Chapter 41 The two acting masters wanted more dessert.

“In the dead of night, the disciple barged in without the master’s permission. That’s against the rules, isn’t it?”

Jiang Yu sat up straight, calmly picked up the tea on the table, took a small sip, and said, "Even if you have something important to report to your master, you should inform the outside world first. That is how you show respect to your teacher."

The tea at Wenhua Temple is brewed with bamboo leaves, and it has a slightly bitter taste. Jiang Yu took a sip, and his expression changed instantly. His fingers trembled slightly, and he put the cup down while trying to remain calm.

"Cough cough—"

Shen Qinggui walked up to him, the two of them standing very close. In the light of the only candle, you could see the two hems of their clothes intertwined.

Jiang Yu unconsciously stepped back, but he forgot that he was sitting on a chair with a backrest, which was more like a chaise longue. Stepping back made it feel more like he was being pushed onto a bed.

It carried a hint of coy reluctance.

Jiang Yu had only taken two steps back when he noticed. He met Shen Jiuxu's deep gaze and felt inexplicably flustered. He pretended to be calm, but his cheeks were already red. "What are you going to do?"

"Isn't this what Master wanted?"

Shen Qinggui smiled, his body looming over Jiang Yu and casting a heavy shadow above him. "How does Master want his disciple to serve you? How about staying by your side day and night, serving you water and tea?"

"It doesn't have to be day and night."

Jiang Yu avoided his gaze, which seemed to suggest that he wanted to strip her naked and tie her to branches.

Several fully bloomed flowers sprouted from Shen Qinggui's head, emitting a fragrant aroma, making it seem as if several pairs of eyes were fixed on Jiang Yu.

It makes people feel even more "terrified".

"That master is really too difficult to please. Even if he stays by your side day and night, it's not enough. What are you going to do with your disciple?"

Shen Qinggui lifted Jiang Yu's chin with one hand, his well-defined fingers pinching the soft flesh of Jiang Yu's face. Their noses almost touched, and the fragrance reminded Jiang Yu of those unspeakable times.

"What else does Master want to criticize?"

Shen Qinggui stretched out his long arm and pulled the person into his arms. The slender but strong waist was wrapped in silk, and the warm skin felt very soft to the touch. "Why is Master not saying anything? Are you not satisfied with what your disciple has done?"

The candlelight crackled as Shen Qinggui pressed down on Jiang Yu's lips, leaving a faint red mark on her fair skin, like a lotus petal.

"What you're doing is betraying your master and ancestors."

Jiang Yu's voice was hoarse. He looked at the half-full glass of water left on the table and tugged at Shen Qinggui's sleeve. "I want some water."

"Then I'll feed it to Master."

Shen Qinggui picked up his teacup and drank half of it. He then slowly placed one hand on the back of Jiang Yu's neck and kissed his lips.

The originally bitter tea becomes sweet and fragrant, with a hint of floral aroma, like a flower bud being bitten open in the mouth, releasing its nectar.

"Even someone like Master is afraid of hardship!"

After a long while, Shen Qinggui finally released him, his lips brushing lightly against Jiang Yu's ear. "Master always teaches his disciples that they must learn to endure hardship when practicing swordsmanship, but even Master can't endure hardship, so how did he become an unparalleled swordsman?"

He even created a plot for himself.

Jiang Yu felt even more ashamed. He was the one who said "Master" first, and he was the one who wanted Shen Jiuxu to call him that. But now that it was time, he was the one who felt embarrassed.

He's completely asking for trouble.

Jiang Yu realized he was no match for Shen Jiuxu. Shen Jiuxu was like a fox spirit from a storybook who had cultivated for a thousand years to bewitch people. Jiang Yu couldn't resist him.

In front of Shen Jiuxu now, he was just a greenhorn. Jiang Yu couldn't help but lick his lips, which smelled sweet, just like the scent on Shen Jiuxu.

Jiang Yu couldn't refute it; he simply liked Shen Jiuxu. He had fallen for him the first time they met. Otherwise, given Jiang Yu's personality, he wouldn't have talked so much to a complete stranger, let alone taken him home.

This face was completely etched into Jiang Yu's heart, and even after learning that Shen Jiuxu was a tree, he still chose to forgive him.

"Master, do you still find it bitter?"

Shen Qinggui pressed on, and Jiang Yu, completely captivated by him, disregarded her dominant role as "master" and said, "Master wants some more dessert."

"Want it?"

Her voice was seductive, and Jiang Yu nodded without hesitation, "Yes."

He took the initiative to put his arm around Shen Jiuxu's shoulder, and raised his head slightly, "If I really am your master, even if I am criticized and insulted by outsiders, and violate ancestral laws and the ethics of heaven and earth, I will still marry you."

Jiang Yu's words sounded more like sweet words of pleading for mercy at this moment, but his expression was extremely sincere, and his heart and eyes were full of Shen Jiuxu, which made people feel soft-hearted.

Shen Jiuxu was almost melted by him, and clusters of lush flower buds filled the entire room.

The place wasn't very big to begin with, only big enough for a narrow little bed and a wooden table. The flowers trembled wildly, and Jiang Yu's body rose and fell with them.

It wasn't until the early hours of the next day that the monk who had escorted them to their rooms the night before knocked on the door. "Young Master Jiang, it's time for breakfast at Wenhua Temple. Are you awake yet?"

