Mo Zhu set up a barrier to isolate the commotion on the deck.
He moved slowly, gently, yet with unwavering determination toward Yu Zhiling, kneeling on one knee beside the couch. His hand reached out but hovered just shy of touching her cheek.
His pupils narrowed into vertical slits of dark gold—the eyes of a Teng serpent, allowing him to see her with startling clarity, down to the finest hairs on her skin.
Yu Zhiling sensed a faint pressure and fluttered her lashes, drowsily opening her eyes.
Mo Zhu’s hand lingered near her cheek, as if longing to caress her.
Still half-asleep, she didn’t notice the dark gold in her disciple’s eyes. Instead, she offered a reassuring smile, clasping his hand and nestling it beneath her cheek.
"There, there, I’m here. Don’t be afraid. Go back to sleep."
Muddled by sleep, Yu Zhiling assumed her little disciple had sought her out in fear, so she held his hand to comfort him.
Mo Zhu remained still, his hand serving as her pillow as she drifted off again. He sat by the couch, watching her, his heartbeat growing louder, more distinct with each passing moment.
Ning Hengwu’s words had unraveled the knot in his heart, a revelation that suddenly made sense of his recent turmoil.
The deck had long fallen silent—Ning Hengwu and Yan Shanqing seemed to have retreated upstairs. Mo Zhu wasn’t worried about whether his martial uncles would expel him from Yu Zhiling’s sect if they discovered his feelings.
Because Yu Xiao Wu’s word held the most weight, and Yu Zhiling would never abandon him.
He knew this with absolute certainty.
Yu Zhiling had no idea what her little disciple had gone through while she slept.
She woke near dusk, groggily stretching—only to gasp as a searing pain shot through her body.
"Master, you’re awake?"
The disciple meditating beside the couch snapped to attention, leaning over to help her sit up.
Still too weak to rise on her own, she leaned against him, using him as a backrest, and wiggled her feet optimistically, kicking the heavy quilt away.
"That’s better. You buried me under too many layers—I’m burning up."
"Too hot?"
Mo Zhu steadied her with one hand while pulling back the embroidered quilt with the other.
Ever since realizing his own feelings, his entire afternoon of meditation had been spent thinking of her. Now, even her most ordinary words sounded like a coy, deliberate tease to his ears.
Because his little master…
Really loved to act spoiled.
Yu Zhiling tilted her head, sharp eyes catching the flush creeping from Mo Zhu’s ears down his neck. His gaze flickered away.
"Mo Zhu, what have you been up to behind my back?"
His movements froze. He looked down, their eyes meeting—and his heart, barely settled, began hammering wildly again.
Yu Zhiling’s expression turned sly, her eyes narrowing as she studied him intently. For a moment, he feared she’d seen right through him.
The perceptive master leaned closer. "Mo Tuanzi, are you…?"
Mo Zhu's heartbeat raced as he distinctly felt her drawing closer. She leaned halfway into his embrace, tilting her head up toward him, the distance between them shrinking until only inches remained.
Mo Zhu didn’t move. His long lashes fluttered slightly, and the hand resting at her waist unconsciously tightened. He couldn’t ignore the faint longing in his heart.
Closer, Shizun. Just a little closer.
She could kiss him. She could do anything to him.
Holding his breath, he waited for her next move.
Yu Zhiling suddenly pulled back and asked, "Have you been sneaking around reading inappropriate things behind my back?"
Mo Zhu: "…?"
Bewildered, he replied, "What?"
His reaction only confirmed her suspicions. With some effort, she shifted her small frame and pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to the rapid, thunderous rhythm of his heartbeat—so frantic she nearly wondered if he had arrhythmia.
Alright, diagnosis complete. This is guilt.
She glanced up at her dazed little disciple. The flush on his face and his stunned expression, in her eyes, were clear signs of a guilty conscience after being caught by his Shizun.
Her mind raced, scrambling to figure out how to handle this situation.
