A snake carries cold throughout its body, and a wolf carries a fishy scent.

As for this little princess, once the scars heal, I will forget the pain.

I had suffered once and should have felt apprehensive toward Master, yet the following seven days were a hundred times more difficult to endure than those four days. Therefore, when I entered Master’s room again, I nearly forgot propriety and self-restraint, almost jumping onto him directly.

After seven days, Master seemed to have calmed his anger toward me, no longer giving me cold looks. On the contrary, there was somewhat of a mood of trimming candles by the western window. After careful consideration, I determined this was because the moonlight was too gentle, making Master appear overly gentle as well.

He still spoke as before—stern without being harsh, neither cold nor cutting. When undoing my sash, he noticed my gaze and lifted his eyelids to look at me.

We looked at each other for a moment. For some reason, my heart stirred with emotion. I said cautiously, “Master…”

I heard him exhale a long breath. Originally facing each other on the bed, he finally turned my body around. It was yet another method I had never tried, and far more intense than the previous times.

Before long, I couldn’t endure it anymore and said, “Master, Master, my knees hurt. Stop for a moment.”

Rarely would he listen to what I said, but he stopped.

Then I turned around, lay on the bed, covered my eyes, and said, “Alright, alright.”

Thus, I could face him directly. Our clothes overlapped, our long hair intertwined like silk wrapped around black satin. Though it wasn’t the first time, my heart raced like galloping horses more than before. He gazed into my eyes, appearing no different yet vastly different from before.

His lips were full and alluring, more beautiful than the petals of the Fahua Cherry Plains. Just watching for a moment made my heart even more restless. Yet I couldn’t find the way, only feeling the spring night was too short, filled with countless idle sorrows.

Afterward, he dressed properly. He intended to brush the hair from my cheek, but abruptly withdrew the motion. For reasons I couldn’t understand, I felt extremely ashamed, wanting to cry but having no tears. I didn’t dare look at him again and fled out the door as soon as I got off the bed.

With this escape, ten days passed. Before the healing session, Master touched my wrist and found only the faintest trace of red light remaining: “Your primordial spirit has almost fully recovered. After tonight, if you feel feverish, that would indicate a relapse—remember to come once more. If everything is normal, it means you’re completely healed.”

This time, he still held me while sitting at the head of the bed. I pressed my lips tightly together, only breathing heavily, in sync with him. I didn’t know whether I should be happy or sad.

These several intimate encounters had made my infatuation with Master grow stronger and stronger, even reaching a state of self-forgetting. Thinking this might be the last time, my feelings couldn’t be more complicated.

He had been quite calm, but suddenly seemed to sense something and said with narrowed eyes, “Wei’er.”

“Ah?” Feeling inexplicably guilty, I shook my head, trying to regain clarity.

“Is it here?”

After this exploration, as soon as I loosened my tightly closed mouth, strange sounds escaped.

I wanted to die right there and then, turning my head away to avoid his gaze: “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

But he wasn’t easily fooled. Once he was certain, he didn’t look back and showed no intention of stopping. Strange—usually after this much time, it should have ended. But what was happening tonight? It seemed Master was reluctant to finish… Sensing the situation becoming increasingly odd, I felt my bones and muscles weakening. I pushed him twice, but couldn’t push him away. Instead, he easily restrained my wrists like holding a small chicken, leaving me unable to move.

Then my head was struck numb, a white flash before my eyes. At the same time, that clear stream entered my body again, healing my primordial spirit, but I felt no relief at all. In that brief instant, as if my breath was cut off, my entire being fell into an uncontrolled state…

In this chaos, seeing Master’s lips again, I committed a heinous crime.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and greedily sucked on those two lips. Who would have known—without even time to think, he embraced me tightly and kissed back with fervor.

This startled me into complete stillness. I pushed him away violently and fell off him: “I, I, I… I, I, I, I… I’m sorry, Master! I was dizzy just now! It’s all my fault! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Then I arranged my clothes while bowing in apology and fled in panic…

After returning, I was nearly driven to death by my anger. All the words in the world that could describe regret weren’t enough to express my regret. Why did Master kiss me? Was it because of momentary passion from our intimate encounter, or because he truly had lingering feelings for me? Why didn’t I stay a bit longer to see his reaction? Fleeing because of embarrassment—I was simply a complete fool.

But if I went to ask him about this now, the situation would be the same as always—no way out. Why did I apologize? Why did I say I was dizzy? Why did I run?

One misstep brings eternal regret. I buried my head in the bed, not wanting to think about anything anymore…

The most annoying thing was frequently seeing Master afterward. Having been so intimate, even if only physically, returning to an ordinary master-disciple relationship—nothing under heaven could be more torturous.

