Is This Really the Su'er I Know? (54k)

He Shutong's fingertips unconsciously caressed the rim of the teacup, the coolness of the celadon seeping into her bones, yet unable to suppress the faint blush that was gradually rising behind her ears.

"I... I didn't do anything..." You Su Sumo's hair fell loosely over his shoulders, the candlelight casting his profile in shadow like distant mountains shrouded in mist. "I just bumped into the proprietress of Zhaiyun Clothing Shop when I went out..."

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the courtyard and not run around without me? It's dangerous outside. Why did you go out by yourself?" He Shutong said reproachfully.

Upon hearing this You Su felt his heart burn even hotter. He wondered if his Mistress was worried that too many characters in his dream would create a loophole, which was why she didn't let him go out, or if she wanted to keep only his Mistress in his little world, which was why she set this rule...

It's probably the latter, right?

"My Mistress usually cooks, but I couldn't find Mistress these days, so I went out because I was starving..."

He Shutong raised her eyebrows slightly, "So you went to buy food, how did you run into her?"

She and You Su had spent a long time in this dream world. Although they spent most of their time together in the courtyard, they would sometimes go out for a stroll together. She naturally recognized some of the residents who had taken good care of You Su.

She had certainly seen the proprietress of Zhaiyun Clothing Shop; she was a pretty woman with some charm. However, what impressed her most was not the exquisite clothes in her store, but the way the beautiful woman looked at You Su —a look that was both seductive and alluring, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was drooling.

"Thinking that winter was approaching, I wanted to buy some winter clothes, and that's when I ran into her." You Su made up a story that was quite convincing.

"Didn't I tell you to keep your distance from her? It seems you didn't take my words to heart at all."

He Shutong rarely questioned or complained about You Su, so these serious questions were actually a subconscious resistance deep in her heart.

Because she was by no means an innocent, naive girl, You Su was still laying the groundwork, how could she not guess where the young man was going to steer the conversation?

Remembering the difference in their social status, she knew that what she was doing was wrong and inappropriate, so she tried to stop the boy from continuing by questioning him. It was as if by acting serious, she could awaken the boy's sense of boundaries and prevent the relationship from deteriorating further.

But she forgot that the master-disciple relationship between them had long since lost its clear boundaries. How could feigned seriousness possibly pull her back from the brink? In this situation, it was like a drowning person's few splashes—besides slightly delaying the drowning process, what life-saving straw could she possibly be grasping at?

"Mistress, please don't be angry! This disciple has never forgotten Mistress teachings, but..." You Su was about to rise and bow in haste, biting his lower lip, as if he had something difficult to say. "Alright, Mistress, this disciple accepts the punishment and will not say any more."

He Shutong frowned slightly, but blurted out, "I know you're obedient and well-behaved, and there must be a reason for you to disobey. Taking punishment is something to do after you recover. Since I promised to help you, just say so."

She spoke seriously, but immediately regretted it. She should have used that as an excuse to end the conversation, but instead...

"But I was thinking of buying my Mistress a beautiful dress too..." You Su's Adam's apple bobbed for a moment, "She said that the clothes from Zhaiyun Clothing Shop are the best in Chuyun City, and all the famous Fairy from the surrounding villages buy their dresses from her. She also said..."

"What else did he say?" He Shutong heard his own voice as light as falling snow, as if a slight increase in volume would shatter this thin layer of ice.

"She said..." The boy's voice was hoarse and gritty, as if he were carefully squeezing out the words, "That a woman as cold as ice as my Mistress is most lacking in vibrancy."

He suddenly looked up, his eyes reflecting the plain white magnolia on the desk. It was the Mistress bought for him when he first went to the lantern festival with Mistress, and it was still in full bloom.

Before He Shutong could speak, he continued, "I know that my Mistress is highly skilled and impervious to heat and cold, but I think she's right, all women should love to be beautiful. I'm blind and don't understand beauty and ugliness, so I thought I'd have that concubine choose a gift for my Mistress."

"So, you went into her shop?" He Shutong held her cup, her voice still carrying a hint of her usual coldness, as if she were truly angry.

You Su felt a surge of nervousness, her heart pounding, but her resolve wouldn't falter at this moment. "No, not in the shop..."

He Shutong was stunned for a moment, her beautiful eyes flickering as she looked at the boy's humble appearance. "Where is that?"

"That auntie said that clothes worthy of my master's Mistress wouldn't be openly displayed in the shop; she kept such fine items in the storeroom. She also said that she would never have taken them out if she didn't like me. I was very grateful, so she asked me to go with her to the storeroom to get them..."

