Bathing Together; Yang Poison (5k)

What are you going to do?

The Third Elder looked on with surprise and uncertainty.

"Heal his wounds," He Shutong said succinctly.

"Given his current state of exhaustion and unconsciousness, does Thirteenth Elder possess a more suitable treasure than this Glazed Bed for him?"

The Third Elder paced back and forth a few times, her beautiful eyes flashing slightly. She didn't believe that the Thirteenth Elder could produce any treasure comparable to the Glazed Bed. These top Sword Cultivator were all proud and arrogant, wishing they could be alone, accompanied only by their swords. They didn't think they were being foolish; on the contrary, they saw it as their loyalty to the way of the Way of the Sword.

"I will remember the Third Elder's kindness to my disciple. But..."

Although He Shutong disliked collecting Law Treasure, he had heard of the reputation of this Glazed Bed. It was made of overseas glass and jade, and was an extremely rare and precious large Law Artifact, with miraculous effects whether used for cultivation or recovery.

But for You Su, who was repeatedly overdrawn and had a mysterious constitution, she felt that the gradual effect of the Glazed Bed was far from enough. If You Su were to damage even the slightest bit of her foundation because of this reporting ceremony, she would not forgive herself. After all, the reason why You Su was fighting for this all stemmed from her selfish idea of making You Su become her disciple.

The Third Elder was slightly taken aback. "But what? If you feel indebted to me, you don't have to. This Glazed Bed is at most a decoration to me; I suffer no loss by letting him use it."

The Third Elder wasn't being presumptuous. At the Void Glimpse Realm, external objects offer negligible help to cultivation. However, she could easily keep them for her own disciples. The fact that she was willing to lend them to You Su temporarily was simply out of respect for the Thirteenth Elder.

"Lian Jian thanks the Third Elder, but... I do have a more suitable Law Treasure here."

The Third Elder's beautiful eyes swept around the lotus pond, which exuded an ethereal aura. She vaguely guessed what the Law Treasure He Shutong had mentioned was. She was so surprised that her mouth gaped open slightly:

"He's just your disciple!"

"Precisely because he is my disciple," He Shutong said firmly.

The Third Elder was furious upon hearing this. Even if You Su was the number one genius in the Five Continents, she didn't care. She only cared about the Lotus Sword Venerable, who was also a woman among the thirteen Grand Elders.

"The essence contained in your Lotus Birth Pool is all the Mystic Qi you've released! Do you want him to soak here and recover by absorbing your Mystic Qi? You're already on the verge of falling from the Transformation Realm. If you expend the power of an entire Immortal Seed to heal him, you might very well fall from the Feather Transformation Realm yourself! You should know very well how difficult it is to break through from the Feather Transformation Realm to the Void Glimpse Realm!"

He Shutong was certainly aware of this possibility, but she knew even more clearly that You Su, who had the Lotus Immortal Seed implanted in her body, would have an unparalleled affinity for her Mystic Qi. Relying on her Mystic Qi to nourish and recover would not only be the most effective, but might even allow her to reach a higher level.

She didn't sigh, nor did she hesitate; she simply said softly:

"Please, Third Elder, help me carry him over. Lian Jian would be extremely grateful."

"You!" The Third Elder trembled slightly, her body heaving. She took a long gulp of immortal Immortal Wine, then arrogantly wiped the remaining liquid from her lips. "Even if you don't care about cultivation, you are a woman and he is a man. How can you bathe in the same pool?!"

"I am the master, and he is the disciple. In my eyes, he is no different from an infant, not to mention... he is blind."

The Third Elder naturally understood this principle, and even though You Su was not only blind but also unconscious, she would not know anything about it. However, the thought of her valiant female swordswoman bathing in the same pool with a young man still made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Men... are things that this world doesn't need to exist at all!

The Third Elder's eyebrows furrowed, and he crossed his arms.

"I won't carry you! Go carry me yourself!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of splashing water rang out, and in the misty fog, a graceful silhouette stood upright.

"You!" The Third Elder stamped her jade-like foot lightly, helpless.

The loss of Mystic Qi by the Lotus Sword Venerable leaving the Lotus Birth Pool at this moment would be no less than the loss from bathing with You Su. Seeing that the Lotus Sword Venerable actually wanted to personally bring You Su over, the Third Elder, with a sorrowful expression, made a compromise.