Master remained like plain boiled tofu, rarely showing joy or anger. My body had recovered, and I hadn’t mentioned wanting to stay with Master, so logically I should return to Suozhao. I didn’t want to leave Master, yet I didn’t want him to think I was staying because of that matter. After several days of internal conflict, though he hadn’t driven me away, I was too ashamed to continue staying.

The night I decided to leave, I suffered insomnia again. The events of the last time in the Master’s room replayed in my mind repeatedly. The sensation of kissing him made my entire body tingle. My body gradually grew hot—the more I thought about Master, the higher my temperature rose.

Suddenly, I remembered what he had said: “After tonight, if you feel feverish, that would indicate a relapse—remember to come once more.”

I pressed the back of my hand to my cheek and felt it burning. Oh no—could my primordial spirit not be completely healed yet? Good thing I hadn’t immediately left Tianshi City. I quickly jumped out of bed and ran to Master’s bedchamber to find him.

With his permission, I pushed the door open and entered. He looked up and saw me, stunned for a moment: “Wei’er? What are you doing here so late?”

“Master, I think my old ailment has relapsed.” I wiped the sweat from my forehead. “After lying in bed, I kept feeling feverish…”

“Come here.”

I obediently walked over. He touched my wrist, and a clear azure light flowed through, then he said in confusion: “Your primordial spirit has completely recovered. There isn’t a trace of fire remaining now—no signs of relapse at all.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then perhaps this disciple was overthinking.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Then this disciple will go rest now…”

Just as I turned to take a step, my wrist was grabbed by him. I stared back at him in shock. His eyebrows were like green mountains in the moon, his gaze like misty ink wash, rippling with a pool of autumn water: “Coming here this time, don’t you have anything else to say?”

When gentle Master spoke like this, he could truly melt a person completely. I couldn’t think of anything, and I honestly shook my head. He was silent for a moment, seeming slightly displeased: “Fine, I’m overthinking. You may go.”

“Yes…”

I turned toward the door. I already hated this version of myself. When not seeing him, I longed for him; when seeing him, I wanted to escape. Going back this time, I would surely suffer another sleepless night, regretting not saying more. Steeling myself, I turned back around and knelt before him: “Master…”

Master, I love you. I want to be with Master. Say it, speak it out.

He picked up a cup of tea, lowered his eyes to drink a sip, and said coldly: “What is it?”

“Thank you, Master, for taking care of this disciple these past days.” No, this isn’t what I wanted to say.

Master, if you don’t mind this disciple, please be with this disciple. This disciple’s lifespan is short and won’t delay you for too long—Luowei, be bolder, tell him everything you’re thinking.

He used the tea lid to stir the floating leaves: “No need.”

I gritted my teeth and said: “Master, this disciple has something to say…”

Please don’t abandon this disciple. Don’t marry the goddess. At least while this disciple is still alive, please don’t. Because this disciple can no longer love anyone else…

He paused his movements, shifting his gaze to me: “Speak.”

His gaze was extremely cold, washed clean of moonlight. I was too frightened to look directly at him, lowering my head in panic and saying tremblingly: “I… I… if not for Master being here, this disciple would already be dead, so… thank you for saving my life…”

“Enough.”

I was stunned, looking at him in bewilderment. He said coldly, “You’ve said these words countless times. I’m tired of hearing them. Withdraw.”

From Master’s bedchamber to my room, I couldn’t concentrate the entire way. Should I feel somewhat fortunate that before I said anything, he was already so annoyed? If I had told him, I probably would never be able to enter within ten li of him for the rest of my life.

Wasn’t this the most normal result? Why did I harbor any hope that he might accept my confession? Just because during this time, I had shared loveless physical intimacy with him? Just because of his unsubstantiated confession ten years ago?

However, this wasn’t the worst situation yet. Early the next morning, I prepared to return to Suozhao with the medicine my brother had prepared, but before I could set out, someone said distinguished guests were visiting and no one could leave Cangying Manor. Then I learned from others that the visitors were several people from the divine realm, including Goddess Qingwu.

I had no choice but to return to my room to put away my things and delay my departure by a day. But on the way back, I ran head-on into a girl dressed gaudily.

I recognized this girl—she was Goddess Qingwu’s maid. I had never spoken with her, so I walked directly past her.

She stretched out a hand to block me: “Wait, Miss Luowei.”

I said: “What is it?”

“I heard you’ve been to Divine Lord Yinze’s room quite a few times recently. And all at night?”

“My primordial spirit was injured by the Blazing Taotie. Master was only healing me.”