A teenager going through this phase… How should I approach it? Definitely shouldn’t scold him—it’s a normal part of growing up. The essence of sex education is teaching respect. I need to respect his perspective, and—
"Shizun."
"Hmm… Huh?"
Yu Zhiling’s thoughts were interrupted as she looked up, meeting Mo Zhu’s gaze.
Her disciple’s face was expressionless as he asked, "Could you please stop overthinking things?"
Her train of thought was truly… unique.
Yu Zhiling covered her mouth and explained, "I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with you reading those books! If they have healthy themes, even if they’re a bit… explicit, it’s just fiction. I don’t mind. You are growing up, after all."
Mo Zhu: "…"
Alright, now it’s confirmed. She really thinks I’ve been reading indecent material.
Mo Zhu exhaled slowly, patting his Shizun’s shoulder as he patiently explained, "This disciple has never read such things, nor would I. I was just…"
Yu Zhiling blinked. "Just what?"
Mo Zhu pressed his lips together and fabricated an excuse. "I was practicing swordplay earlier. I’m still a bit overheated."
Yu Zhiling’s eyes lit up with realization. Ah, so I misunderstood my disciple! Of course, the male lead wouldn’t read that kind of book—in the original story, he was so cold and detached he could’ve shaved his head and become a monk.
Turns out, while Shizun was asleep, my good disciple was working himself to the bone for my merit points!
Overcome with emotion, she exclaimed, "You really are Shizun’s best disciple!"
Mo Zhu leaned in, resting his chin lightly atop her head. She didn’t see his smile, nor the subtle shift in the way he looked at her.
Yu Zhiling interpreted her little disciple’s behavior as simple attachment to his Shizun.
He’s still not quite right in the head, after all. Right now, there’s nothing strange about whatever he does.
She didn’t notice anything unusual about Mo Zhu. These days, he carried her everywhere, and she’d long grown accustomed to it. What was once a routine embrace now held a different meaning in the young man’s heart. He understood his emotions clearly.
He was happy. He was yearning.
He wanted to hold her forever—but Yu Zhiling clearly had other ideas.
The little disciple’s body was warm, and Yu Zhiling felt a bit hot after leaning against him for a while. She squirmed and wriggled her way out of his embrace.
Mo Zhu was reluctant to let her go and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"
Had he held her uncomfortably?
Yu Zhiling sprawled out on the couch, closing her eyes peacefully. "I’m hot. I don’t want to sit anymore. I think lying down for a while is just fine."
Mo Zhu: "..."
Noticing the sweat at her temples, he took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped it away.
Yu Zhiling happily indulged in her disciple’s attentions, tilting her head to expose the other side of her face.
"Mo Zhu, Mo Zhu, this side too."
Mo Zhu sat by the couch, wiping the sweat from her other cheek, then trailing down until his fingers brushed against her neck.
The deep blue silk contrasted sharply with her fair skin, her slender throat rising and falling slightly. The overlapping collar of her robe revealed a glimpse of her collarbone.
Suddenly, Mo Zhu turned his head away, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Though she was the one who had complained of the heat, an inexplicable restlessness flared within him.
Yu Zhiling opened her eyes, craning her neck insistently, signaling for him to wipe away the sweat there.
Mo Zhu remained still, his breathing rough.
Fine, fine—he was spacing out again.
Exhausted, the master decisively flopped back down.
"Never mind. I’ll just wait for the breeze to cool me down. Though I might catch a chill, but it’s fine. I’m tough—I’ll just take a couple of doses of medicine. Oh, but if I get a fever, I’ll need two more doses. And if I start coughing? That could easily turn into pneumonia..."
Mo Zhu snapped out of his daze, meeting his master’s resentful gaze.
"Apologies, Master."
He murmured the words, steadying his trembling hand as he carefully wiped the sweat from her neck. But he went no further—this was already the limit of his self-control.
Just as Yu Zhiling was enjoying her dutiful disciple’s ministrations, a knock sounded at the door.
