Chapter 8: A Secret Shared Bath

Even while soaking in the medicinal bath, Mu An still couldn’t figure out the motive behind Shen Shengqing’s behavior today.

Suddenly showing up at Reflection Cliff, suddenly giving him a ceremonial robe, and after giving him the robe—when he should have left Mu An to continue his reflection—he instead brought him home.

Bringing him home was one thing, but then he summoned the Peak Master of Huayao Peak, had him take Mu An’s pulse, and prescribed a formula for a medicinal bath.

Even now, the speechless expression on the Medicine Peak Master’s face was still fresh in Mu An’s mind. It was as if he were saying, [You rushed me over in a panic just to treat a little cold?]

For a rare moment, Mu An felt a twinge of guilt. [My master treats me so well, yet I have to poison him.]

He splashed water on his face and sighed softly. “Master, oh Master… why are you so good to me?”

He had no idea that a pair of cold, dark eyes was watching him without blinking.

Shen Shengqing had used an invisibility talisman. He walked slowly to stand in front of Mu An, his naked gaze lingering on the youth’s body.

[So beautiful. So exquisite.]

[If only I could bathe with An’an.]

He swallowed slowly, his hand stroking the air over the youth’s shoulders, collarbone, and neck.

As Mu An washed, he inexplicably felt a chill.

[Why do I keep feeling like someone is watching me?]

The bath time came to an end, and a disciple’s voice came from outside the door. “Senior brother, time is up.”

Mu An was soaking so comfortably that he let out a helpless sigh. “Noted.”

He slowly rose, stepped out of the tub, and dried his body with a dry towel, even wiping the soles of his feet, before changing into his clothes and opening the door.

“Senior brother.” The disciple bowed respectfully.

“I’ll trouble you to clean this up.” Mu An nodded slightly in thanks and handed over some spirit stones.

“This is this disciple’s duty.” The disciple was an outer sect handyman. Occasionally, when he got the chance to work in the inner sect, not only did he receive generous compensation, but sometimes he also got tips.

For example, now. He accepted the spirit stones Senior Brother Mu had tipped him. After Senior Brother walked away, he was about to enter and clean up when suddenly a chill ran down his back.

There, not far away, stood a man in white robes like an immortal. The disciple’s heart stirred, and he immediately bowed. “Wanghua Immortal Lord.”

“Withdraw.”

“Immortal Lord, I haven’t cleaned the room yet—”

“I’ll handle the rest. You don’t need to stay. Withdraw.”

Hearing this, the disciple could only obey and leave. [I get paid without working? This is amazing!]

Shen Shengqing lifted his eyes slightly and looked into the room.

Inside the steam-filled chamber, the youth’s figure was already gone. But…

Shen Shengqing entered the room, silently closed the door, slowly removed his robes, and stepped into the lukewarm bathwater.

As the warm water submerged his entire body, he couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

***

Having left Reflection Cliff, Mu An’s days returned to normal. In the morning, he would go bother his master and attend to his washing, then sit in meditation and cultivate. If he was in a good mood in the evening, he would go peek at his master bathing to maintain his yandere persona.

But he didn’t dare to look too obviously or too often, since he had already been punished for it last time.

So this time, he hid several hundred meters away and used a telescope to spy on the bath.

“I feel like with how twisted I’ve become, I’m not far from hell.”

[Who says otherwise? By the way, don’t break my telescope. I borrowed it from the neighboring system, and I have to return it.]

The lesson from Reflection Cliff had taught him a lesson, so he deliberately stopped fasting and insisted on eating three meals a day.

But since the sect was filled with cultivating disciples, the dining hall only had a small amount of food, and the taste was terrible.

Mu An rolled up his sleeves and charged into the mountains, preparing to catch a couple of chickens to roast for himself.

Standing on the eaves, Shen Shengqing watched the youth charge fiercely into the back mountain and found it utterly endearing.

He was about to follow behind him when the token at his waist began to vibrate.

He frowned slightly and infused the token with spiritual energy, then heard the Sect Leader’s voice. “Shengqing, come to the council hall.”

He glanced toward the forest where Mu An had disappeared, then finally withdrew his gaze and turned to head toward the council hall.

Upon arriving at the council hall , Shen Shengqing immediately spotted several outsiders. The most eye-catching was the woman at the front.

Dressed in striking red robes with a dashing posture and a face, she stood out among the sea of green and white robes like the most eye-catching red plum in winter.

Behind the woman followed three men in crimson robes. The embroidery on their chests was unmistakable—this was the emblem of the Ten Thousand Artifacts Pavilion.

The woman’s eyes met his, and a glimmer of brightness appeared in her gaze. “Shen Shengqing! Long time no see.”

Shen Shengqing nodded slightly, digging the woman’s name out of his distant memories—Wei Nianqin. In his early years, when he was still a Foundation Establishment disciple, the two had once clashed over a treasure.

Later, the Wei family was attacked by enemies, and only Wei Nianqin and her sister survived. While fleeing from their pursuers, Shen Shengqing coincidentally saved Wei Nianqin once. After that, Wei Nianqin joined the Ten Thousand Artifacts Pavilion to cultivate.

Over a thousand years had passed, and the two had had almost no contact. Shen Shengqing had only heard that she was now the Vice Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Artifacts Pavilion.

Along with the Ten Thousand Artifacts Pavilion, which specialized in artifact forging, there was also the Xuanji Sect, renowned for divining the heavenly mechanisms and gathering intelligence. The ones who came were the young master of Xuanji Sect—Lin Yian—along with several protective elders.

The Sect Leader of Qingyun Sect invited everyone to take their seats. Once everyone had arrived, they began to get down to business.

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