"I'll go bring him here... In his current condition, he has virtually no chance of waking up until he's fully recovered. When he's about to wake up, you should send him out, but don't let him know about this."

The Third Elder raised his head and drank heartily, a strange feeling stirring within him, a poignant sense of regret for having to helplessly hand over something he cherished to someone else.

The wine flowed down her smooth neck into the deep valley between her breasts, but she didn't seem to care. She simply left the place with heavy steps.

"Lian Jian thanks the Third Elder, and also asks the Third Elder... not to tell Wangshu."

"Tell her, and then let the three of you soak together?"

The Third Elder's irritated voice echoed through the Immortal Forest.

Wangshu Fairy is naive and inexperienced in worldly affairs, and she cares deeply for her new junior brother. What would happen if she were to learn this method?

The Third Elder wanted to add, "Should I go in and soak with you, so we can both use our powers to heal You Su's injuries?" But the thought of her naked with a man made him feel nauseous, and he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Summer petals fall from the hillside and sway in the air, creating a beautiful scene.

The Third Elder had no mood to appreciate it this time. Recalling the last time You Su complained about the "fragrance of flowers," she became angry, and all the flying flowers in the air turned into powder and were blown away by the wind.

A crescent moon hangs over sparse paulownia trees.

Under the clear, bright moonlight, tall trees sway by the Lotus Birth Pool, and ethereal mist hangs in the air—it must be a fairyland on earth.

You Su's head rested lightly on the white jade stone, her lithe body below her collarbone completely submerged in the spiritual water of the Lotus Birth Pool.

His eyes were tightly closed, with only the pinkish-gold celestial seed between his brows shining faintly.

You Su didn't need to actively circulate his energy; the Mystic Qi in the water, He Shutong, was attracted by the Lotus Immortal Seed and spontaneously flowed into his body through every pore of You Su skin.

He Shutong lay on the opposite side from You Su, her bare skin glowing like a second moon reflected in the water, which was darkened by the night.

The two were separated by a thick mist, but this did not obstruct the view of a Void Glimpse Realm cultivator. She looked at the boy's increasingly rosy face, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

You Su had been soaking in the pool for a whole day. She was amazed at how much You Su's body "appetite" for Mystic Qi, but she did not regret the Mystic Qi she had lost. She only hoped that the boy could recover quickly.

Even though You Su had almost fully recovered, she didn't intend to move You Su out of the Lotus Birth Pool. Instead, she planned to replenish You Su's depleted immortal seeds. She didn't care at all that it would cost more than two immortal seeds' worth of Mystic Qi.

The seventh day of the True Disciple Biography of You Su has just ended.

He Shutong nodded to herself. To her surprise, the Book Immortal Peak, where the Tenth Elder was located, never raised any objections to You Su during the public announcement process. She had thought that the other party would try to stop her on the last day, but she did not expect that the seventh day would pass peacefully.

However, after yesterday's battle, it was already widely expected that You Su would become True Disciple of Lotus Peak, so it was reasonable for Book Immortal Peak not to intervene.

He Shutong smiled slightly. Despite some twists and turns, the final result was still satisfactory. She finally became You Su's master as she had wished.

However, the boy had put in too much unnecessary effort for this. Taking him as her True Disciple was initially just wishful thinking on her part, a compensation she thought she was making, but this supplement brought trouble to You Su.

A thought flickered in her mind; she felt ashamed of her arrogance and secretly resolved that in the future, whenever she wanted to make amends or reward You Su, she should first ask him what he wanted.

To You Su, she shouldn't be a lofty immortal, but rather a loving and tolerant Mistress.

The autumn night was crisp and clear, a gentle breeze blowing, scattering the water-dampened strands of You Su's hair, and also stirring the boy's eyelashes.

You Su opened his eyes groggily, his vision filled with blurry darkness. His whole body felt warm and comfortable. He tried to raise his hand, and although he felt he had plenty of strength, his movements were still slow due to fatigue in his limbs.

However, it still produced a slight sound of water. You Su smelled the elegant fragrance in the air, and with his Sea of Consciousness unable to disperse, he quickly realized that he was soaking in the pool where his Mistress was in seclusion.

