167 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 185: Bite Marks Xiang Shi Yan gave He He's shoulder a gentle nudge, though even in their playful skirmish, she was careful to brace herself on one side with her elbow. She couldn't help but notice how very light He He felt, almost as if she was just a bundle of bones. He He’s expression was one of displeasure, still holding onto the anger from when Xiang Shi Yan had left her at the inn. Her face, just a hand's width from Xiang Shi Yan, was flushed from exertion, and strands of damp hair clung to her fair skin. As He He pushed these strands behind her ear, Xiang Shi Yan, for reasons she couldn’t comprehend, detected a hint of mature allure in the downward gaze of the young woman. Xiang Shi Yan's face flushed, alternating between red and pale. She bit her lip, trying to extricate herself, her demeanor awkward and slightly frantic. He He let out a soft laugh, swung her leg over, and straddled Xiang Shi Yan's waist, pushing the master firmly onto the bed, "Why is Master so flustered?" A tingling sensation crawled over Xiang Shi Yan's scalp. Everything felt out of control... Her life at this point was very different from those memories she had once received, something that she was satisfied with, yet this was a development she had never anticipated. She suddenly realized she had gone through so much only to find her relationships with the women around her had become unexpectedly ambiguous. It was an unforeseen turn of events for her. Under He He’s assertive presence, she couldn’t help but tense. Xiang Shi Yan tried to maintain composure, yet her eyes were wary, her hands awkwardly clamped at her sides. "You’re old enough now to understand proper decorum." Xiang Shi Yan attempted to sound stern, straightening her expression in a feigned display of anger, pushing against He He’s side decisively. He He’s waist and hips had the budding curves of youth, though perhaps it was merely that Xiang Shi Yan was overly aware at the moment—her palm found that inward curve to fit especially well—and she quickly withdrew her hand. He He, staring down leisurely at Xiang Shi Yan, noticed her master's awkward movements and laughed unrestrainedly, "I’ve grown up, has Master only just realized?" Xiang Shi Yan understood that growing up entailed more than just outward changes, yet she hadn’t foreseen that the once gentle girl would become so... overbearing. Overthrowing He He and giving her a reprimand wouldn't be difficult—Xiang Shi Yan had countless methods to disengage from a disciple with inferior skills. Yet, her usually quick-thinking mind seemed peculiarly sluggish, as if rusted. She felt she stood at a fork in the road where neither path seemed satisfactory. Yet it seemed too late to turn back now. Xiang Shi Yan was well aware of her ineptitude in dealing with emotional intricacies, but her juniors showed no understanding or compassion for her struggle. Huai Ye, possibly a result of being raised by her, had picked up these timid characteristics. Back then, she wasn’t as flamboyant as He was now. Xiang Shi Yan’s cold and hard discernment had destroyed their once harmonious relationship beyond repair. How could she now deal with He He’s straightforward approach? When He He first expressed her fondness, she was just a young girl. Xiang Shi Yan had given her a fresh start in life; it was natural for He He to develop affection. She was only sixteen, an age of insufficient experience and surplus curiosity. It wasn’t unusual for a young woman to harbor admiration for an elder in a high position. Surely... this wasn’t love. In her younger years, He He’s straightforward and innocent infatuation was so evident even Xiang Shi Yan could easily notice it, yet she never took it to heart. She'd once erred with Huai Ye... Had she given these children some unconscious signal? She’d been persistently convincing herself that He He’s closeness was merely a child’s disregard for personal space, thinking she’d know boundaries once she was older. Up until a moment ago, Xiang Shi Yan hoped that in a few years, He He would recognize her affection towards her master as nothing more than a youthful impulse. She had underestimated the courage of the young and overestimated her own ability to remain indifferent. Even as Xiang Shi Yan attempted to scare He He away with a stern look, the girl daringly slid her fingers through Xiang Shi Yan’s, interlocking their hands. Xiang Shi Yan glared rigidly, her commanding aura faltering. The once warm little hand now felt colder than hers. He He’s wrist and arms were delicate, a shadow of past malnutrition or... could it be the years of concentrated ice spiritual power affecting her? The saying goes that hands are extensions of the heart. Xiang Shi Yan tugged, trying to pull free but found her heart gripped instead, as though He He, despite her youth, held Xiang Shi Yan’s heart in her hands, calm and composed. Silence lingered awkwardly between them. Xiang Shi Yan looked away, her face brimming with reluctance. Ignoring Xiang Shi Yan's resistance, He He lifted her hand, rubbing her cheek against it. Her smooth skin felt strange against Xiang Shi Yan's hand, her eyes downcast, voice soft with disappointment, "If you insist on risking yourself, you should still tell me. You sent me to safety and returned on your own... Let me know, and I’ll listen." "Master often thinks of the future, how the senior sisters might one day become powerful leaders, only I..." She licked her lips unconsciously, her moist pink lips briefly touching Xiang Shi Yan’s hand, her poignant gaze pouring over Xiang Shi Yan. "You don't need