4: Chapter 4 Diligent Cultivation

Early the next morning.

When the first faint ray of morning light filtered through the gaps of the carved wooden window and quietly spilled into the room.

Casting mottled and warm halos on the smooth floor, Chen Zilong slowly opened his eyes.

A quiet and peaceful atmosphere permeated the room.

The Calming Incense that had burned out last night left behind only an almost imperceptible, elegant lingering scent, mingled with an indescribable intimacy belonging to him and her.

He subconsciously smacked his lips a few times, as if the intoxicating sweetness and tenderness of last night still lingered between his teeth.

His gaze subconsciously turned to his side.

Xu Qingyue was snuggled in his arms. The thin quilt woven from Cloud Brocade softly covered her waist, revealing her beautifully lined, jade-smooth shoulders and arms, also completely unclothed.

The morning light lingeringly traced the perfect contour of her side profile, plating her porcelain-delicate skin with a layer of pale golden soft light.

She was sleeping soundly, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, spread somewhat messily across the pillow, further accentuating that face which was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her fair yet rosy cheeks were like newly blossomed peach flowers, delicate and dripping with charm.

Those phoenix eyes, usually clear and carrying a hint of cold majesty, were now peacefully closed. Her long, thick eyelashes were like two small fans, casting faint shadows under her eyelids.

Her nose was elegant, her lips full, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned in a beautiful curve, carrying a faint, satisfied, and tranquil smile.

It was as if she were immersed in an incredibly sweet dream.

Looking at his Master's defenseless, delicate, and clinging sleeping face in his arms, Chen Zilong's heart was instantly filled with immense satisfaction and tenderness.

He remembered last night, on this very bed, how this Master of his—who was usually high and mighty, cold as the moon—had turned into a pool of spring water in his arms.

He couldn't help but raise his other free hand, moving with extreme gentleness and infinite treasure, slowly stroking Xu Qingyue's exquisite face.

The sensation from his fingertips was warm and delicate, like the finest mutton-fat jade, yet carrying the heat of vibrant life.

His finger pads carefully rubbed her smooth cheek, feeling that amazing elasticity and tenderness, his heart fluttering incessantly.

Last night, it was these hands, carrying the excitement and slight recklessness of tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time.

And even more so, carrying a heart full of burning affection, they had wandered and explored almost greedily yet with incomparable devotion over his Master's flawless, white, delicate body that had never been touched by outsiders.

Those undulating curves, that delicate texture, that slightly trembling skin...

What should and shouldn't be touched had all been measured and remembered by him in the midst of passion and deep emotion.

What should and shouldn't be done, driven by that surging tide of emotion, had all been carried out thoroughly and heartily, casting aside all worries and restraints!

Recalling this, Chen Zilong felt his breathing involuntarily quicken a bit more, and his body also felt slightly hot.

He gazed at the sleeping face so close at hand; those slightly parted, enticingly lustrous lips seemed like a silent invitation.

An impulse welled up in his heart. Chen Zilong held his breath, as if afraid of disturbing this quiet and beautiful scene.

Or as if performing some sacred ritual, he slowly, extremely slowly, lowered his head and drew closer, wanting to gently kiss his Master once more and capture that sweetness that belonged solely to him.

Just a split second before his lips were about to touch that soft warmth, Xu Qingyue's two rows of long, curled eyelashes fluttered gently like butterfly wings.

Then, she slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

At first, those eyes still carried a bit of the misty haziness of just waking up, watery as if veiled by the misty rain of Jiangnan.

But soon, the mist dissipated, and they regained their usual clarity.

Only in this clarity, there was a bit more of the lingering charm from last night and an obvious tenderness at this moment.

Their eyes met.

Chen Zilong's movements instantly froze, his body maintaining a slightly forward-leaning posture.

For a moment, he could neither advance nor retreat.

A trace of embarrassment and awkwardness from being caught red-handed quickly climbed onto his face, and his earlobes turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, his eyes flickering with a bit of panic.

Xu Qingyue was clearly just awake, her mind still somewhat sluggish.

But she was so intelligent that she immediately perceived what the man holding her wanted to do from Chen Zilong's close distance, stiff posture, and his slightly red cheeks and ears.

Seeing his helpless appearance, like a child caught doing something wrong, there wasn't a hint of blame in Xu Qingyue's eyes. Instead, a very faint smile of doting and teasing flickered through them.

She didn't call him out, nor did she hesitate in the slightest.

Instead, she proactively tilted up her world-toppling face and pressed her soft, moist lips gently against Chen Zilong's lips, which were slightly parted in surprise.

This kiss was gentle and brief, yet it carried endless tolerance and proactive intimacy, like a feather lightly brushing against the tip of his heart.

