Li Lanxiu paused, recalling his late teacher. He wiped his hands with a handkerchief and nodded. "Grand Tutor Zhou’s death was a great loss."
Chu Yue’s expression seemed to drift into memories. "Grand Tutor Zhou often said that one must repay kindness. I have always kept that in mind."
Li Lanxiu turned to study him, his gaze lingering briefly on Chu Yue’s sleeve. He stood and said, "That’s good."
Chu Yue raised his eyes to him and quietly asked, "Does Young Master have any instructions?"
Li Lanxiu looked toward the others in the distance and replied coolly, "We’ll leave here first, then discuss our matters later."
Chu Yue lowered his gaze to his sleeve, where a faint smudge of bright red blood remained. It was the fox yao’s blood. He rubbed his finger against it, then rinsed it clean in the flowing creek.
The group headed in the direction opposite to the black jiao lord's lair. The black jiao lord's strength was overwhelming; with their current numbers, they couldn't even scratch him. They needed to regroup with the disciples of Conundrum Sect, gather their collective strength, and set up a demon-subduing formation in front of the lair to determine victory or defeat.
As night fell, they arrived at a ruined mountain villa built against the hillside. The dilapidated courtyard was concealed among towering trees, with wild grass growing all around. A few dead trees swayed in the wind.
The stone lions in front of the gate had long been weathered until their features were indistinct. A white silk ribbon was tied around the neck of one lion.
Chuxuan walked past, glanced at it, and turned toward the villa. "A mark left by the sect disciples."
Inside the crumbling main hall stood many disciples of Conundrum Sect. Seeing the disciples from Violetstage Peak among them, Li Lanxiu felt a sense of relief.
When the group entered, the disciples stood and greeted them.
"Chuxuan-shixiong, Xiao-Shidi." One disciple cupped his fists with a look of delight. "You’ve made it here. Perfect, now we can join forces."
Chuxuan examined their tattered clothing and asked with concern, "Is anyone injured?"
The disciple sighed. "We were nearly killed by yao beasts. Thankfully, a holy maiden from the Jademaiden Sect intervened. This area is teeming with yao beasts, so we found temporary shelter here, but we must remain vigilant."
Nearby, Jiang Jiusi and Lian-shixiong reunited with fellow disciples from their peak and exchanged greetings.
Li Lanxiu drew the Coldiron Fan from his storage ring, held it in his hand and glanced briefly at Chu Yue. "Follow me."
He walked out of the main hall without another word. Chu Yue followed, his expression calm.
Li Lanxiu pushed open the door to a room in the backyard. A few specks of dust floated into the air. He entered, stood in the middle of the room and slightly raised his chin.
Chu Yue stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
Li Lanxiu removed the protective heart mirror from his chest and formed seals to erect a soundproof barrier. He had no intention of letting others overhear him disciplining his dog.
Chu Yue met his gaze directly and admitted without hesitation, "It’s the fox yao’s blood. I severed one of its arms."
Li Lanxiu’s gaze swept him from head to toe. He spoke in a soft, lazy tone. "Take off your outer robe. Kneel."
"That hand touched you." Chu Yue stared at him, his voice low with a hint of displeasure. "What did I do wrong?"
Li Lanxiu held the fan with both hands, one at each end, maintaining his unhurried posture. "Take off your outer robe. Kneel. Don’t make me say it a third time."
Chu Yue’s gaze darkened as he stared at him without blinking.
After a brief standoff, he finally moved his fingers. He loosened the ties at his collar and shrugged off the outer robe, tossing it aside. It revealed the thin undershirt beneath.
The young man’s figure was tall and upright. His muscles were lean and well-defined, with broad shoulders that didn’t appear bulky. His chest was smooth and firm, his abdomen toned but not exaggerated.
The wounds from his fight with the golden-eyed spider had not fully healed. Several red scars, contrasting sharply with his skin, stood out starkly.
Chu Yue knelt slowly, his back perfectly straight as he continued to fix a cold, piercing gaze on Li Lanxiu.
Li Lanxiu held his fan handle in one hand, looking him over before asking, "Are you dissatisfied?"
Chu Yue lowered his chin slightly and replied evenly, "If Young Master wishes to punish me, why waste words?"
Li Lanxiu had anticipated his reaction. He studied him and asked, "How were your days in the outer sect?"
Chu Yue’s lips moved slightly, his eyelids lowering, as though he already knew what was coming.
Li Lanxiu’s voice remained calm and steady as he said, "I’m guessing your days weren’t easy. This world operates on the principle of the strong preying on the weak. In the outer sect, you must have suffered some humiliation."
He paused briefly before asking, one word at a time, "Do you think that’s right?"
Chu Yue looked at him, his lips pressed into a thin line as he answered, "No."
"Good."
Li Lanxiu nodded, then continued to ask patiently, "Since it’s not right, how is your behavior any different from those you look down on?"
Chu Yue’s lips tightened further, offering no rebuttal.
Li Lanxiu used the fan to lift his chin and said, "You need to understand that your blade cannot be unsheathed lightly. Taking your anger out on someone weaker than you is not the conduct of someone with true strength."
Chu Yue stared at him, something thoughtful flickering in his eyes.
Li Lanxiu remained patient, speaking softly as he explained, "You should realize that you are stronger than anyone else. Precisely because of that, you must learn compassion and restraint, understanding when to act and when to hold back."
He lifted the fan and lightly patted Chu Yue’s cheek. "Your blade should be aimed at those stronger than you, not the weak. Do you understand?"
After a brief moment of thought, Chu Yue sincerely replied, "I understand."
Li Lanxiu gave a slight nod. "Good. Stretch out your hand."
