36: Chapter 36 Offering

Below Haoran Tower, the courtyard was serene.

Ling Hao, dressed in a black robe, leaned lazily against a rattan chair, enjoying the rare tranquility of the afternoon.

After guiding his second Disciple in Alchemy and his third Disciple in Body Refining throughout the morning, it was now his time to rest!

"Revered Master, please have some tea."

A crisp voice rang out. Chi Wanhe approached with light, graceful steps, carrying a cup of tea with swirling fragrance.

With a smile in her eyes, she gently placed the teacup on the low table beside Ling Hao.

Recently, this little Disciple had been exceptionally attentive, brewing tea, massaging his shoulders, and frequently hovering around him...

Ling Hao picked up the teacup and took a light sip. His gaze swept over Chi Wanhe's pretty face, which wore a flattering smile, and his heart stirred.

"Xiao He,"

He set down the teacup, his tone tinged with inquiry, "Have you encountered any difficulties lately? Or... do you need your Revered Master's help?"

"None at all, Revered Master."

Chi Wanhe blinked, looking innocent.

Ling Hao frowned slightly, "Then... did you do something wrong?"

Unprovoked attentiveness always made people feel uneasy.

Chi Wanhe's bright face immediately fell, her pink cheeks slightly puffed out. With a look of grievance and reproach, she said, "Revered Master~ in your eyes, is Xiao He really such an ignorant person who always causes trouble?"

Her charming, naive appearance made it impossible for anyone to blame her.

Ling Hao smiled; it seemed she really wasn't.

Then why was she being so attentive? Before he could think it through, a honey cake emitting an alluring, sweet aroma was held to his lips.

"Revered Master, taste this. It's freshly baked honey cake, it's so fragrant!"

Chi Wanhe's moist eyes were bright and expectant. Her body leaned forward slightly, and that familiar, sweet scent of hers quietly lingered.

Ling Hao instinctively raised his hand to take it, "I can do it myself."

"Oh, just eat it like this; it saves you from getting your hands dirty."

Chi Wanhe stubbornly held up the cake, her fingertips almost touching his lips, her eyes filled with a coquettish persistence.

Ling Hao sighed helplessly and had to lean forward to take a bite of the honey cake from her hand.

Hmm? Did his lips seem to brush against something warm, soft, and delicate?

He instinctively curled his tongue, it seemed... he had licked something...?

The next second, Ling Hao suddenly realized what that sensation was.

It was Chi Wanhe's finger!

He looked up and saw two crimson clouds instantly bloom on Chi Wanhe's fair cheeks, as if dyed with rouge.

She retracted her hand as if electrocuted, her eyes darting away, her long eyelashes trembling, revealing a rare look of shyness and confusion.

The atmosphere instantly became subtle and romantic.

"Ahem..."

Ling Hao forced himself to remain calm, cleared his throat, and looked elsewhere, "This honey cake really tastes good. Who made it?"

Chi Wanhe kept her head down, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, with an imperceptible tremor, "It... it was made by little Lu Changning."

"Lu Changning?"

"She is the Junior Sister who passed the Eight-Turn Corridor at the Founding Ceremony, Lu Changning."

Chi Wanhe explained, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.

Ling Hao realized, and the image of that timid, delicate young girl, like a tender sprout in early spring, appeared in his mind. He hadn't expected her to have such culinary skills.

Chi Wanhe felt her heart pounding like a drum, her cheeks burning, and she could no longer stay.

"Revered Master... Disciple, this Disciple is going to Cultivate!"

She hurriedly dropped the sentence and, without waiting for Ling Hao's response, turned around like a startled little rabbit, lifting her skirt and walking quickly out of the courtyard, leaving behind a figure trailing a fragrant breeze.

Ling Hao watched her slightly hurried back, lost in thought.

This little Disciple... seemed a bit unusual lately?

"At the ninth level of Qi Refining..."

He whispered to himself, "It seems she will soon Breakthrough to the first level of Foundation Establishment."

Ling Hao discovered that his Disciple's progress would also drive the ascent of his own cultivation.

When Chi Wanhe reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, that would be the moment he Breakthrough to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment!

Just then, a breeze blew through the courtyard, stirring up a few fallen leaves and quietly lifting a corner of Chi Wanhe's pink skirt as she hadn't gone far yet.

A stunning, breathtaking whiteness suddenly struck Ling Hao's eyes!

It was not the color of skin, but a delicate, smooth, slightly translucent silk fabric.

This silk fabric tightly wrapped around the young girl's slender, well-proportioned lower legs, outlining beautiful, smooth curves. Under the sunlight, it actually emitted a luster that was both pure and extremely seductive...

This is... silk stockings?!

Ling Hao's pupils constricted, his mind shaken violently. He instinctively wanted to call out to stop Chi Wanhe and ask what was going on!

