I'm Taking Mistress Flying

The copper bells on the eaves were lifted by the mountain wind, their tinkling sounds carrying the sulfurous smell rising from the volcano into the bamboo hut.

He Shutong sat upright on the lotus platform, her wide sleeves cascading down like crane wings.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the lotus platform, while her peripheral vision kept glancing at the bamboo door, until a dark figure burst in, accompanied by dappled light, the breeze from his sleeves carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.

"Mistress."

The boy stood dutifully outside the bamboo curtain, holding Glazed Cup, as wisps of mist rose from it.

He Shutong's fingertips curled slightly, but his expression remained solemn:

"Yes, come in and talk."

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, You Su took another step, parting the bamboo curtain with one hand, but almost lost her soul the moment she entered the inner room.

The usually elegant and refined Mistress sat on the sacred lotus platform, her plain white silk robe half-transparent from the volcanic heat. Faint watermarks appeared on the double-phoenix patterned silk at the neckline, like ripples spreading across her snow-white skin.

He had seen his Mistress in her snow-white robes by the Lotus Birth Pool, and he had seen her graceful movements with flowing sleeves like a crane by the North Sea, but he had never imagined that her dignified attire, which was wrapped up tightly, would exude such breathtaking charm in the summer heat.

"Why are you standing still?" He Shutong's voice was clear and crisp, but it trembled slightly due to her slightly disordered breathing.

She subconsciously raised her hand to straighten her clothes, the plain white cuffs slipping over her shoulders, pulling the damp silk even closer to her skin, half of her snow-white shoulder appearing and disappearing in the light and shadow, like a night-blooming cereus blooming under the moonlight.

You Su's Adam's apple bobbed as he hurriedly looked down at the rising steam from the Glazed Cup.

"This disciple is hesitating..."

What are you hesitating about?

He Shutong asked curiously, clearly unaware that her sweaty clothes clung to her skin, accentuating her curves.

So even though nothing can be seen, this blank space creates a subtle sensuality in the eyes of a young man. This restraint, like "holding a pipa while half-concealing her face," is even more attractive than simple nudity, because imagination is often more conflicting than reality.

Fortunately, You Su had already undergone a transformation in the hands of various incomparably beautiful Fairy, so she naturally wouldn't do anything as inappropriate as staring at someone until she lost her composure.

I hesitated, wondering whether I should present my gift.

"A gift?" He Shutong noticed the Glazed Cup that You Su was carrying. "Why the hesitation?"

"Because the gift the disciple brought was very ordinary, he was initially overjoyed when he delivered it, but after it was delivered, he felt it was unworthy of his Mistress's status."

The boy lowered his head and whispered, He Shutong naturally couldn't bear to see him look so dejected.

"What could my status be? How do you know I wouldn't like it if you didn't give it to me?"

"Then... please don't mind, Mistress."

You Su placed the Glazed Cup on the table beside her; the milky white of the sorbet and the amber color of the Ice Jelly were faintly visible through the gauze.

The boy gently lifted the veil with his fingertips, revealing two bowls of desserts that fell like shattered jade onto a plate: one bowl was a small mountain of milk sorbet topped with crimson plum pieces, while the other bowl was like amber and gold scattered on a jade plate, with golden mango puree adorned with grapefruit resembling red agate.

"These are chilled desserts I bought at the snake tribe market. I thought it would be hot here, and my Mistress senior sister would like them, so I brought a bowl for each of them. But these desserts are actually very cheap, so I feel they're not good enough for my Mistress..."

He Shutong's eyelashes trembled, but her gaze remained fixed on the Glazed Cup. The wisps of icy mist rising up made the two already beautifully presented desserts seem to be imbued with an ethereal quality. The unbearably hot He Shutong even felt a slight itch in her throat, and a long-lost thirst welled up inside her.

"When did you start using gold and silver to measure other people's worth?" He Shutong withdrew her gaze, as if she dared not look any longer. "Your senior sister is still in seclusion. It's not too late to give it to her after she comes out."