After the brief touch, the blush on Chen Zilong's face did not fade but grew even more intense, even his neck staining with a thin layer of light red.

He somewhat shyly lowered his eyelids, not daring to meet Xu Qingyue's smiling, all-seeing gaze again.

On the contrary, after last night, Xu Qingyue seemed to have completely adapted to and accepted this new, intimate relationship between them, appearing much more relaxed than him.

She looked at Chen Zilong's rare, bashful appearance—so different from his resolute and steady demeanor during his usual cultivation—and the smile in the depths of her eyes deepened.

"Ma... Master, good morning."

He finally managed to find his voice, but it was still slightly raspy from just waking up, and it sounded a bit hesitant due to his guilty conscience and shyness.

Hearing this, Xu Qingyue's beautiful willow-leaf brows knitted ever so slightly, and her red lips pouted a bit, revealing a clear trace of displeasure as she chided coquettishly:

"You're still calling me Master!"

Her voice carried the soft sweetness of someone who had just woken up.

This chiding sounded less like a reproach and more like a lover's coquetry.

But this displeasure only stayed on her face for a brief moment.

She soon thought of something, and a helpless yet somewhat indulgent smile bloomed once again on her exquisite face, like snow melting or spring flowers suddenly blossoming.

She extended a slender, jade-like index finger and lightly tapped Chen Zilong's forehead, her tone carrying a sort of resigned doting:

"Forget it. Since you like this style, this Master... no, I will do as you wish."

That natural transition from "this Master" to "I" subtly revealed the quiet shift in her internal identity and her unconditional indulgence of him.

Hearing her words, Chen Zilong felt moved, guilty, and mixed with an indescribable sweetness of being treated specially.

He quickly followed her words, both to express his determination and to slightly soothe the fluttering in his heart, saying:

"Then, Master, I'm going to cultivate. I must quickly catch up to Master's realm."

His eyes became resolute again, filled with the drive to forge ahead.

"Mhm, go on, go on," Xu Qingyue responded lazily, then raised her jade-like slender hand to elegantly cover her mouth as she let out a small, gentle yawn.

This action naturally exuded a completely natural charm.

Her eyes rippled as she shot Chen Zilong a sideways glance.

In that gaze were three parts weariness, three parts coquettishness, and four parts playfulness. Her voice became increasingly soft and alluring:

"You certainly had your fill last night, but you tortured this Master... tortured me until I'm falling apart. My whole body feels sore and weak as if it's in pieces. I'll just take a morning nap."

Her words were blunt and bold, making no secret of the consequences of last night's frenzy.

Hearing this, Chen Zilong's heart pounded wildly, and his face, which had just calmed down a bit, flared up again with an alarming heat.

Having said that, Xu Qingyue gently moved her body, leaving Chen Zilong's warm and reassuring embrace.

She rolled over, and during the movement, the thin quilt slipped, revealing a section of her smooth, beautiful back curve and a waist that could be held in one hand.

Her skin glowed with an ivory luster in the morning light, only to be covered by the brocade quilt once more.

With her back to Chen Zilong, she found a comfortable position, seemingly really intending to sink back into her dreams.

Chen Zilong was left restless by her words and the spring-like radiance she had unintentionally revealed just now, the red flush on his face not fading for a long time.

He sat quietly by the bed for a while, and once his heartbeat had calmed slightly, he got up light-footedly and took out a set of black training clothes he usually wore from his Storage Pouch.

He dressed neatly with agile movements and briefly tidied the clothes scattered on the floor from last night as well as the slightly messy bed.

He tried his best not to make any sound, so as not to disturb the peaceful sleep of the person on the bed.

Having finished all this, he took one last look back.

He took a deep look at the graceful figure on the bed, lying with her back to him and curled up in the brocade quilt, sleeping peacefully. His eyes were filled with an affection and determination so thick it couldn't be dissolved.

He gently pushed open the door, walked out, and then carefully closed it behind him.

Outside, the morning air carried the unique crispness of the mountains and the fragrance of vegetation, which was refreshing.

In the distant horizon, the morning glow was magnificent, portending that today would be a fine day.

Chen Zilong took a deep breath, temporarily suppressed those erotic images in his mind, and walked to an open flat area in the courtyard.

With a thought, a small pagoda emanating an ancient and vast aura appeared in his palm—it was none other than the hongmeng qi refining pagoda.

The pagoda's body shimmered with light, containing mysterious and unpredictable power.

With a resolute gaze and no hesitation, Chen Zilong sat cross-legged, immersed his mind into the pagoda, and began a new day of secluded bitter cultivation.

He knew well that only by possessing stronger power could he better protect this hard-won, deep affection that had crossed the boundary between master and disciple.

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