Caught by Gu Quan while changing her undergarments…
Shao Qing glanced down at her with a hint of aloofness and gave a reserved “Hmm.”
Lian Yue said, “Then I’ll stop talking so I don’t disturb you.”
After speaking, she smiled shyly and sat back on the rock, gazing at her fishing rod.
Little fish, little fish.
Please bite the hook quickly.
With no one speaking, the surroundings grew quiet. The two of them, a man and a woman alone together, created a somewhat awkward atmosphere.
About a quarter of an hour later, the fishing rod still showed no movement, and Lian Yue began to feel restless.
She rubbed her calf and stole a glance at Shao Qing.
Shao Qing retracted his fishing rod, set it aside, and said, “Let’s go back.”
Lian Yue asked, puzzled, “Aren’t we fishing anymore?”
He snorted lightly, “I can see you’re not in the mood for fishing. Since you can’t enjoy it, we might as well head back first.”
Lian Yue replied, “Oh.”
Who said she couldn’t enjoy fishing? Look, the fish had bitten the hook on its own.
The young woman retracted her fishing rod and followed closely behind him, whispering, “Shall we go to your tent or mine later?”
Shao Qing’s lips twitched.
Her words made it sound as if they were sneaking around for a secret rendezvous in a tent, giving off a furtive vibe.
He said, “Follow me.”
“Okay.”
Gu Qing led her to a sheltered spot surrounded by rocks of varying heights and scattered gravel.
He said, “This will do.”
Lian Yue had no objections.
Shao Qing placed the fishing rod aside, took out insect-repellent powder, and sprinkled it around the rocks. He instructed, “Meditate first. Calm your mind and steady your breath.”
Lian Yue obediently complied, “Alright.”
In front of her was a smooth stone slab. She sat down quietly, adjusted the hem of her clothes, and began meditating.
Shao Qing naturally sat opposite her, his gaze fixed on her face. After a moment’s thought, he took out a handkerchief, placed it on his palm, and said calmly, “Give me your hand.”
Lian Yue frowned slightly at the handkerchief in his hand.
Was it really necessary to be so cautious?
The wind picked up.
They were sitting too close, and their hair had tangled together. Without saying a word, she quietly untangled the strands and placed her hand on his.
Even through the handkerchief, Shao Qing’s palm was still scorching. The moment her hand touched his, she felt a jolt like an electric shock at her fingertips, causing her whole body to tremble.
What was happening?
Just as she couldn’t resist pulling her hand back, he gripped it tightly, making it impossible to break free.
He raised an eyebrow and explained, “Due to my cultivation technique, my body temperature is higher than that of an average person.”
Lian Yue stammered, “No… no wonder.”
Though Shao Qing was usually frivolous, he now appeared steady and composed. “The inner force in your body is weak. When I guide you through the circulation technique, if you can’t endure it, stop me immediately.”
Lian Yue nodded, “Okay.”
“Close your eyes.”
Lian Yue quickly shut her eyes.
A surge of domineering inner force rushed into her meridians, like a river during the flood season, instantly filling the parched pathways in her body.
Immediately after, his inner force enveloped hers, flowing slowly and steadily throughout her body before finally gathering in her dantian.
If Lian Yue’s inner force was as fine as a strand of hair, Shao Qing’s was like a vast river or ocean, recklessly teasing the stiff meridians in her body. It was both intensely stimulating and deeply unsettling.
It was different from the last time with Yuan Jing.
She bit her lip and let out a muffled groan.
The wind was cold, but Lian Yue’s body was burning hot. Sweat drenched her chest and back, her cheeks flushed red, and the veins on her neck bulged, making her look utterly distressed.
Seeing this, Shao Qing withdrew his inner force.
Lian Yue tightened her grip on the other’s hand, opening her amber-like eyes as sweat dripped from her forehead. Her gaze was sharp as a newly honed blade: “I can still endure.”
Shao Qing reminded her: “You’ve shed much sweat. Dehydration can kill.”
He said: “Haste makes waste.”
Lian Yue sensed the faint inner force in her dantian—it seemed slightly stronger than before. Seeking help truly was a shortcut.
She nodded obediently: “I understand. Thank you, State Preceptor.”
Hearing this, Shao Qing teased: “After all this help, you still call me State Preceptor?”
Then what should she call him?
Lian Yue thought for a moment before speaking: “How about… Master?”
Shao Qing’s face darkened. What nonsense. He twitched his lips: “Just call me State Preceptor.”
She nodded: “Very well, State Preceptor.”
Shao Qing looked down at her. The maiden’s complexion was rosy, sweat beads lingered at her nose tip, her lips were tender pink—her vitality was better than last time, her appearance even more captivating.
It seemed A Jing’s decision to teach her inner force cultivation was correct. At least it ensured she wouldn’t die from physical weakness.
By the time they returned to camp, it was already afternoon. Time had passed swiftly.
He said: “Go bathe and change your clothes. Rest awhile. Judging by the sky, A Quan and A Jing should be arriving nearby soon. I’ll go meet them.”
Lian Yue: “Alright.”
Seeing Shao Qing leave, Lian Yue turned back to her tent. Soon someone brought hot water, and she soaked comfortably in the bathtub for a warm bath.
She realized different inner force cultivation methods produced distinctly different sensations.
For example.
Yuan Jing and Shao Qing’s inner forces were completely different.
If described—the former was like spring breeze, warm and seductive; the latter like river currents, turbulent and drowning.
Lian Yue noticed the handkerchief she’d picked up but forgotten to return to Shao Qing.
