Chapter 282: You Are Not the Holy Lord's Junior Sister?

Lu Xingzhou, feeling low on energy, leaned against the headboard and fell asleep again not long after breakfast.

Ye Tinglan sat by the bed, accompanying him. Noticing a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead, she took out a silk scarf and gently wiped it away.

Ye Tinglan would never make such a gesture when Lu Xingzhou was awake.

But when he was asleep, she acted much more naturally.

If anyone else had been present, they would have found the Saintess's gaze quite peculiar. It held a protective tenderness, like an older sister caring for a younger sibling, mixed with an appreciative fondness, like a mature woman admiring a handsome youth. Her eyes even sparkled slightly.

Such an expression should absolutely not be present on the Tianyao Saintess, who had cultivated in solitude for decades. Perhaps only Yuan Muyu, if she were here, would sense a similar impulse in her sister: "Now do you understand why I wanted to break his legs? You still have time to do it."

The communication jade talisman vibrated faintly. Ye Tinglan answered, and Elder Su Yuan's voice soon came through: "Sect Master, I've arrived at Shadow Moon Sect. Si Han said you and Young Master Lu had left?"

"No, we haven't left. Proceed as previously instructed; the plan remains unchanged. As long as I'm here, there shouldn't be any major complications. Contact me immediately if anything changes."

"Yes," Su Yuan sighed. "Expanding our reach to other nations suddenly feels like a boundless horizon has opened up. Our vision was indeed somewhat limited before, having been entangled with Daqian for so many years. The Saintess's move is a crucial step; I believe Gu Zhanting will be even more on tenterhooks from now on."

Ye Tinglan's gaze fell upon Lu Xingzhou's pale face. "That's not my doing," she said softly.

The tenderness in her voice sent a shiver down Su Yuan's spine; for a moment, he didn't know how to reply.

Ye Tinglan continued, "We can support Si Han in gradually making the royal court truly worthy of its name, but this time, we cannot allow the Gu family to be the sole power again. There must be checks and balances. Moving forward, you must also support Tingxue Pavilion to serve as an internal counterweight within the Tianshuang Kingdom. Under no circumstances should Si Han be permitted to eliminate all opposing forces."

"Understood."

"Furthermore, Si Han has colluded with the Ice Prison Demonic Sect. Arrange for someone to investigate this matter. Even if we cannot completely sever their ties to the demonic path, we must expose it publicly. Under pressure, Si Han will then be forced to distance himself from the demonic sects."

Su Yuan replied, "The Young Master has been investigating demonic affairs for a long time. I wonder if there's any connection with the Ice Prison Sect."

"There are many demonic sects, and they aren't necessarily all connected. Theoretically, the demonic factions Qingli has been investigating are allied with the Yama Hall, generally the type that aims to overthrow the royal court. Hmm... you should also contact Qingli and exchange information. There might actually be a connection."

"Understood." Su Yuan felt a little peculiar inside. *Why don't you contact your disciple yourself? Even just checking on their situation and offering a few words of concern would be appropriate. Why ask me to do it?*

Ye Tinglan ended the call, subtly pursing her lips.

She wasn't sure why she was avoiding Qingli. Lu Xingzhou was just one of her disciples; if her conscience was clear, why avoid anything?

But what if she didn't?

Looking at Lu Xingzhou as he slept soundly against the headboard, Ye Tinglan lightly bit her lower lip and unconsciously reached out to gently caress his face.

*So handsome.*

*Lu Xingzhou, you're going to be the death of me...*

Her heart, once as calm as a still lake, now felt as though a stone had been cast into it, the ripples refusing to settle.

Suddenly, Lu Xingzhou's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Ye Tinglan, as if shocked, instantly withdrew her hand. When Lu Xingzhou opened his eyes, he saw his teacher sitting upright beside him, eyes closed, seemingly in meditation.

"How are your own injuries, Teacher?" Lu Xingzhou's weak voice inquired.

"I'm fine, just some minor internal injuries," Ye Tinglan replied. "How are you feeling?"

