Volume 1, Chapter 206 – Ye Ling’er’s Little Scheme

Gu Han looked at her.

“Ling’er, is there something else?”

Ye Ling’er’s hands twisted unconsciously at the hem of her robe.

She looked up at Gu Han, her eyes shimmering with tears and filled with an almost desperate courage.

“Master…”

Her voice was soft, trembling almost imperceptibly.

“I… have a request.”

“Go ahead.”

“Before you enter seclusion… I’d like you to promise me one thing.”

She paused, then hurriedly added as though afraid Gu Han might refuse, her tone pleading:

“It isn’t anything unreasonable! It’s… it’s just one small wish…”

As Gu Han gazed into Ye Ling’er’s eyes, so full of nervousness and anticipation, her heart softened.

This child had a tendency to overthink things and was especially sensitive. Gu Han had only just returned, yet she was about to enter seclusion again. It had probably left Ye Ling’er feeling uneasy.

“Tell me. As long as it’s within my power.”

Gu Han’s voice grew gentler still.

Ye Ling’er’s eyes instantly lit with dazzling joy.

She stepped forward, her ice-blue hair stirring despite the lack of wind. Even the aura around her fluctuated faintly with her excitement.

“I… want, after you emerge from seclusion…”

The words caught in her throat, and she hesitated.

“What do you want?” Gu Han asked patiently.

Ye Ling’er drew a deep breath as though summoning every last ounce of courage she possessed. Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear and resolute:

“After you emerge from seclusion… I want to be the first person you see.”

The moment she finished, she lowered her head, no longer daring to look at Gu Han’s expression. Her heart pounded like a drum.

The request sounded simple, even a little childish.

But only Ye Ling’er knew what secret, fervent feelings lay hidden within it.

She wanted to be the first person Master saw when she emerged from seclusion.

In that moment, she wanted all of Master’s attention to herself, even if only for the briefest instant.

More than that, she wanted to use this tiny “privilege” to carve a special mark into Master’s heart, one that belonged to her alone.

This was her first cautious step, her first attempt to test Master’s feelings, and a promise she was making to herself.

Gu Han paused in surprise.

Rеаⅾ оո KαtRеaԁіngСαfе

She had not expected Ye Ling’er to make such a request.

She looked at the disciple before her, head bowed, so nervous that she was holding her breath.

The trace of puzzlement in Gu Han’s heart gave way to understanding, followed by a touch of helpless affection.

This girl…

“All right.”

Gu Han agreed softly.

“I promise. You’ll be the first person I summon after I emerge from seclusion.”

Ye Ling’er abruptly raised her head. Ecstasy and disbelief flooded her eyes as tears swiftly welled within them.

“R-Really?”

Her voice trembled on the verge of tears.

“Of course.”

The corners of Gu Han’s lips lifted slightly, indulgent amusement in her eyes.

“How is that difficult? Was it really worth getting this nervous over?”

Ye Ling’er shook her head hard, but tears slipped uncontrollably down her cheeks.

She did not even bother wiping them away. She simply gazed at Gu Han, her eyes brighter and more resolute than ever before.

“To me… this is very important!”

Extremely important!

Seeing her cry, Gu Han’s heart softened. She reached out and gently wiped the tears from Ye Ling’er’s cheeks with her fingertips.

“Silly girl, what is there to cry about?”

Her touch was light and soothing.

Feeling the warmth of Master’s fingertips, Ye Ling’er’s nose stung, and the emotions she had kept buried deep within her nearly burst free.

Now!

Throwing caution to the wind, she seized on the impulse born of her surging emotions, stepped forward, opened her arms, and hugged Gu Han tightly!

This embrace was tighter and more forceful than any before it.

Her cheek “just happened” to be buried in the softest part of Gu Han’s chest.

In that instant, Ye Ling’er clearly felt her cheek sink into the softness.

Master’s cool, delicate fragrance mingled with an indescribable sensation, like the finest warm jade or the softest wisp of cloud.

She could even feel the full curves of Master’s body and Master’s warmth seeping through the thin fabric between them.

A tingling sensation shot from where their bodies touched through her entire body!

Ye Ling’er’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. All the blood in her body seemed to rush to her head, and her ears rang.

Reаԁ on КαtRеаⅾіnɡСаfe

An overwhelming sense of satisfaction and guilt engulfed her at once.

Without giving herself away, she drew a deep breath, taking Master’s comforting scent deep into her lungs.

It was as though she meant to use it to fill the emptiness of the long wait ahead.

At the same time, she keenly sensed Master’s body stiffen for an instant.

But… Master did not push her away.

That realization filled Ye Ling’er with such wild, secret delight that it nearly overwhelmed her.

Master had not rejected her…

Master was allowing her to come this close…

She buried her face a little deeper, pretending it was an unconscious movement born of emotional distress, when in truth she was rubbing her cheek against Gu Han ever so slightly.

The wondrous sensation made her tremble from head to toe, yet she could not bear to pull away even an inch.

“Master…”

Her muffled voice came from against Gu Han’s chest, thick with tears and carrying a faint, almost imperceptible trace of apprehension.

“You must take good care of yourself… I’ll be waiting for you to emerge from seclusion.”

Gu Han was momentarily stunned by Ye Ling’er’s sudden, intimate embrace.

The strange sensation against her chest made her body stiffen instantly.

