Chapter 267: You Are What Kind of Beast

Ye Tinglan was not Long Qinghuang. Lu Xingzhou had felt a deadly killing intent from Long Qinghuang multiple times, but he felt none from Ye Tinglan, even though she was inexplicably mortified at the moment.

All she wanted was a way out. Strangely, while Lu Xingzhou could usually come up with a hundred excuses on the spot, his mind was a jumble, almost blank, at this moment. After a long while, he casually said, "Thank you, Sir, for saving me again." Yet, the hand around her waist did not move an inch.

Ye Tinglan also seemed oblivious, remaining seated with a complex expression.

To say she saved him wasn't entirely accurate. She also wanted to leave this place, so naturally, she would have had to fight the Black Serpent anyway. At most, she had brought along a burden. Yet, this Rank 4 burden wasn't truly useless; he didn't freeload. From pre-battle preparations to poisoning and luring the snake, all the way to its eventual demise, and even blasting open its mouth... he actually acted as a semi-main force, cooperating in the fight. Although without this burden, she wouldn't have needed to divert her attention to protect him, and Ye Tinglan herself could have won more easily, not ending up so disheveled, nor would she have needed him as a main force. But it had to be admitted that this time, it was truly a joint effort.

He had always wanted to prove this, hoping for an equal perspective, rather than being looked down upon from above. He even wanted to downplay her status as "Sir," labeling her a "spy." Why did he want such a perspective...? Ji Wenchuan's words resurfaced in her mind: "He is pursuing you."

Ye Tinglan's heart was in a muddle. This was the most direct approach she had ever encountered in her life, and now, being so intimately close with this "suitor," her feelings were even more complicated. She was even a little afraid to hear Lu Xingzhou speak, fearing some lewd remarks might slip out. She couldn't kill him, making it utterly troublesome. "Don't speak anymore..."

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Lu Xingzhou say from behind her, "What are you thinking about, Sir?" His voice was very close, and his breath swept past her ear again, making her body burn with heat. Ye Tinglan coldly replied, "I'm thinking when you'll let go!"

Lu Xingzhou didn't let go. He mumbled, "Wouldn't it be easy for Sir to break free?" Lu Xingzhou didn't know what he was doing. Normally, he wouldn't get aroused so easily just by seeing a patch of fair skin, especially not after a battle, but today he couldn't control himself. Instead, he held onto her, unwilling to let go, even though he knew continuing like this would make her furious... he just couldn't release her. Even his breathing grew ragged.

Ye Tinglan's breathing also became erratic. She slapped him on the shoulder with her backhand, "Let go!" But as her palm landed, she herself felt a tremor of weakness, her heart alarmed. "What's going on?" She also felt a surge of heat, and the longer Lu Xingzhou held her, the weaker her body became, with desire rising within her.

Both of them were experienced and knowledgeable individuals. At this moment, they both widened their eyes, finally remembering a crucial detail. When they had finally escaped from the snake's mouth, they had injured the Black Serpent, and its saliva, mixed with blood, had splattered onto them. Could this blood have an aphrodisiac effect? Yes, demi-dragons—dragon blood often had such effects. It was only a small amount, so they hadn't noticed it earlier, but prolonged contact like this had triggered it...

Lu Xingzhou was utterly speechless. He recalled how, when Little White Hair had fallen victim to the little demoness's charm spell, he had remarked that no one would casually carry an antidote for such a thing, as it might not even happen twice in a lifetime. Yet, not long after, Guamei was ensnared by a succubus, and A'nuo had to concoct an antidote on the spot; now he and Ye Tinglan were affected by dragon blood. Who would concoct a pill now? Who said it wouldn't happen often? This was the third time in just half a year!

This was super-grade flood dragon blood! Even a trace could have terrifying effects. If they had been thoroughly drenched, they would probably both be drowning in a sea of desire by now. Lu Xingzhou rummaged through his ring for a long time. He truly hadn't prepared this kind of medicine. He had antidotes, but was this a poison? He could only ask, "Does Sir carry this type of antidote?" Ye Tinglan replied, "...No." "Then what do we do?"

The more tragic situation was that Ye Tinglan had been protecting Lu Xingzhou with her own body, which meant she was more exposed, while Lu Xingzhou had only gotten a few splashes. Now her desire was even more intense than Lu Xingzhou's. The human instincts she had suppressed for a lifetime of ascetic practice were now surging back with overwhelming force. She clearly still had the strength to stand, yet she felt soft and content leaning against the man, not wanting to move. She wasn't sure if she was truly weak or just finding an excuse to linger in his embrace. His hand was around her waist, and she no longer felt annoyed. Instead, she vaguely hoped he would move slightly... A lifetime of abstinence, defying her very nature, now flared with an unprecedented intensity. Otherwise, why would she keep telling him to let go? She would have stood up long ago.

"It's come to this, and you ask me what to do? Who am I supposed to ask?" Ye Tinglan was a mix of shame and indignation, coupled with a touch of fear she had never felt before. If he really did something untoward... what then?

His hot breath fell on her bare shoulder. She could feel his suppressed desire. As his warm lips kissed her shoulder, Ye Tinglan couldn't help but let out a soft "Mmm," tilting back her snowy white neck, her gaze somewhat hazy. But Lu Xingzhou made no further move for a long time. Ye Tinglan even wondered if she should curse him, "You worthless dog, just do something already..."

Then she heard Lu Xingzhou say with difficulty, "I just remembered I have something..." Ye Tinglan said nothing. Lu Xingzhou shakily pulled out a root-like object from his ring. "This is... this is a symbiotic plant I dug up in a small secret realm near Qingli's ice house when I first arrived at the Frozen Moon Cold River... It has... it has a purifying effect... It's only Rank 4 and hasn't been refined, so I don't know if it's enough... You try eating it first. The key is its purifying effect... And... and take some antidote pills with it; that should probably..."

