The Beloved Master's Mad Dog Disciple - Chapter 51

Bo Xuenong had prepared herself to die, while Shen Yanting had resolved to fight to the bitter end. In the end, it was all a false alarm.

No one had expected the Divine Pavilion to send Wu Qingshu to handle the matter.

The Divine Pavilion was initially established by the Three Great Sects. Although Supreme Elders from other sects were later absorbed, its core members remained the rarely seen Supreme Elders of the Three Great Sects.

Each of these individuals could single-handedly intimidate an entire region, and they rarely acted collectively. When trouble arose, the nearest available member was dispatched to handle it.

Every member carried an unassigned Heavenly Talent Register, but it could only be distributed with the Divine Pavilion’s approval.

Wu Qingshu had always found some of the Divine Pavilion’s elders hypocritical. They had initially declared the rankings would be absolutely fair, just, and transparent, yet many deliberately removed their names from the list to conceal their true strength, claiming it was to protect their sect’s hidden reserves.

With such a precedent set, more and more members of the Divine Pavilion had hidden their strength over the years, making Wu Qingshu—who had openly dominated the top spot on the Talisman Cultivator rankings for over a millennium—increasingly out of place.

Wu Qingshu could understand those who concealed their true strength, but she found it hard to tolerate those who erased their names from the Path of Cultivation rankings, despite never even reaching the top ten. Why hide if you’re not even that good? she wondered. What truly annoyed her was that her own Martial Uncle was among these secretive individuals, making it impossible for her to voice her disapproval.

While being admitted to the Divine Pavilion was considered an honor, Wu Qingshu felt it was a disgrace. She never mentioned her status as a Divine Pavilion Elder, sometimes even forgetting she held the position herself. If the Divine Pavilion hadn’t assigned her this mission today, she might have completely forgotten her affiliation.

Naturally, Wu Qingshu had no intention of harming Bo Xuenong or Lanshou Village. After receiving the Divine Pavilion’s spiritual power via the ten-thousand-mile transmission array and teleportation formation, she activated the Heavenly Talent Register and tossed it to Bo Xuenong and Gui Nian’an. Then, she led Zhu Ningfu and Si Xianling to the Heavenly Cuisine Sect.

Her task was to record the Heavenly Cuisine Sect’s current state using spirit stones, document the Beast Taming Sect’s claims, and send both reports back to the Divine Pavilion.

Now that the narrative was in Wu Qingshu’s hands, she would naturally conceal the truth about Lanshou Village and Shen Yanting. Instead, she would focus on the Heavenly Cuisine Sect’s alleged mistreatment of the Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master and their cultivation of Demonic Cultivators, just as they had originally planned.

Bo Xuenong and Gui Nian’an stood at the village entrance, examining the Heavenly Talent Register in their hands and exchanging glances.

Gui Nian’an held the register, still somewhat incredulous. “Is being associated with the Divine Pavilion really that embarrassing?”

After all, this was Wu Qingshu.

Wu Qingshu was renowned as the strongest Heavenly Prodigy of her generation, even within the Cloudmist Sect, a place overflowing with exceptional talents. Given that Talisman Cultivators were inherently at a disadvantage in terms of physical prowess and combat strength against opponents of equal cultivation level, it was no surprise she looked down on everyone. Bo Xuenong found nothing strange about it.

Once I’m as strong as Wu Qingshu, she thought, I’ll follow her example: first secure a prestigious position, then disdain it. That would make me seem even more formidable.

While Bo Xuenong was inwardly reflecting on her own shortcomings, Gui Nian’an had already opened the Heavenly Talent Register to review the rankings. Both of them were listed on the Heavenly Pride Ranking: Bo Xuenong at ninety-first place and Gui Nian’an at ninety-second. The entries below them likely represented the recent additions to the list, given that all members of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect had been wiped out.

In addition to the Heavenly Pride Ranking, Bo Xuenong also appeared on the Peerless Beauty Ranking, a distinction Gui Nian’an lacked.

This ranking system judged solely on appearance, regardless of gender. It was arguably the most detached from the Path of Cultivation among all the rankings, yet its rewards were considered the most lavish. This was because the list not only offered rewards from the Divine Pavilion but also received offerings from the mortal world.