"I keep dozing off and waking up; I'm still low on energy," Lu Xingzhou said, playing on her sympathy again. "Teacher, could you please help guide the spiritual medicine's power again...?"

His words clearly hinted at wanting the close physical contact from the previous day.

Ye Tinglan knew the medicinal effects had already dissolved, and further guidance would be pointless. Yet, unable to quell the stirrings in her heart, she still leaned in and pressed her forehead against his. "Don't move. Be still."

Her voice was soft and lingering, a tingling sensation spreading through him with the close contact and the waft of her scent. Lu Xingzhou's heart fluttered, and his hands instinctively reached out to embrace her again.

Ye Tinglan, having anticipated this, firmly held down both of his hands. With a half-smile, she whispered, "Always trying to get handsy, aren't you, you little scamp? Do you really think I'd let you take advantage of me?"

Lu Xingzhou's face flushed. *Who was taking advantage of whom, really?*

*This was clearly an older sister toying with a younger boy.*

But then, a gentle rain once more nourished his soul sea, like spring warming the earth and flowers blooming everywhere. The comfort was so profound it left him feeling light and disoriented, and Lu Xingzhou unconsciously let out a soft groan.

That sound was remarkably similar to the sounds of pleasure Ye Tinglan had overheard when secretly listening to him and Shen Tang during their intimate moments.

Ye Tinglan bit her lower lip, her cheeks burning hot.

*What exactly am I doing right now...? Am I truly just helping him nourish his soul?*

Her hands were pressing his, her forehead was pressed against his, and her entire body was practically draped over him.

She finally regained some composure, lifting her head and supporting herself with her hands. She saw Lu Xingzhou's eyes, filled with desire, yet he was pitifully unable to move.

Ye Tinglan suddenly felt a surge of amusement. *Was this a shift in who held the upper hand? Those who take advantage of others often find themselves taken advantage of.*

Seeing Lu Xingzhou's pathetic state, Ye Tinglan couldn't help but reach out and gently tap his chin. "All you do is leer all day. You're this injured, yet you still can't behave."

"I'm so injured," Lu Xingzhou said, "aren't you going to give me a little reward, Teacher...?"

*The reward was already given, no more.*

Ye Tinglan scoffed inwardly, "Weren't you already embraced yesterday? What other reward could you possibly want?"

"Just one more hug?"

"Get lost."

Yet, despite her words, the hands she had just released from his had forgotten to press down again, and his arm had already naturally wrapped around her waist.

This time, Ye Tinglan didn't even stiffen as if shocked. Instead, she leaned in close to his ear, her voice alluring and laced with a hint of threat: "Had enough? Let go, or I'll hit you."

That lingering voice, tingling right in his ear, was no threat at all; it was clearly deliberate teasing, taking advantage of his current inability to move.

*This feeling was too familiar... They really are sisters; they play the same games. Was their usual dignified and noble demeanor truly just an act?*

Lu Xingzhou, thoroughly provoked, couldn't hold back. His body, which had been too weak to move, suddenly found a spark of strength, and he managed to turn his head slightly.

As she spoke close to his ear, his slight turn of the head brought his lips to her cheek.

Ye Tinglan's eyes widened. The air seemed to freeze.

*Who would have thought this scoundrel would be so audacious? His body had no strength to move, yet he still dared to use his mouth!*

*And it served her right for provoking him. Why had she gotten so close...?* Ye Tinglan was both embarrassed and furious. She instantly straightened up, poised to strike.

Lu Xingzhou closed his eyes and said weakly, "Go ahead and hit me. It was worth it."

Even in her anger, Ye Tinglan still almost let out a laugh. Her hand, poised to strike, softened considerably. It seemed to land with a "smack" on his cheek, but the force was ambiguous, more like a tap than a blow. "Given you're injured, I'll spare you for now," she fumed. "But just wait until you recover; then we'll see how you die!"

After saying that, she huffily stood up and quickly exited the room.

As soon as the door closed, Ye Tinglan leaned against it, breathing a little weakly, biting her lower lip fiercely, her face flushed like the morning sky.

