Chapter 488: What Should Have Been Expected
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One dared to say it, the other dared to believe it—tonight was destined to be sleepless.
Following his senior sister’s advice, Su Cheng climbed through the window. Standing by the bed, he watched Miao Miao ignore the door and enter through the window instead.
Miaomiao, of course, couldn't compare to those fox spirits, holy maidens, dragon kings, elders, or female generals with their snow-white skin.
But her complexion wasn't excessive either—it was a healthy color. In Su Cheng's words, it had a human touch.
Su Cheng felt that it was precisely because she wasn't so perfect that she was, in fact, the perfect person.
Miaomiao wore a white nightgown and, as Ye Qinghan had mentioned, a set of white suspenders.
Her damp hair from the night fell loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes, though unaccustomed to such things, sent out strange signals—a mix of resistance and invitation, fear and desire.
【What the hell is this girl playing at?】
【Why is she dressed like this? Isn't this Yulan's tactical quick-release suit? How does she have one too?】
This nightgown was the same style as Yu Lan's. With a simple tug on the white cord at the back, she could quickly shed her armor and enter combat mode.
It was like a little girl secretly applying her mother's makeup to her face—ridiculous, yet strangely captivating.
【Wait, Miao Miao, you wouldn't also…】
Miaomiao: ?????
Does Master dislike this outfit? If so, she could simply not wear it. While she felt shy moments ago, now that she's inside, shyness is pointless.
"Master, do you dislike Miao Miao's outfit?"
"Uh, no, it's not that. It's just… I have something to ask you. You know what engraving is, right…"
Su Cheng was starting to doubt things. At this moment, he wasn't so sure he wanted to gamble anymore…
But Miao Miao only thought she hadn't done well enough. She wasn't skilled at flirtatious gestures to lure men, so she could only follow Ye Qinghan's instructions.
"Yes, it's Miao Miao's first time, but Miao Miao will try her best!"
Su Cheng was dumbfounded…
[Try hard at what? This doesn't require effort! It's just engraving!]
"Hold on, Miao Miao. Don't speak yet, and don't rush to undress. To ensure nothing goes wrong, I'll explain the process again."
"This engraving involves your master imprinting a divine technique seal within your body to protect your safety. You understand, right?"
Miaomiao nodded!
No problem. Leaving the Master's mark inside her body—it's exactly what the Master said, just like what Senior Sister explained!
"Miaomiao understands! Master, rest assured—Miaomiao will serve you diligently."
"Hold your tongue, Miaomiao. We're definitely not talking about the same engraving!"
【Holy shit, what the hell is going on? She was perfectly fine this afternoon. How did she turn into a completely different person the moment it got dark?】
After swallowing hard, Su Cheng turned away and exhaled deeply.
"Miaomiao, I genuinely wish to take you as my direct disciple—not for any other purpose."
"The so-called engraving is a ritual pattern I must inscribe upon your back to ensure your safety."
As the words fell, Miaomiao blinked her big eyes in innocent bewilderment, a blush spreading across her face like a fiery sunset…
That blush was enough to kill someone with embarrassment!
Miaomiao wanted nothing more than to grab the rope nearby and strangle herself!
Why did she have to ask the senior disciple of all people…
"Um… Master, Miao Miao…"
"It's fine, just bare your back…"
Miaomiao: But I'm only wearing a sheer skirt and suspenders! If I lift my skirt, I'll be left in just suspenders!
Miaomiao: This is practically the same as being naked! The only fabric is all in the wrong places!
"Um… Master, Miao Miao is a bit…"
"Don't be afraid. It won't hurt much. I'll control the pressure."
Honestly, Miao Miao wished her Master truly wanted her to attend him in bed. That way, she wouldn't feel so utterly flustered—at least their intentions would align.
But this situation… was awkward. Should she flirt or not?
"No, Miao Miao, down there… I'm not wearing anything…"
Miaomiao: Life seems pointless now. She'd lost her purity in this world…
【6 Ah, I should have realized this sooner…】
But Su Cheng couldn't understand!
If it were Ye Qinghan or Li Shiyao, that would be one thing, but why would Miaomiao think this way?
【Wait, do I look like that kind of person? Why would Miao Miao think I wanted to do something like that?】
【And Miao Miao, didn't you even resist? You accepted it far too quickly!】
【How could your master ever harbor such wicked intentions toward you?】
Miaomiao: Master, are you… hurt?
"I'm sorry, Master. It was… it was Miao Miao who misunderstood your meaning…"
Su Cheng said nothing, casually grabbing the thin blanket nearby and draping it over Miao Miao.
"Lie down properly. Just expose your back."
[If I let her go back, who knows what trouble she'll stir up next. Better to get the engraving done early. Once it's done, everything else can be discussed.]
The thin blanket reached her slender waist, and the rounded curves beneath were distinctly visible even through the fabric.
Even though Su Cheng had long been accustomed to girls, Miao Miao was clearly different.
【Su Cheng, keep your heart still as water. You are the Master! You are the Master—look where you should look!】
【Even with Chu Youwei, I could accept it. Why is it different with Miao Miao…?】
For some reason, even with Shi Yao, Chu Youwei, or even Dongfang Jue, Su Cheng never felt any discomfort or strangeness.
But with Miao Miao, the feeling he got…
…as if he were doing something wrong, like desecrating an innocent flower.
His fingers lightly pressed against her back, and he could feel her visibly flinch, as if startled.
This was the first time a man had ever… toyed with her like this?
The sensation was strange. It was Miao Miao's first time experiencing anything like this. She felt like she'd gone bad…
Wasn't she now a direct disciple too? Master had said he liked her—Master had said so himself!
So, she should be… the same as the other direct disciples… or rather, equal?
So, if the senior sisters could do certain things, did that mean she could too…
"Master, will you love Miao Miao as much as you love Senior Sister Qinghan?"
"Miaomiao, stop imagining things. In any case, you are all my direct disciples. In my eyes, you are all the same."
Miaomiao buried her head in her hands, thinking to herself: Who's the one with wild thoughts? It's clearly Master!
"Miaomiao isn't as gifted as the senior sisters. She's already eighteen and still can't even master sword riding…"
"I've noticed you're always overthinking things. You don't need to master sword riding. If someone annoys you, just tell me. I'll take care of them for you!"
Miaomiao laughed uncontrollably: "How could that be? Since I became your disciple, I naturally must train diligently. How could I trouble you with everything?"
[This kid must've been tricked by one of Ye Qinghan's gang. Now she's acting perfectly normal.]
【Sigh, I'm worried those troublemakers will corrupt my Miao Miao. She hasn't even mastered sword riding yet, but she's already learned to climb through windows…】
Engraving was an intensely mentally taxing task, akin to using one's own essence blood to forge a surgical blade and perform spatial surgery on Miao Miao's body.
Few could match Su Cheng's ability to casually converse while simultaneously inscribing spatial anchor points with vital essence.
Most people rely on ready-made tools—like locatable necklaces or bracelets—to track each other's positions and facilitate teleportation.
"I see no reason why not. Miao Miao has always been an independent child—this master knows that well."
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