Chapter 37: Drenched

In the Inner Gate, inside a secluded courtyard.

Lin Rou was pressed tightly against Bai Qingran’s side, earnestly inquiring about matters of medical skill. 

Today she was dressed rather coolly, with two sections of snow-white arms like lotus roots exposed to the air. 

She would occasionally lean over toward Bai Qingran’s body. 

That scorching pink breath and that delicate, pure white softness would from time to time accidentally brush against Bai Qingran.

This overly intimate contact made Bai Qingran uncomfortable. 

He several times subtly pulled away to create distance, but Lin Rou would always adopt a posture of humbly seeking advice and then smilingly press close again. 

His deliberate resistance was always invisibly dissolved by Lin Rou.

Sure enough, he did not know how many times it had happened today—his arm once again sank into something as warm and soft as a freshly made cake. 

Bai Qingran sighed helplessly in his heart. 

He could only rein in his attention and forcibly focus on the paper and brush on the table.

“Peak Master Lin, do you understand this part now?”

“Mm, Immortal Lord Bai’s medical skills are truly exquisite. To be honest, after you cured Yan Qingge, I went back and read many ancient texts, but there were very few similar pharmacological principles. I think your medical skills might be unique to the Demon Race. Being able to meet Immortal Lord Bai is truly fortunate.”

“Peak Master Lin flatters me.” 

Ever since curing Yan Qingge, Bai Qingran had become increasingly certain that Bai Jinyu’s medical skills were far more formidable than he had imagined. 

But for someone as powerless to protect himself as he was, such a unique skill was definitely not a good thing.

Especially when facing Lin Rou, who was overly enthusiastic and almost never refused any of his requests, Bai Qingran’s vigilance in his heart never dared to slacken. 

This kindness was too perfect, too flawless. 

Therefore, after Lin Rou expressed her intense interest in his medical skills, Bai Qingran had deliberately made the explanations vague at the key points.

“Immortal Lord Bai, this inherited medical skill of yours is so superb—is it passed down from your father or your mother?” 

Lin Rou tilted her head. 

Her face was gentle, but it hid a trace of greed toward Bai Qingran that was not easily detected.

“It was taught to me by my father.”

“So it was your father’s skill? This is truly rare.” 

Lin Rou’s tone was surprised, and also carried a bit of naked curiosity. 

“In that case, your father is from the Fox Clan, and your mother is from the Human Race?”

“Mm. Ever since I can remember, I have always lived with my father. As for my mother… I do not know who my mother is. My father refused to tell me even until his death.” 

When mentioning this matter, Bai Qingran’s tone carried a hint of gloom. 

His relationship with Bai Jinyu had always been very good. 

The few rare arguments they had were mostly because of this matter. 

He truly could not understand why his father, who had always doted on him, would be so stubbornly tight-lipped about this issue.

“I am sorry, Immortal Lord Bai. Then… do you want to find your mother?”

This question made Bai Qingran fall silent. He pondered for a long time. 

A look of loss appeared on his face as he shook his head. 

“After so many years, how easy would it be to find her? Moreover, even if I found her, she would only be a stranger connected by blood. It would be better to let go of the obsession and let each of us be well.”

Lin Rou gently stroked Bai Qingran’s snow-white hair. 

The pity in her words was so thick it almost condensed into water. 

“Immortal Lord Bai, I truly feel more and more heartache for you. Previously when Pei Yunqing was treating Yan Qingge, I was also present. The technique he used was somewhat similar to yours, but far less proficient than you. That was why I wanted to ask about the origin of your medical skills. I did not expect…”

Her words were comforting, but in her eyes was desire like an abyss. 

Lin Rou’s legs unconsciously clamped together. 

She lightly bit her lower lip. 

The beauty before her eyes became even more broken because of his loss. 

This tragic beauty intoxicated her. 

Lin Rou almost wanted to thoroughly crush the person before her eyes into her own body. 

But… it was still not the time.

The name “Pei Yunqing” entered his ears. 

Bai Qingran subconsciously furrowed his brows tightly. 

He had never met this person, yet Pei Yunqing was an important figure in how he had fallen into this situation. 

Toward this person, he truly could not generate even half a bit of goodwill.

