As night deepened, the full moon emerged from the clouds, its gentle glow illuminating a room in the Autumn Water Pavilion. Today seemed like a good day to admire the moon.

"Something's off."

Li Mo sat at the edge of the bed, gradually realizing something wasn't right.

He had a history—last time, the "ice block" had caught him and force-fed him for three days. But this time, why was the ice block suddenly not laughing?

As everyone knew, the ice block was usually calm and composed, her emotions steady.

Unless...

She had been faking it earlier?

And the "Best Actress of the Golden Statue Awards" was most skilled at maintaining an aloof, indifferent expression—so convincing it didn't even seem like acting...

"But why?"

Li Mo scratched his head, which felt like it was steaming, utterly baffled.

Why would the ice block pretend not to laugh?

He could only peer through the door crack toward the opposite room.

Inside, the glow of the Jade Phoenix Deity flickered.

......

In the boudoir.

Flickering light danced as avian spirits from ancient times manifested their divine essence through the Jade Phoenix Deity.

Ying Bing sat quietly by the bed, clad in an obsidian Moonlit Immortal Dress, her slender legs swaying slightly. Her boots were neatly placed together, unworn, while her fair, delicate feet peeked out—as if...

Freshly washed?

The Jade Phoenix Deity cast a sacred, majestic aura over her face, but soon, its task was complete.

The forms of the Cloud Crane and the White Egret, two pinnacle manifestations, pushed the progress of the Hundred Avian Phoenix Form ahead of the Moon Deity Form.

"He should behave now..."

"After all, I'm still angry."

As the divine glow faded, the young woman was draped in the moon's soft, gauzy light.

The book "Harmony of Yin and Yang" by her pillow was gently picked up by the ice block. She flipped open the first page, moonlight rippling on her lashes.

She rose from the bed, her dainty feet not yet touching the ground.

Suddenly, faint footsteps approached.

From the opposite room, a furtive figure—a woman—quietly pushed open the door.

Ying Bing: "?"

......

"So, what's the reason?"

"Hammer-Bao, any ideas?"

Li Mo still couldn't figure it out. If the ice block's indifference was an act, what was the reason?

But he had no one to ask—the only sentient being around was Hammer-Bao.

"Bzz bzz?"

Hammer-Bao couldn't speak, but its two faint buzzes seemed to convey confusion.

See? Even Hammer-Bao couldn't make sense of it.

Hmm...

It never crossed Li Mo's mind that Hammer-Bao's buzzing might have been questioning his master's sanity.

This kind of thing—you're asking me?

"Huh?"

Li Mo suddenly looked up and spotted a figure outside the door. He froze, then slowly grinned.

So, the ice block wasn't really angry.

Coming to visit in the middle of the—

"Precious disciple."

The door creaked open, revealing Shang Wu's face peeking in.

Li Mo's smile vanished instantly. "Master, shouldn't you be raiding the kitchen at this hour? What are you doing here?"

"Hmph, can't I check on you? So ungrateful."

Shang Wu pouted, crossing her arms indignantly.

"?"

You... checking on me?

Who was the one who got drunk and passed out while teaching the foundational cultivation techniques?

And for a master like you, the best way to care is not to care at all. Besides, showing up in the middle of the night—could it be...

"You messed up big time and need to flee, so you're here to borrow travel funds?"

That was Li Mo's first guess.

Shang Wu rolled her eyes. "Is there anyone in the Qingyuan Sect I can't handle? Why would I need to flee?"

"Fair point..."

"I'm hungry. I can't sleep without wine, and I can't drink without snacks." Shang Wu's lips quivered.

So how did you survive when I wasn't around?

You're just craving food, aren't you...

Li Mo sighed. "Then go to the kitchen. Sneaking into my room—I thought..."

"You didn't cook tonight. There's nothing left in the kitchen."

"......"

Resigned, Li Mo retrieved a few oil-paper-wrapped snacks from his system space—specialties from the Southern Border.

Mission: Feed the beautiful master √

Mission: Ice block's midnight visit ×

"By the way, what did you think earlier?"

"I thought a wild boar had broken in. Never mind. Enjoy your meal."

Once Shang Wu left, Li Mo sighed, tilting his head at a 45-degree angle to gaze at the night sky.

It wasn't her.

And honestly, that made sense.

Maybe his yang energy was too rampant lately, fogging his brain. How could he forget? That was the ice block—even after meeting countless extraordinary figures, she was the only one with a crimson destiny, the future Empress.

The fact that he could enter her room without being thrown out was already like a dream.

It wasn't even his birthday today. Expecting Ying Bing to sneak into his room? Even Shang Wu, drunk and without peanuts, wouldn't dare imagine such a thing.

How audacious of him, this little Li Mo.

"So, if only I could celebrate more birthdays in a year..."

Li Mo stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling.

"How many more do you want?"

"Five, six, seven, eight—that'd be enough."

"Greedy..."

Hearing the familiar voice, Li Mo jolted upright, springing up stiffly from the bed.

The moonlight stretched a certain figure's shadow long and slender, all the way to his pillow.

Ying Bing, clad in her obsidian Moonlit Immortal Dress, stood by the window, her gaze—once alternating between light and shadow—now lowered slightly upon seeing him.

"Ice block, why are you—"

"The moonlight is beautiful tonight," Ying Bing said earnestly.

Li Mo nodded solemnly. "Haven't admired the Moon Deity's essence in a while."

"......"

Her expression remained aloof and saintly under the moonlight, making it impossible to imagine her delicate hands curled tightly in her sleeves, fingers stiff with tension.

"Behave later. No... mischief."

"My righteous yang energy is unshakable! I stand tall and sit straight!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely!"

Little Li Mo sat rigidly upright, his eyes burning with determination.

His overwhelming righteousness was practically blazing.

Ying Bing's curled fingers relaxed slightly. She had deliberately acted cold today, assuming Li Mo would stay in line—and surely... he wouldn't notice.

She wasn't as naive as in her dreams, where she'd been tricked into calling him "big brother"...

Back in the Cassia Palace, none of her disciples dared misbehave.

Much less this self-proclaimed "gentleman" Li Mo, this overgrown child.

"Come. To my place."

"Huh?"

Li Mo was confused, but his body stood up obediently.

"My bed suits you better."

Ying Bing meant the ice-jade bed.

But even the ice block herself didn't realize how naturally she had invited Li Mo to her own bed—so effortlessly that she didn't find it the least bit odd.

......