Listen to your senior brother

Purple Bamboo Peak, Cold Jade Palace.

Outside the window, the Purple Bamboo Forest swayed in the morning breeze, rustling softly, as if recounting the romantic affairs of the previous night.

Yun Yuzhen's newly changed light purple gauze dress shimmered faintly in the morning light. She stood quietly, the warmth of the jade bowl still lingering on her fingertips.

"This Rebellious Disciple..."

She murmured, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness she herself hadn't noticed. If outsiders heard it, they'd probably be shocked.

"Is Revered Master thinking of me?"

A voice as gentle as a clear spring, yet tinged with a hint of playful irreverence, abruptly sounded by her ear.

Yun Yuzhen's delicate body trembled violently. Her originally dazed peach blossom eyes instantly widened, and she instinctively tried to circulate her spiritual power for protection.

But the next moment, a familiar, faintly dragon's saliva-scented masculine aura had already enveloped her from behind.

There was no actual physical restraint.

But her body seemed to have been hit by a paralysis curse, going limp and powerless.

"You... didn't you leave?"

Yun Yuzhen turned around in a fluster, leaning back against the window frame, her chest rising and falling slightly as she looked at the man who had returned like a startled fawn.

Su Ye stood with his hands behind his back, a trademark gentle smile playing on his lips.

Sunlight spilled over him, gilding him with a golden edge, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal world.

"This Disciple walked halfway, then suddenly remembered there was one more thing left undone. Fearing Revered Master might feel uneasy, I came specially to comfort you."

Su Ye took a step forward.

Yun Yuzhen instinctively wanted to retreat, only to find the windowsill behind her—there was nowhere to go.

"Wh... what thing?"

She forced herself to appear calm, putting on the dignified air of a Peak Revered Master. "If you're planning to cause trouble again, this seat... this seat will definitely not spare you!"

But these threatening words, paired with her still-flushed pretty face, held little intimidation.

Instead, it seemed more like a coy refusal.

Su Ye chuckled softly and slowly raised his hand.

Yun Yuzhen's eyelashes fluttered wildly. Thinking this Rebellious Disciple was about to get handsy again, she closed her eyes in shame and annoyance.

However.

The expected liberties did not come.

A slender, strong hand gently landed on her hair, tenderly tucking a stray lock behind her ear.

The movement was gentle, as if handling a rare treasure.

Yun Yuzhen was taken aback, slowly opening her eyes.

She met Su Ye's deep, Soul-sucking gaze.

"Although the Cold Poison in Revered Master's body has mostly dissipated, it has accumulated for three hundred years after all, deeply entrenched."

Su Ye's voice was low and magnetic, carrying an undeniable concern. "These next few days are a critical period. You must not get angry, and absolutely must not forcibly circulate your Great Zhou Heaven spiritual power."

Looking at the handsome face so close, the panic in Yun Yuzhen's heart miraculously subsided.

Replaced by a warm current.

"This seat... knows."

She turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes, muttering softly, "This seat isn't a three-year-old child, needing you to teach me?"

"In this Disciple's eyes, Revered Master is sometimes more willful than Wan'er."

Su Ye chuckled.

"You!" Yun Yuzhen was about to flare up.

But Su Ye suddenly leaned down.

"Mwah."

A soft sound.

Yun Yuzhen instantly froze in place, her pupils shaking.

On her cheek came a warm, moist sensation.

A fleeting touch.

But like a wildfire, it instantly ignited the blood throughout her body.

"You... you..."

Yun Yuzhen covered her cheek, pointing at Su Ye, her finger trembling, unable to form a complete sentence.

He... he kissed her?

This Rebellious Disciple actually dared to kiss her cheek?!

This wasn't healing!

This was clearly teasing! Blatant teasing!

"This is a reward for Revered Master obediently drinking the medicine."

Su Ye watched her mortified yet not actually trying to kill him, secretly amused.

On the System panel, Yun Yuzhen's favorability was wildly fluctuating.

Though it seemed like anger was skyrocketing on the surface, her ears, red enough to drip blood, couldn't lie.

"Rest well, don't overthink."

Su Ye reined in his smile, his gaze becoming deep and serious. "Tonight, this Disciple will come again."

