183: Chapter 183 Plum Blossom Adornment

Dongzang Peak, inside Dongzang Pavilion, is filled with warmth.

Pale white mist, rising from the earth veins, fills the hall, intertwining with the fine snow drifting in from outside the window, resembling a fairyland in the clouds.

In the center of the pavilion stands a massive landscape screen, upon which ink-wash plum branches twist and coil, dotted with blood-red petals, casting hazy, graceful shadows.

Twelve warm jade platforms surround the central ink-plum screen; the blood-red plum branches slant across the silk surface, and the light and shadow behind the screen ripple like moonlight on water. The warm jade platforms extend to the corridor outside the pavilion, where over a hundred Core Disciples, dressed in plain silk undergarments, lie quietly on the extended jade platforms.

Drunken Jade Paste is contained in cold jade plates, the crimson paste emitting a crisp plum fragrance and a seductive warmth.

Ling Hao holds a plum branch, dips it into the Drunken Jade Paste in the cold jade plate, and walks with a calm gait.

Zhao Hongyi clenches her clothes, the plum mark branded on her collarbone; the warm current dispels the chill of old injuries, and she grins, her canine teeth flashing.

Ye Qinglan receives the paste on her wrist pulse; her green robes slide down to reveal half of her lotus-root-like arm, and the Meridians where the paste melts faintly emit a jade-green glow.

Liu Yaner lies on her back with eyes closed, her fiery red hair spread across the jade platform. The plum branch touches her brow, the crimson paste blooming into a peach-blossom pattern, and the Profound Ice pure Qi merges into her Southern Bright Departing Fire Body. She sighs softly, "Thank you, Sect Master..."

Xiao Chan's ankle bones are slightly prominent; as the plum branch brushes over her ankle, her jade feet curl slightly under her silk socks, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "...Thank you, Sect Master, for your blessing."

The bloodstains on Yun Suyi's fingertips have not yet faded; as the Drunken Jade Paste covers the scabs, a cooling sensation seeps in. She touches the healed skin in a daze, tears welling in her lashes.

Jiang Wantang closes her eyes to receive the paste on the side of her neck; the lingering warmth of the cinnabar fire blends with the icy paste, bringing a rosy glow to her cheeks: "This Disciple... will forever remember your grace."

Amidst the lingering plum fragrance, over a hundred Disciples have peach-colored plum marks adorned on their brows and lips; the warm current drives away the cold, and the pavilion is filled with shimmering radiance.

"Revered Master—!" A clear, sweet cry breaks through the warm mist.

Chi Wanhe pulls Du Yuqing into the inner chamber, her pink skirts brushing across the jade steps. Behind her, Lin Xiwei, Lu Changning, and Qin Zhaoxue follow gracefully, while Xia Yingying trails at the end, tugging at the corner of her light green skirt.

The six women shed their outer robes, revealing their undergarments—light pink butterfly patterns, sky-blue Zen robes, black soft velvet, lotus-green dotted bodices, star-patterned shark silk, light grass-green...—and then lie down on the warm jade platforms in sequence.

"It's our turn!"

Chi Wanhe rolls over, pressing against the edge of the jade platform, her full curves resting against the cold jade surface. She lies on her back, pouting, "I am the Senior Sister; it is only right that you mark me first!"

Qin Zhaoxue's lips hold a gentle smile, her black-silk-clad jade feet unconsciously rubbing against the warm jade under her skirt. Du Yuqing lies quietly on the adjacent jade platform, her figure beneath her undergarment breathtaking, the golden lotus mark on her forehead shimmering in the warm light. She says nothing, merely watching Ling Hao in silence.

Lu Changning obediently brings her slender feet together, her apricot eyes shining as she waits. Lin Xiwei's long legs beneath her moon-white shark silk are slightly tensed; her cool, aloof face is expressionless, only her fair earlobes quietly staining a faint crimson.

Only Xia Yingying, wearing light grass-green undergarments, shrinks into the corner jade platform. Her apricot eyes are wide open as she watches her Senior Sisters; her small face is full of hesitation and timidity, her fingers nervously twisting her clothes. She wants to be close to Revered Master, yet she dares not be as proactive as the Senior Sister.

