The Next Morning
"AAAH!—Mmph…!"
Dugu Yan's eyes flew open in panic, only to find Tang Yin's hand clamped firmly over her mouth. Her muffled shriek died in her throat as she stared at him, wide-eyed. Once she'd calmed down, he finally let go.
"You!! Hmph—bad guy!" she huffed, cheeks flushed with a mix of outrage and embarrassment. "Why didn't you warn me about the side effects beforehand? And didn't you say you didn't want to do anything like that at the academy?!"
Tang Yin blinked at her innocently, lips pursed. "This.., I forgot. What do you want me to do, write you an apology?" He leaned in, eyes twinkling. "Besides, it's not like it was our first time… right?"
Then, with a sly smile, he teased "Anyway, I'll be taking the whale glue tonight, so keep your door open."
Her eyes lit up for a split second, but she quickly covered it with a scowl. "Hmph! You better not be late like last time, or I'm locking you out!"
Tang Yin grinned, clearly amused, before slipping out through her window like a thief.
After all, daily cultivation waits for no one.
Tang Yin calmly completed his Purple Demon Eye session—right in the middle of three girls who were very clearly pretending not to watch him, all while casting scrutinizing, suspicious glances his way.
As they finally parted ways, a bead of sweat slid down Tang Yin's forehead. "Tsk—women's intuition is terrifying," he muttered under his breath. "I'd better not get caught next time... or I'm dead."
Tang Yin approached Teacher Shao Xin with a polite smile. "Teacher, could you please pack two servings of today's meal? I'm planning to stop by and check on the Dean—she's still recovering, and I thought she could use a warm meal."
Shao Xin's eyes lit up like a lantern. "The Dean? My cooking?" he beamed, already bustling around the kitchen. "Say no more! You're in luck—today's menu is something special! If it doesn't fill you up, just come back for seconds! Hahaha!"
Tang Yin carried the two neatly packed meals and made his way toward Liu Erlong's cottage.
After all, he had promised to bring her food and check on her health every day. "Let's spice things up a bit today," he murmured to himself with a grin. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
As usual, he knocked politely on her door.
A soft click echoed, and the door opened to reveal the striking woman herself—dark pupils, long black hair cascading over her shoulders, a beautiful face paired with a dangerously voluptuous figure that could easily distract anyone.
"Good morning, Dean Erlong. You look as beautiful as ever," Tang Yin said with his usual charming smile.
And just like every other time, her heart skipped a beat. Erlong's cheeks flushed immediately, and in classic dramatic fashion, she let out a soft sigh and pretended to stagger weakly—conveniently landing straight into Tang Yin's arms.
"Oh nooo, I'm sooo frail," she mumbled unconvincingly as he caught her around the waist.
Tang Yin chuckled softly but played along like a true gentleman. With practiced ease, Tang Yin supported her and gently led her back to the bedroom.
Liu Erlong practically glowed with happiness. These quiet moments with Tang Yin were quickly becoming her daily routine.
As he helped her lay down, Tang Yin took her hand, brought it to his lips, and gave it a gentle kiss."I hope you recover soon… but not too fast. I've grown fond of taking care of you."
"Puh—!" Erlong's ears turned crimson. Her heart was beating so fast she swore she might pass out—but what a sweet way to go.
With a small flourish, Tang Yin brought out the meals from his storage tool and carefully unwrapped them. Like a true gentleman, he began feeding her first, spoon by spoon, making sure she didn't even lift a finger.
Liu Erlong beamed like a girl on her first date. "Let me feed you too," she whispered, scooping up some food and bringing it to his lips.
Tang Yin leaned in and took a gentle bite, deliberately brushing her fingers with his lips. A spark flew between them—maybe two.
Liu Erlong's smile softened. The thoughtfulness, the attention—it was all so… unfairly romantic.
As Liu Erlong held up another spoonful toward him, her eyes sparkled with shy delight. But Tang Yin's gaze drifted slightly—his expression softened.
"There's a little rice," he said quietly, reaching out.
Before she could react, he leaned in with practiced ease, gently plucking the stray grain from the corner of her lips. Then, with the casual grace of a man who definitely knew what he was doing, he took out a napkin and softly wiped her mouth.
"There. Perfect," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Liu Erlong blinked, frozen. Her cheeks turned a dangerous shade of red.
She covered her face with both hands and let out a muffled groan. "You… you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Tang Yin just chuckled. "Of course not. I'm just being attentive. As your devoted caretaker… naturally, I can't let my patient lay around with rice on her face."
Liu Erlong nearly melted into the blankets.
The temperature in the room spiked slightly.
And so, amidst the quiet clinking of cutleries and increasingly shy glances, the two continued feeding each other, laughter and warmth filling the room…
As they slowly but surely began to fall, one bite at a time.
That afternoon, Tang Yin reluctantly parted ways with Liu Erlong—after all, he had promised to attend classes with the girls. Responsibility was such a buzzkill.
The lesson of the day? Mimicry environments and how syncing one's Wuhun with nature could boost cultivation. Soul power resonance, harmonious alignment, cultivation efficiency... blah blah blah—all of it felt like background noise to Tang Yin. Somewhere between "environmental synergy" and "soul power acceleration," his brain clocked out, and he drifted into a peaceful nap.
He only woke when a gentle shake roused him.
