18

Chapter 485: Might Be Heartbreaking
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"You heard me correctly. I said, could you call me 'Master'?"

"Master."

"I wish to take you as my fifth direct disciple. What do you say?"

The process was swift, seemingly skipping many steps.

However, this suddenness and haste only applied to Miao Miao.

For Su Cheng, Miao Miao was the candidate who had undergone the longest assessment—and also the most qualified and gifted. That’s why he had come personally to ask this extraordinarily talented girl

Whether she was willing to become his fifth direct disciple.

Because Su Cheng knew that if he didn't come personally, Miao Miao would never speak up.

Miaomiao remained silent for a long time. In fact, when Master Su had asked if he could come in for a moment, she had assumed he was coming to reprimand her for leaving her seat without permission.

Now, reflecting on it, she realized she had truly judged a gentleman by a petty person's standards.

Wait…

Why couldn't she hear Master Su's thoughts anymore?

[Why isn't she speaking? What is she thinking? Probably lost in her usual strange thoughts again.]

She could hear it again.

Did I just zone out?

"Miaomiao… I don't know if I'm qualified enough. Miaomiao worries she'll cause trouble for Immortal Su…"

"You? You think too highly of yourself! Compared to my four disciples, your ability to cause trouble is nothing!"

Honest, upright, and kind-hearted—Miaomiao embodied the most beautiful aspects of humanity.

Like a flower blooming amidst suffering and despair, her purity and uniqueness were captivating.

Free from anxiety and loneliness, she possessed the potential to become a formidable being—a quality Su Cheng recognized.

She refused to wallow in self-pity and possessed an inner fortitude that most people simply didn't have.

"This… Miao Miao isn't sure if she can handle it."

"Your master doesn't care."

"Then why did you agree to take Miao Miao as your disciple?"

【Why? Shouldn't I show some masterly authority here?】

【Sigh… But this kid's so earnest. What if she takes it too seriously…?】

"Because I need a fifth disciple like Miao Miao."

Miaomiao chuckled. This master was truly amusing.

"If Miao Miao refused you, would you kick her out?"

【Impossible. You wouldn't refuse~】

【I've been watching you for three years now. If any sect dares to compete with me for you, I'll make sure that sect vanishes.】

"Master might be heartbroken and cry for three days and nights…"

"Master?"

"Hmm~"

"Master likes Miao Miao?"

"I do. I like her more and more every time I see her."

Miaomiao mimicked her senior sisters, stepping back two paces to smooth her hem before kneeling properly.

"Miaomiao has long dreamed of serving you, Master, though I dared not hope for even a glance from you."

"Upon our first meeting, Master saved Miao Miao's mother and promised the Hundred Flowers Pledge."

"Miaomiao knows this is Master Su's kindness, sparing her from burden. Yet even a hundred flowers could never repay the debt of saving her mother."

"Since then, Miao Miao has aspired to follow Master Su's example, studying medicine to heal and save lives. My only wish is to prevent another child like myself from existing in this world—a small way to repay this immense kindness."

"Yet fate seemed to smile upon me. When I met Master Su again, he gifted me a stone token, granting me free access to the library. Such an opportunity had never been mine before…"

Su Cheng smiled. "Enough talk. Get up now. These are but trifles."

"Saving your mother was merely a passing act."

"As for studying, among your four senior sisters, only Jue'er occasionally reads military texts. At least your time at the academy wasn't wasted."

"Having said all this, Miaomiao, would you be willing to take me as your master and become my fifth direct disciple?"

Hearing this, Miaomiao finally registered the words. Four senior sisters? Fifth disciple?

How come she'd never heard of a Fourth Young Miss?

Her gaze drifted to Chu Youwei standing nearby. Could it be her?

But Miaomiao dared not ask. Since she'd never met her and Master Su hadn't mentioned it, it must be something she wasn't meant to know.

If it was something she wasn't meant to know, how could she dare to ask?

"Miaomiao is willing. Master, I bow to you."

"Tonight, at midnight, come find me in my quarters. I have something to give you."

"This disciple remembers."

"Very well, let us return."

With that, the three ascended the mountain and returned to Lingxian Hall.

It was the birthday of Lingxian Hall's First Disciple, though the festivities were drawing to a close.

In Ye Qinghan's room tonight, four people were crammed together. Ye's mother lay alone, hugging three grown children as they slept…

Even Su Cheng's bed had never accommodated more than three people at once.

As the head of Lingxian Hall, Su Cheng was a master of time management. Before midnight, he still had to attend to Chu Youwei's matter.

Chu Youwei was actually a bit nervous. Though her master was inexperienced in worldly matters, he was still a normal man, and his physical stamina…

From every angle, his stamina was formidable.

Chu Youwei knew the bedchamber protocol—she'd researched it specifically, just in case her master ever needed her.

But knowing the process and being able to execute it smoothly were two entirely different matters.

It was like getting a driver's license: there were written tests, but also road tests.

Getting a perfect score on the written test doesn't mean you can drive the moment you get behind the wheel.

Therefore, standing before the door at this moment, Chu Youwei still felt a flicker of apprehension.

Time was tight, and the task was demanding. After all, she only had until midnight before Miao Miao would take over for the latter half of the night. Still, she would do her utmost to satisfy her master.

Su Cheng had just downed two more cups before returning to his room.

Following her master's instructions, she had asked Ye Qinghan about seeking her master that night. Ye Qinghan's response was seasoned with experience.

The Master had said: "There's no need to be shy. Go ask Qinghan. I've left an indelible mark upon her."

He asked her thus: "The Master summoned me tonight, saying I should come ask you how to proceed."

Qinghan said: "Don't overthink it. Once you undress, the Master will know what to do. Trust me, no preparation is needed—anything you prepare will be useless. The Master is too powerful."

So, is the act of attending to the master's bedchamber referred to as "engraving"?

Gently pushing open the door, Chu Youwei's heart pounded wildly.

The room carried the Master's scent—the distinct aroma of a man. One sniff was enough to recognize it as his, unmistakable.

The Master's room wasn't large, and Chu Youwei didn't visit often. Besides cultivation, she usually handled tasks the Master assigned.

Master was reviewing documents. Chu Youwei remained silent, sitting quietly by the bedside.

If possible, she wished to extinguish the lamp.

She wasn't afraid of her master seeing her body—after all, she was fully prepared.

What she feared was her Master seeing her flushed face—she was shy, after all.

If the lamp couldn't be extinguished, perhaps she could cover her face…

The room must have been tidied by Ye Qinghan or Xiao Ai—it was immaculate, not a speck of dust in sight.

On the bedside table lay the books Ye Qinghan often read, along with some small toys belonging to Yu Lan. Chu Youwei didn't know what those toys were for, nor did she care.

But if her master liked them, she could accept it.

Before long, the master finished the already minimal work—basically just reviewing documents Xiao Ai had already handled, merely needing to notify Su Cheng.

"Take off your clothes. We're about to begin."

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