He Shutong shifted her posture without noticing, as if she were fidgeting, and asked, "And then?"

"When we arrived, she warmly invited me to eat. I happened to be there to buy food, so we ate together... But after we finished eating, she didn't offer to take me to get my clothes; she just pulled me aside and asked how I'd been doing... I was in a hurry to go back, so she pulled me aside and said things like, 'Young people Blood Qi, it's getting late, you can go back tomorrow...'"

You Su had never blushed so much in her life, but there was no turning back now that she had gone this far in making up stories. She even felt a strange kind of excitement from the shame of pretending to be innocent, and she secretly raised her eyes to see her Mistress's reaction.

"But... what does this have to do with your unusual temper?" He Shutong asked knowingly, lowering her eyes slightly, not daring to meet You Su's gaze.

"Ever since then, I've been tossing and turning at night, always dreaming of... strange scenes, and my condition has only gotten worse..."

He Shutong clenched her teeth, her heart churning with turmoil. She never imagined that You Su could weave such a realistic and thought-provoking story, and to such an extent—

A young man, out of respect for his Mistress, falls into a trap of lust. The lonely, beautiful woman plots against the handsome young man, and what she does is certainly more complex than a few words can describe. Although the young man manages to escape, this ordeal has somehow unlocked a certain secret within him...

If she didn't know that You Su had made it up, she probably would have believed it to be true.

Could such a subtle and suggestive story really have been fabricated by the You Su I know?

In her heart, You Su had always been that polite and sensible young man. Although she had witnessed some of the folly of youth before, it hadn't affected her opinion of him. But now, she truly realized that You Su wasn't as innocent as she had thought, and his 'filial piety' towards her didn't seem so pure after all...

When did it start?

Did it begin when I, as his Mistress's wife, tried to enlighten him? Or when he wanted to know my name? Or when I advised him to work harder to overcome his greed?

Or perhaps... it was only after he learned that she wasn't his real Mistress that he made that decision?

She suddenly felt angry, flustered, and ashamed—a complex mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe. She even felt regret, thinking how difficult it was to untangle her emotions; if she had known this would happen, she would have preferred to keep her heart frozen...

Is it really a good idea? She couldn't be sure of the answer.

The joy of being remembered, the anger upon discovering his danger, the shock and sorrow upon learning of his death... these emotions were what made her feel truly alive. So why should she now blame the boy for melting her icy heart?

She couldn't bring herself to blame the boy, but she also didn't know how to deal with his feelings. Although his identity Mistress was fake, the two of them were still inextricably linked. Logically and emotionally, she should decide to stop there and even discourage the boy from having such thoughts.

But can she really just bring it up? What will he become? And what will she become?

He must be filled with utter shame, feeling he could never face himself again... Would thinking of that lost and distant boy bring her any comfort?

But whether it was offering him guidance twice, letting him bathe with her in the Lotus Birth Pool, or all the past events and present anxieties that fueled the boy's ambition, how could she claim to be completely innocent?

It is we who try to see into the true thoughts of others, but it is also we who, after seeing into them, feel fear and resistance.

He Shutong, oh He Shutong, how can you say you have a clear conscience?

Anyway... it was a dream...

Anyway, as long as Su'er doesn't know that I actually know who he is, that's fine, right...? His overstepping ambitions only dare to manifest in his dreams. In reality, isn't he still that self-disciplined and proper young man?

"Mistress...?" the boy called out tremblingly.

He Shutong was startled by the boy's soft call and abruptly stood up, her skirt falling to the ground like tattered snow, as if she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.

You Su stared at her blankly, somewhat taken aback. "What's wrong, Mistress?"

"I..." He Shutong heard her own voice ethereal, as if from beyond the clouds, as if she had made some kind of decision. She quickly lowered her tone, "I'll teach that proprietress a lesson. She'll know in the future that there are some things she can't touch."

As soon as she finished speaking, the oppressive aura of the void made the beams and pillars creak, but the boy stubbornly gripped a corner of her sleeve.

"Mistress, please don't... Auntie, she didn't do anything wrong. She's a good person. It's just that I tend to overthink things."

Although it was just acting, He Shutong still felt a pang of jealousy when she heard You Su praising the woman. But then she thought that the proprietress had been unfairly blamed, so she could only gently smooth her skirt and sit back down. The elegant dress couldn't hide her beautiful curves.

Sitting down was easy, but continuing the conversation made her incredibly embarrassed. An awkward silence fell between them.

