CHAPTER 333: 158. HEART-TO-HEART COMMUNICATION WITH MASTER! HESITATION IS THE BEST REWARD! _1

"Who is it?"

"Who’s speaking!?"

Xiao Hongling’s heart pounded in alarm. She had clearly heard that voice just moments ago; it was so familiar, as if...

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

Her heart raced.

She swallowed hard.

Her cheeks burned!

She slowly lowered her head, looking at the man beneath her.

What she saw was a handsome face, as fair and flawless as jade, beaming at her with a brilliant smile!

"Xiao’er!?"

"You..."

"You’re... alive again?"

Xiao Hongling’s phoenix eyes widened to their limit, her body went numb, and she even forgot to breathe! In that instant, a thousand emotions swirled within her! Seeing her beloved disciple alive, she naturally felt as if she had ascended from hell to heaven in an instant, filled with immense joy!

But!

Did this also mean that her shameless confession from moments ago had been entirely overheard by this boy!? Her fair face flushed crimson, and her entire body grew restless with unease!

Only then did she realize...

Ah, no! This gradually warming body temperature, this distinct sense of touch... he’s clearly a living person!

Shame and panic filled her heart as she was about to move away. But a pair of firm, powerful hands had already cupped her cheeks.

She turned her face aside, utterly daring not to meet the gaze of her suddenly awakened beloved disciple!

Seeing that his Master seemed quite frightened and utterly confused about the situation, Lin Xiao tried to soothe her current panic. At the same time, he looked up at his Master’s averted face and said gently, "Master, you must be very surprised that your disciple could come back from the dead, right?"

"Well then, allow your disciple to explain it slowly."

As Lin Xiao spoke, he stole a glance and saw that although his Master had turned her head away, she seemed completely stunned.

"Master, just now, your disciple had a very, very long dream."

"In that dream, Master, you were holding my hand, and we ran and ran. It seemed like there was no end, but I was so happy. It was as if, with you by my side, many things didn’t need a resolution."

"Then, at one point, I suddenly found peace."

"As long as I can see you every day, Master, and be by your side, I am willing, no matter the capacity!"

"Let the world mock your disciple for being humble, or call me a foolish sycophant—I don’t care!"

"If one weren’t truly in love, who would willingly be such a devoted admirer?"

At this point, Lin Xiao stole a glance at his Master’s tear-streaked face and continued, "And in that very moment of my great enlightenment, a supreme deity calling himself ’Lulai Buddha’ appeared."

"So, your disciple made a wish to Buddha—that I could be with you forever, Master."

"Buddha said, ’Only four days.’"

"I said, ’Fine. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter.’"

"Then Buddha said, ’Only three days.’"

"I said..."

Just as Lin Xiao was about to continue his nonsense, a stunningly beautiful, flawless face, flushed with a charming blush, drew closer and closer!

His Master... she actually...

Once again, without a word, stole his first kiss!

He took advantage of the close proximity to meticulously admire every subtle expression on his Master’s exquisite face! Her cheeks burned like fire, her beautiful eyes were tightly shut, and she kissed him with extreme earnestness!

My Master is so, so beautiful.

If that Forever Cicada doesn’t work, I’ll regret it for eight lifetimes!

Under his Master’s sudden show of affection, Lin Xiao couldn’t care about much else. He cooperatively closed his eyes, choosing to fully immerse himself in the experience.

Speaking of which, this was their first truly serious, atmospherically perfect moment of closeness!

However, just then, his Master suddenly stopped her "assault" and straightened up. She had no idea how captivating she looked from Lin Xiao’s perspective at that moment, with her long hair unbound and her face flushed red...

"Master, just like that. Don’t move."

Lin Xiao grasped his Master’s hand with immense affection. "And you don’t need to say anything. Just let your disciple look at you properly, alright? I’m afraid that, like before, I might lose you forever..."

"Xiao’er, your Master is scared too..."

"Did you know? Just now, your Master even vowed in her heart to never see anyone else for the rest of her life! To wait for you for a lifetime!"

Tears welled in Xiao Hongling’s phoenix eyes as she spoke, her voice like a mournful song. At this moment, she finally confronted her own heart and looked directly at the man she loved.