"Xiao Wu, are you awake?"
It was Ning Hengwu.
Yu Zhiling jolted upright, only to wince as her strained meridians protested. Mo Zhu pressed her back down, keeping her still.
His voice was calm. "Master, you’re not fully recovered yet."
Yu Zhiling quickly called out, "Second Senior Sister, come in!"
Ning Hengwu pushed the door open and saw Mo Zhu rise from Yu Zhiling’s bedside, his gaze cool as it settled on her.
"Second Martial Aunt."
Ning Hengwu ignored him, her expression icy as she approached the couch.
She hadn’t thought much of it before, but ever since realizing the boy’s feelings for Yu Zhiling earlier that day, she couldn’t look at Mo Zhu without irritation.
Yu Zhiling, however, sensed something amiss. She glanced between Ning Hengwu, who was checking her pulse, and Mo Zhu standing nearby.
"Senior Sister, did you and Mo Zhu have a disagreement?"
Ning Hengwu: "..."
Mo Zhu: "......"
What disagreement could they possibly have?
Yu Zhiling, ever the peacemaker, said earnestly, "Mo Zhu is young. If he offended you, I’ll apologize on his behalf."
Ning Hengwu shot a cold look at Mo Zhu, who remained utterly composed, his emotions perfectly restrained.
"Young? Xiao Wu, some people may be young, but their ambitions are anything but small. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Plenty of things are all show and no substance."
That useless pretty face: "…………"
Yu Zhiling tilted her head. "Senior Sister, did someone break your heart? Tell me who it is, and I’ll have Mo Zhu go teach them a lesson!"
Ning Hengwu scoffed. "Unlike you, no one could ever fool me."
She paused, then continued with thinly veiled sarcasm. "You’re the Central Continent’s Immortal Lord—your future partner must be someone extraordinary. Keep your eyes sharp when choosing. Looks are fleeting; everyone grows old and loses their charm. Besides..."
Yu Zhiling blinked. "Besides what?"
Ning Hengwu let out a cold laugh, her gaze flickering pointedly toward Mo Zhu.
"If you like handsome faces, Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan aren’t bad either. Both are Central Continent Immortal Lords, Great Ascension cultivators. The Yun and Wu families have deep roots in the Central Continent. You grew up together—how could your bond be anything but strong? With your senior sister and brother helping to arrange things, it wouldn’t be impossible."
The moment these words left her mouth, Yu Zhiling shivered.
Why did it suddenly feel... so cold?
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet, the air growing heavy. If not for the barrier array outside the Mustard Seed Boat shielding them from external pressure, Yu Zhiling might’ve thought they were about to be crushed by the atmosphere itself.
She pulled the embroidered quilt tighter around herself, tucking it up to her chin, and mumbled, "Forget it, Senior Sister. There’s no need. I don’t want to get married."
Why was there matchmaking pressure even in the cultivation world?
Yun Zhi was good-looking—a delicate, cold beauty with a sickly aura. She hadn’t met Wu Zhaoyan, but she had a vague impression of him in her memories. He seemed fine too.
But—
Here’s the important part!
Neither of them could compare to her little disciple’s looks!
Half her face buried in the quilt, Yu Zhiling peeked at Mo Zhu with sparkling eyes and cheerfully declared, "Besides, Senior Sister, I think my disciple is the most handsome."
Tall, long-legged, with a cold yet husbandly demeanor and striking features—he ticked every box on her aesthetic checklist!
The oppressive atmosphere in the room vanished—but only for a moment before an entirely different energy began spreading through the space.
Yu Zhiling: "?"
Which one of them was angry now?!
Mo Zhu smiled softly. "In this disciple’s heart, Shizun is also the most beautiful."
Yu Zhiling beamed. Ning Hengwu nearly exploded.
"You little—!" Her voice was so sharp it made Yu Zhiling jump.
Ning Hengwu stood abruptly, her tone icy. "Xiao Wu, don’t you think Mo Zhu is a bit... old?"
