Yun Mengyao had been feeling irritable lately, always wearing a pouty, stuffed-bun face, too annoyed to focus even when teaching the Qinglian Dojo’s morning lessons.
Ever since Lin Wu appeared, the plain and simple cultivation days of the little White Lotus had changed completely.
She was like a silly little wild boar searching for food, bumbling into a trap, losing her wife and her soldiers—utterly humiliating.
At first, Yun Mengyao had been quite angry, feeling sullied by a crafty scoundrel and thinking she’d never become a renowned immortal like her master.
However, for the sake of the Dao, she could endure. After all, that brat really was quite enticing.
But gradually, she realized that while Lin Wu was despicable and shameless, he wasn’t a bad person.
However much work she did, he gave her just as much feed in return.
Much more generous than the stingy Elder Qinghan!
What used to be the most embarrassing part—cooking—became less and less bothersome once she’d tasted its sweetness, almost becoming addicted.
Divine Maiden Peak was cold and damp, the chill piercing.
But every morning she awoke feeling warm all over, and there was even a delicious meal ticket lying by her side.
Why did it feel like the treatment of a Blood Slave was better than that of a White Lotus Direct Disciple?
Especially after becoming fellow disciples, the little Junior Brother was practically too gentle, finding new ways to tease her every day.
Finery and feasts, spirit pills and elixirs, one after another from the hands of this rascal, pampering her so much that even the junior sisters from neighboring halls wept with envy.
It was only at night that she suffered a little—often having to endure the whole night, her voice hoarse by morning.
The two of them were always together, inseparable, gradually becoming the subject of their peers’ teasing.
How could Yun Mengyao dare resist the cunning scoundrel? All she could do was lower her head, cheeks flushing red, mumbling in embarrassment.
At moments like these, Lin Wu would generously take her hand, declaring he had fallen in love at first sight with his lifesaver and was pursuing his Senior Sister.
Yun Mengyao’s not-too-bright little brain would practically start steaming, forgetting everything in a daze and acting out the whole play herself.
How was this master and servant? It was clearly…
Yes, just like Dao Companions!
Except for forming a bond, they had done everything a man and woman could do together.
As her cultivation grew day by day, Yun Mengyao enjoyed this favoritism more and more, subconsciously already considering Lin Wu her own beloved at home.
Just a year ago, she had been a simple herbalist village girl from the snowy ridge, her values old-fashioned and honest to the bone, pure and kind-hearted.
Since she’d given her body to him, marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog~
It was right at the critical moment for Jiedan, just a breath away from having her Qi Sea overflow.
But Lin Wu suddenly disappeared at this crucial point, even moving all their love (dog) nest (den) overnight.
The next day, Elder Dongling announced at the dojo that the brat had somehow become a White Lotus Direct Disciple of Qinghan Hall!
At first, Yun Mengyao was quite happy, thinking it would be easier to meet during the day and no longer necessary to run all the way down to Qinglian Dojo at the lower peaks.
But the rascal never came back, and she was told that as a mere Zhuji cultivator, she wasn’t qualified to enter the Lingquan Cave Mansion of the Western Foothills?
More than a week passed with no news at all, as if he’d vanished into thin air.
“Wu, Elder is so biased. Who knows how he’s doing now, or if he’s dual-cultivating with someone else.”
Yun Mengyao squatted in the snow, drawing circles, her smooth legs rubbing together restlessly, her mood at rock bottom.
Her stomach was empty, her Jade Residence was empty, and her heart was empty too.
He promised to cling to me to death; I’ve already forgiven his rude affronts, ready to accept his sincere apology.
How did he just disappear halfway through being fawned over?
“Right, rehearsal—could he still be unwilling to give up?”
Yun Mengyao blinked her big eyes, suddenly recalling this and feeling a sense of foreboding.
Could he have actually fooled Master?
Impossible!
Yun Mengyao was more inclined to think things had been exposed and the assassin was now imprisoned in the ice cell, growing more and more anxious.
She was just about to find Elder Qinghan for news when she spotted a suspicious figure outside Qiuming Hall.
A young man in a white long robe, clean and embroidered with lotuses, incomparably handsome.
Who else could it be but the rascal?
Lin Wu was searching for the right Red Lotus Elder to “poison,” when suddenly someone patted him on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw the little White Lotus glaring at him angrily.
