, her whole body convulsing in place as if struck by paralysis.
Ling Xue, utterly lost all ability to fight.
Right after, a familiar pop-up appeared.
[Task complete!]
[Host, you are truly the most wicked beast in the world! Not only did you perfectly make Gu Chengxue submit, but you even put her through inhumane training after she surrendered! Not only did you let Gu Chengxue fully experience your terror, cruelty, and beastliness, but you pushed her fear of you to the absolute limit!]
[Evaluation: Extremely perfect!]
[Reward: 2,000 spirit stones! Top-grade movement technique—Moonlit Shadow Silence.]
[Bonus reward: Simulation Space unlocked ahead of schedule.]
Compared to the new rating, what Ling Huan cared about most was this Simulation Space.
Ling Huan tapped to open the [Simulation Space] description.
[Simulation Space: Level 1]
[A low-level simulation space. The host can simulate battles against any opponent encountered within the system space, and also use it for learning.]
[Duration: 15 days.]
[Note: The Level 1 Simulation Space will not bring any improvement or positive/negative feedback to the host’s physical body in reality.]
Damn!?
Ling Huan felt a burst of joy.
This reward was far more valuable than spirit stones or techniques.
Since he was on the path of cultivation, what was the most important thing to him?
If one lacked neither resources nor spirit stones, the thing in shortest supply was real combat experience.
A risk-free learning platform—this was truly precious for Ling Huan.
He could experience real life-and-death combat in the simulation space, comprehend techniques in safety without fear of going astray.
Most importantly, he could even simulate breakthroughs!
After all, a breakthrough for a cultivator was an incredibly serious and solemn matter, and nothing was more important than the insights and experience gained from it.
A cultivator’s breakthrough was like walking a strange road on a dark night, the air icy cold, with only a thin garment for warmth.
The process of breaking through was like finding a warm place before freezing to death. Insight and experience in breaking through were like torches that dispel the darkness.
If there was no torch, then before freezing, you’d have to grope in the dark, carefully feeling your way forward.
Is the road ahead flat?
Are there obstacles?
Is there danger lurking on either side?
With the torch to light the way, you could clearly see what blocked your path, what obstacles lay ahead, and whether they required a detour or could be crossed directly.
You could say this Simulation Space wasn’t just for fighting—it was a miraculous space to simulate breakthroughs, become accustomed to them, and increase their success rate.
Even more importantly, it was also Ling Huan’s bargaining chip against the system’s restrictions.
With this simulation system, he’d have more time to train his techniques, instead of relying solely on the system’s one-click infusions.
Especially now, when he didn’t know how much time he had left.
Even if it only brought experience, wasn’t experience the most important thing in the cultivation world?
And this was only a Level 1 Simulation Space.
If it advanced to a higher level, wouldn’t the simulated time increase even more?
Would it even provide real feedback in the end?
At this thought, Ling Huan grew more excited.
He wanted to enter the Simulation Space right now and practice all the techniques he’d acquired.
But he couldn’t—not yet.
He had things to deal with.
He forced down his excitement, pulling his thoughts back to reality.
“Mister, you see, Ling Xue is actually quite easy to handle.”
Jiang Yue was speechless.
She thought she’d met plenty of strange people, but someone this bizarre was a first.
But it didn’t matter—who would like such a pervert, anyway?
Besides, from the look of it, her young master didn’t intend to treat Ling Xue as a woman.
So, Jiang Yue only sighed.
Now that the contract was done, there was no going back.
Still, she felt a little uneasy and gave Ling Huan a stern warning: “Listen well, Young Master. Now that you’ve contracted with her, there’s no changing it.I didn’t expect the contract to be so simple—it only took mutual verbal consent.
Use her as little as possible. If you must, be sure she hides her identity well.”
“The fact she survived at the eighth level of Qi Refining means the organization behind her doesn’t care much whether she lives or dies, and thinks she can’t cause much trouble.That’s fortunate for us, but we must not let down our guard.”
Ling Huan understood Jiang Yue’s meaning, as well as the risks involved.
But aside from the system’s requirements, Ling Huan had his own considerations.
The system’s judgment was always superficial.
Now, with a masochist like Ling Xue, who longed for him to torment and humiliate her, the system was practically his personal ATM!
He might not get much or the best stuff, but right now Ling Huan had nothing!
With Ling Xue, he could, to some extent, use the system to profit, and not worry about losing favor with others for doing evil deeds!
At this moment, the “dog” in the “dog system” had been erased, and Ling Xue was no longer the detestable person she once was.
One person, one system—at this moment, in Ling Huan’s eyes, they were like the god of wealth’s boy messengers, bringing him riches!
Dressed in festive red, smiling, holding couplets, coming down to deliver money!
After a brief discussion with Jiang Yue about Ling Xue’s accommodation, Ling Huan decided to put Ling Xue in a side room in his own courtyard.
She could protect him and he could monitor her—two birds with one stone.
Jiang Yue pondered for a long time, her murmuring filling the air, and finally, with a hint of resignation, she softly said, “Ah, fine.” She had agreed.
In the end, Jiang Yue reluctantly brought out a set of clothes for Ling Xue.
Though she hated to give away clothes she’d made herself, she didn’t want Ling Xue’s filthy body to taint her young master’s pure eyes any further.
Ling Xue was then dragged by Jiang Yue with spiritual energy, transported like a piece of cargo to Ling Huan’s courtyard, and dumped straight into the side room.
Jiang Yue quickly took Ling Huan and left.
She was afraid Ling Huan might catch something unclean.
Ling Huan intended to escort his teacher home.
But Jiang Yue declined.
She also told Ling Huan in advance to come see her early the next morning.
Because starting tomorrow, Jiang Yue would officially teach Ling Huan how to cultivate—and how to use spiritual energy!
Ling Huan was overjoyed at this news!
He had thought Jiang Yue would wait a few more days; she was always steady and cautious, especially regarding cultivation.
He’d only just begun his training less than half a month ago.
According to Jiang Yue’s original plan, he should first get used to the feeling of spiritual energy in his body, then later learn how to use it.
Ling Huan nodded eagerly, like a pecking chick.
Maybe because of the new trouble at home, Jiang Yue wanted to prepare in advance, to help him improve quickly in case anything happened.
So after escorting Jiang Yue to the Eastern Courtyard, Ling Huan ran off, delighted and full of anticipation for tomorrow—he was finally going to become a true cultivator!
Jiang Yue watched Ling Huan run off happily, his figure gradually disappearing from her sight.
Her heart, which had been steady for centuries, now had a tiny crack pried open.
She was heartbroken—her first kiss, which should have belonged to her, had been snatched away by that witch.
Furious, but helpless.
She took a deep breath, calming the anger about to erupt.
Clearly, she couldn’t wait any longer.
Her young master needed a way to protect himself—she couldn’t let him get forced into another kiss by some wild woman, or get pinned down!
This time it was a forced kiss—what would it be next time?
Jiang Yue didn’t dare imagine.
She’d never been so afraid—not even when breaking through to Nascent Soul alone, facing a lightning tribulation that nearly killed her and drained her of spiritual energy.
She swore she would train Ling Huan to be a man who would never be pinned beneath a woman!