The Rogue Who Coveted His Master (Non-explicit Adapted Edition) - Chapter 2

[New mission: kiss Ji Qing against his will within three days.]

My eyes widened in disbelief.

Kissing Ji Qing was bad enough. Against his will?

Was I tired of living?

That damned system had finally set its sights on Ji Qing after all.

For all my complaints, I didn’t dare openly defy it.

I’d experienced its electric shocks before.

Kiss Ji Qing? The image of his pale pink lips flashed through my mind, and my thoughts began to wander.

They did look awfully kissable…

But I certainly wouldn’t dare while he was awake.

Late that night, when I judged he ought to be asleep, I tearfully crept into his chambers, clutching my sore backside.

Instead, I found him reclining against the head of his bed, hair loose and an outer robe draped over him. At the sound, he lifted his eyes lazily.

“Wayward disciple. What sort of beating would you like today?”

My knees nearly gave out.

But the deadline was fast approaching.

Gathering my courage, I inched toward him under his astonished gaze, then caught him off guard with a quick kiss.

We both froze.

[Congratulations, host! Mission complete!]

Even with the system announcing my success, I couldn’t shake my disbelief.

I’d actually kissed Ji Qing!

Trembling all over, I shut my eyes and waited for the thunderous blow that would annihilate body and soul.

It never came. Ji Qing simply let my lips stay against his.

Eventually I recovered enough to try to pull away, but he caught my waist first.

His other hand closed around the back of my neck, leaving me no room to escape.

He took over the kiss, parting my lips. His cool fragrance filled my senses.

Soon my strength gave out and I began to slide down.

Ji Qing lifted me easily and leaned over, pressing me back onto the bed.

Only when I could scarcely breathe did he finally let me go.

I lay there blushing and gasping, unable to think for a long while.

He’d kissed me senseless.

He looked down at me, the tips of his ears faintly red. Licking his lips, he watched me like a wolf.

“…That is something I never taught you. Who did you learn it from?”

For some reason, I thought the last part carried a murderous edge he couldn’t quite conceal.

Summoning what little courage I had left, I whispered, “N-no one. I know I was wrong. Your beauty went to my head…”

Ji Qing stared at me, then smiled.

“You think I’m beautiful?”

One look at his face nearly stole my soul.

He was captivating enough in his usual aloof, untouchable way. Now his lips were flushed and glistening, his expression softened by desire.

“Master is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

Ji Qing chuckled.

“Good. Your eyesight has finally recovered, you wayward creature.”

Something was wrong with my master.

Ever since I’d kissed him, he hadn’t once taken the ruler to my backside.

Instead, he grew more indulgent by the day.

Even when I occasionally angered him, he only gave my waist a light pinch.

[New mission: spy on Ji Qing while he bathes tonight.]

I stopped in my tracks.

I had to admit, this mission was very much to my taste.

I wanted a look. I was also a coward.

After a great deal of thought, I devised a plan.

At dusk, I used an illusion to disguise myself as a rock beside the hot spring.

Not until the moon was high did Ji Qing arrive at a leisurely pace.

His gaze paused on me in brief puzzlement.

“Since when was there a rock here?”

Then he paid me no further attention.

He shed his robes one by one, revealing a broad, strong chest.

My face felt hot.

His physique was nothing like his beautiful, cool, seemingly harmless face.

His waist was firm and powerful, his abdomen sharply defined: beauty and strength in equal measure.

I stared until my cheeks burned, and in my flustered state my breathing faltered.

That instant was enough for Ji Qing to notice something amiss.

“Who’s there?”

It felt as though someone had seized me by the throat. I didn’t dare let a breath escape.

While my thoughts raced, Ji Qing stepped into the spring and came toward me.

A finger touched my back.

“Zihe. I taught you everything you know.”

I dropped the illusion and slid straight onto my knees.

“Master, I was wrong.”

Ji Qing lifted his eyes and laughed softly.

“Always so quick to apologize. Yet you never change when I tell you to.”