Chapter 81: The Master’s Command
A Playful Power Struggle
“Yu Li…”
Ai Xinglan gritted her teeth, squeezing out the words. Barely able to move, she could only lie there, at Yu Li’s mercy.
“Mm, I’m here.” Oblivious to the shy anger in Ai Xinglan’s tone, Yu Li nodded obedient ly.
“You…” Yu Li’s response left Ai Xinglan momentarily speechless, but she rallied. “This outfit… is it for your so-called desensitization training?”
At that, Yu Li blinked blankly, tilting her head with a puzzled look at Ai Xinglan.
“Hey~” She carefully climbed off Ai Xinglan.
“Of course not. Today, I’m your personal maid, Little Ai. A maid has to wear a maid outfit, right~”
“…Huh?” Ai Xinglan didn’t follow.
“You’re affected by the side effects, unable to move, and need someone to take care of you, don’t you?”
Yu Li nodded confidently, as if it were obvious.
“So, I figured I’m the perfect person for the job~”
“How did you know… and we have plenty of maids at home!” Ai Xinglan’s tone carried suspicion as she eyed Yu Li.
Instantly, Yu Li’s expression shifted to one of pitiful grievance. Paired with her outfit, she looked like an abandoned maid. Her voice soft and plaintive, she said, “Is it… not okay if it’s me?”
In a heartbeat, she had Ai Xinglan wrapped around her finger.
“Ugh… it’s not that it’s not okay…”
A New Dynamic
With Ai Xinglan’s reluctant approval, Yu Li’s lips curved into a smile. Her hands reached for the hem of Ai Xinglan’s clothes. “Yay, then let me serve you today… Master.”
“M-Master?!”
The unfamiliar term sent a wave of panic through Ai Xinglan. She had no idea how to respond.
But Yu Li didn’t pause. She gazed at Ai Xinglan with mock confusion. “What’s wrong… my Master~”
“W-What’s wrong with you?!” Ai Xinglan’s cheeks flushed. The girl’s utterly unserious maid outfit, paired with her deliberately saccharine tone, made them seem less like master and servant and more like they were playing some kind of game.
“Hm… looks like Master is exhausted. Time to change and rest, don’t you think?”
Yu Li leaned closer, but Ai Xinglan’s sharp voice stopped her.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Hm?” Like a true maid, Yu Li halted at her master’s command.
“You…” Ai Xinglan frowned, sizing Yu Li up. “Something’s off! How are you moving around?”
Perhaps pushed to the peak of embarrassment, Ai Xinglan regained some clarity. Yu Li’s spiritual energy was supposed to be as depleted as hers.
So why was she acting like nothing was wrong?
“Tch.” Yu Li’s expression shifted instantly, a flash of annoyance as she clicked her tongue.
“Hey!”
“Little Ai, don’t ruin the mood with those thoughts, okay?” Perhaps knowing Ai Xinglan couldn’t resist, Yu Li flashed a sly, almost wicked smile.
For the first time, Ai Xinglan sensed a hint of danger in Yu Li’s grin.
“All Little Ai needs to do is enjoy her maid’s service… nothing more.”
A Hidden Recovery
Truth be told, it wasn’t inexplicable. Yu Li’s spiritual energy had been depleted, but… Ai Xinglan had replenished it.
It was an emotion unique to Ai Xinglan—the feeling of loss.
Even without actively consuming it, that overflowing emotion had filled Yu Li’s body in that moment.
Not only was Yu Li no longer drained, but her body brimmed with spiritual energy, thanks to Ai Xinglan.
Perhaps resigned to her lack of resistance, Ai Xinglan’s voice softened. Looking at Yu Li, so close, she asked quietly, “What are you trying to do…”
Yu Li tilted her head with a smile, replying gently, “I’m just here to take care of Little Ai. That’s all.”
“Unless…”
After a brief pause, Yu Li spoke again, her words laced with a heated undertone. “There’s a command from my Master.”
Her words dripped with suggestion, as if coaxing Ai Xinglan to give an order.
Blinking innocently, Yu Li seemed to wait, truly embodying a maid awaiting instructions, ready to obey any command.
Ai Xinglan bit her lower lip, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. But it passed quickly. She exhaled softly and said,
“Just… take care of me normally. That’s enough.”
Yu Li paused, then smiled warmly.
“Okay.”
A Painful Service
She answered softly, then promptly pressed Ai Xinglan back onto the bed.
“Wait, what are you—ow!”
Yu Li’s hands glowed with faint spiritual energy, pressing hard against Ai Xinglan’s pressure points.
“Ow, that hurts, Yu Li!”
“Please endure, Master. This is part of the care.” Ignoring Ai Xinglan’s cries, Yu Li continued with a cold expression.
“Ugh… stop, Yu Li… at least be gentler!”
Due to her spiritual energy depletion, each press sent a jolt through Ai Xinglan, causing sharp pain.
“No, Master. Feng told me your side effects need urgent treatment, or they’ll worsen. Please understand.” Yu Li was unrelenting, a stark contrast to her earlier warmth.
Yet she still called Ai Xinglan “Master,” though the term now lacked its earlier playful nuance.
“Hiss… you’re totally… taking revenge.” Even as dense as she was, Ai Xinglan realized Yu Li was a bit upset.
Could it be… she really wanted me to give her a command?
“Hiss!!”
But the pain left no room for thought. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, yet she couldn’t resist.
A faint fox ear silhouette appeared above Yu Li’s head, signaling an increase in her spiritual energy output.
“Ugh!! Idiot Yu Li, stop!”
Yu Li worked in silence, ignoring her protests. Having chosen this approach, she wouldn’t stop, no matter how much Ai Xinglan complained.
A Calculated Choice
Yu Li wasn’t foolish. Even with Ai Xinglan’s strength, wiping out those monsters so effortlessly was impossible. So, upon returning home, she’d asked Feng.
She learned Ai Xinglan had used the family’s spiritual artifact.
“Regality” amplified spiritual energy, but the higher the amplification, the greater the cost. At the level she used, Ai Xinglan would be bedridden for days.
To lessen the side effects, Yu Li recalled… memories from Glazed Flame’s time with the Yu family.
Even now, those memories baffled her.
The Yu family was a chaotic mix. Despite being an ability-focused clan, they dabbled in unrelated techniques.
Among them were the puppet arts Wang Si used to attack her… and the massage technique she was using now.
The technique was simple: channeling spiritual energy through pressure points to alleviate the aftereffects of powerful moves. The only downside was the pain.
But… Yu Li hadn’t left Ai Xinglan without options. If she had given a different command… Yu Li had another method—one that would involve her own unique approach.