Chapter 10: But the Beautiful Sect Master Saw Through Everything
When he arrived at the dining hall with Ji Ya, he found Yi Xian’er already seated there, her beautiful face as calm as a frozen lake, her emotions unreadable.
She was wearing a pale yellow pajama top. Her neckline was still modest, her long legs crossed, her toes hooked on her sandals, her posture relaxed yet hinting at a future queenly aura.
He couldn’t figure her out.
She came from a single-parent household, her mother having passed away early. She had always been independent and strong-willed. She wouldn’t cling to him just because he had touched her a few times.
She hadn’t acted this way in the script either. There had to be a reason for her behavior.
Could it be that she was trying to extort him after hearing about his potential marriage into the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce? But that hadn’t even happened yet! If she wanted to extort him, she should wait until it was official.
Love at first sight?
That didn’t seem right either. After what he had done to her, only a masochist or a nymphomaniac would fall for him at first sight.
So what was it?
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Little Sister Xian’er.” Ji Ya greeted her, her voice as sweet and seductive as ever, even when addressing another woman. “Little Brother Yan Zhen and I were… playing in the bath, and we lost track of time.”
Yi Xian’er’s eyebrow twitched. Ji Ya was clearly doing this on purpose.
— Not only sharing a room, but also bathing together?!
“It’s fine. I’m not that hungry anyway.” She pretended to be unconcerned. “But why did you bathe with Yan Zhen, Sister Ji Ya? You two don’t seem that close.”
“That’s precisely why we need to get to know each other better.” Ji Ya smiled faintly. “Little Brother Yan Zhen and I will be performing dual cultivation treatment soon. We need to get used to each other’s bodies beforehand, so we won’t be awkward during the actual treatment… Right, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
“Ahem, right.”
His face was flushed, recalling their… activities in the bathroom.
Yi Xian’er instantly understood. They had done more than just bathe together. Ji Ya must have… done things to him.
She had to intervene.
“Actually, Sister Ji Ya, your illness doesn’t necessarily require actual dual cultivation. There’s an alternative method.”
“Yes, Little Brother Yan Zhen told me about it. Using a medicinal bath, right? Unfortunately, we don’t have the recipe.”
“I have it.”
Ji Ya’s expression shifted slightly. She turned to Yan Zhen, who frowned.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t know?”
“I forgot. I remember now.”
She retrieved a piece of paper from her bosom, tossing it onto the table.
He unfolded the paper. On the left side was a list of dozens of ingredients, and on the right side were detailed instructions for preparation. It looked quite credible.
However, Ji Ya questioned her. “Little Sister Xian’er, this recipe is so complex. Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? I only have one life. I don’t want to be your guinea pig~”
He frowned. He couldn’t verify the recipe’s accuracy.
Yi Xian’er was only a Tier 1 Pill Master. Neither Ji Ya nor he was confident in her skills.
The slightest error could be fatal for Ji Ya. He couldn’t let her take that risk.
Yi Xian’er, anticipating this reaction, suggested, “Yan Zhen must have a skilled master, right? Why don’t you ask her?”
He nodded. “I’ll contact my master after dinner and ask her.”
Ji Ya agreed, inwardly scoffing. She wouldn’t use this method regardless of its authenticity.
She had glanced at the recipe. It included several Tier 4 and Tier 5 ingredients. They weren’t particularly expensive, but they were quite rare. She would simply claim they couldn’t obtain them, and there wasn’t enough time to gather them.
Hmph, even the Queen of a Thousand Yins can’t stop me from getting closer to Little Brother Yan Zhen~
…
The servants arrived, carrying dishes laden with food. Aunt Mu and the twin bodyguards, clad in their pajamas, also appeared.
After dinner, Yan Zhen returned to his room, entering the crystal space to consult with his Beautiful Sect Master, leaving the two women alone.
…
On the altar, Chen Xi, dressed in her black dress, her hair silver, continued meditating, her beauty ethereal, her aura otherworldly.
