Chapter 40: The Young Master's Touch A Warmth That Melts the Eternal Winter
"Ah?"
Ling Ruo lifted her head in shock, her eyes widening as she struggled to recover for a moment.
With a hesitant voice, Ling Ruo said, "Young Master… could you… punish me? I—I…"
For some unknown reason, Ling Ruo extended her small hand and gently placed it into Li Yitan's palm.
Inside her heart, Ling Ruo thought faintly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment: The young master's hand… it's so warm.
Since childhood, Ling Ruo had suffered from the strange influence of Yin energy, which made her body as cold as ice.
But this time… for the very first time, she felt a deep warmth flowing through her blood.
It was as if a flame had been lit in the heart of a freezing winter—
a gentle warmth that melted away all the chill that had clung to her throughout her life.
"What!"
Gasps erupted all around them.
Someone exclaimed in disbelief, "Young Master Li Yitan… how could he do that? How could he possibly do that!"
All the members of the Li family were utterly stunned.
Another person said, incredulous, "When did that arrogant, cold-as-ice young master ever show such a gentle side?!"
A member from a branch family barked sharply, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
A girl stared wide-eyed and muttered, "What's going on here?!"
Another cultivator whispered uncertainly, "Am I… seeing things?"
Many cultivators from the Li family's branch lines couldn't accept this bizarre scene.
But… everything seemed perfectly normal.
Li Yitan gently turned Ling Ruo's hand between his own, carefully examining it, and found no visible injury.
Then he nodded slightly and lifted the kneeling girl into his arms.
His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion as he said,I'm glad you're unharmed."
He then glanced at the shattered jade carving on the ground and said indifferently,As for this—it's just a lifeless object. If it breaks, it breaks."
Li Yitan shook his head, clearly unconcerned.
Inside, his thoughts echoed coldly and deeply: How meaningless… Compared to this great empress who will one day stand at the peak of the continent, that jade carving is utterly worthless.
At that moment, Ling Ruo lowered her head shyly and whispered,
"Young Master, I'm sorry…"
The momentary tenderness Li Yitan showed made a kind of happiness seep up from the depths of Ling Ruo's heart.
Inside, Ling Ruo whispered softly—so quietly that no one heard: From the day I was born until now, my father never seemed this kind.
After all, the Ling family had countless children. Although Ling Ruo was the head's daughter, she was born of a concubine's line. If her father had not been the only son, he would never have sent her to the Li family to be humiliated like this.
Li Yitan smiled gently and said, "I'm glad you're alright.
He did not let go of Ling Ruo's hand; instead he held it lightly in his palm.
A shiver ran through Ling Ruo's feelings and she cried out silently: Yes, it's warm.
She lowered her head, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Then she thought to herself: But my heart… it's sweet, as if I'd eaten honey.
Li Yitan looked coldly at the members of the Li family in the palace,and suddenly released an aura of Spirit Palace authority.
"Boom!
A real, fierce dragon with crimson scales appeared behind him. With its roar, countless onlookers were forced to their knees.
A cold rebuke possessed the trembling bodies of those kneeling.
One of them said, terrified, "Well… that is truly frightening.
Another asked in astonishment, "Is this the power of Young Master Li?
A servant murmured weakly, After only twenty years of training, he already wields such strength! Terrifying…
Li Yitan stared at them and said with clear iciness, "If you speak nonsense one more time, I'll slap you in the face!"
"Boom!
Those who had just mocked Ling Ruo were slapped at the same moment by an invisible force.
Although the young man from the Li family branch had completed his body strengthening and even transformed his spiritual energy into a sea, they had absolutely no ability to resist.
Their faces were all swollen from the blows, the sounds of "Crack! Crack! Crack!" echoing throughout the hall.
Li Yitan said coldly, "Knowing that you all descend from my Li family, and that this is your first offense, no further punishment will be imposed."
Some received only a single slap, and the restraining pressure disappeared from them.
But those who continued to speak harshly were now slapped repeatedly, one blow after another, until their faces turned red, swollen, bruised, and their eyes rolled back.
