“What thief dares to trespass here?”
Xu Zhiyan shouted, a ball of spiritual energy gathering in his right palm. “Come out now, or don’t blame this young master for showing no mercy!”
Jiang Luoluo sighed.
He pulled his hand from the pile of weeds, brushed the dust off his palm, and stood up. “It’s me.”
“Master?”
Xu Zhiyan gaped, his face a picture of shock. “What are you doing here?”
Jiang Luoluo stammered, his gaze darting over the three shirtless men in the hot spring. “Just… passing by… by chance…”
A heavy silence fell over the vast hot spring.
Xu Zhiyan suddenly seemed to realize he was soaking in the hot spring. He belatedly crossed his arms over his chest, a faint blush spreading across his face. He looked like a maiden who’d been taken advantage of, too embarrassed to meet his Master’s gaze.
Chu Xubai glanced at him with disdain. When he met Jiang Luoluo’s unwavering gaze, his eyes flashed with a mixture of shame and anger. He defiantly met the gaze head-on.
From this distance, the fine scars on Chu Xubai’s neck were even more visible.
Jiang Luoluo remained silent for a moment before asking, “How did you get those?”
Under Jiang Luoluo’s scrutinizing gaze, Chu Xubai grew increasingly suspicious that his Master still harbored ulterior motives, perhaps even scheming to use him for cultivation again!
He lowered his head to examine the crisscrossing whip marks on his chest, his voice laced with hostility. “How do you think I got them, Master? Don’t you know?”
Jiang Luoluo: “…”
Young man, you look utterly unconvinced!
This was a rebellious second disciple, brimming with malice toward him.
Excellent, Jiang Luoluo thought, nodding inwardly.
This has the vibe of a pure love novel where the protagonist is trying to win over the disciple who betrays his master!
Mo Yunqi leaned against the edge of the hot spring, watching the undercurrents swirling among the three men. He smiled serenely.
My sycophantic Eldest Senior Brother is flushed red, clearly lost in self-delusion.
His Master, who had been thoroughly interrogated not long ago, wore a stunned expression, seemingly convinced by Mo Yunqi’s deception.
Meanwhile, his Second Senior Brother, whose mind wasn’t the sharpest, stood with righteous indignation, as if he were about to confront their Master…
Tsk.
The scheme to divert the blame had succeeded.
Now, it was time to watch the show.
Mo Yunqi crossed his arms, waiting to see how Jiang Luoluo would react.
Given his Master’s petty nature, he was probably about to explode with rage.
He wondered if that beautiful face could maintain its current composure, or if it would crack under the pressure.
To still be able to spout such sanctimonious platitudes as, “Your master will certainly nurture you well”…
Mo Yunqi watched the person by the hot spring with amusement until the other seemed to notice. The fair, moonlit face twitched slightly, then turned to meet his gaze…
His pure white sleeves fluttered in the breeze, drifting through the misty vapor rising from the hot spring. He appeared ethereal and pristine, like a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.
His expression was utterly serene, betraying not a hint of panic. He seemed to dismiss Chu Xubai’s provocation entirely, utterly unfazed by the other’s words.
He still wore that aloof, pure, and unapproachable expression.
But only he knew how those beautiful eyes had misted with tears, how his thick eyelashes had trembled frantically, and how he had sobbed softly.
This secret satisfaction lifted Mo Yunqi’s spirits. He met Jiang Luoluo’s gaze with an open, respectful yet slightly restrained tone: “Master.”
Jiang Luoluo nodded in acknowledgment.
After a day of interaction, he had gained some understanding of his three disciples.
Though they appeared to be of similar age, their roles were quite distinct:
Xu Zhiyan, the eldest disciple, was a mere cannon fodder, destined to advance the plot;
Chu Xubai, the second disciple, harbored deep resentment and would inevitably rebel, making him the primary target of this mission.
Mo Yunqi, the youngest disciple, seemed the most normal of the three, with a relatively innocent mind and a lingering respect for his Master.
Jiang Luoluo rubbed his fingers together.
He probably knew what to do next.
Just then, the System’s notification sound chimed. Having achieved his goal of spying on the hot spring, Jiang Luoluo casually tossed out the line, “I’ll supervise your morning exercises tomorrow,” before darting away like a wisp of smoke.
Mo Yunqi was caught off guard by his reaction. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flickering within.
*Is that it?*
After learning who had entered his room last night, there was no punishment, no reprimand—just a hasty retreat?