This greatly alarmed You Su, who had just woken up. How could he share the same pool with his Mistress? He wondered if the water had been changed...

"Mistress...?"

You Su called out tentatively, hoping there would be no response so he could slip away quietly.

"Um."

A soft reply sounded, You Su suddenly felt like a petty thief caught in broad daylight. He quickly gathered all his strength and tried to escape the pool.

But as soon as he made a move, he felt as if the pool water was pulling him. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was condensed, thread-like Mystic Qi binding him, preventing him from moving.

"You've fought two battles in a row, and your body is exhausted. That's why I brought you to Lotus Birth Pool to recuperate. You're not fully recovered yet, so there's no need to leave in a hurry."

He Shutong's fingers moved like orchids, and his voice was like a clear spring.

You Su's eyes were blind, and his Divine Sense was trapped by the spiritual mist. At this moment, when he heard his Mistress's Mistress and melodious voice, he couldn't tell whether she was speaking to him from the shore or bathing with him in the pool...

If it's the latter, then that would be far too presumptuous...

He initially wanted to dissuade her, but then he thought that his Mistress had brought him here and told him everything openly, clearly not wanting him to have any unnecessary misunderstandings. If he insisted, he would probably only embarrass his Mistress. You Su was moved. His Mistress was willing to tolerate him using her private lotus pond in order to help him recover, which truly showed how much she cared for him.

He then thought that his Mistress was a Venerable of the Void Glimpse Realm, and she must have lived for countless years. In Mistress eyes, he, a mere eighteen-year-old Spirit Platform Realm, was probably no different from a child, which was why she allowed this to happen.

With this in mind, You Su gave up on getting up. Although her face was still flushed, she remained in the water. She simply sat upright, trying her best to cover her private parts.

"Thank you, Mistress."

Even while in the water, You Su insisted on bowing in thanks.

"I remember telling you that when you receive what you deserve, there's no need for excessive formalities."

The cold, clear voice made You Su feel a chill, and she thought to herself, "So, in my Mistress's eyes, this is all the reward I deserve for trying to overcome any objections..."

He had been injured while trying to become a disciple, so it seemed reasonable for his Mistress to treat his injuries. His excessive bowing would only make him seem distant.

"Please don't be offended, Master 'Mistress. I was just feeling flustered, which is why I couldn't help but You Su." You Su was careful not to upset his Mistress.

"It's alright, I wasn't criticizing you, but rather offering a reminder."

He Shutong answered softly, secretly regretting that her tone had been a bit cold just now; You Su must have been frightened by her.

After speaking, the two fell silent. You Su sensed the awkwardness in the air and took the initiative to break the silence:

"Mistress, what day is it now?"

"It's almost midnight now, and the seventh day of your public announcement has just passed." He Shutong understood why You Su was asking about the date, and added, "No one raised any objections on the last day. From today onwards, you are a Lotus Peak disciple recognized by everyone."

You Su smiled broadly, her face beaming with undisguised joy:

"Very good!"

Seeing You Su's joyful expression, He Shutong felt even more pity for her. She pursed her lips:

"It may be a bit late to say this, but you don't need to prove anything to anyone. In my heart, you are my True Disciple. Even without the title bestowed upon you by the Xuanxiao Sect, if you stay on the peak to study, I will still treat you as my own son."

Upon hearing this, You Su felt that all his efforts were worthwhile. It would have been so easy to stay on Lotus Peak as a disciple without a title, but all he got in return was criticism and pressure from others towards his Mistress.

He straightened his back, clenched his right fist, and said emphatically:

"I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone else; I want to prove to my Mistress that no one can question Mistress decision to accept me as her disciple."

You Su's movements were a little too large, creating ripples that spread and reached He Shutong's He Shutong and delicate chest, as if conveying You Su's determination to her through the water.

A rosy glow appeared on He Shutong's cold face as she softly said:

You've done it.

You Su gently shook his head, then raised his head again, his eyes shining like stars. He said ambitiously:

"No, that's far from enough!"

He Shutong was slightly taken aback, as if she could see a future day when the young man would reach the summit and amaze the world, and he would be her disciple.

Even though it hadn't happened yet, she seemed certain that day would eventually come, and felt a sense of pride in anticipation, stating confidently:

"I trust you."