Sensing her beloved disciple’s presence, she slowly opened her eyes, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
“What is it, Zhen’er?”
He sat down before her, his voice filled with excitement. “Master, I obtained the Evil Scale Fire Crystals produced by the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire! Look!”
He presented the five scale-like, gray, translucent crystals.
She picked one up, examining it. She nodded. “These are indeed Evil Scale Fire Crystals. With these, I can refine talismans that can detect the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, making our search much easier.”
“That’s great!”
“Refining these talismans requires several rare materials, Zhen’er. You’re at the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce’s headquarters now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s no problem. Those materials might be rare, but with your current status in the eyes of the Head Shopkeeper, you should be able to obtain them easily.”
He scratched his head, unsure how to respond.
The “status” she described wasn’t his actual status.
He then moved on to another topic. “Oh, Master, I also found a recipe for the medicinal bath! Look!”
He respectfully presented the piece of paper.
She frowned slightly, taking the paper and unfolding it, quickly scanning its contents. Surprise filled her.
“Where did you find this recipe, Zhen’er?”
He wouldn’t hide anything from his beloved master. “A friend gave it to me.”
“A friend?” She raised an eyebrow. “Male or female? What’s their name? How long have you known them?”
“Uh, it’s a girl. Her name is Yi Xian’er. We just met recently. She’s the one with the Extreme Flame aura. She also gave me the Evil Scale Fire Crystals.” He slightly altered the truth to maintain his good image in her eyes.
Yi Xian’er? A friend? Gave you the Evil Scale Fire Crystals?
She was confused.
Wasn’t he supposed to have taken them? They didn’t even know each other. Why would she give him something so valuable? If she remembered correctly, he and Yi Xian’er wouldn’t become friends until after the treatment, when she suggested he seek her out for guidance.
How had they become friends so quickly?
“Master, is this recipe real? Are there any errors?”
She examined the recipe again. The listed ingredients and preparation steps were all accurate. Substitutes were even provided for rare and hard-to-find ingredients. The steps had also been adjusted to accommodate his current cultivation level. It was incredibly thoughtful and well-prepared.
— Wait, something’s not right!
She suddenly realized the problem with this recipe.
This… This wasn’t the ancient medicinal bath recipe! It was the modified recipe she had created in her previous life!
She and Yi Xian’er had developed the Yin-Yang Unity technique together. To allow ordinary couples to practice it without actual intercourse, they had specifically modified the medicinal bath recipe.
Besides her, only Yi Xian’er should know about this modified recipe.
Not the current Yi Xian’er, but the Yi Xian’er from her previous life!
Could it be…
A bold hypothesis formed in her mind.
This would explain why Yi Xian’er had become his friend so quickly and even given him the valuable Evil Scale Fire Crystals.
But why had Yi Xian’er also… Perhaps it wasn’t just her?
An even bolder thought crossed her mind!
— No way…
“Master? Master!”
His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She shook her head regretfully.
“This recipe is theoretically sound, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be any complications in practice.”
“Huh?”
Seeing his disappointment, she asked, “You don’t want to perform dual cultivation with the Head Shopkeeper, Zhen’er?”
He sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but… it feels strange. And it’s unfair to Sister Ji Ya. She’s already suffering from her illness. Now she has to lose her purity to save her life. It’s too much.”
“Sister Ji Ya?” She caught the key phrase, her eyes narrowing. “You’re that close already?”
He realized his slip of the tongue, quickly backpedaling. “S-she asked me to call her that. She said it would make us feel closer, less awkward during dual cultivation, heehee.”
She stared at him intently.
“Be honest, Zhen’er. How does she treat you? Isn’t she overly affectionate, not at all like someone you’ve just met? And she doesn’t mind performing dual cultivation with you at all. Am I right?”
“You… You know, Master?”
He was mortified.
To persuade her to reveal the medicinal bath recipe, he had claimed Ji Ya was extremely reluctant to perform dual cultivation.
His lie had been exposed. Even with his thick skin, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, his toes curling.
— It seems I was right.