Meaning, she should start being wary of him.
Mo Zhu remained unfazed, standing calmly by the bedside, his gaze resting lightly on Yu Zhiling.
Yu Zhiling hesitated. "...Is he, though?"
Seventeen wasn’t that old, was it?
Ning Hengwu gritted her teeth. Even without turning around, she knew Mo Zhu’s expression would be utterly composed. She’d recognized years ago that this boy had an unshakable mind. With his mental fortitude and prodigious talent, he was destined for greatness—it was only a matter of time.
As Yu Zhiling’s disciple, Ning Hengwu had once approved of Mo Zhu, even thinking her little sister had found an exceptional student.
But now that she knew what he truly felt for Yu Zhiling—while her oblivious little sister remembered nothing—Ning Hengwu could only see him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a threat lurking far too close.
She took a deep breath, then suddenly turned and pulled open Mo Zhu’s collar, exposing the bite marks on his neck and collarbone.
Mo Zhu reacted swiftly, stepping back to straighten his robes, his brows furrowed tightly. He disliked being touched by others.
Ning Hengwu pointed at Mo Zhu and demanded an explanation from Yu Zhiling, "What’s the meaning of these bite marks on his neck?"
Yu Zhiling: "..."
Help!
She tried to burrow deeper into the embroidered quilt, using action to escape the situation.
Ning Hengwu stepped forward, ready to pry her out of her shell, but Mo Zhu blocked her.
The young man stood tall by the bed, his height easily overshadowing Ning Hengwu.
"Second Martial Aunt, last night was an accident. Master is still unwell. Please leave for now."
Ning Hengwu gritted her teeth and hissed, "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. Did you seduce her, taking advantage of her memory loss and naivety?"
The so-called "naive one" poked her head out from the quilt and protested loudly, "No personal attacks! Who said he seduced me? Do you think I, the great Immortal Lord Zhuoyu, am so easily swayed by a man’s looks? I was—just—half-asleep!"
Ning Hengwu paused, then suddenly shoved Mo Zhu aside, exclaiming in disbelief, "You initiated it?!"
Yu Zhiling mumbled in a tiny voice, "Yeah… I was the one who bit him…"
Her mistake, her responsibility. She couldn’t shift the blame onto Mo Zhu.
Ning Hengwu exploded with fury again, pointing at Yu Zhiling, then at Mo Zhu, her lips trembling. "Fine, fine, fine! Yu Xiao-Wu, you’ve really broadened my horizons."
She had hesitated all afternoon, too afraid to bring it up to Yan Shanqing and Xiang Wuxue. This matter involved Yu Zhiling’s reputation—without clarity, she couldn’t bring herself to speak of it. Only after estimating that Yu Zhiling had likely woken did she finally come down to demand answers.
Now, there was no need to tell Yan Shanqing and the others at all.
Yu Zhiling had been the one to act first—a master initiating such intimacy with her disciple. What could she even say? Hang Yu Zhiling up and beat her?
And that excuse about being half-asleep—since when did people bite others like that in their sleep?!
"I’m leaving. You two can stay here together!"
Ning Hengwu turned and stormed off, ignoring Yu Zhiling’s desperate calls behind her.
She stepped onto the deck, trying to clear her mind. The cold wind whipped against her face, each breath sharp with chill. The Jiezi Boat cut through the mist, the fog thick and impenetrable, obscuring everything.
Yan Shanqing and Xiang Wuxue knew nothing, both already overwhelmed by the affairs of the Southern Capital. Privately, she didn’t want to add to their burdens.
She stood there for a long time before footsteps approached from behind. Ning Hengwu recognized who it was without turning.
"Why are you here?" she asked coldly. "Shouldn’t you be guarding your precious master?"
Mo Zhu replied calmly, "Master is resting. This disciple came to speak with Martial Aunt."
Suppressing her anger, Ning Hengwu asked, "What do you want to discuss? My approval?"
