Chapter 14: Dragon Proud Heaven Is on Fire!

Chapter 14: Long Aotian Is on Fire!

Seeing Shen Lian return to his own quarters, the system actually praised him, "Well done."

Shen Lian smiled but said nothing.

Instead, he pulled out the *Book of Rites* that Yan Huaixuan had annotated and continued studying.

The system was displeased, "Didn't you only start studying to have an excuse to hang around Yan Huaixuan? Now that he's gone, why are you still putting on a show?"

Shen Lian said flatly, "What, I finished my job for the day. You never said I had to be seducing Yan Huaixuan 24/7. Now that he's not here, can't I do what I want?"

The system was at a loss for words, "Fine, whatever."

It tsked, "You might as well use this time to get some beauty sleep and protect that pretty face of yours."

Shen Lian's fingers tightened slightly around the book. He didn't respond, but a cold glint flashed through his lowered eyes before disappearing.

He opened the book. Beside his own delicate handwriting, there was a line of elegant, refined script.

The corner of Shen Lian's mouth curled up involuntarily.

It was written by Yan Huaixuan.

During the day, when Yan Huaixuan was teaching him to read and saw he was totally lost, he'd explain the origins of the characters and the little stories behind them.

Actually, when Shen Lian first went to Yan Huaixuan, he thought the man would just blow him off.

After all, he'd shamelessly begged for these lessons.

But he never expected Yan Huaixuan to put in this much effort. Even if Shen Lian couldn't remember the first time, Yan Huaixuan would still answer when he asked again.

And he never made fun of Shen Lian for being a slow learner.

It was as if Yan Huaixuan's calm, cool voice was still echoing in his ears.

Shen Lian's fingers curled slightly. He looked up at the bronze mirror across from him and suddenly realized he was smiling.

Shen Lian froze, then quickly wiped the smile off his face.

But his fingers traced over Yan Huaixuan's annotations, and he couldn't help but pick up a brush without dipping it in ink, gently tracing over the characters.

Meanwhile, in his room, Yan Huaixuan lowered his eyes and made hand seals, getting ready to meditate and cultivate. But for some reason, almost without thinking, he sent out a wisp of Spiritual Sense.

It drifted above Shen Lian's room.

To his surprise, he saw Shen Lian reviewing his lessons.

Yan Huaixuan was briefly stunned, then a bit puzzled.

Wasn't Shen Lian just pretending he wanted to study as an excuse to get close to him?

Why was he still studying late into the night when no one was around?

And what's more—Yan Huaixuan recalled how Shen Lian had caressed his handwriting with such fondness, even picking up a brush to trace it.

Yan Huaixuan's fingers twitched slightly.

He kept watching Shen Lian with his Spiritual Sense and saw that the guy, while tracing, had started doodling.

With just a couple of casual strokes, Shen Lian brought an adorable little dog to life on the paper, just as lively as the rabbits and cats he'd drawn in previous days.

Yan Huaixuan thought to himself, "Quite playful."

Not only that, but Shen Lian also had a habit of biting his brush without realizing it. Yan Huaixuan had noticed this habit during the day and had stopped him several times.

But now, with no one to scold him, Shen Lian finished his drawing, his eyes crinkling in a smile, and instinctively bit down on the brush.

At that moment, Yan Huaixuan almost instinctively wanted to say something, but he held back.

Shen Lian, meanwhile, got a mouthful of bitter ink, and his pale, delicate face immediately scrunched up.

"Ugh, so bitter!"

Yan Huaixuan watched as Shen Lian hurriedly got up, spat out the ink, and quickly rinsed his mouth, but the tip of his small nose was still stained with ink.

He was a total mess, like a little tabby cat.

He even made a face, "How could I forget..."

A barely noticeable smile flickered across Yan Huaixuan's lips.

He's scheming, but he's bad at it. Adorably dumb.

After spitting out the ink, Shen Lian sat back down. Even though no one was watching, he still felt embarrassed for no reason.

He'd had a habit of biting his brush back in school, and he kept forgetting he couldn't do it here. During the day, when he bit it without thinking, Yan Huaixuan would lightly tap his wrist with a ruler.

But now...

Shen Lian found it a little funny himself. He looked down and saw his clothes were stained.

So he reached down, untied his sash, and took off his clothes.

Suddenly, Shen Lian looked up, thoughtful.

"System, do you feel like something's off?"

The system said, "Huh?"

Shen Lian looked around but didn't see anything. A bit puzzled, he lowered his head and kept undressing.

Weird, why did it feel like someone was watching him just now?

Meanwhile, back in his room, Yan Huaixuan suddenly opened his eyes.

The second Shen Lian started undressing, he withdrew his Spiritual Sense. But even so, he'd caught a glimpse of snow-white skin, glowing like warm jade in the flickering candlelight.

Yan Huaixuan closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath.

Just as he was about to go back to meditating, the image of the young man undressing lingered stubbornly in his mind.

He paused for a moment, then looked down and saw that his yang essence had once again...

Yan Huaixuan frowned slightly.

For as long as he could remember, he had never had any need for such things.

In the mortal world, his brothers had long since awakened to desire, but he felt no desires or cravings at all. Even after a thousand years of cultivation, he still felt no such urges.

People had tried sending naked beauties to his bed, but to him, they were just flesh and skin, no different from anyone else.

Yet in just a few short days, he had experienced this twice...

Yan Huaixuan's gaze drifted back to the red thread on his little finger.

This thing could override his will and force his body to move—he couldn't keep it for long.

But this time, even after chanting the calming mantra twice, Yan Huaixuan felt no relief.

He hesitated, then slowly closed his slender fingers.

If he didn't give in to the red thread, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to cultivate properly all night.

After what seemed like forever, Yan Huaixuan finally raised a finger and used the Purification Art.

The next morning, Shen Lian was in the same predicament.

Before Yan Huaixuan even opened his eyes, he could hear the sound of cheerful footsteps approaching.

"Your Highness!"

Shen Lian pushed open the door, clutching a book, and was about to rush in. But then he remembered Yan Huaixuan's lesson from yesterday, so he pouted and held back.

Yan Huaixuan then watched the person who usually fluttered about like a little butterfly.

This time, he stood upright and composed, walking in slowly and deliberately.

But Shen Lian hadn't been learning for long, and breaking old habits was tough. So when he stepped over the threshold, he tripped.

Just as Shen Lian thought he was about to face-plant, his hand somehow grabbed onto the wall.

He steadied himself instantly, blinked, surprised, and murmured under his breath, "Since when am I this quick?"

Yan Huaixuan's sleeve moved slightly.

Shen Lian immediately turned to look at him, eyes sparkling as he rushed over. "Did Your Highness see that? I did this, then that, and caught myself in a flash."

"Does my husband think A Lian is quick on his feet and a natural at martial arts?"

Yan Huaixuan's gaze swept over the excitement in his eyes and his chattering lips, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile.

"A martial artist wouldn't trip on a threshold."

Shen Lian felt embarrassed again, tugging at Yan Huaixuan's sleeve and blatantly twisting the truth. "Who?"

"Who would trip over a threshold? It certainly wasn't me."

Yan Huaixuan found it amusing—he'd never seen anyone lie through their teeth so brazenly.

He lowered his gaze to Shen Lian. "Right here, right in front of you."

Shen Lian immediately clutched his forehead. "Ow, my ears hurt so bad. I suddenly can't hear a thing. Husband, what did you just say?"

Yan Huaixuan watched him clutch his head, claiming his ears hurt.