46. In bed...

Leaving the kitchen, Kim Lian finally understood what that commanding gaze, treating all beings as equals, truly meant.

She hadn't expected this manor to harbor such a figure. But she didn't think like Zhao Yu. In this world, the strong rule and the weak submit. Someone who could make two of the great scholars bow, and with just a word, overturn the laws of heaven to recreate a body—how powerful must they be? Were they at the pinnacle of the tribulation stage or a Sage on the verge of ascension?

No, not even that.

They were at a level higher than everyone else.

This token, game, price?... Right, with danger often comes great opportunity. Serving under such a person is a once-in-a-lifetime honor. What she needed to do now was to make herself useful, not lose her value, and quickly recover her strength. As for Luna Hart and the others, there was no need to worry too much about them. The most important thing now was to complete the mission tied to the token and collect the rewards and resources...

Before she realized it, she had walked into the courtyard and saw a tree with swirling Dao energy around it...

...

In the garden, the flowers bloomed in abundance, their fragrance pleasant, unaffected by the cold weather.

Noah Drake lay resting on a bed, looking out the window, his body trembling uncontrollably, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"This system only makes me feel cold, while everyone else is fine. And none of them even mentioned it! They embarrassed me this morning..."

"If I wasn't clever, you all would have turned into bandits by now... Why am I the only one getting punished?"

Sigh

"As the master of this place, if I don't enter hell, who will? Truly, I am a virtuous person..."

"Why do I feel like something's missing?"

"Oh... This bed was just used by Lalatina. Her scent is still lingering, and it's really pleasant..."

Beneath his pants...

"You calm down! Soon enough, she'll be ours."

...

In the maid's quarters, Lalatina Celeste, Aurelius Liora, and Luna Hart each lay in a corner of the shared bed. Though all of them were cultivators with extraordinary bodies, it had been a long time since they'd taken an afternoon nap together. But since the master himself had given the order, this rare scene had come to be.

Liora held an egg in her hand, giggling non-stop.

Luna Hart, drowsy beside her, grumbled, though only half-heartedly, "Liora. I haven't had a chance to nap like this in a long time. Can't you stop it?"

Knowing she was at fault, Liora whispered softly, "Yes, sister."

Then she turned to Lalatina and whispered again, "Sister, I can't sleep. What did the master help you with earlier?"

Lalatina couldn't sleep either. Her body was burning, and she pulled Liora into her arms, speaking faintly in a daze.

"Liora, you remember how you once said the master has intentions toward our bodies, don't you?"

Feeling something pressing against her chest, Liora's face turned red, but she softly replied, "Yes, I said that before. But now I think he just likes to tease us. Why is your body so hot, sister?"

"Liora, you're very perceptive. I also think the same about the master. This morning, he helped me clear my mind... but the method was strange. He touched me all over... Listen to me first. It actually felt incredibly comfortable, his technique was truly amazing... And not what you'd think. He avoided all sensitive spots. If he had any real intention, I would've already fallen into his hands."

"But now, my body feels so restless. Liora, will you come bathe with me?"

Luna Hart, who had apparently been awake for some time, suddenly sat up and spoke in a hurry.

"Sister, could it be that... you've been... enchanted by the master? If a man touches a woman's entire body, what's left? The master is too much!"

Lalatina raised a hand to her lips, gesturing for quiet.

"Luna, lower your voice. I'll let you in on a secret. The reason we were accepted into the manor is that I resemble someone from the master's past... Don't believe me?"

"You must understand, the higher one's cultivation, the harder it is to lie or act against their true self. Doing so would be exposed by the Divine Order, causing their cultivation to regress. The higher we ascend, the more we can't lie about these things. And someone with such power as the master wouldn't lie about something like that."

"The master is a man of eternal love. He looks at me as if I'm someone else. He wants to touch me... but when he touches me, he realizes I'm not that person... So..."

"I'm telling you this so that you all don't misunderstand him."

Liora and Luna Hart fell into silent contemplation.

Suddenly, Luna Hart became serious and looked at her sister, whose eyes were somewhat dreamy.

"Sister. Do you have feelings for that person?"

... Silence ...

"Luna, do I really look like a girl in love?"

Luna nodded firmly.

Lalatina burst into laughter, a smile blooming like countless flowers.

"I admire a man who loves deeply, a love that transcends time... We've all lived in court, lying to people, being lied to, seeing love and interests intertwined—haven't you all witnessed that? But seeing with my own eyes a love that remains unchanged stirs something in my heart. Liora, you're still young and don't understand yet. When you grow up, you'll realize how precious such a pure love is."

"And Luna, you're not that young anymore. Surely, you've loved and been loved, haven't you? Did that person leave you for their own gain?"

Luna Hart remained silent, listening to her sister's heartfelt words. Indeed, such love would be truly moving. She couldn't help but wonder if anyone had ever loved her like that—how happy she would be.

Seeing Luna's quiet reflection, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes smiling, Lalatina teased her.

"Ha! It seems Luna has someone in her heart... I wonder who's lucky enough to have your affection. You must introduce him to us, so if he ever bullies you, we won't let him get away with it, haha."

Blushing, Luna muttered under her breath, "Sister, he wouldn't bully me..."

In the awkward atmosphere, Luna quickly changed the subject.

"Sister Lalatina, didn't you say your body feels uncomfortable? Go take a bath."

Lalatina, still holding Liora tightly, couldn't stop laughing and kept teasing, her hands wandering over Liora's not-yet-fully-grown body.

"Liora, I've hit Luna's weak spot, and now she's annoyed with me and trying to send me away. Come on, Liora, you should come bathe with me."

Liora, unable to escape from Lalatina's grip, cried out, "Sister, where are your hands going?! Aaaah!"

And so, with Lalatina's persistence, the three of them went to bathe together, cleansing away the tangled emotions within their young hearts.