After their energy circulation ended, Shao Qing hadn’t taken back his handkerchief. Did he discard it intentionally, disliking that she’d touched it?
She hesitated whether to wash and return it.
Later.
Lian Yue stirred the bathwater, recalling her earlier experience with him in the stone forest.
Though their bodies never actually touched, why did the memory now feel so… intimate?
The vast inner force had dissipated, leaving only a thread in her dantian. The emptiness in her meridians and dantian felt particularly unbearable—she longed to be filled again.
Hiss.
This wasn’t good.
Could this become addictive?
Shaking off these strange thoughts, Lian Yue emerged from the bath, changed into clean clothes, had the tub removed, and resumed meditation.
But before long, commotion arose outside the camp. Emerging from her tent, she saw Gu Quan and Yuan Jing standing with Shao Qing.
Sensing her gaze, Gu Quan turned precisely as their eyes met.
He approached, circling her once before remarking: “Good. No missing limbs. My worries were unnecessary.”
The youth wore black clothing with a crimson waist sash, his striking face adorned with a smile that naturally drew all attention.
Though Lian Yue hadn’t felt she’d done anything wrong, she felt inexplicably guilty before him.
Gu Quan said: “May we speak privately?”
Without waiting for Lian Yue’s response, he lifted the tent flap and entered, leaving the young woman standing outside.
At that moment.
Yuan Jing didn’t look at her.
Shao Qing, meanwhile, crossed her arms and leaned against a tree trunk, smiling in her direction.
Lian Yue: “…”
This feels strange.
Lian Yue bit her lip and walked toward the tent, where she saw Gu Quan standing with such low pressure surrounding him that no one dared approach easily.
“Come here.”
Gu Quan’s voice was cold. The young woman hesitated in her steps, but he had already walked up to her.
Lian Yue immediately lowered her head in apology: “I’m sorry.”
His gaze fixed on the young woman’s round head, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
Gu Quan remained silent for a moment before getting straight to the point: “Did you come here to kill Wu Yuru?”
Lian Yue shook her head: “No, how could a weak woman like me kill her? Gu Hou overestimates me. I thought National Preceptor Shao had already told you—I was kidnapped.”
He said: “Denying it is pointless.”
The corners of Lian Yue’s eyes reddened, tears welling up as she said: “I’m telling the truth.”
Gu Quan looked down at her and reminded her: “On my way here, I discovered the bodies of Wu Yuru’s retainers. Their wounds were from an assassin organization, and the treasure I previously gave you was enough for you to hire assassins.”
She remained silent.
Gu Quan continued: “You should know about Yang Jian’s relationship with Wu Yuru. If he finds clues, do you think he won’t investigate the assassin organization to find out who hired them? You can’t hide this from anyone. This move is too risky.”
Seeing that Gu Quan wasn’t easily fooled, Lian Yue wiped the tear stains from her face and said pitifully: “I never thought I could hide it from anyone. Wu Yuru wants me dead, sending assassins again and again. I live in constant fear every day, so I came to kill her myself.”
She stopped denying it, tears in her eyes: “Is Gu Hou worried that if I kill Wu Yuru, it will provoke that mad dog Yang Jian and temporarily bring harm to you? If you’re concerned about this, you can hand me over to avoid implicating you.”
Gu Quan sneered: “He’s not worthy.”
Lian Yue hung her head, her throat dry, and said pitifully: “Am I very foolish? Always causing you trouble, making you angry. I’m sorry, truly sorry.”
He said: “I’m not blaming you.”
Lian Yue said hoarsely: “But you seem very angry.”
Gu Quan took a deep breath and said: “I’m not angry because of that, I just…”
“Just what?”
Unable to resist, he reached out with his well-defined hand and pinched the young woman’s cheek. His peach blossom eyes scanned her up and down as he said irritably: “I’m angry because I told you I would deal with her, but you didn’t believe me and ran out alone. What if something happened to you? If you were harmed, how would I explain it to Lu Xun?”
Is that it?
He didn’t blame her for wanting to kill Wu Yuru, and he didn’t seem to find it strange that a weak woman would come out alone to kill her enemy. That probably meant Xuan Yao had discovered something in Peng City.
Since he didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t ask.
But seeing him so angry now, she felt a sour swelling in her heart and decided to coax him.
Lian Yue held Gu Quan’s hand, looked up at him, and said carefully: “I won’t do it again next time. Please don’t be angry, okay?”
Her face was full of unease, like a child who had done something wrong, making it hard to scold her.
Gu Quan said: “Don’t let it happen again.”
Lian Yue asked gently: “Then are you still angry?”
Gu Quan had originally been angry at her for acting on her own and for not trusting him, but seeing her found safe and sound, most of his anger dissipated.
He did not answer, withdrawing his hand and saying coldly, “I have just taken over Xiang City, and the dangers within have not yet been completely eliminated. Tomorrow, I will personally escort you back to Ruyang.”
Oh.
Still angry.
Lian Yue pinched her own cheek: “I will listen to Marquis Gu in everything.”
Seeing her so obedient, Gu Quan felt satisfied and was about to leave the tent when he caught sight of her change of clothes, among which was a handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo.
He halted his steps.
If he was not mistaken, that handkerchief was Shao Zili’s personal belonging.
Gu Quan’s gaze instantly turned icy.
How could his personal item appear in Lian Yue’s tent?
Lian Yue wondered why he had stopped and followed Gu Quan’s gaze to her change of clothes, noticing that her intimate undergarments had been tossed on top.
Wh-what is he looking at?
You jerk!