"Mistress... is there any way?" The boy's voice suddenly lowered.

He Shutong secretly stroked her clothes to ease her tension, thinking to herself that the young man was indeed not so easily given up...

"There is a way..." She picked up her cup and took a small sip. "You said you keep having strange dreams, what exactly are they like?"

"This..."

You Su's reluctance to speak was not feigned. He hadn't been very direct because he felt that the female immortal was sacred and shouldn't be offended by explicit words.

He thought that if he stopped there, his Mistress would understand, but Mistress insisted on asking for clarification, making him feel as if Mistress was trying to coax him into saying more embarrassing things...

And indeed, his feeling was correct; this could be considered He Shutong's small 'revenge' against the young man's overstepping boundaries.

"Illness doesn't preclude seeking medical treatment, and my Mistress won't tell anyone." He Shutong straightened his back and sat upright.

"It's... I dreamt about my junior sister."

He Shutong's beautiful eyes widened slightly, and a hint of disappointment, as if tinged with personal resentment, appeared as she continued to press on:

What did you dream about your junior sister about?

You Su took a deep breath, wondering if this was something she could even say.

Young people yearn for the purest and most beautiful love, but they must also admit that sometimes their thoughts are dirtier than a toilet.

If you want You Su to tell his Mistress, that's no different from turning yourself in.

Fortunately, You Su had a flash of inspiration and came up with an explanation. "I dreamt that I was teaching my junior sister to control the Mystic Qi again."

"Again? When did you ever teach your junior sister to control Mystic Qi?"

"In the period before my junior sister returned to the sect, after I broke through to the Spirit Platform stage and was able to control the flow of my Mystic Qi, I thought of helping her."

"How did you help?"

He Shutong had certainly examined Ji Lingruo's Spirit Vein. At that time, she was naive and didn't think of helping her, but she knew that it was definitely not a simple illness. You Su was just a minor Sword Cultivator at that time, so she was curious about what else You Su could come up with.

After hesitating for a moment, You Su told He Shutong the method he had derived while still in Chuyun City by practicing the flow of Mystic Qi during dual cultivation in the Joyous Union Technique.

He Shutong was genuinely astonished, firstly by You Su's keen understanding of the Cultivation Method, and secondly by the boy's patience. She believed that the story was not fabricated by the boy, because after thinking about it, she realized it was feasible; it was definitely not an idea that could be generated in a flash of inspiration. However, guiding others to circulate their Mystic Qi step by step was no different from teaching an infant to walk, so it was no wonder that Lingruo was so devoted to Su'er.

But she had also changed her opinion of You Su, and couldn't help but think that what made You Su patiently endure the trouble was probably not only his kindness in caring for his junior sister, but also his hands that could legitimately explore.

"Your understanding of the sect's Cultivation Method is so profound, it's clear you have extraordinary talent. However, your good intentions have led you to commit a grave mistake," He Shutong sighed softly, as if expressing regret.

You Su's heart tightened. "What taboo?"

"Since it originated from the practice of dual cultivation, it hasn't escaped the essence of dual cultivation. It has not only harmed itself, but may even harm her."

You Su was truly bewildered. "How did I get her into trouble?"

"Only possibly."

Looking down at You Su, who was eagerly seeking knowledge from him, He Shutong felt a great sense of accomplishment, completely forgetting that the knowledge passed down between the master and disciple was enough to make others blush with shame.

"Humans should pursue the balance of Yin and Yang, but the Joyous Union Technique) aims for the ultimate, refining Yin Yang Qi separately. Only when one meets a loving partner and embarks on the Great Dao together can one cultivate Yin and Yang to their extreme. Although this goes against common sense, the Joyous Union Technique is profound and extensive. Before embarking on the Great Dao, one can cultivate even with only Yin or Yang. The principle is to deceive the body's instincts. However, after embarking on the Great Dao, the body can no longer be deceived. At this time, without the balance of Yin and Yang, one will suffer the pain of having only Yin or Yang." He Shutong explained in detail, with reason and evidence. "You and your junior sister's Mystic Qi merge and operate according to the dual cultivation method. Although you don't actually perform any actions, it's almost the same. She knows that there is Yang in the world, and you know that there is Yin. Fortunately, she has only been practicing for three years, so she probably only experiences occasional discomfort. But you have been cultivating this technique since childhood, which is why you are struggling more and more."

