The interruption from Qing Yueqiu's sudden arrival completely soured Shang Miaoyan's mood. She no longer had any interest in continuing her tender moment with Pei Yuhang.
As Pei Yuhang departed on his sword, the wide smile on Shang Miaoyan's face slowly faded.
'That's right... Not only is Xiaohan's Dao Companion my 'enemy,' but even his disciple is too.
I should have realized it sooner. How could any woman live with Xiaohan for so long and not fall for him? Even his own disciple is no exception...
Heh heh... Too bad that little girl, Qing Yueqiu, is far too naive. She would never dare reveal her feelings for her master right under the nose of his Dao Companion. I can write her off as eliminated.'
Be that as it may.
The moment she thought of Qing Yueqiu nestled in Pei Yuhang's arms, a violent darkness surged within her. Faintly, the phantom image of a sullied, black-and-red lotus bloomed behind her.
Shang Miaoyan's temperament was never suited for the path of the Jade Maiden Dao. After meeting Pei Yuhang, the Heart Demon that was already difficult to contain became utterly irrepressible.
'But it doesn't matter...'
She was a once-in-ten-millennia genius of the Yin Yang Sacred Land. She had walked the Yin Yang Dao to the level of Over Half-Step Divinity Transformation, and the Jade Maiden Dao to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Having walked both Great Daos, Shang Miaoyan had glimpsed a completely new path.
Now, only a single barrier stood before her, and the key to breaking through it lay with Pei Yuhang.
'If I can just dual cultivate with Pei Yuhang one more time...'
'By using the Primordial Yin from my Jade Maiden body, celibate for a century, and fusing it with his supreme Primordial Yang using the Saintess's inheritance from the Yin Yang Sacred Land, I will surely achieve Enlightenment Dao in a single stroke!'
"Now... all I need is a little patience."
And yet, she still felt suffocated with frustration. Pei Yuhang wasn't her Dao Companion—technically, *she* was the one trying to steal him away. But seeing other women by his side, she couldn't help but feel like she was the one being wronged.
Shang Miaoyan needed to find her little maid and vent her frustrations.
JINGLE JINGLE—
As Shang Miaoyan shook two golden bells, a flash of purple light appeared before her.
The radiance faded to reveal the slender figure of Fan Ya, kneeling on one knee.
"Holy Daughter."
Hearing the kneeling beauty address her as such, the corners of Shang Miaoyan's lips curled into a smile.
Publicly, Fan Ya was the glamorous and respected master of Shang Miaoyan. But in private, Fan Ya was nothing more than a slave for Shang Miaoyan to vent her violent inner turmoil upon.
'This little game of ours is quite fun, isn't it?'
"Fan Ya, Xiaohan just made me upset again. Can you believe he wanted to strike me down, all for some un-feminine little girl~!"
Shang Miaoyan whined her complaint to Fan Ya, her crimson eyes glinting with bloodlust.
"..."
Fan Ya knew what the Holy Daughter wanted. She would once again be used as a substitute, a punching bag to bear the punishments Shang Miaoyan was reluctant to inflict on Pei Yuhang for his transgressions.
After silently cursing Pei Yuhang for the ten-thousandth time, she wordlessly lifted her skirt, revealing the tender, pale flesh of her thighs, which were covered in red welts from a whip.
SWISH—
A satin ribbon, glowing with a divine light, shot out and bound Fan Ya's wrists, stopping her from lifting her skirt any higher and revealing more of herself.
"Punishing my dear Xiao Fan Ya is something to be done indoors, of course. Playing punishment games outside would be too humiliating for you. After all, you are my Sacred Land's representative here in the Xuanyuan Dao Sect.
Besides, Miaoyan has rarely played such 'outdoor games' with Xiaohan. How could I let you take up such a precious memory~?"
Fan Ya merely gave a reserved nod, saying nothing more.
She had no objection to anything the Holy Daughter wished.
Because this was a debt she owed the Holy Daughter.
Seeing the trace of reminiscence in Fan Ya's eyes, Shang Miaoyan smiled. "Xiao Fan Ya, are you thinking about your sister?
Speaking of which, I killed your sister and I abuse you daily. Do you really not hate me at all?"
