Actually, it was only two days ago that Ji Lan had inadvertently discovered that Qingya Courtyard possessed such a wonderful spot.
However, he had been pestered quite heavily by Yu Zhengyang at the time. Regardless of what kind of intentions that man held toward him, the mere thought of a guy who had once proposed marriage to him made Ji Lan’s lower backside tense right up.
With all the right conditions aligned, Yu Zhengyang was absent; if they didn’t enjoy it right now, then when?
“Chenxiao, do you have any urgent matters to attend to?”
Ji Lan actually also wanted to use the opportunity of soaking in the hot spring together to reduce his fear toward the male lead.
After all, they were going to lay everything bare to each other! Men’s friendships were always built this way!
“No urgent matters,” Mo Chenxiao shook his head. “If Master likes it, this disciple will accompany Master.”
Why did this sound as though he had been forced into prostitution against his will?
Could it be that the men of this world were also very conservative?
“Big Brother Mo,” Wansong said with an honest smile, “If you are busy, I can accompany Elder Qinglian!”
Since even Wansong didn’t mind, it probably wasn’t an issue with this world.
“No need,” Mo Chenxiao didn’t look at Wansong as he collected the two bowls. “Master, I was just momentarily overexcited.”
That clumsy excuse would have been better left unsaid.
Since his disciple had already put it that way, this hot spring pool had to be soaked in whether he wanted to or not.
The hot spring pool in Qingya Courtyard was not small. Crisscrossing small paths and tiny pavilions wrapped around the entire pool, with steam rising and creating an ambiance as hazy as a celestial realm.
Since all three of them were males, Ji Lan unhesitatingly began undressing of his own accord.
When he had stripped down to only his inner garments and underpants, he noticed that both Wansong and Mo Chenxiao were standing completely motionless.
Especially Mo Chenxiao, who wore a look as if his soul had wandered out of his body.
“What is wrong with you two?” Ji Lan asked, perplexed. “How are you supposed to soak in a hot spring without taking off your clothes?”
As he spoke, Ji Lan squatted down and began tugging at Wansong’s garments. “The hot spring in Qingya Courtyard is different from the mortal realm. Wansong, soaking in it more will be good for your health.”
“Elder Qinglian,” Wansong said, trying to stop Ji Lan’s actions while blushing deeply. “I know. I’ll take them off myself.”
“No worries,” Ji Lan said with a benevolent expression. “I’ll help you take them off; it’ll be faster.”
Song’er really was cute; helping him undress even made him blush.
He truly was innocent.
The innocent Wansong was quickly stripped bare, and the moment he was stripped, he darted straight into the pool.
Perhaps due to the high temperature of the water, Wansong’s entire body turned flushed and pink.
“Chenxiao, why haven’t you stripped yet?” Ji Lan wondered, baffled. Could this guy have come here just to act as a pillar?
Ji Lan couldn’t help making a joke. “Don’t tell me you want Master to undress you?”
“Alright,” Mo Chenxiao said with a deadpan expression. “Thank you, Master.”
Ji Lan was speechless, his earlobes turning somewhat red, resembling a drop of morning dew dyed crimson by the early sun. “You…”
“Master,” Mo Chenxiao said calmly, “I was just joking.”
With that, without even glancing at Ji Lan’s reaction, he stripped himself bare in two or three motions.
Then, looking at the stark naked Mo Chenxiao, Ji Lan instantly regretted it.
When it came to men, everyone loved comparing themselves against others.
This wasn’t the first time Ji Lan had seen his disciple’s physique, but every time he looked at it, he felt a fresh wave of depression.
The male lead was amazing, so why on earth did his body have to be that good?
Moreover, that particular bundle of equipment made Ji Lan even more alarmed.
It was probably better for this guy not to have a woman; getting pierced by that thing would practically be a form of execution!
“Master,” Mo Chenxiao asked softly, “What are you looking at?”
Ji Lan snapped his head away and said glumly, “Built like a pack mule.”
It took a moment for Mo Chenxiao to process what his master meant by that remark, and he couldn’t help curving the corners of his lips. “Is Master not going to undress?”
Pressing others to undress while refusing to undress himself?
Feeling utterly depressed, Ji Lan rapidly stripped, swiftly entered the water, and quickly settled down right next to Wansong.
Even though his master’s movements were fast, with Mo Chenxiao’s eyesight, everything that should have been seen had been seen.
“Master, yours isn’t bad either.”
Casually tossing out those words, Mo Chenxiao finally stepped into the water with a sense of satisfaction.
Wansong’s heartbeat finally settled back down as he asked with burning curiosity, “What did Big Brother Mo mean just now?”
“Wansong, steady your breath and concentrate your mind,” Ji Lan said, forcibly diverting Wansong’s attention. “This hot spring will be of immense benefit to your cultivation.”
Soaking in the hot spring was a pretext; helping Wansong cultivate was the real goal.
Even for such a good-for-nothing, his master truly paid this much attention.
Watching Ji Lan with his loose, wet hair draped over his shoulders, the dark gloom on Mo Chenxiao’s face nearly crystallized.
His skin, smooth and fine as superior white jade, was veiled in a layer of mist. From Mo Chenxiao’s angle, he could only see half of a profile and one shoulder, while the rest was thoroughly concealed by damp locks of hair.
Mo Chenxiao knew that his master’s gaze at this moment must be entirely focused, focused entirely on Wansong.
He inappropriately fell into a dead-end mindset: since Wansong was so utterly useless, by what right did he deserve his master’s tender affection?
If Wansong died, his master would probably only grieve for a month or two. If Wansong died…
As he thought this, a sharp bolt of spiritual energy shot straight toward Wansong.