*What in the world is going on...? This shouldn't be happening.*

*All these years of pure cultivation, did it all just go to waste?*

Her sister's scolding from many years ago suddenly echoed in her mind: *"What tranquility are you feigning, what Bodhisattva are you pretending to be? You're so restricted by your identity, afraid to confront your own heart. After all this cultivation, are you truly Ye Tinglan, or have you merely cultivated the identity of the Tianyao Saintess? Can you even tell the difference?"*

*"Is there a difference?"* she had retorted. *"Whether I am Ye Tinglan or the Tianyao Saintess, I would never agree with your notion of 'carving out a new path through bloodshed.' How is that any different from demonic practices?"*

*"Tsk, you're so compassionate, why don't you become a nun then?"*

*"…I have a sister, I cannot abandon her."*

*"When cultivation reaches its peak, all attachments are forgotten, and all emotional ties are severed. Do you still care about this? I certainly don't want a sister who just puts on airs all day."*

*"All emotional ties severed? Heh… do you truly believe that?"*

*"Why not?"*

*"I, on the other hand, believe that when the time comes, it will be you who cannot forget, and you who dare not face your own heart."*

*"I'll go and forge my own path; we'll see if I can forget! And we'll see how ridiculous your persistence is. Tianyao Saintess? That's utterly worthless."*

*"You're decades old, yet you're still pretending to be some runaway maiden."*

*"I leave home, you become a nun – wouldn't that be a win-win for everyone!"*

The girl truly did leave home, and over a decade passed in a flash. Ye Tinglan didn't know if her sister had managed to face her own heart.

But what about herself...? Was her cultivation truly for Ye Tinglan, or for the identity of the Tianyao Saintess?

Ye Tinglan couldn't tell the difference.

The two were one; how could they be viewed separately?

In a flash of realization, it was the moment she unmasked herself on the way to Xiazhou, shedding the persona of the Tianyao Saintess to become Madam Ye of the Alchemy Academy. In that instant, the world seemed vast and open, and she felt a great burden lift.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Madam Ye's disguise was revealed, and Lu Xingzhou naturally knew in his heart that she was True Person Tinglan. Her continued address as "junior sister"—was it merely for the sake of appearances, or to prolong the feeling of shedding her shackles just a little longer?

Even if it was self-deception, even if he saw it as nothing more than a joke.

As the Tianyao Saintess, there were simply too many things she couldn't do.

But since he knew, why did he keep playing along with this joke...? Was it just to save face?

Ye Tinglan leaned against the door, lost in thought for a long time. Her mood slowly calmed, and she turned and re-entered the room.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw Lu Xingzhou struggling to get out of bed, almost stumbling as soon as he managed to stand.

Ye Tinglan practically teleported to his side, grabbing him to steady him. "You shouldn't be out of bed right now," she said exasperatedly. "Lie down properly. What are you trying to prove?"

"I..." Lu Xingzhou mumbled softly, "I was afraid you'd be angry and leave..."

Lu Xingzhou's words completely dispelled the turmoil in Ye Tinglan's heart, making her laugh aloud. "Do you see me as a teacher who would abandon a severely injured disciple without a second thought?"

"You really wouldn't?"

"Of course not."

Lu Xingzhou, whose weight was almost entirely on her as she supported him, quickly leaned in at her words and pecked her cheek again.

Ye Tinglan blinked.

With a "thump," Ye Tinglan executed an over-the-shoulder throw, slamming the scoundrel onto the floor.

"Just because I don't run doesn't mean I can't beat you!"

Lu Xingzhou groaned from the floor, "I'm injured! You can't treat me like this..."

"I'm being polite by not killing you!" Ye Tinglan exclaimed furiously. "Lu Xingzhou! Do you have any idea who I am—"

Before she could finish, Lu Xingzhou interrupted, "Aren't you the Tianyao Saintess's junior sister...? Isn't the Saintess's demeanor you show in front of others just an act? Why do you also insist on acting like a true Saintess, burdened by so many shackles?"

Ye Tinglan's words caught in her throat. She stared at Lu Xingzhou on the ground, unable to utter a single word for a long time.