"To prevent the Cold Poison from rebounding, the treatment needs consolidation."

"As for the treatment plan..."

Su Ye leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice with a hint of mischievous laughter. "This Disciple has newly comprehended a set of 'Yin and Yang Harmony Method,' more effective than last night's. Revered Master can look forward to it."

Finished speaking.

Not giving Yun Yuzhen any chance to explode.

Su Ye's figure transformed into a streak of light, instantly shooting out the window, disappearing into the vast sea of the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Leaving only that stunningly beautiful figure in the Cold Jade Palace, utterly disheveled.

"Get lost!!!"

After a long while.

A cry of mingled shame and anger echoed through Yun Yuzhen's bedchamber.

Shaking the Purple Bamboo outside the window, causing leaves to rustle down.

Yun Yuzhen gripped the window frame tightly, her knuckles white, biting her red lips hard.

"Rebellious Disciple! Rebellious Disciple!"

"Who wants to look forward to your new treatment!"

"And... and more effective..."

As she cursed, her voice grew softer and softer.

Her hand slowly touched the cheek that had just been kissed.

There, it seemed the warmth of that person still lingered.

For some reason.

That feeling of being forcefully invaded, yet surrounded by indulgence, actually caused ripples in her Dao Heart, which had been desolate for three hundred years.

"Tonight..."

Yun Yuzhen gazed in the direction Su Ye had disappeared, her eyes dazed, her cheeks frighteningly hot.

"This seat definitely won't leave the door open for you!"

"Hmph!"

She slammed the window shut heavily.

Turning to walk towards the bed, her steps held a hint of lightness.

Unconsciously, the corner of her mouth lifted into an extremely faint curve... Leaving the Cold Jade Palace.

Su Ye stepped on the Void Realm, his figure like lightning, weaving through the sea of clouds over Purple Bamboo Peak.

That feeling of controlling everything put him in an excellent mood.

"This Taiyin Sacred Body is truly marvelous."

Su Ye felt the surging Nascent Soul power within him.

After a night of "diligent cultivation," not only had his cultivation broken through to the Nascent Soul Second Heaven, but even the runes on his Supreme Bone had become more intricate and profound.

Black-gold runes flowed, faintly emitting an overbearing aura that seemed to devour heaven and earth.

"Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art."

Seizing the creation of heaven and earth, invading the mysteries of the sun and moon.

If discovered by the Righteous Path, it would definitely be seen as a Demonic Technique, attacked by all.

But in Su Ye's view, power itself had no righteousness or evil.

Used righteously, it is righteous; used evilly, it is evil.

Though Su Ye cultivated a Demonic Technique, he only targeted enemies. Towards his own people, he was always the "gentle as jade" Senior Brother.

For example, towards his Revered Master.

That was filial piety gone awry... no, it was the most sincere, most filial "close" care.

"That girl Wan'er was also exhausted last night, still asleep now, no need to bother for the moment."

Su Ye's thoughts raced, planning his next moves.

Although Purple Bamboo Peak ranked low among the thirty-six inner Peaks of the Taichu Holy Land, with sparse population.

But each one was top quality.

Revered Master had the Taiyin Sacred Body, Third Junior Sister had the Primal Water Body.

And that Fifth Junior Sister Lin Qianxue, who had just entered not long ago... possessed a Supreme Grade Ice Spirit Root and an Innate Sword Heart.

A born sword immortal seed.

Even more, she was Su Ye's designated... "Since Revered Master and Third Junior Sister are both resting, I'll go see Fifth Junior Sister then."

A gentle smile curled at the corner of Su Ye's mouth.

Changing direction, he sped towards a secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain... Tingxue Courtyard.

This place was originally a discarded servant courtyard.

Because it was remote, perpetually shaded, and chillingly cold, ordinary Disciples were unwilling to live here.

But ever since Su Ye "bestowed" it upon Lin Qianxue, it had become a unique sight on Purple Bamboo Peak.

Inside the courtyard, a few old plum trees bloomed proudly in the snow.

The ground was covered with a thin layer of white frost, chillingly cold.

A graceful figure in snow-white clothes was practicing swordplay in the courtyard.