“Come on, saying that might fool people from the immortal realm. You’re a water spirit, Divine Lord Yinze is a water god—for your primordial spirit to heal, there’s only one method of treatment.”

My cheeks involuntarily began to heat up. I forced a smile: “Sister Goddess, this was all the Divine Lord’s idea. Your deliberately making things difficult for me is rather unreasonable.”

The maid circled me twice, her up-and-down scrutinizing gaze extremely uncomfortable: “Young girls nowadays really have thicker and thicker skin. At first, I thought that though you’re only a water spirit, you had a fairy maiden’s integrity, preferring death to dishonor. Turns out, after all this fuss, you’re no different from a water demon. Quite loose.”

I said aggrievedly: “Sister Goddess, though I’m only a water spirit, I’m a little princess of a clan nation, bearing the heavy responsibility of governing the kingdom. I really cannot die. But rest assured, there’s absolutely nothing improper between Master and me—it won’t affect Goddess Qingwu’s lifelong happiness.”

The maid laughed: “At least you have some self-awareness. Indeed, it’s nothing—our goddess knows the Divine Lord has some romantic debts. You’re not the first, and not the last. The goddess said she could turn a blind eye to such things. Just don’t hurt yourself, Miss Luowei.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Miss Luowei is so clever, you should know that Divine Lord Yinze merely slept with you a few times—he couldn’t possibly develop feelings. Men are like that—originally, they had some respect for you, but once you become unvirtuous, they won’t respect you anymore. Especially since you chose survival over chastity. So you should have an idea of how much longer you can stay by his side, otherwise when the time comes there won’t even be time for a tender farewell—that would be too pitiful.”

Just as Master had said, I had been a smooth-talking child since young, rarely angered, very good at finding face-saving ways out for myself. But in this moment, both afraid and angry, I said: “You’re lying. Master likes me.”

“Oh? Suddenly so confident?”

“Ten years ago, he said he wanted to marry me.”

I thought she would be shocked or angry, but she only smiled slightly: “At that time, had you slept with him yet? Not yet, right? And now? You’ve already slept together—has he said he wants to marry you?”

I said, “He said he would take responsibility for me.”

The maid laughed out loud: “What a gullible little girl. Just now, you insisted there was nothing improper between you, but now you’ve been tricked into revealing so much. He said he’d take responsibility, but has he taken responsibility? Whether a man is just talking or genuinely means it, just look at his reaction afterward. When he looks at you now, what remains in his eyes—gentle pity or cold annoyance?”

I couldn’t answer. She continued eloquently: “Also, does he want to stick to you every day now? Or does every moment you stay make him restless and anxious, wishing you would disappear immediately?”

I still couldn’t answer.

In the afternoon, light cold rain began to fall. Spring outing visitors scattered, begonia flowers dropped. Su Lian had been brought back to Suozhao by me—the pond originally used to plant Su Lian was already empty. I sat by the pond, watching raindrops create ripple after ripple.

My brother happened to come see me and said seriously: “Weiwei, you’ve just recovered from serious illness. Don’t linger in the rain—go back to your room quickly.”

I drooped my shoulders, lacking even the energy to sigh. He noticed something amiss and sat beside me: “Weiwei?”

Seeing his head bending over to look at me, his wide eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh: “Brother truly has the beauty of the moon and flowers.”

“Still making such jokes. Go back to your room quickly.”

He was always like this—strict yet gentle with me, often giving me the illusion of Father.

With a belly full of grievances and nowhere to vent, I took his arm and leaned my head on his shoulder, saying softly: “No, let me rely on Brother like this for a while.”

“Naughty girl.” He used his index finger and thumb to flick my forehead. I immediately burst into laughter, but as I laughed, I couldn’t laugh anymore.

Because in the misty drizzle, a deep blue figure appeared at the corner of the pavilion. Master seemed to have originally planned to come to my courtyard, but seeing us two, he stopped and watched us indifferently, his gaze like cold silk rain.

After he had driven me away like that yesterday, I had much dissatisfaction in my heart. But he was my master—I should accept it when he lost his temper with me. So I immediately didn’t know whether I should get up or pretend not to notice.

However, before I could react, he had already shifted his gaze to the distance and disappeared into the water mist with a flick of his sleeve.

The long-lasting rain, weather that trapped people, should have appeared in spring when warm winds and flowers fall, not in summer when storms are brief and fierce. However, this languid, melancholy rain grew heavier and heavier, continuing through the night without stopping.

After much consideration, I felt that ignoring Master made me the discourteous one—I should be the one to initiate reconciliation. So in Lüjin Hall, during a break in his conversation with several distinguished guests from the divine realm, I knelt before him and held up a tea cup high: “Master, please have tea.”