Chu Yue hesitated, realizing what he intended to do. For once, a rare look of embarrassment crossed his face. "This... won’t do."
In his childhood, Grand Tutor Zhou had been a strict teacher who often struck students’ palms as punishment. However, as the crown prince, even when he made mistakes, his study companions bore the punishments in his place.
Li Lanxiu tapped the fan lightly against his own palm as he looked down at him.
Chu Yue stared at him for a long moment. His breathing grew quicker, his chest rising and falling sharply, but in the end, he slowly extended his hand.
Li Lanxiu glanced at his palm. With a flick of the Coldiron Fan, it landed on Chu Yue’s hand with a sharp "snap," instantly reddening his skin.
Chu Yue’s fingers trembled slightly. He kept his back straight, his arm taut as he restrained the trembling in his hand.
Li Lanxiu raised the fan again and said in a calm voice, "Lift your eyes. Look at me."
Chu Yue looked at him, his dark, cold eyes shadowed beneath his prominent brows.
Li Lanxiu bent down, leaning closer to his face. With the hand not holding the fan, he gently touched Chu Yue’s cheek and asked in a soft voice, "What do you think of ten strikes?"
Chu Yue breathed in his faint, cool scent and turned his face away. "As Young Master pleases."
"Alright, then. You count." Li Lanxiu swung the fan again, striking his palm with another "snap." He let out a chuckle. "Count."
If it was only a strike to his palm, Chu Yue might have merely felt humiliated at being treated like a child. But being told to count evoked an indescribable, subtle emotion.
His palm stung fiercely, the burning pain making his thoughts increasingly conflicted. In a low voice, he said, "One."
Li Lanxiu swung the fan down again. The pain in Chu Yue’s palm intensified, and his voice grew slightly hoarse as he continued to count. "Two."
Each strike blended a burning pain with a peculiar tingling sensation, creating a mixture of anguish and shame.
Chu Yue made every effort to suppress and ignore the strange feelings, calmly accepting the punishment.
Li Lanxiu deliberately controlled the fan's weight and speed. Sometimes it lashed down sharply, leaving faint traces of blood on Chu Yue’s palm. Other times it fell lightly, delivering a punishment that was more symbolic than painful.
He wielded the fan unpredictably, leaving Chu Yue guessing whether the next strike would bring sharp pain or a soft caress.
Before long, a thin layer of sweat formed on Chu Yue’s back. His damp clothes clung to the taut lines of his lean frame, faintly revealing the faded whip scars on his skin.
Li Lanxiu, like a deity presiding over reward and punishment, exuded an intoxicating scent that permeated the air. A faint redness crept across Chu Yue’s ears as he stared at him, his eyes gleaming.
His gaze settled on the small red mark below Li Lanxiu’s slender, snow-white neck. His lips were slightly damp, and his breathing quickened. "Six."
With every strike to his palm, Chu Yue’s heartbeat quickened, and a rising heat stirred within him.
Li Lanxiu lifted the fan again. Chu Yue instinctively tensed, bracing for the next blow.
Instead, the fan landed gently, causing almost no pain. The cool metal brushed against his burning palm, but the unresolved tension heightened his rapid breathing.
Li Lanxiu let out a soft chuckle, observing Chu Yue’s expression that seemed to smolder with suppressed desire. "Still keeping count?"
Chu Yue’s voice was barely audible. "Yes."
Li Lanxiu’s lips curled into a teasing smile. He struck again, and Chu Yue’s breathing quickened. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Though he struggled to maintain his composure, the growing blaze within him was impossible to ignore.
By the tenth strike, Chu Yue’s tightly clenched thighs trembled slightly, betraying the limits of his restraint.
His back remained straight, and his deep, unwavering gaze locked onto Li Lanxiu. A yearning burned in his eyes, on the verge of overflowing.
Li Lanxiu folded the fan and inspected Chu Yue’s battered palm. His slender, pale fingers brushed lightly over it. "Does it hurt?"
Chu Yue clenched his palm tightly and asked in a steady tone, "May I stand now?"
Li Lanxiu arched a brow. The gentle, meticulous tone from earlier turned cold. "Open your hand."
Chu Yue gritted his teeth and spread his fingers, revealing a swollen, bloodied palm.
Li Lanxiu bent closer, bringing his face near Chu Yue’s hand. Lifting the edge of his mask, he blew softly against the injuries.
The cool breath carried his pleasant scent, soothing the stinging pain in Chu Yue’s palm. Chu Yue’s dark pupils contracted as he looked up. Li Lanxiu’s downcast eyes were so close they filled his vision.
The sharp, slender lines of Li Lanxiu’s eyes naturally arched upward, exuding a cold, striking allure that softened into a subdued docility when lowered.
It was a docility entirely at odds with his true nature.
Li Lanxiu raised his gaze and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"
Chu Yue clenched his hand, the pain sharpening his focus. "It doesn’t hurt anymore."
Li Lanxiu’s gaze swept downward. He clicked his tongue inwardly in surprise. Truly, the child of destiny—no wonder so many fleeting romances surrounded him. Even in this area, he was extraordinary, carrying a gift beyond any other.
Straightening, Li Lanxiu chuckled lightly. "If you dare misstep again, I’ll punish you while wearing a heart-guarding mirror so the entire sect can see. What do you think?"
Chu Yue’s composed expression faltered. His lips tightened, and after a long pause, he replied, "I won’t."
Li Lanxiu nodded in satisfaction but cast another glance downward. "Handle it yourself before you come out."
Chu Yue lowered his eyes to check. His breathing quickened, turning chaotic. Panicking, he grabbed his robe to cover himself.
At that moment, the crown prince would have rather died on the spot.
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