'You foolish girl! If you like him, go fight for it! Why are you hiding?' Yue Xinxi's roar of frustration echoes in her Sea of Consciousness.

'I... I don't dare...' Xia Yingying's consciousness responds weakly.

'...Forget it, give me your body!'

A grumpy sigh from Yue Xinxi.

A flash of frost-white sweeps across Xia Yingying's left pupil! Her entire demeanor changes abruptly! The timidity fades, and "obedience" comes online.

She sits up abruptly, mimicking Xia Yingying's usual tone, though her speaking speed is a bit faster: "Um... Revered Master, can you start with me?"

Her gaze is fixed directly on Ling Hao, seemingly carrying a hint of provocation.

This abrupt speech and the eyes, so different from her usual ignorance, leave several Senior Sisters stunned.

Chi Wanhe squints her eyes suspiciously: "Huh? Junior Sister today... could it be..."

Du Yuqing's gaze remains unchanged. Lin Xiwei frowns, and Lu Changning tilts her head in confusion. Qin Zhaoxue's gentle eyes flash with a knowing smile.

Ling Hao had told her...

Ling Hao's gaze falls deep into the frost-white depths of "Xia Yingying's" left eye, and his lips curl into an arc. He doesn't expose her, but instead nods readily: "Very well. Since Yingying has asked, then we shall begin with you."

He holds the plum branch and walks to the side of Xia Yingying's jade platform.

The body controlled by Yue Xinxi instantly stiffens. Watching Ling Hao lean down, his handsome face magnified in the warm mist, her (Yue Xinxi's) heart beats wildly in her Sea of Consciousness, almost bursting out of her chest! This feeling is even more nerve-wracking than facing a powerful enemy herself!

Ling Hao does not use the plum branch, but extends his index finger, directly dipping a bit of the crimson Drunken Jade Paste from the cold jade plate. His warm fingertips, carrying the icy paste, gently cover Xia Yingying's (Yue Xinxi's) slightly parted lips!

"Mm!"

A suppressed exclamation sounds simultaneously in Xia Yingying's throat and the Sea of Consciousness.

Now that Xia Yingying's body is controlled by Yue Xinxi, she can clearly feel the temperature of Ling Hao's fingertips.

His fingertips, with thin calluses, slowly knead over her soft, delicate lips.

The Drunken Jade Paste melts rapidly upon contact with skin temperature, the icy Profound Ice essence and the warm, miraculous plum vitality seeping in simultaneously. A seductive peach-colored glow blooms on her lips, like newly bloomed plum petals.

The strange sensation of intertwining ice and heat, along with the absolute control implied by the kneading of his fingertips, makes Yue Xinxi's whole body stiffen; her soul feels as if it were burning.

She wants to struggle, wants to curse, but finds that she has lost the strength to move even a single finger due to this damned sensation!

What makes her even more devastated is that Xia Yingying's main consciousness emits a satisfied and shy whimper in the Sea of Consciousness...

"Close your eyes." Ling Hao's deep voice carries a commanding tone.

Yue Xinxi subconsciously closes her frost-white eyes, her eyelashes trembling violently.

Ling Hao's fingertips linger on her lips for a moment, feeling the softness and the gradually rising temperature, then touches her brow before slowly moving away.

"Done."

Ling Hao stands up straight, looking at "Xia Yingying" with her eyes tightly closed and her cheeks flushed red, the smile in his eyes deepening.

Yue Xinxi, as if granted amnesty, instantly throws the body control back to Xia Yingying and shrinks into the depths of the Sea of Consciousness, leaving behind a chaotic mess of shame and anger, and... a trace of strange, lingering tingling in her soul.

Xia Yingying opens her apricot eyes, her gaze shimmering with moisture. The burning sensation (from the kneading) and the icy sensation (from the residual Drunken Jade Paste) on her lips make her unable to resist sticking out her small tongue to lick them, then, realizing the action was unrefined, her little face turns even redder, and she buries her face in her palms like an ostrich.

Ling Hao then turns to the other Disciples.

