Chapter 19: Danger!!

Wang Shuheng was sent back by a column of light.

When his divine consciousness returned, he opened his eyes—only to see Lin Lingshu still sitting in the same spot, happily gnawing on roasted chicken.

At the moment, Lin Lingshu’s mouth gleamed with oil, completely unconcerned with her image.

“Senior Sister Lin.”

“Mm?”

A voice?

Lin Lingshu turned her head in confusion—and nearly choked.

When did he get back?

Why didn’t I hear a thing?

Did he buy himself a pair of Boots of Invisibility or something?!

In truth, she had simply been too absorbed in eating.

Though the light column made no sound, it was still visible—had she bothered to look up.

She quickly turned her face aside and wiped the oil from her lips with spiritual energy.

Great. My dignity’s gone.

Wang Shuheng looked at the flustered Lin Lingshu—she resembled a small pet caught stealing food from its owner.
A trace of amusement flickered in his eyes.

“Senior Sister Lin, is the roast chicken good?”

“Mm… it’s alright.”
Lin Lingshu had no idea why he was asking such a question; all she could feel was the heat rising on both cheeks.

“In that case,” Wang Shuheng said with a faint smile, “I can make roast chicken for you every day from now on.”

“Senior Sister Lin, Master of Shuiyue Peak has accepted me as her personal disciple.”

Huh?!

Lin Lingshu froze.
Her first thought was—Did the male lead just… seduce my master?
Then another thought followed: Why does every source of trouble keep drifting closer?
And why my peak, of all places?!

“Then congratulations, Junior Brother Wang.”
Forcing a smile, Lin Lingshu rose to her feet and placed the half-eaten roast chicken on a piece of white cloth.
“Junior Brother Wang, that light column earlier—was that Master’s doing?”

“No. This time, I was taken away to meet…”

Lin Lingshu listened to him recount everything.

Qi Refining, eighth layer? A top-grade pill?

I’ve been in seclusion for half a year, and what in the world have you been doing?!

The top-grade pill she could still believe—after all, she’d read the original story.

But eighth-layer Qi Refining? How?!

He was already two levels ahead of where the plot said he should be—and this was still early in the story!

Still, Lin Lingshu put on a convincingly astonished face.

“A top-grade pill?! Junior Brother Wang, you truly are a genius. I’ve only ever read of such pills in ancient alchemy texts. It’s said that the last person to refine a top-grade pill was the Old Man Without Pills of the Spirit Sword Pavilion thousands of years ago. After his death, no one in the cultivation world ever succeeded again. Even if you only refined an ordinary Gathering Qi Pill, it would already prove your monstrous talent in alchemy.”

But Wang Shuheng didn’t seem to care for the praise.

He only said quietly, “Senior Sister Lin, from now on, Shuiyue Peak will be just the two of us.”

“Mm. If Master doesn’t return, then yes, it’ll just be the two of us on the peak.”

Lin Lingshu gave a satisfied burp, then patted his shoulder with her oily hand.

“From now on, Shuiyue Peak depends on the two of us.”

Wang Shuheng didn’t mind the grease staining his shoulder in the slightest.

Instead, he took a handkerchief from his storage bag, gently held Lin Lingshu’s hand, and carefully wiped the oil from her fingers—as though handling a priceless work of art.

Alarm bells went off in Lin Lingshu’s head.

She yanked her hand back and stared at him solemnly.

“Junior Brother Wang, men and women should maintain proper distance.”

“Senior Sister Lin, I understand. I only saw that your hand was soiled because of my cooking, and I worried it might bother you. I took the liberty to help. Please forgive my impertinence.”

He even bowed politely after speaking.

He’d better mean it, Lin Lingshu thought darkly.

If he really tried anything improper, she wouldn’t hesitate to teach him the true meaning of “righteousness shall sever desire.”

Still… she was only at Foundation Establishment, and he was at Qi Refining.

If it came to a fight—hmm… maybe I wouldn’t necessarily win. The male lead does come with a built-in “kill enemies above your level” buff.

Cautious now, Lin Lingshu wrapped the leftover roast chicken in the white cloth.

“I still have things to attend to on the peak, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Her words barely faded before she turned into a streak of rainbow light, heading straight for the summit of Shuiyue Peak.

Watching her departing figure, Wang Shuheng murmured to himself, “Can’t rush it. Senior Sister is still young. There’s plenty of time ahead.”

Then he summoned his flying sword and followed after her—he was a personal disciple now, after all. He had every right to ascend the peak.

High in the air, Lin Lingshu patted the roast chicken wrapped against her chest.

“Still warm. I can reheat it later.”

Then she caught sight of Wang Shuheng pursuing behind her.
Damn! He’s following me already?!

She sent him a voice transmission: “Junior Brother Wang, are you trespassing on Shuiyue Peak?”

“Senior Sister Lin, Master has already taken me as a personal disciple. This isn’t trespassing.”

“Master hasn’t even held the apprenticeship ceremony yet. It’s improper for you to go up now.”

“Senior Sister Lin, Master formally accepted me in the main hall.”

Damn it! Lin Lingshu cursed inwardly.

When they finally landed, a delicate paper crane fluttered toward her, carrying a small jade bottle.

Lin Lingshu caught it and unfolded the note.

It stated that Wang Shuheng had officially been accepted as her personal disciple and could freely enter and exit Shuiyue Peak.

The formal ceremony would be held in three days.

Inside the jade bottle was a Ten-Thunder Pill to help solidify her foundation.

Additionally, Wang Shuheng was required to spend five out of every ten days studying at Danlü Peak.

Lightning flashed faintly between Lin Lingshu’s fingers, and the paper crane turned instantly to ash.

She looked at Wang Shuheng’s smiling face and silently screamed, Damn it!

She was seventy percent sure this boy had designs on her body.

Now they’d be living together on the same peak—just the two of them.

Heaven knows what might happen. Even I haven’t explored this body properly yet!

Still, there were two bits of good news, Lin Lingshu consoled herself.

One—she got a pill to strengthen her foundation.
Two—five out of every ten days, Wang Shuheng would be gone studying at Danlü Peak.

Those two things were… something, at least.

Without bothering to engage further, she briefly explained the contents of the note to him, then pushed open the hall doors and headed toward her room.

Wang Shuheng followed closely behind.

Just as Lin Lingshu reached her door, she turned and asked, “Junior Brother Wang, is there something else?”

“Senior Sister, where will I live?”

Wow, you switched to calling me ‘Senior Sister’ fast enough.
How should I know where you’ll live? Shuiyue Peak only has one house—the one I’m in. Don’t tell me you plan on staying in mine? Definitely up to no good.

Lin Lingshu stepped inside, took a few paces, and turned to face him.
“There’s only one house on Shuiyue Peak. Does Junior Brother plan to spend the night in your Senior Sister’s room?”

“My apologies. I’ll meditate in the main hall tonight.”
He bowed politely again and left.

Watching him walk away so naturally, Lin Lingshu couldn’t help wondering—

Maybe I’m just overthinking things. Maybe the male lead really doesn’t have any designs on me. Maybe I’m just too jumpy.

She shut the door, lay down on her warm jade bed, and felt heat spreading through her body, relaxing every pore.
“So warm… so comfortable,” she murmured, stretching lazily.

Sleepiness washed over her like a tide.

She rolled onto her side, adjusting into a cozier position.

“So annoying… It’d be even more comfortable lying straight.” She mumbled the words softly.

Though Lin Lingshu had already reached Foundation Establishment, she’d never given up the habit of sleeping.

It was her way of reminding herself—of remembering who she truly was.