I Ran Away with the Scumbag's White Moonlight Chapter 38

The Sect Leader's words weren't particularly explicit, but the meaning was clear enough. Shi Jingxian was quite taken aback by what he heard, so much so that he couldn't even respond. It wasn't just the Sect Leader's open-mindedness that surprised him; what Shi Jingxian hadn't expected was that the excuse he used to get rid of Xuanyuan Nan would lead to such a misunderstanding among the members of the Demon Sect.

While half-heartedly responding to the Sect Leader, Shi Jingxian began to seriously consider whether he needed to do something to change the impression the young master had in everyone's eyes. Although he sought out Bai Qinglian as a temporary measure to retaliate against Xuanyuan Nan, this was, after all, Ling Yao's life. It wouldn't be good if, after Shi Jingxian returned the body, Ling Yao had to face such misunderstandings.

After much consideration, Shi Jingxian decided to firmly declare his stance to the Sect Leader. However, before he could speak, the Sect Leader ended the conversation because the Left and Right Protectors arrived with urgent matters to discuss. The three of them needed to discuss how to handle the conflict among the princes, and Shi Jingxian naturally couldn't interrupt with other matters. However, when the Sect Leader asked if he wanted to stay and listen, Shi Jingxian nodded without hesitation.

He put on a nervous expression, as if it was his first time participating in such a secret meeting. In reality, Shi Jingxian was planning the next moves for the Dark Guards based on the Demon Sect's upcoming plans. The Dark Guards required prior training and long-term preparation, which is why the Sect Leader placed these exceptionally skilled individuals by the young master's side while he was still young, allowing them to live a hidden life away from the public eye.

One must admit, the Sect Leader poured his heart and soul into the young master. When Shi Jingxian truly began to utilize these Dark Guards, he once again deepened this understanding. With these Dark Guards, Shi Jingxian's various plans were executed almost perfectly. Coupled with the resources and foundation of the Demon Sect, Shi Jingxian no longer had to painstakingly build an intelligence network using potions, as he did in the first mission.

However, despite the impeccable abilities of this team of Dark Guards, their numbers were limited. Shi Jingxian had to maximize their value, which is why he stayed to listen in on this secret meeting. The other princes' forces had already reached the foot of the Demon Sect Mountain. How to prevent them from sending people to Zou City Medical Hall, how to negotiate with Cui Hua to take in people, and then return Xuanyuan Nan after the princes left—all these required comprehensive consideration and meticulous planning. Upon learning the situation, the Left and Right Protectors began to carefully scrutinize various strategies and details.

The name Cui Hua wasn't well-known; it was more of a name that circulated in the shadows. In the martial arts world, the name "Lashou" was more famous. Many people would specifically seek out Lashou for help in extracting information, whether it was from lifelong enemies or rebellious traitors. Lashou could pry the desired information from the mouths of those who had already resolved to die. Due to the numerous interrogations and tortures, Lashou's hatred value remained high, but his disguise and secrecy were well-maintained. He acted low-key in daily life, and with the protection of his employers, he had never been successfully retaliated against.

As for the medical hall, it was Cui Hua's personal hobby and also part of his disguise. In fact, few people knew that the owner of these medical halls, which often provided free consultations on the street, was the infamous "Lashou" known for torture and interrogation. If this information were truly made public, those medical halls would have long been deserted.

Cui Hua's disguise had two layers. Most people in the martial arts world had only heard of the name Lashou, and few knew about Cui Hua himself or how to find him. Even fewer knew about his medical halls. If it weren't for Cui Hua opening a medical hall at the foot of the Demon Sect Mountain, coupled with some recent movements within the sect, the Sect Leader might not have been able to timely grasp the news of him opening a medical hall due to financial difficulties.

Both the Demon Sect and Xuanyun Sect had their own sources of intelligence. The Left and Right Protectors, who had been handling sect affairs for years, had heard of the name Cui Hua. However, considering the young master was listening in for the first time and might not be able to form a clear concept of the martial arts forces, they didn't forget to consider the young master's feelings during the discussion and made sure to introduce the key figure, Cui Hua, in detail.

In reality, Shi Jingxian knew more about Cui Hua's background than they did. Because in the task storyline, the person who initially sponsored Cui Hua was Xuanyuan Nan. Among those Xuanyuan Nan instructed Cui Hua to interrogate, the one who suffered the most was the young master himself.

