In the courtyard, hazy moonlight spilled down, and a warm breeze wafted through, bringing a sense of ease and comfort.
Qu Qirong’s beautiful eyes swept over Yingying the Little Fox and Li Shishi, finally resting on Deng Tianyu. She spoke,
“Sect Master Ning, the night is late, and Shishi and Tianyu are also drunk.”
“Why don’t you stay overnight here at Xiaoxiang Elegant Garden? The inner courtyard still has empty guest rooms available.”
“Then I shall trouble you, Madam.” Ning Wan considered for a moment, then agreed.
A smile blossomed on Qu Qirong’s face. “Qing’er, Ling’er, you two arrange this.”
“Yes, Madam!” Qing’er and Ling’er acknowledged and helped the drunken Li Shishi, Yingying the Little Fox, and the other three little ones to the guest rooms.
Now, only the feigning-drunk Deng Tianyu, along with Ning Wan and Qu Qirong, remained in the courtyard.
Ning Wan gently picked up her precious disciple and cradled him in her warm, soft embrace so he could sleep more comfortably.
“Madam, there’s no need to arrange a guest room for me.”
Qu Qirong’s brows furrowed as she watched Ning Wan be so intimate with her Tianyu. “Why not?”
Ning Wan’s beautiful eyes swirled with emotion, her words brimming with deep affection. “Tianyu is drunk. If I sleep with him, it will be convenient to look after him.”
“Sect Master Ning is a guest from afar. Allow me to take care of Tianyu.” Qu Qirong prepared to take Deng Tianyu from her arms.
Ning Wan gave an enchanting smile but shook her head. “Tianyu is my disciple. I won’t trouble Madam with him.”
As she spoke, right in front of Qu Qirong, she adjusted the small figure in her arms, nestling him against her full, ample bosom.
Watching this, Qu Qirong narrowed her beautiful eyes. “There’s no denying that Sect Master Ning is Tianyu’s Shizun. But Tianyu calls me Aunt Rong, and as his aunt, I naturally have the duty to care for him.”
She understood the implication in Ning Wan’s words—it was a retort to her previous visit to Purple Cloud Sect to deliver thanks and gifts.
“I raised Tianyu single-handedly.” Ning Wan’s lips curved into a moving, beautiful arc, her voice soft. “What he likes to eat, what habits he has… I know them intimately.”
Qu Qirong clenched her teeth. “Though I have never looked after Tianyu before, I can learn.”
Ning Wan’s expression remained calm. “Then wait until Madam has learned how to care for someone before you come to care for Tianyu.”
For a moment, their eyes locked, and the atmosphere once again turned hostile, filled with tension.
The feigning-drunk Deng Tianyu of course sensed this. He couldn’t just let Aunt Rong and Shizun keep bickering like this. Feigning the dazedness of a drunkard, he mumbled, “Thirsty… water!”
Qu Qirong immediately turned to pick up her own cup, intending to feed her Tianyu some clean water.
But just as she turned around, she froze.
In her sight, that outwardly aloof yet inwardly alluring, mature, and seductive Sect Master parted her crimson lips and took a sip of water. Then, bending her waist, her exquisitely alluring red lips sealed over Deng Tianyu’s.
Snapping back to her senses, a frosty veil descended over Qu Qirong’s face. She couldn’t help but question sharply, “Ning Wan, what are you doing?!”
She had even dropped the polite title “Sect Master,” calling her by name directly. It was clear how truly angry she was!
To this, Ning Wan paid no heed. She merely took another sip of water and sealed her precious disciple’s lips again.
Moments later, their lips parted.
She lifted her head slightly, her boneless, delicate hand gently wiping away the water at the corner of Deng Tianyu’s mouth. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she said, “Tianyu is thirsty. I am merely quenching his thirst!”
Qu Qirong said coldly, “Even so, you didn’t have to use that method!”
She had never imagined that Ning Wan would do such a thing to her Tianyu, let alone right in front of her face.
Ning Wan’s tone was equally cold as she retorted, “Then you tell me: Tianyu is drunk, he can’t open his mouth on his own. How else should you deliver water into his mouth?”
Qu Qirong clenched her teeth, unable to find a rebuttal.
Meanwhile, Deng Tianyu, in Ning Wan’s arms, felt completely helpless.
He could actually open his mouth, but Shizun hadn’t given him the chance.
Most crucially, he had intended to use his thirst as a way to interrupt the standoff between Aunt Rong and Shizun.
But who could have guessed it would instantly become the flashpoint of the conflict?
Well, that backfired spectacularly!
Deng Tianyu even began to suspect that Shizun had done it on purpose.
Why else would she kiss him right in front of Aunt Rong?
The atmosphere settled into a tense silence for a long moment. Then Ning Wan picked up Deng Tianyu and announced, “I am also tired. I must trouble the Madam to lead me to the guest room.”
“Sect Master Ning, follow me.”
Qu Qirong took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration in her heart. Swaying her mature, voluptuous figure, she walked along the corridor towards the guest rooms.
From that kiss just now, she had confirmed one thing.
Ning Wan’s feelings for her Tianyu went far beyond that of a simple master-disciple bond.
A normal master-disciple relationship would never disregard the boundaries between male and female.
Clearly, moments ago, Ning Wan hadn’t given those boundaries a second thought.
Walking behind, observing the mature, noble beauty ahead of her, Ning Wan’s lips curved into an exceedingly charming and moving arc.
Just now, she had indeed done it deliberately, making her feelings for Deng Tianyu unmistakably clear.
She wanted to see what Qu Qirong would do now that she knew.
Would she choose to give up?
Or would she press forward despite the difficulty?
Creak!
The door swung open, a candle was lit, illuminating the elegantly furnished room.
This was Deng Tianyu’s room in Xiaoxiang Elegant Garden, personally arranged by Qu Qirong.
Ning Wan naturally knew it was her Tianyu’s room. After all, her first joint cultivation session with him had also happened here last time.
As her thoughts flowed, she looked at Qu Qirong, who was still in the room, and parted her red lips. “Madam, I will take care of Tianyu.”
“I failed to care for Tianyu before, and I have already let down the Princess Consort.”
“Now that I finally have a chance, I must naturally make up for the years of neglect.”
Qu Qirong shook her head, having no intention of returning to her own room.
Of course, she caught the hidden message in Ning Wan’s words—it was a polite dismissal.
But after witnessing that scene, she felt she absolutely could not leave her Tianyu’s side.
Who knew what even more improper, master-disciple boundary-crossing things Ning Wan might do if she left?
“In that case, Madam, please suit yourself.”
“I’m going to help Tianyu bathe now. If you don’t mind, you may come in as well.”
Ning Wan gave her a deep, meaningful look and a suggestive smile.
Then, swaying her mature, full figure, she stepped lightly with her lotus feet, carrying her precious disciple into the bathroom.
Hearing this, Qu Qirong’s eyes narrowed, and she followed.
If Ning Wan could bathe Deng Tianyu, couldn’t she?
And with her present, Ning Wan wouldn’t easily be able to do anything too excessive.
As for Deng Tianyu, compared to his Shizun and Aunt Rong, he truly had a colossal headache.
He should never have pretended to be drunk.
Look at the situation now? What had it become?
Shizun was going to bathe him, and Aunt Rong had followed them in?
How in the world had the situation spiraled into this?
Deng Tianyu prayed silently in his heart, “I just hope nothing unexpected happens!”
In his current state, supposedly drunk and asleep, he had absolutely no way to intervene between Shizun and Aunt Rong.
