Chapter 55: Sneaky Cats Don’t Get Happy Endings

Xia Baiqian’s situation wasn’t much better.

Her Lovesick Entanglement Gu—one of her core gu insects—grew more sensitive the closer she was to Chu Huaizhou.
Sensitive enough to sense him turning over in bed.

So those sudden, intense movements earlier?
She knew exactly what was happening.

That little fox Bai Li probably thought she hid her feelings for Master well.

Wrong.
Xia Baiqian had found her out long ago.

Around others, Bai Li played the role of the aloof, cold beauty—mimicking Senior Sister Leng Qingqiu’s icy style.
But with Master?
She lit up like she’d just unearthed a priceless treasure.

It grated on Xia Baiqian’s nerves.

Damn fox, why does she get to sleep with Master openly?
I want that too!

Chu Huaizhou turned, trying to see what had suddenly frozen Bai Li in place.

That’s when two hands—
One slender and frost-pale, fingertips carrying a chill,
The other small, pink, and delicate—

Parted the cocoon of Bai Li’s nine tails.

Leng Qingqiu and Xia Baiqian leaned in from opposite sides.
Their gazes, sharp as sword points, locked on the entangled pair.

Chu Huaizhou’s breath caught.

Bai Li was practically wrapped around him—her full, snowy thighs snug against his waist and legs.
He could feel her breath against his skin.

Her pomegranate-red palace skirt had loosened, exposing a glimpse of snowy collarbone.

And his own hand, as if by instinct, rested on her waist, right above those devastating curves, leaving no space between them.

“Uh… how’re you two feeling? Recovering okay?”

Chu Huaizhou forced a laugh, his voice shaky, trying to defuse the scene.

Xia Baiqian arched an eyebrow, voice dripping with faux sweetness.

“Master, what’re you doing? Not very honest, huh~ Even with…”

Her words trailed off when she caught sight of Bai Li’s disheveled neckline.
Her lips parted in surprise.

Leng Qingqiu said nothing, her expression unreadable—
But the temperature around them plunged.

Chu Huaizhou stiffened at the chill, recognizing that subtle sign of her displeasure.

Four times!

Four separate times since his amnesia, Leng Qingqiu had caught him in utterly compromising circumstances.

Yes, she was the biggest beneficiary of his memory loss,
But jealousy still burned bright in her phoenix eyes.

Too gentle with Master before.

Tonight, she decided, she’d weave a curse into his fate—
One that if he ever dared turn his gentleness to another woman,
He’d suffer a thousand ants gnawing at his heart.

Heh… heh…

Her lips barely curled as she made her decision.

She raised her hand and tapped Bai Li’s forehead.

A cold current surged into Bai Li’s mind.

The fox froze—her greedy, flushed expression turning slack with confusion.

A puff of white mist burst out—

Poof!

Bai Li shrank back to her small, energy-saving fox form,
Tails curling into a tight ball as she tried to roll away from Chu Huaizhou in shame.

Leng Qingqiu exhaled softly, then addressed him in a calm explanation:

“Bai Li’s odd behavior is from absorbing too much dao charm,
boosting her [Charm] insight.
She… got carried away.”

Still holding the small fox, Leng Qingqiu’s hands moved with deceptive gentleness as she cradled and stroked her fur.

“So, Master… next time, stay away from Bai Li in such situations.”

Her phoenix eyes softened—
But the glacial undertone made Chu Huaizhou’s back prickle.

“Otherwise… heh, your disciple will handle it.”

“Sly cats don’t get happy endings, you know~”

Chu Huaizhou’s spine chilled.

“I… Master understands…”

Then it hit him—
Wait! He was the Master here!
Why was he letting Qingqiu lecture him like a naughty junior?

But when he met those possessive, gentle-yet-dangerous eyes,
His defiance dissolved into helpless indulgence.

Fine. She’s my disciple. I’ll spoil her.

Besides, he had crossed a line first.

Xia Baiqian’s gaze flicked between the balled-up Bai Li and her own feet.
Her pink eyes dimmed, jealousy twisting in her chest.

Tch. Why Bai Li? She’s gullible, yet she gets everything I want?!

Her nails bit into her palm.

Fine. Tonight, I’ll use my Heartlink Gu. Let’s see Master think only of me.

A wicked smile played on her lips for an instant—
Before she softened into her sweetest smile and bounded toward him.

She clung to his arm, small body pressing close, voice syrupy:

“By the way, Master~ You stepping in front of me and Senior Sister was… so touching.”

“We were nearly hopeless, but thanks to you~ I don’t know how I’ll repay you~”

Chu Huaizhou caught the honeyed flattery—
But the warmth in her sunny smile melted him anyway.

He straightened, speaking with grave dignity:

“No matter. It is my duty to protect you.
And one eighth-grade pill restores some cultivation.”

Xia Baiqian’s eyes glittered.
She pressed closer, almost climbing into his lap—
If not for Leng Qingqiu’s quiet presence nearby.

“Wow, Master’s so cool~ I love you the most~
Shame I don’t have an eighth-grade pill to give you…”

A blatant lie—her pulse quickened just to hide the truth.

Because she did have one.

And if Master regained his full strength and memory too soon…
Her enchanting little schemes would crumble.

“Speaking of,” she added slyly, “I have two eighth-grade pills in my gu nest.
Wanna come get them, Master~?”

She lingered on the words gu nest—
But Chu Huaizhou pretended not to hear the implication.

Oblivious to his disciples’ hidden plans,
He thought they’d all moved past his “intimacy” with Bai Li.

He chatted idly while they continued to absorb the final traces of dao charm.

Curled in Leng Qingqiu’s arms,
Bai Li played the perfect picture of harmless cuteness—
Snowy ears drooped, tails neatly tucked,
Body small and warm against her captor’s chest.

But…

Was she really harmless?