Without waiting for his answer, she cut him off sharply, "Don’t even think about it. I’ll never agree."
Mo Zhu wasn’t angry, his emotions still steady as he spoke calmly, "I didn’t come to seek Senior Uncle’s approval, nor am I here to argue for your permission. I just wanted to say that you’ve misunderstood Shizun. She really was half-asleep—Shizun didn’t cross any lines. It’s me who’s been coveting her unilaterally."
Ning Hengwu suddenly turned around. "You’re saying she was so deeply asleep that she became this oblivious?"
"Yes," Mo Zhu replied. "Senior Uncle, you don’t actually know Shizun that well. She… sometimes acts very much like a child."
When mentioning Yu Zhiling, his expression visibly softened, and Ning Hengwu was taken aback.
Mo Zhu recalled something, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Shizun seems to have had little interaction with others in the past. She often talks to herself for amusement, carefree and simple-minded. She loves sleeping, loves eating, and never seems to carry any burdens. Sometimes, she really does… seem like a child."
Like a child untouched by the world, her heart as pure as an untainted jade—even more innocent than Yu Zhiling before she became the Immortal Lord Zhuoyu.
"So, I enjoy taking care of her. I don’t find it troublesome at all. I never meant to disrespect Shizun. Today was my loss of control. Second Senior Uncle, I apologize."
There was no attempt to ingratiate himself in his words. Ning Hengwu stared at him intently. Having traveled across the Central Continent for centuries, she had met countless people, yet this seventeen-year-old youth before her showed not a trace of deceit.
When he spoke of Yu Zhiling, his tone was tender, reliant, brimming with unmistakable affection.
Ning Hengwu asked coldly, "What do you even like about her?"
"Everything," Mo Zhu answered softly. "Even a single strand of her hair—I adore it all."
Such blunt words made Ning Hengwu, a woman with no romantic experience, flush instantly. After a long pause, she muttered under her breath, "Kids your age really have no shame."
The unrestrained nature of demons was well-known. What Central Continent cultivators would only whisper to their lovers behind closed doors, demons declared without hesitation.
The long exposure to the wind had cooled Ning Hengwu’s temper somewhat. Leaning against the railing of the Jiezi Boat, arms crossed, she demanded sharply, "What makes you think we’d ever accept you?"
She expected Mo Zhu to list his strengths, to convince her and Yan Shanqing to acknowledge him.
But instead, Mo Zhu fell silent for a moment before speaking solemnly, "I don’t think you would accept me as I am now. I’m not worthy of Shizun."
Ning Hengwu frowned, surprised by his self-awareness.
"You know you’re unworthy, yet you still dare to covet her?"
Of course Mo Zhu knew. He had known from the very beginning.
The first time he saw Yu Zhiling as a child, he thought he had glimpsed a celestial being—filled with awe and admiration.
But when that celestial being reached out her hand to him, an overwhelming sense of unworthiness swallowed him whole.
What right did he have to hold her hand?
Faced with Ning Hengwu’s interrogation, he didn’t try to salvage his pride. After a pause, under her icy gaze, he glanced back at the tightly shut door.
Behind that door lived the person he loved most dearly.
His voice was quiet but resolute. "I will make myself worthy of her. I will strive to catch up to her."
Ning Hengwu thought he was joking.
A seventeen-year-old youth, currently only at the Golden Core stage of cultivation, dared to aspire to the affections of the Immortal Lord Zhuoyu—a supreme cultivator at the peak of the Mahayana realm, half-step into the Tribulation stage, and the undisputed strongest in the Central Continent.
"Mo Zhu, you are a demon. Even if you were of the royal Tengshe lineage among the demon clans, you would still be unworthy of my junior sister, let alone a mere common snake demon. Even if you could match Xiao Wu’s cultivation level in a few centuries, what of your bloodline?"
