I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

"Serve me in my bath?" Qin Rufeng frowned. "Do I still need to take the Fire Spirit Pill?"

"Of course not." Liu Bailian shook her head. "It's about identifying various spiritual herbs and petals, and then scattering them into the spiritual pool in the correct proportions. We also need to clean the entire courtyard."

Qin Rufeng: "Isn't this just a maid?"

Liu Bailian glanced at her and said sternly, "Don't keep interrupting your teacher. How can you be so rude?"

"This disciple knows his mistake." Qin Rufeng hung his head, looking like a wilted eggplant.

Liu Bailian continued, "And then there's the matter of serving the emperor in bed."

Qin Rufeng: "Servant..."

Liu Bailian glared at him, and Ru Feng immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

Liu Bailian continued, "First, you must bathe in fragrant herbs and infused with their aroma. Then dry yourself off and warm my bed. After that, wait outside my room."

"Don't let the incense in the incense burner go out. I suppose you know nothing about the art of incense and need to learn it from scratch."

"Aren't you supposed to be using ice-based spiritual energy? Why do you need a warm bed?" Qin Rufeng couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

"Are you looking for a fight?" Liu Bailian said, frowning. "I already told you not to interrupt me."

Qin Rufeng: "Yes~~~~~~This disciple knows his mistake."

Liu Bailian continued, "Also, from now on, you are not allowed to wear shoes in the Emerald Star Pavilion. Gathering spiritual energy on the soles of your feet will make you spotless and leave no trace in the snow. You have three days to master this skill, or I will really punish you."

Qin Rufeng looked helpless and could only say, "Yes."

Although Liu Bailian pretended to be stern, she didn't seem angry at all; on the contrary, she seemed quite happy.

With the aid of the Jade Purity and Lightness Technique, Qin Rufeng learned the "Treading Snow Without a Trace" technique in just half a day. Then, she truly began walking barefoot up and down the Emerald Star Pavilion, officially starting her life as a maid...

Qin Rufeng was responsible for not only the few things Liu Bailian had assigned, but also all the miscellaneous tasks of Cuixing Pavilion.

She then realized that the vast Cui Xing Pavilion was practically a maze. She had gotten lost before when she came to find Liu Bailian, but after finding out where Liu Bailian usually stayed, she went straight to her destination.

Only after exploring every corner did I discover that the Emerald Star Pavilion was all show and no substance... Many places had been neglected for a long time and had become a dark place.

Some unknown insects and small beasts even managed to reside in the boudoir of the dignified Xuanwu Saintess. Moreover, these things were all sentient beings, and a mere mortal would probably be unable to deal with them.

These things dared not approach Liu Bailian, so she usually didn't see them and was too lazy to care. Now, however, they had become a problem for Qin Rufeng.

That day, Qin Rufeng was cleaning a corridor leading to a side hall. This place had been deserted for a long time; mushrooms had even grown at the base of the pillars.

Chapter 25 Master, Your Disciple Wants to Cultivate

Mushrooms are growing in the home of the dignified Xuanwu Saintess?

Qin Rufeng had no choice but to clean it up, but he couldn't help feeling resentful. "Liu Bailian, do you really treat me like a maid? Did you call me Master for nothing?"

But thinking about it calmly, perhaps this is a kind of... refinement.

Also worth noting are Ji Xuelan's words. She said Liu Bailian didn't want her to participate in the upcoming sect examination, and it seems that's indeed the case.

Qin Rufeng had to admit that she had been almost completely tamed into a maid. Perhaps Liu Bailian's purpose had never changed.

Thinking of Liu Bailian's past which she was unwilling to mention... Qin Rufeng did not complain.

She could indeed sense that Liu Bailian was genuinely afraid that she would die a violent death like her previous disciples.

But Ji Xuelan also said that Liu Bailian couldn't stop what was bound to happen. Besides, Qin Rufeng was absolutely unwilling to be just a maid.

Ji Xuelan also said that we should be more proactive...

But what's the point of being proactive? Selling one's integrity to seduce one's master into helping one improve their cultivation? That doesn't seem like a proper approach.

As Qin Rufeng pondered, she cleared away the mushrooms growing at the base of the pillar. Then she noticed that one of the mushrooms, with its blunt cap and snake-like stem, looked vaguely familiar…

This should be the "snake mushroom" mentioned in "The Art of Living Vessels: The Chapter of Wood". Yes, it's exactly the same as the picture. It's said that this thing can be refined into plant puppets that can be controlled.

As expected of the Xuanwu Land, the water elemental energy is indeed abundant. Even the rare spiritual herbs mentioned in the book are growing inside the main hall.

An unexpected find; store it in your storage space first.

