Inside Xiao Xiang Inn.
This time, it was not Yue Hongling pressing her hands against Zhao Changhe’s back, but the two of them sitting face to face in meditation, palms touching, True Qi flowing back and forth between them.
Yue Hongling felt a tinge of regret... or perhaps it wasn’t regret.
Because this session of Dual Cultivation was a bit different from the last. The last time was entirely passive, where she had only felt the changes in True Qi without any other sensations, but this time she was actively participating, exchanging and interacting with him, which made her feel somewhat... that way...
It was one thing mentally, but physically it was different as well...
The process of Yin Yang Jiao Tai, why... it felt so good...
It was as though he filled up what she lacked, and in return, she provided the gentleness he needed, then both felt an ultimate comfort on a physical level.
To describe it, it could be mistaken as if they were engaging in that act.
No wonder the meaning of Dual Cultivation was increasingly being solidified from a broad concept to a narrow one...
Yue Hongling knew this was not proper, and she thought about stopping, but the wound on her shoulder was visibly healing, and the slight weakness from blood loss was quickly recovering, more direct than any medicinal effect. Likewise, she could clearly sense that the wound in Zhao Changhe’s chest was also healing quickly...
Was she doing this to help him heal? Then should she not stop halfway?
The most critical point was, this truly benefitted her Cultivation greatly, yet it was not enough; it was like scratching an itch through a boot, always feeling just a little short, as if a single layer of gauze lay between.
But this wasn’t true Dual Cultivation after all, they hadn’t done anything.
So instinctually, she leaned closer to his True Qi, as if saying, "Be more direct, this is not enough..."
Yue Hongling snapped out of it, hearing her own low moan, almost a plea.
Her cheeks were flushed to the tips of her ears.
In front of her, Zhao Changhe had also opened his eyes, their palms still pressed together, eyes meeting, both feeling the touch of each other’s hands and the soothing presence of each other’s True Qi within themselves, seeing the light in each other’s gaze.
Yin and Yang attract each other, such is the way of the Heavenly Dao, who can escape it?
The room gradually grew warmer, breathing becoming increasingly disordered.
As Zhao Changhe pressed against her delicate hand, he unconsciously turned her hand from pressing to holding.
Yue Hongling suddenly realized: "Don’t..."
She quickly withdrew and leaped off the bed, her steps a bit panicked and stumbling as she leaned on a table, taking deep breaths.
Zhao Changhe then came from behind and embraced her.
Dual Cultivation only has zero times and countless times, the same with an embrace. Yue Hongling found she did not have even a slight thought to struggle free, even if the wound on her shoulder had already fully healed and no longer hurt.
"Evil Skill... is still an Evil Skill," Yue Hongling gasped softly: "This stimulation of carnal desires is no less than the effect of Lust Poison, you... you must not use it carelessly in the future..."
Zhao Changhe didn’t say much, because he knew very well he had not intentionally operated the Extreme Joy Method to stimulate desires; the current reaction was purely natural attraction, the real source undoubtedly being the mutual affection in their hearts.
If it had been someone he disliked, such an effect would have been impossible; one would feel disgusted and repulsed right away, kicking the other person away at the first chance.
Yet he was worried that if he spoke the truth, Yue Hongling would lose face and disappear from his life... Yangzhou no longer had anything to keep her, she could leave at any moment.
He didn’t want to say something that could lead to their separation, so he remained silent.
Knowing that she truly had affection for him was enough...
Deep down, Yue Hongling knew it herself.
So at this moment, silence spoke louder than words.
The only sound in the room was their clear heartbeats.
After a long while, Yue Hongling softly said, "I can’t take advantage of you and then complain... This Dual Cultivation session indeed greatly aids my breakthrough to the Ninth Layer, I should find a place to quietly Cultivate and assimilate what I’ve gained, and perhaps when I emerge from seclusion, I might reach the Ninth Layer... I should thank you."
Zhao Changhe sighed: "After all is said and done, does it mean you are leaving?"
Yue Hongling, feeling a bit like someone who takes advantage and runs, didn’t know how to respond.
In a low voice, Zhao Changhe said, "Sister Yue..."