"Then... what about Mistress?"

He Shutong swallowed, feeling an even greater dryness in her throat, but how could she possibly admit to You Su that she was feeling hot and restless? Having never indulged in food or drink since reaching the Void Realm, she was even more ashamed to display any desire in front of You Su, so the words that came to her lips were replaced by the cool indifference befitting Void Glimpse Sword Immortal:

"I really like the gift you brought, but I am a Void Realm cultivator and have long since Grain Avoidance grains."

You Su was not discouraged. Instead, she sat up straight, a glimmer of light in her eyes. "Does Grain Avoidance mean I can't eat anymore?"

He Shutong was taken aback by the question, and for a moment, she was embarrassed and didn't know how to answer.

Of course, one cannot eat after Grain Avoidance. Just as You Su could Grain Avoidance after reaching the level of Huayu, he still ate three meals a day happily.

So He Shutong couldn't eat it, nor that she didn't want to; rather, she felt that a 300-year-old, aloof sword immortal master shouldn't be eating a dessert that only little girls would like, especially in front of You Su...

"Actually, I brought these desserts with a selfish reason."

"What ulterior motive?" He Shutong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the boy hadn't kept waiting for her to answer the question she couldn't answer.

"These desserts were actually developed by your disciple. Due to my reputation, the snake clan looks at me differently. I don't want to put my junior sister and Miss Xue Ruo in a difficult position, so I want to prove myself. I've noticed that the snake clan's food culture is far inferior to that of the human clan, so these desserts are my first step in changing their perception of me." You Su lowered his eyes and spoke softly, his words reasonable and well-founded. "But I am, after all, a man, and I don't know what women like. What if they don't like the desserts I made? Wouldn't that backfire? I thought of asking my junior sister for help, but I imagine she wouldn't care whether they tasted good or not, and would secretly order others to support me. I don't want that. After thinking it over, I realized that only my Mistress and senior sister can help me..."

He Shutong's fingertips suddenly dug into her palm. She could naturally tell that the predicament You Su mentioned was true. The elders of the snake clan were not enthusiastic about her joining the snake clan as Void Glimpse Realm cultivator, so they would definitely reject and distance themselves from You Su had already been identified as Evil Demon.

This child has already suffered so much, yet he still has to live amidst doubt. He Shutong bear it? She was about to say that she would prove You Su's worth to the Snake Clan, but then she remembered that the young man didn't even want to trouble his junior sister. If she used her Void Realm status to pressure the Snake Clan, wouldn't that contradict the young man's plan to change the Snake Clan's perception of him on his own?

The way the boy's eyes drooped at the corners was exactly the same as when he begged for a hug in her dream, but it also added a touch of grievance that made her heart ache.

Wangshu is still in seclusion, so the only person he can ask for help from is myself. Am I really going to refuse even this small favor?

"You've been framed, and they don't know the real you, so it's normal for them to feel some resentment. But it's already a great favor that the snake clan has protected us. Whether it's out of gratitude or your connection with these two snake women, maintaining good relations with the snake clan is essential. Therefore..."

She gently raised her slender hand, her wide sleeve slipping down a little to reveal a section of her fair wrist. "Bring it here."

Upon hearing this You Su's eyes lit up with surprise and delight, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Thank you, Mistress!"

After saying this, he carefully picked up the Glazed Cup and brought it to the lotus platform. Although he wanted to get closer to see his Mistress's beautiful figure with fragrant sweat on her face, he restrained himself from looking up. He could only smell her warm fragrance.

But he also secretly thought that if his Mistress couldn't even retrieve objects from a distance, she must be seriously injured.

He Shutong didn't intend to let You Su serve it to her personally, but she insisted on maintaining the upright posture of Sword Cultivator, and You Su, not daring to overstep the bounds, kept a respectful distance, forcing her to lean forward to reach the bowl of amber Ice Jelly.