To the mortals, every Cultivator seemed immensely powerful. Unable to discern the true extent of a Cultivator’s cultivation level, they relied on appearance as the sole measure of worth.

In truth, Cultivators were not true divine beings, and mortal offerings held no practical value for them. However, for those obsessed with vanity, such tributes served as a prestigious display of status.

Shen Yanting explained that the ranking system originated when a Divine Pavilion elder, convinced of his own dashing looks and irresistible charm, desired to have his portrait displayed for all to admire his handsome visage. This led to the list being the only Divine Pavilion ranking sold to the mortal world.

Initially, the system merely catered to the elder’s vanity. But as more mortals began venerating the list’s beautiful immortals as true deities, even establishing temples to worship them, the Divine Pavilion revised its rules.

Only those who had previously appeared on other lists in the Heavenly Talent Register would have their portraits displayed. If half the members of the Divine Pavilion believed someone deserved a place on the Peerless Beauty Ranking, their portrait would be hung in the Heavenly Talent Register for three days, allowing everyone to view it.

The ranking was determined by the number of votes received during those three days. Anyone with a Heavenly Talent Register—whether issued by the Divine Pavilion or purchased from them—could participate. If a candidate’s final vote count surpassed that of someone already on the list, they would take their place.

The Divine Pavilion’s original intentions were threefold: first, to ensure that those with temples in the mortal realm possessed genuine abilities to protect their worshippers; second, to prevent individuals lacking self-defense capabilities from being targeted by Demonic Cultivators and Joyous Union Cultivators; and third, to help mortals understand that cultivators were not true divine beings, discouraging the mythologizing of these rankings and the construction of temples.

Unexpectedly, allowing mortals to vote only intensified their fervor for building temples. One city even signed an eternal cooperation agreement with a Great Sect due to their shared faith in a particular individual. The Sect, having tasted the benefits of this arrangement, was reluctant to relinquish such advantages. This made it difficult for Elders who had initially advocated abolishing the rankings to raise the issue again.

To prevent the rankings from becoming overcrowded, the number of listed individuals was gradually reduced. Initially, the top 100 were listed, then 50, then 40, and finally 30. The reductions stopped at 30, as any further cuts would have pushed the original ancestor—the one who had created the ranking to flaunt his handsome looks—off the list entirely.

Legend has it that this ancestor, desperate to maintain his position, introduced a new rule five centuries ago.

This rule allowed those already on the Peerless Beauty Ranking to receive additional votes from various sources. As a result, the longer someone remained on the list, the more votes they accumulated, making it increasingly difficult for newcomers to climb the ranks. After all, the voting period lasted only three days.

In the Cultivation World, where strength reigned supreme, most people showed little interest in such rankings. The primary enthusiasts were ordinary folk living in cities with access to the Divine Pavilion’s industries. Few cared about the ancestor’s underhanded tactics.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as Bo Xuenong.

Thanks to this ranking, Shen Yanting held the top position.

Bo Xuenong had just been placed in the three-day voting pool and was currently in the Peerless Beauty Ranking’s pending zone, alongside a male cultivator newly added to the Heavenly Pride Ranking.

Her eyes burned as she stared at her name and the male cultivator’s, completely absorbed.

Shen Yanting sensed something was off with Bo Xuenong. “Nong’er, what are you thinking about?”

Bo Xuenong pointed to her name, which was flashing with a faint golden light, indicating votes from others. “Master, my name is flashing faster than his. I think I can climb this ranking.”

There wasn’t any particular reason, except that all the names on the list were golden—the same color as Shen Yanting’s name, which she had long coveted.

Ideally, she wanted to be ranked second, so her name would appear right next to Shen Yanting’s.

Driven by this ambition, Bo Xuenong glanced at the second-ranked name. Last time Shen Yanting had shown her the Heavenly Talent Register, she had only focused on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, remembering only that Shen Yanting was first. Now, she noticed the second name was an ominous one:

Cheng Huaizhou.

The Male Lead.

Why him?!

Having spotted the Male Lead, Bo Xuenong wasn’t surprised to find the Female Lead’s name in third place.

