When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

It has been almost two months since the last time the Life-Binding Gu flared up.

The days of seclusion were too uneventful, and Chu Xianlan got used to the comfort, almost forgetting that there was this deadly thing living inside her body.

At first, I only smelled a faint, sweet fragrance, and thought it was some kind of floral scent. But the fragrance grew stronger and stronger, and then I realized... this fragrance was actually emanating from my master!

Chu Xianlan's expression changed little by little.

Almost simultaneously, strange sensations began to arise throughout my body.

His skin was burning hot, most noticeably in the area where the Gu patterns were hidden on his abdomen. His hands and feet felt weak, and despite the snow falling outside, a burning sensation intensified violently within him.

All sorts of strange feelings surged up, and Chu Xianlan's voice trembled slightly.

He panicked.

"Master, I... I think..."

The Gu worms slowly snarled within her body, their attack fierce and relentless. The unbearable pain and itching spread along her meridians, causing Chu Xianlan to feel a strange sense of shame.

Imagining what would happen next, he stood up abruptly, subconsciously wanting to escape the atmosphere distorted by the strange fragrance.

Since being bound to the Entangling Life Gu, Chu Xianlan's only experience with the Gu poisoning occurred while he was unconscious. At that time, he flew directly from the inn back to the Taiyi Sect, and it was over in the blink of an eye. He had no idea what had happened.

But this time is different.

He was conscious.

Only when you are fully awake do you realize how torturous it is to have this poison awakened.

"Ugh..." Chu Xianlan whimpered and bit her lower lip to stop herself from making that embarrassing sound.

Yi Chen on the other side clearly also noticed something was wrong.

"Don't move, sit down first."

Yi Chen spoke, his voice lower and hoarser than usual, and his aura was somewhat tense.

Yi Chen stood up and walked to his disciple, reaching out to support the boy's swaying shoulders. The moment his fingertips touched him, a cool, icy spiritual energy surged in, temporarily suppressing the heat.

"Don't be afraid," Yi Chen steadied him, "Give me your hand."

The sound slightly roused his confused mind.

Chu Xianlan was panting, her ears flushed with embarrassment, and she tried her best to raise her hand as instructed by her master, her mind frantically recalling the words Xie Qingying had said.

What did that pervert say back then?

When the Life-Binding Gu flares up, you can use the method of connecting spiritual energy by clasping your hands together to gently channel and temporarily alleviate the symptoms...

That's right, this level of dual cultivation is enough to resolve the crisis.

Chu Xianlan's palms were damp with cold sweat from fright. It was the first time he had ever felt so nervous, and he only felt a little better when another pair of hands firmly enveloped his.

The moment their fingers intertwined, a powerful spiritual force, like a cool stream, slowly seeped into their restless meridians.

Initially, it was indeed effective.

The spiritual light spread in the hands of the two, temporarily calming the restlessness of the Gu worms.

But soon, Yi Chen realized something was wrong.

Unlike the relief I experienced in the icy pool last time, which seemed to have only a superficial effect, the relief I received from clenching my hands together felt like a drop in the ocean at this moment.

Chu Xianlan hadn't noticed this yet. He raised his eyes in a daze, his gaze blurry as he looked at the small section of his master's neck that was exposed.

The outline of his prominent Adam's apple was clearly visible, sliding gently with each breath.

If you put it on, it must be...very cool...

But soon, he was startled by this thought.

How could this be...?

This is Master! What kind of nonsense is he thinking?! And he's sticking it on? What the hell?! Isn't this blatantly taking advantage of Master?!

Chu Xianlan quickly closed her eyes. As long as she didn't look, she wouldn't have any wild thoughts. Kill, kill, kill! She focused on circulating her spiritual power to suppress this damned life-binding Gu. Once she got through this, it would be over.

"—Xianlan, Yichen! Are you done chatting? We're coming!"

Outside, Hua Ling's clear voice rang out.

Chu Xianlan: "!!!"

If someone comes at this time, what's the difference between them and a death warrant?

He trembled with fright, his already taut nerves snapping instantly. In his panic, he loosened his clasped hands, but his body slumped forward due to exhaustion, grabbing the other's shirt and hanging almost limply on Yi Chen.

Outside the window, Hua Ling waited for a while but received no reply or even a sound, which puzzled her.

Just as I was wondering, a blue light suddenly flashed before my eyes.

An ice-blue spiritual energy barrier enveloped the house.

"?" Hua Ling's little brain didn't quite process what was happening for a moment. She reached out and poked the barrier. "...Why is this barrier shaking like this? What are they doing? And why did they seal the house off?"

Inside the barrier, however, was a completely different scene.

Yi Chen lowered his head in a daze, only to be tightly embraced by Chu Xianlan who was coming towards him. Their rapid heartbeats blended together, like the urgent drumbeats, echoing between them.

Chu Xianlan buried her face in the other person's torn clothes, rubbing against him like a puppy unable to wait.

His actions weren't excessive; he was just seeking a comfortable, cool touch. But to the other person present, it was like being boiled in oil over a raging fire.

Yi Chen's body trembled slightly, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, and where Chu Xianlan couldn't see, a clear look of forbearance appeared on his face.

The Entangling Gu is bidirectional.

Chu Xianlan was distressed, and he could not remain uninvolved.

However, Yi Chen's cultivation level was higher, his self-control was stronger, and he was able to maintain a calm demeanor.

But seeing the boy in her arms in pain, a certain composure that she had been forcibly suppressing seemed to be crumbling little by little.