Chà Chà Novel

Lin Huaiqing covered his face with a hot, wet towel, feeling utterly forlorn.

How had things ended up like this?!

Certain events really were beginning to follow the course of that erotic dream. Had it actually been a vision of the future?!

After becoming intimate with his own disciple, did he even deserve to be called a master? He was nothing but a beast in respectable clothing!

Lin Huaiqing called up the system. Whenever he felt troubled, he liked to vent to it.

“What do I do? I slept with the villain.”

That opening sentence fried the system’s CPU, SUV, and KFC all at once.

【Wait, wait, wait… You’re saying that while the protagonist was away undergoing his tribulation, you slept with the villain? Why? Was this part of your plan too? Persuading him through pillow talk?】

“Of course not! It was an accident! I was trying to stop him from exploding! If he died, how would the plot continue?”

In truth, only Lin Huaiqing knew what had really been on his mind.

At the time, saving Qin Du had been his only concern. The mission, the system, and everything else had long since slipped his mind.

What he had just told the system was an excuse he had come up with afterward.

The system fell silent for a moment before replying in its cold electronic voice.

【It’s not a problem, really. It won’t affect the main storyline. While we’re on the subject, the protagonist has completed his tribulation and will be back soon.】

With that, it went offline.

Lin Huaiqing strongly condemned its indifference.

Still, hearing that Mu Yunting was coming back allowed him to breathe a little easier.

After what had happened, things would only become more awkward if he and Qin Du remained alone on Lingxiao Peak.

He had no idea how long he soaked in the pool before finally returning to the place he wanted so badly to avoid.

It was broad daylight now. Qin Du must have woken up by this point. Would he demand an explanation once he remembered what had happened last night?

Sensing that the courtyard was empty, Lin Huaiqing hurried toward his bedchamber.

But after only two steps, an overly large movement pulled at a very unfortunate spot, making him suck in a sharp breath.

Damn it! He had brought this upon himself. How was he supposed to know it would hurt so much? Should he ask his junior sister to examine him?

Hopefully, it would heal in a few days.

Having made it safely inside, Lin Huaiqing sat down on the cushioned couch to rest—only to spring straight back up.

Wrong angle. He would have to try sitting down again.

“Master! Master?! I’m back!”

Lin Huaiqing had just found a comfortable position when he heard Mu Yunting calling outside the window.

Speak of the devil. He had not expected Mu Yunting to return so soon.

“Your disciple Mu Yunting left without a word a month ago. I’ve returned today to ask your forgiveness, Master!”

The moment he entered, Mu Yunting dropped to his knees before Lin Huaiqing, his manner utterly sincere.

Lin Huaiqing knew he had been undergoing a tribulation of love. Even if he had not known, he would have found it difficult to scold him further.

He merely told him to make sure he informed him before going away again.

Mu Yunting volunteered that he had accidentally entered a secret realm during his journey. After the trials he had endured there, he had now reached the late Golden Core stage.

Lin Huaiqing smiled and nodded, sitting quietly as he listened to Mu Yunting recount his experiences.

Mu Yunting did not explain the details of his tribulation of love. He only said that he had worked together with Yu’er, who had also become trapped in the realm, to overcome its trials.

In fact, that realm had been nothing like the Xianyue Sect’s trial realm. It contained another world, where the two of them had played the roles of cultivation partners.

Only after killing every monster disguised as a human had they managed to escape.

As for how their pretense had turned into genuine affection, that was something he certainly could not tell Lin Huaiqing.

Lin Huaiqing merely smiled. Although Mu Yunting seemed no different from usual, he could clearly hear an unmistakable happiness in his words.

It seemed the two of them had gotten together.

Mu Yunting chatted excitedly with him for some time. Only when his throat grew dry did he realize there was not even a cup of tea in his master’s room.

Where was that Demon Venerable who usually fell over himself to attend to their master?

He had been back for quite a while, yet there was still no sign of him.

Had his master discovered his identity and driven him off the mountain?

Since Lin Huaiqing said nothing, he did not feel it appropriate to ask.

Footsteps sounded outside. Mu Yunting turned and found Qin Du looking half-dead.

Qin Du had come to apologize to Lin Huaiqing. He, too, froze at the sight of Mu Yunting, but a moment later his usual defiant arrogance returned.

Sensing Qin Du approach, Lin Huaiqing involuntarily shrank back.

Everything that had happened that night still haunted his thoughts. Whenever Qin Du came near, his instinct was to retreat.

Awkwardness, embarrassment, fear… a tangle of emotions overwhelmed him, bringing an involuntary flush to his face.

“What are you doing back?” Qin Du asked sourly.

Newly returned, Mu Yunting had no intention of giving way to him. He raised an eyebrow.

“Lingxiao Peak is my home. Master and I both live here. Why shouldn’t I come back?”

Normally, Qin Du would have snapped right back, but he was in no mood to argue.

“Master, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private.”

He looked toward Lin Huaiqing in the seat of honor.

In private?!

Absolutely not! He was practically allergic to those words now. He could not be alone in a room with Qin Du. At least, not for the next few days.

“Yunting has only just returned, and I still have much to ask him. Whatever it is, we can discuss it another day.”

Lin Huaiqing tried to keep his voice calm.

Being turned away left Qin Du visibly disappointed. But his master’s expression was so distant, almost as though he had grown tired of him, that Qin Du did not dare wheedle or cling to him as he usually would.

“Yes, Master. I’ll come back when you have time.”

Watching the exchange, Mu Yunting found it both surprising and amusing.

What on earth had happened during his month away? His master usually spoiled Qin Du outrageously, letting him do whatever he pleased.

Who would have thought he would tire of him so quickly? This called for a celebration!

Humans and demons followed different paths. Besides, old habits died hard.

As long as Qin Du remained on the mountain, he posed a danger to their master. In Mu Yunting’s view, the best outcome would be for his master to gradually grow sick of him until Qin Du left of his own accord.

After Mu Yunting’s return, Lingxiao Peak settled back into its usual tranquility.

The only person who could find no peace was Qin Du.

Three days had passed since Mu Yunting came back. Every time Qin Du tried to see Lin Huaiqing, his master found another excuse to send him away.

As a result, he still had not managed to have a proper conversation with him.

He distinctly remembered suffering qi deviation while cultivating three days earlier. His entire body had felt as though it were on fire.

Although his mind had been clouded, he still remembered Lin Huaiqing discovering his condition and trying to ease his suffering.

And then…

After that, he remembered nothing.

All he could recall was a hazy dream.

In it, flames consumed him, causing unbearable agony. Then a great piece of soothing jade suddenly appeared before him.

Clutching it like a lifeline, he held it tightly to relieve the heat.

Gradually, the jade released a deeply refreshing fragrance and transformed into a clear spring that enveloped him.

The cool water slowly soothed the raging heat in his body until he no longer felt as though he were burning.

Then he woke up.

The room was in complete disarray, and the state of the bed was almost impossible to look at.

But it had been a perfectly innocent dream, hadn’t it?