Weren’t the rules changed to make it harder for those lower down to climb the rankings? How did Cheng Huaizhou and Yu Cenwan get so high? Is this just the Male Lead’s charm at work?

Wait a minute.

Fourth place: Wu Qingshu. Fifth place: He Shuyan. Sixth place: Tan Ruolian…

Bo Xuenong hadn’t realized the extent of it until she looked closely, and the sight startled her.

Every single person on the list was a Target from the True Love Plate. Out of the twenty-two Targets in total, twenty had made the ranking.

Only Bo Xuenong and Zhu Ningfu’s niece, Zhu Miaotong, were missing. Zhu Miaotong’s exclusion was understandable—the Divine Pavilion didn’t recognize members of the Demon Sect. But Bo Xuenong couldn’t shake the suspicion that the ranking was deliberately targeting her.

She tried to reassure herself that the Peerless Beauty Ranking prioritized cultivation strength first. Only those qualified for other lists in the Heavenly Talent Register based on their power would then be judged on appearance. After all, the narrative of the novel focused on these characters. They revolved around the male and female leads, who possessed extraordinary Innate Talent and frequently stumbled upon resources, so their strength couldn’t be weak. And if they were also attractive… well, that was understandable.

Couldn’t the Male Lead just die already and give me his second-place spot?

But even if she killed him, Yu Cenwan would simply take second place. Her name still wouldn’t appear next to Shen Yanting’s.

Bo Xuenong’s fleeting goodwill toward Yu Cenwan vanished instantly, and she couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Shen Yanting, hearing her sigh, looked puzzled.

Though Bo Xuenong carried a bronze mirror daily, it was only to ensure her fake smile remained perfect, not for self-admiration.

No matter how beautiful someone was, they were doomed in Bo Xuenong’s presence. She showed no mercy, neither pitying the fair nor sparing the weak. Why, then, was she so concerned about a ranking that had nothing to do with cultivation prowess? Could it be for temple offerings?

Offerings were useless to them, and likely equally meaningless to Bo Xuenong.

Her ancestor had been a Divine Beast capable of absorbing the power of incense, but her bloodline had long since diluted.

Shen Yanting couldn’t fathom Bo Xuenong’s motives, but Gui Nian’an immediately chimed in, “Miss Bo, you’re stunningly beautiful. If you think you deserve to be on this list, I’ll buy a copy of the Single-List Heavenly Beauty Compendium tomorrow and vote for you.”

“Thank you!” Bo Xuenong’s gaze toward Gui Nian’an was sincere and fervent. “Could you buy a few more copies?”

Gui Nian’an replied without hesitation, “Of course!”

Bo Xuenong’s lips curved into a pleased smile. “Gui Nian’an, you’re quite a decent person.”

At this, Shen Yanting finally understood: Bo Xuenong wasn’t merely interested in the list; she desperately wanted to be on it.

Shen Yanting frowned, “Nong’er, this list is pointless and will only invite trouble.”

She had been tormented by this worry for so long, and she didn’t want Bo Xuenong to fall into the same trap. But Bo Xuenong’s motives were far simpler. She raised the White Porcelain Doll slightly and pointed to the golden characters beneath Shen Yanting’s name. “Master, I want to be ranked here, with my name right next to yours.”

Shen Yanting finally realized she had overcomplicated the matter. The young girl before her seemed to revolve solely around her.

Bo Xuenong wasn’t concerned about temple offerings or competitive rankings; she simply wanted to be close to Shen Yanting.

This utterly simple motive left Shen Yanting stunned for a long moment.

When she finally regained her composure, she followed Bo Xuenong’s gaze to the Divine Pavilion Rankings. Shen Yanting’s name topped the list, while Bo Xuenong’s was at the very bottom of the provisional list. Thirty names separated them, each one like a thorny path impossible to traverse without sustaining wounds.

The rankings weren’t long; compared to other lists with hundreds of entrants, this one was remarkably short.

Yet… Shen Yanting still felt the distance was too great.

It would be too difficult for Bo Xuenong to climb up, and equally difficult for Shen Yanting to fall down.

Why would I fall?

