“I want you to help cultivate it.”
Mo Zhuer’s voice lingered in Xu Ming’s ears, her alluring tone like a soul-eating insect gnawing at his very bones, making one willingly fall under her spell.
“I refuse,” Xu Ming answered decisively.
“Heh heh heh, but your body right now seems to disagree,” Mo Zhuer teased, the corner of her mouth curving into a sly smile as she leaned closer against Xu Ming’s chest.
In the courtyard stood an iron rod, ready to be used after hanging clothes. It perfectly illustrated Xu Ming’s current state.
However, Xu Ming didn’t feel he could entirely bla himself. Any normal man, faced with a woman as enchanting as Mo Zhuer in such close proximity, would inevitably have so kind of reaction—such responses were hardwired into human nature.
Let alone him—a warrior with blood that ran hotter than most.
“Move,” Xu Ming said coldly.
“I won’t,” Mo Zhuer retorted, resting her head on Xu Ming’s shoulder, her actions dripping with calculated charm.
“Does Xu Gongzi (Young Master) truly refuse to practice the first chapter of the Great Path of Hehuan with ? Surely you’ve realized by now that my constitution is quite extraordinary.”
She paused, her tone softening, almost conspiratorial.
“Let be frank. I am of the Luo Shen Physique. There are many descriptions of this unique constitution, but one key point is that it can nourish all things, allowing for an incredibly precise adjustnt and soothing of spiritual energy, both mine and others’.
Once upon a ti, I wouldn’t have considered practicing the Great Path of Hehuan. But now… since Xu Gongzi has already ‘partaken’ of once, what harm is there in doing so a second ti?
If you agree to cultivate this Great Path of Hehuan with , I can help you regulate your martial energy and spiritual power. Moreover, this practice has significant healing benefits for your injuries.
If what I say is true, and the Sect Master of Tianxuan Sect ends up killing everyone, the sect will descend into utter chaos. Given your current injuries, how will you survive? And with your condition, if you still plan to go to Sanshi Peak, you’ll be walking straight to your death.”
Xu Ming said nothing, his face dark.
“So, this is a trade.” Mo Zhuer’s voice turned low and seductive, like a succubus whispering temptations into his ear.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? As long as it’s not sothing atrocious, you’d agree. I’m not asking you to commit any heinous acts. All I’m asking you to do is…”
Trailing off, Mo Zhuer placed her delicate hand on Xu Ming’s shoulder.
Xu Ming felt her spiritual energy entering his body. Just as he prepared to resist, the energy flowed like water, seamlessly rging with his own, leaving him utterly unable to expel it.
A dry heat rose in Xu Ming’s throat. His gaze at Mo Zhuer grew increasingly predatory.
“Why not just agree? You’ve already crossed that line once—crossing it again won’t make a difference,” a sudden thought surfaced in Xu Ming’s mind.
The notion startled him, shocking even himself.
“What did you do to ?” Xu Ming frowned, his hand clamping tightly around Mo Zhuer’s wrist.
The desire for her in his heart surged uncontrollably.
“Be gentle~ If you grip too hard, you’ll hurt ,” Mo Zhuer cooed, her tone as sweet and teasing as ever, without a trace of fear.
“Haven’t I already explained, Gongzi? I possess the Luo Shen Physique and can freely manipulate spiritual energy. What I just did was infuse a trace of spiritual energy imbued with the properties of the Yuanyang Cauldron into your body—just to help set the mood a little.
And really, you can’t entirely bla . If you didn’t already have certain feelings for , that strand of spiritual energy wouldn’t have had any effect at all.”
Xu Ming: “…”
Xu Ming felt his breathing grow heavier, especially with Mo Zhuer sitting on his lap. The softness of her delicate figure and the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from her body eroded his reason bit by bit.
At this mont, Xu Ming’s state was eerily similar to how he felt back in the Yuanyang Cauldron. While not as intense as that ti, it was still enough to be overwhelming.
The key difference now was this:
Back in the Yuanyang Cauldron, Xu Ming had exercised imnse self-control, refusing to take that step. His willpower had been at its peak then.
But now, that line had already been crossed once. With one cos two, and with two cos three.
Xu Ming’s ntal defenses were no longer as strong as they had been.