Ning Hengwu stepped beside him, casting a cold glance. "You should know that the Yingshan Sect only tolerates you because Xiao Wu knelt for three days at the mountain gate to plead for your acceptance. My senior brother had no choice but to take you in. But that doesn’t mean the other noble clans of the Central Continent would ever approve of a snake demon becoming the Immortal Lord Zhuoyu’s partner."
"If you wish to stand by her side, this path is steeper than scaling the heavens."
With that, she turned and left, not sparing Mo Zhu another glance.
Mo Zhu heard the sound of the second-floor door opening and closing, and the howling wind in his ears. He stood on the deck of the Jiezi Boat, looking down at the endless expanse of sky beneath him—he was high above the Central Continent.
Of course, he understood why Ning Hengwu refused to acknowledge him. Perhaps part of it was due to their master-disciple relationship, but more than that, she simply believed a lowly snake demon could never be worthy of Yu Zhiling.
Even if he wasn’t just an ordinary snake demon—even if he were a Tengshe—it still wouldn’t be enough.
But so what if the path was as difficult as ascending to the heavens? He would stand by her side regardless.
Mo Zhu didn’t feel humiliated, nor was he disheartened. Instead, realizing the vast gap between himself and Yu Zhiling only fueled his determination to climb higher. How could he allow her to stoop to someone weak and powerless?
Loving someone meant striving to catch up to them, not dragging them down from their pedestal.
Mo Zhu took a deep breath, his heart clear and resolute in this moment.
Then, her voice reached his ears.
"Mo Zhu, where are you?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, he composed himself, summoning a gentle smile before turning and pushing the door open.
Yu Zhiling was frowning, half-propped up on the bed as if trying to rise.
Mo Zhu hurried over in three quick strides, lifting her carefully. He sat on the edge of the bed, letting her lean against him.
"Master, you shouldn’t move yet. What do you need?"
Yu Zhiling shook her head. "Never mind, I can’t sit up for long. Just lay me back down."
She couldn’t stay upright for more than a short while—lying down was still best for her condition.
Mo Zhu supported her gently, easing her back onto the bed and adjusting the embroidered pillow to raise her head slightly.
Once settled, he remained seated beside her, keeping watch.
Yu Zhiling asked softly, "Did… did my senior sister get angry?"
"No, Second Aunt Ning wasn’t angry."
Ning Hengwu could never truly be angry with Yu Zhiling. Her frustration was directed at their closeness—ultimately, she still believed Mo Zhu was reaching above his station.
"Really?"
"Really," Mo Zhu replied earnestly. "Second Aunt Ning truly wasn’t angry."
Yu Zhiling guessed that Mo Zhu had gone out earlier to explain things to Ning Hengwu. Her gaze drifted downward, landing on the bite mark on his collarbone, and guilt flickered in her chest.
"Um… did I hurt you?"
Mo Zhu shook his head. "It didn’t hurt. Not at all."
Yu Zhiling gave an awkward laugh. She had no idea why her teeth were so sharp—she must have been absolutely craving fried chicken.
"Sorry about that. I think I was half-asleep and didn’t realize what I was doing."
Mo Zhu softened his voice to reassure her. "It’s really fine. I’m not hurt at all, doesn’t even sting."
He patted her shoulder gently, a habitual gesture that always made her feel safe. Mo Zhu could tell that beneath his master’s carefree facade—her ability to entertain herself even when alone—she secretly longed for companionship. Lately, she had grown increasingly reliant on his presence.
Because Mo Zhu stayed by her side day and night, offering her both security and unwavering companionship.
Companionship…
Suddenly, Mo Zhu asked, "Master, Second Martial Uncle mentioned earlier that he wanted to matchmake you with either Immortal Yun Zhi or Immortal Zhao Yan. You…"
Yu Zhiling closed her eyes lazily. "I refused. I don’t like people like Yun Zhi or Zhao Yan."
"You don’t?"
"Nope."
Sometimes, Yu Zhiling sensed inexplicable emotions—perhaps remnants of Immortal Lord Zhuoyu’s original self. For instance, the moment she met Yan Shanqing and the others, she felt an instant closeness and trust. With Zhongli Yang, her first impulse was to roll up her sleeves and fight him, maybe even yank out his hair.
