Did the disciple accidentally enter? It was all a trick!

This ship, when first purchased, had been nothing more than an unfinished vessel with no special functions.

It was later perfected alongside Jiang Yuyao.

Jiang Yuyao cast several spells upon it and embedded numerous magical artifacts—any outsider might have assumed she was constructing a warship.

Gong Ning, on the other hand, added various unorthodox enhancements: automatic navigation, constant-speed cruising.

To achieve this, she had traveled across the entire Great Yan Empire, engraving the regional maps into the formation array.

Once the formation was activated and a route set, placing a spirit-gathering stone inside allowed the ship to sail toward the Central Land completely unmanned and at ease.

Two rooms had already been furnished—one belonged to Jiang Yuyao.

Though she almost never traveled with Gong Ning on the same vessel, she still meticulously decorated her room when the ship was first completed.

Gong Ning hadn’t returned to her own cabin in a long time.

Upon entering, she found various weapons hanging on the walls, dark-colored tables and chairs neatly arranged, and the bedding perfectly made.

Gong Ning no longer kept such sharp, martial objects in her living space.

People naturally developed different interests at different stages of life.

This sight stirred memories of her past glories—of that young boy who had first entered the cultivation world, dreaming of roaming the realms with sword in hand.

Who would have thought that youth would now become a young woman? Or perhaps… a married woman?

Her current body only appeared mature on the outside.

Upon internal inspection, however, her bones revealed a skeletal age comparable to that of a newborn.

That was just as well—at least it wouldn’t hinder cultivation.

If her physical age matched her appearance, there would be a risk of congenital deficiencies.

She still had about ten hours before reaching the Central Land.

Might as well cultivate.

After days of deepening her understanding of the technique, she swiftly broke through to the first layer of Qi Refining.

Cultivation abhorred any sense of constraint, especially during internal observation—any physical discomfort could severely disrupt progress.

Gong Ning removed the clothes woven by her disciple and unfastened her undergarments.

Since becoming a woman, nothing else had changed much, but this particular action had certainly become more natural.

Feeling the weight and sway of her chest, she exhaled slowly and began to drape her sleeping robe over her shoulders.

At that very moment, the door suddenly burst open.

Two little figures tumbled in together, wrestling playfully, startling Gong Ning completely.

“What is this? How many times have I told you—knock before entering! That is the most basic courtesy!”

Gong Ning could have sworn she had locked the door.

Tao Lingling immediately cried out, “It’s not me! I saw her lurking suspiciously outside Master’s room—she must have ill intentions!”

Tang Qiaohuan instantly shot back, “Who’s lurking? That’s clearly *you*! Who’s the disobedient disciple trying to scheme against our gentle Master…?”

Her dramatic tone finally reminded Gong Ning of her current state of dress.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, casting light upon her half-covered form.

The thin sleeping robe revealed much of her silhouette.

Without undergarments, the full shape was entirely visible—every subtle movement, every delicate fold in the fabric, laid bare.

Her sluggish mind finally caught up with the situation.

Especially with those two staring so intently, she felt dizzy.

“Enough. Get out.”

“It’s not like that, Master—”

“Get out!”

Gong Ning scowled, scolding her disciples until they fled.

Once they were gone, her suppressed emotions finally overwhelmed her composure.

Her face flushed crimson, painted with a rosy glow.

This was the first time such a thing had happened.

She suddenly remembered she should have covered her chest—but didn’t want to appear too flustered in front of her disciples.

So she’d forced herself to stay stern and drive them away.

But didn’t that just make her look even more flustered?

“Oh no, no, no… Master must be furious now… this is all your fault! Why did you have to interfere?”

Tao Lingling panicked, heart pounding like a startled deer, pacing back and forth, unable to calm down.

The root of this incident traced back to her past life.

The first time she had boarded her Master’s ship, she discovered a barrier Jiang Yuyao had once set up—causing her and her Master to spend an unexpectedly long time together that day.

This time, she had planned to repeat the trick, perhaps engineer a small accident.

So she had waited by the door, ready to use a Void Spirit technique to unlock it unexpectedly, feigning clumsiness.

But who could have predicted Tang Qiaohuan had the same idea?

She, Tao Lingling, was the fated demonic girl—how could she possibly share her Master’s peerless beauty?

Even if she conceded a thousand points, Tang Qiaohuan, as the junior apprentice, could at least yield or negotiate.

But no—she had to suddenly kick the door open, shove Tao Lingling inside, and then tumble in herself, staging this ridiculous scene.

Tang Qiaohuan, of course, had her own reasoning.

How could she earn her Master’s acceptance?

Naturally, by making her Master accustomed to a woman’s gaze.

Think about it—this time, her Master took a good while before remembering to scold them.

Perhaps next time, she’d accept it more easily?

“Pathetic. Do you really think Master was angry? That wasn’t anger—that was clearly feigned refusal with hidden willingness.

And you’ve been following Master all this time, yet you can’t even read the room?”

“Tang Qiaohuan, has your brain been squashed by a door?”

Tao Lingling couldn’t comprehend her logic.

How could she accept a method that might hurt their Master?

If Master wasn’t angry, fine.

But what if she was truly angry?

How could she even say something like “feigned refusal with hidden willingness”?

Even in her past life, where she died the earliest, she’d never once seen her Master display such an expression.

Has Master really shown that look to you?

“I’m going to apologize.”

Tao Lingling immediately turned and headed toward her Master’s room.

Tang Qiaohuan had anticipated this.

Her second senior sister—no real talent, clueless about human nature—yet strangely skilled at making their Master happy.

Exactly.

This was part of her plan.

Improving master-disciple relations was simple.

But distorting that relationship? That was difficult—especially with a Master like this.

Their Master was actually very perceptive.

Though kind and pure-hearted, she always considered the worst-case scenario first when thinking about things.

Romantic feelings between master and disciple? That was far too common.

Yet she insisted on following the rules.

That made things hard.

How do you corrupt someone who understands darkness but still chooses to remain pure?

Using an incident like this—intimate, accidental—was perfect.

Let her feel emotions she shouldn’t have.

Wasn’t that ideal?

Gong Ning recited the calming mantra several times and finally regained her composure.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

“What is it?”

“Master, your disciple has come to confess my wrongdoing.”

“…It was a minor matter. Don’t dwell on it. I’m cultivating now. Do not disturb.”

The moment the words left her lips, Gong Ning heard something thud against the wooden floor.

“If you won’t let me in, I’ll kneel here and not rise.”

Gong Ning’s heart clenched.

She stood and checked the mirror.

The sleeping robe was on, though still somewhat sheer.

The smooth curves of her waist and hips made even *her* blush.

And her chest—absolutely not something that should be seen.

After a moment’s thought, she draped two light scarves over her shoulders as shawls.

Though they added a more feminine elegance, at least they covered the more indecent parts.

She returned to her meditation spot, straightened her posture, and took two deep breaths.

Only then did she reply in a calm, detached tone:

“Come in.”