136 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 135: Applying Medicine The situation was temporarily resolved, but Hua Ye followed behind Xiang Shi Yan with a heart full of secrets. She quietly observed the woman walking ahead, seemingly without any change, and unsurprisingly noticed her gait was a bit odd today. Xiang Shi Yan, known for her consistent and upright demeanor, wouldn’t usually sway intentionally or unintentionally to one side like this. Hua Ye couldn't resist examining Xiang Shi Yan’s waist, which, as usual, was tightened with a belt, accentuating a slender and graceful figure. The area typically concealed by an outer robe held her attention today. Her thoughts flashed from wondering if the injury beneath the clothes had been treated well, to whether the tightly wrapped belt might press on the wound, and finally, to the fox tail that she had once caught hold of. Hua Ye couldn’t help but think about that tail. Some dark thoughts sprouted and climbed inside her once pure mind, causing her to notice details about Xiang Shi Yan that she hadn’t considered before: the curve of her fingers, the slight tilt of her eyes, the perhaps passionate way her eyes lowered, the brief redness of her lips when they relaxed from their usual sternness, and her possibly slightly sharper canine teeth... Initially, the word "enchantress" bounced around her mind, but now it crashed through like a disaster, seeking to shatter her heart and burst out from her chest. Speaking of hearts, Hua Ye recalled many legends about fox spirits. But who would want a real heart? Hua Ye had killed enough monster cultivators to know those were just fanciful stories; they weren't much different from human cultivators. Did Shifu know about this? How about Uncle Master Yu Ming? Did even Shizu...? Hua Ye suspected everyone else knew except for her. Xiang Shi Yan turned her head, seeing the girl following behind with droopy eyes, as if she'd been wronged by the whole world. Hua Ye rarely showed such expressions; usually, there were few things that weighed on her mind, to the point where Xiang Shi Yan couldn't maintain her stern demeanor. "Tai Xu Zong's repeated targeting of you is actually aimed at undermining Yu Cang Shan, and has nothing personal to do with you. They wouldn't stop even if it were someone else, so you can let it go." She stood beside Hua Ye, speaking with her while holding her shoulder, just like she used to. The little one she used to hold in her arms had grown taller than her, and Xiang Shi Yan couldn't help but feel sentimental. Out of habit, she embraced the girl's shoulders. She often did the same with He He, but for the much taller Hua Ye, the gesture no longer fit. Xiang Shi Yan seemed unaware, her mental defenses building up around Hua Ye, subconsciously avoiding thoughts of the girl's feelings towards her, pretending nothing had changed. In reality, though, Hua Ye was no longer the same little girl. Every step Xiang Shi Yan took reminded her of this, the nagging pain in her waist from the blow, and even the stowed tail mysteriously ached. Xiang Shi Yan had applied light makeup when she went out today, but the pain in her waist and tail caused her to turn pale. Thankfully, the punch had missed her internal organs, but today, large bruises had spread terrifyingly, and she would need to change the dressing again upon returning. Any muscle movement worsened the painful injury at her waist. While she initially supported Hua Ye, she unconsciously leaned against her, only for Hua Ye to shrug her off. Xiang Shi Yan was startled, tripping slightly. Bending down, her eyebrows trembled without her control. Hua Ye simply stepped aside, lowering her gaze, looking slightly hurt: "How many secrets are there, Uncle Master, that I don't know about?" Those dejected eyes blinked rapidly. Before Xiang Shi Yan could respond, Hua Ye ran off without looking back. Xiang Shi Yan was unsure what emotion filled her heart; she could not calm down for a long while. As night fell, the orange-white light was pressed into the horizon by the deep purple sky, street vendors began hanging lamps outside their shops. Xiang Shi Yan stood alone amidst the people and the dim glow for a long while. On returning to her quarters, Xiang Shi Yan didn’t see Hua Ye. She assumed her niece had learned of her demon heritage and found it difficult to accept, not knowing how to face her. Thus, she didn’t try to offer any explanation, retreating to her room alone. The blow truly was savage... Xiang Shi Yan gently touched her waist through her clothes, wincing at the pain. Though the flesh wounds would heal, the lightning energy Hua Ye had struck into her needed to be dissipated by Xiang Shi Yan herself—Hua Ye hadn't yet cultivated her spiritual senses to the degree of extracting it. Hua Ye's lightning and the chaotic, attribute-less spiritual energy Xiang Shi Yan had absorbed from the dark river both coursed wildly inside her. The previous night had been spent mainly neutralizing these energies rather than tending her physical wounds. Consequently, by the next day, her meridians and muscles throbbed with pain, the injuries more gruesome than before. As she loosened her belt after