“You scared me—so it’s you, Senior Sister Yun, hello.”
Lin Wu froze for a moment, then smiled politely, bowing with a courteous yet cautious air, keeping his distance.
Mu Bingxin was certainly watching, and he was using the pretext of scouting the terrain to pick ingredients.
That gluttonous girl who’d recently shown a fierce appetite was a decent candidate.
“Ras… Junior Brother, what are you doing here? Why haven’t you sent a word all this time? Even after being chosen as a Direct Disciple by Elder Dongling, you didn’t inform me—do you know how worried I was about you!”
Yun Mengyao sighed in relief, but every step she took forward, Lin Wu retreated another step.
This made the little White Lotus fume with anger.
“Oh, I heard Elder Qiuming is skilled in maintaining her youthful appearance, so I wanted to consult her. I’ve been immersed in cultivation lately, focusing wholeheartedly, sorry for troubling Senior Sister Yun.”
Lin Wu kept signaling with his eyes, telling this big dummy to stay away. If she messed up his plans, her own life might be at risk.
Yun Mengyao put her hands on her hips, her little face full of resentment, still puffing her chest and stubbornly leaning forward.
“Immersed… who are you fooling! What I mean is, why haven’t you come to play with me lately?”
Before, Lin Wu had fawned over her so much it was nauseating; now he was so distant, this hot-and-cold attitude had the lovesick little White Lotus hooked like a fat-mouthed fish.
“What is Senior Sister Yun talking about? I don’t understand.”
“You!”
Yun Mengyao’s face turned scarlet. She stomped her embroidered shoe, her icy jade foot grinding ruthlessly onto Lin Wu’s toes.
“You big meanie! That’s not what you said when you were pursuing me for Dao Companionship—I, I even specially wove you a silk vest!”
?
“Senior Sister, please mind yourself.”
Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, Lin Wu was also bewildered.
Come on, I’m here on a mission—catching small fry to reel in the big fish.
Why are you taking it so seriously!
Besides, as a Blood Slave, how dare you question your master? I can’t let you develop such bad habits.
Lin Wu snapped his fingers, forced to use some special means to punish the little White Lotus.
“Behave yourself, I’ll explain later.”
“Mm!”
Yun Mengyao’s body froze, a soft current spreading from the bloody mark on her abdomen through all her limbs, leaving her unable to move.
Lin Wu dashed away, not even bothering to flirt with Qiuming, afraid of missing tonight’s big event.
After a long while, Yun Mengyao’s meridians finally cleared up. She hugged her knees, squatting on the ground, eyes red-rimmed.
“Wuah, he doesn’t want me anymore…”
Passing disciples of Snow Lotus Sect looked on curiously, bewildered.
Wherever Senior Sister Yun went, Junior Brother Lin would follow; just days ago she was all radiant, now she looked like a jilted young wife.
Did he really use White Lotus Direct Disciple status for promotion and then dump her?
Truly worthy of being born with the Innate Cold-Blooded Sacred Body—he’s even mastered a new move!
“Kukuku, no need to be so sad, since there’ll be plenty more days for sadness ahead.”
Suddenly, a giggling voice whispered in her ear. A furry snow-white ball rolled up beside Yun Mengyao from who knows where, extending a tiny paw to offer a handkerchief.
“Master?”
Yun Mengyao carefully picked up the little ball—this Master was not the same Master as before.
“Mm-hmm, from now on, you’ll stick by my side. Tonight I’ll show you a real spectacle.”
The little fox rubbed its ears.
Such a cute girl, actually pouting over feelings, showing real potential for pure love?
That won’t do; I have to lead the little White Lotus astray, make her as bad as her Master!
There are no true immortals allowed in the world of cultivation.
“What spectacle?”
Yun Mengyao rubbed her eyes, only to find the handkerchief wrapped around a small bottle of deep red fresh blood, the scent familiar and alluring.
“Eh, is this for me?”
Only then did the girl break into a smile, clutching the little bottle to her chest as if it were a treasure, no longer seeing it as mere food.
“At least he’s thoughtful. I knew he hadn’t forgotten me.”
Yun Mengyao snorted softly. Not only did it quench her thirst, it also filled the emptiness in her heart.
Self-strategy progress 75%…