In the original course of events, when Xuanyuan Nan approached Cui Hua, Cui Hua's situation was much worse than it was now. He even had to accept harsh conditions in exchange for Xuanyuan Nan's protection, transforming from a renowned lone wolf into Xuanyuan Nan's subordinate. At that time, Cui Hua faced not only the financial turnover issues of three medical halls but also continuous troubles like tax evasion investigations and misdiagnosis injuries. Seeing that he was about to be implicated, with his true identity on the verge of being exposed, Cui Hua was already at his wit's end.

So when Xuanyuan Nan, who had just wiped out the Demon Sect, came forward saying he could solve his troubles, Cui Hua had no choice but to agree to the conditions of being at his disposal. These events happened in the shadows, and Shi Jingxian, who could only see the storyline from Ling Yao's perspective, was initially unaware of these circumstances when he first entered the mission planet. However, after the young master was taken away by Xuanyuan Nan and suffered endless torment, even though the orders to sever tendons and destroy senses were given by Xuanyuan Nan himself, Cui Hua was indeed the one who tortured Ling Yao for ten whole days and nights.

Having successfully completed so many tasks, Shi Jingxian had already developed his own exceptional skills. After reading the task storyline, Shi Jingxian had already made plans targeting various individuals who needed to be avenged. Xuanyuan Nan and Cui Hua were both key targets of Shi Jingxian's focus. Including Bai Qinglian, if it weren't for the past between the former Sect Leader of Xuanyun Sect and the Sect Leader, he wouldn't have been able to stay in the Demon Sect so peacefully for so long.

With the principle of revenge being swift and precise, Shi Jingxian began investigating Xuanyuan Nan and Cui Hua using the Dark Guards as soon as he arrived. It was during these investigations that Shi Jingxian discovered an unexpected piece of information. Cui Hua's downfall was all due to the establishment of three medical halls. His previous medical halls were doing well, but because these three opened simultaneously, the scale became too large, and he couldn't keep up.

When Shi Jingxian received this report, he had a vague feeling that something was off. How could someone as cautious and low-key as Cui Hua, who had hidden his identity for so long, suddenly make such a mistake? As the Dark Guards continued their investigation, Shi Jingxian's suspicions were confirmed—Cui Hua had been set up. Due to information obtained in secret, Cui Hua bought two shops in prime locations at an extremely favorable price. Originally planning to open just one medical hall, he ended up building three simultaneously. Cui Hua thought it was a rare opportunity, but he didn't expect subsequent troubles to arise one after another. By the time he realized it, the two additional medical halls had become hot potatoes, impossible to hold onto or discard.

Cui Hua also sensed something was wrong, but after repeated investigations, he couldn't find any clues and could only consider himself unlucky. However, in reality, his intuition wasn't wrong; he just looked in the wrong direction. The person who set the trap for Cui Hua wasn't some vengeful rogue but the prince Xuanyuan Nan, who had long planned to bring him under his control. The methods of the authorities were naturally different from those of the common folk. It was normal for Cui Hua to find it difficult to detect. Moreover, Xuanyuan Nan had been plotting against Cui Hua for a long time. As early as when he first entered the Crown Prince Trial and went to Jiangdong to interact with wealthy merchants, Xuanyuan Nan had set his sights on Cui Hua, whose ancestral home was in Jiangdong. After all, the deep palace required far more torture and interrogation than the martial arts world.

However, to avoid leaving traces, Xuanyuan Nan only recently succeeded in putting Cui Hua in a predicament due to the three medical halls. When Shi Jingxian received the news, he immediately saw that the subsequent troubles Cui Hua would face were undoubtedly part of Xuanyuan Nan's long-standing plan. Xuanyuan Nan's reach was indeed extensive, but this made things easier for Shi Jingxian. This way, these two key targets could team up and help each other, providing repair progress together.

No matter how formidable Xuanyuan Nan's methods were, his people were still within the Demon Sect. The young master, who was completely unguarded around him, actually made Xuanyuan Nan lower his guard unknowingly. When Shi Jingxian decided to investigate, he immediately uncovered many traces. A few days ago, the maid Shi Jingxian specifically mentioned in front of the Left Protector was one of Xuanyuan Nan's subordinates. Her responsibility was to cause trouble for Cui Hua.

It was also because Shi Jingxian made the Left Protector aware of this maid that the Demon Sect was able to uncover the true owner of the newly opened medical hall in Zou City and learn about Cui Hua's current predicament. All these arrangements were quite secretive, interconnected, and the time frame was very short, only two days so far. Therefore, Shi Jingxian couldn't understand why Bai Qinglian seemed to have such a deep and detailed understanding of this information, which even the Demon Sect had just learned about through his arrangements.