Perhaps because she had never cared for such superficial fame among non-cultivators. Or perhaps… perhaps because she wanted to fulfill Bo Xuenong’s wish.

Shen Yanting’s fingers curled slightly as her gaze lingered on Bo Xuenong’s name. “I’ve never taken a Youth Preservation Pill. When my appearance fades with age, I’ll naturally fall down the rankings. Why are you so fixated… on this list?”

She wanted to subtly suggest to Bo Xuenong that she could fall down to be with her.

She had intended to say “second,” but ultimately swallowed the hint and gave a different answer.

Her heart, which should have long returned to its proper place, still stubbornly clung to its deviation from the correct path, filling Shen Yanting with overwhelming panic.

Shen Yanting felt as if she were being roasted alive, unable to escape, with no retreat. Intense shame and burning heat enveloped her simultaneously. She stole a quiet breath.

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Bo Xuenong remained oblivious to Shen Yanting’s complex emotions, as she usually acted according to her heart’s desires. She gently tapped the White Porcelain Doll’s back, lowering her voice to a soft whisper, “Master won’t fall. I’ll climb up to be with you. Not just on this ranking—on every list you’re on, I want to be right beside you.”

Shen Yanting scrutinized Bo Xuenong’s sincerity. “Is this really so important to you?”

“Very important.” Bo Xuenong glanced at the rankings again. “If only Master could be first on every list, and I could be second.”

That way, she could stay close to Shen Yanting and earn the right to be her blade.

Anyone who tried to dethrone the first-place holder would have to contend with the second-place guardian first. She would handle the threats, while Shen Yanting remained high above, untouchable.

Bo Xuenong was deeply satisfied with her vision of the future, but Shen Yanting held a different view. “Nong’er,” she said, “the student should surpass the master. You shouldn’t always try to be a step behind me. Don’t you want to protect me? How can you protect me if you’re not stronger than I am?”

Bo Xuenong looked at Shen Yanting with conflicted emotions. “But Master, no matter how strong I become, you would never fight me.”

Another long silence stretched between them.

The tremor in Shen Yanting’s heart was too clear to ignore. She pressed her lips together, unable to speak.

She had never realized how easily she could be moved. Whenever Bo Xuenong revealed her genuine, innocent desires, Shen Yanting couldn’t suppress the fluttering in her chest.

Perhaps it was because she knew too well the true, bloodthirsty nature of Bo Xuenong that she recognized the extraordinary value of her sincerity. Shen Yanting finally believed that Bo Xuenong would truly suppress her Fierce Beast Bloodline entirely to please her. When she had spoken those words to Wu Qingshu, there had been an element of risk, but now she was certain.

Just as Wu Qingshu had said, Bo Xuenong was indeed exceptionally devoted.

Bo Xuenong valued her almost above all else.

Shen Yanting closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. A pang of guilt rose in her heart. “Nong’er, if I were to harm someone you hold dear, would you still refuse to fight me?”

The bl00d-drinking, flesh-eating feral beasts had met a deserved end, yet the thought that they were Bo Xuenong’s kin still stirred a sense of remorse.

It wasn’t guilt toward them.

It was that she couldn’t bear Bo Xuenong’s overwhelming kindness.

Bo Xuenong gently tapped the White Porcelain Doll, signaling her to turn around and face her.

The White Porcelain Doll’s back stiffened slightly, but she shifted nonetheless.

Bo Xuenong finally held Shen Yanting close, her burning gaze engulfing her instantly. “Master is the most important person to me. Anyone who dares to raise a hand against Master is in the wrong. Master shouldn’t hesitate to harm them—even killing them would be justified.”

If Bo Xuenong had known those people were her relatives, she might not have spoken so fiercely.

Shen Yanting’s head lowered involuntarily. “What if I struck first?”

“Then they were still in the wrong.” Bo Xuenong continued to smile foolishly. “If someone as kind as Master was provoked to strike first, they must have gone too far.”

How can someone have two sets of rules?

The soft words that had reached Shen Yanting’s lips remained unspoken.

She pointed toward the village. “Nong’er, let’s go back.”

Gui Nian’an was remarkably perceptive. Throughout their conversation, she hadn’t uttered a single word, her movements so subtle as if afraid to disturb them.