"I will certainly live up to my Mistress's expectations!"

You Su nodded emphatically, his heart burning with passion and surging with heroic spirit, vowing to make Lotus Peak and the Mandarin Sword Sect flourish.

The pool water seemed to cooperate with him, continuously channeling warm and gentle Mystic Qi into You Su's body. You Su suddenly felt something unusual, secretly pulled his legs together, and forced himself to calm down.

"What reward do you want?" He Shutong asked gently, oblivious to the boy's subtle movements.

"A reward?" You Su was puzzled. "I didn't do anything, how could I accept a reward from my Mistress for no reason?"

"Both Crimson Rainbow Peak and Lotus Peak are sword peaks. Your victory over someone with Innate Sword Body has greatly enhanced the reputation of Lotus Peak. This alone deserves a reward. When your senior sister defeated Sword Cultivator of the same age from Crimson Rainbow Peak, I also rewarded her. So there's no need to refuse; it's what you deserve."

You Su bit his lower lip, a strange sensation gradually spreading from his lower body. He sensed something was wrong. He hadn't felt any romantic thoughts; could it be that the Sun Yang Sword Nurturing Art was acting up again?

Distracted for a moment and unable to think of any tangible reward he should ask for, he could only say:

"Mistress, I really don't need any reward. This is just what I should do."

Upon hearing this, He Shutong took a deep breath, straightened up, and spoke in a serious and solemn tone:

"I told you, this is what you deserve. Just ask for it, and I'll try my best to fulfill your request."

You Su secretly regretted that he had displeased his Mistress again. Just as he was racking his brains for a way to make amends, a very slight ripple suddenly appeared in the pool water that was not in his chest. And the direction of this ripple... was from his Mistress towards him!

You Su's eyelids fluttered slightly as he suppressed his surprise. His Mistress had actually bathed with him in the same pool...

These ripples were extremely shallow, yet You Su felt his body was unusually sensitive at that moment, amplifying the sensations they brought. For a moment, he felt even more excited. He quickly bit his tongue, not wanting to be controlled by that strange feeling.

Seeing his silence, He Shutong assumed that You Su disliked material rewards, and added:

"Or if you have any questions, I'll answer them for you."

"Then, Mistress... tell me your story."

At this moment You Su only wanted to focus on suppressing the strange sensations in his body and did not want to be distracted by talking. If his Mistress discovered his unusual behavior and misunderstood, he was even willing to die to atone for his sins.

So he asked this question, hoping it would give his Mistress some time to talk and allow him to quickly return to normal.

My story?

He Shutong fell silent. She understood You Su's desire to understand her better, and was even secretly pleased, but then she thought of her own shattered life...

Can I really tell him such a shameful story? What will he think of me after hearing it?

For once, He Shutong hesitated. Even though he was a top-tier Sword Cultivator who abhorred hesitation, he still wavered when it came to revealing his failed life to someone important.

"This problem..."

He Shutong considered the consequences of refusing the question. She pursed her lips, glanced at You Su, and was about to speak when she suddenly panicked and cried out:

"You Su, what's wrong with you?!"

At this moment, You Su's eyes were tightly closed, his face contorted in unbearable pain, and his body, struggling in the water, had visibly turned crimson. The veins on his neck bulged, and he looked as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. After twisting a few times, his head fell backward, and his body arched backward.

Just then, the sound of rushing water arose, and he knew that someone was running towards him in the water. Through the last sliver of his Qingming Festival as he opened his eyes, he saw a thick, dark color.

He caught a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery that only exists in heaven, and he had already fallen into its embrace.

He Shutong embraced You Su, You Su had completely fainted. At this moment, she didn't care about their intimate contact. She leaned You Su against the shore, placed her slender hand on You Su's chest, and carefully observed the condition inside You Su's body.

His face was flushed, his body was burning hot, and the Mystic Qi within him was like a restless and irritable beast, surging wildly. The tiny meridians densely distributed around his abdomen had even turned from red to purple, as if he had been poisoned.

He Shutong turned her head away and lowered her eyes, not daring to look again.

She was the last legitimate successor of the Mandarin Sword Sect Duck Sword Sect, far more knowledgeable than You Su, who had only learned the Joyous Union Technique. She immediately recognized that You Su was suffering from Yang Poison...