Fortunately, after the Demon Sect learned of the news, they promptly dealt with Xuanyuan Nan, ensuring that Shi Jingxian's efforts weren't in vain. However, after this incident, Shi Jingxian decided to allocate one of his already limited Dark Guards to track and investigate Bai Qinglian's information. Bai Qinglian's strength was well-known in the righteous path, and Shi Jingxian didn't expect the Dark Guard to return with information quickly. As long as they could keep an eye on any unusual behavior, that would be enough.

While waiting for any unusual behavior from Bai Qinglian, Shi Jingxian made significant progress in other areas. First, the Demon Sect's plan was successfully implemented. The poisoned and convulsing Xuanyuan Nan was urgently sent to the medical hall at the foot of the mountain. On the way, the guards encountered a disciple from the medical hall who said the doctor was out. The guards then naturally and seamlessly sent him to the more distant Zou City Medical Hall.

Since being sent there, Xuanyuan Nan hadn't come out. During this time, various strange incidents occurred at the Zou City Medical Hall, but fortunately, no patients were harmed. However, the bizarre occurrences continued, eventually alarming the county magistrate of Zou City. But before the officials arrived, the Demon Sect, which had been operating several major tax-paying businesses in Zou City, had already sent people to the medical hall to help investigate. The county magistrate, who had dealt with them before, didn't forcibly expel the Demon Sect's people after seeing that the disturbances ceased once they intervened.

In fact, the magistrate privately breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that this troublesome issue was resolved by the Demon Sect, who were unaware of the truth. In the matter of the Crown Prince Trial, if they weren't cautious at every turn, they might not even know how they died in the end. Consequently, his goodwill towards the Demon Sect, who stepped up to take the blame, increased significantly.

Five days later, the disturbances around the medical hall finally disappeared reluctantly. After confirming that the princes had withdrawn most of their forces, leaving only spies, the Demon Sect guards began secretly sending messages back. To avoid leaving traces, the Demon Sect initially didn't have Cui Hua interrogate Xuanyuan Nan but instead informed Cui Hua of Xuanyuan Nan's arrangements for the medical hall.

Being able to maintain such a perfect disguise for so long, Cui Hua was naturally a decisive person who would eliminate threats at the root. Upon learning of Xuanyuan Nan's schemes, Cui Hua, who was originally only interested in Xuanyuan Nan's physique, immediately changed his expression. If it weren't for Xuanyuan Nan's special status and the Demon Sect's intervention, Cui Hua might have directly tortured the person who almost exposed his identity to death.

According to the guards who sent messages back, even though they were stationed outside three iron doors with layers of soundproofing, they could still faintly hear screams. Fortunately, Cui Hua was cautious by nature and arranged the torture chamber underground. The daily groans of injured patients in the medical hall also prevented the sounds from truly leaking out. Receiving such reports daily, Shi Jingxian's task progress bar continued to rise slowly. Later, to report the situation more accurately, the guards began to sketch Xuanyuan Nan's daily condition on paper and send it back to the Demon Sect.

Shi Jingxian looked at the daily reports and had to admit that although the ancient martial arts planet's drawings weren't very realistic, the details were exceptionally precise. In less than ten days, the repair progress jumped from 45% to 55%. Besides harvesting a bit of progress daily, Shi Jingxian continued to live steadily within the sect. He still practiced according to the schedule set by the young master. Shi Jingxian had long been familiar with the sect affairs, and after a period of adaptation, he had further adjusted to the martial arts of this ancient martial world.

The young master's mental techniques and physical abilities remained in their original state. Although Shi Jingxian's ability to integrate and innovate various martial arts techniques couldn't compare to the young master's innate talent, he had experienced many task planets. Moreover, Shi Jingxian rarely used system tools to slack off, so the martial arts training experience he had accumulated before came in handy at this moment. No matter how different the martial arts techniques of these task planets were, there were always commonalities, which could provide the young master with a new perspective.

The young master had three major goals: to grow taller, to admire beauties, and the last one, his lifelong pursuit—martial arts. If Shi Jingxian wanted to completely fill the repair progress, he would probably have to focus on this area. In addition to practicing, Shi Jingxian would occasionally chat with the various hall masters. These hall masters had watched the young master grow up, and they were loyal to the Sect Leader and naturally supported the young master wholeheartedly.

