Master, my head is spinning

Su Lang finished reporting what had happened in Thousand Calamities Valley, only to discover... his master seemed to be lost in thought?

"Where is your junior sister?"

Huh? His very first question was about Ning Xiang?

Naturally, Su Lang would not tell Lu Qingchen that his disciple was hiding from him, so he said, "Junior Sister suffered a minor injury in the secret realm and went back to rest."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Qingchen vanished from before him.

Before Ning Xiang could enter Lingling Cottage, she spotted Xie Feihong lying in wait for her like a hunter beside a tree stump.

The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up, and he came sprinting over.

Ning Xiang sidestepped lightly. Xie Feihong stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face, eating dirt.

"Junior Sister, did you know someone on Heaven-Question is writing fanfiction about you and Master... no, about the War God and Ye Fan? I simply couldn't bear to read any more, so I came to tell you!" Xie Feihong declared indignantly.

Liar!

You're just here to watch the fun, and the bigger the mess, the better!

Ning Xiang could not be bothered to expose him. She waved a hand listlessly. "It's fine. I authorized it." She stepped toward the house.

Xie Feihong followed her like a little tail. "Junior Sister, Master-no, I mean Ye Fan-is so deeply devoted to the War God that his love could move heaven and earth. If I didn't know Master had no such feelings for you, I would have believed it was real."

"Stop right there! That's all the lustful fantasy of that muscle-bound sword cultivator called Bai Yueguang. Under my pen, there are no romantic feelings whatsoever between Ye Fan and the War God!"

"Didn't you just say you authorized it?" Xie Feihong seized on the hole in her words. "It's fine. Who in the Profound Heaven Sect doesn't know you're hopelessly in love with Master?"

His reminder finally jogged Ning Xiang's memory. Right, why was she trying so hard to clear things up? Given the role she was playing, shouldn't she be doing her best to make it seem true?

At that thought, Ning Xiang nodded emphatically. "Exactly. That's right. My devotion to Master will never waver. I believe that sooner or later, my sincerity will move him. Master will surely realize that I alone am the one who loves him most."

Ning Xiang looked so utterly sincere that she nearly moved herself to tears.

"M-Master..." Xie Feihong stammered.

"Since when did you develop a stutter?" Ning Xiang snapped.

But Xie Feihong's gaze went straight past her, fixing on someone behind her.

Ning Xiang's heart lurched. How could she possibly dare turn around?

"Second Senior Brother, my head hurts so much. I'm going back to rest. See you!"

Before she could slip inside, a hand with well-defined knuckles blocked her path.

"Where were you injured?"

Lu Qingchen looked her over from head to toe.

"Huh?"

"Your eldest senior brother said you were injured in Thousand Calamities Valley."

"Oh! Right! My head. I fell into a hole and hit my head." Ning Xiang hastily pressed a hand to her forehead and spoke "weakly."

"That's not right. Weren't you as lively as a dragon and tiger just now?" Xie Feihong asked suspiciously.

Would it kill you not to undermine me? Ning Xiang shot him a fierce glare, then resumed her pitiful expression.

"Master, we haven't seen each other for days, and your disciple has thought of you every waking moment. Have you missed me for even an instant? If Master spared even a fleeting moment to miss me, I could die content."

Lu Qingchen said, "...No."

Looking at Lu Qingchen's grim expression, Ning Xiang was wild with joy inside.

[Hahaha, I've disgusted Iceberg Lu, haven't I? When it comes to acting, I'm a professional!]

For some reason, Ning Xiang found both Lu Qingchen's and Xie Feihong's expressions rather strange. Lu Qingchen's face darkened further, while a trace of scrutiny entered Xie Feihong's eyes.

What? Had there been some flaw in her performance?

At that thought, Ning Xiang pretended to sway and slumped against Lu Qingchen.

"Master, my head is spinning. Will you help me inside?"

Ning Xiang had expected Lu Qingchen to summon the Canglang Sword and put a stop to her antics. Instead, he actually reached out to steady her, letting her lean against his shoulder.

What the hell!

Ning Xiang sprang away as though she had been electrocuted.

"Done pretending?"

Ning Xiang said solemnly, "Second Senior Brother is still here. Your disciple is thin-skinned, and I'm afraid he'll gossip once he leaves."

Xie Feihong was a little annoyed. Was he that kind of person?

Lu Qingchen glanced at him indifferently. "Feihong, go back for now."

"Master, I was planning to discuss some academic questions with Junior Sister..." Xie Feihong said hastily.

[Pah! You certainly know how to dress up an excuse. You want to discuss the plot of Divorced 10,001 Times, yet you make it sound so refined and above worldly concerns!]

Ning Xiang inwardly scorned her second senior brother.

For no apparent reason, Xie Feihong felt a chill down his back.

He hesitated. He probably should not stay here any longer, should he?

Forget it. Junior Sister was back now anyway. He could come another day to discuss the plot with her.

He gave Ning Xiang a sympathetic look. You've fallen into Master's hands. You're on your own!

"Your disciple takes his leave!" With that, Xie Feihong vanished as swiftly as the flying swan in his name.

There was really no need...

What a disloyal bastard!

Ning Xiang despised him inwardly.

"Master, your disciple will be going back as well."

Ning Xiang glanced at her courtyard gate. It was clearly only a step away, so why did it feel as though ten thousand fathoms separated her from it?

"Your master has come all the way to your door. Won't you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

"Your disciple doesn't have any good tea leaves."

"Would a cultivator care about such things?"

Ning Xiang nearly ground her pearly teeth to pieces.

[You bastard, Iceberg Lu. Fine, I'll let you taste my Kuding Tea again!]

"What are you standing there for?"

Ning Xiang hurried after him.

This was Lu Qingchen's first time entering Ning Xiang's courtyard.

The little courtyard was exceptionally elegant and beautiful, planted with unusual flowers and rare plants. A mountain spring had even been diverted inside, its flowing water tinkling pleasantly.

One glance was enough to tell that the courtyard's owner knew very well how to enjoy life.

"Master, please sit." Ning Xiang led him into the little reception room, then prepared to get up and brew Kuding Tea.

Lu Qingchen's voice rang out abruptly. "No Kuding Tea."

[You're lucky to get Kuding Tea at all! And you're still being picky!]

Ning Xiang silently cursed Iceberg Lu for being so hard to please. After some thought, she brewed a pot of milk tea, then deliberately let her hand "slip," pouring in half a jar of sugar.

Lu Qingchen stared at the tea before him, its color defying description, and did not reach for it for a long while.

"What is this?"

"This is milk tea your disciple brewed especially for you. Master, have a taste."

Could this stuff... really be drunk?

How did such a pretty young girl brew something so sinister?

"Master, do you disdain your disciple's handiwork?"

"Of course not."

Ning Xiang blinked, looking at Lu Qingchen with an expectant face. "Then why doesn't Master hurry and try it?"

Lu Qingchen's scalp prickled. Enduring immense psychological pressure, he finally lifted the cup of utterly demonic-looking tea.

After just one sip, Lu Qingchen nearly spat it out.

This stuff...

It was so sweet it made his throat seize up!!!