Chapter 48: Sleeping Together — A Gentleman Talks, Not Touches
The drama between Bei Bei and Tang Ya didn't concern Ye Chen in the slightest. He didn't want to be caught watching either—he had no desire to give that old fox Mu En a reason to get suspicious.
After all, he hadn't schemed to break them up. Their quarrel was just a lovers' spat—completely their doing.
Ye Chen's only focus was fulfilling his duties as the Tang Sect's vice master, working diligently for the sect's "restoration and glory."
Helping the sect leader with "cultivation guidance" was simply part of the job. Everything he did was for the Tang Sect—so no one could fault him.
When he returned to the inner court, he made his way straight to Ma Xiaotao's dorm.
"Sister Xiao Tao, I'm back~" he called cheerfully upon entering.
She hadn't gone to bed yet. Despite training until late each night, she usually only slept a couple of hours.
Ye Chen took a quick shower, put on a bathrobe, and quietly made his way to her room.
The soul lamp inside was off.
It had been on when he arrived—meaning she'd just turned it off.
He gently turned the handle.
Click.
Unlocked.
That sealed it—she'd left it open for him.
He had mentioned that morning he wanted to sleep together every night.
She hadn't agreed outright, but she hadn't refused either.
A door left unlocked spoke louder than words.
"Sister Xiao Tao, are you asleep?"
He tiptoed closer.
Even in the dark, he could see the blanket-covered outline of her body—and hear her heart beating faster the closer he got.
Ye Chen smiled slightly. He could tell she was awake but pretending otherwise. Confidently, he lifted the blanket's edge and slipped beneath it.
"Ah—!"
The blanket quivered for a moment before everything stilled.
He wrapped his arms around her, sinking into her warmth, content to rest in her embrace.
Ma Xiaotao was wearing only a thin silk nightdress—so soft, it felt like nothing at all between them.
It barely reached her thighs, and as his hands circled her slender waist, one hand started to wander—
"Remember what you said—it's just sleep. Don't move," she whispered, lightly tapping his hand away.
"Mhm~ A gentleman talks, not touches. I know," Ye Chen answered obediently and withdrew his hand.
...
By morning, Ma Xiaotao rose early as usual.
She wiped at the bit of drool on her chest and glanced at the still-sleeping Ye Chen, muttering under her breath, "Such a bad boy… even asleep, he doesn't behave."
Still, there was no anger in her tone—only faint amusement.
He liked to cling, so she let him.
And sleeping beside him had its benefits. Each night, his icy aura soothed her body, cleansing the buildup of her evil fire completely.
Her cultivation efficiency had skyrocketed since then. In a single year stuck at rank 63, she had finally advanced to level 64 thanks to him.
With Ye Chen's help keeping her condition stable, she was confident she could reach rank 69 within a year—and break into the Soul Sage realm within two.
...
After cooking breakfast, Ma Xiaotao sat with her soft white-socked foot resting on Ye Chen's leg.
"So, little rascal, did you sleep well last night?" she teased, giving him a playful nudge.
"Mhm~ very well," Ye Chen replied honestly, grinning.
"Next time, no more sneaking in like that," she said with mock sternness.
"Alright, next time for sure." He nodded sincerely—whether he meant it was another matter.
She rolled her eyes. "Hopeless."
But she didn't truly mind. She knew his personality well enough by now; her warning was only to remind him not to push too far.
Last night, she'd barely slept—part out of nerves. She'd only worn that short silk gown, and with Ye Chen glued to her like a furnace, she'd been afraid he might slip up and...
"Next time, I'm wearing shorts," she decided internally.
Not because she disliked it, but because Ye Chen was still young. She wouldn't be the one to "corrupt" him.
She already saw him as her future little husband. Once he matured, she would gladly give herself to him.
"Hmm? Sister Xiao Tao, why are you zoning out?"
Ye Chen waved a hand before her eyes, jolting her back to reality.
"Oh—nothing. Right, I just remembered—your evaluation results are in. The teacher asked me to take you to Sea God's Pavilion today. We'll go after breakfast."
"Oh? Where's that? I've never heard of it."
Ye Chen feigned curiosity while casually digging into his meal.
"The Sea God's Pavilion is the heart of Shrek Academy," Ma Xiaotao explained. "The Titled Douluo elders live there—it's where every important decision about the academy is made."
She smiled lightly. "You've done well for yourself. Senior Sister Zhang spoke highly of you. You'll likely get rewarded today."
Her words carried both pride and envy.
Thanks to Zhang Lexuan's glowing recommendation, the Sea God Pavilion's elders would surely take a special interest in Ye Chen's future.
Ye Chen beamed. "Then I'll have to thank Senior Sister properly later."
As he said that, an image of Zhang Lexuan's graceful figure flashed through his mind.
Compared to Ma Xiaotao's fiery boldness, Zhang Lexuan was gentle and refined—another kind of intoxicating charm.
"Well, Bei Bei, if you didn't treasure her, I'll make sure I do," Ye Chen thought, smirking inwardly.
...
After breakfast, they dressed neatly in their school uniforms and headed toward Sea God's Island.
Following winding paths, they soon stood before the mist-shrouded heart of Shrek Academy.
Sea God Pavilion towered into the sky like a golden monolith that pierced the clouds.
Most would think it was just tall architecture.
But Ye Chen knew better—
The entire structure was carved from the trunk of the "Golden Ancient Tree," its colossal roots entwined through the whole island.
The fog above was not mist but clouds cast by its massive canopy.
And within that ancient tree lay a "Seed of Space"—a treasure Ye Chen fully intended to claim one day.
Once he possessed it, his path to ascension would truly begin.
(END CHAPTER)
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