Shi Jingxian chatted with them to make up for the impression left by the young master's previous favoritism towards Xuanyuan Nan and to subtly suggest that they improve the various formations of the Demon Sect. The defensive traps inside and outside the Demon Sect, except for the most core secrets, had mostly been figured out by Xuanyuan Nan, who was favored by the young master. The righteous path had already been incited to unite, and even without Xuanyuan Nan, they would surely come to besiege the Demon Sect. Moreover, with Xuanyuan Nan expelled, they might speed up the siege to avoid any unforeseen changes.

If Xuanyuan Nan had already informed them of the methods to break the formations, even if there was a 90% chance they couldn't breach the Demon Sect, Shi Jingxian couldn't take the risk of the remaining 10%. Now that there was still time, Shi Jingxian planned to manipulate and change things as much as possible, just like his approach to Cui Hua. In fact, these setups were easy to modify; many only required changing the direction of the life gate. However, after chatting with the hall masters more, Shi Jingxian had an unexpected discovery—the Demon Sect's defenses weren't static, and in a few months, it would be time for a major overhaul of the defenses. They had already begun preparations in advance.

This was also why the hall masters didn't insist on stopping Xuanyuan Nan from memorizing the formations. However, according to the original plan, this major overhaul was scheduled for early autumn, two and a half months later, right after the righteous path's attack. Upon learning this, Shi Jingxian went to the Left Protector, who was in charge of the overhaul, to suggest advancing the defense improvements. Since Xuanyuan Nan's identity was exposed, the Left Protector had already intended to do so, and with him overseeing the matter, the progress was smooth.

A few days later, while Shi Jingxian was running around the three main peaks of Lingfeng, chatting with hall masters to strengthen relationships, he was suddenly stopped by Bai Qinglian, who came looking for him. Shi Jingxian's first reaction upon seeing him was to turn and leave—he had previously assured the Sect Leader that he had no ulterior motives towards Bai Qinglian. Although the Sect Leader's expression seemed quite subtle at the time, Shi Jingxian had been diligently adhering to his promise.

However, before Shi Jingxian could distance himself, Bai Qinglian's words stopped him. Bai Qinglian asked, "The mental technique to cure nasal congestion has been confirmed by the Right Protector. When does the young master plan to start practicing it?" The mention of curing nasal congestion made Shi Jingxian pause. He wasn't particularly interested in the mental technique itself, nor was he clear about its chances of success. But if Shi Jingxian wanted to use the system to exchange medicine to help the young master recover, this mental technique would be a very reasonable cover.

Moreover, practicing various mental techniques was one of the young master's interests. After careful consideration, Shi Jingxian agreed to practice it. However, he declined Bai Qinglian's further offer of assistance. "I can manage on my own; there's no need to trouble Sect Master Bai for guidance," Shi Jingxian said, trying to be as polite as possible. "Sect Master Bai is busy with affairs, and I wouldn't want to disturb you."

Bai Qinglian looked at him with those silver eyes, his gaze calm. "The young master has a yin constitution, with a naturally lower body temperature. Practicing on your own might not be entirely appropriate." Shi Jingxian frowned. Bai Qinglian had a point. The young master had a unique constitution, and even though it was already spring, he still felt cold in the early mornings. However, Shi Jingxian insisted, "Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master Bai. I'll ask my father for guidance instead."

After all, the Sect Leader had spent a long time in Xuanyun Sect, and this mental technique was something Shen Zhuo had practiced. The Sect Leader would surely be familiar with it. Bai Qinglian didn't object, but for some reason, Shi Jingxian sensed a kind of knowing calmness in his usual cool demeanor. Shi Jingxian thought it was just his imagination, but when he went to ask the Sect Leader, he received an unexpected answer.

"My child, you and I have the same constitution. I can't assist you with this mental technique; otherwise, our energies would align, and my help would only lower your body temperature further." The Sect Leader had studied Shen Zhuo's mental technique when they first met and knew that their techniques weren't compatible. If it weren't for the Right Protector repeatedly confirming the possibility of curing nasal congestion, the Sect Leader wouldn't have allowed the young master to practice such a technique.

However, seeing the young master's pitiful expression, the Sect Leader added, "I can practice alongside you and share my insights, which should help you progress." He continued, "This way, I can also help you find a way to cure nasal congestion faster." Shi Jingxian was almost frightened and quickly refused, "No, no, no! Father, I can practice on my own!"