removing her outer robe, someone knocked at the door, and He He called out softly from outside, "Master, are you there?" After a pause, Xiang Shi Yan hastily tied her belt back in place, sat down, and used spiritual energy to pull open the door. Arriving with Mu Hua to ascertain matters at the Tianji Sect’s administrative office, apart from elders from both Tai Xu Zong and Yu Cang Shan, only Hua Ye was present. He He had been sent back early, so seeing her here, Xiang Shi Yan assumed she was there to inquire about what they experienced at the Tianji Sect. Instead, He He closed the door, her soft, round face tensed tightly. Without saluting, she walked over to Xiang Shi Yan and took a small jar from her sleeve, placing it lightly on the small table next to Xiang Shi Yan. Setting her tea cup down hesitantly, Xiang Shi Yan met her gaze with some confusion. Despite the fierce look in He He's wide, round eyes, it was hard to sense any real anger; instead, she had the air of a little adult. Even standing against Xiang Shi Yan, He He didn't seem intimidated. The girl stood with arms crossed, staring down at her, waiting silently for Xiang Shi Yan to explain herself. Slightly amused, Xiang Shi Yan picked up the small jade bottle He He had brought and asked, "What is this?" "I met Senior Sister Hua Ye at the door; she gave it to me. Said it's extremely effective for external injuries." He He glared at her, visibly upset, "Why are you hurt again, Master? What danger lurks in Qingyuan City for you to disregard yourself so?" Raising an eyebrow, Xiang Shi Yan carefully examined the porcelain jar, then opened it for a sniff. Hua Ye was no stranger to injuries during her cultivation; these ointments were personally formulated by Xiang Shi Yan for her, alongside others for cuts and burns. "I see, I will keep the medicine. Indeed, they are just minor injuries and will heal quickly after applying the ointment. You should go back..." Her reassuring words were cut short as He He pulled another bottle of medicinal wine from her sleeve, slamming it onto the table with a cold face, "I’ll apply the medicine for you, Master. I want to see what sort of injury you claim is nothing serious." Leaning on her left arm, Xiang Shi Yan straightened up, her voice stern, "Though I don't demand formalities from you all normally, I won't tolerate such audacity. When did my whereabouts or a minor injury need your concern?" Hua Ye, close as she was, wouldn't dare speak to her like this, let alone Qin Miao, with whom she was even less familiar. It had never occurred to Xiang Shi Yan that she might one day be scolded by a disciple. While not particularly bothered by it, imagining what the wound might look like, she sought to deter He He with harsh words, hoping her young disciple would retreat. However, He He neither admitted fault nor left, merely standing there quietly, eyes like those of a puppy shimmering with unshed tears. On closer inspection, one eye was merely an illusory semblance created by a prosthetic, and Xiang Shi Yan's heart softened. "Master always neglects herself, constantly appearing with injuries. If I don't pay attention, who knows where you'll end up..." He He's voice was soft and aggrieved. She held the medicinal wine and ointment in her arms, barring Xiang Shi Yan from touching them, "I can't compare to Senior Sister Hua Ye in cultivation to assist you, but at least like this, I can offer some help." Watching He He's near-crying expression, Xiang Shi Yan felt a twinge of unease in her heart, torn between guilt and the desire not to indulge her. Seeing a bit of hesitation, He He immediately pressed her advantage, "I’ll only have a look, and I promise not to tell Senior Sister Hua Ye." As she blinked, a tear fell, landing on Xiang Shi Yan's hand. The droplet was cold, not as scalding as Xiang Shi Yan had imagined. Feeling the dampness, she sighed and acquiesced. Though she had agreed, facing He He's eager eyes made Xiang Shi Yan belatedly aware of the embarrassment creeping through her mind. She awkwardly fiddled with her clothing, "You should turn away first." "Alright, alright, Master is so shy," He He quipped, her red face adding to her charm. Oh my, this upstart child! Not only daring to scold her master with a stern demeanor, but turning on the tears at will, and once successful, reverting to a grinning face and even daring to tease. Xiang Shi Yan figured managing her in the future would be a challenge, yet could not help but laugh as He He respectfully turned away. After a series of quiet rustling sounds as the clothing was adjusted, Xiang Shi Yan's gentle voice floated over, "Alright, you can turn around now." Obediently, He He turned back. Though she had kept her spiritual senses outwardly extended and already knew every contour of Xiang Shi Yan's body, witnessing it with her own eyes was an entirely different experience. The injury was on her lower back. Xiang Shi Yan had removed her top, lying flat on the bed. Her arms wrapped around the pillow beneath her, while her face was half-buried in it, creating flowing, hill-like curves from her shoulders down her spine. Her black hair spread out like exquisite silk over her back, strands from her temples