Before the words could leave his mouth, a figure as cold as moonlight landed silently in the courtyard. Yu Lingshuang had arrived.

Ling Hao had to suppress the surging astonishment and inquiry in his heart, temporarily holding back the call and his questions.

The figure, cold as the moon, slowly approached Ling Hao. An ice-blue dress outlined her slender figure, and her temperament was like frost and snow.

The pale cinnabar mole under her left eye added a breathtaking charm to her coldness.

A trace of pure admiration couldn't help but flash in Ling Hao's eyes.

Even after spending much time together, this otherworldly beauty of hers still took his breath away.

"Sect Master."

Yu Lingshuang bowed slightly, her voice clear and cool.

Ling Hao smiled, pointed to the rattan chair opposite, and said in a gentle tone, "Ling Shuang is here? Sit, try this Spiritual Tea and honey cake."

He personally held the teapot and poured a cup of fragrant tea swirling with Spiritual Qi, pushing it toward her.

Yu Lingshuang sat down as instructed and got straight to the point, "Sect Master, three second-rank Sects including Liufeng Pavilion and Houtu Sect, and seven first-rank Sects including Baicao Valley,"

"as well as local forces like Jiuling City and Liuling Town, have all sent envoys with letters, willing to offer tribute and pledge allegiance to our Moonshadow Sect."

"Oh?"

Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up a golden honey cake, and handed it to her, "What do they offer as tribute? What do they seek? Come, try this, it's freshly made, it tastes good."

Yu Lingshuang hesitated for a moment, but still reached out with her slender hand to take the still-warm honey cake.

Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his fingers, and a trace of cool sensation made her pause almost imperceptibly.

She lowered her eyes and reported with a steady voice, "The tribute consists mostly of Spirit Stones, low-grade spirit ores, Spiritual Plants, and common Yao Beast Materials."

"They have three requests: First, in times of crisis, they seek our Sect's protection to avoid harassment from powerful enemies or rivals."

"Second, if 'Rule Anomalies' or powerful Erosion Demon and Erosion Beast swarms appear in their territory that exceed their ability to handle, they implore the Sect Master to intervene and eliminate them to protect their Foundation."

"Third,"

"...they wish to borrow some 'status' from our Sect to deter the petty scoundrels in the surrounding areas."

Ling Hao sipped his tea and said casually, "Protection? Clearing out Erosion Demons and Erosion Beasts? Ling Shuang, doesn't the Sect's Mission Hall already have tasks posted for clearing out surrounding Erosion Demons and Erosion Beasts?"

"Yes, the Disciples can use this for training."

Yu Lingshuang nodded.

"That's perfect! Just agree to them."

Ling Hao's smile deepened, "It meets the needs of the Disciples' training, and the tribute resources can replenish our treasury."

It could also assist in the evolution of the cave heaven, gaining many advantages in one stroke. Of course, this sentence was only in Ling Hao's mind.

Yu Lingshuang understood, "Sect Master's meaning is, when they are unable to handle it, we will intervene at our discretion?"

"Exactly, it's mutually beneficial."

Ling Hao leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling on her cold, stunning side profile with a gentle smile, "Besides, if those things spread, we would eventually have to clean them up ourselves."

He paused, his voice low and full of trust, "This matter shall be handed over entirely to you, Ling Shuang. How to set the regulations, how to collect tribute, and how to respond to protection requests—handle it as you see fit."

Ling Hao gazed into her beautiful eyes, which were as clear as cold pools, and added, "You can decide on minor matters yourself. If any short-sighted fools dare to make unreasonable demands, come find me."

This last sentence carried a hint of protectiveness.

Yu Lingshuang's cold gaze trembled slightly, and a warm current seemed to flow through her heart. She met his trusting gaze and said solemnly, "Rest assured, Sect Master, Ling Shuang will handle it properly."

"Have another one?"

Seeing that the honey cake in her hand was finished, Ling Hao naturally handed her another one.

Yu Lingshuang naturally reached out to take it gently.

When her fingertips touched Ling Hao's fingers again as he handed the cake, the warm sensation was like a small electric current, making her heart jump inexplicably.

A faint blush quietly crept up her snowy ears.

She suppressed that strange feeling, took the honey cake, and then stood up, "If there is nothing else, Ling Shuang will take her leave."

"Go ahead."

Ling Hao watched her leave with a smile.

Watching the ice-blue figure disappear at the end of the courtyard, Ling Hao whispered thoughtfully, "Sect affairs will become increasingly heavy in the future; I need to find someone else to share the burden with her..."

"But where can I find such an experienced management talent?"

Suddenly, Ling Hao tapped his forehead, "Tsk, I actually forgot to ask Xiao He about that..."

Thinking of the peculiar fabric he caught a glimpse of on Chi Wanhe's legs, Ling Hao's expression became somewhat subtle.

It held both a trace of curious expectation and a hint of some indescribable worry.