He Shutong's plain white silk robe tightened as she raised her hand, making the breathtaking curve of her figure even more clearly visible.

You Su had already lowered his head, not daring to look at her face, but he was so shocked by the sight that was presented to him that his eyes widened.

The skin faintly visible beneath the plain white silk robe, the slightly sticky hair due to sweat—all exuded a contradictory beauty that was both dignified and breathtaking. He Shutong's obliviousness only made this allure even more thrilling.

With the solemnity of a sword immortal appraising a sword technique, He Shutong scooped up half a spoonful of Ice Jelly, but his pupils widened slightly the moment the shaved ice touched his tongue. The chill of the ice water, wrapped in the sweetness of lychee honey, exploded between his lips and teeth, turning into thousands of ice blades that pierced the dry heat in his throat, and the summer heat in his body was greatly relieved.

He Shutong's eyes narrowed slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the bowl. After the sweet, cold taste dissipated, she forcefully suppressed the urge to scoop out another spoonful.

"It was delicious."

These three simple words made He Shutong a little shy. She could only sigh that she was young and ignorant, and that she deliberately did not study more in order to learn swordsmanship. Otherwise, she could have praised him with eloquent words.

You Su stared at the slightly upturned corners of her lips, then suddenly chuckled softly, "Mistress lied to me."

"I'm not lying to you, it's true... refreshing and cooling, sweet but not cloying." She thought You Su felt these three words were just a perfunctory response, so she did her best to give a detailed evaluation.

"If it's really that delicious, why doesn't Mistress take a second bite? If it doesn't inspire a second bite, then it's a failed work," You Su sighed.

He Shutong was speechless for a moment upon hearing this. The boy always seemed to have a point, leaving her at a loss for what to do. She suddenly noticed another bowl of cheese, with crushed plums gently swaying in the porcelain bowl, but ultimately, it couldn't compete with the expectation in You Su's eyes:

"I was worried that your senior sister would be unhappy if she knew I ate her portion all by myself." She picked up the spoon again, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if she were secretly pleased with her cleverness. "You should eat that bowl. If you don't, how can I continue?"

You Su was stunned, gazing at his Mistress, whose saintly beauty somehow possessed a captivating allure. He quickly picked up another bowl of cheese, scooped out a large spoonful, and put it in his mouth, grinning sheepishly at He Shutong.

"This Mistress, called Mango Sago Pomelo, is made with fruit syrup, fruit pulp, sago pearls, and so on."

"You certainly know how to pick names." He Shutong was embarrassed to eat too fast, only taking a small sip each time, as if she dared not be greedy and was afraid that the young man would see through her reserve.

"Hehe, Mistress, do you know why some snake clan women call me Young Master Ice Room?"

"Oh? Why?"

That's because I...

The crisp clinking of silver spoons against each other, the cool fragrance of fruit mingled with the scent of lotus blossoms, filled the bamboo hut and dispelled the summer heat. The master and apprentice, huddled together, sharing the food and chatting, unconsciously bridged the distance between their hearts.

Under the scorching sun, He Shutong, feeling light and refreshed both physically and mentally, taught You Su Feather Transformation Realm the art of flight as promised.

"The Mystic Qi emanates outwards like a woven net," He Shutong suddenly spoke, "Do you know why cultivators at the Feather Transformation Realm can ride the wind?"

You Su's eyes flickered slightly. He straightened his sleeves and collar, but his gaze couldn't help but sweep over the fine beads of sweat on He Shutong's neck.

The plain silk robe was slightly soaked with the Fairy's fragrant sweat, which was not noticeable in the dimly lit room, but now, standing in the bright sunlight, the edges of the lotus-root-colored herb underneath were faintly visible.

"This disciple is dull-witted; all I know is that I must condense the Mystic Qi into the shape of wings."

"That's a misconception." He Shutong, completely unaware of her own alluring charm, lightly flicked her wide sleeves. "The Mystic Qi of heaven and earth is like a vast ocean, while the Mystic Qi of a cultivator is but a small boat. The so-called 'riding the wind' is not about resisting the waves with force, but about finding the rhythm between the peaks and troughs of the waves."