In his mind, a voice kept gnawing at his resolve:
You’ve already done it once before—what difference does one more ti make? What’s the harm? And it’s mutually beneficial, good for both of you. This is nothing more than a transaction—why resist?
If what Mo Zhuer says is true, and the Tianxuan Sect Master really does have so sinister plot, you must recover from your injuries. The lingering conflicts between your spiritual energy and martial qi from the sect’s battles need to be resolved quickly.
Otherwise, what if you die? What if sothing happens to Qing Wan? Will you regret it for the rest of your life?
“No, that’s not right—these are just excuses!”
Xu Ming knew all these were nothing but justifications for his desire to let go. Yet, his rationality was slowly being chipped away by these excuses.
Especially after having tasted that forbidden fruit once before, Xu Ming often found his mind wandering back to that night, despite his best efforts to suppress those desires.
Now, those suppressed cravings threatened to erupt like a volcano.
Mo Zhuer could see that Xu Ming’s ntal defenses were on the verge of collapse. But she wasn’t in a hurry. She simply waited, silently biding her ti.
When Xu Ming’s gaze grew increasingly hazy, Mo Zhuer took his hand and pressed it against her soft, full chest.
“Xu Gongzi, there’s no need to hold back. This is rely cultivation—a mutually beneficial transaction between us. Beyond that, we have no other ties. So why hesitate, Gongzi? Wouldn’t you agree?”
Feeling that the ti was right, Mo Zhuer slowly rose from Xu Ming’s lap, gently pulled him to his feet, and led him step by step into the room.
Inside, Shen Shengsheng lay sound asleep on the bed, breathing deeply and even drooling slightly in her slumber.
Mo Zhuer paid her no mind.
She retrieved a few formation flags and placed them around Shen Shengsheng’s bed.
The flags ford a barrier that completely isolated the sounds and sights of the outside world. Even if Shen Shengsheng woke up, she would only see an ordinary room.
Moreover, if Shen Shengsheng tried to step outside, the barrier would first stop her, then issue a warning, giving Mo Zhuer ample ti to react.
This formation was ticulously prepared by Mo Zhuer.
She took such precautions because she knew Xu Ming cared deeply for the little girl. At the sa ti, Mo Zhuer herself felt so embarrassnt about the situation, so she naturally wanted to ensure privacy and prevent Shen Shengsheng from witnessing anything inappropriate.
As Xu Ming’s dazed eyes stared at her, Mo Zhuer blushed faintly. Rising on her tiptoes, she placed her hands on Xu Ming’s shoulders and bit his lips softly.
“That’s right,” Mo Zhuer told herself silently, “Xu Ming and I are only cultivating. I don’t have any feelings for him. To , he’s just a tool—nothing more.”
At that mont, Xu Ming completely lost his rationality.
With a sudden motion, he turned Mo Zhuer around roughly.
anwhile, back in her courtyard, Wu Yanhan had just finished lunch and was sitting in a daze after taking a bath.
Wu Yanhan had gone to the won’s bathhouse at Tianxuan Sect for her bath.
Although the baths were separated into private stalls, she still found the arrangent sowhat awkward.
She understood, however, that it wasn’t because Tianxuan Sect couldn’t afford to build private bathhouses in each courtyard. Rather, the bathhouses were fed by underground spiritual springs, which were beneficial for cultivation and healing injuries.
Now dressed in a light pink palace-style gown, with embroidered cloud-patterned shoes on her feet, Wu Yanhan looked entirely different from the battle-hardened figure in the earlier formation.
At this mont, the young woman appeared gentle and poised, exuding an air of scholarly grace and aristocratic refinent. Her serene elegance perfectly matched the idealized image of a princess from an imperial dynasty.
No one would imagine that such a “delicate and fragile” girl could fight on the battlefield—let alone that she was a Heroic Soul Realm martial artist capable of crushing soone’s skull with a single punch.
“This celebration is dreadfully boring,” Wu Yanhan muttered to herself.
Back in the palace, her evenings were typically occupied with lessons in embroidery and etiquette.
On the battlefield, her nights were spent in etings, strategizing military deploynts for the following day.
But here at Tianxuan Sect, the young woman found herself with nothing to do.
Even training wasn’t an option; she’d already completed her quota for the day, and overexerting herself would do more harm than good.