Mo Yunqi glanced at Chu Xubai, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
*Could it be that he’s taken a liking to Chu Xubai’s face?*
*Or perhaps it doesn’t matter who entered his room last night; he simply doesn’t care?*
The thought sent a chill through Mo Yunqi’s deep gaze, a barely perceptible anger rising within him:
*He’s nothing but a plaything for anyone!*
*Utterly shameless!!*
*This is too much!!!*
System: [So, while I was gone, you’ve figured out who we’re targeting?]
Jiang Luoluo, curled up in his blanket, nodded vigorously, confidently recounting his experiences and deductions from the past two days.
After listening, the System’s mechanical voice buzzed with admiration and respect:
[Host, to be honest, I always thought you completed the last world’s mission solely on your looks. I never expected you to be so sharp! You figured it out all on your own!]
“Of course!” Jiang Luoluo propped his chin in his hands, basking in the praise. “Just wait and see. I’ll definitely complete this mission quickly too~”
The System showered him with flattery: [Luo Luo is amazing! With a Host like you and a reliable system like me, we’re the perfect team! Even the villainous big boss won’t stand a chance against us!]
Jiang Luoluo hesitated for a moment. “Reliable? Are you serious?”
The System seemed to stutter, muttering defensively: [I’m a mature system now. I never used to make such rookie mistakes. I don’t know what’s been going on lately…]
[It must be the Mercury retrograde period. After I’m done with you, I’m definitely going to get my fortune read!]
After this, the System asked, [So, what’s your plan now? He has a deep-seated prejudice against you. How do you plan to win him over?]
Jiang Luoluo pulled the blanket over his head, his cheerful voice muffled from within: “You’ll find out tomorrow~”
The training platform, outside the Azure Frost Hall.
The morning mist hadn’t yet dissipated when the rising sun peeked over the mountaintop, casting its light on the three figures in the center of the platform.
Jiang Luoluo settled comfortably into his chair, pulling his white fox fur robe tighter to shield himself from the morning chill, leaving only his fair, jade-like face visible, framed by eyes shimmering with water-like brilliance.
He watched the three figures on the platform, casually pulling a handful of pine nuts from his pocket. He deftly cracked them open with two fingers, popping the kernels into his mouth.
The sound of cracking pine nuts filled the air, the brown-yellow shells scattering across the ground.
Chu Xubai, thoroughly annoyed, muttered under his breath, “It would have been better if he hadn’t come at all! He’s just making things worse!”
Xu Zhiyan corrected him, “You wouldn’t understand. Master must have a deeper purpose for coming here at this time!”
“You wouldn’t get it even if I explained it to you!”
Mo Yunqi twirled his sword, the silver blade shimmering as it danced. The light reflected in his half-lowered eyelids, his dark pupils fixed on Jiang Luoluo with a probing gaze.
Mo Yunqi didn’t think his Master had come here intentionally to cause trouble. Instead, he sensed a hidden depth in the man’s heart, suspecting he might have ulterior motives.
*Could he have already discovered my true identity?*
*Could he have begun to suspect me?*
*Is he here to see if I’ll slip up?*
Mo Yunqi pressed his lips together, suppressing his spiritual energy and becoming even more cautious with his hands.
“Let’s spar again, the three of us!” Xu Zhiyan, the first to enter the sect, wanted to show off in front of his beloved Master.
Mo Yunqi saw through his petty scheme at a glance.
He should have been playing it safe, but for some reason, the thought of Jiang Luoluo’s watery eyes watching him suddenly made him unwilling to admit defeat and be on the losing side.
Perhaps it was just male competitiveness at play?
Mo Yunqi smiled at Xu Zhiyan. “Senior Brother, don’t bully us. Everyone in the sect knows you entered first and have the deepest spiritual energy. How could Senior Brother Chu and I possibly match you?”
“Then let’s spar without using spiritual energy, just pure swordplay!” Xu Zhiyan declared confidently.
After all this time since he’d entered the sect, even without spiritual power, he should be able to defeat those two junior disciples.
Plus, he could show off in front of Master.
Maybe if Master saw him, he’d be even more impressed and like him even more!
When the three of them started sparring, there was still a hint of camaraderie between fellow disciples.
They were all handsome young men, each with a different bearing. Standing together, they looked like the protagonists of a fantasy drama on TV. When they swung their swords, their movements were agile and swift as shooting stars.
🌸 “Jiang Luoluo sat there cracking pine nuts like a villain in disguise, while three shirtless disciples fought for his attention. Truly, no one suffered more than the System watching this slow-burn harem drama unfold.” 🌸
The translator watched all this chaos unfold with tears in her eyes—partly from laughter, partly from exhaustion. If this brought a smile to your face, consider tossing a pine nut (or a Ko-fi!) their way: 🐿️💖
