Seeing Mi Xue’er drifting closer, Yan Zhen and Mentor Yu Xuan both broke out in cold sweats.
“Mentor, use the water to push her away,” Yan Zhen whispered. Having memorized the script, he knew full well that Mentor Yu Xuan cultivated a water-attribute method.
“…”
Only then did Mentor Yu Xuan snap out of it. She hurriedly circulated her mystic power, churning up the pool water into a small wave that forcibly shoved Mi Xue’er back.
“Hey, hey, hey! Mentor Yu Xuan, don’t push me!”
“You’re not allowed to come over here.”
Mentor Yu Xuan said coolly, without so much as glancing at Mi Xue’er as she scooped up some pool water to cleanse her skin.
Yan Ruyu and Yan Meng’er both covered their mouths, giggling with a hint of schadenfreude.
“Look at you, getting the cold shoulder from the mentor. Maybe act a little more proper.”
“Sister Xue’er, you really shouldn’t make the mentor mad.”
Hot water had splashed across Mi Xue’er’s face. She shook her head like a little animal, flinging off the droplets, her gaze at Mentor Yu Xuan brimming with resentment. Hearing the other two girls’ mockery only fueled her embarrassment into anger, and she splashed water right back at them.
One handful for each.
Yan Ruyu wasn’t about to let her get away with it and immediately fired back. Yan Meng’er kept up her smiling facade, but she wasn’t one to take a loss either—she retaliated in kind.
The three girls ended up splashing each other wildly, their crisp laughter ringing out like bells.
In the past, Mentor Yu Xuan would have scolded them by now, but today she was secretly hoping they’d keep at it and not turn their attention this way.
With a temporary reprieve, Mentor Yu Xuan’s tense body gradually relaxed. Suddenly, she felt a scorching hot object pressing against her from below, twitching now and then. Confusion flickered across her face at first, then realization dawned. Her cheeks flushed crimson with a mix of shame and irritation.
“Yan Zhen!”
Underwater, she smacked his leg to signal him to cut it out, then shifted forward a bit on her seat.
Yan Zhen looked utterly innocent.
With Mentor Yu Xuan’s bare buttocks planted squarely on his lap, their skin in direct contact, how could he—or rather, his unbeatable Second Master—possibly stay unaffected?
He was a hormonal teenage boy, after all!
But this situation was his fault, so Yan Zhen kept quiet. He tried focusing on disgusting thoughts to quell the urge.
Like elephantiasis giants and the Black Goat of the Woods…
Urgh…
It was just starting to work when Mentor Yu Xuan’s hand reached back and grabbed it.
Yan Zhen hissed, sucking in a sharp breath.
“Mentor?”
“Don’t move.”
As a mature adult, Mentor Yu Xuan knew full well how hard it was for a virile young man to rein in his desires. Worried he might lose control and thrust right in, she took the initiative.
Yan Zhen’s thoughts began to blur, his mind drifting to that beautiful math teacher from his previous life, patiently guiding him through a problem.
“Teacher, where do I even start with this one?”
The aloof beauty had replied coolly:
“Derive this part first.”
With that, Yan Zhen slowly relaxed, slipping into a thoughtless sage mode.
Mentor Yu Xuan withdrew her hand. Her expression barely changed, but her heart was pounding at its limit.
What on earth had she just done? So shameless! To think she’d do that right in front of a student—
Would Yan Zhen see her as some loose woman now?
“Mentor! Mentor!”
Mi Xue’er’s calls snapped Mentor Yu Xuan back to reality. The three girls had stopped horsing around and were staring right at her.
Forcing herself to stay calm, Mentor Yu Xuan replied in her usual tone:
“I’m listening. What is it?”
Mi Xue’er straightened up, all serious:
“Report, Mentor! Stop hiding in the corner. Come join us and bond a little. We can give you a shoulder massage and rub your legs—guaranteed to make you feel amazing.”
Yan Ruyu swam a bit closer:
“Mentor, are you still mad? I promise I won’t let Xue’er barge in next time. Forgive us?”
Yan Meng’er gazed at her hopefully:
“Mentor Yu Xuan…”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s head throbbed. She wasn’t mad—she just couldn’t move.
“I appreciate the thought, but I want to soak quietly for a bit. Don’t worry about me.”
The three exchanged glances, sensing something off about Mentor Yu Xuan today.
No matter how they racked their brains, they could never guess that their revered mentor was currently perched on Yan Zhen’s lap—her face calm, but her heart in utter turmoil.
Their playful mood evaporated. Seeing Mentor Yu Xuan in low spirits, the girls wisely decided not to disturb her.
“We’ll head out first. We’re having a girls’ night before bed—want to join, Mentor?”
“I’ll see.”
“Then we’re off. Don’t soak too long, Mentor.”
The three filed out one by one.
Click. The bathhouse door opened and shut. Mentor Yu Xuan still didn’t dare relax fully until she heard them change clothes and leave through the changing room door. Only then did she exhale in relief.
She quickly rose from Yan Zhen’s lap, putting some distance between them.
“Alright, Yan Zhen. You should go too.”
Yan Zhen scratched his head:
“Mentor, why don’t you go first? My… my leg’s cramping.”
Mentor Yu Xuan froze, then realized she’d been sitting on him for so long—he probably couldn’t walk.
“Sorry, am I… too heavy?”
“Huh?”
What kind of logic was that?
“No, Mentor, I didn’t mean you’re heavy. I just… uh, I’ll go first.”
Yan Zhen gave up explaining and bolted.
Gripping the pool edge, he forced himself upright.
But his leg was still cramping, the muscles twisted like a braid in agony. He barely managed to stand.
As he tried to step out, one leg gave way. His body tilted backward.
Splash.
Water sprayed everywhere, waves crashing against Mentor Yu Xuan behind him.
“Yan Zhen, are you okay?”
In her panic, Mentor Yu Xuan ignored her nudity and the impropriety. She swam over and supported him from behind.
His legs throbbed with pain, leaving Yan Zhen no mind to savor her softness. He managed an apologetic smile:
“Sorry, Mentor. I’ll head out right now.”
“Wait. Let me help unblock your meridians first.”
Eyes full of concern, Mentor Yu Xuan helped him to the poolside and sat him down. Kneeling before him in the water, she channeled her water Mystic force into her hands and massaged his calf.
Water- and wood-attribute mystic powers both aided healing, and Mentor Yu Xuan even knew the Healing Technique. The cool force seeped into his leg bit by bit, easing the twisted-muscle pain rapidly.
Feeling Mentor Yu Xuan’s small hands kneading his leg, the refreshing chill of her water Mystic force contrasting the pool’s warmth, Yan Zhen felt utterly relaxed.
“Feeling better?”
Mentor Yu Xuan looked up—only for the evil dragon to rear its head too.
Her beautiful eyes widened in a glare. Flushed with shame and annoyance, she dropped his big clumsy hoof and turned away.
“You’re good. Now get going.”
Yan Zhen was mortified too. Sitting on the edge while she knelt in the water gave the perfect view—practically everything on display—so it had perked up again.
His rationality was fraying at the edges. If he didn’t leave now, who knew what might happen with such a juicy, tender beauty right there.
Time to bail.
“Then I’m off, Mentor. See you.”