When Shen Yanting suggested returning, Gui Nian’an hurried toward the village’s edge.

Having finally returned to Lanshou Village, she felt uneasy being separated from the villagers even for a moment.

Some villagers of Lanshou Village had voluntarily chosen death, while others had died of heartbreak after their children betrayed the village. Still others had taken their own lives upon seeing their children’s corpses. Counting the recently rescued Fu Yunqing and Gui Nian’an, only sixty-seven people remained. Many were still unconscious, and those who were awake were emotionally distraught. Further arrangements would have to wait until the following day.

Gui Nianqin assigned Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting to the same small courtyard as before.

This time, however, Fu Yunqing did not stay with them.

Fu Yunqing returned to the Gui Family home with Gui Nianqin and the others, settling into the Gui Family residence as she had in her childhood.

Bo Xuenong had already quietly dealt with the Otherworld Soul inhabiting Fu Yunqing’s body, eliminating the immediate threat to her life. With the lifespan issue soon to be resolved, Bo Xuenong and the others no longer needed to keep a constant watch over her, allowing her to stay with the Gui Family without worry.

Moreover, their paths would soon diverge.

They needed to get used to not having Fu Yunqing’s constant chatter around.

Xiang Yu, though unharmed, had never witnessed so much death before. Exhausted, she retreated to her room in the courtyard to rest.

Bo Xuenong, however, didn’t rest. At Shen Yanting’s request, she first went to check on the unconscious Feng Yingbo in the room she shared with Feng Jin.

The unconscious Feng Yingbo was a stark contrast to her usual self—her face gaunt, her lips pale.

Cold sweat continued to bead on Feng Yingbo’s forehead, and she occasionally murmured in her sleep, calling for her mother in increasingly helpless and pitiful tones. The bright, cheerful girl they knew was nowhere to be seen.

It was only now that Bo Xuenong truly understood the severity of Feng Yingbo’s underlying injuries.

A mere minor wound had brought her to this state.

If she were to suffer a more serious injury, would she simply perish on the spot?

Feng Jin, who usually seemed indifferent to Feng Yingbo, now sat vigil by her bedside, not daring to close her eyes.

Despite her own exhaustion from the day’s ordeal, Feng Jin’s gaze flickered upward as Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting approached. “Martial Aunt Shen, Eldest Senior Sister,” she greeted softly.

Bo Xuenong gently stroked Feng Jin’s head, her voice softening to a soothing murmur. “Don’t worry too much. Aunt Feng will be alright.”

Leaning against the bed, Feng Jin rarely experienced such warmth from Bo Xuenong. The floating boat seemed to find renewed stability, its water sounds growing slightly louder. “Eldest Senior Sister, if it weren’t for me, Feng Yingbo wouldn’t have…”

The words slipped out before she realized Shen Yanting was still present.

Feng Jin quickly swallowed the rest of her sentence, telepathically whispering to Bo Xuenong, “If she hadn’t drained so much of her vital energy to me, weakening her foundation, she wouldn’t be in such a critical state.”

Bo Xuenong gently stroked Feng Jin’s head, her touch softening slightly. She replied telepathically, “Xiao Jin, if it weren’t for you, she would have died long ago.”

This wasn’t mere speculation.

The original novel contained no plot involving Feng Yingbo.

If Feng Jin hadn’t arrived here with the System, imbuing that fruit with true life, Feng Yingbo would have stubbornly insisted on sharing her life force with it, ultimately sacrificing herself. This was exactly the kind of thing Feng Yingbo would do.

Feng Jin felt somewhat comforted. As her heart calmed, she remembered something important. “Eldest Senior Sister, have you checked the System Panel? We might be about to strike it rich!”

Bo Xuenong realized she hadn’t checked it in a while.

While Shen Yanting was tending to Feng Yingbo, Bo Xuenong pulled up the System Panel—visible only to her and Feng Jin. To her astonishment, the Points she had just spent had already replenished to three thousand. Accompanying this windfall was a flood of new notifications on the True Love Endures Plate:

Deputy Little Tail received +100 Points from Silver-Tier Wu Qingshu’s Maternal Princess Carry.

