416: Chapter 416 This Place is a Pleasure

Behind Canglan Peak, the hot spring was misty.

The water vapor was like a veil, shrouding this piece of heaven and earth in a hazy and ambiguous atmosphere. Several pieces of warm jade were embedded in the stone wall by the pool, emitting a gentle glow that made the water surface shimmer.

The night wind blew through the bamboo forest, carrying the fragrance of plants and trees, intertwining with the dampness of the hot spring, leaving a trace of coolness as it brushed against the skin.

Ling Hao leaned against the edge of the pool, while Yue Xinxi leaned in his arms.

She was soaked soft by the hot spring, her skin flushed with a thin layer of pink. Her long hair was wet and scattered on the water, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks; that cold face now held a hint of soft charm.

Xia Yingying curled up on Ling Hao's other side like a satisfied kitten, her cheek pressed against his chest, her breathing long and steady, occasionally rubbing against him gently.

Ling Hao lowered his head, looking at Yue Xinxi leaning on his shoulder, and said warmly, "Xinxi, tomorrow I will go to the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest with Yunyu; you will come along."

Yue Xinxi was stunned and suddenly looked up, splashing water: "Me?"

"Haven't you always wanted to go?" Ling Hao looked at her wide eyes, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Yue Xinxi opened her mouth, and after a long while, she said, "I'm only at the Body Integration Stage... going would just hold you back."

Ling Hao pulled her shoulder, letting her lean back against his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head: "It doesn't matter."

He paused, his voice carrying a hint of a smile: "Besides, if I don't let you go, you probably won't be able to feel at ease."

Yue Xinxi's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't argue.

After a long while, she said muffledly, "I wouldn't."

Ling Hao tightened his arms, pulling her deeply into his embrace. The dampness of the hot spring moistened their touching skin, and the delicate, soft sensation was transmitted through the thin clothing.

Yue Xinxi bit her lower lip, enduring it desperately, and after a long time, she said softly, "...Thank you."

Xia Yingying woke up at some point, rubbed her eyes, and sat up. Her thin sleeping robe was soaked by the water vapor and clung to her body, outlining her undulating curves.

She took one of Yue Xinxi's hands and whispered, "Sister Xinxi, you... you must be careful... I'll wait for you to come back."

Yue Xinxi turned to look at her and reached out to rub the top of Xia Yingying's head, being unusually gentle: "Don't worry, with your Revered Master here, it'll be fine."

She glanced at Ling Hao, her earlobes quietly staining crimson.

Ling Hao looked at Xia Yingying and reached out to pinch her slightly red cheek:

"Little Yingying, stay with your Senior Sisters. If there's danger, remember the jewelry I gave you. Remember, protecting yourself is most important; don't try to be a hero."

"Yingying will." Xia Yingying nodded obediently and answered softly.

A moment later, she suddenly seemed to remember something, blinked, and looked at Yue Xinxi: "Sister Xinxi, if your sister comes back, will she have to call me 'Sister'?"

Yue Xinxi was startled.

Her sister... whether she was alive or dead, she couldn't even confirm.

A Mortal remaining incorruptible in a grave for a thousand years and even suspected of coming back to life—this defied common sense too much.

She looked at that small face full of seriousness and expectation, smiled, and said softly, "Xinlan was only twelve back then; if she's still alive... her appearance shouldn't have changed. She really would have to call you 'Sister'."

Xia Yingying's eyes immediately curved into crescents, as if she had already heard that "Sister".

Ling Hao looked at the two of them without speaking, just pulling them both into his arms.

The water vapor of the hot spring grew thicker, shrouding the three figures in a haze.

After a long time, there was a splashing sound as the three of them rose from the pool.

Yue Xinxi lowered her head to tidy her collar, her fingers somewhat disobedient, failing to tie it even after several attempts.

Xia Yingying leaned over to help, but as her fingertips just touched the collar, she was gently patted away by Yue Xinxi.

"I'll do it myself."

Xia Yingying withdrew her hand, suddenly sniffed with her nose, and whispered, "Sister Xinxi, the scent on you... is so strong."

Yue Xinxi's movements paused, her earlobes turning completely red as she walked quickly behind the screen to change her clothes.

Ling Hao put on his outer robe, looked down at Xia Yingying, and seeing her looking up with an innocent face, he couldn't help but flick her forehead.

"Get up quickly, don't let the water drip everywhere."

Xia Yingying froze for a moment before reacting; her face turned bright red, and she turned and ran.

...

Late at night, Ling Hao returned to the courtyard and saw a figure standing in front of the door from afar.

The moonlight was like water, outlining that graceful figure in vivid detail. The Jade ornament at the corner of the woman's eye glowed warmly under the moon.

Seeing Ling Hao return, Shi Qingxuan had a smile on her face: "Supreme."

In the distance, Xia Yingying stood under the corridor, watching Ling Hao and Shi Qingxuan enter the side room one after the other. She shrunk her neck and tiptoed back to her own room.

Not long after, Chi Wanhe, Qin Zhaoxue, Du Yuqing, Lu Changning, Lin Xiwei, and Shui Liuli arrived one by one.

As soon as Chi Wanhe landed, she looked around and leaned close to Xia Yingying, lowering her voice: "Where is Revered Master?"

Xia Yingying looked toward the side room: "Sect Leader Shi is here."

Chi Wanhe's gaze immediately became subtle.

Half an hour later, the door to the side room opened, and Ling Hao and Shi Qingxuan walked out one after the other. Both were neatly dressed and looked normal.

Shi Qingxuan glanced at the girls standing in a row under the corridor and said calmly, "Tonight should still be left for your disciples."

