Ye Ran smirked for a while, but then he suddenly sensed an uneasy atmosphere creeping in.
His palm felt slightly firm, yet strangely soft and elastic.
Upon closer inspection...
"Damn!"
He nearly lost his composure and hastily withdrew his hand.
Leng Wuyan's eyes gleamed with a sharp, murderous intent.
"Master, please allow me to explain!" Ye Ran pleaded anxiously.
"Go ahead; I'm listening," Leng Wuyan replied calmly.
"..."
Under her piercing gaze, Ye Ran swallowed hard, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
How could he explain this?
Could it be that the greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull, and her size made it impossible for him to control his hand?
It seemed like he was about to get split in two!
Although Ye Ran didn't intend for this to happen, it was a fact that couldn't be denied.
"Master, I'm truly sorry," he admitted his mistake, dropping his defenses.
A silence hung in the air.
Leng Wuyan stood up and spoke coldly, "Forget it. While you used a trick, you didn't break any rules. You've won this match."
"Consider your conditions carefully; I'll do as promised."
After she finished speaking, she released her grip, and with that, the dark field covering the back mountain dissipated.
Ye Ran let out a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.
The gap between the Gold Core stage and the Emperor stage was insurmountable, like comparing night and day.
However, Ye Ran was not an ordinary Gold Core cultivator. In addition to the You Luo Temple Cultivation Technique, he possessed four spear techniques, the Duo Tian Gong, and the "Dragon Elephant Skill" vision. To avoid arousing the Sect elders' suspicion, he had refrained from using any of these abilities, relying solely on his marksmanship.
To secure his victory in this exchange, he had resorted to a minor deception, reversing his cultivation technique at a crucial moment and forcing out a mouthful of blood. But he hadn't expected to make such a blunder in the end, pushing himself to an unexpected peak.
"Victory through deceit is not true martial arts. Exploiting her concern for me was indeed going too far," Ye Ran mused.
He had been overly fixated on winning, giving no thought to the consequences.
"Master must be furious this time..."
Ye Ran had always feared Leng Wuyan, but it was a fear born out of their vast difference in strength. In reality, Leng Wuyan had been exceptionally kind to him, almost too kind to be true. This left him feeling somewhat guilty.
"Next time we meet, I must explain myself thoroughly."
Ye Ran rose to his feet and staggered towards his residence.
Unbeknownst to him, just behind the wall, ten meters away, Leng Wuyan leaned against the wall, her pretty face flushed, and her heart pounding like a drum.
Every part of her body tingled, as if electrified, and the sensation persisted.
"He... he... he... he was so audacious to touch me there!"
"Even though the victory wasn't achieved through sheer strength, it's still a win. What kind of conditions will he propose?"
"If I agree, will things move too quickly? We were only together yesterday!"
Leng Wuyan's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, her blushing cheeks reaching down to the base of her ears.
The surrounding snow was melting rapidly...
...
Ye Ran returned to his residence, where Ah Qin sat by the door lost in thought. Upon seeing him return, she hurriedly rose to greet him.
"Holy Son, you're back... ah!"
Noticing Ye Ran's battered appearance, she exclaimed in shock, "What happened to you? How did you end up like this after going out?"
"It's nothing; I just got into a little scuffle," Ye Ran dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand.
"A scuffle?!" Ah Qin couldn't believe it. "You're the Holy Son, the Sect Master's heir. Who would dare to lay a hand on you in the entire You Luo Temple?"
"Except for the Sect Master."
"That's true."
Ah Qin found it odd. Ye Ran, being the most esteemed disciple of Sect Master Leng, received the best resources and treatment in the sect. Why would the Sect Master suddenly take action against him?
"Don't stare; you've never seen a handsome guy who's been in a fight, have you?" Ye Ran asked teasingly.
"Sorry!" Ah Qin lowered her head, choosing not to inquire further.
...
The bathwater was pleasantly warm, maintaining a constant temperature thanks to the spirit wood. It was infused with spirit flowers and herbs, leaving one feeling refreshed and fragrant after a bath.
Ah Qin helped Ye Ran undress, and as she gazed upon his muscular physique, she couldn't help but feel a bit bashful. Her attention soon shifted to the bruises that covered his body.
"Holy Son, why would Sect Leader Leng treat you like this?" she couldn't help but ask.
"It was just a sparring session; bumps and bruises are par for the course," Ye Ran replied casually.
"Oh," Ah Qin murmured, her curiosity satisfied.
...
The bath was incredibly relaxing, thanks to the warm water and the aromatic incense wood. Ye Ran closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation.
Ah Qin, by his side, expertly massaged his shoulders and neck.
Pure bliss!
When he had first arrived in this world, he had been uncomfortable with someone helping him bathe, especially given Ah Qin's attractive appearance. But over time, he had grown accustomed to it.
"To the left, apply a bit more pressure," Ye Ran requested.
"Of course, Holy Son."
Ah Qin began to massage more vigorously.