patreon.com/StarMoon10
for Advance Chapter
On the afternoon of the first day, when she was barely able to walk and was leaning against the lounge window wrapped in Mo Bai's robe, the door was pushed open. A pink figure slipped in like a nimble rabbit—it was the girl named Xiao Wu. She carried a food container, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and... a certain understanding that Ye Lingling could now vaguely grasp.
"Senior Lingling, you're awake! How do you feel?" Xiao Wu set the container on the table and skipped over, unashamedly looking her up and down. "Master said your martial soul evolved! Twelve-Heart Begonia—that sounds so powerful!"
Ye Lingling nodded somewhat awkwardly. She remembered Xiao Wu; the lively and cute junior in the academy whose strength was absurdly high. But now, she could clearly feel an aura of absolute belonging to Mo Bai from Xiao Wu, identical to her own—though Xiao Wu's felt deeper and more natural.
"Much better, thank you," Ye Lingling said softly. Her voice had regained some of its coldness, but much of the old distance was gone.
"Don't be so polite! We're all one family now!" Xiao Wu smiled and leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Isn't Master amazing? When he 'treated' you... well, did it feel especially... especially that?" She winked, her pink eyes full of mischief.
Ye Lingling's face turned bright red, the color reaching even the tips of her ears. She hadn't expected Xiao Wu to ask so directly, and for a moment, she was speechless.
"Oh, what is there to be shy about?" Xiao Wu familiarly took her hand; her touch was warm and soft. "We all went through it. When Rongrong first came, she was just like you, but now she's very proactive." She nudged Ye Lingling. "Once you're recovered, Master will definitely have you 'adapt' more deeply. You'll see then; that feeling... though it's a bit scary at first, it's really... well, spirit power grows super fast, and your connection with Master becomes much tighter."
Xiao Wu's words were blunt and bold, carrying a naive temptation. Ye Lingling's heart raced, yet she found herself uncontrollably drawn to the content of the words. Adapt more deeply? Spirit power growth? Connection with Master?
She recalled the extreme experience of her soul being pierced and branded during the treatment. Though accompanied by pain and shame, the subsequent power increase, the sense of rebirth, and the solid connection in her soul were very real.
"I... I understand," Ye Lingling said softly, this time with much less hesitation.
"That's the spirit." Xiao Wu smiled contentedly and chatted for a while longer, mainly talking about how they "served" Master and "cultivated" together. Her tone was full of pride and a twisted sense of happiness. Ye Lingling listened silently; the barriers and estrangements in her heart were quietly dissolving under the sharing of this "kindred spirit."
On the second day, Dugu Yan came to deliver medicine and check on her. She still had that slightly demonic and charming appearance. Her emerald eyes circled Ye Lingling once, her lips curving into an unreadable smile.
"How do you feel, little sickly one?" Dugu Yan's tone wasn't particularly polite, but there was no malice—it was more like a familiar teasing. "You look much better. Finally looking human again."
Ye Lingling nodded: "Thank you for the introduction, Senior."
"Why thank me? Thank the Master." Dugu Yan waved her hand and stepped in front of her, suddenly reaching out to pinch Ye Lingling's cheek. "Tsk, your skin has improved; ample life energy really makes a difference. So, Master's 'treatment' methods—they're quite special, aren't they?"
Ye Lingling blushed again and gently dodged her hand.
Dugu Yan didn't mind, continuing to herself: "Don't be embarrassed. We don't care for formalities here. Master gave us power and new life; everything we have naturally belongs to him. Body or soul—to be able to please Master in this way and gain more power is only natural." Her voice dropped, turning seductive. "Besides... once you get used to it, you'll find it's not just about pleasing him, it's... enjoyment. Especially at the moment of power breakthrough—that feeling is unparalleled."
Ye Lingling looked up at Dugu Yan. In the eyes of this seemingly cynical senior, she saw a profound identification and immersion. It was absolute loyalty to Mo Bai, a total acceptance—and even enjoyment—of this twisted relationship.
"I... I will work hard to adapt," Ye Lingling said softly, this time with much less hesitation.
"That's the spirit." Dugu Yan smiled and shoved a bottle of medicine into her hand. "Master told me to give this to you to stabilize your meridians. Tonight, Master might come to 'check' on your recovery. Be prepared." She left behind an ambiguous look and swayed her hips as she walked away.
"Check..." Ye Lingling gripped the medicine bottle, her heart beating faster for some reason. She knew exactly what a "check" meant. The words of Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan, combined with the faint anticipation coming from the brand in her soul, made her realize it wouldn't be a simple examination.