Jiu Youyue finally let Yan Zhen off the hook. She lifted her hands from beneath the water, opening her palms to reveal a swirl of Azure Mystic Power cradling a viscous white fluid. It spun like a pearl, resembling a perfect White Core Pill.
Yun Xiu blinked in a daze, watching as her junior sister flicked out her little tongue and drew the White Core Pill into her mouth, swallowing it down with a gulp.
Noticing her senior sister’s stare, Jiu Youyue looked a touch uneasy but quickly masked it with a laugh.
“Oops, I forgot to share half with Senior Sister. My bad~ Should we have Little Zhen Zhen contribute another one?”
“N-No need. Don’t bully him anymore.”
Yun Xiu pulled the still-dazed Yan Zhen back into her embrace, afraid her pure and innocent little pup would suffer under that nympho’s clutches again.
Jiu Youyue teased.
“Really? Don’t you want some? After eating it, my body feels all warm and toasty, and my strength’s mostly recovered.”
“I didn’t cultivate any wicked technique!”
“What wicked technique? Such harsh words. It’s just the ultimate bliss of marital harmony. Nothing evil about it. I recommend Senior Sister give it a try—you might need it someday.”
“No.”
“Fine then. Next time, Little Sister will demonstrate it live for you.”
The words carried a loaded implication. It took Yun Xiu a good while to catch on, and she spat inwardly in embarrassment.
The two women fell silent after that. They quietly finished washing Yan Zhen, then cleaned the traces from their own bodies.
The heated water was cooling again. The weather here was truly frigid, especially with the rain pattering outside.
Jiu Youyue rose to her feet. Her slender jade legs supported her graceful figure as water trailed down her skin, dripping back into the pool.
“I’m done washing. I’ll head out first. You two take your time soaking.”
With that, she stepped boldly onto the bank. Circulating her Mystic Power, she evaporated the moisture from her body, picked up the blanket from the shore, wrapped it around herself, and glided with graceful steps to the front of the tent. She lifted the flap and slipped inside.
Now the little pool held only Yun Xiu with Yan Zhen in her arms. The atmosphere turned profoundly awkward at once, the faint sour tang of budding romance beginning to ferment.
After a long silence, Yun Xiu snapped back to herself. She released Yan Zhen and instinctively covered her chest to shield her modesty.
“Um, I’m done too. I’m getting out.”
“Mm, mm.” Yan Zhen nodded. “Your wound probably hasn’t fully healed yet. You really shouldn’t soak too long… I’ll prepare some replacement medicine for you later.”
Yun Xiu said weakly, “C-Could you turn around for a bit?”
Otherwise, he’d see everything when she climbed out.
Yan Zhen obediently turned away.
Yun Xiu kept one arm across her chest as she stepped onto the bank. She snatched up the blanket she’d discarded earlier and instinctively tried to circulate her power to evaporate the water from her skin. But a sluggish sensation arose within her—she couldn’t muster even a shred of Mystic Power.
The chill quickly seeped into her body. The lingering droplets on her skin amplified the cold, making her shiver faintly.
Yun Xiu bit her lip and desperately gathered what little Mystic Power remained to break the Acupoint Seal. But it was futile; her strength failed her.
Jiu Youyue and Yun Xiu were at the same realm, and Jiu Youyue cultivated the exceedingly rare Lunar Mystic Power, making her a master of Sealing Arts. With Yun Xiu already nursing serious injuries at the time, Jiu Youyue had caught her off guard. It would likely take four or five days to recover her full strength.
“Ah!”
The seal backlashed, shattering Yun Xiu’s gathered Mystic Power. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
Hearing the cry, Yan Zhen—who had his back turned—whipped around. Seeing Yun Xiu’s vulnerable, helpless form, he leaped from the pool and reached out to support her.
“Are you alright?”
With Yan Zhen’s help, Yun Xiu stood again. She was about to thank him when her gaze inadvertently dropped to his manhood, flushing her cheeks anew.
“Y-You’d better put on some clothes, or you’ll catch a chill.”
“I’ve refined the Extreme Flame. This bit of cold is nothing.”
Yan Zhen circulated his Fire Mystic Power. In an instant, his body seemed draped in a shimmering veil of gold-silver flames, utterly mesmerizing.
“Can’t you circulate your power? Let me dry you off.”
Feeling the waves of warmth radiating from him, Yun Xiu shyly nodded. Moments later, she sensed his palm press against her back. A thick surge of Fire Mystic Power poured into her like scalding magma, instantly banishing the chill. Her whole body warmed through, the water on her skin turning to steam and vanishing, leaving her flesh glowing pink and flawless.
“Warm enough?”
“Mm. Very warm.”
Yan Zhen slowly withdrew his power. He took the blanket from her hands and gently draped it over her, wrapping up that flawless, snow-white, enticing figure.
“Let’s head back to the tent first.”
“Thank you.”
The moment they entered the tent, Yun Xiu caught Jiu Youyue’s teasing gaze and felt her face heat up.
“Jiuyou, hurry up and release the Acupoint Seal on me.”
“What Acupoint Seal? Senior Sister, you were hit by a Tier 5 Mystic Beast’s sealing technique. That’s the proper plot setup.”
“Quit playing dumb. Release it now, and I promise not to ruin your reenactment of that past-life event with Yan Zhen.”
“Really? I don’t believe you. Didn’t Senior Sister want to drag me back to Cloud Heaven Palace?”
“Hmph. Do whatever you want. I don’t care anymore.”
Jiu Youyue smiled faintly.
“Senior Sister, are you sure you want it released? Once it’s gone, you won’t get to enjoy Little Zhen Zhen’s personal care anymore. Or do you want to play the frail damsel like me?”
Yun Xiu turned her face away.
“Wasn’t the past life enough?”
“The mindset’s different now. Aren’t you enjoying it too, Senior Sister?”
“I-I’m not.”
“So stubborn…”
—But that’s my good Senior Sister~
Jiu Youyue chuckled inwardly. She scooted closer to Yun Xiu and affectionately hooked her arm.
“Senior Sister, I’ve figured it out. At least half of Little Zhen Zhen’s affections are tied to his dual cultivation partner now. The way he looks at you isn’t as fiery as in the past life.”
“What are you getting at?”
“If you recover your cultivation now, Little Zhen Zhen will just see you as a Mystic Lord expert to revere. Any budding feelings he has for you will die in the cradle. But if you stay like this—soft and helpless—he’ll treat you like a fragile big sister, always concerned for you, cherishing you, with you filling his thoughts… It might not be love at first sight anymore, but Senior Sister, you’ll become his first love again. Eee~ First love across two lifetimes. How romantic! I’m so jealous!”
Jiu Youyue clasped her hands together, her upper body wriggling excitedly like a giddy worm.
Yun Xiu’s heart fluttered wildly, but she stubbornly replied, “I’ve already decided not to fall for him again. Whether I’m his first love or not doesn’t matter.”
“Then why were you hugging him so tight earlier? Weren’t you afraid those generous curves of yours would smother poor Little Zhen Zhen?”
“Th-That was your fault for meddling!”
“—What are you two talking about?” Yan Zhen poked his head in, now fully dressed. “Don’t fight, okay?”
The two women exchanged a glance and immediately looked away, each huffing once.
“Ahem. Jiuyou should be fine by now, but Yun Xiu, you need one or two more medicine changes. I’ve prepared it. Since you can move, go ahead and do it yourself. I won’t impose.”
