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

"...What?"

Chu Xianlan's body trembled, her face showing shock and horror, as if she suddenly couldn't understand human speech. She asked again, "What were you saying just now?"

"I mean!" Qu Ling gritted her teeth.

"—Senior Brother Chu, I know you harbor feelings for the Immortal Lord that go beyond those of an ordinary master and disciple. You... you love your master, don't you? Senior Brother, I understand!"

Every word was like a thunderclap, not exploding in your ears, but striking you directly on the top of your head.

Chu Xianlan got goosebumps all over her body.

Understand? Understand what?

Like? Who likes him? He likes his master...!? What is this?! Is this human language?!?

This isn't just making a startling statement; it's outrageously absurd! It's so ridiculous it's like being struck by lightning.

How does this junior brother's brain work?! He really dares to think of anything!

He's probably lost his mind!

Chu Xianlan went from extreme shock to a chill running down her spine, and quickly denied it: "It's not what you think, Junior Brother Qu, I have no feelings for Master..."

"Senior brother, stop explaining!" Qu Ling interrupted, sniffling, her eyes reddening with emotion. She argued vehemently, "I know this feeling is hard to express, and I know it goes against morality, but there's nothing wrong with liking someone!"

Chu Xianlan: "…………"

It was as if I could hear the sound of my worldview collapsing.

"You argued fiercely with the Fourth Prince to prevent the Immortal Lord from accepting other disciples. To prove you were worthy of the Immortal Lord, you even dared to step onto the arena! Also, those storybooks that Senior Brother secretly hid were all taboo tales of master-disciple romance..."

"Every time the Immortal Lord appears before you, my senior brother's eyes can no longer see anyone else; his heart and soul are only for the other person. Anyway, I understand now..."

Chu Xianlan's head was spinning from his words, and she didn't know where to begin her rebuttal.

He did do those things, but it was clearly to protect his master's innocence, to prevent the tragedy in his dream from coming true... How did that have to do with liking someone?

He's crazy! He's not one of those rebellious disciples in those stories who covet their master!

Chu Xianlan wanted to explain her motives for those actions, but in her haste, she forgot to mention anything about her precognitive dream and couldn't bring herself to speak.

My mouth! It's been gagged again!

Chu Xianlan had no choice but to shut up, screaming inwardly: Ahhhhhh! What kind of injustice is this?!

I didn't! I'm not! Don't talk nonsense!

A chilly night wind blew outside the courtyard.

Under the pear tree, the white-robed swordsman tapped his knuckles to his lips, his expression more blank and stiff than ever before.

Those unfamiliar words bombarded my mind, throwing my thoughts into chaos.

nonsense.

This was the first word that surfaced in Yi Chen's mind.

Yi Chen was convinced that the physician was talking nonsense.

His disciple was naturally pure in nature and acted frankly and directly. How could he possibly harbor such rebellious thoughts?

It must be a misunderstanding or speculation.

As expected, upon hearing Chu Xianlan's urgent and resolute denial, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly sank a little.

In fact, for someone of Jixue Xianjun's status, to hide in the shadows and eavesdrop on his disciples was extremely inappropriate and inconsistent with his usual dignified and composed demeanor.

However, the whole incident was too shocking and too far-fetched, so Yi Chen was completely unaware of the inappropriateness of his actions and continued to listen to the conversation between the two without showing any emotion.

The next second, Qu Ling's tone changed, and she began to recount the various incidents.

"...To prevent the Immortal Lord from accepting other disciples, he argued fiercely with the Fourth Prince. To prove he was worthy of the Immortal Lord, he even dared to step onto the arena! Also, those storybooks my senior brother secretly hid were all about forbidden love between master and disciple..."

As night deepened, the clouds obscured the moonlight, and even the chirping of insects in the grass fell silent.

Many images flashed through my mind in an instant—the disciple's lowered eyes, the ear tips occasionally flushed red, the embrace, the longing, and the inseparable following after he came out of seclusion, the little things they did together. Could these be... not pure affection and trust?

Actually, they're all... expressing... affection?

And what about those forbidden tales about master-disciple romances...?

Yi Chen's brain went blank.

