You Wouldn't Want Anyone to Know the Secret of Your Cultivation Falling, Would You?

Elsewhere.

Fairy Cloud Peak—Fragrant Cloud Hall.

Meng Yutong publicly claimed she was in seclusion, but in truth, she was leisurely bathing in the Spirit Pool.

Mist filled the Spirit Pool, while dense spiritual energy gathered into Spirit Spring Water that flowed down into the pool from above.

Spirit Spring Water could not only wash away foreign impurities clinging to the body, but also cleanse the unrest stirred within the soul.

Yet before she could enjoy herself for long with her eyes closed, she suddenly sensed someone entering the hall.

Her divine sense instantly discerned the visitor, leaving her somewhat surprised.

One reason for her seclusion was to subtly convey the impression that she had been injured.

The other was to fish for trouble, to see whether her good disciple would take the bait.

But the visitor was not Ye Tian.

"Why is this little fellow sneaking around like a thief? Does he need something from me?"

At that moment,

Lin Heng crept up to the chair in the center of the hall, carved with dragon and phoenix patterns.

Only four candles were lit within the hall, and the dim light lent the place an austere, mysterious air.

"Master?"

He called softly. When there was no response for quite some time, he immediately relaxed.

"Just as I expected, Master's cultivation has fallen to the point where she can no longer even use her divine sense."

"Otherwise, she would have discovered me the instant I stepped into the hall!"

Lin Heng felt as though he had been given a shot in the arm, and his confidence grew considerably.

The front of Fragrant Cloud Hall was where matters were discussed, while the rear was Meng Yutong's private chambers.

It had to be said that her chambers were several times grander than their Disciple Palaces.

There were gardens, spiritual cattails, long pavilions, and rugged artificial mountains, with exotic spiritual plants all along the way.

Meng Yutong stepped out of the Spirit Pool, quickly changed her clothes, sat on the bed, and drew the curtains shut.

Knock, knock, knock~

"Who is it?!"

A weak yet startled voice came from within.

"Haha! This is the place!"

"Master, it's me! Lin Heng!"

Lin Heng pushed open the door and entered. The entire room was brightly lit, and a screen stood between the bed and the doorway.

"Heng'er? What do you need?"

Her voice is so weak. Sure enough, she can't go on.

Jokes were jokes and mischief was mischief, but he still had to be cautious with today's move.

Lin Heng knew Meng Yutong was watching him from behind the screen, so he bent respectfully and said, "This disciple heard from Senior Sister that Master suffered some injuries, so I came to visit you."

"There has been much discussion outside. Everyone says Master was seriously hurt, and the other Elders all wish for you to come forward and meet them."

A smile curled at Meng Yutong's lips. Was he testing her?

Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard:

Why not just do it directly!

The sound was faint, yet every word was incomparably clear.

???

Do it directly?

Do what?

Swish!

The screen was yanked aside. Meng Yutong, behind the curtains, was instantly startled and could not help shifting back a step.

Lin Heng naturally noticed her reaction, and he was overjoyed.

Hahaha! Master, you must be breaking out in a cold sweat now!

"This Master merely suffered a minor injury. It is nothing serious. In a few days, I will naturally go to the Main Peak and meet the other Elders."

"If you have nothing else to say, withdraw!"

Meng Yutong restrained her aura and deliberately put on a guilty appearance.

She wanted to see what Lin Heng intended to do.

"Oh?"

Lin Heng's tone became somewhat strange.

"Really, Master? If that is so, then I can rest easy."

"Of course!"

"Master, I heard that you had Senior Sister Yun Yao supervise me while I reclaimed wasteland at the back mountain, but I do not particularly like that. This disciple wishes to learn the methods of cultivation from Master."

"Heng'er, this Master is tempering your perseverance and laying a foundation for your future cultivation. You must understand your Master! Besides, was this not what you liked doing most? Could it be that you deceived your Master?"

"No, no, no!" Lin Heng took two steps forward. "Master, I understand you too well! Don't you simply want to torment me? But... from this moment on, some things will no longer be up to you!"

"Impudence! What did you say?!"

Meng Yutong flew into a rage, her voice returning to its usual icy coldness.

Yet in Lin Heng's eyes, the more she acted this way, the more it proved how panicked she was!