The door creaked open, revealing Shen Jiuxu's face, with lingering red marks on his neck. "Wait a moment, we'll be right there."

"Young Master Shen... didn't you sleep in another room last night?" The monk was surprised, his eyes filled with disbelief. If the master and disciple were much older, he could barely convince himself to accept it, but the two people in front of him were clearly young and vigorous and of similar age!

"They've moved here again."

Shen Qinggui's voice was completely flat, as if it were perfectly normal. The monk took a step forward, trying to see who was inside, but Jiang Yu's sleepy voice came through clearly, "Who is it?"

"The monks of Wenhua Temple."

Shen Qinggui said apologetically, "We'll be there in a bit. You can have your meal first. Thank you for coming to call us, young chef."

"It was just a small favor."

The monk looked embarrassed as he watched the man who should have been his "disciple" close the door on his own. Jiang Yu's voice faintly drifted into his ears, "It's all your fault. Last night... I didn't sleep well at all."

"It's my fault. I'll let Master rest properly next time."

Shen Jiuxu patted his head and took out some clothes from the collection bag for Jiang Yu, saying, "Go ask the abbot here later."

"Um."

Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu went out in the middle of the night last night and wandered around the temple. It was just an ordinary temple. Apart from the main hall where statues were placed and incense was offered, the surrounding areas were where monks listened to their daily lessons.

The area behind the mountain is where the monks eat and live, as well as the guest rooms, nestled among the verdant mountains and bamboo groves, a truly rare and beautiful sight.

However, next to the main hall, there were many things that Jiang Yu and the others could not recognize. It was all dark, and by evening, they could only see many red-eyed birds flying in.

"We should go out now, or people might misunderstand."

Shen Qinggui appeared magnanimous, but in reality, he had deliberately chosen a low-cut outer robe for Jiang Yu, revealing his neck covered in marks. At that time, Jiang Yu pushed him several times, but he remained buried there.

Jiang Yu glanced at himself in the bronze mirror, chuckled, and immediately understood his intention. "If there's no misunderstanding, wouldn't it be a waste of Young Master Shen's efforts all night?"

Shen Qinggui tilted his head and smiled.

"When that monk came just now, weren't you doing it on purpose?" Jiang Yu now saw him as a peacock dressed in flamboyant attire, shamelessly displaying and conveying a certain meaning to those around him.

Shen Qinggui smiled but remained silent.

"They're gone."

Jiang Yu held his hand and said, "Close the door."

Jiang Yu's steps became lighter as he looked at the two figures walking side by side on the ground. A smile appeared on his lips that he himself was unaware of. He could tolerate all of Shen Jiuxu's little actions, provided that he liked Shen Jiuxu.

"My two benefactors, I have failed to greet you properly."

A monk in a red robe came forward to greet the people, his eyes shifting from the two men's intertwined hands to the money pouch in one of the men's hands.

Jiang Yu imitated Lian Quesheng's manner and took out a heavy money bag. "I hope the abbot will accept it. Consider it a small donation from me."

The man was handsome and tall, with an extraordinary air about him. In addition, he was generous with his money. The abbot took the silver and casually weighed it in his hand. He immediately smiled and said, "Young master, you are too kind. Buddha will bless you with all good things."

"Thank you for your kind words, Abbot. I have come to ask you about something." Jiang Yu said with a smile. The abbot immediately understood and led the two inside. "Please speak, benefactor. I will answer all your questions to the best of my knowledge."

"Then I'll be frank. More than ten years ago, a man named Luo Ding invited a monk from here to treat his son's illness. Does the abbot know about this?"

Upon hearing this, the abbot, who had been calm and composed, immediately changed his expression. Jiang Yu noticed this and subtly moved his fingers under his wide sleeves, adding a layer of protection to the area.

“Abbot, please speak freely, and I will save your life.”

“This… I’m old and can’t remember these things clearly. Besides, it’s been more than ten years. What’s there to say?” The abbot was about to leave when Jiang Yu didn’t stop him. He leaned lazily against Shen Jiuxu and raised his hand to block the sunlight that was streaming in through the window cracks.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qinggui asked, noticing his actions.

"It's so hot," Jiang Yu whispered. "Why don't you plant some flowers to shield me from the sun?"

The abbot, listening to their strange and illogical conversation, walked even faster, but as soon as he got close to the door, he was bounced back. He reached out and touched an invisible wall.

"Abbot, I've already told you. Tell me and I can save your life." Jiang Yu's smiling voice was like ice, enveloping the abbot. He felt a chill run through his body, and his heart was filled with extreme fear.

Turning around, the abbot noticed a few flowers that had suddenly appeared by the window. He felt strange, as he remembered that no flowers were planted at Wenhua Temple. However, Jiang Yu's icy gaze was fixed on him, so the abbot could only put aside his doubts for the time being. "What does the young master want to know?"

"What exactly happened that night, and how did that monk die?"

The abbot could only say helplessly, "I don't know what happened. I only know that Yuanling didn't die half a month later, but on the night he went there."

"He was killed by the child who was brought back."

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Author's Note: Inquiries:

How many pairs of pants did they take off during the "calling me master" part?

Jiang Yu: (Surface) [Sunglasses]

Please take off your glasses.

Jiang Yu: [Burning with sobs]

(It's unacceptable to reap what you sow; please know when to stop and watch what you say. —From Mr. Jiang's personal experience)