Summer was in full swing, and the warm sunshine dazzled the eyes, inviting sleep.

PEEP, PEEP PEEP...

A few summer birds perched atop the willow branches, necks outstretched in a noisy clamor, awaiting their mother's feeding.

Li Zijun rubbed her eyes, got up silently, and stared at the long, slanted shadow on the wall without a word.

After dressing meticulously, she blinked and sat by the window for a while. When her Master still hadn't summoned her to leave, she tilted her head, wondering:

It's so late, and Master still hasn't risen?

Waking Master should be my responsibility as his disciple.

After reflecting for a moment, Li Zijun changed the water in a basin in her room, wiped the droplets from her forehead, and carried it toward Su Bei's room.

Daylight had fully broken, and guests at the post station were coming and going. After confirming several times that this was indeed her Master's doorway, Li Zijun stood with the basin in one hand and then gently knocked.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

After waiting a moment, there seemed to be no response from inside. Li Zijun looked somewhat puzzled.

Could Master not be in his room? Where could he have gone so early, leaving me behind?

After a moment's hesitation, she pushed the door open.

"Master, why haven't you..."

AAAH—

A scream instantly echoed down the post station's corridor.

Li Zijun was only halfway through her sentence when the basin in her hand dropped to the floor with a CLANG. Water splashed everywhere, drenching her luo skirt.

Her face turned bright red in an instant. She covered her eyes in panic, swiftly turned, and fled through the door.

"Master, Zi Jun... I saw nothing! Nothing at all!"

She ran all the way back to her room and pressed her small face tightly against the bed, the image of three naked figures crammed onto one large bed reverberating through her mind.

Recalling every detail, her worldview felt as if it had been shattered. For a moment, she couldn't accept it.

How could they... do such a thing?

It's utterly indecent!

Li Zijun bit her thin lip, finding it impossible to reconcile this with the gentle Master she knew.

Then, for some reason, a terrifying thought surfaced in her mind.

She patted her chest, panting lightly, and touched her burning hot face.

In the future... I won't end up like that too, will I...?

Impossible!!

...

「Inside Su Bei's room.」

On the bed, they lay side-by-side, Su Bei's arms serving as pillows for the women beside him.

Turning his head, Su Bei glanced left and right, then saw Li Zijun covering her face as she dropped the basin and fled the room.

"That..." Su Bei began, looking utterly bewildered at the scene unfolding before him. The CLANG of the basin hitting the floor and the scream of his precious fourth disciple momentarily caused his brain to freeze for two breaths.

Ji Nanjue's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly awoke from her dreams. Hearing the somewhat chaotic sounds nearby, she opened her eyes to meet the equally dazed gaze of Dan Wulan.

Their eyes met.

In the next instant, the events of the previous night flashed rapidly through their minds. Like startled cats, both women instinctively snuggled closer into Su Bei's embrace.

A blush crept up their graceful necks. Sunlight spilled generously into the room, warm and inviting, the air still holding the faint, lingering scent of last night's alcohol.

"Ahem, time to get up..." Su Bei muttered.

Why does my back feel a bit sore?

The corners of Su Bei's mouth curled uncontrollably. He had never before experienced such profound, exhilarating satisfaction; for a moment, the entire world felt incredibly moving.

His hand reached out to caress a delicate waist. Seeing no reaction from the woman beside him, his hand grew bolder, sliding further down.

Smooth, slightly cool, delicate... like a marsh.

AAAH—

Instantly, the woman beside him sat upright, her knees pressed tightly together as she knelt on the bed, her eyes misty as she looked at Su Bei.

"Don't..." she pleaded.

"Aren't you tired yet?"

The two women exchanged sidelong glances, then immediately looked away as if guilty of some misdeed.

It had all begun the previous evening with them taunting each other into drinking. Neither had deliberately used Spiritual Energy to dispel the alcohol, which ultimately led to them earnestly confessing their feelings about Su Bei to one another.

As the saying goes, "in vino veritas," or perhaps it was drunken indiscretion—either way, it ultimately benefited the shameless man beside them.

Memories surged like a spring, vivid and complete, in everyone's mind.

Dan Wulan took a deep breath. Heedless of whether she was dressed, she opened her mouth and fiercely bit Su Bei's shoulder.

HISS— Su Bei winced.

He patted her head lightly. Just as he was about to pull away, Ji Nanjue grabbed his right hand and bit it hard.

He felt rather helpless; after all, he was the one at fault. He might as well let them vent.

A few breaths later, two bloody marks were engraved on his body.

Dan Wulan picked up her bellyband from the floor. As if no one else were present, she began to slip it on, all the while glaring at Su Bei and saying resentfully,

"Warm jade to the left, fragrant embrace to the right; beauties like water, choosing the marsh to flow to!"

As she finished, Dan Wulan's voice rose sharply. She advanced on Su Bei. Her eyes, obscured by her white hair, were unreadable as she glared at him as if he were trash.

"Is this the poem you composed last night?"

"You've got what you wanted now, haven't you? You must be ecstatic, right?"

"Tie the straps of my bellyband for me."

With that, she turned her back to Su Bei, expecting him to obey.

Ji Nanjue composed herself. For her, although the situation was somewhat absurd, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.