Especially since… Ye Ling’er’s face was buried squarely against her breasts.

Warm breath seeped through the fabric, bringing a strange, faintly itchy tingle.

A barely visible blush crept uncontrollably over the tips of Gu Han’s ears.

This girl…

A hint of helplessness crossed her mind.

Perhaps it was only an unconscious act brought on by her heightened emotions?

After all, Ling’er was usually so obedient and mindful of propriety.

With that thought, Gu Han did not immediately push her away.

She simply let Ye Ling’er hold her and gently patted her back, her voice warm:

“Mm. I will.”

“You must also cultivate diligently. Don’t let such remarkable talent go to waste.”

“Yes…”

Ye Ling’er remained in Gu Han’s arms a while longer, savoring this rare warmth and intimacy.

Only when she sensed that Master was about to release her did she slowly and reluctantly loosen her arms.

Taking a step back, she raised her face. Her eyes were still wet, and a lingering blush colored her cheeks, making her look delicate and vulnerable.

Reαԁ οո ΚatReαⅾіոɡСafe

There was also a trace of belated shyness.

It was as though that bold embrace truly had been nothing more than an uncontrollable outpouring of emotion.

She quickly lowered her head, concealing the triumphant gleam in her eyes and the delight she could barely contain.

Then she bowed deeply and solemnly.

“I… will take my leave now.”

With that, she did not linger. Turning, she hurried out of the great hall.

Her steps appeared steady, but there was a barely perceptible haste to them. She almost seemed to be… fleeing in panic.

Only when the doors closed behind her, cutting off Master’s gaze, did Ye Ling’er lean against a cold corridor pillar and slowly exhale.

At that moment, there was no trace of tears or shyness in her eyes.

All that remained was a fierce, astonishingly bright light and a smile she could not suppress no matter how hard she tried.

She had done it.

Not only had she gotten Master to agree to that promise of being the “first person she saw.”

She had also hugged Master and gotten so intimately close to her.

Master had not pushed her away.

That realization melted through her heart like the sweetest honey, filling her with endless joy and courage.

She lifted a hand and gently brushed her fingertips over her cheek, where Master’s warmth and softness seemed to linger.

“Master…”

She murmured to herself, her eyes shining with resolve.

“By the time you emerge from seclusion… Ling’er will have become even stronger. Strong enough to stand by your side.”

“I will.”

Inside the hall.

Gu Han watched Ye Ling’er’s hastily retreating figure and frowned slightly.

That brief moment of intimate contact just now, and Ling’er’s seemingly shy yet unmistakably hurried escape…

Something about it did not feel quite right.

Had Ling’er… truly done it unintentionally?

Gu Han recalled the faint rubbing motion Ye Ling’er had made while her face was buried against her chest…

The tips of her ears heated again, and she immediately shook her head.

Surely… she was overthinking it?

Ling’er was innocent and sensitive. Perhaps her emotions had simply gotten the better of her.

Gu Han suppressed the strange feeling in her heart.

Reαd оո ΚαtRеaԁіnɡСafe

The most urgent task now was to enter seclusion and cultivate the Chaos Scripture, opening a pocket world within her body as soon as possible.

Only with sufficient strength could she face whatever the future held and truly take control of her own destiny.

She hesitated no longer. Rising to her feet, she headed for the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.

The tower spirit, Xiao Wan, had already sensed her arrival, and the entrance to the third floor silently opened.

Gu Han stepped inside.

With time flowing thirty times faster, everything in the outside world seemed to slow to a crawl.

She found a place in the central region where the starlight was most concentrated, sat cross-legged, and slowly closed her eyes.

The profound Dao Resonance of the Chaos Scripture flowed through her heart.

This time, she would press forward in one sustained effort and advance this supreme cultivation technique to Minor Accomplishment!

At the same time Gu Han entered seclusion within the Myriad-Phenomena Tower…

Yun Yun and Li Hanyi also sprang into action.

The Palace Master’s declaration that the “entire Immortal Palace would relocate” struck the upper ranks of Yaochi Immortal Palace like a boulder hurled into a placid lake, stirring enormous waves.

After the shock came unprecedented excitement and soaring determination!

A broader world! More complete laws! The possibility of reaching higher realms!

For any ambitious cultivator, these were irresistible temptations.

With Yun Yun coordinating the effort and Li Hanyi overseeing it, preparations began in an orderly fashion.

Resources were inventoried and consolidated, the disciples’ cultivation plans were adjusted and intensified, and lists were drawn up of every type of material they might need…

Like a precise and highly efficient machine, the entire Yaochi Immortal Palace began operating at full capacity in preparation for the long journey three years from now.

Although the disciples did not know exactly what had happened, they could all sense the change in the Immortal Palace’s atmosphere.

Cultivation resources became more plentiful, their teachers and elders pushed them harder, and all manner of trials and assessments grew increasingly frequent.

Everyone realized that something momentous might be about to happen.

And whatever it was, it was bound to be connected to the Palace Master’s seclusion.

Their passion for cultivation was reignited once more.

The disciples raced against time to grow stronger.

As personal disciples, Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, Ye Ling’er, and A-Yao became role models for all the other disciples, as well as the standard they strove to match.

Every advance the four of them made inspired the others to work even harder.

And so, amid the fervent cultivation and preparations sweeping through Yaochi Immortal Palace, time quietly slipped away.