Chi Wanhe, having long been impatient, pouts and leans in: "Revered Master, Revered Master! It's my turn, it's my turn!" Ling Hao dips the plum branch into the Drunken Jade Paste and gently touches her smooth brow. A crimson plum mark appears, and peach-colored ripples oscillate, making her look peerlessly charming.

Du Yuqing silently lifts her face. Ling Hao touches her brow, and the red plum blossom next to the golden lotus mark adds a touch of eerie charm to her cold, sharp features.

Lin Xiwei closes her eyes to receive the touch on her brow, a peach-colored glow blooming on her cold, aloof face.

Lu Changning obediently lifts her small face, and Ling Hao gently brushes her pink, tender lips. She pursed her lips in satisfaction.

Qin Zhaoxue proactively offers her slender wrist, and Ling Hao gently touches the inside of her fair wrist. A red plum blossom hides beneath her smoky-green gauze, revealing a temptation amidst gentleness.

With the Drunken Jade Paste applied, the gentle warmth of the jade platform combined with the efficacy of the paste dispels the last trace of cold in the Disciples' bodies, leaving them feeling completely relaxed, their skin glowing and radiant.

"Change your clothes." Ling Hao signals. Behind the screen, formal ceremonial robes for the next segment have long been prepared.

Chi Wanhe is the first to jump off the jade platform, grabbing her set of intricate and gorgeous pink-rosy palace robes. Her eyes dart around, and she runs to Ling Hao's side, clutching his sleeve and shaking it: "Revered Master~ The ties on the back of these palace robes are so complicated, this Disciple can't tie them well~ You help me, okay!"

Her voice is sweet and coquettish, filled with blatant flirting.

The other women pause. Du Yuqing silently picks up her black dress, looking at Ling Hao with burning eyes. Lin Xiwei holds her moon-white shark silk dress; her cool, aloof face is expressionless, but the tips of her ears are red again.

Lu Changning holds her lotus-root-colored ruqun, blinking her big eyes. Qin Zhaoxue laughs softly, picks up her smoky-green gauze dress, and also looks at Ling Hao. Xia Yingying, who has just recovered, hugs her light green gauze dress, her little face red again, at a loss.

Ling Hao looks at the six pairs of eyes before him, each with its own charm but all hiding expectations. He smiles helplessly and is dragged half-willingly by Chi Wanhe behind that huge landscape screen.

On the screen, the projection of mountains covered by ink-plum blossoms sways slightly.

Immediately after, a sound of rustling clothes and the light clinking of pendants comes from behind the screen, mixed with Chi Wanhe's coquettish complaints: "Oh, Revered Master! Not there... it's this tie..."

"Revered Master, be gentle... it's too tight..."

"Mm... tight..."

Du Yuqing's low, short, stifled moan.

Lin Xiwei's very soft intake of breath.

Lu Changning's soft, sweet exclamation: "Mas—Revered Master... the buttons..."

Qin Zhaoxue's whisper with a smile: "I'll trouble you, Revered Master..."

And Xia Yingying's voice, as faint as a mosquito, with a hint of a sob: "...Itches..."

The dual shadows on the screen sway, ambiguous and hazy, entangled. Various faint sounds intertwine, inviting infinite reverie. After a long while, the movement behind the screen gradually subsides.

Ling Hao turns out from behind the screen first, his robes neat, only a hint of satisfied yet helpless smile curling on his lips.

Behind him, the six beauties walk out in succession, each with slightly messy hair and cheeks flushed with rosy clouds.

Chi Wanhe's proud peaks trembling like snow, Du Yuqing's wasp waist and giant peaks, Lin Xiwei's long legs and narrow hips flowing with light, Lu Changning's slender feet like jade bamboo shoots, Qin Zhaoxue's willow waist wrapped in smoky gauze, Xia Yingying's delicate buds constrained by the green dress.

The ceremonial robes, after being carefully "helped" to be changed, outline their most beautiful figures to the fullest.

The Plum Blossom Makeup is complete, the cold and warmth have dissipated.

Next stage: Sheng Sheng Creation River, First Bath in Spiritual Spring · Cleansing Dust.