"Master, so, does this mean you’ve finally accepted your disciple’s feelings for you?" Lin Xiao asked directly, his eyes shining intently.

"I..."

Under the intense gaze of her disciple’s handsome eyes, Xiao Hongling lowered her head again, stammering, "Th-this... Can we not talk about this for now? The fact that you could come back from the dead proves I didn’t misjudge you! You truly are the chosen one!"

"Let’s go! I’ll take you to see your three junior martial sisters! Those three girls must be heartbroken right now!"

With that, she quickly scrambled off her beloved disciple and extended a snow-white arm, trying to pull him up.

However, he remained completely still.

"Master, I cannot leave until you answer your disciple’s question directly."

Lin Xiao’s expression was resolute as he said, word by word, "Master, I want to be with you... as lovers!"

After suppressing it for more than ten years, he finally voiced the words in his heart without holding back! Yes, ever since she had brought him up the mountain, helped him bathe and dress, and taught him the path of cultivation, he, with his adult soul, had fallen in love with this beautiful woman who was like a master and a mother to him!

And now, having paid the price of an extremely rare "Forever Cicada," he had barely managed to break through the impasse! He would absolutely not allow himself to return empty-handed!

To betray my master and defy my ancestors, it all comes down to this one move!

I, Lin Xiao—will have no regrets even in death!

They stared at each other in silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

After a full minute of silence, the peerless beauty before him turned slightly aside. Her phoenix eyes gazed sorrowfully into the void as she said faintly, "I... How could I not know your feelings, Xiao’er? I don’t want to deceive myself any longer either, but..."

"You already have a marriage engagement with Yurong. As your elder, how could I compete with my own disciple out of jealousy?"

"Sigh, it’s my fault!"

"I, Xiao Hongling, have been imposing and fearless all my life, yet because I was constrained by so-called etiquette and ethics, I hesitated to face my own heart..."

"Even though your Master has now come to her senses, it’s already too late, isn’t it?"

With that, she closed her eyes, a pained expression on her face. Her exquisitely beautiful cheeks revealed a deep look of melancholy.

"It’s not too late."

Just as she was lost in sorrow, a firm and powerful voice sounded. Then, a warm, gentle hand grasped her slender, fair one.

"Master, as you said, since the mistake has already been made, we cultivators must shoulder the responsibility, rectify it in time, and strive for a clear conscience in our Dao heart! Therefore—"

Lin Xiao swallowed, gritted his teeth, and declared, "My junior martial sisters, and you, Master... you are all my wings! I, Lin Xiao..."

"Want you all!"

Xiao Hongling: !!!???

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Urgent and resounding bell chimes emanated from Dragon Head Peak, echoing throughout the Qinglan Mountains and lingering above the five suspended main peaks. True Master Ziyun, the Sect Leader presiding over Dragon Head Peak, had, for the first time in his life, sounded the sect’s highest-level alarm: the Warning Clock!

At this moment, the Chairmen of the Red Cloud, Tiandang, Fengming, and Divine Phoenix Peaks, along with the Elders in Charge of branch halls such as the Teaching Hall, Enforcement Hall, Protector Hall, and Array Hall, all set aside their tasks and flew towards the Sect Leader’s main hall on Dragon Head Peak.

From Fairy Cliff on Divine Phoenix Peak, a streak of green sword light also shot across the sky, heading north.

"Master! You still haven’t answered me! Will you agree to your disciple’s request or not?"

High in the sky, Lin Xiao shamelessly hugged his Master’s slender waist, raising his voice to its loudest against the howling wind.

"Xiao’er! That idea of yours... is truly too audacious! I..."

While controlling her Immortal Sword, Xiao Hongling turned her head and shot her beloved disciple a reproachful glare. "You little scoundrel! E-even if I agree! How would you expect your Junior Martial Sister Yurong to deal with this?"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Lin Xiao roared with laughter.

"Wh-what are you laughing at?"

Xiao Hongling’s cheeks flushed slightly. She turned back and glanced at her disciple, puzzled.