Fan Ya shook her head, her voice coming out a bit raspy.
"Fan Ya is not qualified to resent the Holy Daughter. It was my sister's own foolishness back then. She committed the grave sin of helping Young Master Pei escape the Yin Yang Sacred Land.
The Holy Daughter only destroyed her physical body, leaving her Divine Soul intact so she could reincarnate smoothly... You even helped me reach the Nascent Soul Realm. How could Fan Ya have the audacity to speak of hatred?"
Shang Miaoyan's smile widened as she shook her head.
"Oh no, that wasn't my mercy. It was a reward you earned for yourself, my dear Xiao Fan Ya. After all... it was you who reported your own sister, wasn't it~"
Fan Ya fell silent.
...
Pei Yuhang flew toward the Cold Palace Sword Mansion on his sword, continuously accelerating. He was terrified Shang Miaoyan would change her mind and call him back.
'Sigh, that Witch actually moved in next door...'
The White-clothed Sword Immortal's face was etched with worry. He had the terrible premonition that he was fated to cuckold his Dao Companion time and time again.
Pei Yuhang raised a hand to his forehead.
When Shang Miaoyan wasn't around, the Demon-Planting Mark on his forehead was completely undetectable. Even a Great Power like his master hadn't noticed it back then.
After his two clashes with Shang Miaoyan over the past few days, Pei Yuhang realized that as long as the Demon-Planting Mark remained on his forehead, he didn't stand a ghost of a chance against her.
'Unless I threaten to kill myself...'
But of course, Pei Yuhang couldn't bring himself to die. He couldn't bear to leave his beloved Dao Companion and two disciples behind to face the world alone.
That was why he could only bluff; he didn't have the true resolve to "die."
And Shang Miaoyan was an exceptionally cunning and intelligent woman. It wouldn't be long before she realized he didn't truly have the courage to die.
Shang Miaoyan would seize hold of his weakness, leaving him with no way to resist.
'That wicked woman will devour me whole!'
'I have to find a way to get rid of this Demon-Planting Mark,' Pei Yuhang muttered to himself.
'And I can't let anyone in the Xuanyuan Dao Sect find out that I'm entangled with the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land...
A Cultivator who has served as a Cauldron Slave to a Female Cultivator from the Yin Yang Sacred Land would never be trusted by any sect in the Cultivation Realm. All my privileges at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion would be revoked. I might even be branded a spy, locked away in the Celestial Prison, and subjected to a Soul Search.'
Pei Yuhang couldn't accept such an outcome.
His Dao Companion's cultivation was currently crippled. If he were thrown into the Celestial Prison, the consequences would be unimaginable.
'I have to find an opportunity to leave the Sect and find a way to erase or seal this Demon-Planting Mark.'
Lost in thought, Pei Yuhang jumped off his flying sword.
Suddenly, a small figure darted toward him from the side.
Pei Yuhang had already sensed someone lying in ambush, but he chose not to dodge.
Rocket Nose Cone!
OOF—
Giggling, Yu Xiaoyan crashed right into Pei Yuhang's arms.
Pei Yuhang looked at his youngest disciple, who was still so full of childish innocence, and couldn't help but smile fondly.
"Xiaoxiao, you can't keep playing like this. If I were to retaliate instinctively one of these days, you could get hurt."
Yu Xiaoyan tilted her little head up and said with a grin, "If Master hurt me, would you sit by my sickbed and keep me company?"
"What, you'd get hurt on purpose just to have me stay with you?"
Pei Yuhang flicked her forehead in exasperation.
'Just a moment ago I was so worried,' he thought. But after this little disturbance from his youngest disciple, he found his gloomy mood had lightened considerably.
'This must be one of the great joys of raising disciples.'
Not far away, Qing Yueqiu stood rooted to the spot, looking a little lost.
She watched her junior sister interacting so freely with their master, a flash of envy in her eyes.
Unfortunately, she had grown up. Like a fledgling whose wings had fully formed, she had to leave the nest.
She could no longer cling to her master as she had in the past.
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but Qing Yueqiu thought she saw Yu Xiaoyan glance back at her with a provocative look.
'It must have been my imagination,' she thought. 'My junior sister wouldn't be like that, would she?'
'Still... it's a little irritating.'