obscuring the delicate half of her face and adding a veiled allure to her slightly raised head. But instead of the jade-like delicacy of the woman's body, He He was first drawn to her larger and smaller injuries, both deep and shallow. The most prominent was on her lower back, where a palm-sized mottled bruise spread like a blemish in jade, alongside a peculiar scar that branched like oak or sparks—a trace of Hua Ye's lightning energy. Xiang Shi Yan lay on the bed somewhat bashfully, gradually clutching the pillow tighter. She seldom exposed herself before others; when she was young, she'd bathed in the hot springs of the mountains with her senior sisters, but their gatherings became rare over time. She felt vaguely nervous, worried the scars looked too frightening and had scared He He, who had yet to make a move. Cold fingertips unexpectedly brushed against Xiang Shi Yan's back, making her shiver involuntarily. She couldn't help but glance back at He He, seeing only a nonchalant expression on the girl, though her fingers lightly lifting Xiang Shi Yan's hair felt almost intimate. The girl's fingers were slender and delicate. He He, having only recently started practicing swordsmanship, had grown accustomed to the pampered life on Yu Cang Shan for two years, smoothing away her prior roughness. Influenced, perhaps, by Xiang Shi Yan's spiritual power, her body temperature was lower than average, and her touch felt like cold porcelain sliding across Xiang Shi Yan’s skin—an entirely unfamiliar sensation that made her tense up with each slight touch. "Master said it's nothing serious..." Xiang Shi Yan buried her face in the pillow, offering no response to He He's soft protest. The cold fingertips warmed up after lingering on her skin, applying gentle pressure on the bruise on her lower back. Xiang Shi Yan made no sound, though her abdominal muscles tensed immediately. He He's hand then lingered on her left shoulder—the very spot Xiang Shi Yan had been wounded when they first met. "Do you remember how deep the wound on your left shoulder was, Master? Does it still hurt?" Without turning her head, Xiang Shi Yan replied, "Enough with the touching, just apply the medicine." Internally, she felt somewhat awkward. It was an old wound; the bones only ached when the weather was particularly damp. What more was there to say? He He's fingertips lingered on some of the old scars on her back, while Xiang Shi Yan allowed her to trace over each inch carefully, listening as the girl murmured, "Master, you have so many scars. Why not find a way to remove them?" "Scars from spiritual energy or spells are difficult to completely remove even with ointments made by cultivators," replied Xiang Shi Yan, now blushing as He He's hand paused over a small, faint burn scar on her back. Annoyed, she added, "I even have a piercing wound on my chest, would you like to see that as well?" Knowing she was displeased, He He didn't press further. "These scars are unsightly, what's there to see..." "How could you say that?" He He's voice, strangely different from its usual tone, came out relaxed and ethereal. It was unlike anything she’d ever sounded like before, though Xiang Shi Yan couldn't quite place whom it resembled. She suddenly felt the girl’s breath on her shoulders and neck. As He He leaned in closer, she whispered into her ear, "I find them... beautiful." Xiang Shi Yan was rendered speechless, while He He let out a soft laugh, straightening up and tucking strands of Xiang Shi Yan's hair behind her ear, which was now burning red with embarrassment. In a cheerful mood, He He hummed a little tune as she opened the lid of the medicinal wine and slowly poured it across Xiang Shi Yan's back. Its unique aroma unfamiliar to Xiang Shi Yan, she turned around to look at He He with some suspicion, surprised by the sudden icy liquid on her warmed skin. Surely He He hadn’t done it on purpose? The medicinal wine flowed along the curves of Xiang Shi Yan's back and pooled in the hollow at her lower spine. He He then began to gently massage the bruise. Xiang Shi Yan finally couldn't hold back a sharp inhale; the pain, lingering since the previous night, clearly had affected her muscles and tendons. Rubbing the medicinal wine in not only eased but began to alleviate the pain. He He felt the taut resilience beneath her hands rather than softness, Xiang Shi Yan's body almost devoid of any excess flesh. With each pressure applied, Xiang Shi Yan tensed reflexively, her muscles tightening and relaxing under He He's touch, as if the pressure moved through her entire being. He He delighted in the sensation, unaware of how her movements came across. Xiang Shi Yan didn’t notice her disciple's actions growing intently intimate, nor did she realize He He’s careful pressure brought a tactile awareness almost as though touching her bones. Gradually accustomed to the touch, Xiang Shi Yan's body relaxed, a thin layer of sweat forming—though she wasn't sure if it was from the heat or something else. To He He, a human body was still somewhat foreign, her curiosity leading her to memorize the sensation of Xiang Shi Yan's sinews and lines—not out of any sudden wicked thought, but purely from