“Maybe I should go find Xu Ming and see what that guy is up to,” Wu Yanhan thought to herself.
But then, a hesitation arose in her heart.
“Is it appropriate to visit him so late at night? After all, there are differences between n and won.”
She shook her head, convincing herself, “What’s the harm? With that engagent, I’m already entangled with him. What’s the point of worrying about rumors? Besides, it’s nightti—who would see going to his courtyard anyway?”
With her mind made up, Wu Yanhan set off for Xu Ming’s residence.
An incense stick’s ti later, she arrived at his courtyard.
The formation protecting Xu Ming’s courtyard wasn’t activated, but there was no sign of him in the yard. She wondered what he could be doing inside.
“Soone’s here.”
Inside the room, Mo Zhuer’s keen ears picked up on the faint sound of footsteps. A sly smile tugged at her lips. At this mont, her entire body was covered in sweat, her chest heaving as though she’d just run a thousand ters.
Xu Ming frowned and quickly covered her mouth.
By the ti Xu Ming regained most of his rationality, they were already halfway through their “cultivation.” But it was too late to stop now.
It was like driving halfway to a destination—turning back wasn’t an option.
Since they were already halfway through, the only choice was to finish what they’d started.
“Xu Ming, are you awake?”
Wu Yanhan’s voice ca from the door as she knocked lightly.
“Yanhan?” Xu Ming’s heart sank, realizing the precariousness of the situation.
“Not yet. What’s the matter?” Xu Ming tried his best to sound calm.
“I was just feeling bored and thought we could discuss martial arts,” Wu Yanhan replied.
Mo Zhuer pried Xu Ming’s hand off her mouth and bit down on his neck.
“Hiss—”
Xu Ming sucked in a sharp breath as a red mark ford on his neck.
Wu Yanhan frowned slightly. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Xu Ming replied quickly.
“Then why is your breathing so heavy?”
“I’m cultivating. My spiritual energy got a bit clogged just now. How about we talk tomorrow? I need so ti to ditate and regain focus.”
“Alright, we’ll talk tomorrow then.”
Wu Yanhan glanced at the door, a flicker of suspicion crossing her face.
Though she felt sothing was off, she couldn’t barge in and interrupt his cultivation. Shaking her head, she turned and left the courtyard.
Once Wu Yanhan was gone, Mo Zhuer gave Xu Ming a playful, reproachful look.
Deep down, Mo Zhuer couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. She would’ve loved to see the high-and-mighty princess witness this scene—”Your fiancé is currently helping with my cultivation.”
However, considering that doing so might anger Xu Ming, Mo Zhuer decided to give up on the idea.
Since she no longer had a choice and had to cultivate with him, she resolved to cherish this arrangent.
She had no intention of finding a second cultivation partner.
If it weren’t for that mistake on that night in the Yuanyang Cauldron, she would never have even had a first one.
After another incense stick’s ti, Mo Zhuer straightened her dress and retrieved the formation flags she had placed near Shen Shengsheng.
Following their joint cultivation, Xu Ming clearly felt his internal spiritual energy and martial qi had stabilized once more.
Not only that, but for reasons he could only attribute to the Great Path of Hehuan, Xu Ming noticed that both his blood vitality and spiritual energy had grown even stronger.
The tangible improvent made Xu Ming almost tempted to cultivate with Mo Zhuer again.
But he suppressed the urge.
At the sa ti, Xu Ming couldn’t help but acknowledge how terrifying the Great Path of Hehuan really was. It was no mystery why it had so many followers.
To enjoy mutual pleasure while also enhancing one’s cultivation—who wouldn’t be drawn to that? Who wouldn’t succumb to such temptation?
“I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not an option,” Mo Zhuer said, placing a finger against Xu Ming’s lips, her eyes gleaming with the mischief of a sly little cat.
“There have been plenty of disciples from the Hehuan Sect who had thoughts just like yours—chasing after indulgence and eventually straying from the path, spiraling further and further into ruin.
But don’t worry. As long as you stick with , I’ll make sure you stay on the right path.
So…”
Mo Zhuer leaned in close to Xu Ming, her body brushing against his.
“How about coming to the Western Regions with ? I can help you ascend to the Great Path while enjoying boundless pleasures.”
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