The sword light was like water, chillingly cold.

Each swing of the sword brought up a shower of crystalline ice flowers, hanging frozen in the air.

It was Lin Qianxue.

She was tall and slender, her demeanor as cold as a ten-thousand-year glacier.

Even while practicing swordplay, her exquisitely beautiful face showed no expression, as if nothing in the world could move her.

Only deep within her cold eyes, an occasional, barely perceptible flicker of complexity could be seen.

"Clang!"

A clear and melodious sword cry rang out.

Lin Qianxue flicked her wrist, and the long sword in her hand transformed into a streak of cold light, piercing straight into the void.

Sword Qi crisscrossed, instantly freezing a falling plum blossom petal before shattering it into countless ice crystal powder.

"Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Peak..."

Lin Qianxue sheathed her sword and stood still, breathing slightly heavily.

Gazing at the ice crystals drifting through the air, a faint shadow of gloom clouded her cool and aloof brow.

Last night.

She had heard clearly the thunderous roar of the Lightning Tribulation that shook the heavens.

Even from a great distance, that terrifying pressure made her heart palpitate with fear.

That was the direction of the Cold Jade Palace.

Was it Senior Brother... Undergoing Tribulation?

Lin Qianxue's grip on her sword tightened slightly.

Ever since that day outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, when Senior Brother had "accidentally" bumped into her suffering from Yin Qi backlash, saved her, and helped her achieve Core Formation.

That gentle, jade-like figure had constantly appeared in her mind.

Although the treatment process had been somewhat... strange.

And Senior Brother's methods had been quite bold.

But she could feel that Senior Brother genuinely meant well for her.

He had even gone so far as to expend his spiritual power to gift her the Imperial Rank Divine Ability, "Three Thousand Drops of Weak Water."

In Lin Qianxue's simple yet stubborn Sword Heart.

Su Ye was the most important person in the world, second only to the sword itself.

But last night... she distinctly sensed that the Formation at the Cold Jade Palace was somewhat unstable.

She even faintly heard Revered Master's suppressed and pained... voice.

"Is Senior Brother treating Revered Master's injuries?"

Lin Qianxue bit her lip, an inexplicable sourness rising in her heart.

That feeling.

Was like her most treasured possession being touched by someone else.

Even though that person was Revered Master.

Her benevolent teacher who had treated her well.

She still couldn't help but feel a little... jealous.

"Lin Qianxue, oh Lin Qianxue, what nonsense are you thinking!"

"Senior Brother is saving Revered Master, it's an act of great righteousness!"

"How can you harbor such filthy thoughts?"

Lin Qianxue took a deep breath, trying to suppress the distracting thoughts in her heart with the Ice Heart Technique.

But just then.

A soft sound of footsteps, crunching the frost on the ground, reached her ears.

Those footsteps were composed, steady, carrying a unique rhythm.

Lin Qianxue's delicate body trembled violently.

She didn't even need to turn around.

Her originally stagnant Sword Heart now began to beat fiercely.

That was... the resonance of the Demonic Seed.

And the deep-seated longing in her heart.

"Fifth Junior Sister, practicing sword so early in the morning?"

A familiar voice, carrying warmth like a spring breeze, dispelled the cold in the courtyard.

Lin Qianxue whirled around.

At the courtyard gate.

Su Ye stood tall and graceful, clad in a blue robe.

The morning sunlight filtered through the plum branches, casting dappled light and shadow on him, making him breathtakingly handsome.

Especially those eyes looking at her.

Smiling, doting, as if she were the only treasure in the world.

"S... Senior Brother!"

Lin Qianxue's cool and aloof facade instantly crumbled.

Flustered, she hid the long sword behind her back, like a child caught misbehaving, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"N... Not that early, I just got up too."

She stammered, completely devoid of her usual aloof, goddess-like demeanor that kept others at a distance.

Su Ye walked slowly into the courtyard.

His gaze swept over the simple surroundings, finally settling on Lin Qianxue's somewhat thin clothing, his brow slightly furrowing.

"Tingxue Courtyard is austere, I've wronged you."

He walked up to Lin Qianxue and, with utmost naturalness, reached out his hand.

