Chapter 49: The Master’s Teachings

Humans are a wise species.

Similarly, the same mistake, after experiencing it personally, will be mastered the next time.

At this moment, as a fox spirit in human form, Xiao Xixi looks at her gentle-faced master. She recalls her master’s recent words about ‘guiding’ her, and her mind drifts back to two days ago when her ‘Temple Sister Bai Luozhu’ had said something similar. Remembering the thorough lesson she received after those words, Xiao Xixi can’t help but feel a twinge of caution.

Why is her caution only at two percent instead of ten percent? Xiao Xixi explains that while her master enjoys teasing her, in her interactions with Su Mei, aside from that one ‘interrupting lesson’ and the recent ‘punishment session,’ her beautiful master, though somewhat cunning, maintains a high and upright image in Xiao Xixi’s eyes. After all, her master secretly aids her in training every night and even escorts her to and from school. Her master doesn’t seem like the type to treat her the way certain Temple Sister Bai might!

However, despite accepting that her master is a good person, Xiao Xixi can’t help but recall that learning to play the flute involves ‘mouth skills.’ Given her past experiences, she instinctively leans back slightly, her small, soft hands covering her cherry-red lips.

Seeing Xiao Xixi’s instinctive defensive gesture, Su Mei finds it utterly amusing. Her amusement isn’t just about Xiao Xixi’s adorable expression but also about the fact that her little disciple still vividly remembers her ‘interrupting lesson’ from a few days ago. If Su Mei knew that Xiao Xixi’s adorable reaction of covering her mouth was not just due to her own ‘interrupting lesson’ but more because of her dear disciple Bai Luozhu, would she still find it amusing?

…

After Xiao Xixi covers her mouth, the room falls into a brief silence. After enjoying the sight of Xiao Xixi’s adorable, trembling pose for a while, Su Mei finally breaks the silence with a slow, teasing tone.

‘Sweetie, I’m here to teach you the mouth shape for playing the flute. You don’t need your tongue for this, so why are you covering your mouth?’

Su Mei’s words are slow, but her teasing tone is unmistakable. Just as Xiao Xixi is about to retort, she sees her beautiful master lean closer and continue, ‘Oh, I see, sweetie. Are you reminding me to interrupt again?’

As Su Mei speaks, Xiao Xixi notices her familiar green jade hand reaching out towards her. Having learned her lesson twice before, Xiao Xixi instinctively covers her mouth again. Seeing her little one’s adorable, helpless expression, Su Mei, as the leader of her sect, feels her mood lifting. Although Su Mei is usually gentle and always smiling, seeing her shy little disciple like this, she can’t help but laugh softly, ‘giggling’ with delight.

In Su Mei’s embrace, Xiao Xixi watches her master laugh so hard that even her ample bosom trembles with the motion. Seeing her master tease her so, Xiao Xixi, who had just been spanked, feels even more frustrated.

‘I don’t want to learn the flute anymore! I want to sleep!’ Xiao Xixi exclaims, climbing onto the bed from her master’s warm embrace. Just as she hugs her small blanket, ready to sleep, she notices her blanket being gently pulled away by her smiling master.

Seeing this, Xiao Xixi feels even more irritated. Not only is she being bullied, but she’s not even allowed to sleep? Is there any justice left? Just as Xiao Xixi is about to launch a desperate attack on her master, she turns around and freezes. In the room, a large wooden bathtub has mysteriously appeared, filled with steaming hot water. Floating on the water’s surface are a few fresh, vibrant flower petals. If the sudden appearance of the bathtub wasn’t surprising enough, what truly astounds Xiao Xixi is the sight of her master, who has somehow changed into a loose, white bathrobe, the V-neck revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her fair, ample curves. In that moment, Xiao Xixi feels an overwhelming urge to nestle her face against that sight.

Su Mei, having tucked the blanket away, notices Xiao Xixi’s dazed expression. Watching her usually adorable disciple look even more foolishly endearing, Su Mei finds it utterly charming. As she walks over to Xiao Xixi, she gently removes a twig from her hair, lightly taps her nose, and says with a mix of amusement and exasperation, ‘Sweetie, I’m not letting you sleep because you got so dirty in the forest today. You need a bath before you can sleep soundly. And you, you were just about to fight me, which really hurt my feelings, you know.’

Xiao Xixi, her nose slightly sore from the tap, listens to her master’s pouting words. Her usual soft-hearted nature makes her feel a pang of guilt for her earlier behavior. Su Mei, seeing her once defiant disciple now docile and apologetic, quickly conjures a blue floral dress, a soft cloth with a strawberry pattern, a black, seductive thigh band, and a translucent pearl onto a nearby stone bench. As the last pearl is placed, a ‘splash’ sound fills the room. Held in Su Mei’s arms, Xiao Xixi feels the soft cloth clinging to her skin as it absorbs the water. In that moment, she feels as if she’s floating on clouds, finally understanding the true meaning of ‘worthwhile.’ Meanwhile, Su Mei, holding Xiao Xixi, enjoys the feeling of her delicate, boneless body, reassuring herself that her decision was the right one.

In truth, since reaching the Elemental Soul stage, Su Mei felt during their practice last night that the third method from the ancient text was no longer sufficient. The first method, using artifacts to connect, was impossible without the right items, so she dismissed it. That left only the second method from the text: having the little one willingly cooperate during practice. But Su Mei knew that her innocent little fox disciple would likely run away if approached directly. So, this afternoon, after much thought, she decided to gradually increase their physical contact, slowly raising the stakes, like boiling a frog, until her sweet Xiao Xixi willingly jumps into her ‘pot.’