Chapter 49 The Hot Spring Master is a Death-Snatching Fairy

A light and pleasant fragrance wafts from the nose, like a mountain breeze or a plum blossom in the cold, subtly alluring.

Yin Lisheng struggled to lift his eyelids.

Fu Yunshu's ears were beautiful, with soft, flowing lines, like meticulously carved jade, radiating a warm luster and almost translucent in the sunlight. His earlobes were rounded, unlike the thick, rough ones of ordinary men, instead possessing a touch of refinement and elegance.

There is a small red mole at the end of her right earlobe, like a tiny red bean, which is particularly eye-catching against her fair skin, making one's heart itch and unable to resist taking a bite.

But Yin Lisheng didn't have the guts or the energy.

"You're awake?" Fu Yunshu turned his head slightly.

The small red mole disappeared from sight because of his movement, and Yin Lisheng's gaze involuntarily followed it.

"Master..."

"I'm here." Fu Yunshu smiled gently.

Yin Lisheng tightened his grip slightly. "Ten years ago, when I was building my foundation, the exact same thing happened."

"Did Master faint because of me?"

Fu Yunshu was taken aback, then shook his head slightly, "No, it's just that I'm about to break through."

Yin Lisheng was surprised, "Master has broken through?"

“Yes,” Fu Yunshu nodded, “The Mahayana stage has been completed.”

"Congratulations, Master!" Yin Lisheng's tone was filled with excitement.

Fu Yunshu gently patted his thigh, "Alright, rest first, I'll call you when we get to the City Lord's Mansion."

Both of them had their own thoughts, but Yin Lisheng hadn't fully recovered yet and soon fell asleep again.

…………

The next morning, Yin Lisheng woke up in a guest room in the city lord's mansion. Sunlight streamed into the room through the window lattice, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.

He moved his body slightly and found that the fatigue in his body had dissipated considerably, and the spiritual energy in his body had also returned to a stable state.

"Lisheng, you're awake!" Qiu Nan's voice came from the bedside. Yin Lisheng turned his head and saw Qiu Nan and Yan Shuangwan sitting beside him, both with concerned expressions on their faces.

"What are you doing here?" Yin Lisheng sat up and rubbed his throbbing temples.

"You've been unconscious for three whole days!"

Yin Lisheng stopped what he was doing and asked blankly, "Three days?"

"Yes," Yan Shuangwan said softly, handing over a glass of warm water. "How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Yin Lisheng took the cup, took a sip, and shook his head. "I'm fine, just a little tired." He paused, his gaze sweeping around the room, his brows furrowing slightly. "Where is Shizun?"

He lifted the covers and prepared to get out of bed.

"Don't rush," Qiu Nan pressed the person back down, "Immortal Venerable Huaiwei has gone to see Patriarch Ji."

"And who is the head of the Ji family?" Yin Lisheng slowly lay back down on the bed.

"Ji Yuanbai, the head of the Ji family in Zhongzhou." The two recounted what happened while he was unconscious.

The news of Immortal Venerable Huaiwei breaking through to the Great Ascension stage spread throughout the entire continent the very next day.

Song Wenzhuo and Gu Zhinan rushed back that same day. Song Wenzhuo had come over after hearing that something was wrong in Yuzhou City. Now that the matter had come to an end, other sects in the cultivation world came to congratulate Fu Yunshu after hearing that he had broken through. As the sect leader, Song Wenzhuo couldn't very well turn them away.

The tampered lanterns in Yuzhou City have all been removed in the past few days. Although Luo Yun is the madam of Linjiang Tower, most of the girls there are innocent. Ji Yuanbai ordered that they be released from their slave status and given their freedom.

Overall, although the process was somewhat bumpy, the result was quite satisfactory.

"By the way, how is Senior Brother Yu?" Yin Lisheng suddenly remembered that Yu Jiangheng seemed to have been seriously injured by Master Li that day.

