Chapter 16: Playing in the Hot Spring, Ming Qi’s Reckless Words

Chapter 16: Playing in the Hot Spring - Ming Qi's Bold Claims

Ling Xuance's entire body stiffened, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

He could only lower his head and press down firmly on the young man's mischievous hand, his voice low and hoarse, strained with self-control.

"A Yu, don't move."

The naive, oblivious young man couldn't grasp the struggle and restraint in his voice at all, his eyes full of pure innocence and confusion.

That kind of pure, innocent look made guilt surge heavily in Ling Xuance's chest.

"Brother Che, what is that?"

His Adam's apple bobbed hard as he murmured against the young man's ear, his breath scorching hot, and asked, his voice low and strained.

"A Yu... do you really want to know what it is?"

"Yes!"

Ling Xuance looked at his pure, untainted eyes, wrestled with himself for a long moment, and finally rasped.

"How about I cover your eyes?"

At that, Lin Yu's mind flashed back to their first meeting—when he'd made Brother Che cover his eyes, tilting his head, blinking, and pressing on.

"Am I meeting someone?"

Ling Xuance nuzzled the young man's soft hair with his nose, feeling the warm, pliant body in his arms. He thought of all the moments from their first meeting, his heart torn between shyness and restlessness. In the end, he gave a slight nod, his voice barely a whisper.

"...Mm, kind of."

Lin Yu, none the wiser, hummed softly in assent. He let Ling Xuance tie the ribbon around his eyes, and once his sight was blocked, he curled up obediently in his arms.

The ribbon shut out the young man's innocent gaze, and the guilt in Ling Xuance's chest eased a little, his frayed nerves finally able to relax.

He settled the young man in the steaming hot spring, gently took Lin Yu's slender wrist, and guided his small hand down slowly, resting it on his own hot, taut body.

He pressed against the young man's ear, his breath scorching, and said slowly, his tone gentle but firm.

"A Yu, if you feel uncomfortable or unwilling, tell me to stop anytime, okay?"

"Mm." Lin Yu nodded obediently. The blindfold's darkness made him cling even more to the warmth in his arms, and he followed his lead without a fuss.

Then, without warning, Lin Yu let out a tiny startled yelp as he instinctively squeezed.

"—A Yu!"

Ling Xuance's whole body jolted hard, a low, involuntary gasp slipping from his throat. His voice was completely shattered and husky, all his pent-up control teetering on the brink.

He pulled the young man tighter, locking him in his arms, and buried his face in the crook of his neck.

His hot breath washed over the delicate skin, scalding hot. In the quiet, hidden bamboo hut, he guided him gently, step by step.

The whole of Xuan Yue Peak was sealed behind barriers, dead silent. Only within the hot spring bamboo hut at the rear mountain, soft whimpers and low, stifled gasps wove together, seeping through the thin bamboo walls into the night breeze.

Late in the night, Ling Xuance carefully carried the dozing young man out of the hot spring bamboo hut.

Moonlight lingered on the young man's peaceful sleeping face—long lashes resting softly, his features serene.

He sagged limply against Ling Xuance's chest, breathing slow and even, already dead asleep.

The delicate skin visible above his sleeves and collar was dotted with faint red marks, mottled and telling—all intimate marks from the night before, theirs alone.

By the time the sky was fully bright, Lin Yu woke to the warmth around him. His mind drifted back slowly, still foggy with sleep.

Out of habit, he burrowed into the warm, solid chest beside him, his soft hair brushing against the cool skin, clingy and trusting.

Ling Xuance had been awake for a long time.

He'd been awake since before dawn, last night's indulgence and tenderness still humming in his limbs, the ache in his chest still unsettled.

Feeling the young man nuzzle against him, Ling Xuance's heart softened. His voice was husky with sleep, gentle and warm: "You're up? Does anything hurt?"

The voice at his ear chased away the last of Lin Yu's drowsiness.

He lay in Ling Xuance's arms, registering how his body felt. After a moment, he frowned, his delicate brows knitting, his voice soft and sleepy, rough with sleep.

"My butt's a little sore... Brother Che, you squeezed too hard last night."

He still didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning behind last night's intimate, confusing acts, unable to understand why Ling Xuance had done those strange, intimate things.

But he could tell emotions apart—Ling Xuance had clearly been happy and relaxed last night.

And as for himself, aside from the soreness from being squeezed at the end, he hadn't minded the rest at all. In fact, he'd felt vaguely comfortable, safe, and at ease.

That blunt, innocent remark brought back all of last night's tender moments. Ling Xuance let out a low chuckle, his smile soft and controlled.