After saying that, she turned and left with a composed pace, though it was slightly faster than usual.

Ling Hao watched her figure disappear, and when he turned around, he met seven pairs of eyes with various expressions.

"What are you all thinking?" Ling Hao said crossly, "I am not that lustful, nor am I that weak."

He pushed open the door and looked back: "Do you still want to come in?"

"Yes—"

Seven voices spoke in unison, carrying a laughter they couldn't hide.

...

The night was deep, and a layer of pale gold light curtain lit up at the top of Canglan Peak, slowly flowing like water ripples, shrouding the entire courtyard within.

Inside the large side room, the candlelight flickered, shrouding the room in a hazy warm light.

Not long after entering, before Ling Hao could say anything, the seven disciples had already changed their clothes.

Chi Wanhe leaned against the side of the soft couch, her Double Spiral Cloud Bun slightly messy, a Pink Crystal Lotus Hairpin inserted askew on one side, with a few strands of hair falling over her shoulders.

Her light pink tight-fitting Qipao had a high collar that opened down to her waist, the chest area was sheer, and the side slits went above the waistline, making the white skin of her thighs intermittently visible. She swung her feet, and a string of silver bells on her ankle jingled.

Qin Zhaoxue sat by the window, her cloud-like hair tied low into a loose side bun, with a White Jade Plum Blossom Hairpin half-inserted in her hair. She wore sheer black silk from her neck to her jade feet; the center of her chest was covered by snow plums embroidered with dark silver thread, appearing indistinctly.

Du Yuqing stood against the wall, her body covered in a black soft silk gauze garment. Two black-and-gold silk ribbons hanging down were pushed high by her chest, and she was completely defenseless inside her high-slit long skirt.

Lu Changning sat on the edge of the bed, her fuzzy Double Bun slightly messy, a lotus-root-colored silk flower askew on the bun, with several scattered pearls adorning her temples, making that small face look obedient and innocent.

Her tight-fitting short jacket made of lotus-root-colored Soft Smoke Gauze was as thin as a cicada's wing, tightly wrapping her flat chest. Below, she wore a Pleated skirt with a section of fine gauze in the middle that was transparent.

Lin Xiwei's high Flying Immortal Bun was slightly loose, a strand of hair hanging in front of her chest, and the crescent moon pattern on her Moon-White Jade Hairpin flowed under the candlelight. Her moon-white merfolk silk short jacket was light as smoke, with two gold silk ribbons crossing at the chest and abdomen to cover the vital areas.

Her long legs were wrapped in sheer white silk stockings, paired with an extremely short openwork skirt, with the white silk looming. Her expression was solemn, but her earlobes were intensely red.

Shui Liuli lay on the end of the bed, kicking her feet, her silver hair scattered over her shoulders, the water-blue light at the ends of her hair flickering under the candlelight. She wore an extremely thin moon-white gauze garment, so thin that the lotus pattern of the light blue bellyband underneath was visible.

Her collar was slightly open, revealing a small patch of snow-white chest. She propped up her chin, her purple pupils darting around like a cat waiting for an opportunity.

Xia Yingying shrank in the corner, her light water-green gauze skirt transparent, with a moon-white bandeau underneath, her waist so thin it could be held in one hand. She shyly curled her toes and whispered, "Do I... look good like this?..."

"Of course you look good."

Chi Wanhe got up and pulled her to her side, looking her up and down with a subtle gaze, "Little Yingying, when did you grow so big?"

Xia Yingying's face turned bright red, her hands covering her chest, and the tips of her ears were steaming.

Ling Hao looked at the room full of disciples as beautiful as flowers and took a deep breath.

Tonight, this pot of seafood soup would surely be enough.

"All of you, come here."

He sat down by the couch and said solemnly, "Tomorrow, I will go to the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest with Lady Shi Ji. No matter if you are outside or in the Holy Land, you must protect yourselves.

Although Ji Xuanming is not here, there's no telling when he will return. If there is any movement that threatens you—"

His gaze swept across everyone, his voice cold and stern: "Just kill them. Bai Ling and Shuying will arrive in a few days; with them here, you can be without worry."

Between the safety of his disciples and the friendship of the White Rock Holy Land, he chose the former.

The women nodded, their eyes full of tenderness.

Shui Liuli giggled and leaned in, but was caught by Chi Wanhe: "You little girl, you just did it yesterday... and you're coming again today?"

"Eldest Senior Sister is stingy! Also, you're hurting me..."

Shui Liuli puffed out her cheeks.

The candlelight flickered, and the bed curtains fell.

Moonlight shone through the window lattice, spilling onto the messy clothes scattered all over the floor.

Low moans came from within the curtains, occasionally mixed with playful scolding.

"Junior Sisters, work hard—"

Chi Wanhe's voice was intermittent, with a hint of panting, "Drain Revered Master... otherwise, when he comes back from the Demon Forest... Lady Shi Ji will really become our Mistress..."

"Senior Sister herself can't take it anymore and yet she's talking about us..."

"Who says I can't take it!"

"Enough, enough..."

After a long time, the commotion gradually subsided.

Chi Wanhe held one of Ling Hao's arms, Qin Zhaoxue leaned on his shoulder, Du Yuqing pillowed on his palm, Lu Changning curled up at his feet, Lin Xiwei lay on her side, Shui Liuli lay on his chest, and Xia Yingying shrank in the crook of his arm.

The eight of them squeezed onto one couch, messily stacked like a nest of small animals huddled together for warmth.

Ling Hao gently stroked the hair of the person in his arms, looking at the moonlight outside the window, the corners of his mouth turning up.

The joy here...