She casually picked up a flower petal with her fingertips. "Look at this flower—"

You Su's pupils contracted slightly. The previously chaotic and scattered Mystic Qi began to coil around the petals like silk threads, slowly lifting it to the beam. He Shutong's voice seemed both near and far:

"Using one's own Qi as a guide, connecting with the Qi channels of Heaven and Earth. Releasing three parts outward as an anchor, and drawing in seven parts inward as a string..."

The young man nodded as if he understood, "This disciple will dare to give it a try."

He Shutong gave her a gentle smile, "Then let's give it a try."

You Su drew his fingers in the air, and the Ink Pine Sword was drawn in response. In the instant the sword trembled, he clearly felt the surrounding Mystic Qi trembling like a spider web. But when he gathered the Mystic Qi under his feet, he could not rise straight up. He only floated up a little before falling back down in a panic.

You Su staggered and steadied himself. He Shutong instinctively supported the boy's forearm and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

You Su grabbed her sleeve with her other hand, almost touching her hand. "I'll try again."

He Shutong pursed her thin lips, nodded, and then stepped back a little.

This time, the boy's preparation went smoothly as well, but he didn't even reach the same height as before, and his staggering fall was completely unlike his usual composed self.

He Shutong hurried over, her brows furrowed. "Don't push yourself. First, find out where the problem is."

You Su remained silent, only bowing his head.

Seeing the boy's state, He Shutong felt deeply disappointed and guilty.

"Even among those in the Feather Transformation Realm, there are cultivators who cannot fly, and not everyone's flight training is so smooth," He Shutong comforted softly, then asked, "I see that you grasped the essentials of condensing your Mystic Qi, but you lost your composure after taking off. I suppose... you were afraid?"

You Su's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally nodded, looking embarrassed.

"Silly child, there are no predecessors at your age who have Feather Transformation Realm, so why are you afraid of heights?" He Shutong encouraged him with a smile.

You Su shook his head and murmured, "This disciple has been blind since childhood. It's not that I'm afraid of heights, but rather that I can't bear the feeling of weightlessness..."

"For..."

Before the question was even uttered, He Shutong already understood the source of the boy's predicament.

You Su has been blind since childhood, so he must have grown up through countless falls and tumbles, probably more than he has eaten meals. This feeling of weightlessness as he rises must be reminding him of the deep-seated fear he felt from falling repeatedly as a child.

Thinking of this, the gentle fairy felt a surge of pity in her heart, as if she could see Xiao You Su walking alone on the road, falling down again and again.

"It's alright, with your Mistress here, she won't let you fall." She quietly placed her hand on You Su's slightly trembling forearm.

You Su stared blankly, "Will Mistress take me flying? Will she...?"

He Shutong was taken aback at first, a hint of shyness showing in the corner of her eyes, but then a determined light immediately shone in her eyes, because as You Su's master, she could not shirk her responsibility to teach and help her disciple.

"If a fledgling eagle is afraid of heights, its mother will carry it and leap off a cliff. This method is also commonly used when teaching the ability to transform into a fledgling, so don't be shy. I will take you into the air, and you can slowly experience it. Believe in yourself; as long as you control it properly, the Mystic Qi of heaven and earth will not want you to fall."

"I believe in my Mistress."

Seeing the panic on the boy's face disappear and hearing the boy's immense trust in her, He Shutong still had some hesitation deep in her heart, finally made up her mind.

The fragrance of lotus suddenly intensified.

He Shutong gazed at the boy's approaching face, she suddenly felt the ice silk shawl around her waist being rolled up by Mystic Qi, wrapping around their wrists like flowing Moon Essence.

"I won't use my full strength."

A cool, clear voice slipped into his ear, and before You Su could react, a feeling of weightlessness washed over him like a tidal wave. The volcanic heat wave rushed towards him, and he lost all balance, swaying precariously like a bird with a broken wing.