The Sect Leader's practice was different from the young master's. He specialized in the Demon Sect's techniques and hadn't extensively practiced other mental techniques. Shi Jingxian didn't dare risk the Sect Leader's health, as a single mistake could lead to a deviation in his practice. Moreover, since revealing Shen Zhuo's information to the Sect Leader, Bai Qinglian had sent a message back to Xuanyun Sect. In recent days, Xuanyun Sect had been continuously sending Shen Zhuo's belongings to the Demon Sect, including his calligraphy, jade pendants, and more.

The Sect Leader, seeing these items, had slightly eased the tormenting longing that could drive a person mad. With the heart demon of his lover's death gradually dissipating, his long-stalled techniques had recently shown progress. This was not the time to disturb the Sect Leader further. The young master was even more resolute than the Sect Leader, not only firmly refusing him but also, to prevent him from practicing extra because of him, going directly to Bai Qinglian that afternoon to inform the Sect Leader that he already had a mentor.

As a result, a certain big shot finally happily accepted the target who came to him voluntarily. The practice of the mental technique went more smoothly than Shi Jingxian had imagined. To be fair, Bai Qinglian was indeed an excellent guide. With his guidance, even though Shi Jingxian's ability to integrate and innovate mental techniques couldn't match the young master's, he had made significant progress in the past few days.

However, this progress didn't alleviate Shi Jingxian's concerns. After practicing for three days and finally reassuring the Sect Leader to put aside his practice, Shi Jingxian had to face the question that had returned to square one. How could he avoid suspicion with Bai Qinglian? The young master's situation was different from Ji Xuanran in the previous world. Ji Xuanran eventually became a renowned Divine Alchemist through his strength and family inheritance, and his interactions with Lan Luohai wouldn't affect his reputation. Moreover, Lan Luohai had no enmity with Ji Xuanran, and whatever happened between them afterward was Ji Xuanran's own choice.

But Ling Yao's situation with Bai Qinglian was entirely different. Having witnessed the Sect Leader's death, Ling Yao almost hated Bai Qinglian to the core, and there was no possibility between them. So now, Shi Jingxian had to cut off this trend in advance to avoid causing trouble for Ling Yao when he returned. However, due to the young master's previous favoritism towards Xuanyuan Nan, changing everyone's impression now wasn't easy. Shi Jingxian could use his goodwill towards Bai Qinglian as an excuse to make it clear to the Demon Sect that he no longer liked Xuanyuan Nan. But now, it was difficult to find another target to clear up his relationship with Bai Qinglian.

Even the Sect Leader had already misunderstood the two of them. After starting the practice, Shi Jingxian had been considering this matter, giving it almost as much importance as his revenge against Xuanyuan Nan. As a result, within a few days, he discovered that Ling Yao's body temperature was becoming increasingly low. This change was so rapid that even three layers of velvet quilts couldn't keep the young master warm at night. Whenever he was in Cloud Peak Palace, the bedroom would be heated to an uncomfortable level with charcoal, and Xiao Yi would break into a sweat just bringing in a pot of tea.

Yet the young master still felt cold. This situation couldn't be hidden, and Bai Qinglian quickly noticed the young master's abnormality. He immediately prepared a medicinal bath and had a large wooden tub of hot soup brought into Cloud Peak Palace. When the large wooden tub was brought in, the young master couldn't take his eyes off the steaming water. In recent days, to sleep peacefully at night, the young master would soak in a bath for a long time each day. However, his body couldn't withstand water that was too hot, and the heat from the bath didn't last long enough. Often, after sleeping for an hour or two, the young master would wake up from the cold.

But this hot soup felt entirely different. Just looking at it, the young master felt a warmth from the faint medicinal fragrance wafting through the air. However, out of caution, the young master politely declined Sect Master Bai's offer to accompany him. Even when he returned to the screen after everyone had left the bedroom, he entered the bath with his undergarments on. Bai Qinglian had specifically instructed him to soak for as long as possible, allowing the medicinal bath to contact his skin. The young master didn't want to undress, so he rolled up his sleeves and pant legs and comfortably leaned against the edge of the tub.

To be honest, this bath was much more comfortable than any he had taken before. Although the mental technique hadn't caused any substantial harm to the young master's body, the prolonged cold was indeed difficult to endure. Even though Shi Jingxian, who was much more mature than the young master, was clear-headed inside, he barely managed to hold on. Finally able to warm up thoroughly, Shi Jingxian let his guard down and fell asleep in the tub.