Lin Qianxue instinctively wanted to dodge, but she forcibly stopped herself, allowing that warm, large hand to land on her head.

Gently ruffling her hair.

As if comforting a frightened kitten.

"Mmm..."

Lin Qianxue let out a soft, mosquito-like moan, feeling so comfortable she wanted to close her eyes.

Senior Brother's hand was so warm.

Moreover, the moment he touched her, the "Demonic Seed" already planted within her seemed nourished, radiating a joyful emotion.

Making her feel an indescribable sense of attachment, both physically and mentally.

"Senior Brother, you exaggerate."

Lin Qianxue lowered her gaze, looking at the jade pendant swaying at Su Ye's waist, and whispered, "Cultivators don't fuss over such worldly possessions. Besides... as long as I can cultivate at Purple Bamboo Peak, by Senior Brother's side, Light Snow doesn't feel it's hard."

These words were spoken with all the courage she could muster.

After saying them, her face was already as red as a ripe apple.

A flicker of amusement passed through Su Ye's eyes.

This girl's favorability was indeed frighteningly high.

She was already starting to win herself over.

"Silly girl."

Su Ye withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a mix of helplessness and doting, "Cultivation is important, but you shouldn't neglect yourself."

"Look at you, these clothes are old, you don't even know to get new ones."

"And this courtyard, besides plum blossoms and frost, there's not a single decent furnishing."

"How is this like a young lady's boudoir?"

Lin Qianxue tugged awkwardly at her sleeve.

She was a sword maniac; even back in her mortal Family, she wasn't valued, and after entering the Holy Land, she threw herself wholeheartedly into the Sword Dao. How would she understand such life pleasures?

"I... I don't understand these things," she said softly.

Seeing her this adorable and clueless, Su Ye felt even more fondness in his heart.

Who would have thought.

That future Ice Sword Fairy who would chill fourteen provinces with a single sword, making the Demonic Path tremble in fear, would be so obedient and well-behaved now?

"It's okay if you don't understand, Senior Brother will teach you."

Su Ye smiled slightly and extended his hand to her.

That slender palm opened before her, its lines clear and full of strength.

"I happen to have nothing to do today."

"Revered Master is in seclusion healing, and your Third Senior Sister is also resting."

"How about..."

Su Ye paused, his deep eyes gazing directly at Lin Qianxue, as if trying to see into her heart.

"Senior Brother takes you down the mountain to stroll around the Market?"

"And while we're at it, get you some daily necessities for a young lady, and buy a few nice sets of clothes."

"I can't let the future Sword Immortal of my Purple Bamboo Peak dress so shabbily, can I?"

Lin Qianxue abruptly looked up.

Her cool eyes instantly erupted with dazzling brilliance.

Down the mountain?

Just the two of them with Senior Brother?

Was... was this a date?

Immense joy instantly filled her chest, making her feel a bit dizzy.

"Really... is it okay?"

She asked somewhat incredulously, "But Senior Brother just underwent tribulation yesterday, don't you need to stabilize your Realm?"

Su Ye chuckled softly.

This girl, still thinking about his cultivation at a time like this.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother knows what he's doing."

Su Ye took a step forward, closing the distance between them once more.

That intense masculine aura made Lin Qianxue's heart race again.

"Balancing work and rest is the true Dao."

"And..."

Su Ye lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of temptation, "Senior Brother also wants to see what a stunning, country-toppling beauty my Light Snow would be, dressed in Rainbow Garments and Feathered Robes."

Boom!

Lin Qianxue felt as if a firework had exploded in her mind.

Senior Brother said... I'm his?

And he wants to see me in beautiful clothes?

All restraint, all concerns were thrown to the winds at this moment.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions.

Then.

Slowly extended her sword-holding hand, cautiously yet resolutely, and placed it in Su Ye's palm.

Her cold little hand touched his warm, large one.

Fingers intertwined.

"Mm."

Lin Qianxue nodded vigorously, a smile spreading to the corners of her eyes and brows, like ice and snow melting, spring warmth and flowers blooming.

"Light Snow will listen to Senior Brother."

Su Ye clasped that soft, boneless little hand in return, feeling the delicate texture transmitted from his palm.

The corners of his mouth curled into a satisfied arc.