Hot water poured from the dragon-headed faucet, drenching Mentor Yu Xuan’s body in a steady patter and billowing thick clouds of steam. The mist partially veiled her nearly ripe and alluring figure, lending it a hazy beauty.
After untying the princess braids atop her head and retying her hair with a towel at the back, she revealed a neck as graceful as a swan’s and ears as crystalline as jade.
The scalding water streamed over her entire body. Her already moist and radiant skin took on a healthy, sexy pink glow when soaked, enhancing its plump, tender smoothness.
She tilted her pert chin slightly upward, a trace of intoxication appearing on her face as her hands roamed from one shoulder and arm to her waist, then to her breasts and back.
After a quick rinse, Mentor Yu Xuan shut off the faucet and stepped into the nearby bath pool, sinking down until the water lapped just at her chest, concealing most of her feminine charms.
Leaning against a pillow carved from volcanic rock, she let out a soft sigh, her expression gradually relaxing.
Mentor Yu Xuan cultivated Water Attribute Mystic Power, and her physique had a natural affinity for water, so she particularly enjoyed soaking in baths.
Immersing herself in the water—feeling its cool refreshment or soothing warmth—always steadied her emotions.
That had always been the case. Except now, there was an exception.
“…”
The thought of soaking in the same water Yan Zhen had just occupied sent Mentor Yu Xuan’s imagination wandering. Waves of heat coursed through her body.
It felt as if Yan Zhen hadn’t left at all, sitting right beside her. The two of them sharing an intimate bath like lovers.
“Mentor, you’re so beautiful~”
The innocent youth, captivated by her mature and voluptuous form, lost control in the moment and pulled her into his arms.
But she, ever mindful of her role as his mentor and a young woman’s modesty, shyly shook her head. “Yan Zhen, we can’t~”
Yet the youth burned with passion and wouldn’t hear it. He kissed her forcefully, greedily claiming and possessing her, making her his own.
Shameful images flooded her mind. Mentor Yu Xuan hurriedly shook her head, banishing the unrealistic fantasies.
“I’m such a fool. We clearly shouldn’t… Sigh~”
In her previous life, she had watched him marry and let it all go. So why had her heart begun to stir again after her rebirth?
—Because now, she felt she had a chance.
“I-I didn’t think that at all!”
She denied it vehemently, as if trying to convince herself. Then she weakly lowered her head.
“Why was I reborn, anyway? Just to make up for this regret? Did I never truly let go?”
What was she supposed to do…?
The gentle, mature beauty of a mentor now fretted like a shy girl newly fallen in love.
Suddenly, her fingers brushed something hard beneath the water. She scooped it up and examined it closely: a translucent little crystal, shimmering with five colors.
“What’s this? It’s gorgeous. And there’s a cord—could it be a pendant?”
…
Yan Zhen hadn’t been sleeping deeply. He’d only just drifted off when he sank under. The agony of drowning jolted his consciousness awake, followed by a wave of unfamiliar pleasure stirring his senses. And so, he woke.
His nose caught the Beautiful Female Master’s signature faint, elegant fragrance. His head rested against something soft and bouncy that felt all too familiar.
It was the Beautiful Female Master’s lap pillow!
He opened his eyes. Sure enough, her oppressively voluptuous breasts blocked his view of her face.
But he did see her hand at her mouth, her small pink tongue gliding lightly over her fingers and between them.
Yan Zhen froze. Then it hit him: the Beautiful Female Master was licking her fingers!
Shock widened his eyes.
He had never imagined her doing something like this. Her dainty tongue darting between her fingers was like a cat grooming its paws—adorably silly and utterly at odds with her usual ethereal grace.
Cute, yes, but why on earth was the Beautiful Female Master doing it? Unless… she had been sneaking snacks?
The thought made Yan Zhen find her even cuter. A chuckle escaped him before he could stop it.
Chen Xi heard the sound and dropped her hand like lightning. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
She leaned down, peering at him—and met his gaze head-on.
Yan Zhen blinked innocently. “Good morning, Master.”
Chen Xi schooled her pretty face into a stern expression. Her beautiful eyes bored into him. “You… saw that?”
Yan Zhen shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum. Knowing her personality, she wouldn’t want anyone catching her in such a childish moment.
“I just woke up. Didn’t see a thing!”
Chen Xi exhaled in slight relief but pressed, “Really?”
Yan Zhen nodded emphatically, feigning puzzlement. “What were you doing, Master?”
Chen Xi cleared her throat, resuming her usual serene demeanor. “Nothing. Just bored, so I was checking my palm lines.”
Yan Zhen nodded thoughtfully and sat up. The robe draped over him slipped away, baring his upper body to the cool air.
He froze, staring down. Right—he was naked. And he remembered: he’d fallen asleep in the bath.
He snatched up the robe and wrapped it around his waist, face burning. “Master, how did I end up here?”
Chen Xi’s lips curved into a smile. She gave him a concise explanation.
“Fell asleep in the bath and nearly drowned?”
Yan Zhen cringed even harder after hearing it. Drowning in a bath? He’d obliterated every ounce of protagonist swagger. Oh god, had he ruined his persona?
【Ding! System warm reminder: Persona slightly collapsed. Please, Host, reestablish it through some cool posturing and face-slapping.】
Holy crap!
Yan Zhen’s heart jolted.
If he’d messed up badly, all his recent acting would’ve been for nothing. And since this wasn’t a key plot point, who knew if he could reload?
“Sorry for disturbing you, Master. I’ll head back now.”
Yan Zhen scrambled to his feet. Without waiting for Chen Xi’s reply, he activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal and vanished.
As he departed, Chen Xi breathed a sigh of relief. She eyed her right hand, still bearing faint traces, guilt gnawing at her.
So close to being exposed.
If he’d found out, she could never face him as his master again.
…
In the bath pool, Mentor Yu Xuan scrutinized the Five-Colored Crystal. She quickly realized it must have fallen from Yan Zhen during his soak.
“I should return it to him. His room’s in the side chamber, right?”
The prospect of visiting Yan Zhen’s room set her heart racing. She had no desire to linger in the bath any longer.
She stood—just as the crystal in her hand erupted in blinding light, forcing her to squint.
“What—?”
The glow faded swiftly. Yan Zhen rematerialized in the bath pool, staring at the sight before him: Mentor Yu Xuan, naked as the day she was born, hair pinned up, clutching his pendant. He froze.
Mentor Yu Xuan’s vision cleared. She beheld Yan Zhen—bare-chested, wide-eyed in shock, pendant in her grasp. She froze too.
Their eyes locked. Time seemed to halt.
“Kyaaah!!!”
“Waaah!!!”
Dual screams shattered the silence, echoing through the empty bathhouse.
Both clapped hands over their chests and dunked beneath the water in perfect sync. Then, voices overlapping, they blurted:
“Yan Zhen, you—”
“Mentor, you—”
They faltered, each waiting for the other to go first. Seeing the hesitation, they barreled on:
“—why haven’t you left yet?”
“—what are you doing here?”
