Sheng Xuan did not last all night. He had to pounce on Wei Lan soon. Only after the fourth time, they put a pause. A blanket covered him. Wei Lan lay on top of him. Both soaked in each other's warmth for a while till he had to get up to cultivate.
Sheng Xuan sat cross-legged and worked on refining the pure yin qi attached to him. When he closed his eyes, he saw a sea of green wisps of spirit qi, eager to be absorbed by him. In every wisp, there was a striking blue-black, yin qi. He marveled at the sight.
In the dual cultivation art Wen Zhi had given him, it mentioned the circulation route to refine yin qi. Sheng Xuan followed it. In his spirit core, there were several yellow spirit wisps, some brighter than others. He chose the brightest and led it around his spirit veins in a certain route.
As the chosen wisp zipped through the circulation route, warmth coursed through him. The green wisps entered him one by one, spreading a cold sensation. They formed a trail behind the chosen wisp, traveling along the route nonstop. One after another wisp was refined. Gradually, the quantity of refined spirit wisps in his spirit core increased.
Half an hour later, he had refined ten wisps, blowing his previous record out of the window. In the next half, he refined twelve. The following hour yielded sixteen. Feeling his strength increase so fast, his lips wanted to curl up.
At some point, Wei Lan got up too. She had only worn her black bra and underwear. She held her robes for a bit, only to set them aside. Then she sat beside him and focused.
Unlike him, she saw a sea of yellow wisps, all wanting to be absorbed by her. As she refined them, she was surprised by the fast pace. She had lesser-grade talent and her cultivation pace was far from a greater-grade. In the past year, she had realized how difficult it was. Now this pace was a pleasant surprise. She nearly lay down in front of him.
When Sheng Xuan opened his eyes, his gaze fell on her and went wide. Her fair shoulders and belly were exposed to him. Her bra could barely hold her large peaks, her cleavage exposed. The more he admired, the redder her face became.
Wei Lan opened her eyes and complained, "Did you not have enough?" She covered her chest.
"With how beautiful you are, how can I have enough of you," he deeply said.
"Focus on your cultivation. Stop getting distracted," she said.
"I can not focus now." He pulled her into his embrace.
After the fifth time, they cultivated till deep into the night before hugging each other to sleep.
The Sun crept past the horizon, illuminating the world. Wei Lan wanted to get up early. Sheng Xuan did not let her.
Only at late morning did she get a chance. She quickly freshened up and went to make breakfast for him.
Sheng Xuan woke up at a lazy pace. He cleaned up and had breakfast with her.
Then, he entered his room to cultivate. He wanted to be as ahead as possible before the classes began. In his vision, there was still a lot of green wisps. He wanted to refine till his spirit veins ached and mind was exhausted.
Unfortunately, Sheng Xuan kept thinking about Wei Lan. Her smooth skin, alluring body, and pretty face. And those big buns with juicy cherries. Sheng Xuan gave into his temptation.
Looking at the door adjacent to his room, he wondered whether to knock on it. She must be cultivating too. He did not want to disturb her.
'Damn. I am such a nice boyfriend.'
To his surprise, the door opened up. Wei Lan was in a green-white robe.
"Why are not you cultivating? Did you refine all the spirit qi?" she asked.
"I was but then-" He walked in, closing the door behind him. "But then I realized I could use more yin qi."
Wei Lan's eyelashes fluttered. Her cheeks reddened. "Is that so. I feel like you just want to bully me."
"No, I would never." Sheng Xuan acted innocent, only for his hands to wrap around her.
Wei Lan did not reply. She hugged him back. Having seen the benefits of dual-cultivation, she wished to indulge in it too.
...
At the Southern Pagoda, Sheng Bo found Overseer Kang, a middle-aged man with a well-kempt beard and hair, the typical refined look. The room had a gentle temperature.
"Brother Bo, what a surprise," Sheng Kang greeted with a smile. "I did not expect you to have the time to come meet with me."
"What's so surprising? I was passing by and thought to visit," Sheng Bo calmly said.
"Is that so," Sheng Kang drew out the words.
Sheng Bo brought out a dark-red porcelain bottle. "What does Brother Kang think of this wine?"
