Be Gentle, Immortal Master

Sometimes I wondered the answer myself. What did Bai Ye like about me anyway? I leaned into his arm and played with a silky strand of his hair falling over my fingers. "The quiet and shy kind?" I ventured half-seriously. "A disciple that obeys her master's orders at all times?"

He gave me a disapproving glare. I grimaced. "I was only making a reasonable guess … Unless it's actually the plain kind, without a beautiful face to make you jealous of other admirers?"

"Qing-er—"

"Or the kind that looks shy and plain, but turns into a seductress in your arms?"

I didn't give him time to comment. Draping myself over his shoulders, I proved my words with a kiss.

It wasn't a light peck like the ones we had been sharing the past few days. I knew that was what he expected, and I surprised him by parting his lips with my tongue, stealing that delightful scent and taste. When he hesitated to respond, I slid my fingers through his hair and delved deeper into his mouth, letting our breaths mingle into one.

He understood my message then. "You like keeping me in the dark, little devil," he grunted into my mouth, "and making me wait so patiently."

I chuckled. "I've been waiting too … This is already the earliest I can tell y—"

He didn't let me finish. He reciprocated my seduction, turning the rest of that sentence into a muffled moan. The arm wrapped around me tightened, pulling me in. His other hand cupped my cheek.

"Bai Ye …" I breathed, and my fingers slid down his neck, reaching for his robe. I probably looked too impatient, but I thought I was justified. We had waited all week for this moment, and I couldn't keep waiting a minute longer. The temperature in the room rose too quickly. I worked the ties on his collar, tugged the knots on his belt …

A knock suddenly came on the door, just as I pulled his outer layer loose.

"Senior!" It was the girl that talked to me earlier. "Sorry to bother you again. Could I have just one more minute of your time?"

My eyes shot open. What kind of horrible timing was this? I pulled away from Bai Ye. Oh heavens … There was no way in a thousand hells that I would let anyone see the result of my work on him. His robe was wide open, no longer covering his chest and barely hanging on his shoulders. The belt over his waist was half undone. His cheeks were flushed, his hair tousled, his lips slightly swollen …

He looked utterly disheveled, and utterly delicious.

"Qing-er," he chuckled at my dazed stare. "Are you not going to answer the door?"

"Y-Yes," I snapped out of my stupefaction and clumsily ran my hands through my hair, realizing that I probably looked just as disheveled, and much less delicious. How was I supposed to meet anyone like this? Why was that disciple back at this time?

"You look fine." He saw my worry and helped me straighten my collar, smoothing out the creases on my robe. "You were fortunate that I wasn't quite as impatient as you were," he smirked.

"Bai Ye!" I glared at him darkly. Even though I knew the girl couldn't hear us, I still lowered my voice. "This is not the time to make fun of me! If my face gets any redder—"

As if trying to make things worse, he cupped my cheeks the next moment with both hands and dropped a kiss on my forehead. I started. I was about to shake him off when I realized that his hands were cold, and my burning cheeks cooled off immediately at his touch.

How did he do this? I would've asked if there was time, but the girl's voice came again from beyond the door, "Senior, are you there?"

I cursed her untimely interruption again and got up from the bed reluctantly. Bai Ye followed and tugged on the sheet to remove the wrinkles. "I guess I'll have to hide in the wardrobe," he sighed. "I wonder what that disciple is here for … What if she asks you where to find me at this very moment?"

Under my stabbing glares, he grinned and pulled the wardrobe door open, then curled into the small space inside.

I took a deep breath, making sure that my expression was carefully angry instead of lustful, and answered the door. "What is it?" I asked with a frown.

The girl wasn't thwarted by my attitude. Instead, she gave me a bright smile. "I was just wondering … Do you know which room is your master's?"

I almost couldn't hide my astonishment. Jade Temple's disciples were certainly audacious to the point of eye-opening. "I do not," I growled. "And please stop asking me questions like these that aren't appropriate for a disciple to answer."

She made a face. "Alright, alright … I heard Mount Hua is quite conservative when it comes to rules, and I see now the rumor is true." She smiled once more. "Please don't tell your master I asked you this. I promise I won't bother you again!"

Shaking my head hopelessly, I turned back and locked the door behind me. Since I couldn't tell when Bai Ye would reapply the barrier spell, I waited for him to come out before making a sound. Leaning by the door, I watched the wardrobe open up, and he stepped out—

He wasn't … wearing … anything.

"B-Bai Ye!" I almost screamed. "W-What did you do? Where did your clothes go?"

"In the wardrobe," he replied almost innocently. "Isn't that where clothes are supposed to go?"

"…"

If I had thought that he looked delicious earlier … then he was certainly reversing the roles and taking on the seducing side himself now. I gaped at him wordlessly as he closed the distance between us and leaned over me, pinning me onto the door.. "Would you like some help with yours?" he whispered into my ear.