Her eyes narrowed, a knowing glint in them.
So, that girl was using her illness to secure a relationship with her precious disciple. Even if she revealed the medicinal bath recipe, Ji Ya would likely find excuses to reject it.
— Cunning girl.
This meant both Yi Xian’er and Ji Ya had been reborn, just like her, and they were both taking advantage of their foreknowledge to win Yan Zhen’s heart.
Yi Xian’er had revealed the recipe to prevent Ji Ya from getting ahead.
— But Xian’er doesn’t seem to have any animosity towards Ji Ya. She only has issues with the Serpent Queen, one of my future daughters-in-law. Nothing to worry about.
It seemed she didn’t need to do anything. She would just pretend to be unaware.
Even if the truth came out later, her precious disciple wouldn’t blame her.
Ahem, how convenient.
“Zhen’er, don’t overthink it. Since she’s willing, just proceed with the safest method, actual dual cultivation.” She advised him. “We can explore other options later, if the opportunity arises.”
“But Master, even with dual cultivation, I’m not confident.” He ran a hand through his hair, his expression troubled. “Sister Ji Ya’s life is at stake. What if I mess up and can’t cure her?”
“The treatment is indeed quite complex. You need to maintain control during dual cultivation, using her body as a cauldron, her accumulated medicinal energy as the main ingredient, supplemented by other herbs, to refine a new pill. It’s demanding on your cultivation, stamina, and Spiritual Power.”
She pondered for a moment, then smiled.
“How about this? You can practice on me first, Zhen’er. Once you’re familiar with the process, you can proceed with her treatment. What do you say?”
“Huh?”
Practice on her? Wouldn’t that mean… dual cultivation with her?
He blushed, his voice hesitant. “Isn’t that… a bit inappropriate, Master?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” She seemed unconcerned. “I told you, I’ll do anything for your cultivation, Zhen’er… This can be considered a form of training for a Mystic Refiner.”
She clapped her hands, and the ground beneath them rose, transforming into a stone bed. Curtains, blankets, and pillows appeared, turning the simple bed into a luxurious couch.
“Come, Zhen’er. Treat me as the Head Shopkeeper and practice the dual cultivation treatment method.”
“Master…”
The air grew thick with anticipation as their clothes fell away, their bodies entwining.
She guided him, instructing him on how to control his Mystic Power, how to form hand seals, how to adjust his position, how to balance strength and gentleness, even when to… release.
He followed her instructions diligently.
…
Outside, the two women continued their silent standoff.
Yi Xian’er wasn’t intentionally targeting Ji Ya.
She had guessed that Ji Ya, like her, had been reborn and was using her foreknowledge to win Yan Zhen’s heart.
She understood Ji Ya’s feelings. She wouldn’t prevent any worthy woman from approaching him, except for that snake-wielding woman from the Water City.
He didn’t even like that Serpent Queen. She had simply gotten pregnant with his child, and he, out of a sense of responsibility, had been forced to marry her.
In her previous life, losing to that woman had been her greatest regret. This time, she wouldn’t repeat her mistake!
She didn’t harbor much animosity towards Ji Ya. Instead of being rivals, she wanted to form an alliance, to keep him away from that snake woman.
Her attempt to hinder Ji Ya with the medicinal bath recipe was simply a tactic to gain the upper hand in their potential alliance, a habit she had developed during her years as the Queen of a Thousand Yins.
“Are you worried, Sister Ji Ya? You haven’t looked well since earlier.”
“Heehee, not at all. I’m just curious about Little Brother Yan Zhen’s master. She’s so mysterious.” Ji Ya’s eyes narrowed, her vixen aura unmistakable. “Where did you get the medicinal bath recipe, Little Sister Xian’er? Even the Tier 4 and Tier 5 Pill Masters I know haven’t heard of it.”
“To be honest, I obtained it from a Mystic Saint.” Her words were shocking.
“A Mystic Saint?”
Ji Ya froze, the image of Chen Xi’s stunning beauty flashing through her mind.
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