He didn't push further. His broad, warm hand settled over the young man's sore spot. Pure, gentle spiritual energy flowed in, easing the soreness and fatigue under the skin, soothing his ache.

Though they hadn't gone all the way last night, unable to rein in his desires, he'd indulged himself again and again, leaving his faint marks all over.

The warm spiritual energy flowed, the soreness fading fast, the weariness in his body melting away.

Lin Yu sighed softly in comfort, his brows easing as he stretched lazily.

As he stretched his arms up, the thin blanket slipped off his slender shoulders, pooling at his waist.

The young man's bare body was fully exposed in the morning light, all the mottled red marks on display—deep and shallow, tangled together—imprints of last night's tenderness, vivid and intimate.

At the sight of the marks he'd left, Ling Xuance's gaze darkened, his throat going tight.

He looked away fast, forcing down the surge of emotion, grabbed the fallen blanket and wrapped it around the young man. He didn't dare look again, afraid he'd lose control.

"Don't squirm, you'll catch cold." Ling Xuance's voice went even rougher.

Then he picked up the neatly folded underclothes and robes and dressed him with care.

After that, he took a wooden comb, sat on the bed, and gently worked through Lin Yu's soft hair with his fingers before tying it into a simple, tidy bun.

Lin Yu sat still the whole time, letting him do whatever he wanted.

A mountain breeze slipped through the bamboo, clearing away the night's lingering heat, leaving only warmth and calm in the room.

The two got up, one after the other, and pushed open the bamboo door to step outside.

In the days after, Xuan Yue Peak stayed quiet and peaceful, with no outsiders bothering them—a private cultivation haven for just the two of them.

By day, Ling Xuance would sometimes patiently guide Lin Yu's cultivation, carefully helping him sort the pure spiritual energy in his body.

Jin Ling made a point to visit the mountain almost every day. She never overstepped her place, only bringing mortal snacks and sect gossip, gentle and tactful in her approach.

Beyond that, another regular quietly took up residence on Xuan Yue Peak—Su He, the outer disciple who had delivered robes at the foot of the mountain that day.

Ling Xuance had noticed his respectful demeanor, and since Xuan Yue Peak needed someone to handle miscellaneous affairs, he transferred Su He from the outer sect to the peak, arranging a clean, elegant dwelling halfway up the mountain for him to live and cultivate in solitude.

Such preferential treatment, in the eyes of the many outer disciples of the Taiyi Sect, was like a gift from heaven.

For a time, everyone in the sect envied Su He.

Su He himself was overjoyed.

He carried out his duties diligently, never daring to go up to the summit uninvited, quietly tending to his responsibilities and devoting his spare time to cultivation—steady and grounded.

It was around this time that word spread throughout the Taiyi Sect: Lin Yu, the newest closed-door disciple of the Supreme Elder, and Lin Che, the newly appointed Distinguished Guest Elder, were dao companions who shared a deep bond of mutual affection.

The two lived together day and night on Xuan Yue Peak. The cold, otherworldly Nascent Soul cultivator showed tenderness and indulgence only toward this young martial uncle—a striking contrast that had become the talk of the sect among disciples.

Outside the lecture hall of Qing He Peak, the crowd had dispersed.

Ming Qi, having just finished a full day of lessons and cultivation, walked out looking a bit weary.

He happened to overhear the idle chatter of a group of fellow disciples.

"I heard the barrier around Xuan Yue Peak has been reinforced again—no one can get close enough for a peek. Such a shame!"

"That Elder Lin is said to be the most handsome in the entire sect, and his cultivation is beyond measure."

"And Martial Uncle Lin Yu hides away at the summit all day—no one even knows what he looks like."

All the talk was about the two on Xuan Yue Peak, and Ming Qi felt an inexplicable irritation welling up inside him.

He stepped forward with a cold expression, his voice clear and sharp, and let the crowd have it.

"Is gossiping all day and slacking on your studies really your cultivation duty?"

The noisy corridor fell silent in an instant. All the disciples shut up and instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.

Ming Qi shot a cold glare around the crowd, his tone dripping with disdain and contempt.

"They merely hide away in the peak, avoiding the world. One uses his deep cultivation to stand by and do nothing for the sect."

"The other is timid and cowardly, devoid of any cultivator's spirit. Are these people even worth your interest? Ridiculous!"

The disciples exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to respond, the air growing tense.

At that very moment, two figures swept in on the wind and walked past the stone steps outside the corridor—none other than Jin Ling of Qing Lian Peak and Yun Yan, the Sect Master's lead disciple.

The two had just returned from discussions at the Sect Master's hall and happened to pass by the lecture hall, overhearing every word of Ming Qi's rebuke and tirade.