Sheng Kang sipped on his tea and scrutinized the bottle, surprised. "Is not that the Fiery Apricot Wine?"
"Yes, it has a nice effect on cultivators," Sheng Bo said.
Sheng Kang nodded slowly, then focused his eyes on him. "Brother Bo came at the right time. I was about to find you."
Sheng Bo remained expressionless. His son's matter might have already been exposed.
"What could be the reason, Brother Kang?" Sheng Bo acted clueless.
"I heard a few things. Some claim to have seen Junior Xuan capturing luminous fishes in the nearby ornamental ponds," Sheng Kang said lightly. "You know those are clan properties, that's an unlawful act."
"Does Brother Kang like this wine?" Sheng Bo pushed the wine forward.
Sheng Kang met his calm gaze. Silence brewed between them.
After a while, Sheng Kang smiled. "Brother Bo, I do like it." He grabbed the wine.
Sheng Bo faintly smiled. "It was nice seeing you, Brother Kang. I will talk to you another time."
Sheng Kang said, "Take care, Brother Bo."
After Sheng Bo left, Sheng Kang looked at the wine. At the end, it did not matter whether Sheng Xuan did something or not. It was a matter of whether he would gloss over it or not.
Sheng Kang had never planned to form bad blood with Sheng Bo over this minor affair. What were a few luminous fishes to him? A margin of error. However, he did not expect Sheng Bo to not bring out more gifts. He was not fully satisfied with just one wine.
Sheng Kang licked his lips, removed the cork, and poured himself a cup. It was a bright orange color and exuded a faint fiery aura. Sheng Kang swirled it and chugged it down.
"Good wine." He patted his lips.
Satisfied, he called for Steward Ze. Having seen Sheng Bo pass by, his heart rate was faster than usual.
Sheng Kang looked him up and down, rubbing his chin.
"You remember those two caretakers? Something about stealing fishes," Sheng Kang said.
"Yes, Overseer."
"There are many issues with their accounts. They are not trustable. Fire them and hire two new ones. I will leave it up to you," he lightly said.
Steward Ze responded a moment late. "Yes, Overseer."
"You may leave."
Steward Ze cupped his fist in salute and left.
...
Sheng Xuan was in Wei Lan's room. The Sun was way past noon, the time when naps were normal. Sheng Xuan and Wei Lan spent that time on something else. The room still smelled of it. Clothes strewn all over.
Sheng Xuan was half-naked, seated cross-legged on the bed. Wei Lan rested under the blanket.
The jade token on the table vibrated, light flashed, drawing Sheng Xuan's attention. He grabbed it, warm to the touch. There was a message from Sheng Bo. When he probed with his spirit sense, the details became clear to him.
'Someone had already complained to the overseer. Who could it be? Hun?'
'No, it's probably Kuo. He was the one who had seen me that night, probably made a guess.'
'But why? Our relationship was not that bad. What a snitch.' Sheng Xuan's eyebrows furrowed. He took out a scroll and a myriad memory stone, very expensive spirit items. When he pressed the stone behind the scroll, a scene gradually appeared on the scroll screen: Sheng Kuo's conversation with the caretaker.
Sheng Xuan wondered whether he should use this right now or later. Now did not seem like that great of a time. He kept it for later. He was not a fan of forming bad blood and not being able to clean it up. Unlike Hun, Kuo was sneakier, which he did not like.
Killing was not an option and their enmity did not run that deep. He could try suppressing him, maybe humiliate him or take something away from him. However, if Sheng Kuo knew it was him, it would turn into an escalating back and forth.
'But he does seem like a spiteful person. Hold on, do I have to end him?' Sheng Xuan's face darkened.
'With the caretaker matter not going his way, will he try something else?'
'Wow, this is annoying.'
Sheng Xuan thought over his weaknesses. His eyes fell on the human-shaped lump covered by the blanket. Half a head of green hair was exposed. There was her, and also Wei Rou. His parents were strong enough. Sheng Xuan immediately decided on giving more talismans to Rou and Lan.
'I don't have detailed insight on Sheng Kuo. I will need to fix it.'
Sunlight reflected off his face but lacked any warmth.
'If I can not kill him, I have to cripple him or find another way.'