"I... can I give your cheek a kiss, just once?"
Are you an idiot? You’re already holding me , if you suddenly lean in and steal a peck, what can I even say? If you ask me, how am I supposed to respond?
Zhao Changhe also realized his question was stupid and was about to lean in to make his move.
"Knock knock knock!" The door was pounded on.
Yue Hongling quickly struggled free from his embrace, sitting expressionlessly at the edge of the table.
The atmosphere completely collapsed.
Zhao Changhe was so infuriated inside, he really wanted to chop the annoying knocker into seventeen or eighteen pieces, and angrily shouted, "Who is it!"
Yue Hongling saw his face turning the color of pig liver and suddenly felt somewhat amused.
Tang Buqi’s voice came from outside the door: "Me."
Zhao Changhe: "... I have nothing to do with your aunt, not even a copper coin’s worth of involvement, you can go back now!"
Tang Buqi: "???" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel※fire.net
How do you know what I came to ask?
I see you and Wan Dongliu getting along, even having such a tacit understanding without talking!
Still somewhat hesitant, he asked: "Your Spring Water Sword Intent..."
"I’m a gifted prodigy, can’t I have taught myself? And not just that, I also know the Spiritual Fox Saber Intent, am I related to Chi Li as well?" Zhao Changhe exploded, "Besides, you have the Spring Water Sword Intent too, right? Why can’t it just mean that I’m involved with you? Come in, let’s have a chat, with your delicate skin and tender flesh..."
Tang Buqi turned and fled, vanishing in an instant, even forgetting to ask why Gong Chaoqun trusted him.
"Pfft..." A laugh came from Yue Hongling at the table, Zhao Changhe, with his hands on his hips and feeling helpless, turned to look at her: "Go ahead and laugh..."
"Is it because in front of me, you’re eager to shake off your ties with Chief Tang?"
"It’s because this damned fool interrupted me..." Zhao Changhe stopped mid-sentence.
The blush on Yue Hongling’s face had faded away, and she naturally asked: "Where do you plan on going next?"
Zhao Changhe also smoothly changed the subject: "I have something more I want to discuss with Wan Dongliu, and then, depending on the situation, it might be time to pay a visit to the Blood God Sect and meet with Sect Hierarch Xue."
"The Blood God Sect?" Yue Hongling was a bit surprised, then seemed to understand: "Want to completely settle the grievances? That makes sense. But be careful, Xue Canghai is much... much stronger than you right now."
"I know. I’m not going to cause trouble; I’ll act according to the circumstances."
"Hmm, with the wisdom you displayed in Yangzhou, I believe you can handle it well." Yue Hongling stood up, and as if casually, she straightened his collar: "All good things come to an end, and I should really be on my way. If fate allows, we shall meet again in the Worldly Society."
Zhao Changhe wore a distinctly sour expression, not saying a word.
Yue Hongling laughed again as if observing something amusing, tilting her head to look at his face for a while, then suddenly tiptoed and gave his cheek a light peck.
He was speechless, his eyes bulging. Was this for real? Was she not a Heavenly Girl?
Yue Hongling smiled faintly and said softly, "In the dungeon, I said we’d talk when I returned. I was thinking back then, you were doing so well, maybe I should reward you a little... I know what you want... But with everything happening, the mood got ruined, now I make it up. This is your reward, don’t get greedy."
"I’ve been thinking... if it were me the Heavenly Girl talked about, what I would have done might not have been much different, perhaps she, as an observer, plays a ’me’ that truly is how I should be. Yet here I am, bound by my pride, hesitating far too much. Now, with a kiss, my thoughts are clear, isn’t it better than you wanting to kiss me through the influence of Cultivation Technique desires?"
"Never had I thought, that the young man from Zhao Mansion could stand shoulder to shoulder with me, even providing me with much assistance. This trip to Yangzhou has made Hongling very happy." After Yue Hongling finished speaking, she finally gently pushed him away and elegantly turned to leave the room.
Zhao Changhe just stood there, touching his cheek dumbly as he watched her reach the door, then suddenly she paused, turned back with a radiant smile, "We part here and, if fate allows... we’ll see what you’ll call me then."