Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

She forced herself to remain calm and said sternly, "Nonsense! This is daytime, what kind of behavior is this!"

"So what if it's daytime?" Yang Guo chuckled softly. "Last night, didn't Master also..."

"Shut up!" Huang Rong interrupted hastily, her cheeks already flushed. "Last night was an accident! You...you're not allowed to mention it again!"

As she spoke, she tried to get up, but Yang Guo gently pressed her shoulder down.

"Master, don't worry." Yang Guo gently massaged her shoulders with his palm, his inner energy slowly seeping in. "This disciple is just concerned about Master. Look at you, your shoulders and neck are tense, your blood circulation is poor, this won't be good for your health in the long run."

His technique was indeed exquisite, his internal force gentle and mellow, pressing on acupoints, the sensation was a comfortable blend of tingling and numbness.

Huang Rong wanted to push him away, but the comfortable touch made her hesitate for a moment.

In that instant, Yang Guo's fingers slid from his shoulders and neck to his back, slowly moving down his spine.

"You..." Huang Rong trembled, her voice softening, "No..."

"Master, relax." Yang Guo whispered in her ear, "I'm just giving you a massage. If you feel uncomfortable, I'll stop immediately."

He said that, but his hands showed no sign of stopping.

With his palm pressed against Huang Rong's thin back, he could clearly feel the warmth and softness of her skin.

The internal energy slowly seeped in, flowing through her meridians, clearing blockages, and regulating her qi and blood.

Huang Rong bit her lip, closed her eyes, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

She knew she should push him away, reprimand him sternly, and maintain the dignity of a teacher.

But the body craves this comfort, the warmth of his palm, and the nourishment of his inner strength.

Not to mention... the feeling of that moment last night is etched in my heart like a brand, and now that he is so close to me, I feel weak all over and my heart is swaying.

"Master," Yang Guo suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of probing, "you can actually cultivate during the day... too."

Huang Rong suddenly opened her eyes, her cheeks burning: "You... what nonsense are you spouting!"

"What I meant was cultivation," Yang Guo said innocently. "The method of dual cultivation doesn't discriminate between day and night. Besides, the yang energy is stronger during the day, making cultivation more effective. If Master feels tired, perhaps..."

"Not as good as what?" Huang Rong was both ashamed and anxious. She pushed his hand away and stood up abruptly. "Yang Guo! You...you're getting bolder and bolder! This is broad daylight! How dare you...how dare you..."

Her chest heaved with anger as she pointed to the door and yelled, "Get out! Get out!"

Seeing that she was truly angry, Yang Guo quickly took two steps back, bowed, and said, "This disciple misspoke, Master, please calm down."

He verbally admitted his mistake, but a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes—his master's embarrassed and angry appearance was quite charming.

Huang Rong turned her back, took a few deep breaths, and barely managed to calm herself down.

"You...you should go back now. I'll handle today's matter myself. Remember, don't provoke Junior Sister Cheng again, and don't...don't have any more wicked thoughts!"

"Yes," Yang Guo replied, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he looked at her slightly trembling back and whispered, "Master, tonight..."

"Don't come tonight either!" Huang Rong interrupted hastily. "Fu'er slept here last night, and she might come again tonight. You...you better behave yourself!"

Yang Guo sighed inwardly—that girl Guo Fu is such a nuisance.

But he still said respectfully, "Disciple obeys. Then...disciple will take his leave now."

After saying this, he glanced at Huang Rong again before turning and leaving the study.

The door closed gently.

As Huang Rong listened to his footsteps fading into the distance, she slowly turned around, leaned against the desk, and let out a long sigh.

Her face was still flushed, and her heart was still beating fast.

She raised her hand and pressed it against her chest, where the warmth of his palm still seemed to linger.

"That little bastard..." she muttered under her breath, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

That moment of fullness last night...

The scent he exuded when he approached today...

And that chilling touch he gave me during the massage just now…

This can't go on any longer.

She had to uphold her bottom line, maintain the dignity of her teacher, and... could not allow him to push his luck any further.

But deep down, a voice asks: Do you really not want to?

Huang Rong closed her eyes, shook her head, and forcibly suppressed these chaotic thoughts.

There are still so many important matters to attend to—urgent military situation, complicated gang affairs, Fu'er's marriage, and exonerating Junior Sister Cheng...

She sat back down in her chair, picked up the ledger, and forced herself to concentrate.

Yang Guo left Huang Rong's study and stood in the corridor for a moment.

He recalled Huang Rong's embarrassed and angry expression just now, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Master, you say no, but your body says otherwise.

However, it is indeed not advisable to dwell on this today—since the master has clearly refused, forcing the issue would only spoil the atmosphere.

It was daytime, and we were in Xiangyang.

If this gets leaked...

Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock to the world?

There is ample time.

Anyway, Huang Rong knew his abilities, and he was confident.

Once you've experienced something, you won't think about others anymore.

Don't ask why, the answer is simple: the capital is considerable!

He straightened his clothes and was about to return to the East Courtyard when he suddenly remembered someone.

Cheng Ying.

Although he managed to defuse the commotion caused by Da Wu and Xiao Wu today.

But Cheng Ying's side... probably heard the news too.

After all, even the servants in the manor were discussing it, so it was normal for her to hear it.

That girl is sensitive and easily offended; if she harbors resentment because of this, it will only cause trouble in the future.

Why not take this opportunity to explain things to her?

With a thought, Yang Guo turned and walked towards the courtyard where Cheng Ying lived.

As Huang Yaoshi's last disciple, Cheng Ying held a special position in the Guo family.

Huang Rong specially arranged a quiet courtyard for her, located in the southeast corner of the mansion, away from the hustle and bustle of the front yard. The courtyard was planted with lush bamboo and had an elegant environment.

Yang Guo passed through the moon gate and stepped onto the bluestone path.

The bamboo shadows sway gently, and a light breeze rustles through them.

The door to the main house in the courtyard was ajar, and the window was half-open, revealing a glimpse of the simple furnishings inside: a table, a chair, a bookshelf, a painting of bamboo in ink on the wall, and a guqin on the table, giving it a reclusive feel.

Yang Guo stopped outside the door and gently knocked.

"Please come in." Cheng Ying's cool voice came from inside the house.

Yang Guo pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the room, Cheng Ying was sitting at her desk by the window, holding a pen, seemingly copying calligraphy.

Upon seeing that it was Yang Guo who entered, her hand holding the brush trembled slightly, and a drop of ink fell onto the rice paper, spreading into a small stain.

"Yang...Junior Nephew Yang?" Cheng Ying put down her pen, stood up, and looked somewhat flustered. "You...why are you here?"

Although she was unadorned, she possessed a refined and elegant temperament.

At this moment, her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes were darting around, clearly surprised and uneasy by Yang Guo's sudden visit.

Yang Guo turned around and closed the door.