As his breathing gradually steadied, the hot soup in the tub began to emit faint glimmers of light. The soft light slowly gathered into a beam, gently encircling the sleeping boy's left wrist. After a long time, the light dissipated into the air. When Shi Jingxian suddenly woke up, his first reaction was that something was wrong. Why had he fallen asleep so unknowingly? And slept so deeply?

As a Restorer, even with the system AI turned off, Shi Jingxian still had certain privileges to rely on. For example, he could remain conscious while the task object's body was asleep, or receive early warnings in life-threatening situations. In the first task, Shi Jingxian often stayed up all night, using his energy to develop potions. In the second task, because the young master's body couldn't handle it, Shi Jingxian chose to go to bed early and rise early, not letting his mental activities affect the task object's rest.

But he was, after all, a Restorer. Even if the body was asleep, his mind would remain somewhat alert. Falling into such an unguarded sleep in the tub was almost impossible. This was so unusual that when Shi Jingxian woke up, he was so surprised that he didn't even notice the change in his surroundings. It wasn't until he felt an unfamiliar force behind him that Shi Jingxian realized something was wrong.

He forced his eyes open and found himself lying face down on a soft bed, the dim and ambiguous light making the incense's scent almost soporific. Was it the incense that made him sleep? Moreover, the wet undergarments he had foolishly rolled up were gone, replaced by clean clothes. Shi Jingxian's heart sank. Who had helped him change out of his undergarments?

His attention was immediately drawn to the hand moving along his slender back. Despite the gentle pressure, it carried an undeniable assertiveness. This couldn't possibly be Xiao Yi's hand; the length of the fingers was all wrong. Shi Jingxian's ears buzzed, and his rationality exploded. He twisted his waist and threw a heavy punch, using enough force to shatter a person's nasal bone—

"Get off!" However, the punch didn't land as smoothly as his angry shout. Shi Jingxian was already in a disadvantageous position, lying face down. He had only turned halfway when his wrist was firmly grasped. At the same time, he finally caught the unique scent of frost and snow amidst the almost cloying incense. A low, magnetic voice sounded very close to his ear, almost making him instinctively shrink his neck and shiver.

"Don't move." Bai Qinglian's tone was calm, showing no sign of panic at the sudden awakening of the person beneath him. Shi Jingxian heard his calmness and gritted his teeth even more. Even after being exposed, Bai Qinglian's hand continued to move downward! "Get off... don't touch me!" Shi Jingxian struggled a few more times, but his wrist remained trapped. Unable to bear it any longer, he shouted angrily, mustering his strength to turn around.

Perhaps focused on restraining his wrist, Bai Qinglian was caught off guard and was pinned beneath the furious Shi Jingxian. His arm was twisted behind him, immobilized like a prisoner. Bai Qinglian's warm fingertips still held Shi Jingxian's cool wrist, and with Shi Jingxian's movements, their bodies remained in contact. At this point, Bai Qinglian fell silent, not resisting the clearly disadvantageous position.

However, the enraged Shi Jingxian didn't notice Bai Qinglian's unusual behavior. His mind was filled with Bai Qinglian's shamelessness and the potential misunderstanding the Sect Leader might have upon learning of this. He pressed his knee against Bai Qinglian's lower back, preventing him from moving his arm. Shi Jingxian glared at the person beneath him, who, despite wearing snow-white clothes, was more deceitful than anyone else.

He had been asleep for so long, not knowing if anyone had already reported the situation to the Sect Leader. This was the young master's bedroom. Xiao Yi was outside, and so were many shadow guards. He had finally reassured the Sect Leader, and if the Sect Leader found out about this... Shi Jingxian's rationality was overwhelmed by the issue that had been troubling him for days, and he blurted out, "Bai Qinglian, I told you not to touch me. If anyone's going to touch anyone, it's going to be me touching you!"

"..." Bai Qinglian, who was pinned beneath the young master in a humiliating position, initially showed no obvious reaction, let alone resistance. It wasn't until he heard the last sentence that he moved slightly. Seeing him seemingly about to turn his head, Shi Jingxian, still furious, shouted again. "Don't move! Don't even think about resisting!"

Bai Qinglian paused for a moment and really didn't move. His silver-gray hair fell from his snow-white shoulders, casting a slightly ambiguous sheen in the dim light. The frost and snow scent temporarily receded, and the sweet, ambiguous fragrance filled the room again. Shi Jingxian, still fuming, could hear his own rapid breathing, a testament to his anger.

But this sound was suddenly drowned out by a voice from outside. At the door, a familiar voice, tinged with hesitation and a hint of surprise and concern, called out. "...My child?"