Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Because Jiang Mu was shirtless, every touch of her fingertips was direct, skin-on-skin contact.

Her fingers pressed against the man’s firm, warm chest.

The yielding texture of his skin and the constant, searing heat of his body traveled up her fingertips and straight into Ling Ye’s heart.

It threw her emotions into disarray.

Ling Ye pressed her lips together, fighting to maintain her cold and distant expression.

But her heart was hammering in her chest like a trapped deer.

’This bastard... If he’s going to cultivate, fine, but why does he have to take his shirt off? Seriously...’

She grumbled inwardly.

Under Ling Ye’s meticulous guidance, Jiang Mu’s breathing soon stabilized, and he settled into a smooth rhythm.

Seeing that he was fully immersed and no longer needed her help,

Her taut nerves finally eased.

She stood by the bed, not leaving. Her gaze couldn’t help but fall upon the masculine physique before her.

She hadn’t noticed while she was concentrating a moment ago.

But now, with nothing else to focus on, the visual impact was magnified.

After all his recent training, the man’s body was as taut as forged iron. His muscles weren’t bulky, but lean and defined, as if meticulously sculpted, rising and falling as they flexed and relaxed.

Masculine power and a gentle beauty struck a wondrous balance in him.

In short, he was very good to look at.

Ling Ye’s gaze traveled down from his bobbing Adam’s apple,

past his collarbones,

and came to rest on his gently rising chest.

For some reason...

She felt an urge to poke it.

The thought startled Ling Ye as soon as it surfaced.

’Ling Ye, Ling Ye, what are you thinking? You despise men, so how could you possibly have such an indecent thought?’

She cursed herself inwardly.

And yet, as if it had a mind of its own, her hand began to reach out, moved by some unseen force.

Closer.

Even closer.

Her fingertip finally touched that warm, solid muscle.

A light poke.

Hard.

Hot.

She snatched her hand back as if burned, spinning around in a fluster.

Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest.

She tapped her head hard, walked over to the table, and sat down. She grabbed the cup of cold tea Jiang Mu had left behind and took several large gulps, forcing herself to calm down.

After a long moment, she finally managed to compose herself.

’Something isn’t right!’

Ling Ye’s mind began to clear.

She suddenly realized something—since meeting Jiang Mu, she seemed to have been slowly crossing a line.

’When did I start crossing the line?’

’Was it when he saw my bare skin? Or when we ate watermelon? Or when he carried me back to the city?’

Honestly, if it had been any other man, she would have sliced him into eighteen pieces long ago.

’So why am I so tolerant of Jiang Mu?’

’Is it because I cherish his talent?’

’But I’ve seen other geniuses, and I’ve never been so protective or fond of any of them.’

Ling Ye couldn’t figure it out.

’There must be something wrong with my state of mind.’

’I’ll have to be more careful from now on.’

She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. She turned back to look at Jiang Mu, who was still deep in meditation, and waited for him to complete the current cycle of his cultivation.

The most difficult part of this Cultivation Technique was establishing the foundational energy channels.

Back then, despite her own outstanding talent, it had still taken her seven days to barely manage it. Even someone as astonishingly gifted as Luoxue had spent a full three days.

Jiang Mu had shown impressive aptitude just now, but his foundation was shallow, after all.

’Let him take his time with it. I figure it’ll take him at least ten days, maybe even half a month...’

Just as she was thinking this, the next moment—

HUM!

On the bed, Jiang Mu’s body trembled slightly.

A faint golden light suddenly bloomed around him, quickly coalescing on the surface of his skin into a layer of Gang Qi that flowed without end.

The teacup in Ling Ye’s hand hit the edge of the table with a CLINK.

Her lips parted as she stood frozen in shock.

’What’s going on?’

’He’s already... mastered the basics?’

’This kid is way too fast!’

Jiang Mu opened his eyes, feeling the flow of Gang Qi on his skin. He clenched his fist and said excitedly,

"Ling Ye, this Cultivation Technique is amazing."

Previously, when he was slaughtering those hordes of fiends, he could get by with the Spirit Snake Steps, but it never felt completely satisfying. With this Protective Gang Qi, he could go on a rampage and mow down those low-level fiends in the future.

This Cultivation Technique felt like it was tailor-made for him.

Seeing Ling Ye’s stunned expression, Jiang Mu asked in confusion, "What’s wrong? Did I do it wrong?"

Ling Ye snapped out of it and shook her head, her expression complex. "No... It’s very good."

After a pause, she added,

"This Cultivation Technique consumes a great deal of Star Power. You need to control your pace when you use it. The worst thing a Cultivator can do in a fight is run out of energy."

Jiang Mu didn’t have the heart to tell her his stamina was basically infinite, so he just nodded seriously. "Understood."

Ling Ye gave him a few more detailed instructions for his future training, then picked up the silver Soft Armor and pulled open her outer robes, preparing to put it back on.

Just then, there was a light knock on the door.

Jiang Mu walked over and unlatched the door while pulling on his shirt.

Standing outside was Bai Xiang.

She looked at the two of them getting dressed and paused for a moment.

Then, she raised her hand and made an "eating" gesture before turning and leaving with a blank expression.

Leaving the two inside to stare at each other, dumbfounded.

"What was that look for?" Jiang Mu asked.

Ling Ye’s pretty face flushed red as she glared at him. "Couldn’t you have waited until we were properly dressed before opening the door!"

Jiang Mu said, a bit guilt-ridden,

"I didn’t do it on purpose... Besides, we have nothing to hide. It’s not like we were doing anything. And Xiang’Er wouldn’t care anyway."

In fact, Jiang Mu was right.

Bai Xiang really didn’t care.

She was an emotionless goddess.

Never mind walking in on them while they were disheveled—even if she had caught them in the act, she wouldn’t have batted an eye.

Yes, she really just didn’t care.

Back in the kitchen.

Bai Xiang picked up a kitchen knife with a blank expression.

CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!