He Shutong lightly touched the air with her toes. Seeing the boy's panic, she felt anxious. Her protective instincts, coupled with her accustomed habit of more intimate contact in her dreams, caused her to pull upwards and blurt out:

"Hold me."

You Su instinctively wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and when his chin rested on her shoulder, the fragrance of lotus blossoms from her long black hair brushed against his nose.

He Shutong's frost-colored skirt billowed like crane wings in the fierce wind. You Su could clearly feel the taut curve of her back. As her Mystic Qi circulated, her butterfly-shaped shoulder blades fluttered like wings beneath the light gauze. With each movement, the ice silk around her waist tightened by a third, pressing him more firmly against that soft, warm area.

"Feel the flow of your Mystic Qi." Her voice trembled unusually as she brushed her wide sleeve across the back of his hand, guiding it towards his spiritual platform. "Once you learn to control your own energy, you won't fall."

You Su could no longer hear clearly. The lotus fragrance lingering around his nose and the heartbeat coming from his palm resonated with each other, reminding him of several enchanting nights in his dreams.

Beneath them, the volcanic heat surged upwards, scorching their skin and leaving behind ambiguous marks from their restrained touches.

He held You Su in his arms for a long time before You Su finally loosened her grip a little.

He Shutong's face flushed, her heart already filled with unspeakable shyness, but when she discovered that You Su could also try flying, her joy and surprise surpassed everything else.

However, He Shutong overestimated her physical condition at this moment. Despite being a Void Realm cultivator, she couldn't even protect You Su with her Mystic Qi and had to resort to such a primitive posture.

Adding to the already hot weather, and the sweltering heat from the volcano beneath their feet, once their obsession with successfully carrying You Su through the flight wore off, dizziness and exhaustion immediately became apparent.

"Be careful, Mistress!"

The moment the exclamation escaped her lips, He Shutong suddenly staggered.

He watched helplessly He Shutong lost her former elegance. Instinct preceded reason, and his unfamiliar Mystic Qi, released outwards, flowed like a swallow returning to its nest, automatically connecting with the fire element Qi channels between heaven and earth. The volcanic heat flow beneath his feet seemed to solidify, supporting him firmly and holding He Shutong's waist.

A soft, warm fragrance suddenly rushed into his arms. You Su's palm was pressed against the thin gauze on He Shutong's waist, and he could clearly feel the tension in her muscles due to weightlessness, as well as the softness hidden beneath her cool appearance.

Her head rested unconsciously against his chest, the lotus scent in her hair mingling with the cool fragrance of her fine sweat, more real and more thrilling than any embrace in her dreams.

He Shutong's eyelashes trembled violently. In the instant she lost her balance, her first thought wasn't about her own safety, but rather what would happen to the boy without her protection.

But she never expected that she would fall into the boy's firm embrace the next moment. Through her soaked gauze dress, You Su's heart pounded like a war drum, each beat striking her ear.

She tried to use her Mystic Qi to push him away, but found that her power of penetrating emptiness was as weak as that of a spiritual cultivator, and she couldn't even grasp You Su's sleeve with her fingertips.

"Mistress, I can fly now."

You Su's voice came from above, carrying the certainty of someone emerging from a cocoon.

His expression turned serious, showing no trace of joy, only self-reproach.

In truth, he had truly found the feeling of reaching the Feather Transformation Realm through dual cultivation with Miss Xue Ruo. He was far less clumsy than he appeared. He simply wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to his Mistress, but he didn't expect to cause Mistress to lose her composure.

He Shutong quietly looked up and met his burning gaze. The young man's eyes reflected her flushed face and the wisp of hair at her temple that was slightly curled by the heat.

She then realized with a start that she was being held in You Su's arms in a princess carry, her legs unconsciously curled up, her plain silk skirt slipping down to her knees, revealing her snow-white ankles...

I'm sure... I'm dreaming, right?