But he didn’t even turn his head, just continued talking with others. I knew Master never liked being hurried, so I didn’t speak up and maintained this position. Later, probably because I had been kneeling there too long, even others couldn’t bear to watch and kindly reminded Master to drink tea, but he still ignored these requests while not missing a single other matter.

Knowing Master was angry with me, I couldn’t utter a single word of defense, otherwise it would be my fault. Having experienced such things too many times, I felt somewhat weary. However, I could still tolerate developments up to this point. Until Goddess Qingwu spoke: “Divine Lord Yinze, making things so difficult for a female disciple who hasn’t even graduated—that’s probably not appropriate.”

She wore a green dress with a waist dotted with white dew, her evening fragrance, and a delicate face made up like orchids. Every time she smiled sweetly, her laughter was so enchanting that flowers would be intoxicated hearing it. She was completely trying to help me out of an awkward situation, but seeing her so radiant and unreachable, her maid’s contemptuous words toward me became even more unbearable to hear.

I already felt I could barely endure anymore, but Master responded to her: “You and she are different—no need to speak for her. A disciple is a disciple. She hasn’t graduated, so she mustn’t be disrespectful to me.”

She laughed again: “Divine Lord’s words are hard to interpret as praise or criticism—I’ll take them as praise.”

Goddess Qingwu’s maid also laughed along: “Oh my, this female disciple is so beautiful, how is she like a wooden block, not saying a single word?”

Goddess Qingwu said, “Don’t be rude.”

The maid immediately shut up, but Master today had none of a Divine Lord’s dignity, even responding to a maid’s words. He glanced at me and said, “She’s originally this dull and boring.”

Hearing this, I nearly burst into tears on the spot, but could only hold back the tears, neither smiling nor angry: “Master, the tea is getting cold. Please drink it.”

Master still didn’t take the tea. Finally, I could no longer endure it. I stood up and smashed the teacup to pieces on the ground, shocking the entire hall into dead silence, with only Master looking at me expressionlessly.

I turned and rushed out.

Outside, heavy clouds filled the sky, violent rain mixed with wind and thunder shook the entire Azure Dragon Heaven. I never wanted to hear another word from Yinze again. I went back to get all my things and flew out of Cangying Manor. Passing by Pagoda Star Sea, I was already soaked like a drowned chicken, rain pouring so hard I couldn’t open my eyes, but I still couldn’t help slowing down and stopping on the lonely cliff.

I hadn’t noticed as a child, but now recalling, my first stirrings of love for Yinze had also begun from here.

Only now, Pagoda Star Sea had become a gray mist hanging in space, not a single star remaining. In the center of the sky, lightning frequently pierced through the clouds, wildly striking down as if to take lives.

After a moment, a servant flew before me with an umbrella: “Miss Luowei, Divine Lord Yinze requests you return.”

“Tell him I won’t go back!” I covered my ears, not wanting to hear another word. “He’ll never see me again!”

“This… the Divine Lord was already quite displeased just now. Listen to this humble one—it’s better not to anger him… When he gets angry, he’s terri…”

“He’s terrifying when angry? This Great Suozhao little princess is also terrifying when angry! What is this Divine Lord Yinze anyway? I have no relationship with him at all anymore!”

The servant sighed and was about to withdraw when an extremely bright water light flashed between us, and the figure I least wanted to see suddenly appeared. He said, “What did you say I am?”

The servant exclaimed: “Divine… Divine Lord!”

Yinze waved his hand, ordering him to leave. At this moment, he used ice magic to shield himself. Compared to my bedraggled state, his brocade robes were elegant and dignified, making him look particularly infuriating. I said: “What? You want to lecture me about something else?”

“Luowei, what kind of attitude is this?”

“What attitude do I have? Whatever attitude you have toward me, I’ll have toward you.”

My addressing him as “you” instead of “Master” already greatly displeased him. Being contradicted by a disciple like this—he had probably never experienced such a thing in his life. He said angrily: “Luowei, you’re completely lawless today.”

“Yes, I am lawless.” I stood up, rudely saying, “Let me be honest with you—I don’t want you as a master anymore! If you have the ability, kill me!”

Though not touched by a single drop of rain, his face was very pale, as if frozen: “Before, you said to me that this lifetime’s kindness could never be repaid, and in the blink of an eye, you’ve changed your tune to this. I never taught you to be fickle.”

“So what? Even if I reincarnate a hundred times, I’m still as insignificant as an ant before you. You saving my life is a favor, looking at me once is a favor, teaching me a bit of magic is a favor. Things that mean nothing to you are all favors to me. But have you considered my feelings? I don’t want any of these!”