“Peak Master Lin, I do not know the reasons behind this. If you are truly curious, why not go ask Pei Yunqing?”

Seeing the beauty’s face full of coldness and resistance, Lin Rou appropriately stopped this topic. 

After chatting for a while longer, Xiao Tao walked over carrying a plate of cut fruit. 

Lin Rou considerately took it from Xiao Tao’s hands and also instructed her to sit down and eat together. 

But immediately after, she unhurriedly used a fork to pick up a piece of fruit and, without allowing refusal, brought it to Bai Qingran’s lips.

This action was truly overstepping. 

Bai Qingran leaned his body backward and also turned his head to the side. 

His hand pressed against Lin Rou’s arm. 

His voice was somewhat cold and clear. 

“Peak Master Lin, there is a distinction between men and women. I can do it myself.”

Who would have thought that upon hearing these words, Lin Rou not only showed no embarrassment but instead laughed lightly. 

“Immortal Lord Bai, although you and I have no blood relation, I am many years older than you and sincerely cherish your talent. Therefore, I want to treat you as a younger brother and take care of you. What distinction between men and women is there in an elder’s love for a junior? Or is it that Immortal Lord Bai does not want to give me this small bit of face?”

The fruit had already pressed against Bai Qingran’s tender lip petals. 

The force was not great, but it carried an undeniable strength. 

The two of them were at a stalemate for a moment. Bai Qingran had no choice but to open his mouth and eat the fruit. 

But who would have known that after Lin Rou withdrew her hand, she actually used the fork he had just used, without the slightest care, to pick up a piece of fruit and put it into her own vermilion lips.

Lin Rou chewed carefully, then playfully held the fork in her mouth and slowly pulled it out. 

The stickiness on it stirred the imagination. 

Her pair of narrowed eyes stared at Bai Qingran’s ears that had flushed red through and through. 

The provocation within them was extremely blatant.

“By the way, Immortal Lord Bai, I recently read many records about the Fox Clan. Your surname should have been inherited from your father. This surname ‘Bai’ holds quite a high status in the Fox Clan.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingran’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed. 

These words—he was hearing someone mention this for the second time. 

Recalling Bai Jinyu on Returning Cloud Mountain, who had always appeared in a weak state and lived in poverty with him, Bai Qingran could not connect him with the four words “high and noble status” no matter what.

This was simply as ridiculous as a miserable wage slave from his previous life suddenly learning he was a rich second-generation heir.

“I do not understand the Fox Clan. My father also did not tell me much before his death. I only know that we have always lived on Returning Cloud Mountain. This surname might just be a misunderstanding.”

After the fruit was finished and Xiao Tao had tidied up the empty plate and left, Lin Rou then took out a red string from her Storage Ring and placed it in front of Bai Qingran.

The moment this red color entered his eyes, Bai Qingran’s pupils slightly constricted for an instant. Seeing this, Lin Rou sighed and said, “I have met Senior Sister Chu. 

She… was punished extremely heavily by the Sect Master. 

She said this red string was given to her by you. 

Immortal Lord Bai, if you have anything you want to say to her, I can relay it for you.”

After the words fell, Lin Rou’s face was sincere, but that pair of narrowed eyes had slightly opened a slit, staring fixedly at Bai Qingran’s reaction. 

She did not believe that Bai Qingran would have any feelings for the cruel and abusive Chu Mo. 

But there was always a chance in everything. This red string could test out the answer she wanted.

Bai Qingran’s gaze turned cold, even carrying a hint of unconcealable disgust. 

That red string was clearly right in front of him, yet he was unwilling to even touch it. 

“Peak Master Lin, I have nothing good to say to Chu Mo.”

These words were simply sweeter than honey. 

Lin Rou was so delighted she almost trembled. 

She forcefully suppressed the excitement in her heart. 

“It was I who was presumptuous. Senior Sister Chu hurt Immortal Lord Bai so deeply. This answer I should have thought of long ago.”

Not long after, Lin Rou left the small courtyard. Not long after going out, she ran into Luo Na.

“Lin Rou? Perfect timing. I was just about to look for you. Who exactly is living in the courtyard that the Sect Master had me prepare? Even I am not allowed to go in and inspect it!”

“I am sorry, Luo Na. The Sect Master has given orders. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you.” 