Everything Qu Ling said was something he had never known before, a side of things his disciple had never heard of.

wrong.

Yi Chen suddenly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he had regained his composure.

It's still too absurd.

He should trust Chu Xianlan more than the far-fetched claims of others.

Whether it's preventing someone from taking on a disciple or being inseparable, it's just the most normal interaction between master and disciple... As for those storybooks, Yi Chen doesn't know what they're about, but it's not surprising that he flips through a few miscellaneous books when he's bored.

It must be like this.

Yi Chen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he turned his head to look in the direction of the artificial hill. He was waiting, waiting for his disciple to refute Qu Ling's absurd and ridiculous conjecture with the same firm voice as before, so that this farce could come to an end.

However, after a long time, the expected rebuttal did not occur.

Instead, only the sound of extremely rapid breathing was amplified infinitely in the silent night.

It wasn't like the anger of being slandered, but rather... the helplessness and panic of having one's secrets suddenly exposed, as if confirming some fact and acknowledging everything.

This long, silent period was like an invisible string, slowly tightening in Yi Chen's heart.

"..."

A moment later, Yi Chen seemed unable to bear the feeling any longer. His thick, long eyelashes drooped, concealing his complex emotions, and he quietly turned and left, unnoticed by anyone.

-

The other end of the artificial hill.

Qu Ling frowned, reached out and patted Chu Xianlan's back, asking worriedly, "Senior brother, are you alright?"

Chu Xianlan leaned against the rock wall of the artificial hill, panting heavily, "...I have something to do."

I almost burst from holding it in.

This is blatant misinterpretation! Misunderstanding! Rumor!

An unjust accusation! A fabrication! Flawless!

"Qu Ling," Chu Xianlan said sternly and resolutely, "that 'Life-Binding Gu,' and what you just said about me... my admiration for Master—from this day forward, you are not allowed to utter a single word about it again, do you hear me?"

He looked into Qu Ling's eyes, his gaze clear and open, "My master taught me cultivation and led me into the Dao. His kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. I respect him, honor him, and follow him. There is only pure master-disciple affection between us. It is impossible for me to have such immoral thoughts."

"...The argument with the Fourth Prince was because I was afraid he had ulterior motives. The arena competition was also due to personal grudges. As for those storybooks... they were just miscellaneous books I casually flipped through at Senior Sister Zhu Ling's place while I was recuperating. In short, you have definitely misunderstood."

Chu Xianlan blurted out everything she had been holding in, determined not to give her junior brother any more room to speculate.

Isn't this a form of spiritual poisoning?

Qu Ling hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He had never seen Senior Brother Chu give him such a cold look before, and finally realized something was wrong: "I...I understand, Senior Brother."

Finally, she lowered her head in shame. "I misunderstood. I'm sorry, Senior Brother. I really didn't mean to make things up about you and Immortal Lord Jixue. What I just said has never been told to anyone."

Chu Xianlan took a deep breath before nodding to him.

"...Well, it's good that the misunderstanding is cleared up." Luckily, things didn't escalate. If a third person had overheard, he really would have been in deep trouble.

So, in Qu Ling's eyes, he had always been such a sleazy figure.

Thinking that her lifelong reputation had been ruined today, Chu Xianlan became even more annoyed with Ji Cheng'an. If it weren't for this kid's constant tantrums, she wouldn't have done so many things that were misunderstood.

Fortunately, his master didn't find anything wrong with it from beginning to end, otherwise he would have really collapsed.

I dare not imagine what would happen if even a single word of these words reached Master's ears...

Being expelled from the sect would be the least of their worries; they'd be lucky to escape being beaten to death.

However, upon further reflection, since Qu Ling could see the Entangling Life Gu in medical books, it meant that this thing really existed. It was best to keep it in mind and go back to Baicaotang to check the ancient books to find out the origin and solution of this thing.

"Senior brother, let's go back," Qu Ling suggested timidly, breaking the silence.

Chu Xianlan nodded, and the two turned and walked towards the Moon-Viewing Terrace.

I had only taken two steps when I suddenly heard a soft rustling sound from the grass beside me.

Chu Xianlan reacted swiftly, pulling Qu Ling behind her and warning in a low voice, "Who's there?! Come out!"