As for Yun Zhi and Wu Zhaoyan, her first thought was that they and Zhuoyu must have shared… a very strong sisterly bond.
"Anyway, we’re good friends. We trust each other, but not enough to entrust our lives to one another. Yun Zhi and Zhao Yan don’t see me that way either. Even rabbits know not to nibble the grass by their burrows. After all these years, if something were going to happen, it would’ve happened already. Relax, your master won’t be getting you a ‘shiniang’."
Mo Zhu: "…"
What even was a "shiniang"?
Why did his master always say such strange things?
Yu Zhiling stretched out and squinted. Outside, dusk had fallen. The setting sun streamed through the window as the Jiezi Boat soared high in the sky, giving her a clear view of the crimson-stained horizon.
She flicked her fingers slightly, using her spiritual energy to open the window fully. The sky was a vast expanse of red.
Yu Zhiling grew quiet, her thoughts drifting to another world—the night she turned eighteen, when a sudden illness nearly suffocated her. Her smart bracelet had detected her heart stopping and called for help. She remembered being resuscitated after what felt like an eternity, waking up covered in tubes, convinced she wouldn’t survive.
For the first time, she had thought: Maybe it’s better to die. It hurts so much.
If living is this hard, death might be easier.
Later, after being moved to a regular ward, the patient next to her pulled open the curtains. From the twentieth floor, she saw the sunset dyeing the sky red.
And then she thought—Why should I die?
If the heavens want my life, I’ll refuse to give it. Every day I live is a day I’ve stolen.
The doctors had said she wouldn’t live past adulthood. Yet she had survived that night, even clinging to life for years more. Though she had died in the end, she was content—at least fate had given her a second chance.
Now, she had a new family. Yan Shanqing and the others.
The mustard seed boat would take two more days to reach the Yingshan Sect. Some things would become clear once she met Yun Zhi—the things she had always wanted to know, the matters concerning Immortal Lord Zhuoyu.
And Yun Zhi knew. He knew a great deal. These matters were tied to the truth of what happened back then. If she wanted to uncover the mastermind behind it all, she needed to remember what exactly Zhuoyu had encountered in the Four Killings Realm.
Only then could she protect these people.
Yu Zhiling lay on the couch, with Mo Zhu seated beside her. When she lifted her head, her gaze met his. Whenever she was near him, his eyes always seemed to linger on her.
Mo Zhu asked, "Master, what are you thinking about?"
Yu Zhiling grinned playfully. "Nothing much. Just wondering what we should eat tonight."
Mo Zhu chuckled. "What would you like, Master? Before we left, the Zhongli family packed plenty of food in the qiankun pouch."
"Do we have salted duck?"
"Yes."
"Chicken soup with mushrooms?"
"Yes."
"How about stir-fried pork?"
"That too."
Yu Zhiling waved a hand grandly. "Then bring it all out! Your master can finish it all in one night!"
Mo Zhu was well aware of her appetite. His master was a little glutton who ate heartily and wasn’t picky… a very good baby.
She often praised people like this.
Mo Zhu nodded. "Alright, I’ll set it all out for you."
Yu Zhiling gave him a thumbs-up. "Aww, good boy! You’re my sweet baby!"
Though she was a fan of the original novel, she had to admit—she much preferred the OOC version of the male lead!
His master was dramatic, but she was far too adorable.
Mo Zhu suppressed a smile and asked, "Master, what kind of man do you like?"
Yu Zhiling squinted up at him. "Trying to fish for your master’s ideal type? What, are you a spy sent by my shijie?"
Mo Zhu nodded solemnly. "Yes. Give me a chance to impress Second Martial Aunt."
Yu Zhiling thought for a moment. Her little disciple had just quarreled with her second senior sister, so now was the perfect opportunity for him to redeem himself.