Lin Rou spread her hands, wearing a helpless bitter smile on her face.

“You…” 

Luo Na looked at Lin Rou, her face full of displeasure, but in the end she could only let out a sigh. 

“Forget it. The Sect Master’s orders—we just have to obey them.”

***

Inside the bedroom, looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, Bai Qingran let out a long, helpless sigh. 

This damned Nalan Qingjue—she would not really intend to imprison him for a lifetime, would she?

Just as he was thinking this, Xiao Tao suddenly knocked on the door anxiously. 

“Bai— Young Master Bai! The Sect Master! The Sect Master has come!”

Truly, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Inside the main hall, Nalan Qingjue sat upright in the seat of honor. 

The aura of a superior “royal sister” she exuded was much stronger than Chu Mo’s. Bai Qingran’s red pupils slightly narrowed. 

This woman was truly good-looking.

“Bai Qingran, are you still satisfied with this place?”

“Hmph. It is much better than the cave. I just do not know when Sect Master Nalan plans to release me?” 

As he spoke, Bai Qingran sat down and casually poured himself a cup of water.

“You, this fox demon, still want to leave? Are you not afraid that what goes out will be a corpse?” 

The purple pupils stared at Bai Qingran. Her words carried an undisguised threat.

“Nalan Qingjue, if you want to kill or flay me, just give me a quick end. Grinding around like this—what kind of woman are you?” 

Bai Qingran’s tone was sarcastic, as if he completely did not feel Nalan Qingjue’s gaze that seemed ready to flay him alive. 

“Sect Master Nalan, since you are so afraid that I will disturb Chu Mo’s Dao heart, why not simply send me back to the Fox Clan? The two races do not interact with each other. It would be almost impossible for Chu Mo to find me again. Would this not be the best of both worlds? How about it?”

The words were actually correct, but when Nalan Qingjue heard them, she felt especially awkward. 

This kind of best-of-both-worlds solution—she did not like it.

“Bai Qingran, back then when Pei Yunqing disappeared, Chu Mo almost went mad searching for him. This kind of thing is enough once. As for you…” 

The corner of Nalan Qingjue’s mouth hooked into a cruel arc. 

“If Chu Mo truly likes you, then imprisoning you and using you as a whip to urge her to cultivate—would that not be even better?”

“Heh…” 

Bai Qingran’s silver teeth ground together with a creaking sound. 

The fire in his eyes was almost about to erupt. 

“Nalan Qingjue! Do you not feel disgusted saying these words yourself? The number-one righteous sect of the Human Race is doing this kind of filthy thing of imprisoning others?!”

“Bai Qingran, this kind of method is naturally excessive toward humans, but toward you fox demons who play with people’s hearts, I feel it is not excessive at all.”

As previously said, the two races had not interacted for many years. 

Now most people of the Human Race or the Demon Race were indifferent toward the other. 

But within both races there existed a type of person who held strong hostility toward the other race. 

Unfortunately, Nalan Qingjue was exactly this type of person.

Damn it. I actually ran into racial discrimination! Bai Qingran’s heart was both indignant and speechless. In this new life of his, he had actually received this kind of treatment.

“Fine, fine. Nalan Qingjue, you went to such great lengths to imprison me—could it be that you are coveting my beauty and want to hide under the window listening in while your disciple and I XXOO?” 

The little fox’s tone was frivolous and full of provocation.

“You! Presumptuous!”

Bang! With a loud noise, the table beside Nalan Qingjue was smashed into fine powder. 

This fox demon! He was truly shameless to the extreme! He could even say such vulgar words!

Her pair of purple pupils were sharp, filled with killing intent. 

Nalan Qingjue’s chest rose and fell unsteadily from anger. 

But when she looked toward Bai Qingran, she discovered that the little fox not only was not afraid but even dared to meet her gaze without yielding.

“Get out of here!” 

Nalan Qingjue angrily shouted. 

The spiritual power mixed within almost seemed ready to overturn the entire house.

With a cold snort, Bai Qingran flicked his sleeve and left, leaving behind a dashing back view under Nalan Qingjue’s gaze that seemed ready to kill.

Inside the main hall, there was dead silence. 

Only a Nalan Qingjue who was almost about to explode from anger remained.