Returning to the small courtyard.
Fang Xuan walked ahead and pushed open the door.
The winter sun made everything feel lazy and warm. He planned to head inside for a drink of water first.
Ning Xian followed behind him, watching his back...
'Junior Brother... is going into his room.'
Her pace quickened instinctively as she hurried after him.
Just as Fang Xuan entered the room, he picked up a teacup from the table and poured some water. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank.
To Ning Xian, who followed closely behind, the sight was... inexplicably alluring.
Even the way he drank water... felt like he was beckoning her.
All her plans for a gradual, methodical approach were scattered to the winds by the vivid presence of her junior brother.
After finishing the water, Fang Xuan set the cup down, intending to head out to practice his sword and stretch his muscles.
Having just broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm, he needed to adjust to his surging power.
He turned around, placing his hand on the door to pull it open—
"Junior Brother... where are you going?"
Ning Xian quickly grabbed his wrist.
He was trying to leave? He was being... far too disobedient. She had to maintain strict discipline.
Fang Xuan paused and looked back, confused. "Huh? I... I was going to practice in the yard for a bit."
...
Practice his sword?
'That wouldn't do.'
Ning Xian’s mind raced.
He had just broken through, and his realm wasn't stable yet. At a time like this, he should... he should consolidate his cultivation. Yes.
And the best way to consolidate his cultivation was, of course... to engage in dual cultivation with her.
She had mentioned it back at the restaurant. They would stabilize his realm once they returned.
She had finally found such a perfectly legitimate reason. She couldn't let him slip away now...
"No sword practice," Ning Xian said, stepping forward. She tried her best to maintain a stern expression on her cold face.
"You’ve just reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Your foundation is still unsettled. You must focus on quiet consolidation. You should not be using your spiritual energy right now, nor should you be distracted by other matters."
Fang Xuan blinked.
He felt like his foundation was plenty stable.
The system-provided spirit buns were incredibly solid. And last night’s... well, the assisted cultivation effects were outstanding. His Nascent Soul was condensed, and his spiritual energy was abundant.
Still... if his senior sister said no, then no it was.
"Alright, Senior Sister." He let go of the door and walked back into the room with a compliant smile. "Then I’ll meditate and adjust my breathing."
...
Ning Xian breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
But he... he was being too obedient.
How was she supposed to follow up now?
She had imagined a scenario where he would resist and insist on practicing his sword.
Then she could act angry and strictly discipline him.
But he was being so good.
She said no, and he immediately came back.
This... this made it impossible for her to naturally suggest a "punishment."
If she just blurted out, "Junior Brother, let’s dual cultivate," he would surely think she was some kind of lecherous woman.
No, absolutely not.
The little version of herself inside her mind was pacing frantically, even though her cold exterior remained expressionless.
Only the tips of her ears began to turn red uncontrollably.
After a long silence, she looked at Fang Xuan’s "I’ll do whatever you say" expression and finally managed to squeeze out a single exclamation.
"How unmotivated!"
"Huh?" Fang Xuan was stunned.
He had listened and come back, so how was he lacking ambition?
Ning Xian avoided his gaze. Her voice was steady, but there was a faint tremor in it. "Your realm has just improved, yet you already think of slacking. You only know how to sit and meditate, but you don't seek a more effective way to consolidate your power."
"With such... such a temperament, how can you expect to go far on the path of the Dao?"
The more she spoke, the more reasonable it sounded, and her tone became increasingly righteous. "As your senior sister, it is my duty to supervise you. Quickly... quickly begin... cultivation with me!"
Fang Xuan listened, feeling helpless. It really wasn't that he was trying to tempt her...
However, since she was working so hard to find a reason...
He wouldn't be polite about it.
He suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
Before Ning Xian could react, he gently caught her wrist and led her back a few steps.
He pressed her lightly against the wall.
"Junior... Junior Brother?" Ning Xian’s eyes widened slightly, a hint of panic flashing in her cool gaze.
Fang Xuan’s other hand naturally circled her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace. He tilted his head down, looking intently at her lips.
"Senior Sister... you said you wanted to... cultivate with me?"
Ning Xian’s heart drummed against her ribs. She was pinned between the wall and his arms.
The warmth from his hand against her waist made her entire body feel a bit weak.
"Yes... it is to... to stabilize your realm..."
"Mhm, I understand." Fang Xuan nodded with a smile. "Senior Sister is only doing this for my own good."
With that, he didn't give her another chance to speak.
He lowered his head and captured those soft, cool lips.
"Mm...!"
Ning Xian’s eyes flew wide, but the warmth of his touch and his familiar scent caused her tense body to relax almost instantly.
She instinctively closed her eyes, her lashes trembling slightly.
The kiss started with a touch of gentleness, but after feeling her clumsy response, it quickly grew deeper... more lingering.
His tongue lightly tapped against her teeth, finding its way in to entwine with her soft, inexperienced tongue...
"Mhm..."
Ning Xian let out a soft breath. Her hands had somehow found their way around his neck, responding awkwardly to his lead.
Her cold face was now flushed with a beautiful crimson, and her breathing grew shallow and hurried.
After a while, Fang Xuan pulled back just a fraction.
Ning Xian leaned into his chest, breathing softly. Her eyes were moist and shimmering, still filled with lingering emotion.
She caught her breath and asked cautiously, "...Do you find your senior sister... overbearing?"
She was worried that being too proactive or strange might make him dislike her...
Fang Xuan looked at her hesitant expression.
He tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her even closer, and leaned down to kiss the tip of her reddened ear.
"Not at all. I like Senior Sister the most."
Coaxing her was simple enough.
Ning Xian felt a wave of heat surge from her ear through her entire body. She grew even weaker, relying entirely on his support to keep from sliding down.
He said... he liked her the most.
She secretly buried her face in the crook of his neck, nuzzling him, unable to stop her lips from curving upward.
Fang Xuan’s hand, which had been resting politely on her waist, began to move again.
His fingers traced the line of her slender waist through the fabric of her clothes, sending waves of tingling sensation through her.
"Don’t... don’t touch my waist..." Ning Xian shivered, protesting in a small voice.
Her waist seemed particularly sensitive; a single touch made her lose all her strength.
"Why?" Fang Xuan asked playfully. He didn't stop; instead, he grew more daring, appreciating the beautiful curve. "Your waist is... very lovely. And very... soft to the touch."
Ning Xian’s face burned at his blunt words. She wanted to say something, but he silenced her again with another kiss...
"The wine Senior Sister drank earlier... was it apricot blossom flavored?"
"No... no, it wasn't. Taste it again," Ning Xian murmured, dazed by his kisses and unwittingly playing along with his joke.
"Peach blossom flavored," Fang Xuan said casually.
"Mm... no, it isn't..." Ning Xian gasped for air.
"Then I’ll have to taste it more carefully... egg drop soup flavor?"
"Huh...?" Ning Xian blinked blankly.
"It’s the flavor of Senior Sister."
"What... mm~"
...
What followed next...
Fang Xuan thought that since she had put in so much effort, it would be a disservice to her hard work if he continued to be overly cautious.
As for whether her body could handle it...
Well, her recovery speed was high.
It should... be fine, right?
Rate on N.U.
