Volume 1, Chapter 39: Xu Ziyao's Shameful Dream

Inside the bedroom, Xu Ziyao sat quietly on the edge of the bed, feeling somewhat unsettled.

It was the first time in her life she had ever experienced sleeping in a strange man’s room. Although she hadn't lain down yet, she could already detect the faint, unique scent of medicinal herbs clinging to the sheets and blankets—a fragrance that belonged solely to Ye Tian.

"It doesn't smell bad," she thought. "In fact, it’s actually quite pleasant."

For some reason, the scent of a man, which she had always found repulsive in the past, did not trigger any resistance in her now. On the contrary, she couldn't help but lean over the bedding and inhale gently. This blend of masculine pheromones and herbal notes left her feeling strangely intoxicated.

A moment later, Xu Ziyao scrambled off the bed in a panic. She realized her face was flushed, her mouth felt dry, and her limbs had grown weak.

"What is happening to me? Could it be that the meal was drugged? Why am I suddenly craving a man..."

This anomaly made her suspicious of Ye Tian. However, as her internal alarm bells rang, the primitive physical reaction gradually faded, and she let out a sigh of relief. Feeling ashamed for doubting him, she realized that with Ye Tian’s capabilities, he would surely disdain using such base tactics against her.

With nothing left to worry about, she lay down on the bed fully clothed and closed her eyes to sleep. Perhaps because she was exhausted, she drifted off quickly.

Without realizing it, she soon found herself trapped in a shameful dream. In the dream, she had attempted to ambush Ye Tian, only to be knocked unconscious and tied up in a humiliating position. Ye Tian, acting like a deviant, used his wicked hands to measure every inch of her body, leaving no secret corner untouched. He then splashed her awake with water and began a brutal interrogation, demanding to know her true intentions. At first, she held her ground, refusing to speak through gritted teeth, but Ye Tian was too cruel. Seeing her silence, he threatened to tear her clothes off and throw her into the Valley of Wolves to be fed to the beasts. Terrified and stripped of her resolve, she spilled her secrets like a torrent. Yet, Ye Tian had no intention of letting her go; he forcibly tore her clothes and took her right there on the spot.

At first, Xu Ziyao resisted with all her might, vowing to die before submitting. But later, perhaps from sheer exhaustion, she abandoned her struggle entirely. What shamed her even more was that she gradually began to lose herself in the experience, eventually becoming so spellbound by Ye Tian that she let out a series of soft, weeping moans.

"Wuwuwu—"

In the middle of the night, the sound of a woman crying drifted through the thatched cottage. Not far away, Ye Tian, who had been meditating, snapped his eyes open. Based on his prior encounters, Xu Ziyao was a tough, resilient woman; she hadn't shed a single tear even under his harsh interrogation earlier. To hear her crying now suggested something was wrong. Not daring to be careless, he rushed toward the cottage.

*Creak.*

Ye Tian pushed the door open and quickly lit the oil lamp on the table. On the bed, Xu Ziyao had been startled awake, clutching the quilt tightly as she stared at him. Her expression was a mix of utter disbelief, the shame of having her secrets exposed, and even a flicker of teeth-gritting resentment toward him.

Utterly bewildered, Ye Tian asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

At the mention of a dream, Xu Ziyao’s face turned as red as a rag. She wrapped the quilt even tighter around herself and stammered, "I... I'm fine. Quickly... get out! Don't... don't disturb my sleep!"

"Uh, alright then..."

Confused, Ye Tian left the cottage with his mind full of questions.

Once he was gone, Xu Ziyao lifted the edge of the quilt and took a cautious, downward glance. She froze instantly. She had gone to bed fully clothed, but now, not a single thread of clothing remained on her body! Recalling the dream, she realized with horror that while she was caught in that shameful fantasy, she had stripped herself naked.

"Wuwuwu..."

Thinking of how she had done something so disgraceful in a strange man’s bed, she was moved to tears by her own frustration. *Am I a lewd woman? Do I just go into heat the moment I see a man? No, that’s not right—I’ve never been like this before. It’s only with him... Damn you, Ye Tian! It’s all your fault for making me have such chaotic dreams... Oh, stop dwelling on it! How can a dream be real? It’s not like I haven’t had dreams before... Oh no, I wonder if he saw anything. If he did, I might as well be dead...*

Inside the cottage, Xu Ziyao covered her burning face, trying to reassure herself. But in the end, unable to remember whether she had pulled the quilt up before or after he rushed in, she fell into a state of total despair, thinking it would be better to just die.

...

By the cliff in front of the cottage, Ye Tian sat on a smooth, flat stone, appearing to be in a state of self-forgetful meditation. Yet, beneath his seemingly calm exterior, his heart was rippling like a lake disturbed by a breeze.

Recalling Xu Ziyao’s tear-streaked, blushing, and bashful appearance, even he—a man whose heart was "sealed in concrete"—couldn't help but feel a stir of desire. Somehow, images of teaching her martial arts earlier surfaced in his mind: her clothes soaked with sweat, clinging to her curvaceous figure, revealing every perfect contour in a way more tempting than the forbidden fruit of Eden.

He especially remembered the unique sensation of touching her soft skin during the search, and the wonderful, virginal scent that had filled his nostrils, all of which sent tremors through his heart. He had nearly lost his composure in that moment.

Fortunately, reason had prevailed, preventing him from crossing the line. They say that lust is a blade hanging over one's head; he needed the influence of the Xu family for his plans. If he had actually taken their little princess, the Xu family would surely descend upon him the next day and tear him to pieces.

"Hoo—"

Ye Tian took a deep breath, struggling to cast aside the distracting thoughts and return to a state of inner peace, focusing entirely on his cultivation. He had already forged his body; now, he was practicing the art of Qi refinement.

According to the *Divine Emperor’s Treasury*, this technique relied on the unique rhythm of breath to slowly gather the thin ambient energy of heaven and earth into the *dantian*, then circulate it through the eight extraordinary meridians to continuously refine the body, making it stronger and more powerful. Reaching the peak of Qi refinement would satisfy the requirements for Foundation Establishment.

However, times had changed. Though the *Divine Emperor’s Treasury* remained, the energy of heaven and earth had become incredibly thin. Human cultivators in such an environment were extremely inefficient. If he wanted to succeed in Foundation Establishment, he had to seize every available moment to cultivate!