“Senior Brother Yu’s injuries have stabilized. Master gave him some top-quality medicine, and he should recover in a few days,” Yan Shuangwan replied.

Yin Lisheng nodded, feeling a slight sense of relief.

“Once the Immortal Venerable returns after finishing his business, we can prepare to leave,” Qiu Nan said.

Yin Lisheng fell silent for a moment. Although he had only been away for a few days, he missed Tingxuefeng terribly.

He misses that... Listening Snow Peak, which belonged only to him and his master.

…………

“So,” Fu Yunshu tapped the table lightly and looked at Ji Yuanbai, “you think that the one who really wants the Blood Essence Pill is not Yan Nanqiu, but Yan Ji?”

“Yes,” Ji Yuanbai nodded. “For more than a hundred years, the Demon Clan has been under the control of Crown Prince Yan Nanqiu, while Yan Ji has been under house arrest. People in the Demon Realm only know Crown Prince Yan Nanqiu and do not know Demon Lord Yan Ji. I do not believe that Yan Ji would be willing to accept this.”

"I think it's related to his order for Luo Yun to refine the Blood Essence Pill."

“This is an internal matter of their demon realm. The fiercer the fight between Yan Nanqiu and Yan Ji, the more advantageous it is for us,” Fu Yunshu stood up. “Compared to this, I am more worried about how many people like Luo Yun are still in the cultivation world.”

"Patriarch Ji, thoroughly investigate your Central Continent, and inform the other families as well," he said, turning to leave. "Having lived in comfort for too long, have you perhaps forgotten your duties?"

"No need to see me out." Ji Yuanbai continued drinking his tea without changing his expression. After all, he had only been in office for less than a month, and Fu Yunshu's words could only be directed at the old master Ji, who had just passed away.

“Uncle,” Ji Hanyu walked in from outside, “I heard that Immortal Venerable Huaiwei’s disciple has woken up and they are preparing to leave. Aren’t you going to go and see him?”

“I don’t even know that child, and I’m an elder, why would I go to see a junior?” Ji Yuanbai said speechlessly, “You seem to care a lot about this person.”

Ji Hanyu waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, I don't care at all!"

“You really shouldn’t care about him,” Ji Yuanbai said with a grim face. “You should worry about yourself.”

"Luo Yun was found by the Qingyuan Sect, the clue about the lanterns was provided by Chu Yu and Duan Xuan, and Master Li was not caught. Tell me, what did you do in this case?"

Ji Hanyu's face turned deathly pale, "I..."

"Go back and be confined to your home for twenty years."

"Twenty years?!" Ji Hanyu exclaimed in shock.

Ji Yuanbai glanced at him coldly, "Those thirty years?"

"No, no, no," Ji Hanyu lowered her head, "Twenty years is fine."

…………

At noon, Yin Lisheng finally saw Fu Yunshu. He stood in the courtyard of the city lord's mansion and saw Fu Yunshu walking out of the study from afar, and his heart was filled with joy.

"Master!" Yin Lisheng strode forward, his eyes fixed on Fu Yunshu, as if afraid that he would disappear from his sight.

When Fu Yunshu saw him, a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Lisheng, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

Yin Lisheng nodded, his tone tinged with urgency, "I'm fine, Master, how about you? That day..."

"It's alright."

Yin Lisheng shook his head, a hint of guilt in his eyes, "Master, it's all my fault, if it weren't for me..."

Fu Yunshu interrupted him, "There's no need to blame yourself, you've already done very well."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself," he said, raising his hand to pat Yin Lisheng's head. "You really did a great job."

Fu Yunshu later interrogated Duan Yuan about the illusory bell. Although Duan Yuan kept saying he knew nothing, Fu Yunshu had a hunch that Yin Lisheng must have done something.

He wanted to protect himself.

"Let's go back to Tingxuefeng and get some rest."

…………

The night was clear and dust-free, and the moonlight was as silvery as silver.

