He’d been caught!
Yan Zhen was mortified, so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. He hung his head and mumbled, “Sorry, Master. You just smell so good that I couldn’t help myself…”
“Is it your master’s fault?”
“Ah? That’s not what I meant!”
“There’s no need to be nervous, Zhen’er. It really is your master’s oversight—I didn’t consider your feelings.” Chen Xi wrapped her arms around Yan Zhen from behind, gently pulling him into her embrace. Her jade-like hand stroked his head softly. “You’re at that age where you’re full of vigor and strength. It’s perfectly normal to have the occasional physical urge. Don’t feel inferior because of it.”
“Master…”
Yan Zhen was deeply moved. His beautiful female master was so open-minded. Not only did she not scold him, but she was comforting him, worried that his self-esteem might suffer!
To have such a master—what more could he ask for?
But then his beautiful female master let out a soft sigh. “Since your master caused this, she’ll help you take care of it.”
“Huh?”
Yan Zhen froze. Before he could speak, his belt was undone, and the same soft, tender hand that had held the brush with him earlier slipped inside, carefully grasping the source of his agitation.
Hiss~
Yan Zhen drew in a sharp breath. The fiery heat from the rush of blood was instantly soothed by the cool touch of her hands, replaced by a floating sensation that arose naturally—as if he’d mastered the Flight Technique and was soaring freely toward the clouds.
“M-Master…”
“Don’t talk. Close your eyes and leave everything to your master.”
Though Chen Xi lacked practical experience, her theoretical knowledge was vast. As a Pill Refiner, her hands-on skills were exceptional, and she handled the task without the slightest hesitation.
Her left hand below acted like a playful child full of mischief, her fingers teasing naughtily. Her right hand above moved like an enthusiastic novice martial artist wielding a spear and staff.
The two hands worked in perfect harmony, rhythmically varying their pressure and making Yan Zhen gasp and pant nonstop.
In less than the time it took to brew half a cup of tea, Yan Zhen surrendered.
“Is this better, Zhen’er?” she asked.
“Mm…”
“It seems like it’s not quite enough yet. Don’t worry—your master will help you.”
(/(//o/ω/o//)/)
A quarter of an hour later, Yan Zhen slumped limply across Chen Xi’s lap and drifted off into a deep sleep.
Chen Xi withdrew her hand, her palm now mottled with white. She glanced at Yan Zhen and saw that he was truly asleep. Then, like a cat licking its paw, she cleaned her hand with her tongue.
“So thick,” she murmured.
She cast a Water Spell to wash her hands, then gently cleaned the traces left on Yan Zhen’s body. Finally, she let him rest his head back on her lap, threading her fingers through his hair and combing it gently, stroke by stroke. Her gaze lingered on his peaceful sleeping face, unable to get enough as she studied it from every angle.
At this moment, “handsome youth” suited Yan Zhen better than ever. His face was fair and clean, with a hint of boyish innocence. In a few more years, he would truly be “strikingly handsome.”
The more Chen Xi looked, the happier she felt. She leaned down and planted a deep kiss on his forehead.
“Your master has always loved you, Zhen’er~”
…
When Yan Zhen woke, he found himself lying on the bed in his room. There was no yellow paper or cinnabar beside him, and no beautiful female master either.
Had last night been a dream?
It must have been. Otherwise, with his beautiful female master’s personality, how could she have been so playful, teasing him like that?
But his waist felt a little sore.
Yan Zhen thought for a moment, then took out the yellow paper and cinnabar he’d bought yesterday from his storage ring. The stack of yellow paper had been unsealed and was noticeably missing a few sheets. The cinnabar bottle’s stopper was also loose.
It was over. Not a dream.
That meant he still hadn’t completed the task the System had assigned. He’d been too busy enjoying his beautiful female master’s “finishing move”!
Such depravity. Utter depravity!
Tap, tap, tap.
Someone knocked on the door, followed by Yan Meng’er’s sweet, coquettish voice: “Cousin, are you up? It’s time for breakfast.”