"Master, you’ve changed! I’m so excited! The ten-thousand-year-old iceberg is finally melting!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, he comfortably leaned his head forward. Since his esteemed Master was tall, nearly his height, his head rested perfectly on her fragrant shoulder. "Master, do you know how you would have answered before?"

"Hmph."

Xiao Hongling’s cheeks were flushed crimson. She allowed her disciple’s restless hands to roam freely but said nothing.

"If this were before, upon hearing me utter such audacious words, Master would have undoubtedly given her disciple a stern lecture, perhaps even resorting to a bit of physical punishment. But now..."

Lin Xiao pressed his head tightly against his Master’s slender, snow-white neck and kissed her earlobe.

"Ah..."

His action directly caused the great beauty to let out a soft moan. Though her Sword Intent was powerful, her Sword Control actually faltered.

"Xiao’er, True Master Ziyun, the Sect Leader, has sounded the Warning Clock. Something major must have happened within the sect! It’s highly possible that those reckless fools from the Demon Sect are making some earth-shattering move again! Therefore, later... when we enter the Sect Leader’s main hall, you absolutely must not cause trouble! Understand?" Xiao Hongling emphasized each word.

Her tone sounded like a stern admonishment, but it was filled more with deep worry. She was afraid that when the great calamity arrived, she wouldn’t be able to be in two places at once to protect her beloved disciple, the chosen one!

It turned out that because she had personally made a trip to Mount Taicang to discuss her beloved disciple’s wedding, she had been shocked to learn that True Monarch Taiwu had already passed away! Not only that, but the other Five Sages had also relayed True Monarch Taiwu’s last words to her in their entirety! It was only then that she realized the threat from the Demon Sect this time was no less severe than the first great war between the righteous and demonic paths two thousand years ago! Remember, when she had accompanied her beloved disciple Lin Xiao to the border of the Eastern Region to subdue Niu Batian of the Evil Extreme Sect, she had treated it as mere child’s play, not taking it seriously at all!

"Xiao’er, today I have once again witnessed your extraordinary judgment. Just as you said, Niu Batian was merely the beginning of the Demon Sect’s conspiracy. The great calamity facing our Qinglan Sect this time is indeed far from ordinary." Xiao Hongling said with sudden emotion, her phoenix eyes deep with thought.

At this moment, perhaps preoccupied with heavy thoughts, she completely failed to notice that her disciple’s hands, resting on her waist, had already begun to creep restlessly upwards...

Master’s figure, coupled with her overtly domineering personality... if I were to use my Wood Attribute Divine Skills to thoroughly ’tease’ and ’discipline’ her a bit... I bet the contrast would be incredibly cute, wouldn’t it?

Lin Xiao suddenly imagined an incredible scene in his mind. However, the next moment, seeing his beloved Master’s brow tightly furrowed in worry, he abruptly snapped back to his senses.

"Rest assured, Master."

"I already know why True Master Ziyun, the Sect Leader, sounded the Warning Clock." Lin Xiao said, his eyes sharp and his expression confident.

"Hmm? You know?" Xiao Hongling was taken aback.

"Yes. Your disciple not only knows, but I can also easily—foil this conspiracy, expose the mastermind, and deliver a fatal blow, both physically and mentally!"

"I believe that when the mastermind’s true identity is revealed, not only you, Master, and the various Chairmen, but perhaps even the Five Sages of Mount Taicang will be greatly astonished."

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, his gaze as sharp as lightning.

"Xiao’er! Do you know something!?"

"This matter is of grave importance! If you know something, tell me at once!" Xiao Hongling said, her voice laced with nervousness.

"It’s alright. Master, you’ll find out when the time comes." Lin Xiao said mysteriously, "Your disciple only hopes that when I go on a rampage, dominating all opposition, and catch the mastermind, you’ll give me a small reward, Master!"

Xiao Hongling frowned slightly. "Everything was fine, why bring up rewards all of a sudden?"

"Besides, what... what reward do you want from your Master?" she couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

Something lewd!

Lewd things are the best reward!

Lin Xiao inwardly exclaimed.

Of course, he only said this in his heart.