When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

"Anything is fine, you can just walk in?"

The voice was deep and hoarse. It traveled directly into Chu Xianlan's brain through her thoughts, making her cheeks burn, her mind explode with a buzz, and her eardrums ring.

"No, no..."

He finally showed weakness and begged for mercy, bending over and dodging repeatedly in an attempt to escape. His moist pupils met the terrifying eyes of the giant snake, which seemed to contain an indescribable dark storm.

The boy's eyelashes trembled incessantly, making him look extremely pitiful. His legs shook, and he helplessly clenched the tail that was about to intrude.

"Master...no, don't do this...I...I'll die!"

At the critical moment, the snake's tail stopped just in time, and the tent fell silent, with only the sound of rapid breathing echoing inside.

Chu Xianlan lay on the bed, her eyes shimmering, her expression blank.

It's unclear whether he finally realized his partner was a genuine half-demon, or if he was simply too terrified to speak.

The entire bed was a mess, a complete chaos, with the sheets askew and pillows lying on the floor, making it look like someone had been having a fierce fight there.

Yi Chen reverted to human form, pulled the huddled disciple from under the covers, and embraced him, gently patting his back. He whispered helplessly in his ear, "Now you know fear?"

The voice was soft, seemingly reflecting a reluctance to do so.

Yi Chen felt Chu Xianlan instinctively hug him tightly, without any rejection despite being frightened. This made him feel even worse. He stroked the boy's hair with heartache in his eyes, feeling extremely sorry for Chu Xianlan and regretting his impulsive actions just now.

...He was too impatient.

We could have proceeded step by step, we should have... explained things clearly.

I shouldn't have tried to scare him like that.

How is that any different from bullying?

Chu Xianlan kept her head down and didn't say a word. Yi Chen felt a little flustered and couldn't help but deeply reflect on himself: They had finally reached a mutual understanding. If he ruined everything because he was too hasty... how could he make amends?

"I was wrong—"

As a result, Chu Xianlan caught her breath and immediately sat up with a somersault!

"Master, has the malevolent energy dissipated? Are you alright?" He frowned, cupping Yi Chen's face as he patrolled back and forth to check on him.

Then he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders, "That's great!"

"..."

Yi Chen was completely speechless.

There's nothing else we can do.

After a short while, the bed curtains were neatly arranged.

The pillow was put back in its place, the sheets were pulled flat, and the candle was extinguished.

Chu Xianlan was extremely flustered at this moment, clutching the bedding and occupying the right half of the bed, while Yi Chen lay half-reclined on the left, seemingly deep in thought.

"Master."

Yi Chen responded with an "Mmm".

Chu Xianlan's voice was muffled: "...Disciple remembers, didn't you say you didn't need to sleep?"

To be honest, it was quite embarrassing. Why were they lying down and sleeping so seriously after all that commotion?

Her fingers brushed past his ear, brushing aside a strand of hair, and Yi Chen said, "I'll stay with you."

After a day of turmoil, Chu Xianlan's mind was a complete mess. At first, she felt a little awkward sharing a bed with Chu Xianlan, but gradually her eyelids became heavy, her energy gave out, and she fell into a daze from exhaustion.

Yi Chen indeed does not need to sleep.

The night was long, and he turned his head to stare at his apprentice's unguarded sleeping face.

Chu Xianlan turned over in his sleep, as if following some instinct to move to the left. He rubbed against Yi Chen's arm, his forehead touching it, his fingers groping until they were grasped by another hand covered with scars.

Yi Chen's gaze softened further, flowing with an almost ethereal tenderness. At the same time, an indescribable sense of satisfaction rose within him; a feeling of fulfillment silently grew within him, almost uncontrollable. For a half-demon who could only love one person in his lifetime, this response was far too precious, how fortunate he was.

For some reason, Yi Chen found himself becoming increasingly greedy. He used to think that being by Chu Xianlan's side was enough, but later he wanted her unreserved love. Now, even the title "Master" felt too unfamiliar.

"Xianlan," her voice was soft, like a night breeze rippling across water, "from now on... will you call me by my name as well?"

Unexpectedly, Chu Xianlan suddenly woke up.

Without even thinking, he refused decisively, saying, "How can that be! No way!!"

-

The next day, the sky finally cleared, and the clouds dispersed.

The group had agreed to return to the temple together to investigate before setting off, but early in the morning, a group of troublesome mountain people came to the wanderers' camp.

Their clothing and appearance were even more primitive than any demon race I had ever seen before.

Wrapped in animal skin, adorned with feathers, and with deep blue, ochre, and bright yellow patterns painted on its face, it spoke in a high-pitched, chattering voice.

When Chu Xianlan came out of the tent, several mountain people were standing at the entrance of the camp. From a distance, they could hear them shouting and yelling, as if they were questioning Qionglan about something. The mountain people were speaking the language of the demon race, which they could not understand.

Ji Cheng'an was wiping his sword when he glanced at it and immediately became annoyed, turning his head away coldly.

Farewell to my hometown.

Unexpectedly, the villagers rushed over the next moment, sniffing around and pointing at Ji Cheng'an, babbling and complaining.

A pungent, fishy smell assaulted his nostrils. Ji Cheng'an covered his nose and said irritably, "I can't understand you. Speak like a human being."

Qionglan walked over, rubbing her temples, and gestured for the demons to step back. She stood between the two groups of people with her hands on her hips. "These are mountain people who live near the mine. They say you trespassed on the sacred ground, stole their incense, and maliciously destroyed their idols."

"What?" Ji Fuyao was taken aback upon hearing this.

They did go to the temple yesterday, and the theft of incense might have been a misunderstanding caused by the investigation and searching... but destroying the statues? How could that be?

They clearly hadn't even touched the idol.

Ji Fuyao frowned and stepped forward, about to explain that there was a misunderstanding, but Ji Cheng'an had already exploded.

"Bullshit!! Who cares about your junk? Who would bother destroying your idols for no reason! I... have seen all sorts of good things, why would I need to steal yours? Open your eyes and see clearly, anyone who dares to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Having learned from the previous experience of the stolen Thousand Cold Iron, Ji Cheng'an hated being mistaken for a thief more than anything in his life. His temper flared up and he couldn't hold back any longer. As soon as he finished speaking, the Azure Water Sword was already drawn from its sheath.

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

Unfortunately, due to cultural differences, communication was very difficult.

Although the mountain people couldn't understand what he was saying, they knew from his fierce and menacing demeanor that he was not someone to be trifled with. Their faces darkened, and they cursed as they picked up stone axes and bone clubs to fight back.

Yanling, who flew over to join the fun, clicked her tongue in amazement: "Wow, even a troublemaker wouldn't dare to stir things up like this!"

Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense, the spiritual power of the Nascent Soul stage suddenly burst forth, suppressing all the noise.

The mountain people looked at each other in bewilderment. Ji Fuyao waved for Wei Yi to step back, then punched Ji Cheng'an on the head.

Ji Cheng'an stumbled forward from the impact, clutching his head and turning back with disbelief: "Royal Sister!"

------------

(Some puppies are more easily bullied, and thus more easily bullied by bad snakes. Sigh!)