Furthermore, according to the records in the Wood Chapter, a type of mushroom called "Mizuki" should grow near the snake mushroom.

After searching for a while, Qin Rufeng found it in the corner of the wall. This thing was plump, tender, and white with a hint of red; it wasn't hard to find.

According to the records in the Wood Chapter, the spores of the Mystic Mushroom have a hypnotic effect. They can induce a state of mental confusion, causing people to lose their own opinions and become easily manipulated.

Qin Rufeng hesitated for a moment but still picked the mushroom.

Shouldn't we be more proactive? This is a great way to be proactive.

Qin Rufeng thought to himself, "Since you didn't teach me anything, don't blame me."

"Don't worry, this disciple would never harm Master. Respecting teachers is a traditional virtue, and even a transmigrator like me has a bottom line."

"I just want you to teach me some advanced techniques or give me some pointers on Yu Jie Bing Qing. Please just agree."

Liu Bailian has been spending most of her time cultivating lately, so it seems that the major movement that Ji Xuelan mentioned by the sect is not far off.

Qin Rufeng is now almost unrestrained and can move around freely except for his daily work and the summoning of the jade bracelet.

So she would secretly grind the mushrooms into powder and mix it into the incense ash. The mushroom powder was colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect.

However, after using it for several days, Liu Bailian showed no reaction. Qin Rufeng, on the other hand, sometimes felt his mind was blank, as if he were half-asleep.

One night, Ru Feng was awakened by some noise.

She quietly got out of bed and listened intently. It sounded like breathing.

Is Liu Bai still cultivating so late?

It's certainly good to avoid the trouble of serving the emperor, but she doesn't make any noise when she's practicing her martial arts.

Qin Rufeng was worried, so he followed the sound to the training room.

Inside, the pavilions and embroidered chambers were shrouded in the hazy darkness of night. A crescent moon hung outside the window, its silvery light bathing the hall in its soft glow…

Liu Bailian sat cross-legged with her back to her, her hands forming a mudra with palms facing upwards on her snow-white legs.

Her long hair was casually tied into a high ponytail. Her smooth shoulders and back were like the delicate skin of a lotus flower, her bones as smooth as ice and jade. A graceful curve ran from her neck to her waist, with a pair of slightly sunken dimples. When her arms were outstretched, her armpits and ribs exuded a powerful aura, like full moons.

This person, as beautiful as a jade sculpture, breathed out like the low murmur of a reclining dragon, and the breath grew increasingly rapid.

Qin Rufeng could even feel the surrounding air circulating rhythmically with Liu Bailian's breathing.

At this moment, Liu Bailian suddenly spoke up, "Since you're here, please add some incense for me."

"Yes." Qin Rufeng immediately got up to fetch the incense box.

When she returned, Liu Bailian had changed into a snow-white gossamer dress. However, the dress was not closed, like a window slightly ajar, unable to conceal her pair of full, bright eyes, half-hidden and half-revealed.

A faint fragrance lingered in the room, and the incense burner remained warm. Qin Rufeng rolled up her sleeves, her movements gentle. She added incense ash mixed with incense powder and gently pressed it down with an incense seal and incense press.

He lit the incense and covered the incense burner. Liu Bailian then said, "Go and fetch some wine. I'm a little tired from practicing, so have a few drinks with me."

"Yes~" Qin Rufeng didn't even think about it and started moving on his own as soon as he felt better.

They brought wine, and the master and apprentice sat facing each other by the window. The jade pot held wine that stirred dreams, the golden goblet was filled with moonlight. After two cups, Qin Rufeng was already in a daze.

Liu Bailian asked, "Ru Feng, can you play the zither?"

Qin Rufeng nodded. She did indeed know it; she had studied it diligently and even passed the exams in her previous world.

Liu Bailian was delighted and then asked, "Can you sing?"

Ru Feng nodded again. She had studied singing, but she couldn't dance.

Liu Bailian was overjoyed and quickly said, "Then you should play and sing a song. I can also give you some pointers in this area."

Play...play what? Qin Rufeng doesn't know any of the music in this world.

Let's play some tunes from the old world then...

"Half a lifetime has passed in sorrow, the falling flowers break one's heart."

"We are separated by the ends of the earth."

"I chased after your moonlight, but tears welled up in my eyes;"

"How can we forget the past, even if it's gone with the wind..."

Listening to this piece of music, Liu Bailian's eyes even became a little moist.

Qin Rufeng wondered, could it be that he was thinking of his former disciples?

This ominous melody from the Ming Dynasty seems to still hold power in the world of cultivation. Let's change to another one.

Let's get this one then...

"With a few strokes on the inkstone, the ink falls like the cry of a partridge."