From now on, aside from Ye Tian, you will have to listen to me too! I am determined to become a Rebel Disciple!

My father is the Sect Leader, so you would not dare do anything to me. If word of your declining cultivation got out, not only would Green Pavilion Sect have no place for you, there would also be people outside eyeing you like tigers eyeing their prey.

With that thought,

He strode quickly to the curtains and pulled them aside in one sweep.

Lin Heng was instantly stunned.

Because she had hurried out after bathing, Meng Yutong had not anticipated Lin Heng making such a move, so she had merely thrown on a thin nightdress.

The pale red nightdress clung closely to her curvaceous body, making her skin appear even fairer and more luminous.

Paired with her present expression of shock and humiliation, she was simply too beautiful for words.

Lin Heng swallowed.

Just imagine:

An unparalleled beauty languidly reclining against the bed, her legs crossed, one jade-like arm resting upon her knee.

Those alluring curves and her snowy, fragrant shoulders were fully exposed to the air, giving off an enticing fragrance...

"Gulp..."

Lin Heng swallowed again. No wonder Ye Tian would risk his life no matter what to take down Meng Yutong.

If it were anyone else, who could miss such a chance to defy one's Master?

Meng Yutong stared at him in utter disbelief.

He... actually dared to profane me?

And what did he mean just now when he said the sect would have no place for me and the outside world was watching me like tigers eyeing their prey?

Even if her cultivation truly had been damaged, given all her years of painstaking contributions to Green Pavilion Sect, the sect would not abandon her.

"Bastard, you actually dare offend me?!"

Meng Yutong covered her chest with her left hand to prevent him from peeping, while her right hand struck out in feigned fury.

Her wrist was directly caught by Lin Heng with ease.

Meng Yutong's acting was superb. Her emotions and expression were perfectly in place, without revealing the slightest flaw.

"Master, stop pretending. I know you are no different from an ordinary person now. I truly did not expect your cultivation to fall so quickly."

"Rebel Disciple, release me at once! Do you know what you are doing?"

"Of course I know. Today, I am going to defy my Master!"

"Defy one's Master?!"

The moment Meng Yutong heard those two words, she almost could not hold herself back.

It was not enough that one person had defied his Master—Lin Heng actually wanted to do such a despicable thing as well.

She had cast the bait to catch Ye Tian, only for Lin Heng to bite instead.

Just look at that little expression. It truly gave her a wicked sense of amusement.

But do not worry, I am not as beastly as Ye Tian. He defies his Master for pleasure; I defy my Master for cultivation resources.

Lin Heng had not originally had any thoughts about her, but the matter of the secret realm had made him realize that some things could not be handled merely by lying low.

When it was time to fight for something, he had to act decisively. He had to seize every chance to soar—take a gamble, and a bicycle might become a motorcycle.

As for whether he would "enjoy" defying his Master, although Lin Heng admired the ways of Cao Wei... he would not stoop to trailing behind Ye Tian to steal scraps of meat.

That fellow swung both ways day and night; never mind whether Meng Yutong could endure it.

If things got mixed up, who knew whose child it would be? The thought alone was disgusting.

He... does not covet my body?

Meng Yutong put aside the thought of suppressing him and decided to keep acting, to see what other tricks he intended to play.

Lin Heng was definitely not as simple as he appeared. He must have learned some other secret.

The facts would prove that her choice was correct.

"Master, do not think of resisting."

"After all, you wouldn't want anyone to know the secret of your cultivation falling, would you?!"

Lin Heng imitated the "movie emperor's lines" he had learned from film and television dramas, even wearing a wicked expression.

The moment those words were spoken, it was as though they had become tainted by some forbidden karmic bond, making Meng Yutong's body tremble slightly.

"Hiss~"

Why do I feel such suffocation, as though my fate has been grasped by someone else...

An illusion. It must be an illusion!

Meng Yutong suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, her tone still icy. "So what if this matter gets out? Do you think you can control me with that alone?"

"Tsk, tsk~" Lin Heng shook his head helplessly. "Once I finish what I have to say, you will understand the situation you are in!"

He did not know that Meng Yutong was deliberately trying to trick him into revealing exactly what secret he knew.

To Lin Heng, telling her this part of the story did not matter. It would even kill two birds with one stone, becoming leverage he could use to keep her in check.