Inside the Sovereign Hall, the jade bed shook slightly.
The turmoil caused by the “new disciple” was far more brutal than Lu Ning had imagined.
It wasn’t until Lu Ning completely lost consciousness that the frantic “punishment” finally came to a temporary end.
When she eventually drifted back to awareness, it was already the morning of the second day.
She slowly opened her heavy eyelids, and the first thing she saw was Gu Qinghuan’s peerless face right in front of her.
The other woman was lying on her side next to her, her cool eyes watching her without blinking, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
“Master, you’re awake?”
Hearing those words, Lu Ning’s body stiffened.
She instinctively tried to retreat, only to find her body tightly confined by a pair of soft, warm arms.
“Master, don’t move.”
Gu Qinghuan buried her face in Lu Ning’s chest, her expression one of utter intoxication.
Lu Ning: “…”
“Master, are you still angry with your disciple?”
Gu Qinghuan slowly raised her head.
Those cold eyes now held a hint of cautious probing.
Seeing her act this way, Lu Ning felt speechless.
‘You’ve tormented me to this extent, and you’re asking if I’m angry?’
“I am not.”
Lu Ning was currently a guest under someone else’s roof and had to bow her head.
“Master is lying again.”
“But it’s fine.”
“I know Master feels aggrieved in her heart. However, your disciple was also forced into a corner.”
A “wronged” expression appeared on Gu Qinghuan’s face.
“Who told you to always be so disobedient, Master? You’re always trying to run away from me.”
“Therefore, I could only use this method to give you a lesson you’ll remember.”
As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked Lu Ning’s slightly bruised lips, a flash of heartache appearing in her eyes.
Immediately after, Gu Qinghuan’s face transitioned into one of “regret.”
“I will be more careful next time.”
“I will definitely… be a bit gentler.”
Lu Ning’s body trembled violently.
‘There’s… there’s a next time?’
“Master, don’t be afraid.”
Gu Qinghuan seemed to see through her thoughts and quickly comforted her.
“I’m just saying that.”
“As long as you are obedient in the future, Master, and stop thinking about taking other disciples or running away from me…”
“I promise that I will ‘love’ you well and never let you suffer the slightest grievance again.”
Lu Ning knew this was Gu Qinghuan’s ultimatum.
“I… I understand.”
Lu Ning nodded with difficulty.
“That’s more like it.”
Gu Qinghuan smiled with satisfaction.
Seeing Lu Ning’s well-behaved and submissive appearance, the madness in her heart finally subsided completely.
She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Lu Ning’s forehead.
“Master, you must be hungry, right?”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice returned to its usual tenderness.
“I’ll go prepare breakfast for you right now.”
She prepared to get up as she spoke.
However, Lu Ning suddenly grabbed her hand.
“No… there’s no need.”
Lu Ning’s voice was somewhat raspy.
“How could that be okay?”
Gu Qinghuan’s brows furrowed slightly.
“Master, you exhausted so much physical strength yesterday. You must be properly nourished.”
Without leaving room for argument, she sat up from the jade bed.
Soon, a cold-faced, peerlessly elegant woman in a black dress appeared before Lu Ning once more.
She walked to the bedside carrying a bowl of spiritual porridge.
Looking down at Lu Ning, a hint of playfulness flashed in her cool eyes.
“Master, would you like me to feed you, or…”
Gu Qinghuan paused, a playful curve hooking the corners of her mouth.
“Will you get up and eat by yourself?”
Lu Ning: “…”
Lu Ning knew that if she chose the former, this rebellious disciple would definitely use some incredibly shameful method to “feed” her.
Thus, she decisively chose the latter.
“I… I’ll do it myself.”
Lu Ning struggled to sit up, only to find her body was soft and limp, completely lacking any strength.
“Haha.”
Gu Qinghuan chuckled softly.
She reached out to help Lu Ning up from the bed, leaning her against her own chest.
“It seems I still have to serve you, Master.”
Gu Qinghuan used a jade spoon to scoop up some spiritual porridge, blew on it gently, and then delivered it to Lu Ning’s lips.
“Master, open up.”
Her voice was very gentle, as if she were coaxing a disobedient child.
Lu Ning’s heart was full of helplessness, but to prevent Gu Qinghuan from finding an excuse to act out again, she could only slowly open her mouth and swallow the spoonful of porridge.
“Master, is it good?”
Gu Qinghuan asked while feeding her.
“Mmh.”
Lu Ning made a weak sound.
“As long as it tastes good.”
Gu Qinghuan smiled happily.
“In the future, I will make it for you every day.”
With a bowl of spiritual porridge in her stomach, Lu Ning felt her body finally regain some energy.
She pushed Gu Qinghuan slightly, indicating that she wanted to get up.
“Master, don’t be in such a hurry.”