my help. If you have time to worry about me, you’d do better to focus on your cultivation." No, that's not what I meant... Xiang Shi Yan's tongue seemed tied, betraying her intention and replacing it with immediate regret. She turned away, feigning ignorance. He He squeezed Xiang Shi Yan’s hand tighter, placing it against her palm with a resolute demeanor, her voice quiet, "Whenever you weren’t around, I still cultivated earnestly, and I carved out a new abode in the mountain for myself, hoping to be nearer to you..." Xiang Shi Yan felt that inexplicable sensation rising again, blocking her throat, blindsided by stark emotions that brushed raw against her senses. Her tongue tasted a meld of sweetness and bitterness, a combination both unfamiliar and known. As Xiang Shi Yan broke through, she indeed felt the gradual awakening of bloodline power from the divine scales' armor, her perceptions leaping to a level unreachable by humans. This included the fox clan’s heightened ability to sense emotions. The young woman’s unrelenting affection was supposed to be a mix of sweet and sour, yet when stripped of its sweet facade, its bitter core caught Xiang Shi Yan off guard—an incomprehensible medley of flavors that she mulled over, lips tightly pressed, seeking a return to something palatable. Nothing came. The bare residue of He He's feelings, as they dissolved on Xiang Shi Yan’s tongue, left a soothing hint of sweet lingering behind the sour. Xiang Shi Yan vaguely realized that what she felt wasn’t merely naive infatuation or admiration. It was something far more complex, a sense brewed from thorough contemplation, unable to let go, merging love's bitterness with other emotions. She didn’t like this taste. Not only because the adult sophistication rendered her incapable of dismissing He He’s feelings as childish, but also because underneath the sickly sweet exterior lay such a trap. Xiang Shi Yan sensed that the bitterness would linger a long time on her palate. Looking uneasy at the crestfallen youth, Xiang Shi Yan anticipated tears, but He He simply awaited judgment, her demeanor obedient. Talking sense with a brash young woman didn’t seem feasible anymore. Xiang Shi Yan’s carefully crafted gentle words wouldn’t come, with He He perilously close and sincere. Feeling startled like a rabbit, Xiang Shi Yan retreated inwardly. Something in her mind misfired, causing her to adopt a condescending elder’s tone, "Enough of your fooling around. What would people say seeing us like this!" He He hadn’t expected the internal debate raging within Xiang Shi Yan to lead them back to the beginning. She let out a low chuckle, leaning in close enough that their eyes met. Only two fingers apart, He He inquired in her usual soft, sweet voice, "We’re both women, Master, what is there to fear?" "You—" Xiang Shi Yan began, cut off by the soft press of He He’s lips against her forehead, the damp kiss lingering before venturing lower. “Master secluded herself for four years, and I have many unresolved questions. For instance… where did the phrase about mirrored closeness originate? Here I am, pressed to Master, yet I see no mirror, nor do I feel this alleged ‘grinding’,” He He whispered, lips brushing Xiang Shi Yan’s nose, her dark, bright eyes glinting with mischief. Thinking she was about to be kissed, Xiang Shi Yan nervously shut her eyes and turned away, expecting a tender touch on her lips that never came. Instead, a sharp nip landed on her left cheek near her jaw. He He left a not-so-light bite mark on Xiang Shi Yan’s face, fueled by a hint of irritation. She knew Xiang Shi Yan wouldn’t ignore such a matter, so He He crafted the plan to lead Xiang Shi Yan to safety. In doing so, He He had to appease her Yao Zu allies and Tian Ji with countless words, believing Xiang Shi Yan would heed Tian Ji's esteemed predictions. Who would have expected that Xiang Shi Yan paid no mind to Tian Ji’s sect? Indeed, parts of her plan were slightly crude; perhaps she should have intervened directly from the start. Although that would have increased the risk of interception, at least... In any case, things ended satisfactorily, and Xiang Shi Yan’s breakthrough into the grand phase was a good outcome. The discontent He He held had mostly dissipated with that bite, though she stored away the grievance of Xiang Shi Yan’s closeness with Huai Ye for a later reckoning. After biting Xiang Shi Yan, He He fled like an elusive eel, evading capture. Dazed, Xiang Shi Yan touched the bite mark on her face while the girl turned back to make a silly face at her before disappearing from sight. Xiang Shi Yan sat by the bed for some time, finally piecing together He He’s words, her face blushing with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. That little rascal... It dawned on her that during the brief commotion, she had been completely at a loss for how to handle it, failing to even put up a serious resistance. But then... wouldn’t that mean she really was engaged in flirtation? Author's Note: Looked at the results and felt down for a day. Not studying seriously, didn't participate in any activities, and in the end, didn't even finish writing a book—I truly am useless. Thanks to the little angels who voted or provided nutrient solutions for me from 2022-09-20 35:05:33 to 2022-09-22 35:29:54~ Thanks to the angels who provided nutrient solutions: Ruo Wu Qing with 30 bottles; All the Authors are Heaven, Crane Group Administrator with 10 bottles; Studying Makes Me Happy with 5 bottles; I sincerely appreciate your support, and I will continue to work hard! No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)