By the time Mo Chenxiao reacted and felt remorse, it was already too late!
That bolt of spiritual energy, laden with murderous intent, had already submerged into Wansong’s body!
“Master!” Mo Chenxiao abruptly stood up, taking long strides toward them and kicking up a string of splashing water droplets.
“What is it?!” Ji Lan was startled, turning his head only to see a massive object thrust right before his eyes.
Ji Lan’s face turned completely black. Was this guy here to show off?
Pulling a dark face as he shifted his gaze away, Ji Lan looked up and found that Mo Chenxiao’s face was even blacker.
Could something actually have gone wrong?
“Junior Brother Wansong, he…” Mo Chenxiao found himself completely unable to finish the sentence.
He had presumed too much. If Wansong really died right here, dying right in front of Ji Lan, then his master would never forget him for the rest of his life! This person would occupy a place in his master’s heart forever and ever!
Fortunately, though, his reaction just now hadn’t been too late. That bolt of spiritual energy wouldn’t take Wansong’s life; it should only have destroyed any possibility of him ever cultivating.
“What’s wrong with Wansong?” Ji Lan looked back and was puzzled. “He looks like he’s entered meditation.”
Mo Chenxiao looked closely and discovered that Wansong’s complexion was rosy, faintly showing signs of a breakthrough.
How was this possible?
“Chenxiao,” Ji Lan said with difficulty, “Although you and I are both men, you should still sit back down first.”
Mo Chenxiao looked down and realized his lower region was in an awkward state, his face instantly burning a bright crimson.
“Master, my apologies.”
The next moment, Mo Chenxiao fled the hot spring directly, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
Ji Lan: “”
Did his disciple go stupid from soaking too long?
Puzzled to no end, Ji Lan simply stopped thinking about it and turned his focus to carefully guiding Wansong.
To his astonishment, strands of fine spiritual energy were actually burrowing into Wansong’s body.
Although there were very few, this proved a single fact, Wansong was capable of gathering Qi into his body now!
Wansong had stepped onto the path of immortality!
On the other side, Mo Chenxiao’s emotions were in a prolonged state of turbulence, not only because of Wansong, but also because of his master.
He knew that if he continued soaking in the same pool as his master, he might end up displaying some less-than-honorable reactions.
With a gloomy expression, as he inappropriately conjured images of his master’s half-exposed shoulder, flushed lips, dripping wet hair, slender neck, and that fleeting glimpse of little Ji Lan, he ruthlessly satisfied his urges before finally letting out a breath of relief.
He also finally had the time to properly consider the matter concerning Wansong.
His current strength shouldn’t have been so weak that a bolt of murderous spiritual energy failed to trigger any defensive reaction from Wansong at all!
Pondering this, Mo Chenxiao slowly released a bit more spiritual power, directing it to assail Wansong once again.
Sure enough, there was zero reaction whatsoever.
“Wansong…” Mo Chenxiao chewed on those two names, a cold look gradually surfacing on his face. “Ah, what on earth are you, and what is your purpose in approaching Ji Lan?!”
It wasn’t until an hour later that Ji Lan and Wansong finally emerged, making their presence heard.
At a single glance, Mo Chenxiao noticed that Wansong’s entire aura had changed.
“Chenxiao,” Ji Lan was in high spirits. “The hot spring here is of immense benefit to Wansong’s cultivation. I want to have Wansong move in and live here with you.”
Anyway, Qingya Courtyard was so massive that an extra person wouldn’t hurt.
Mo Chenxiao didn’t raise any objections, merely nodding in silence.
Given Wansong’s aptitude, even if he managed to achieve Qi condensation, it should have taken him at least several decades of cultivation. How had he managed it just from soaking in a hot spring for an hour? Mo Chenxiao suspected it wasn’t the hot spring’s doing, but rather his own spiritual energy…
Since Wansong’s constitution was so peculiar, Mo Chenxiao naturally wanted to study it properly, and his master’s suggestion happened to align with his own intentions.
“Wansong, cultivate diligently,” a slight smile appeared on Ji Lan’s face. “You can definitely do it.”
Wansong offered a shy smile, pressing his lips together. “Thank you, Elder Qinglian.”
After a moment of thought, Wansong looked toward Mo Chenxiao. “And thank you, Big Brother Mo.”
“Don’t mention it,” Mo Chenxiao said, looking at Wansong’s flushed face. “I will take good care of you.”
Did Big Brother Mo accept him now?
Wansong looked at Mo Chenxiao in surprise, then curved his eyes into crescents. “I will work hard to become Big Brother Mo’s junior brother!”
Mo Chenxiao: “”
Looking at this scene of fraternal harmony between senior and junior brothers, Ji Lan felt quite gratified.
Mo Chenxiao was so easily prone to turning deranged probably because he suffered from a severe lack of love. Just wait, he would find a few more disciples to keep the protagonist company!
“You must be hungry after soaking for so long,” Ji Lan reached out to pat the top of Wansong’s head, drying his hair. “Master will take you two to eat something delicious.”
“Thank you, Elder Qinglian!” Wansong felt as though his entire being was inflated, floating and light. “I really am hungry!”
This child was truly well-behaved.
Ji Lan’s gaze grew increasingly tender.
“Ji Lan, why are you out here?!” Xiao Yuwei rushed over frantically. While her words were addressed to Ji Lan, her eyes were fixed on Mo Chenxiao. “Xiao Yuntang has arrived, and my parents specifically named you to come see them.”
Ji Lan: “?!” His heart surged with excitement. Was this the moment he had been anticipating the most, finally arriving?