Yan Zhen glanced at the clock—it was already half past seven. He quickly replied, “I’ll be right there. You go ahead and eat.”
After washing up, he hurried to the dining hall. The four women had just finished eating, leaving only his portion untouched.
Mentor Yu Xuan had said she had business at the academy and left early. The remaining three waited for Yan Zhen to finish before heading out together.
Intermediate Class 1.
Because of Yan Zhen’s clash with Lan Ke in the cafeteria the day before, everyone in the class was looking at him strangely—some with awe, others with amusement, especially the few older students who had picked on him just yesterday.
Lan Ke was a top-five expert on the Nine Stars Ranking, practically one of the academy’s poster boys. For a mere new student like Yan Zhen to hold his own against him was utterly unbelievable.
A Nine-Star Mystic Practitioner, no less—one of the elite among them. How could a Five-Star Mystic Practitioner like Yan Zhen possibly stand against that?
Yan Zhen ignored the whispers and gossip, picking a seat in the corner and focusing on sketching the Fire Talisman Pattern.
He wasn’t using yellow paper or cinnabar, nor infusing any mystic power—just drawing the lines with a pen.
He’d thought it would be easy, but he encountered the same invisible resistance as before.
Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu still sat on either side of him, now even closer, their shoulders nearly brushing his.
Mi Xue’er watched as Yan Zhen sweated over drawing a pattern and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his brow.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, what are you drawing?”
“Talisman patterns.”
“What kind?”
“Fire ones.”
Mi Xue’er’s eyes lit up. “Does Little Brother Yan Zhen want to become a talisman refiner?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. “No.”
The two chatted idly in low voices.
Yan Ruyu couldn’t stand it anymore. She tapped the desk and reminded them, “You two, pay attention to the lesson.”
Mi Xue’er stuck out her tongue. She’d heard these classes plenty in her previous life, and with her experience cultivating to the Mystic King Realm, she didn’t need some mere Mystic Master to teach her.
Yan Zhen paid no mind either. With his beautiful female master to guide him, class was a waste of time. He was only at Mystic Academy to get into Holy Land Academy, and ultimately Jialan Holy Land.
That was the path many young people on Jialan Continent dreamed of—from Mystic Academy to Holy Land Academy to the Holy Land itself. Just like going from elementary school to university to civil service back on Earth.
Yan Zhen immersed himself in sketching the talisman patterns until the end of the period, finally completing one.
But the finished pattern looked nothing like a real Fire Symbol. Failure.
Undeterred, Yan Zhen started over.
When he finally came back to himself for a breather, it was already noon.
Yan Zhen wanted to keep going, but Mi Xue’er dragged him off to lunch.
The afternoon Mystic Technique Class was still taught by Mentor Yu Xuan, covering the Air Breaking Seal. After demonstrating it once more, she let the students practice on their own while she observed and offered pointers.
The training field was outdoors, and under the scorching sun, Mentor Yu Xuan soon began to sweat. She retreated to the shade and stayed there, thinking it was time to prepare something for beating the heat.
Her constitution just couldn’t handle the warmth.
Yan Zhen glanced at the clear sky, thinking it was time to give his mentor something to cool her down.
Night fell.
To avoid arousing suspicion from the other women, Mentor Yu Xuan didn’t cook tonight. The five of them had food delivered from a restaurant.
After eating their fill and bathing, everyone retired to their rooms.
In his room, Yan Zhen lay on the bed in his sleepwear. He took out the First-Order Mystic Pill Selection and First-Order Mystic Artifact Selection from his System Backpack, choosing the First-Order Mystic Medicine “Ice Coagulation Dew” and the First-Order Mystic Artifact “Snow Wind Pearl.”
Ice Coagulation Dew: When applied, it keeps the skin hydrated and cool for an entire day, impervious even to direct sunlight. The ultimate summer relief.
Snow Wind Pearl: Infuse with mystic power and place indoors for steady cooling. The ultimate summer relief.