inquisitiveness, which needn’t conflict with any other motive. Catching the crisp scent of cedar, He He became aware she'd been exuding pheromones, the relaxed Xiang Shi Yan drifting into a daze. When Xiang Shi Yan turned around, giving her a blurred look, He He paused, calmly wiping her hands and Xiang Shi Yan's back free of excess medicinal liquid. "Let it absorb for a moment before I apply the ointment. Is there anywhere else injured?" He He asked with a smile. "... The tail," Xiang Shi Yan murmured, her words trailing off, sounding much less like a respectable mentor. He He fully reined in her pheromones. Despite the close proximity and Xiang Shi Yan's alluring scent, she made no further advances, maintaining a composed demeanor, more mature than her usual childlike facade. Hearing Xiang Shi Yan's response made her pause momentarily but quickly she returned to normal, speaking softly to her disoriented master, "Alright, show me your tail, I'll apply the medicine for you." Xiang Shi Yan regained a bit of clarity, trying to sit up to reach for her clothes, "No need, I can manage by myself." He He moved faster, pulling a small blanket over Xiang Shi Yan’s lower body, "I won’t look." She incrementally massaged Xiang Shi Yan's spine, stopping when her fingers reached a certain vertebra that made Xiang Shi Yan mewl softly; in response, rounded ears and a bushy fox tail popped into view. With a mix of coaxing and gentle insistence, He He laid her back down before pouring a little more medicinal wine onto her hands, "Where is the wound on your tail?" "... It's..." Xiang Shi Yan fumbled, unwilling to say more. "So, it's at the base," He He confirmed, rewarded by the blanket’s movement, as Xiang Shi Yan drew a sharp breath from the pain. Possibly aiming for her back, Hua Ye had grabbed too harshly. Though Xiang Shi Yan had dodged the attack, her large tail, which she rarely used, was caught off guard. No bones were broken, but it had been strained, with the section below the tailbone drooping pitiably, movement painful. Feeling drowsy, Xiang Shi Yan glanced back just as He He reached under the blanket, lightly grasping her tail. Not seeing the hand heightened her flush, blood rising to her already red face as she wondered if letting He He help had been a mistake. Certainly a mistake. The slender hand cupped two fingers around the tail's base, kneading gently, medicine-dampened fur sticking flat against the tail's surface. He He revised her earlier perception of her master's physique; despite its fluff, Xiang Shi Yan's fox tail was delicate, almost like that of an ordinary fox spirit. Even wet, the fur remained soft and springy, prompting He He to squeeze lightly, feeling the plush yielding under her touch. "Mmm, what are you doing?" Xiang Shi Yan’s attention locked onto the tail, its sensitivity overwhelming. He He teased with sincerity, "Master's tail is a bit plump." "Just finish quickly..." Xiang Shi Yan was too caught in her muddled mind to speak more, aware only of the dumb tail and He He’s playful grip. At the junction between human and fox forms, the fur transitioned from short and soft to human skin. Taking advantage of Xiang Shi Yan's non-resistance, He He mischievously brushed against the underfur opposite its natural lay, listening for the inevitable dazed sound that escaped Xiang Shi Yan. By then, she was already fast asleep. When Xiang Shi Yan abruptly awoke from her sleep, only a few hours had passed; outside the window, it was still night. She rubbed her forehead in frustration, her cheeks flushed. She vaguely remembered having a peculiar and slightly embarrassing dream last night, where she had turned into a little fox, and He He was gently petting her while holding her in her lap. She couldn't quite define why the dream felt so suggestive, yet it left her blushing nonetheless. Seeing herself fully dressed, she surmised that He He must have helped arrange her clothes before leaving. In the past century, she'd never found sleep much of an issue, yet now, when she finally did sleep, it was excessively deep. Her fingers brushed the warmth in the bedding, and she was startled to find the girl curled up peacefully beside her, asleep. He He, with a serene expression, still held onto the edge of Xiang Shi Yan's robe. Initially, she intended to wake He He and send her back to her own room, but as she sat up, she realized she didn't feel the expected pain. Even her tail didn't hurt much anymore, and, curiously, she felt entirely at ease—any spiritual energy turmoil in her body seemed to have vanished. Perhaps it was just a pleasant and restful sleep... Xiang Shi Yan found herself staring blankly at the girl, who was possibly dreaming something delightful, and ultimately, she could only sigh. Might as well snatch a bit more sleep. Author's note: Day nine of daily updates! He He, a snail-like antagonist who quietly heals those asleep. Thanks to the little angels who voted or provided nutrient solution for me between 2022-07-20 35:58:24 and 2022-07-21 35:20:04~ Thanks to the nutrient solution angels: Shiroi Yuki 10 bottles; Many thanks for everyone's support, I'll keep striving hard! No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)