Deputy Little Tail received +200 Points from Silver-Tier Wu Qingshu’s Motherly Heart.

Deputy Little Tail received +100 Points from Silver-Tier Zhu Ningfu’s Motherly Embrace.

This…

What’s going on?

The System only allows one Deputy, right? Who is this little tagalong?

Seeing that all the Points she’s earning come from Zhu Ningfu and Wu Qingshu, could it be Si Xianling?

Feng Jin, sensing Bo Xuenong’s confusion, interjected, “Eldest Senior Sister, it seems to be because of the Parasitic Gu. Si Xianling’s life is now bound to yours, so it counts as you sharing a single life. Therefore, all the Points she earns from Targets are credited to you.”

So, she’s finally struck gold.

Given Si Xianling’s extremely close mother-daughter relationship with Zhu Ningfu and Wu Qingshu—both Silver-Tier Targets—earning over a thousand Points daily shouldn’t be difficult.

What’s odd is that when she exchanged Points for the Soul-Devouring Gu for Fu Yunqing, these Point notifications hadn’t appeared yet.

Just as Bo Xuenong was about to ask Feng Jin, she realized Si Xianling would need time to fully absorb the power transferred from her Bloodline. It’s likely Si Xianling only completed the absorption process recently.

Recalling the recent “child-snatching” drama between Zhu Ningfu and Wu Qingshu, and the missed Points for Zhu Ningfu’s desperate embrace of Si Xianling, Bo Xuenong felt a pang of regret. Even more frustrating was the realization that even with Points, they couldn’t help Feng Yingbo. The System only allowed exchanges for items from this world and a few universal special abilities.

Bl00d essence could only be replenished slowly.

This irritated Bo Xuenong, though not out of sudden altruism.

She simply couldn’t bear to see the worry etched on Shen Yanting’s brow as she fretted over Feng Yingbo. If Shen Yanting cared for Feng Yingbo, then Bo Xuenong wanted Feng Yingbo to be well.

Shen Yanting stayed in Feng Yingbo’s room for a long time, until the sky outside had completely darkened. Only then did she allow Bo Xuenong to escort her away.

Bo Xuenong cradled Shen Yanting against her chest, her hands raised protectively. Though her eyes seemed fixed on the path ahead, her gaze remained entirely focused on Shen Yanting.

Shen Yanting couldn’t help but notice the burning intensity of that gaze.

She turned back, asking uncertainly, “Nong’er, what are you thinking about?”

When Shen Yanting looked at her, Bo Xuenong’s gaze shot over like a bolt of lightning, her eyes burning with fervent anticipation as they locked onto Shen Yanting’s. “Master, if I were injured, would you worry about me the same way you worry about Aunt Feng?”

Her foolish disciple asked a foolish question.

Why couldn’t Bo Xuenong ever wish for something good?

Getting injured was hardly a good thing. If she could, Shen Yanting would wish that everyone around her would never suffer harm.

She should have scolded Bo Xuenong for her wild thoughts, but gazing into those hopeful eyes, she instinctively continued, “Only more, never less.”

Does that mean I’m more important than Feng Yingbo?!

Bo Xuenong was overjoyed that Shen Yanting placed her in such a vital position. She had already glimpsed, through Feng Yingbo’s unconsciousness, how deeply Shen Yanting would worry if she were ever seriously injured and unconscious. She was both gratified by the extent of Shen Yanting’s concern and heartbroken by her Master’s helplessness.

Straining her voice into a whisper, she said, “Master, I’ll try my best not to get hurt.”

Shen Yanting stared into Bo Xuenong’s eyes and saw through her pretense: Bo Xuenong was actually worried about her.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise and instinctively turned away, avoiding Bo Xuenong’s pitying gaze.

The carefully maintained master-disciple relationship was drifting further and further off course, leaving Shen Yanting feeling helpless.

Bo Xuenong carried Shen Yanting back to their room. The village had just endured a brutal battle and revenge, and corpses still lay uncleaned everywhere. The stench of bl00d drifted in through the windows, clinging to Bo Xuenong’s skin. If not for Shen Yanting’s constant presence, she might have succumbed to her bloodlust long ago.

