Du Liang became a formal disciple, freeing him from menial chores and granting him ample time for cultivation each day. Coupled with Ye Chu’s occasional guidance and an abundance of resources, his strength skyrocketed.
This left Ye Chu utterly speechless. He realised the sacred liquid was truly heaven-defying and could indeed alter a person’s destiny.
Observing that Du Liang’s cultivation had steadily improved, Ye Chu no longer bothered to oversee him. Instead, feeling the Cold Fire Emperor’s corrosive influence seeping into his primordial spirit, Ye Chu’s expression grew increasingly grim.
After days of recuperation, his body was not completely healed, but it was no longer a critical issue. Yet, the Cold Fire Emperor’s terrifying primordial spirit was invading his cyan lotus, subjecting Ye Chu to immense suppression. Wounds that should have healed in an instant now remained stubbornly unhealed.
Unable to bring his vitality and spirit to their peak, Ye Chu looked pale and feeble.
“I should have known the Cold Fire Emperor harboured ill intentions,” Ye Chu thought helplessly. Back then, without borrowing the Cold Fire Emperor’s power, he would have certainly died. He had simply had no other choice.
“Chi chi…” Ye Chu’s thoughts were interrupted by the fox resting on his shoulder. The pure white, highly spiritual creature was nestled against him. Ye Chu picked up the little white fox, stroking its body and supporting its belly, which felt incredibly soft. He finally understood why so many women in his past life enjoyed keeping pets. Putting other factors aside, simply holding the little creature felt remarkably comforting.
Ye Chu’s hand wandered all over the white fox, which squirmed vigorously. The moment his fingers brushed against its belly, its struggles grew even more intense.
A faint crimson hue spread across the white fox’s body. This reaction caught Ye Chu off guard, prompting him to burst into laughter. “You cheeky little fox, so you know how to be shy?”
The more the fox resisted, the more intrigued Ye Chu became. He gently parted its fur, teasing its belly, the area between its hind legs, and various sensitive spots, not even sparing its rear as he playfully prodded the little creature.
“Chi chi…”
The white fox glared at Ye Chu, its four tiny legs flailing wildly as it tried to break free. Its body burned with heat, its entire form tinged with crimson. Despite being a fox, it possessed an extraordinary charm, captivating Ye Chu to the point of dazing him.
It was undoubtedly a form of enchantment, akin to a peerless beauty casting a seduction spell. It stirred his very soul, causing a momentary lapse that left Ye Chu utterly astonished.
“Good heavens! How can this little creature cause such an illusion?”
Ye Chu found it unbelievable. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, the white fox suddenly leapt to the ground, its luminous eyes fixed on him in anger.
“You certainly have quite a temper, little one,” Ye Chu said with a smile. “Very well, this young master will stop teasing you. But do not think I am unaware that you are only following me for the chaos cyan qi.”
Upon reaching the king realm, Ye Chu’s perception had become incredibly acute. He had noticed the fox resting within his qi sea, quietly absorbing the chaos cyan qi that occasionally seeped out. It was obvious the little creature was after that very energy.
Realising Ye Chu had seen through it, the fox paused briefly before fixing him with an intense gaze, seemingly having already forgotten his previous teasing.
“Do not look at me like that. I am not unwilling to share the chaos cyan qi with you. It is simply that your tiny frame could not withstand it. I fear that if I transferred it to you, you would be instantly crushed,” Ye Chu explained with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the fox anxiously gestured before Ye Chu, desperately trying to convey something. However, Ye Chu did not understand the language of beasts and had no idea what it was trying to say.
Growing increasingly agitated, the fox leapt back onto Ye Chu’s shoulder, attempting to communicate once more.
It quickly realised, however, that Ye Chu’s attention had already drifted elsewhere. His gaze was fixed on a distant spot, a slight look of wonder on his face.
Deep within the peach grove stood a young woman. She wore a pink trench coat, the belt tied tightly around her waist, accentuating a slender figure that was breathtakingly graceful. Her fair complexion and delicate features were beautifully framed by the falling peach blossoms, making her appear utterly captivating. Her long hair was elegantly arranged, secured with uniquely crafted hairpins that lent her an air of refined nobility.
The young woman wandered playfully through the grove. As her long, slender legs bounded across the grass, her coat fluttered in the wind. She wore a short skirt beneath it, and Ye Chu found himself worrying that the hem might lift, inadvertently revealing her most private secrets.
Yet, despite Ye Chu’s fixed gaze on her lively legs, the fluttering skirt always fell just short of revealing everything, leaving the full view frustratingly out of reach.
The inability to see only heightened his curiosity. He watched without reservation as her fair legs moved gracefully through the peach grove, straight and slender, complemented by the constant dance of her skirt.
Ye Chu clearly noticed a group of individuals approaching from a distance, their eyes fixed squarely on the young woman. They occasionally swallowed hard, their rising heartbeats and flushed complexions betraying their obvious agitation.
“Oh! There is such a lovely girl here,” Ye Chu mused in surprise. She appeared refreshingly pure and lively, a truly pleasant sight. Though her long, fair legs might not rival Ye Jingyun’s, they brimmed with vitality, enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
“What are you lot following me for? Hurry up and clear off,” the young woman snapped angrily at the group trailing behind her. “Shadowing me every single day, you are nothing but a bunch of clingy pests!”
The group exchanged helpless smiles at the scolding, yet none dared to stray far from her.
“Junior Sister Mo Qi, please do not make things so difficult for us,” the lead youth pleaded with a weary expression. “Our master ordered us to keep a close watch on you and ensure you remain within the Tianxiao Pavilion grounds. Your behaviour is putting us in a very awkward position.”
“My affairs are none of your business! Furthermore, all of you, clear off,” Mo Qi retorted, clearly accustomed to throwing her weight around as she reprimanded the group.
The disciples could do nothing but endure her harsh words. After all, she was the daughter of an emperor. No matter how arrogant she acted, they had no choice but to tolerate it.
Yet they could not disobey her father’s direct orders. They simply trailed after her again. “If Junior Sister Mo Qi insists on this, then we have no choice but to follow you,” they resigned themselves to saying.
“Follow me? Only if you can actually keep up! Hmph, try me and I will happily thrash you,” Mo Qi declared, waving her fist threateningly at the group.
At her words, the group instinctively took several steps backwards, clearly fearing she might actually make good on her threat. It was hardly the first time she had done something like this.
“Hmph! Now you finally know to be frightened. If you are smart, you will hurry up and get out of my sight,” Mo Qi said with a proud smirk.
Ye Chu watched from a distance and could not help but chuckle, realising she was essentially a bit of a troublemaker. He actually felt quite sorry for the poor souls forced to chase after her.
Mo Qi decided not to waste any more breath on them and quickened her pace. However, upon spotting Ye Chu standing directly in her path, she frowned slightly, wondering where this young man had come from and how he dared to block her way.
“Move out of the way right now! Try me and I will beat you up,” Mo Qi shouted at Ye Chu, her striking features framed by a look of fierce determination.