Jian hastily slipped into his robes, his expression hardening as Mria's tried to pull him into bed due to the effects of Yang Qi.
"Stay here. Don't come out," he ordered.
"But—" she retorted weakly.
"There's no buts." Jian cut her off sharply, his tone brooking no argument. "Stay until I'm done with whoever is outside."
With that, he left the room, his steps steady curious about who might be out side. When he opened the door, the sight that greeted him made his face twist unconsciously.
"You?!" The word slipped out before he could stop himself.
Standing before him was none other than Elder Mei Lian, her robes marking her unmistakable status. Realizing his blunder, Jian quickly lowered his head and bowed deeply.
"Forgive me, Elder. I thought it was… someone else."
Her brows arched, a faint flicker of suspicion crossing her otherwise serene face. "Do you know me from somewhere?"
"No," Jian replied quickly, bowing once more. "It was a mistake."
"That's alright." Her voice cooled as she shifted the topic. "Are you cultivating with your helper?"
"Yes," Jian answered firmly, his tone steady.
"Are you struggling to court disciples?" she pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"No. I haven't had the chance to court anyone yet," he replied evenly.
"Then why," she continued, her voice now edged with steel, "would you cultivate with a helper instead of other disciples?"
Jian hesitated for a moment, then answered, "It's complicated."
Mei Lian's expression hardened. "I am all ears. No disciple of mine will drag my name through the mud. You'd better have a good reason."
Jian lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes calm yet unwavering. "She's not my helper. She's my woman. I couldn't bring her into the sect properly as I only had one talisman. So, I brought her under the guise of a helper."
For a brief moment, Mei Lian's mask cracked, but she quickly regained her composure. "I see… but that isn't enough reason. After today, she will be sent out of the sect. Rules are rules."
Jian's demeanor shifted instantly, his tone turning cold and dangerous. "You won't do that."
Mei Lian's eyes sharpened. "And why not?"
"Because it's not against the rules and in due time she will be fit to become a disciple," Jian said evenly, but his voice carried a quiet weight. His gaze locked onto hers, steady and unyielding. "And if you dare, I'll tell everyone about you. You and Yu Jian."
At the mention of that name, Mei Lian visibly stiffened. For the first time, her flawless composure cracked; a faint shudder rippled through her body.
How… how does he know about Jian Yu and me?
Jian's voice was low but cutting, each word deliberate.
"Yes—and I'll tell the Sect Master what really happened to that treasure in the core disciple's ring. I'll tell him how you managed to cure your illness."
Her heart skipped. Those were details no one should have known. Only she and Yu Jian had ever shared that secret.
Mei Lian's gaze snapped to him, her eyes flaring with killing intent. "I could just kill you here and end this farce."
Jian smiled faintly, unshaken. "And have you considered the possibility that there are others like me?
That if I die, your secret will be carved into the very walls of this sect? Even the scar on your right melon, the one left behind from your illness—shall I describe it further?"
The color drained from her face. Details that intimate were impossible to dismiss. Slowly, the fury in her eyes ebbed, replaced with a reluctant calm. Defeat lingered in the silence between them.
"…Who are you?" she finally asked, her voice softer now, tinged with suspicion. This wasn't the meek scholar his profile described. His boldness, his words, his gaze—none of it matched the boy she thought she was about to meet .
"Jian Yu," he answered simply. "Jian Yu always spoke well of you. You're not my enemy and I bare no grudge or malice against you. But my woman…" His tone hardened. "…she carries the Ice-Burning Yin Yang Physique.
If left alone, without someone who understands her condition, she will die. You know this better than anyone so I can't let her leave."
Mei Lian's breath hitched. That physique is more of a curse than a blessing
"Do we have an understanding?" Jian said, raising his hand for a handshake. At this point, they no longer looked at each other as master and disciple—it was now a meeting of equals.
"I better not hear what you just told me anywhere else," Mei Lian replied coldly as she clasped his hand. "If I do, I'll give you a death so gruesome it will trigger Heaven's punishment."
"Your secret is safe with me," Jian said moments later, releasing her hand. "As long as I'm alive to keep my mouth sealed."
"I came here to give you this," Mei Lian said, tossing a medallion toward Jian. He caught it with ease.
Jian, in turn, pulled out a paper from his spatial ring and handed it over. "From what Yu Jian told me about you, you're far too engrossed in yourself to care much about a disciple.
So, if you can help me get the ingredients on this list, you'll be the best master in the world." A small grin tugged at his lips. "And hey, you'll occasionally get the chance to whoop my ass in training sessions."
Maria quickly collected the paper from Jian. After a glance, her eyes widened, and she gasped. "These are a lot of precious ingredients! What do you need them for?"
"I need them to boost my cultivation and temper my body," Jian said firmly. "You don't need to lecture me—I already know what to use them for, and how to use them."
"I will check which ingredients from this list are readily available," Mei Lian said. "As for the rest, I'll find a way to procure them."
She paused, her gaze steady. "If that is all, then I will be taking my leave." With that, she turned to go.
But just as she reached the door, a faint creak echoed through the room. The door pushed open, and Maria suddenly rushed out. The red and blue rings in her pupils had returned, glowing vividly as she grabbed Jian by the hand and pulled him into the bedroom without hesitation.
Mei Lian witnessed it all. Her expression softened briefly before she shook her head with quiet pity. She really does possess the Ice
-Burning Yin Yang physique… poor thing, she thought inwardly as she left Jian's quarters.