The Master’s Proposal and a Lingering Threat

“Why did you save me?”

“Hmm? Does saving someone require a reason? If I had to give one, I suppose it would be a pity for someone as beautiful as you to die like that.”

“By the way, my name is Xia Yi. What’s yours?”

“Pei Yunxiang.”

****

“In such cold weather, are you not hungry, eating so little?”

“Of course I’m hungry, but you’re a patient; you need to eat more to recover. Don’t worry, I’ll just wash a few more clothes tomorrow.”

****

“The clothes you sewed are so ugly.”

“If you don’t like them, take them off. It’s my first time sewing clothes for someone else.”

“I won’t take them off. I never said I didn’t like them. Hehe…”

****

“Hey, do you think I can also become one of those immortals who fly in the sky?”

“You want to cultivate immortality?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I can teach you…”

“Really?! Then should I call you Master?”

“As you wish.”

“Hehe, this disciple, Xia Yi, bows to Master!”

****

Opening his heavy eyelids, Xia Yi’s gaze fell upon the familiar ceiling.

“Yi’er, you’re awake!”

Pei Yunxiang, who had been guarding Xia Yi’s bedside, was the first to notice his awakening.

The stone in her heart finally settled, yet to be safe, Pei Yunxiang still chose to perform another thorough check on Xia Yi.

“Master…”

“What is it, Yi’er?”

“I remembered our days in Xianyuan Town…”

Upon hearing Xia Yi’s words, Pei Yunxiang’s jade-like hand paused in its examination.

Then, Xia Yi turned his hand and grasped Pei Yunxiang’s delicate hand, which had been checking him.

“Master, will you marry me?”

For a moment, the mature and handsome Xia Yi before Pei Yunxiang overlapped with the image of the little boy who had constantly asked, ‘Master, will you marry me?’

Feeling the warm palm that now fully enveloped her hand, a blush subtly stained Pei Yunxiang’s serene and exquisitely beautiful cheeks.

“Indeed, Yi’er has grown up…”

Pei Yunxiang’s other jade-like hand gently caressed Xia Yi’s now handsome face, a look of profound relief gracing her features.

“So, Master? Do you still find Yi’er too young?”

“No, it’s just…”

Pei Yunxiang shook her head.

She didn’t find Xia Yi too young; the problem now lay with her.

Until she received Xia Yi’s explicit acknowledgment, Pei Yunxiang did not intend to tell him her answer.

Immediately after, Pei Yunxiang once again shed her disguised transformation.

Her mutilated dragon-human form was revealed.

“It’s just that, Master in this state, Yi’er, do you still like me…?”

Pei Yunxiang’s voice trembled slightly; even though Xia Yi had seen her like this once before, a lingering worry persisted in her heart.

As a member of the dragon race, she knew all too well the immense temptation she posed to cultivators.

Not to mention the inherent hostility and opposition between humans and demons.

Of course, even if Xia Yi, like those other cultivators, coveted her body and blood, Pei Yunxiang would not resist.

After all, her life had been saved by Xia Yi; now, she was merely repaying him.

Under Pei Yunxiang’s anxious gaze, Xia Yi’s expression shifted to one of anger.

In an instant, Pei Yunxiang felt as though her heart had plummeted to the depths of a valley.

‘As a human, would Xia Yi truly feel anger towards me, a ‘demon’?’

Anticipating Xia Yi’s impending fury and disgust, Pei Yunxiang felt a bitter taste in her heart, her tears almost overflowing.

However, what Pei Yunxiang received next was not the expected wrath and curses, but a familiar, warm embrace.

Only this embrace had grown, now capable of completely enveloping her.

“Master, why didn’t you tell me sooner… Does it still hurt?”

“Yi’er, do you not despise Master’s disfigured appearance?”

In Pei Yunxiang’s understanding as a dragon, her current state was no different from being disfigured.

“How could I? Haven’t I told you before? Master is very beautiful and stunning…”

“Really?”

“Of course, it’s true.”

“Then kiss me.”

Without hesitation, Xia Yi leaned down and kissed her plump, rosy lips.

Pei Yunxiang’s eyes widened instantly; she hadn’t expected Xia Yi to be so decisively bold.

Then, Pei Yunxiang’s beautiful eyes slowly narrowed, gradually replaced by a hazy, entranced look, as her jade-like hands unconsciously wrapped around Xia Yi’s neck.

Xia Yi, too, slowly tightened his embrace around the woman in his arms.

Their mutual cultivation entered a state of blissful abandon…

****

As the sunlight began to wane,

Only then did the master and disciple in the room finally separate from each other.

“Hah… No, Yi’er, not yet…”

Pei Yunxiang panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. When she felt a fiery hand cover a certain part of her, the romantic reverie in her mind instantly dissipated by more than half.

Upon hearing Pei Yunxiang’s plea, Xia Yi withdrew his outstretched hand, quietly holding the beauty in his arms and ceasing his advances.

“I’m sorry, Yi’er, if you were to enter now, you would be corroded by the Yin Fire.”

Feeling Xia Yi’s undeniable arousal beneath her, Pei Yunxiang was filled with deep remorse.

She, too, wished to give her everything to Xia Yi without reservation at that very moment.

However, due to the lingering Evil Cold Yin Fire within her body, she had to forcefully suppress her urges and stop.

“Yin Fire?”

Xia Yi, for his part, wasn’t particularly bothered by the immediate cessation; after all, so many years had passed already.

What truly concerned him was the Yin Fire Pei Yunxiang mentioned.

This reminded him of the entry for Pei Yunxiang in the Book of World Cleansing.

Book of World Cleansing:

Pei Yunxiang (Purification Value): 100%

Reward: Extreme Yang True Flame, Alchemy Fundamentals I (1/3)

Progress in clearing Evil Cold Yin Fire erosion: 1%

“Yes, it was left by that scoundrel who severely injured me. It’s also why I haven’t been able to recover.”

A remorseful Pei Yunxiang could only cling tightly to Xia Yi, burying her face in his chest, listening to his strong, powerful heartbeat, not daring to look at him.

“So that’s how it is…”

“Yi’er, aren’t you going to ask me who he is?”

“I don’t want Master to recall those unpleasant memories. No matter who he is, I will definitely make him pay the price. Master, there’s no need to dwell on it…”

“Yi’er…”

Pei Yunxiang said nothing more, only snuggled deeper into Xia Yi’s embrace with renewed force.

“Let’s put him aside for now. Master, I might be able to help you clear the residual Evil Cold Yin Fire.”

“What?!”

Before Pei Yunxiang could react, Xia Yi dropped a bombshell in her ear.

It had been over twenty years, and she had tried every method imaginable, yet she remained utterly helpless against this accursed Evil Cold Yin Fire; she was on the verge of despair.

Now, her ‘good disciple’ was claiming he could actually solve it.

This unsettled Pei Yunxiang, causing her to abruptly lift her head from Xia Yi’s embrace.

She stared at the somewhat uncertain Xia Yi with an incredulous expression.

“Yi’er, say that again. You can do what?”

“I said, I might be able to help Master resolve the Evil Cold Yin Fire problem.”

Immediately after, a pure white Extreme Yang True Flame ignited in Xia Yi’s palm.

According to Xia Yi’s understanding, his inherent purification power combined with the ultimate Yang power of the Extreme Yang True Flame.

It seemed unequivocally specifically potent against that Evil Cold Yin Fire; judging by its name and effects, he couldn’t even guess how manyfold it countered it.

Of course, this was merely Xia Yi’s speculation, and he couldn’t be certain of the exact situation.