She could feel the tremor in Lu Xingzhou's voice, indicating extreme reluctance... Ye Tinglan looked at the root offered to her lips, her expression incredibly strange, even a little amused. *Every bite and every sip, perhaps all is predestined.* But he was actually willing to do this... She slowly took a bite. The root was bitter, with a faint sweetness amidst the bitterness. Just like her feelings at that moment.

Her mind cleared considerably. She also took out a few detoxifying pills from her ring and ate them in conjunction with the root, then reached back and popped one into Lu Xingzhou's mouth. Her slender finger brushed his lips, and Lu Xingzhou pouted, giving it a kiss. Ye Tinglan gave him a look, a mix of annoyance and resentment, but merely withdrew her hand without further reaction.

The atmosphere grew quiet as both silently processed the medicine's effects, guiding the purifying power of the root to cleanse their blood. It actually had little effect on Lu Xingzhou; the Rank 4 root was not potent enough, and the antidote pill wasn't the right remedy. But it was effective for Ye Tinglan. Given her caliber, just a small external push was enough for her to expel all the unwanted agitation from her blood.

Just as Lu Xingzhou could no longer restrain himself and tried to kiss her neck again, Ye Tinglan opened her eyes and easily spun out of his embrace. Lu Xingzhou pouted, kissing empty air, his gaze filled with intense resentment. Immediately, her slender finger tapped his glabella, and a cool sensation permeated his heart meridians. Lu Xingzhou froze, his eyes gradually clearing.

Ye Tinglan stood with her arms crossed, looking down at him, while Lu Xingzhou sat in his wheelchair, looking up to meet her gaze. After a long while, Ye Tinglan suddenly chuckled, "Regret it?" "Hmm?" "Why bother looking for medicine?"

Lu Xingzhou chuckled despite himself. He stood up, took another outer robe from his ring, and wrapped it around her. "I'd only truly regret it if I'd forgotten about the medicine." His movements were so natural, truly like a husband helping his wife put on her coat.

Actually, even if he hadn't found the medicine, with Ye Tinglan's strength, she would have broken free eventually, and someone would have ended up dead. However, the moment he produced the medicine, his image in Ye Tinglan's heart shot up, and her favorable impression of him soared. With newfound goodwill and physical intimacy, his standing in her heart was now fundamentally different.

Ye Tinglan no longer refused his robe, simply looking at him quietly. "Haven't you harbored lustful thoughts for me for a long time?" "Oh, how could you call it lust? It's simply 'a gentleman's fond pursuit of a fair lady.'" "So you admit it?" Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then hummed in affirmation.

"Because I resemble Yuan Muyu?" Lu Xingzhou paused, then shook his head. "I started having feelings for you even before I saw what you looked like. What does that have to do with her?" "You can lust after someone without knowing what they look like?" "...Do you not know that wearing a veil is more enticing?" "Not knowing my appearance, my identity, and even being your mentor. You can still harbor such thoughts? What kind of beast are you?"

Lu Xingzhou scratched his head and didn't answer. Even if he was that kind of beast, it was a hundred times better than saying "because you resemble Yuan Muyu." If he truly said it was because she resembled Yuan Muyu, he'd probably be thrown into the lake to feed the fish right now. Even if he had developed feelings after seeing her appearance, the suspicion of it being because she resembled Yuan Muyu would be impossible to shake off. It was better to have developed feelings while she was veiled. Besides, Sir was scolding him, but there was a hint of a smile.

Ye Tinglan tightened her outer robe, took a few steps towards the lakeside, and looked at the dark surface of the lake. "You know I'm from Heavenly Radiance Sacred Land." Lu Xingzhou said, "So what? Not everyone in the Heavenly Radiance Sacred Land is a Daoist priest, right? And you're not the Imperial Preceptor, True Person Tinglan... Does she forbid her junior sisters from marrying?"

Ye Tinglan, despite her heart full of complex emotions, almost burst out laughing at his words. "She... she really does." Lu Xingzhou said, "One day, a man will manage her too." Ye Tinglan was silent for a moment. "She's a renunciant." "I don't care who she is; you're not."

Ye Tinglan hadn't expected that denying her identity would once again be shooting herself in the foot. She was truly exasperated, unsure how to respond for a long while. She had originally wanted to persuade him to abandon such inappropriate notions and simply get along normally, but now, what excuse could she find? Master-disciple? He'd immediately retort that she was a female spy, that her teaching had ulterior motives, and he wouldn't acknowledge her as his Sir. He had already seen through her. Finally, she simply said, "Your intentions will never be reciprocated, so why bother wasting your effort?"

Lu Xingzhou, however, hadn't expected this answer. "Does Sir mean... you agree to me pursuing you?" Ye Tinglan hesitated, then simply said, "Whatever. Who can control you?" After saying that, as if feeling embarrassed by her own words, she immediately turned to the Black Serpent's corpse, directly initiating the topic-changing technique. "Its entire body is valuable. Do you have any needs?"

"Give me a little blood for alchemy; I have no other needs. You can keep the rest... My ring isn't that big." "Whom do you intend to harm with the blood?" "...I haven't even harmed what's easily within my grasp, so whom else could I harm? This is just an alchemist's research interest in medicinal ingredients." Ye Tinglan's eyebrows shot up. "Who did you say was 'easily within your grasp'?" Lu Xingzhou was dumbfounded. "Are all women like this in the end, regardless of their status or position?"