My Love Life With The Sect Masters in Xianxia (Patreon)

Chapter 120: Tsundere Yue Jianli

After dinner, as night began to fall, Li Ran asked the innkeeper to prepare hot water and bring a wooden tub into his room. He then enjoyed a relaxing bath.

The tub was made of simple oak, and the water was just plain boiled water, but it still managed to relieve his fatigue and calm his mind.

Reflecting on Lin Langyue’s behavior during the day, Li Ran felt a sense of puzzlement.

Her cultivation had advanced, but that wasn’t the strange part.

Everyone had their opportunities. Could he be the only one allowed to grow stronger?

What puzzled him was the shift in her demeanor.

The last time they met, she seemed like a detached and serene Daoist. Now, she stepped up to take charge, almost as if competing with him for authority.

Even the way she looked at him was filled with determination and competitiveness.

‘It seems she doesn’t just want to surpass me but also wants to overshadow me in front of everyone,’ Li Ran thought, shaking his head.

But by doing this, Lin Langyue was deviating from her own path.

The Central Heaven Sect’s teachings emphasized transcending emotions—not just love but any emotion that could sway the heart.

The ultimate Dao was one of impartiality and detachment.

Hatred and obsession were just other forms of attachment.

Li Ran lazily swirled the water with his hand, watching ripples spread across the surface, like Lin Langyue’s restless eyes—unable to find calm.

He chuckled softly. “If she doesn’t get past this state, she’ll never have a chance to surpass me.”

Lin Langyue undoubtedly understood this as well.

But Li Ran had become her inner demon. If she couldn’t defeat him herself, her mindset would never be at peace.

And if her state of mind was unsettled, it would be even harder for her to make breakthroughs, let alone surpass Li Ran.

It was an inescapable loop.

Li Ran shook his head, unwilling to dwell further.

Someone else’s mental struggles were none of his concern.

If Lin Langyue was dissatisfied, he’d just teach her a lesson again.

He focused his attention inward, examining the state of his cultivation.

Within his dantian, spiritual energy surged abundantly. A tiny, transparent figure sat cross-legged on the surface of the spiritual energy lake, glowing with alternating golden and purple light as his cultivation technique operated.

The spiritual energy lake itself seemed slightly larger than when he had just broken through.

‘It seems that as my realm increases, the efficiency of my technique’s automatic cultivation also improves,’ he thought.

He wondered what the final state of his cultivation would look like. 

Will it form an entire sea of spiritual energy?

Sinking his mind into the tiny figure within his dantian, his perception instantly expanded, making the entire world around him feel clearer.

His awareness now blanketed the entire Qiuyue Pavilion, detecting every sound and movement within.

This heightened sense was an ability he gained after breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Shattering the core to form the soul marked the beginning of his exploration into the divine consciousness.

The tiny figure in his dantian acted as an amplifier, significantly enhancing his sensory abilities—an incredibly useful function.

“Hmm?”

Just then, Li Ran detected a subtle movement.

After probing further, his eyes narrowed with interest.

“This is…”

<+>

In her room, Yue Jianli paced back and forth, visibly distressed.

‘Just now, Li Ran had someone bring him a tub of water. He’s probably bathing right now— Could he be sharing the bath with that vixen from the Hehuan Sect?!’

The Hehuan Sect was notorious for its sexual-related acts, and Qin Ruyan was one of its most infamous members. If anyone were capable of doing something so brazen, it would be her.

‘Why else would she conveniently choose the room next to Li Ran’s?’ Yue Jianli thought, her imagination running wild.

As she pictured the two of them sharing a bath, a surge of irritation overcame her. She gripped her sword tightly, resisting the urge to storm in and confront them.

‘No, I have to stay calm.’

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her curiosity got the better of her. Pressing her ear to the wall, she tried to catch any sounds from the neighboring room.

It was eerily quiet. Not a single noise.

‘Did they already fall asleep?’

Hesitating for a moment, she crept out of her room, moving silently to Li Ran’s door. She crouched down and peered through the crack, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Before she could make out anything, the door suddenly swung open!

Caught off guard, Yue Jianli lost her balance and landed flat on her backside.

Li Ran stood in the doorway, dressed in a loose bathrobe, looking down at her with a blank expression.

The air grew heavy with silence.

“Cough, cough.”

Yue Jianli scrambled to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassment. “You’re not asleep yet? I was just passing by. Yes, passing by! Haha– What’s with this slippery floor—”

She turned to leave, but Li Ran grabbed the back of her collar, lifting her effortlessly into the room and shutting the door behind them with a loud bang.

Inside the room, Li Ran crossed his arms, his gaze sharp and questioning.

Yue Jianli stood awkwardly in the corner, looking like a student caught red-handed, small and vulnerable.

“Speak. What exactly were you trying to do, spying like that?” Li Ran demanded.

Her face turned even redder as she retorted, “Who’s spying?! I was just passing by. Don’t you dare twist the truth!”

“Passing by?”

Li Ran raised an eyebrow. “First, you pressed your ear to the wall, then you peeked through the door crack. You call that ‘passing by’? Since when did I miss your unique… hobbies?”

Yue Jianli froze for a moment before realizing her slip. She clamped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late.

Facing Li Ran’s amused and knowing smirk, she bit her lip and turned her head away. “Fine! I admit it! I was spying! So what? Who told you to get so cozy with that vixen from the Hehuan Sect?”

Li Ran: “???”

“What vixen? What cozy behavior?”

He was genuinely confused.

Yue Jianli huffed. “Don’t play dumb! That Qin Ruyan was practically glued to you during the day. She even picked the room next to yours. Don’t tell me it’s a coincidence!”

Finally understanding her frustration, Li Ran couldn’t help but laugh.

No wonder this little warrior had been glaring at him all day—she was jealous!

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” he teased, his grin widening.

“Jealous?”

Yue Jianli’s cheeks turned crimson. She stammered, “You— You’re talking nonsense! I’m not jealous at all!”

“Then why were you spying on me?” Li Ran asked.

“I…”

She faltered, unable to come up with an answer.

Li Ran shook his head, suppressing a laugh. “I’m not even close with Qin Ruyan. We’ve only met once, and during that time, I even killed some of her sect members.”

Yue Jianli blinked, stunned. “Really? You’re not close?”

“Of course not. Would I lie to you about something like this?” Li Ran said nonchalantly.

“Well… then I guess I’ll believe you for now,” Yue Jianli murmured, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

Li Ran smirked. “So, do you feel reassured now?”

“What’s there to feel reassured about? Hmph!” Yue Jianli pouted, turning her head away.

Li Ran couldn’t help but chuckle at her stubborn and tsundere behavior. Just as he was about to tease her further, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Knock, knock

“Holy Son Li, are you still awake? I couldn’t sleep and wanted to chat with you about something,” a soft, seductive voice called out.

It was Qin Ruyan!

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Yue Jianli’s face darkened, her expression full of fury.

“Li Ran, you liar!” she hissed through gritted teeth.

Li Ran: “…”