"Who understands the meaning in this melody? The broken string awaits your tying..."

"How lamentable that fallen petals drift on the flowing water, their sparse shadows reflected in the clear autumn sky;"

"The moon rises above the willow branches, and my heart is filled with longing..."

Master, I really want to improve.

Ru Feng looked at Liu Bailian and felt that the way Liu Bailian looked at him was different now.

Qin Rufeng hesitated, and after putting down her zither, she accidentally knocked over her wine cup. Just as she was about to help her up, Liu Bailian grabbed her wrist…

Startled, Ru Feng whispered, "Master?"

Liu Bailian stared intently at her, her face slightly flushed, her eyes sparkling with life.

She asked softly, "Why are you so distracted? What are you thinking about?"

"Disciple...disciple..." Qin Rufeng felt her brain was out of control, but she still answered, "Disciple wants to cultivate."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bailian breathed a sigh of relief. She gently released Ru Feng's hand...

Then he grabbed her snow-white ankle and lifted her entire leg up.

"Ah!" Qin Rufeng was startled by this sudden action.

Chapter 26 Soul-Dispersing Pill and Snake Mushroom

Liu Bailian forbade Ru Feng from wearing shoes, so she had been walking barefoot ever since entering Cuixing Pavilion.

Now that his feet were captured, Ru Feng felt extremely ashamed, his insteps tensed and his toes curled up.

Her face was flushed, her heart was pounding, and her whole body was trembling uncontrollably. She wanted to escape, but her body wouldn't obey her commands.

Liu Bailian took out a red ribbon from somewhere and wrapped it around Rufeng's ankle. A bell was also hanging from the red ribbon.

After the bell was tied on one leg, the other leg was lifted over the shoulder.

Ru Feng lost his balance. Before he could figure out what was happening, Liu Bailian gently pushed him, and he fell backward. Liu Bailian leaned over and tied a bell around Ru Feng's neck as well.

She tugged at the ribbon around Rufeng's neck and said, "From now on, you'll wear this bell. I tied it on for you; you can't take it off yourself."

"Remember, don't let the bell ring. Use your spiritual energy to control it. This will train your ability to manipulate spiritual energy. You want to cultivate? I'll help you."

"I didn't want to agree at first. But for some reason, now that you've asked, I don't want to refuse."

As she spoke, Liu Bailian took out a red ribbon and blindfolded Qin Rufeng.

Deprived of sight and unable to move, Ru Feng completely lost the ability to resist and could only be manipulated at will.

But how could her master harm her? Liu Bailian gently pried open her small mouth, kneading her red lips and tender tongue, and said, "Don't be afraid, it's normal that you can't control yourself right now. I'll press the Haiquan acupoint under your tongue to ensure your blood and qi flow smoothly. It can also prevent you from choking by swallowing your tongue."

Qin Rufeng: "Mmm...mmm...mmm..."

Liu Bailian: "Regulate your breathing and stay calm. Don't use your eyes to see, but feel the spiritual energy. Open your inner eye, and you will be able to see the form of the spiritual energy."

What she said was true. Qin Rufeng emptied his mind and let his true energy flow through his body, and he was gradually able to sense the form of spiritual energy.

Liu Bailian held the jade pot in her delicate hand, sprinkling drops of Entangling Dream Wine onto her graceful body, which lay sprawled in the wind, to help her meridians flow smoothly and her spiritual energy become abundant.

The aroma of wine blends with the fragrance of a beautiful woman, like the moonlight spilling onto flawless white jade... What harm would it be if one could drink this wine of beauty and be drunk for a thousand years?

However, simply increasing the water elemental energy would cause the cold to attack the heart, so Liu Bailian immediately picked up the red candle on the table...

The cold moon shines brightly, and the red pavilion exudes the fragrance of sandalwood. Fine wine lingers on the lips and teeth, its sweetness and coolness soothing the throat, leaving one tipsy; she lifts her fair feet to embrace her jade-like thighs, and holds a pearl in her mouth as she tucks her black hair into her hair.

The bell rang all night long, and Qin Rufeng's cultivation never stopped. By dawn, she had gradually mastered the knack of controlling spiritual energy and fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

When Ru Feng woke up, she felt a heavy weight in her head. Only one thought remained in her mind: the magic mushroom could no longer be used.

After resting for a while, she picked up the bronze mirror and gently stroked it. Then she looked at herself in the mirror... her complexion was fair and rosy, and she looked radiant.

Feeling a slight swelling in my lower abdomen, I immediately sat down to meditate and regulate my breathing. Gradually, I felt a mixture of warmth and cold throughout my body, and my blood and energy flowed smoothly and quickly.