"Master–Uh Tang yin, you promised to teach me alone today. You can't go back on your word," Zhu Zhuqing said, trying to look pitiful.
She failed.
To Tang Yin's eyes, that skin-tight outfit, her cold expression, and that soft, sultry voice didn't say "pitiful" at all. No, it radiated temptive seduction vibe. He slapped himself mentally.
"She's only twelve. Only twelve—you animal! Bah, bah!" He spat the words like a curse, exorcising impure thoughts from his brain. Straightening up, he cleared his throat and led her to a secluded spot for training. No distractions. Just sect master and his beautiful deciple. Pure.
They began their duel.
Zhuqing burst into motion, vanishing and reappearing with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, her movements slippery and elusive—like chasing fog under moonlight.
Her jade-like hands glimmered mid-strike as she unleashed Mysterious Jade Hand, each blow crisp, clean, and unnervingly precise.
Then came Controlling Crane Catching Dragon—fluid, elegant, and deadly. With a twist of her waist and a flick of her wrist, she was redirecting Tang Yin's force like she was folding paper.
Her coordination? Too smooth. Too refined.
Way too sharp for a twelve-year-old, Tang Yin thought, twisting his torso just in time to dodge a palm strike that grazed his ribs.
Her talent is seriously terrifying, he mused mid-duel, barely blocking her follow-up attack.
After a solid round, she paused, a rare smile playing on her normally frosty face.
"Oh? Zhuqing, you're smiling? Was sparring with me really that fun?" Tang Yin teased with a smirk.
Surprisingly, Zhuqing nodded without hesitation, her expression sincere.
That threw him off more than her footwork.
Before he could comment further, she skipped off into the trees like a startled deer—graceful, silent, and vanishing in seconds.
Tang Yin chuckled. Still so shy.
As he walked back slowly, he mulled over a more serious topic. 'Hmm… Whale glue isn't suitable for Zhuqing, Rongrong, or Yiran just yet. Guess I'll have to hunt down older soul beasts for them later. Once they're of age, they can absorb the glue properly. That way it's not immoral... right?'
He nodded to himself. Definitely not immoral. Totally ethical soul master behavior.
Right?
Night had fallen by the time Tang Yin made his way to Dugu Yan's dorm. He didn't bother knocking—like a silent shadow, he slipped in through the second-floor window, the same route he'd used before.
Inside, the room was dim, lit only by slivers of moonlight filtering through the curtains. His eyes quickly adjusted. On the bed lay a petite figure—curled under a light blanket, strands of hair fanned across the pillow.
Huh? Didn't I say I'd visit tonight? Did she forget? he thought, a little amused.
Shrugging it off, Tang Yin reached into his storage tool and pulled out a piece of ten-thousand-year-old whale glue—a rare treasure of which he only had five. His body was already tempered to the level of a Soul King, and with his energy absorption, he wasn't worried about it's volatile nature.
He swallowed it in one go, sitting cross-legged and beginning to circulate the Mysterious Heaven Technique.
Instantly, a wave of heat rushed through him like wildfire. His skin burned. His breath quickened. The medicinal energy surged through every meridian, igniting every nerve like sparks dancing on dry leaves.
His first instinct was to suppress it. He had the mental fortitude. He could ride the power out through pure grit.
But he didn't.
Instead, his gaze drifted back to the girl on the bed. Her breathing soft. The curve of her shoulder exposed beneath the blanket.
Memories flashed—her teasing voice, her arrogant smirk, the way she'd pinned him with those daring green eyes.
Tang Yin's breathing grew heavy, his chest rising and falling with the heat coursing through him. Unable to hold back any longer, he leaned down and pressed his body against the sleeping beauty.
She stirred instantly—surprised, confused—and her hands pushed at his chest, resistance clear in her sleepy flailing. But Tang Yin, lost in the haze of medicinal fire and desire, didn't stop.
She knew I was coming, he rationalized, his thoughts blurred. Who told her to fall asleep after I said I'd visit?
He silenced her protests with soft kisses, his touch growing bolder, his movements more urgent. The resistance weakened, her voice dulled into breathy murmurs.
She stirred again, murmuring sleepily, "Mn… don't… stop…"
That was all the invitation the fire needed.
He kissed her—deeply, hungrily. His body moved on instinct now, driven by the whale glue's surging force and the desire he'd let fester too long. Her resistance melted away as he held her close, guiding her through every moment with breathless whispers and fevered lips.
The air grew heavy with heat and movement. Moonlight danced on tangled sheets, and every breath felt like a storm waiting to break.
But just as the night reached its climax—just as Tang Yin was lost completely in the moment—
The door burst open.
"Tang Yin—!"
A voice, sharp with panic, cut through the dark.
He froze.
At the door stood Dugu Yan, panting, her face pale with shock. "What are you doing?!"
His heart slammed against his ribs. Slowly, like a man caught in a dream turning into a nightmare, he looked down.
The girl beneath him—her silver hair spilled across the pillow like moonlight. Her teary, wide eyes stared up at him.
"T-Tang Yin…" she whispered, voice trembling. "Have you had enough…?"
And then she collapsed.
Tang Yin's mind went blank.
Silver hair?
Wait—
This wasn't Dugu Yan.
It had never been Dugu Yan.
He'd made a terrible mistake.
(Guess who? Write in the comments section)