As his master, sacrificing herself for her disciple was only right!
Yu Zhiling counted on her fingers. "First, he has to be tall."
Mo Zhu mentally measured himself. Among youths his age, his height was already above average. Demonic beasts tended to be large in stature, and the Tengshe clan was no exception. Mo Zhu was already as tall as the fully grown Yan Shanqing—and he still had room to grow.
Height-wise, he should fit her preferences.
"Second, he has to be good-looking… but not better-looking than me. Just a tiny bit uglier than me is fine."
Mo Zhu’s looks were decent—certainly within the range of "handsome."
He glanced at his master and silently affirmed: In his heart, Yu Zhiling was the most beautiful person in the Central Continent. There was no way he could surpass her.
So this criterion was also met.
"Third, he has to know how to cook, do laundry, clean, earn money, shell chestnuts for me, comb my hair… and so on. Let’s just skip the ten-thousand-word list and summarize it as: He has to be good at everything."
Mo Zhu: "…"
Mo Zhu nodded. "Understood."
He… he would do his best.
"Also, he can’t hit back when I hit him, can’t talk back when I scold him, has to obey me in everything. In this world, Yu Zhiling is the greatest!"
Mo Zhu agreed without hesitation. "Understood."
In this world, his master was the greatest.
"Fifth!" Yu Zhiling suddenly exclaimed with a serious expression. "Your master is about to highlight the key point—take notes, little Mo Zhu!"
Mo Zhu thought she was going to reveal the most crucial rule and immediately perked up, listening intently.
"Master, please go on."
Yu Zhiling tilted her head back and declared loudly, "Every single day, you must tell me—'Yu Zhiling, you’re so beautiful, I like you so much!'"
Emotional validation must be given in full—so decreed the master.
Mo Zhu: "…………"
Mo Zhu laughed, this time unable to hold it back. Mirth bloomed across his features, shaking his frame so hard that even Yu Zhiling, lying flat on the couch, jostled a few times from the movement.
Yu Zhiling smacked his arm in annoyance. "What are you laughing at? Shut up! Don’t you dare call it cheesy—this is your master’s dating standard. If even one rule isn’t met, I’ll reject you in a heartbeat!"
"Not cheesy at all," Mo Zhu nodded solemnly. "Alright, I’ll remember every word… and make sure to relay them carefully to Second Uncle."
Yu Zhiling huffed and waved a hand vaguely in front of him.
Mo Zhu understood, retrieving a bag of chestnuts from his qiankun pouch. Just as he was about to hand it over, he suddenly recalled her earlier words.
You have to shell the chestnuts for me.
Yu Zhiling waited and waited—but instead of receiving the paper bag, she felt a single chestnut placed in her palm.
Yu Zhiling: "?"
Mo Zhu’s expression remained neutral as he said, "Master, since you’re not in a position to move, I’ll shell them for you."
Yu Zhiling: "!"
She pushed her luck. "Then why don’t you go the extra mile and just feed them straight into my mouth?"
That way, she wouldn’t even have to lift a finger.
With that, she closed her eyes and sprawled out, hands folded over her stomach, basking lazily in the evening sunlight.
Mo Zhu brought the chestnut to her lips, and Yu Zhiling obediently took a bite.
She sighed in contentment.
Yu Zhiling—was officially the happiest person in the world!
From Mo Zhu’s perspective, he could see her relaxed expression, the glow of sunset draped over her like a halo. Her unguarded satisfaction and dependence made his heart soften instantly. He’d gladly serve her like this forever—no complaints, no regrets.
Because he liked her… so much that he wanted to take care of her.
"Master."
"Mhm?"
"I like you very much."
Yu Zhiling chuckled indulgently. "Your master likes you very much too."
Mo Zhu was still smiling as he fed her another shelled chestnut. She bit into it without hesitation, eyes crinkling like a cat stretching in the sun.
She hadn’t caught the meaning behind his words.
His "like" wasn’t the kind a disciple had for their master.
