24. The Master-Disciple Affection Boosting Method
Although Gong Yiling still didn’t understand the purpose of this ridiculous system…
—Was it to help her become invincible? Or to help her seduce girls?
The former was worth considering, but the latter was a bit difficult.
The biggest problem was that she lacked the necessary equipment.
However, if the affection level simply represented the strength of a relationship, and the tasks weren’t meant to be taken literally, then it was understandable.
But regardless, the system was there, and if Miss Gong wanted the rewards, she had to play the gal game.
“Is Qiu Shui there?”
In the afternoon, Gong Yiling knocked on Yin Qiushui’s door.
“Yes, Young Palace Master, Qiu Shui is in her room.”
“Then I’ll come in.”
Gong Yiling opened the door and saw Yin Qiushui just getting out of bed.
The girl hadn’t slept all night, evident from the dark circles under her eyes. She looked particularly haggard, but her bright black eyes sparkled with surprise at the visitor.
“Young Palace Master, why are you here?”
“You and Chun Huai stayed up all night with me, without even having dinner. Of course I have to come and see you.” Gong Yiling smiled, holding up some pastries. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought some butterfly crisps and rice puffs. Will Qiu Shui give me the honor?”
Qiu Shui was momentarily speechless, standing there for a long time, surprised by her words.
“It seems I came at the wrong time. You look…”
“No, it’s not like that!”
Yin Qiushui quickly waved her hands. “Qiu Shui is just surprised!”
“Then will you eat?”
“Yes!”
A few minutes later, a selection of delicate pastries was arranged on the table.
After sitting down, Gong Yiling started browsing the available affection-boosting achievements… the less suggestive ones.
She remained silent, prompting the girl to steal glances at her while nibbling on the pastries.
The silence became slightly awkward.
“Um… Young Palace Master?” Qiu Shui finally spoke.
“Ah… yes?”
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m fine, not really hungry.”
“Oh…”
After a brief exchange, the master and servant, or rather, master and disciple, ran out of things to say.
Indeed.
Gong—the steel straight man—Yiling.
Except for discussing serious matters, she had no idea how to chat with girls.
So, her way of boosting affection was to buy food for others. In modern times, it would be equivalent to force-feeding someone milk tea.
It was that direct. What was wrong with being direct?
However, after a while, she felt the silence was inappropriate and asked, “Is it good?”
“Anything prepared by the Young Palace Master is naturally delicious.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
It seemed… they had run out of topics again.
“How about I feed you?”
“Pfft…” The awkward atmosphere was broken by Yin Qiushui’s laughter.
The girl covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s just pastries, not anything else. And Qiu Shui’s status…”
“What does status matter?” Gong Yiling rested her chin on her hand, muttering nonchalantly, “Before coming to the Blood Orchid Palace, I was also an orphan, unloved by my parents.”
Hearing this, Qiu Shui was taken aback. “Young Palace Master… do you remember your past?”
“I’ve always remembered,” Gong Yiling said. “In fact, I’m half a member of the righteous path.”
Qiu Shui was curious about Gong Yiling’s past, but like others, she didn’t dare to pry.
Now that Gong Yiling had brought it up herself, the girl immediately put down her pastry and listened attentively like a model student.
“It’s not a good story.” Gong Yiling, understanding her intent, rubbed her head. “Do you really want to hear it?”
Qiu Shui nodded seriously. “Yes.”
Finally finding a topic, Miss Gong didn’t hold back.
From her perspective, these were stories about a third person, having little to do with her personally, so she remained emotionally detached.
But Yin Qiushui was different.
Especially when she heard about how Gong Yiling, in her eagerness to save someone, revealed her demonic powers for the first time and was subsequently reported by Jiang Chenmo, resulting in her meridians being severed, Qiu Shui’s eyes reddened.
Gong Yiling was only twelve years old at the time!
To her, the righteous sect was her home, and her fellow disciples were her family.
Being abandoned and even abused by her own family simply because of her background was a devastating experience.
But Gong Yiling showed no emotional fluctuations while recounting these events.
This made Qiu Shui feel even worse.
She had always thought her own life was the worst.
Forced to drift along, struggling to survive, even her only genuine affection tainted with a label of falsehood.
But the woman before her clearly hadn’t had it any easier.
“Is the injury the Young Palace Master wants that girl to heal the aftereffect of having your meridians severed?” Qiu Shui asked, trying to keep her voice steady, but her red eyes betrayed her emotions.
“Something like that.”
Gong Yiling picked up a pastry and held it to the girl’s lips. “I’m not even crying, why are you?”
“Qiu Shui… isn’t.”
“Then have another one.” Gong Yiling smiled, resting her chin on her hand. “Unless Qiu Shui thinks the pastries I brought aren’t good.”
“Absolutely not… Hmm?”
Before Qiu Shui could react, Gong Yiling popped the pastry into her mouth.
At the same time, the system notification sounded.
“Achievement completed: Fed Yin Qiushui. Affection level increased by 5 points.”
Yes!
Although she could have force-fed her, that would have been meaningless.
Gong Yiling was a practical person and didn’t like forcing others.
“…Mmm, thank you, Young Palace Master.”
Qiu Shui’s mouth was full, and she no longer looked like the cold and aloof girl from before. Her puffed cheeks made her look even cuter.
Gong Yiling suddenly felt like teasing her.
“Call me Master.”
Qiu Shui asked, puzzled, “Why… Master?”
“Because I am your master.” Gong Yiling said with a confident smile. “I taught you the cultivation technique, bought you pills for breakthroughs, and even bought you a secret manual… Oh, right!”
Miss Gong suddenly remembered.
She hadn’t given Qiu Shui the manual yet.
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