Chapter 404: Wanting More

Two figures danced across the Exorcist Division's training field like startled swans.

Chen Huaian realized that unless he used some of his special offensive techniques, just relying on the Green Lotus Sword Manual, Li Qingran could actually fight him to a standstill.

That made him, as her master, look a bit bad!

Just as Chen Huaian was about to crank up the difficulty for Li Qingran—

“Ah!” Li Qingran suddenly tripped over nothing and fell flat right in front of him.

Scratching her head and pouting, she said, “Master, this Sword Form Four – Mist Formed from Rainbow Clouds is still a bit too hard to learn. Watching you use it doesn’t help at all—I can’t make heads or tails of it. Is there a more direct way to learn it?”

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes. “What, you want this Venerable One to directly inject it into you?”

Divine Enlightenment was no doubt an excellent fast-track method for learning martial techniques.

But it had its drawbacks too. Say the enlightenment raised someone’s skill to a proficient level—then that person might get stuck at that level for a long time. They’d have to fully grasp the fundamentals to break through further. Otherwise, they’d just be lighting up a skill node—capable of using it, but clueless about how it actually worked.

“Nothing beats learning it yourself,” Li Qingran shook her head firmly.

When Chen Huaian stayed silent, she gathered her courage and said, “I think... if Master taught me the exact moves hand-in-hand, and how to channel spiritual energy through each strike... I’d probably pick it up a lot faster~”

As she spoke, her eyes stole little glances at Chen Huaian’s face. She lightly tucked her hair behind one ear, revealing her slightly flushed earlobe as if by accident.

Chen Huaian grumbled inwardly—this avatar of his could only touch hands.

Nothing else.

Total torment for an old-school guy like him!

Just then, his phone rang.

He picked it up and was instantly blinded by a flashy line of gold-bordered red characters.

【Digital Girlfriend is requesting “hands-on instruction”!】

【Limited-Time Offer: Choose One of Three!】

＜1＞Learning is a solo endeavor. (Firm rejection, costs nothing.)

＜2＞Direct Divine Enlightenment! (Only ¥1998 for a no-loss fast-track experience!)

＜3＞A true master should fulfill every learning need of the disciple. (Unlock full body feedback during lessons. Special limited-time offer: not ¥99,998, not ¥9,998, only ¥18,888!)

【Note: Choosing ＜3＞ prohibits any excessive physical contact against Digital Girlfriend’s will!】

【Respect and understanding are the keys to sustainable development!】

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes.

This chance wasn’t coming back.

“I choose 3!”

A shimmer of light enveloped Li Qingran.

A system prompt popped up at the same time:

【Physical feedback unlocked. Countdown: 24 hours.】

“This Venerable One believes that 24 hours might not be enough for Li Qingran to fully master this sword move. Could this be extended to 240 hours? Or maybe 2,400?”

【Request denied!】

Chen Huaian: “…”

This game system really didn’t leave any room for loopholes.

Well, then he wouldn’t be polite about it.

After all, Li Qingran was his girlfriend.

As long as he didn’t cross the line, right?

Fine!

“Master, I feel kinda... different…”

Li Qingran looked around in confusion. She clenched her fists, pinched her own cheeks, and even stomped her feet a little. Not because she was hyperactive—but because all of a sudden, she felt totally in sync with this world.

That slight sense of disconnect she'd always felt—gone.

Now, everything just felt right.

“What feels different? Here, have a milk candy.”

Chen Huaian casually pulled a White Rabbit candy from his bag, unwrapped it, and held it up to her lips.

Li Qingran leaned forward like she was about to take it, then stopped and puffed her cheeks in protest. “Master, you're teasing me again. You know I can’t eat it normally in this form!”

“How would you know if you don’t try?”

“Hmph! Ah-wooo—!” Li Qingran opened her mouth wide. Figuring she couldn’t really touch anything, she decided to bite down on his fingers along with the candy... and she actually did bite him. Fingers and all.

The surprise made her eyes go wide.

Chen Huaian stared, dumbfounded, at Li Qingran with his fingers in her mouth.

She looked up at him, equally stunned.

As if unable to believe it was a real finger.

She tentatively gave it a lick.

Yep. Real.

The air froze.

“Mmph...” A flush rose from Li Qingran’s neck and quickly overtook her face, spreading to her ears and the back of her neck like a tidal wave.

“Was... the candy good?”

Chen Huaian awkwardly tried to change the subject. He wasn’t even sure if he should leave his fingers in there or yank them out right away.

“Y-Yeah... it’s good...”

Li Qingran averted her gaze and mumbled.

She slowly let go, keeping only the candy in her mouth. Her head lowered, and her little hands twisted the corners of her clothes as if lost in thought.

“I’ve got plenty more. If you like it, I’ll bring you a bunch when we return to the Cangyun Realm.”

Chen Huaian turned to grab more candy from the fridge.

The words “return to Cangyun Realm” seemed to hit a nerve in Li Qingran.

Her head shot up.

There was a fierce determination in her eyes.

She took three quick steps forward.

Step, step, step—!

Chen Huaian heard brisk footsteps behind him.

Puzzled, he turned—only to feel a warm, soft body hugging him from behind.

He froze in place.

He could hear her breathing, fast and shaky.

“Qingran?”

He asked tentatively.

“Master, please don’t say anything...”

Her voice was trembling, but within it was a stubbornness, a reckless courage: “I just... just want to stay like this a little longer. Just a little longer like this, and I swear, I could break through to Late-stage Golden Core... no, even Nascent Soul would be no problem!”

Chen Huaian stayed silent.

What was he, born with some kind of innate succubus physique?

Just a little “sucking” from his disciple and she’d power up?

What a life that’d be.

Too bad he was a one-woman guy. Otherwise, he’d totally pull a Su Qinian.

Su Qinian had a hundred “white moonlights.”

He’d just need a hundred female disciples, all types.

Li Qingran pressed her cheek against Chen Huaian’s back, greedily breathing in his scent. That familiar feeling—it always showed up when she felt his gaze, when he paid attention to her.

Compared to his avatar in the Cangyun Realm, only the real him carried this aura.

From the shabby hut at the edge of Qingyun Sect to the Falling Sunset Peak of the Sword Pavilion...

It was this scent that brought her peace. It made her feel safe. It was something she deeply longed for.

And every time, she’d only ever had a fleeting taste.

But today, she finally got a full inhale.

Li Qingran rubbed her face against his back, letting out a soft sigh like a content kitten.

No... it still wasn’t enough.

Once you get a taste, you start wanting more.

She used to think just hugging her master was enough.

Now... she wanted more.