On the altar, Chen Xi was the first to sense the prying gaze from outside. She didn’t need to guess to know it was her close friend, the Jialan Fairy. She immediately lifted her wide black sleeve to cover her towering snow peaks. A flush spread across her exquisite immortal features, born of both shame and a twinge of guilt.
Even though the Jialan Fairy already knew about the deeper bond between master and disciple, being caught in such a posture still filled her with Mystic embarrassment.
Yan Zhen, his face covered, was puzzled. After releasing the berry-like bead, he asked, “What’s wrong, Master?”
With a thought, Chen Xi used her authority as the World Spirit to block the external gaze. Only then did she lower her sleeve and meet her disciple’s innocent eyes. A sudden wave of guilt and taboo thrill washed over her.
“It’s nothing… good boy~”
As she spoke, she leaned down slightly, once more sealing her disciple’s mouth. She was half savoring, half enduring his greedy longing for her.
Unsuspecting, Yan Zhen continued playing the role of the obedient child.
Half an hour later, he finally left the Fire Refining Starry Sky and returned to his room. There, seated primly on the edge of the bed like a pure white Madonna, was his Saint Lord Master. The sight startled him so badly he nearly cried out.
He had assumed that if she came and found him absent, she would leave on her own. He never imagined she would wait for him right there on the bed—
Yan Zhen inwardly broke into a sweat.
“Saint Lord Master, you’ve arrived.”
The Jialan Fairy gazed silently at Yan Zhen, her beautiful eyes unblinking, making him squirm uncomfortably. Unable to bear it, he finally said, “Saint Lord Master, is there something on my face?”
“Sit down, Yan’er.” The Jialan Fairy patted the spot beside her. “I have something to discuss with you.”
Yan Zhen shuffled over and sat down properly, waiting quietly for her to speak.
The Jialan Fairy took his hand and clasped it in her palm before saying, “Yan’er, do you truly like Chen Xi?”
“Of course I do!” Yan Zhen answered without hesitation. “I like Master the most!”
“What do you like about her?”
“Uh…”
Yan Zhen was immediately stumped, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he shyly replied, “Can I skip this question?”
“No, you can’t~”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek, hemming and hawing for a good while before saying, “I like everything about Master! She’s always been so good to me and sacrificed so much. It touches me deeply. Not only that, she’s incredibly beautiful—her looks and figure are top-tier, the most perfect woman! Of course, there’s more. Master has her cute side too, like when she gets a little jealous of my mentors, hehe~”
As he warmed to the topic, the Jialan Fairy’s gaze gradually softened.
“It seems Yan’er really does like Chen Xi. It was worth it for her to go so far for you in her previous life… By the way, Yan’er, what’s that scent on your breath? It smells sweet.”
Yan Zhen’s hehe-ing grin froze. His hands flew to cover his mouth as he desperately tried to look pure and innocent.
“…Maybe I just ate a pill.”
The Jialan Fairy gripped his wrist and gently pulled his hand away, preventing him from covering up. She leaned in close to his mouth, narrowed her eyes, and sniffed delicately. “What kind of pill? It smells so good.”
Yan Zhen’s heart pounded faster, the flush creeping from his cheeks all the way to his ears, turning him red as a tomato.
“I-it’s just milk candy. I refined it for Long Ying.”
(The loli dragon girl tilted her head: Me?)
The Jialan Fairy reached up and patted his head.
“Good children don’t lie.”
“…”
“Or does that mean you’re honest with Chen Xi but not with me? I suppose that’s natural. My place in your heart could never compare to hers—not in the previous life, nor after rebirth. Sigh~”
Hearing the helpless sigh from his Saint Lord Master, Yan Zhen hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant, Saint Lord Master!”
The Jialan Fairy’s eyes grew shadowed, her tone melancholic. “I saw it all, Yan’er.”
Yan Zhen bowed his head like a child who had done wrong. “I’m sorry. I just depend on Master too much, so I couldn’t help myself.”
“You silly child, what are you apologizing for?” The Jialan Fairy cupped his face, gazing at him tenderly. “You’ve never had a mother’s love since you were young. It’s only natural to feel that way toward Chen Xi. How could I blame you?”
Yan Zhen was a bit surprised. He had thought his traditionally-minded, rigid Saint Lord Master wouldn’t accept him acting so spoiled toward his beautiful female master.
“Saint Lord Master, you really don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind.” Though her face remained expressionless, her eyes brimmed with maternal warmth as she earnestly advised him, “However, if you truly care for Chen Xi, that behavior isn’t quite right. She’s your master, but this is her first time experiencing romance. Deep down, she wants you to cherish and protect her, not keep acting spoiled toward her. Do you understand, Yan’er?”
Yan Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. He realized he might have overlooked that point.
Thinking back, from the very beginning, he had relied on his beautiful female master. Apart from occasionally showing filial piety or tending to her, he mostly just acted cute and clingy around her, never quite behaving like a proper partner.
His beautiful female master didn’t mind—in fact, she seemed to enjoy it—but what if she actually preferred him to be more manly?
Her words jolted him awake! Yan Zhen felt he had neglected his beautiful female master’s feelings, and a hint of panic stirred in him.
“It seems you’ve realized it too,” the Jialan Fairy said mildly. “You’re a young man, after all. You need to take responsibility.”
“I know I was wrong, Saint Lord Master,” Yan Zhen said firmly. “From now on, I’ll be more proactive in honoring and cherishing Master, making her feel truly secure.”
“Good. Recognizing your mistake and correcting it is the greatest virtue.” The Jialan Fairy patted his head again. “You can act spoiled with me from now on. I’ll take Chen Xi’s place and dote on you properly.”
Yan Zhen was all set to obediently reply, “I understand,” when something clicked as off. He froze. “Huh?”
“What’s wrong? I’m your master too. What’s the harm in doting on my own disciple? Or… does Yan’er not want to get close to me?”
“That’s not it, but—”
“Anything Chen Xi can do, I can do just as well.” A fervent glint appeared in the Jialan Fairy’s eyes. “You’ve been without a mother since childhood, and then your father vanished too. Growing up so alone and pitiful… From now on, treat me as your mother, alright?”
Yan Zhen was utterly dumbfounded. What was this bizarre turn? The conversation had been perfectly normal, and now it had veered off into left field?
He wasn’t alone and pitiful—he still had his grandfather!
Sure, he craved affection a bit, but he didn’t need to go adopting a mother. Especially not when he already had plenty of lovers.
“Saint Lord Master, I think… maybe we shouldn’t make things this complicated?”
“It’s fine, Yan’er.” The Jialan Fairy cupped his face with both hands, as if unwilling to let him pull away. “I’ll dote on you even more than Chen Xi does. You don’t have to think about anything—just let yourself be spoiled in my arms~”
Staring at the pure white Madonna figure—her face blank but her eyes burning with fanatic zeal—Yan Zhen finally realized something was wrong.
Was this really the Saint Lord Master he knew? Why… why did she seem a bit like a yandere?
