Chapter 8: Could He Possibly Be About To...

“Sister Xier, you see, I’ve put quite a bit of effort into guiding your cultivation. Don’t you have anything to show for it?”
Why is she so loyal to that brat Ye Tian? Isn’t it just because he has that protagonist’s aura? All day long, it’s ‘Young Master’ this and ‘Young Master’ that—when will there ever be a place for me, the future sect leader?
No, if I want to win her over, I have to take the initiative.
Li Jiansan’s words were already so direct, but Chu Xier, like a naive and innocent girl, only smiled sweetly at him and said,
“Thank you, Senior Brother. You’ve worked hard.”
“That’s it?”
Li Jiansan looked at her, speechless. He had thought she might thank him with something a bit more substantial—a hug, a kiss, or at best, pledging herself to him for life.
But this was all she gave him?
Chu Xier nodded earnestly. “Mm, Senior Brother, you guided me, so I should thank you.”
After she finished, Li Jiansan’s expression was one of helpless resignation. He paused, still not ready to give up.
He glanced at Chu Xier, then said seriously, “Sister Xier, your fist technique could be further improved, but you’ll need…”
Chu Xier’s limpid eyes suddenly brightened. “I’ll need what?”
A sly, seductive smile flickered at the corners of Li Jiansan’s mouth. “Ahem, well, you’ll need me to teach you how to identify the acupoints, and then you’ll focus your strength into those points.”
Chu Xier looked at him with anticipation. “Then please start teaching me.”
“But, I’ll need to touch your body’s acupoints to help you identify them.”
“Then… then all right.”
Chu Xier hesitated for a long while before stammering her agreement.
She wanted to become an outstanding martial artist, so she could continue to accompany her young master…
Li Jiansan, seeing his scheme succeed, turned to smile.
He and Chu Xier walked to a clearing, sitting down facing each other.
“Sister Xier, watch closely. This is the Tanzhong acupoint—right in the center of your chest.”
Li Jiansan reached out, sliding his hand over her fair, delicate neck, then slowly lowered it to rest at the spot he had named.
A flush blossomed over Chu Xier’s cheeks, thoughts flickering rapidly and chaotically through her mind.
“Senior Brother Li is just guiding my cultivation, I’m only learning…”
She kept reminding herself silently.
“This point is the center of your body’s energy. Have you memorized it?”
Li Jiansan could feel her slender frame trembling slightly.
Perfect. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Chu Xier’s face was as red as a ripe apple. “Mm-hmm… I’ve memorized it.”
“Near your navel is the Jiuwei acupoint. If you focus your breath here during practice, it will help you to calm your mind.”
Li Jiansan’s finger slid further down. After confirming the position of her navel, he moved his hand up a little, finally stopping at the Jiuwei acupoint.
“Oh…”
Chu Xier’s blush deepened as she couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Li Jiansan. He looked so handsome in this moment.
Right now, Li Jiansan’s expression was serene, as if his heart was utterly still, as he calmly identified each acupoint for her in turn.
Seeing how earnest he was, Chu Xier felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly shook her head, silently scolding herself:
Chu Xier, what on earth are you thinking?
Senior Brother Li is only teaching you to recognize acupoints—where is your mind wandering off to!
By now, sweat was already beading on her forehead. Noticing this, Li Jiansan chuckled:
“Sister Xier, are you still holding up?”
She grit her teeth. “I’m fine, Senior Brother. Please continue.”
Li Jiansan nodded with an inward laugh and moved on to the next acupoint…
In no time, Chu Xier was drenched in fragrant sweat, her clothing growing translucent in places, exposing swathes of fair skin before Li Jiansan’s eyes.
After a long while, Li Jiansan finally said, “Sister Xier, let’s stop here for today.”
Just then, a disciple walked over. Seeing what the two were doing, he couldn’t help but give a secret thumbs-up, murmuring to himself:
“As expected of our future sect leader—another young lady in the palm of his hand.”
He approached Li Jiansan and respectfully announced, “Young Master.”
Noticing the disciple’s greedy gaze, Li Jiansan immediately draped his own outer robe over Chu Xier and shot him a daggered look.
How dare you ogle my woman—you must be tired of living!
Only after Li Jiansan covered her did Chu Xier realize her own clothes were soaked through, some areas nearly…
She quickly clutched the robe tight, then glanced gratefully at Li Jiansan:
Senior Brother Li truly is a gentleman. Thank goodness he was here, otherwise I would have…
Chu Xier said softly, “Thank you, Senior Brother Li.”
“Ding! The system detects that Chu Xier’s favorability toward the host has increased by ten points. Master, you’ll soon win her heart—keep it up!”
At that moment, a notification rang out in Li Jiansan’s mind.
He smiled with satisfaction, then helped Chu Xier to her feet. “Come, Sister Xier, let’s get you up.”
The disciple glanced at Li Jiansan and reported, “Young Master, Elder Liu Nan has already made arrangements for Ye Tian. He asked me to inform you.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Xier asked anxiously, “How is my young master?”

At her words, Li Jiansan’s brow furrowed slightly. Well, well, even with me as your new favorite, you’re still thinking of your old love!
He shot the disciple a look, and Liu Nan, catching the signal, replied, “Ye Tian performed well. He may soon be accepted as Elder Liu Nan’s disciple.”
“Really?” Chu Xier exclaimed in delight.
“All right, Sister Xier, let me take you to see for yourself.”
With that, Li Jiansan led the beaming Chu Xier toward the mountain peak where Ye Tian was.

“Ye Tian, how dare you steal my Breaking Origin Pill!”
In Ye Tian’s quarters, Elder Liu Nan stormed in, face dark and ominous, his voice laced with murderous intent.
At his words, Ye Tian’s face changed drastically. “Elder Liu Nan, I truly have no idea what’s happened!”
“According to the rules of the Shengjing Sect, I could throw you off the mountain right now. Are you still refusing to be honest?”
Elder Liu Nan glared fiercely at him.
Frightened by the elder’s intimidation, Ye Tian turned pale. He had worked so hard to enter the Shengjing Sect; now, hearing he might be expelled, he began to plead bitterly:
“Elder Liu Nan, disciple truly did not do this. Please, have mercy!”
Liu Nan shouted, “You still won’t confess!”
“I really didn’t steal your pill, Elder—I’m innocent!”
Seeing Ye Tian’s outright denial, Liu Nan frowned. In truth, Ye Tian hadn’t stolen his medicine at all. This was simply a trap Li Jiansan had asked him to set for Ye Tian.
But he hadn’t expected the boy to be so stubborn.
“There’s both evidence and witnesses. Even if you refuse to confess, once you’re handed over to the Disciplinary Hall, they’ll surely cripple your cultivation!”
At the thought of losing the little progress he’d made, Ye Tian panicked and begged desperately,
“Elder Liu Nan, I really am being framed! You have to believe me!”
Liu Nan sighed, feigning reluctance. “I don’t believe you’d do such a thing either, but… it’s difficult for me.”
Ye Tian fell heavily to his knees, clutching Liu Nan’s leg. “Elder Liu Nan, there must be something you can do! If you help me, I’ll do anything you ask!”
“Anything?”
A sly, sinister smile crept onto Liu Nan’s face, sending chills down Ye Tian’s spine.
Given that expression, what could the elder possibly want…