Yan Ruyu listened as Zhao Shuning recounted in detail what had happened before.
His eyebrows began to knit slightly.
Somehow, he always felt that this matter was related to him, but for now, he hadn't found out the reason.
After discussing a great deal of important business, Zhao Shuning felt a bit tired.
Yan Ruyu handed her a teacup, telling her to take a breath before continuing.
It was really cold on Qingyun Peak.
Yan Ruyu's hands were extremely cold, even colder than Zhao Shuning's.
So when Yan Ruyu passed the teacup to Zhao Shuning and his fingers gently touched her delicate hand, Zhao Shuning immediately put down the cup.
"Master, why are your hands so cold?"
There was the Karmic Fire of the Red Lotus in Zhao Shuning's body, so naturally she wasn't as susceptible to the cold as Yan Ruyu.
"I've always been like this. Don't worry, Xiaoning'er."
But Zhao Shuning shook her head and quickly grabbed Yan Ruyu's hands, warming them in her own.
Her master's hands were so slender and fair, looking too beautiful to belong to a man.
Zhao Shuning blew warm air on them.
Yan Ruyu's gaze was gentle as he quietly watched Zhao Shuning's actions.
It seemed that both of them had forgotten the important matter they were going to discuss before.
A smile appeared on Yan Ruyu's face. He reached out his hand, just about to tuck the stray hair in front of Xiaoning'er's forehead behind her ear, when a furious shout came from outside.
"What are you doing?"
Zhao Shuning and Yan Ruyu looked up.
The person standing at the cave entrance was Mo Bai, who had gone down the mountain with Ting Bai.
Looking outside, it was already getting late.
They had been talking for such a long time.
Zhao Shuning didn't show much reaction, but there was already a look of displeasure on Yan Ruyu's face.
Seeing this, Ting Bai and Mu Wan were greatly shocked and quickly pulled Mo Bai behind them.
"Emperor Venerable, we were a bit slower on the way. We let him reach Qingyun Peak first. Please forgive us, Emperor Venerable."
Yan Ruyu didn't say a word.
Ting Bai and Mu Wan immediately knelt down.
It was Zhao Shuning who broke the awkward situation.
"What are you two doing? Master hasn't blamed you. Didn't you go down the mountain to look for herbs? I see that Master's body is really cold. Hurry up and prepare some hot water for Master to take a bath!"
After Zhao Shuning said this.
She saw that Ting Bai and Mu Wan didn't react at all. They didn't even dare to raise their heads.
Zhao Shuning quickly tugged at Yan Ruyu's sleeve.
Yan Ruyu's expression softened a lot.
"Go."
"Thank you, Emperor Venerable!"
Only then did they hurriedly get up and go to the other side of the cave.
Zhao Shuning let out a sigh of relief. Her hand was still on Yan Ruyu's sleeve.
Seeing this, Mo Bai quickly stepped forward and angrily pulled Zhao Shuning's hand back.
"Mo Bai, what are you doing?"
"Ningning, you can talk as much as you want, but why are you being so touchy? It's okay in front of me. I know you're just like this. But if others saw, they might misunderstand the two of you."
Zhao Shuning looked confused.
She wondered what was wrong with Mo Bai.
Was he taking pills of anger?
He looked so furious, as if someone had taken away his most precious love.
"Misunderstand what?"
Zhao Shuning didn't say a word, but it was the always cold - faced Yan Ruyu who faintly uttered these words.
Mo Bai gave Yan Ruyu a look full of annoyance.
He was filled with anger in his heart.
But he still carefully put down Zhao Shuning's hand and then said to Yan Ruyu, "Misunderstand what? Emperor Venerable, you are a millennium - old imperial teacher. You have a noble status. Ningning calls you Master, so you are her teacher.
"Although you are Ningning's teacher and you have the right to discipline her, don't forget that Ningning is a girl and you are a man. It's better that your relationship isn't too intimate. Otherwise, people might think that there's something improper between you two."
Zhao Shuning looked completely puzzled.
Facing Mo Bai's aggressive attitude, Yan Ruyu didn't say much.
On the contrary, he just gave a faint smile.
It was this smile that made Mo Bai's already dissatisfied emotions overflow all at once.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing."
"Ningning, what does he mean?"
Zhao Shuning's face turned a bit red. She didn't know how to explain her relationship with her master to Mo Bai. After all, this body was only about eighteen years old. If she told Mo Bai that she had loved her master for more than twenty years, Mo Bai definitely wouldn't believe it, right?
"Emperor Venerable, you have a lofty status. You shouldn't play with Ningning's feelings like this. She's just a little girl. In some aspects, you can't bully her."
"Bully her?"
Yan Ruyu looked at Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning's face was already starting to burn.
She quickly turned her head and said to Mo Bai, "Mo Bai, what are you talking nonsense about?"
"Ningning, don't be afraid. I've said that no matter what happens, I'll stand by your side. Come behind me. There are some things you don't understand. I'll teach you slowly in the future."
Without asking, Mo Bai pulled Zhao Shuning over.
Zhao Shuning's body lost its balance and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yan Ruyu was quick - handed and gently caught her with his long arms.
Ning'er's waist was really soft.
Spiritual power practitioners often endured all kinds of tempering, so their bodies were naturally a bit softer. But Xiaoning'er's body was softer than most people's.
"Ningning, are you okay? I'm sorry, I—"
"Mo Bai, what on earth are you doing?"
Zhao Shuning was a bit angry.
Her delicate eyebrows were tightly knitted at this moment.
"I didn't mean to do anything. I just don't want others to bully you."
"Bully me? Who can bully me? Mo Bai, you clearly know that he is my master and is a very important person to me. Why are you still getting angry with him over such a small thing?"
Zhao Shuning's words.
Made Mo Bai stand there stunned on the spot.
He felt as if there was a big rock pressing on his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, wanting to refute, but at this moment he found that he didn't even have the qualification to refute.
Was Ningning getting angry with him because of Yan Ruyu?
How could this be?
"Ningning—"
"Mo Bai, can you stop being so unreasonable?"
Yan Ruyu lowered his eyes, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corners of his eyes.
It seemed that he was in a rather good mood.
It turned out that sometimes, showing appropriate weakness and hiding behind Ning'er, watching her stand up for him, was also a very good feeling.
"I'm being unreasonable? Ningning, you've never been so sharp - tongued with me before."
"You've never been so unreasonable before either."
"Ningning, he's bullying you. Do you know what he was about to do just now? I saw his hand almost touch you."
Master's hand was about to touch her?
Mo Bai, why didn't you come a bit later? Maybe she could have taken this opportunity to "seduce" her master into submission.
Zhao Shuning looked extremely regretful.
"Bully? This is what bullying is."
Yan Ruyu's hand gently wrapped around Zhao Shuning's waist.
Then, his body slowly leaned down.