Chapter 46: Acting 2
In the heart of the majestic Sixth Peak stood a palace that could rival the mansions of ancient immortals. Towering jade pillars etched with golden phoenixes held aloft a dome painted with scenes of starry heavens and celestial dragons. Warm incense coiled upward in invisible streams, filling the luxurious bedchamber with a sweet, soothing aroma. The floor was polished spirit jade, glimmering faintly under the soft glow of floating lanterns.
Within this magnificent sanctuary, Su Lan sat on a wide silken bed embroidered with blooming lotuses, her flawless figure wrapped in a flowing violet robe only covering half of the body that shimmered like moonlight over water. Her long black hair cascaded behind her, still slightly disheveled from the earlier dual cultivation. Her delicate brows were furrowed, her cherry lips pursed slightly as she stared down at the silent young man before her.
Su Lan’s heart was in turmoil. Her usually cold and composed face was marked with flickering emotions, her eyes betraying a deep storm of worry and guilt. Yet buried within that chaos, something else began to emerge—determination.
Her gaze grew sharp, like a sword unsheathing. Sparks of resolve danced in her eyes as she thought to herself, "No, I have to think of something... some kind of excuse that could satisfy him... anything believable. I cannot let him leave like this, not when I’ve already...did it with him."
Her jade-like fingers trembled ever so slightly before curling into a tight fist over her lap. She closed her eyes, activating her spiritual sense at full capacity. Dozens of thoughts surged and clashed within her mind like warring armies on a battlefield. The shame of drugging her disciple, the failure of her original plan, and the fear of losing control—each thought was like a blade carving into her Dao heart.
Then suddenly, her eyes opened wide.
"Yes! This could work. At least... at least it’s better than leaving things unexplained. It sounds reasonable enough to pass."
Without wasting another moment, Su Lan turned her head toward the low bedside table beside her. Crafted from spirit wood and inlaid with golden cloud patterns, the table was arranged with a plate filled with plump and glistening fruits. Bright red apples, golden oranges, glimmering purple grapes, peaches covered in morning dew—they looked so pristine one could imagine they had been freshly picked.
With a wave of her slender hand, Su Lan plucked a flawless red apple from the platter. As soon as it touched her palm, her expression turned serious. Activating her spiritual core, she began pouring her Nascent Soul-level spiritual energy into the fruit. Gentle waves of white light flowed from her fingers into the apple, slowly transforming it into a vessel brimming with raw, condensed cultivation.
Her movements were so swift and refined that no ordinary cultivator could even hope to perceive them. At her level, a simple flick of the wrist could summon windstorms; her full speed, fueled by years of refined cultivation, made her a blur even to peak Foundation Establishment experts.
Meanwhile, Meng Hao stood a few steps away, still seated on the edge of the bed, his clothes loosely draped around his bare form. His eyes were slightly reddened, but not from physical pain—from the emotional wound that refused to close. He turned to Su Lan, and his voice trembled softly.
"Ma... Master... why did you do this to me?"