Night Search for Master's Traces! Dumplings? Sleep? An Outrageous Misunderstanding!

(Qian Renxue artwork)

Qian Renxue comfortably turned over on the soft bed, searching for a more pleasant position.

With her movement, the edge of the bath towel that had never been wrapped very tightly loosened slightly.

It further accentuated her shapely, graceful figure, like a masterpiece crafted by the gods.

Under the room's soft Soul Guiding Lamp light, her delicate skin glowed with the warm luster of ivory.

Lying on her side with one arm beneath her head, she gazed at the Soul Guiding Lamp with those distinctive golden eyes, her expression slightly unfocused.

"Lin Jiang..."

Her red lips parted as she silently murmured the name, carrying a trace of scrutiny and curiosity that even she herself had not noticed.

"Powerful experts gather beneath him, his own strength is unfathomable, and he acts with dominance and decisiveness, yet he can make such thoughtful and meticulous arrangements in the smallest details..."

"What kind of person are you, exactly?"

As her thoughts drifted, the exhaustion accumulated over the past several days surged over her like a tide.

With her body and mind completely relaxed, her long lashes fluttered lightly like butterfly wings a few times before slowly falling shut.

Her breathing gradually became even and deep. In sleep, that peerlessly beautiful face appeared especially serene and harmless as she sank into a sweet, heavy slumber.

The gentle Soul Guiding Lamp light fell softly over her, as though draping her in a veil of gold.

The night was already deep, with only sparse stars scattered across the sky.

Lin Jiang rubbed his slightly throbbing temples, feeling that today was probably the most exhausting day he had experienced since arriving on Douluo Continent.

"After being busy all day, I'm getting a little hungry..."

He rubbed his stomach and muttered to himself.

"Why not make some supper and take a walk while I'm at it? I wonder if Shou Yue has gone to rest yet. I'll try my luck over there."

Having made up his mind, he pushed open the courtyard gate and strolled beneath the moonlight toward the small courtyard where Bai Li Shou Yue and his brother lived.

The moment he stepped out, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who were staying in the side rooms of the courtyard, heard the movement.

"Zhuqing, look! Master went out!"

Ning Rongrong peered through the crack in the door, lowering her voice as she called to Zhu Zhuqing with a gossipy expression.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped closer, a trace of puzzlement in her cool eyes as well.

"Where is Master going so late at night?"

Ning Rongrong pouted, sounding a little disgruntled.

"Master really is something else. He took us as disciples during the day, but he didn't mention any teachings or cultivation at all! Could he have forgotten about us?"

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. Though she had doubts as well, she still spoke objectively.

"We shouldn't make wild guesses. Judging by Sister Mulan and the others' strength, Master must have his own unique teaching methods. Perhaps... the time has not yet come."

"The time hasn't come? I think he just doesn't care!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes shifted, and a cunning gleam flashed through them.

"How about... we follow him and take a look? Maybe we'll uncover one of Master's secrets!"

At her words, disapproval immediately appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's lovely face.

"This... isn't that inappropriate? Spying on one's elder is disrespectful!"

"Oh, Zhuqing~"

Ning Rongrong grabbed her arm and gently shook it, her tone coaxing.

"Aren't you even a little curious? Master is so powerful and mysterious—what do you think he's like in private?"

"Maybe if we follow him, we can even learn some secret technique that isn't passed down to others!"

Urged on repeatedly by Ning Rongrong, as well as the desire deep within her heart to find a path to strength, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated again and again before finally giving in, nodding almost imperceptibly.

"Then... we'll follow from afar. We absolutely can't let him discover us."

"Don't worry!"

Seeing her agree, Ning Rongrong immediately grew excited.

The two moved like nimble little cats, using the cover of night and the shadows of the buildings to silently follow behind Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang, walking ahead of them, possessed immensely powerful spiritual power.

Not long after leaving, he had already sensed the two sneaky auras behind him, both believing they had hidden themselves well.

The corner of his mouth lifted into an almost imperceptible curve. He merely assumed that his two newly accepted disciples were hungry as well, but were too embarrassed to say so and wanted to tag along for some food. Thus, he did not expose them and simply allowed them to follow.

The two trailed him from a distance all the way, watching as Lin Jiang eventually entered a warmly arranged little courtyard that carried a touch of everyday life.

"It's here!"

Ning Rongrong pulled Zhu Zhuqing behind a rockery and whispered, "Zhuqing, your hearing is sharp. Hurry and listen to what they're saying inside!"

Inside the courtyard, Bai Li Shou Yue had already come out upon hearing the commotion. He still had an apron tied around his waist, as though he had just left the kitchen.

"The Venerable One, why have you come? Xuan Ce has already gone to sleep."

Lin Jiang nodded and casually asked, "Mm. Did he properly complete the training tasks I assigned today?"

A gentle, somewhat gratified smile appeared on Bai Li Shou Yue's face.

"Thank you for your concern, The Venerable One. My brother and I both felt that we made considerable improvements today in Soul Power control and combat reactions."

"That's good."

Lin Jiang nodded in satisfaction, then rubbed his nose somewhat awkwardly.

"Um... Shou Yue, I'm a little hungry. I was wondering if you... still have anything to eat here?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Li Shou Yue's smile became even warmer.

"You came at just the right time, The Venerable One. I happened to make some dumplings today, and there are still some left. Shall I boil them for you right away?"

Lin Jiang's eyes lit up.

"Wonderful! You're still the thoughtful one, Shou Yue! Then let's have some together. If I go a day without tasting your cooking, I start to miss it!"

Outside the courtyard, behind the rockery.

Ning Rongrong eagerly shook Zhu Zhuqing's arm.

"Well? Well? Zhuqing, what did you hear?"

Zhu Zhuqing listened intently, but because of the distance and angle, coupled with the fact that the two inside were not speaking loudly the entire time, she could only catch a few vague, fragmented words.

As she tried her best to piece together what she had heard, her fair, pretty face instantly turned bright red. Even the tips of her ears were flushed crimson, and her voice trembled with disbelief and embarrassment.

"I... I think I heard... something about sleeping... getting stronger... and then Master said... together... sleep...?"

"What?! Sleeping together?!"

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes instantly widened into perfect circles. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out.

Her face was filled with shock and the excitement of having discovered some earth-shattering secret.

"No way! Could it be... could it be that they..."

In an instant, the two girls' minds uncontrollably conjured certain indescribable, heart-pounding images.

Especially when they thought of Lin Jiang's handsome, refined appearance...

Zhu Zhuqing's face was so red it seemed ready to drip blood, while her heart pounded like a drum.

After her initial shock, Ning Rongrong's unusual train of thought led her to an even more outrageous conclusion.

Lowering her voice, she spoke with the excitement of having uncovered the ultimate secret.

"Could it be... could sleeping with him... make you stronger?!"

"Is this Master and the others'... special method of cultivation to become stronger?!"

This bold speculation left the two girls frozen on the spot as they stared at each other.

Each could see the complicated emotions in the other's eyes—a mixture of extreme embarrassment, shock, and a trace of inexplicable curiosity.