Gu Qinghuan held her down.
“Your body is still very weak and needs proper rest.”
She pressed Lu Ning back onto the jade bed and tucked her in.
Then, she lay down as well, pulling Lu Ning into a tight embrace from behind.
“Qing… Qinghuan, you…”
Lu Ning was caught off guard by the sudden move.
“Master, don’t be afraid.”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice sounded in her ear.
“I just want to hold you and rest for a while.”
“I haven’t had a peaceful rest like this in a very long time.”
Her voice carried a hint of attachment and satisfaction.
Lu Ning stopped struggling.
She just lay quietly in Gu Qinghuan’s arms, letting the other woman use her as a body pillow.
‘Before the system upgrade is complete, perhaps I don’t need to worry about this rebellious disciple doing anything else excessive to me.’
Lu Ning comforted herself silently.
Then, her consciousness gradually blurred, and she eventually fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at the quiet, sleeping face in her arms, a complex light flashed in Gu Qinghuan’s eyes.
She reached out and gently stroked Lu Ning’s cheek; the delicate touch made it hard for her to pull away.
“Master…” she murmured to herself.
“Rest assured, I will never let anyone take you away from me again.”
“No matter who it is.”
As she finished speaking, a flash of murderous intent flickered in her cool eyes.
It took a long time for her to suppress it.
She pulled Lu Ning even closer into her embrace and closed her eyes.
The entire Sovereign Hall returned to its usual silence.
Only on that jade bed, two exquisite bodies were tightly embraced, forming a beautiful picture.
Two days later.
Lu Ning finally fully recovered from that long “slumber.”
Over the next few days, Gu Qinghuan surprisingly did not do anything out of line.
She acted like a considerate and gentle cultivation partner.
Every day, besides holding Lu Ning to rest, she personally prepared various nourishing spiritual meals, taking care of her meticulously.
Had Lu Ning not personally experienced those previous “punishments,” she might have actually thought this rebellious disciple had reformed and returned to being the good student who respected and loved her.
Under the careful care of the past few days, Lu Ning’s body had finally recovered significantly.
Although her cultivation remained at the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm, the feeling of weakness caused by being forced to “cultivate” had completely vanished.
She even felt that her foundation was more stable than before.
Lu Ning slowly sat up from the jade bed and stretched her body, feeling an unprecedented sense of refreshment.
“Master, how do you feel?” Concern was visible on Gu Qinghuan’s face.
“I’m fine.”
Lu Ning’s voice remained calm.
Even though she still had to rely on this rebellious disciple, she didn’t want the other woman to think she had completely surrendered.
She had to maintain the dignity that belonged to a “Master” at all times.
Only then could she fight for more initiative in future gambles.
“That’s good.”
Gu Qinghuan knew that getting this proud Master to open her heart completely would take time.
She had plenty of patience.
“Master, you should freshen up first.”
As she spoke, Gu Qinghuan took out a brand-new set of Sovereign robes she had prepared from her storage ring.
It was a luxurious robe, entirely pitch-black, woven from an unknown demonic silk.
“Come, Master, let me help you change.”
Gu Qinghuan stepped forward.
However, this time, Lu Ning raised a hand to stop her.
“No need.”
Lu Ning’s voice was cold.
“I’ll do it myself.”
After saying that, she stepped off the jade bed on her own and picked up the Sovereign robes.
Gu Qinghuan ultimately did not insist.
She knew that doing too much was as bad as doing too little.
A proper retreat could instead make this proud Master let down her guard slightly.
Soon, Lu Ning had changed back into the robes that symbolized her status as the Sovereign of the Tianmo Sect.
She walked to a large glazed mirror, looking at the familiar yet strange person in the reflection.
The “man” in the mirror was peerlessly handsome.
A simple jade hairpin held back her long, jet-black hair, which draped casually behind her.
That innate height and cold arrogance, that indifference that viewed all living beings as ants, seemed to return to her body at this moment.
She was the peerless demon who had once, by her own power, suppressed the entire Northern Region so much they couldn’t lift their heads.
Lu Ning looked at herself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.
This was how she should look, not like a toy at someone’s beck and call as she had been the previous few days.
“Master.”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice sounded behind her.
She walked behind Lu Ning, looking at the majestic and domineering “man” in the mirror.
A hint of obsession flashed in her cool eyes.
“The elders in the sect have been waiting for a long time.”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice pulled Lu Ning out of her thoughts.
“It’s time for them to see you, the true person in power.”
“Mmh.”
Lu Ning nodded.
She knew that since she had returned, she had to re-establish her authority at the sect meeting.
Otherwise, the restless individuals within the Tianmo Sect might once again harbor thoughts they shouldn’t have.
“Let’s go.”
Lu Ning slowly turned around, her eyes flashing with a chilling light that made the heart tremble.