She decided to wash.

Bo Xuenong found a bathing tub and meticulously scrubbed it clean before filling it with water. With a gentle application of the Fire Condensation Art, the water warmed instantly.

Steam rose from the tub, enveloping the figure standing beside it.

The humid warmth crawled across her skin. If not for Shen Yanting cradled in her palms, Bo Xuenong would have plunged headfirst into the water.

Yes.

She hadn’t even considered putting Shen Yanting down.

From the moment Bo Xuenong retrieved the tub and carried it into the room, Shen Yanting had a growing sense of unease. Now, seeing Bo Xuenong still holding her, that feeling intensified.

She hadn’t wanted to speak rashly, but when Bo Xuenong began untying her sash, Shen Yanting couldn’t help but call out, “Nong’er, shouldn’t you put Master down first?”

Bo Xuenong cradled the White Porcelain Doll, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Master, you have bl00d on you too. Shouldn’t you wash as well?”

Together?

Shen Yanting wished she could be deaf.

Or better yet, blind.

The room was small and lacked even a screen. Even if Bo Xuenong truly put her down, Shen Yanting wouldn’t know where to look to avoid witnessing this person preparing to bathe stark naked right in front of her. Shen Yanting sighed inwardly, once again questioning how she had taught such a proper young woman to become like this.

Shen Yanting exhaled a heavy breath and pointed at the bathtub. “The tub is too big. I can’t bathe in it.”

Bo Xuenong, of course, knew that if Shen Yanting’s current body were placed in the tub, it would sink straight to the bottom. But she could simply continue holding Shen Yanting.

Bo Xuenong patted her chest confidently. “Master, you have me! You won’t fall in.”

If only I were deaf, Shen Yanting thought with a hint of regret.

Bo Xuenong’s words made her vision darken, and what was worse, Bo Xuenong clearly saw nothing wrong with her suggestion.

Shen Yanting took a deep breath. “You want to wash me?”

“Yes!” Bo Xuenong nodded vigorously, her face radiating eagerness.

Shen Yanting deliberately adopted a stern expression. “Nong’er, you’re not a hooligan, are you?”

Bo Xuenong hesitated, then finally realized her mistake.

The person before her wasn’t just her Master, but also the one she loved.

She had been so focused on doting on Shen Yanting that she completely overlooked the fact that even a Porcelain Doll needs to remove her wedding robes before bathing. While she wouldn’t mind Shen Yanting seeing her undressed, Shen Yanting would undoubtedly be mortified to be seen. She had done something foolish that would likely disgust Shen Yanting.

Bo Xuenong slapped herself across the face, muttering in frustration, “Master, I’m not a hooligan.”

She was usually so obedient and well-behaved, but this time her mind had simply failed her.

Shen Yanting had never intended to scold her and harbored no resentment.

Bo Xuenong never held back when punishing herself. The slap left a vivid red mark on her snow-white cheek, causing a sharp pang in Shen Yanting’s chest. She pressed her fingertip against Bo Xuenong’s cheek, tracing the burning heat of the mark. “I don’t recall ever teaching you to strike yourself like this.”

Still troubled by the “rascal” label, Bo Xuenong rushed to place Shen Yanting on the bed, finding her a place to rest.

She immediately knelt by the bedside, raising three fingers to swear, “Master, I absolutely do not covet you!”

Afraid Shen Yanting wouldn’t believe her, she repeated, “Absolutely not!”

Bo Xuenong seemed to think two repetitions weren’t enough to clear her name. She pinched her throat, adding pitifully, “Master, I really don’t.”

The more she protested, the more it sounded like she was protesting too much.

If this person weren’t Bo Xuenong, Shen Yanting likely wouldn’t believe her claim of having no ulterior motives. But Bo Xuenong had acted foolishly in front of her countless times before. Perhaps she genuinely believed that if she didn’t say it enough, Shen Yanting wouldn’t believe her.

It couldn’t be that Bo Xuenong was hiding something, just like Shen Yanting herself.

Shen Yanting inwardly mocked herself, then gently stroked the palm print on Bo Xuenong’s face with her fingertip. “Don’t hit yourself again.”