Yinze smiled without warmth: “Very good. You don’t even want me to save your life—what exactly do you want?”

“I disappeared for ten years, and you never thought to come see me once.”

“Between you and me, who is senior and who is junior, who is honored and who is humble? As a junior, you don’t come to see your master, yet you dare to blame me. How excellent.”

“I already said I don’t want you as a master anymore, Divine Lord Yinze!”

He was extremely angry, flicking his sleeve: “Outrageous!”

I could see his patience had also reached its limit. If I continued, he might slap me into the star sea with one palm. But once the long-suppressed emotions exploded, they could no longer be taken back.

I wiped the water from my face: “Outrageous? You haven’t seen me when I’m truly outrageous. You like obedient disciples, don’t you? Let me tell you honestly—I, Luowei, have never been obedient! Listening to you like this was only because I wanted to stay obediently by your side, but I hit walls everywhere and got hurt every day. Now I won’t endure it—kill me or cut me up as you please!”

He was first shocked, then all his dignity collapsed, his eyes also dimming: “You’re right. Being with me, you’re always getting hurt.”

In an instant, lightning struck a distant peak, followed by thunderous roaring that forced me to close my eyes, but also gave me the final courage. I closed my eyes and rushed forward, shattering his ice shield with my head! Ice fragments fell like a rain of knives. Almost simultaneously, blood flowed from my forehead, then was washed away by rain.

Yinze reached out to catch me, shouting: “What foolish thing are you doing?!”

Everything before my eyes was blurred. The sound of heavy rain seemed to drift from the horizon. The closest sound to me was only his breathing. He quickly used magic to heal my wound, but I still cried from pain. I grabbed his collar, pulled him down, then pressed my ice-cold lips to his.

His body stiffened, his expression stunned.

I released him, tears disappearing into the rain unnoticed: “Last time I did this, it wasn’t because this disciple was dizzy—I truly couldn’t hold back anymore. Master, this disciple is unfilial. From now on, please take good care of yourself. This disciple won’t come back…”

I kissed his lips lightly once more, wiped my eyes with soaked sleeves, and turned to leave. But after just two steps, my wrist was grabbed, and my whole body was roughly pushed against the rocks.

Just as I groaned in pain, the sound was blocked by a pair of lips. He lowered his head and kissed me frantically, his arms dominantly imprisoning me, leaving me no escape route. His kiss was as wild as this heavy rain, and grew deeper with each kiss. I completely couldn’t keep up with his rhythm—even breathing became extremely difficult. I could only wrap my arms around his neck and respond to him with equal lack of control…

At this moment, Divine Lord Yinze was no longer that untouchable god. Like me, he was soaked into a mess, his hair disheveled against his cheeks, his entire body drenched. He cupped my face, quickly kissing my eyebrows, cheeks, earlobes, as if he could never kiss me enough, whispering in my ear: “I love you.”

My body trembled slightly, and my hands gripping his clothes also shook.

“Wei’er, I love you.”

His kiss fell on my lips once again. Scalding tears fell in large drops, quickly swallowed by the cold rain. I had been most afraid of showing my vulnerable side before him, but I still held his neck tightly and burst into loud sobs.

I don’t know how long I cried—it seemed like I wanted to release all the grievances of these thirty years in one breath. In the end, I was completely exhausted from crying and couldn’t even walk.

He carried me back to Cangying Manor and threw me directly onto the bed. While kissing me, he undid my clothing and wildly kissed every inch of newly exposed skin…

Whether it was his breath, his fingers, his passionate kisses, his way of possessing me, or even his way of breathing—everything was vastly different from before.

However, no matter which version it was, none could make me turn back.

From the moment I received his response. From the moment I was embraced by him. I had already guessed about eighty or ninety percent.

Probably not just this lifetime—for several lifetimes, I would never love someone like this again.

Everyone’s life is one of galloping years and changing seasons. There’s always that one dream that will be etched in our memories when we’re old and frail a hundred years later. My dream was this most beautiful scene from my youth. Beautiful like flowers in the air, flames in sunlight, moon in water, towers in the sea. Beautiful like the most brilliant prison in the nine heavens and six realms, forever placing shackles on me, exhausting all my eternal good fortune and blessed connections.

Because there would never be another person like this.

Thunder broke mountains, accompanied by violent wind and rain, rippling out thousands of swaying water lights. Rain threads entangle with each other, colliding, creating countless climaxes every midnight, falling continuously for six days and seven nights. But by the seventh night, we still hadn’t set foot outside the bedchamber.