2. Sleep!
Although Gong Yiling’s carriage had dawdled for a while, their aversion to “freeloading” ultimately made them faster than Shangguan Lingyue’s.
They arrived at a manor in Yanlie City almost simultaneously.
Shangguan Lingyue, seeing no movement from the other carriage, approached and asked,
“What’s Miss Gong doing inside?”
“Ah…” Qiu Shui found this difficult to explain.
She peeked inside at the “madwoman,” assessed whether her master was presentable, then opened the curtain.
“See for yourself.”
Shangguan Lingyue peered inside and froze.
Gong Yiling, still wearing her veil, was snuggling Shangguan Ziyuan, her hands roaming over the girl’s body, muttering, “Meow, meow, meow…”
She let out manly whimpers and other strange, nonsensical sounds.
Shangguan Ziyuan, thankfully in her Little Heehee form, seemed perfectly content, even purring.
“This…?”
Chun Lian, even more directly, was hugging Gong Yiling’s waist from behind, also fast asleep.
“Master probably hasn’t slept well lately, and Xinyao and Chun’er are just tired from playing.”
Qiu Shui explained to Shangguan Lingyue, “If it’s not urgent, could you allow them to sleep a bit longer?”
After these past few days, Qiu Shui had matured considerably.
Combined with her calm and serious nature, she spoke to Shangguan Lingyue with composure and grace.
“It’s nothing urgent.”
Shangguan Lingyue shook her head. “I’ll discuss the Grand Elder’s treatment with my brother.”
“When your master wakes up, let her stay here. This is my manor outside the inner city. Everything has been arranged.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Shangguan Lingyue didn’t have anything else to say to Qiu Shui, exchanging a few pleasantries before leaving.
Qiu Shui was left alone, watching the three sleeping figures inside the carriage, a tinge of jealousy rising within her.
“So Master prefers girls with half-demon bloodlines…”
As the “eldest disciple,” she sat on the Cloud-Treading Colt, stroking its now white fur, and stared at the sleeping Gong Yiling, lost in thought.
If only she also had the talent for acting cute and spoiled, or could transform into a cat girl or fox girl…
Strange thoughts filled her mind.
She poked her own cheeks with two fingers, trying to imitate a cute expression.
The next second, Miss Gong opened her eyes.
From Gong Yiling’s perspective, she had been happily playing with a cat in her dream, forgetting everything else.
But the cat suddenly stopped moving, and she instinctively opened her eyes to check.
And she saw Qiu Shui making a cute face.
Clear eyes, a gentle smile, and an adorable pose.
She couldn’t help but ask,
“Qiu Shui?”
“W-wha—!?!”
Qiu Shui’s face flushed crimson, and she quickly buried her face in the Cloud-Treading Colt’s fur, avoiding her gaze.
What was going on?
Gong Yiling, still confused, scratched her head.
A few seconds later, she finally realized.
They had arrived.
She sat up, waking the two sleeping girls.
“Mmm… are we there?”
The three sleepily jumped out of the carriage, stretching in unison.
Qiu Shui also dismounted.
She looked at Gong Yiling, who seemed oblivious to the earlier scene, and sighed.
Then, she regained her usual composure and said calmly, “The general has returned to the palace to report. She asked us to stay here and said she would inform us if anything happens.”
—*Silly Master.*
“I understand.”
As Gong Yiling led them into the manor, servants rushed forward to welcome them.
This manor was far more luxurious than any ordinary inn.
Not only did they have imperial chefs preparing their meals, but there was also an indoor bathhouse comparable to the one in the Blood Orchid Palace.
And most importantly, Shangguan Lingyue had assigned each of them a large room with a bed that could fit four people.
Yes.
Four people.
Seeing the bed, Gong Yiling felt like it was a sign from the heavens.
Although she didn’t think the four-in-a-bed situation would happen again…
That night, as agreed, Qiu Shui came knocking with her pillow.
Miss Gong had just finished a cycle of cultivation, her righteous cultivation finally reaching the peak of Core Formation—after depleting most of her spirit stones.
Opening the door, she saw Qiu Shui with her hair down, probably fresh from a bath.
With her long hair loose, she looked even more like a beautiful and intelligent upperclassman.
Holding a pillow, her eyes darted around nervously, her long eyelashes fluttering. She seemed hesitant to speak.
Sleeping with Master was Chun Lian’s idea, and she had just gone along with it.
It wasn’t awkward when they were all together, but now, alone with Master, Qiu Shui felt a bit embarrassed.
“Um…”
“Why are you standing outside?”
Gong Yiling pulled her inside and closed the door with a smile.
“I…” Qiu Shui was still a bit reserved.
But seeing the messy state of the room, she immediately started tidying up, muttering,
“Honestly, Master, you make a mess everywhere you go. Is it so hard to put things back in their place?”
“To be honest, it is.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t that why I have Qiu Shui?”
After helping to spread out the second blanket, Gong Yiling turned around with a smile.
Qiu Shui was staring at her, hands on her hips, the distance between them barely two finger-widths apart.
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