Rather than just being your teacher, actually...

"I know the Body Secret Art cannot be passed on lightly. How could I be so thoughtless as to ask that of Elder Han?"

Leng Yaozhu shook her head.

Only then did much of the wariness in Han Tianyi's eyes fade.

"Then what do you mean, Heavenly Phoenix?"

Leng Yaozhu pondered for a moment before saying:

"Since this disciple of mine has talent, as his teacher, I naturally don't want his abilities to go to waste."

"I came to ask Elder Han to guide his spiritual power cultivation in the future."

Han Tianyi's gaze sharpened.

"You want me to teach him my spiritual power cultivation method?"

"Although that doesn't involve the Body Sect's legacy, it is still my own legacy."

"Aren't you afraid I'll steal him away?"

Leng Yaozhu took another sip of tea.

Then she smiled radiantly.

"The accomplished need not have only one teacher."

"If Elder Han really can steal him away, I'll accept it."

"Only, if that day truly comes, please don't forget that he is first and foremost my disciple."

At her words, Han Tianyi inwardly cursed her cunning.

This woman.

She was laying her scheme out in broad daylight.

Go ahead and steal him if you like-that was what she was plainly saying.

Even if you stole him away, he would still be Leng Yaozhu's disciple first. You could only come second.

But immediately afterward, Han Tianyi thought of himself.

He had come from the Body Sect, yet wasn't he now a member of the Spirit Pagoda as well?

Perhaps it was time to change his ingrained way of thinking.

At the end of the day, the Body Sect's difficulties lay in recruiting new members.

If they abandoned their sect-minded approach and adopted an academy model instead...

Then perhaps the problem would become much simpler.

If Leng Yaozhu's new disciple was outstanding enough to contend for the position of Spirit Pagoda Master someday...

For the Body Sect, cooperation might well be the best choice.

Still, he would have to assess the boy's actual talent before making any judgment.

With that thought, Han Tianyi nodded without betraying his feelings.

"It seems the Heavenly Phoenix is very confident she can keep this child's heart."

"In that case, if you've thought it through, send him to me."

"If his aptitude really is that good, I wouldn't mind giving him a few pointers."

A smile appeared on Leng Yaozhu's face.

He was only a little child. If she couldn't even win him over...

Then she could only blame her own lack of ability if someone stole him away.

That would be fine, too.

Just as she had said, all that mattered was that he remembered she was his first teacher.

"With your assurance, Elder Han, I can rest easy."

"Once I've restored little Xun's health, I'll bring him over."

"I won't trouble you any longer, Elder Han."

Leng Yaozhu rose, saluted with clasped hands, and left the ninety-fifth floor.

Su Xun had never slept so comfortably.

It felt as though he had sunk into a cocoon of warmth and softness surrounding him on every side.

After a night of such deep sleep, his nearly depleted spiritual power had become lively again.

As his awareness returned, Su Xun was still reluctant to open his eyes and instinctively stretched beneath the covers.

Hmm?

The next moment, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

As he stretched, he touched the warmth of another person's body.

He instinctively gave it a squeeze, and the softness sent his heart racing.

Nervously, he cracked his tightly shut eyes open.

Then he saw Leng Yaozhu sitting on the floor, leaning against the bedside with her cheek propped on one hand, watching him with an amused half-smile.

One of his hands was currently pinching her faintly flushed cheek.

Uh...

"T-teacher."

Su Xun shuddered, hastily released her, and sprang up.

He stood off to the side, not daring to move a muscle.

He looked like a rank-and-file soldier at attention.

He didn't dare look at Leng Yaozhu, either.

Leng Yaozhu was dressed casually in lounging clothes.

Her shoulders were especially slippery customers; her fine silk pajamas seemed incapable of producing any friction at all.

The rest hardly needed mentioning.

Even without any deliberate display, the allure of a mature woman blossomed in full with nothing more than that casual lean.

"Come here."

Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow and patted the carpet beside her with her right hand.

A teacher's command was hard to disobey.

Su Xun could only walk over barefoot and obediently sit down.

Leng Yaozhu casually slipped an arm around the little fellow and drew him against her.

"You grew up in an orphanage. With so many children, no matter how kind the director was, they couldn't possibly take care of everyone."

"As your teacher, I understand what you've lacked since childhood."

"You don't need to be so reserved around me."

"From now on, I'll be the strength behind you. No one will be allowed to bully you."

"Rather than just being your teacher, actually, I'd much rather you think of me as family."

Leng Yaozhu gently patted Su Xun's shoulder and looked into his eyes, her expression utterly earnest, whether he understood her or not.

Held by Leng Yaozhu, Su Xun leaned against her waist.

His constantly active innate ability, Six Roots Empathy, allowed him to sense her sincerity at that moment.

And the trace of loneliness hidden in her heart.

"Teacher, I'll keep you company from now on."

Su Xun looked at Leng Yaozhu's face, half obscured by her curves, his little face full of earnestness.

Leng Yaozhu froze for a moment, then her smile deepened.

Next, she tapped the unsuspecting Su Xun's forehead with a slender, fair finger.

"You're already so good at sweet-talking women at such a young age. You're about to steal your teacher's heart!"

Su Xun felt thoroughly wronged.

He could swear to heaven.

His words just now had meant absolutely nothing beyond their literal meaning.

He considered himself someone who never forgot his roots.

He would never lightly forget anyone who had shown him kindness.

Although only a short day had passed since Leng Yaozhu took him as her disciple...

He could clearly see how she treated him.

Seeing Su Xun's aggrieved little expression, Leng Yaozhu's lips curved upward, and she couldn't help smiling.

Then she stood, stretching her tall, voluptuous figure freely before his eyes.

With a thought, she sent her clothes floating over.

After dressing casually, she led Su Xun out of her bedroom.

"This entire hundredth floor belongs to me alone."

"From now on, you'll live here with me."

At her words, Su Xun glanced around.

He was immediately astonished.

The entire hundredth floor was incredibly spacious.

Even several football fields probably wouldn't cover it.

There were even multiple levels within this hundredth floor itself.

"You can choose whichever room you like."

"Of course..."

Leng Yaozhu stopped and suddenly looked at Su Xun with a smile.

Su Xun looked puzzled.

Then he heard Leng Yaozhu say:

"Of course, you can keep sleeping in my room if you like."

Su Xun immediately broke into a sweat.

Teacher, you really want me to call you Mommy!

No!

I'm not that junior from the Val game!

Seeing his reaction, Leng Yaozhu giggled again.

Su Xun immediately realized that she was teasing him again.

He felt both helpless and warmed by it.

After all, Leng Yaozhu would never act this way if she didn't consider him one of her own.

Countless thoughts swirled through his mind, but his feet kept moving.

Before long, Su Xun had gained a general understanding of the layout of the hundredth floor that belonged exclusively to Leng Yaozhu.

Finally, he followed Leng Yaozhu to the training area.

Even the spacious training area was suffused with a faint fragrance.

Leng Yaozhu led Su Xun straight to the bathing pool beside it.

Su Xun blinked, feeling a little nervous.

Once they drew near, Leng Yaozhu said bluntly:

"Take off your clothes."