You Su blinked upon hearing this. He had a general understanding of the causes of Yang Poison, and his Mistress's explanation was quite reasonable. However, he hadn't expected that the pretext of guiding his junior sister's Mystic Qi would actually become a legitimate excuse for the accumulation of Yang poison. He had thought... he would have to exaggerate even more.

"Then, what should we do?" You Su could almost hear her own heartbeat; her voice trembled slightly with excitement.

The sound of wind and snow outside the window seemed to fall into deathly silence at this moment, and even the world seemed to be silent, waiting only for the answer from the aloof Fairy in front of them.

He Shutong's fingertips dug deeply into her palms, embarrassed and annoyed that the boy actually asked her what to do...

She knew she had underestimated her own charm and the boy's greed. He had never brought up those two times he had given her guidance, out of respect and love for her, and because he dared not do anything to damage their relationship, not because he had forgotten, or because he didn't want to...

Thinking back to when he was wallowing in self-pity and greed, I tried to persuade him to work hard to overcome his greed, but I never imagined that his greed had spread to himself.

Perhaps she was wrong from the beginning, but now... she can only continue down this path.

"When yang energy accumulates and becomes toxic, it naturally needs to be detoxified."

He Shutong's cool and aloof tone did little to diminish the stimulation her words brought to the young man. Even without Yang Poison, he could instantly develop it.

You Su sat on the edge of the bed with his eyes lowered, his knuckles unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes. The sound of the young man's Adam's apple bobbing was particularly clear in the silence.

"The Yang Poison are accumulating... it needs to be guided back to its source." The female immortal finally spoke, her voice even softer than the sound of icicles melting on the eaves. "Do you... do you still remember the method you taught Lingruo control her Mystic Qi?"

You Su suddenly looked up, his ear tips instantly flushed with a rosy hue. The candlelight flickered in the wind, casting the shadow of his eyelashes beneath his eyes, making him look like a shy little animal.

"Mistress means..." His throat tightened, and the rest of his words were swallowed by the aroma of tea.

"It needs to be done from the outside in, guiding yin and drawing yang." He Shutong turned her face away, then suddenly reached out and pressed her fingertips against his wrist pulse, the touch as hot as molten gold. "You... lie down a little closer."

The candlelight suddenly went out, leaving only the gilded incense burner by the bedside casting wisps of smoke that blurred the figures of the two people into a hazy picture.

He Shutong's hand, which was lifting the quilt, froze in mid-air as she heard You Su inhale, a sound like snowflakes falling on her heart.

She suddenly remembered eight years ago in the Sword Sect's courtyard, when she first saw You Su practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. His small figure stood stubbornly like a pine tree in the wind and snow.

"Mistress?" You Su's voice trembled with youthful passion, startling the snow sparrows perched on the beams.

He Shutong suddenly came to her senses, and when her cool palm touched her burning skin, both of them trembled at the same time.

"Don't be afraid," she soothed softly, her fingertips tracing the contours of his waist as if painting a most precious picture.

The sensation of the boy's taut abdominal muscles traveled through her fingertips, reminding her of the long, slender neck she had seen submerged in the Lotus Birth Pool.

As she channeled her Mystic Qi into her fingertips, it felt like encountering raging flames upon encountering the scorching Yang Poison. She had no choice but to activate the Ice Heart Technique, causing a thin layer of frost to appear on her fingertips.

"The Yang Fire travels along the Ren Meridian, and it must..." Her throat suddenly tightened, recalling how You Su had patiently held Ji Lingruo teaching her, "It must be guided to the Lingtai."

Before she could finish speaking, his fingertips had already slid down to three inches below her navel. You Su suddenly grabbed her wrist, with such force that he almost pulled her into his arms.

"Don't move."

She forcefully suppressed the trembling in her throat, and placed her other hand on his chest, feeling that she had never felt so ashamed in her life.

In reality, You Su was so terrified during that conversation that he was too scared to move or speak. But the You Su in the dream was already used to being intimate with her and had even revealed his wolfish ambitions; he was clearly no longer so discreet.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the window paper rustled in the wind.

The fairy took off the handkerchief, which was already stained with dampness, without saying a word. She carefully put it away, intending to throw it away, but the boy gently pulled her hand.

"Thank you, Mistress..."

He Shutong suddenly turned around and remembered that in her dream, she had coaxed the young man into saying, "Now, all that's left of your master Mistress."

The snow fell silently, yet it stirred up a thousand waves in both of their hearts. Looking at her reflection in his eyes, He Shutong suddenly realized that she wasn't as resistant as she had imagined.

This fusion of crispness and heat is like a destined bloom.