Fu Yunshu leaned against the hot spring pool behind Tingxue Peak. Steam rose and mist swirled around him, and moonlight shone on the water, reflecting shimmering waves.

His eyes were closed, his long, black hair clung wetly to his shoulders, water droplets sliding down his neck, past his collarbone, and finally disappearing into the water.

The rising steam from the hot spring tinged his fair skin with a faint pink hue, as if he were enveloped in a hazy glow.

Yin Lisheng had come to discuss cultivation with Fu Yunshu, but as soon as he stepped into the back mountain, he saw this scene.

His steps abruptly halted, his heart pounding wildly as if something were violently pounding in his chest. His gaze involuntarily fell upon Fu Yunshu's beautiful back, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Fu Yunshu seemed to sense something, and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear yet tinged with a hint of languor.

He tilted his head slightly, looking in Yin Lisheng's direction, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Lisheng, why didn't you say anything when you arrived?"

Yin Lisheng snapped back to reality, her face instantly flushing red. She hurriedly lowered her head, her voice trembling, "Master... I... I didn't mean to, I..."

His heart pounded even faster, and the tips of his ears turned so red they seemed about to bleed. He stood there dumbfounded, at a loss, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Fu Yunshu had already stood up and quickly picked up the clothes next to her and put them on.

Yin Lisheng's gaze involuntarily followed Fu Yunshu's movements. Although it was only for a moment, Yin Lisheng still caught a glimpse of what was happening.

Water droplets slid down his body. In the moonlight, Fu Yunshu's figure was slender and well-proportioned, his skin as smooth as jade. Despite being a renowned immortal, Yin Lisheng felt at that moment that his master was like a demon trying to take his life.

It wasn't until Fu Yunshu started tying his clothes that Yin Lisheng suddenly realized what was happening, quickly turning his head away, not daring to look any longer.

Even so, the scene from just now still lingered in his mind, his heart pounded like a drum, and the sound of water in his ears seemed to become exceptionally clear.

Fu Yunshu put on his outer robe and turned to look at Yin Lisheng: "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you take a soak too?"

Yin Lisheng took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in his heart, and whispered, "Master, I... I'd better not disturb you any longer..."

Fu Yunshu had already walked to his side and gently patted his shoulder: "It's alright, I'm all better now. You've been tired lately, so it's good for you to soak in the water more often."

Yin Lisheng felt the warmth from Fu Yunshu's palm, and his heart beat even faster.

He bit his lip, but finally nodded: "Yes, Master."

Yin Lisheng took off his outer clothes and slowly stepped into the hot spring.

The warm water enveloped his body, yet Yin Lisheng felt his heart still pounding uncontrollably.

He secretly glanced at Fu Yunshu; the moonlight shone on his profile, outlining his perfect features. Yin Lisheng's gaze involuntarily lingered on Fu Yunshu's lips, which were pale yet possessed a captivating sheen, as if silently enticing him.

Yin Lisheng abruptly looked away, a sense of panic washing over him.

Damn it, Yin Lisheng, what are you thinking!

He lowered his head, trying to focus his attention on the temperature of the hot spring water, but Fu Yunshu's image still lingered in his mind.

Yin Lisheng gritted his teeth and silently recited the Heart-Clearing Mantra, trying to calm himself down.

Fu Yunshu seemed to notice his unusual behavior and looked up at him: "Is the water temperature uncomfortable?"

Yin Lisheng quickly shook his head: "No! Master, the water temperature is just right."

Fu Yunshu nodded, her gaze still fixed on Yin Lisheng, and the two stared at each other in silence.

After a long pause, Fu Yunshu slowly spoke: "I'm going into seclusion."

-----------------------

Author's note: Ah, the young couple is breaking up [heartbroken]

Yesterday, some readers asked about character relationships, which I've already covered in Chapter 3 of the bonus chapters. If you've forgotten any characters, you can check back there. I'll continue to add more later.