Li Yitan took Ling Ruo's hand and said, "Let's go."
Without looking at anyone else, he pulled her away from the scene.
As they walked, Li Yitan began speaking: "The original land of the Li family… the old farming paradise."
Then he added in a quiet but sincere voice, "I've been busy with training and haven't had the chance to see you."
Li Yitan looked at the girl with the ugly mark before him.
As he stared, Ling Ruo instinctively lowered her head.
He asked softly, "Why do you lower your head? Are you nervous?"
Then Li Yitan bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Afterward, he lightly brushed the black and purple birthmark on Ling Ruo, causing her body to tremble from shock and embarrassment.
A system notification sounded in his mind:
[Ding: Hunting Progress +46, +47…]
Li Yitan whispered softly into Ling Ruo's ear, "You shouldn't do that."
Then he continued in a gentle yet firm voice, "Whether you practice or not, whether you appear beautiful or ugly, there's no need to worry. Remember, you, Ling Ruo, are my servant."
At that moment, Li Yitan recalled one of the skills he had acquired from the system:
Special Skill: Sharing Thoughts and Manipulating Inner Voice.
This skill allowed him to send his voice or inner thoughts to anyone he chose, shaping them however he wished.
I can make them hear my inner voice and think they're reading my thoughts without my knowledge… or I can show them a hidden screen of my status.
In short, this skill was a perfect tool for manipulating others—and best of all, it was impossible to detect.
Suddenly, a status screen appeared before Ling Ruo's eyes:
[Ding: Please Choose
Option 1: Reveal the status of the person in front of you
Option 2: Listen to the thoughts of the person in front of you]
Ling Ruo hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly. "Young Master,there's something strange in front of me… do you see it?
Li Yitan paused for a moment, then turned to her with a faint smile and said, "My humble service… I see nothing. Are you trying to tempt me?"
Ling Ruo shook her head quickly, her voice flustered, "No, no, Young Master! I'm not lying. There's something in front of me… I just don't think you can see it, that's all."
Li Yitan replied calmly, "Alright, I believe you. However, there's no need to tell anyone what you see, understood?"
Then he added, "I believed you because you are my servant. Anyone else would have called you crazy—or assumed you'd found a treasure and then planned to kill you for it. This secret must remain yours alone."
Ling Ruo nodded seriously, "Alright, Young Master, I won't tell anyone. I promise."
She then carefully looked at the status screen before her. After a moment's thought, she chose the option:
[Ding: Option 1 Selected – Reveal the status of the person in front of you.]
[Ding:
Name: Eson Dracon / Su Ling / Li Yitan
Reincarnation: Su Ling Yitan / Li Yitan / Original: Eson Dracon
Original Body: Ice Dragon Imovaris – unconscious, will awaken after all reincarnations die
Deceased Reincarnation: Young Master of Su Family – Su Ling Yitan
Current Reincarnation: Young Master of Li Family – Li Yitan
Mood Status: Extremely happy, my servant is so kind, I wish to hug her tightly.]
Ling Ruo's eyes widened as she read the information before her, her heart trembling for a moment as she whispered to herself:
Ice Dragon…? Imovaris…?
Ling Ruo didn't understand everything, but she immediately realized that the person standing before her was not an ordinary human. He was a being beyond comprehension… something older, deeper, and far more dangerous.
Yet despite all that, she felt no fear. Instead, a gentle smile curved her lips as she gazed at the young man she had become a servant to, the one who had captivated her heart from the very first glance.
She whispered to herself: Even if you are a dragon or a demon from unknown realms… I… am your servant, Young Master.
Li Yitan lifted his head toward her, as if something inside him sensed a strange pulse in her heart.
He said quietly, "Have you seen enough of me, or does my servant wish to see more?"
Ling Ruo replied softly, "Nothing… I just wanted to make sure I am in the right place."
Li Yitan smiled, a light, unpretentious smile.
"Good."
Ling Ruo nodded without argument, for she no longer saw him as merely a noble young man, but as a being perched atop an invisible peak—a being known as Eson Dracon.
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