"Pfft~" At that moment, Mo Bai couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He really didn't mean to, but he had reached his limit!
He had been holding back with great effort, yet who would've thought this person would go even further?
No, it wasn't her fault. It was his own master who was stirring things up!
Still, that feigned look of attentiveness was just too amusing!
Even though his self-control had been pushed to the brink, Mo Bai managed to stifle his laughter, keeping it to a soft chuckle. He quickly reined in his emotions, but even so, a trace of an uncontrollable smile lingered on his face.
Seeing this, Shi Ci, who was already feeling terribly awkward, became even more embarrassed.
She lowered her head.
This time, not just her earlobes but even her fair neck flushed bright red.
Her whole body trembled, and the small hand that had been gripping Mo Bai's suddenly let go.
The moment she released him, Mo Bai felt a surge of energy lift him up.
Stunned, the book he had been holding slipped from his hand and fell.
At the same time, his entire body shot upwards.
In just a moment, he was beside his master, Xiao Yaozi.
Mo Bai quickly whispered, "Go, go! Master, let's get out of here!"
Hearing Mo Bai's words, Xiao Yaozi didn't hesitate for even a moment.
With a wave of her delicate hand, the two disappeared from where they stood.
When they reappeared, they were atop the observation pavilion of the Misty Pavilion, Xiao Yaozi's residence.
This was the best spot for enjoying the view in the entire Xiao Yao Sect.
From here, one could see nearly a third of the sect's scenic beauty: majestic mountains, towering peaks, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls...
Moreover, it was also the ideal place for cultivation.
After all, this was where the sect master lived—how could it not be extraordinary?
Xiao Yaozi gracefully landed on a hidden platform and leisurely picked up a cup of hot tea.
Mo Bai, on the other hand, got up in a somewhat disheveled state.
After taking a sip of her tea, Xiao Yaozi spoke, "Didn't you say the wind was too strong for you two to talk? I stopped the wind for you, so why did you call me to bring you back?"
Mo Bai stood up, walked over to the desk, and skillfully poured himself a cup of tea. Taking a sip, he said,
"Well, I couldn't just let the poor girl feel embarrassed, right? That situation was so awkward..."
Hearing this, Xiao Yaozi paused, her gaze drifting out over the view from the pavilion as she looked at the scenery below. She spoke,
"Today, the wind seems particularly noisy..."
Mo Bai: "..."
Her voice was calm and carried no discernible emotion, yet Mo Bai could feel a deep sense of malice behind it.
This was his master, Xiao Yaozi.
Though she seemed indifferent, as if nothing interested her, she was actually a natural-born trickster. And when she messed with someone, she did it in such an innocent and naive way that it made you want to grind your teeth in frustration—while being utterly powerless to do anything about it.
Why, you ask?
Because you couldn't possibly beat her!
Don't be fooled by her loli appearance or her small pink fists.
One punch from those tiny fists, and you'd probably be dead!
As Mo Bai stood in silence, his loli master didn't stop. Still holding her tea, she gazed outside and calmly remarked again,
"Though it seems the wind is crying now..."
Mo Bai: (´°Δ°`)
He almost couldn't take it anymore—this was public humiliation at its finest!
But he kept his head down and said nothing. Silence was the better choice here. Any reaction would only encourage this naturally black-hearted master to go even further.
As long as I don't feel embarrassed...then the one embarrassed will be...
Wait, no, she doesn't feel embarrassed at all!
Her face always carried just one expression.
At that moment, his loli master quietly sipped her tea again before casually commenting,
"Today, the wind is especially dazzling..."
Mo Bai: (ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)
Hold it in. A moment's patience avoids greater troubles!
"Let's go now, while the wind hasn't stopped..."
Mo Bai: (눈‸눈)
That has to be the last line, right?!
If I can endure this one, let's see what else you'll say.
Damn it! If I didn't need to discuss my disciple's matter with you, I'd have already used this opportunity to escape!
"The gentle breeze bringing us together wasn't a coincidence. Your—"
"Hiss~ Stop, stop, stop, Master! What exactly are you trying to say? Just tell me straight!"
Mo Bai couldn't help but take a sharp breath at this point.
He couldn't handle it anymore. The bizarre mashup of strange metaphors and jokes was too much for him.
Xiao Yaozi's expression didn't change. She furrowed her brows and stared intently at Mo Bai.
This made Mo Bai's hair stand on end. "M-Master? If you have something for me to do, just say it."
Only then did Xiao Yaozi finally speak,
"Am I not imitating her well enough? Xiao Bai, why does the way you respond to me feel so different from how you respond to little Shi Ci?"
"Shi Ci? She looks so refined, and even her name has such a literary flair…" Mo Bai immediately responded. Of course, he knew Xiao Yaozi was talking about that bookish girl, but as he spoke halfway, he froze.
The name Shi Ci suddenly overlapped with a character from his memory.
Running through her personality and appearance in his mind, Mo Bai confirmed it.
It was her—the only supporting character in that book who had cared about him.
To be honest, when he had first finished reading the book, he'd wondered if choosing a different path might make him miss out on meeting this girl.
Who would've thought that fate would play such a trick, letting them meet in such an unexpected way? And to top it off, she was even more literary (and awkward) than in the original story…
"Maybe there really is some unseen force guiding us…" Mo Bai thought to himself.
"Am I not imitating her well enough?" Xiao Yaozi's voice broke through his thoughts.
She followed her words by pulling out a smooth, black stone.
Mo Bai immediately snapped out of his daze and exclaimed, "A Recording Stone?!"
"Master, you're way too chaotic! You're even secretly filming your disciple?!"
Just as he finished speaking, the stone on the table began projecting both images and sound.
Even with Mo Bai's thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a wave of heat rise to his face.
This… This was like flogging a dead horse repeatedly!
"H-Hey, Master! Your hairstyle seems a little off. Let your disciple fix it for you—make it look all pretty!" Mo Bai quickly offered, trying to shift the topic.
He didn't even attempt to grab the Recording Stone from the table. He knew all too well that as long as his master didn't want him to, there was no way he'd be able to touch it.
In moments like this, the only way out was to flatter his loli master!
To his surprise, Xiao Yaozi just calmly nodded, though there was already a glint of amusement in her eyes.
Before Mo Bai had joined her sect, her interests were twofold: managing the sect and cultivating.
But ever since taking him as her disciple, her hobbies had grown to three: managing the sect, cultivating, and teasing him.
And now, it seemed there was a fourth: managing the sect, cultivating, teasing her disciple, and reading storybooks.
At this moment, Mo Bai skillfully walked behind her and asked, "Master, shall I begin?"
Xiao Yaozi gave a serene nod.
Mo Bai then proceeded to undo the ties holding her hair…