Fang Xuan held Ning Xian in his arms, deepening the kiss as he gently supported the back of her head.
He didn't want his Senior Sister to get hurt.
As emotions stirred, a misty haze gradually veiled Ning Xian's eyes, and her breathing became hurried...
.......
However, in the end.
Fang Xuan ultimately relied on his formidable willpower to pull himself back.
He was afraid that Senior Sister truly wouldn't be able to handle it, and he didn't want to overdo things.
He took several deep breaths, trying to calm the blood and qi churning within him.
.......
"Cough... Senior Sister, have some tea to calm your mind."
He poured out the now-lukewarm tea and replaced it with a fresh cup at a perfect temperature, placing it before Ning Xian.
He then picked up another cup and drained it in several large gulps.
Ning Xian, who had been kissed into a daze and felt weak all over, hadn't yet fully emerged from that enchanting atmosphere when a cup of tea was thrust into her hands.
She held the teacup blankly, the flush on her face not yet faded, and her gaze remained somewhat misty.
Looking at Fang Xuan sitting upright and tasting tea as if he were a monk with no desires, a strange sense of disappointment welled up in her heart.
She blamed this useless, fragile body of hers.
It made Junior Brother unwilling to... travel night and day with her.
She rested her small head on the low table, shaking it gently in frustration, her smooth black hair swaying with the movement as she let out some muffled, aggrieved sounds.
Within her mind, three chibi-sized versions of Ning Xian were fighting fiercely:
The aloof mini-Ning Xian was trying her best to maintain appearances: "How scandalous! In broad daylight... we already crossed the line just now! We should calm our minds and concentrate on consolidating our realm!"
The pleasure-seeking mini-Ning Xian argued righteously: "Does consolidating our realm conflict with dual cultivation? Dual cultivation is clearly twice as effective! Junior Brother was so passionate just now; it's all because this broken body is so useless!"
The blackened mini-Ning Xian had a dangerous look in her eyes: "What if... I locked Junior Brother away in a cave dwelling that only I know about... then wouldn't he have to be obedient? I could cultivate however I wanted. Or... should I find some secret medicines to improve my physique? Ancient dragon blood? Phoenix marrow? ..."
.......
"Senior Sister, calm yourself."
Fang Xuan's voice reached her, carrying a hint of a helpless smile, which interrupted the little theater playing out in her head.
"I don't want to," Ning Xian replied, her voice muffled as she kept her face buried in her arms.
She really wanted to...
But she was the Senior Sister, so how could she be the first to act spoiled toward her Junior Brother?
Though her authority as a Senior Sister had long since vanished through countless instances of "punishing" and "being punished"...
If she really could lock Junior Brother away... The thought flashed through her mind, startling even herself.
No, no, Junior Brother would be angry... and besides, she wouldn't have the heart to do it.
"Alright, Senior Sister." Fang Xuan watched her shaking her head against the table, finding it both cute and hilarious.
He knew she must be thinking about strange things again.
Perhaps something like jumping up and shouting, "You're so unmotivated, hurry up and get into Senior Sister's bowl and do dual cultivation with me."
"Mm..."
Hearing the indulgence in his tone, Ning Xian felt a bit better and slowly straightened her body.
"Senior Sister, if we don't leave soon, it will be late." Fang Xuan looked at the sun rising higher outside the window.
Ning Xian glanced outside and suddenly felt that traveling was such a hassle.
She lazily slumped back onto the table, resting her chin on her arm. "Then we won't go. I've already set a space node in our courtyard back in Xunyuan Town. Later, we can just slash through space and go there directly."
Fang Xuan: "..."
He realized that Senior Sister was becoming increasingly lazy.
Aside from being incomparably diligent in certain aspects, she would save effort whenever possible in everything else.
.......
The fragrance of tea curled in the air.
Fang Xuan gazed at the majestic eaves and brackets of the palace outside the window, his thoughts drifting slightly.
The road ahead would likely not be as peaceful as this small town or this palace...
Dealing with matters related to the Upper Realm would probably need to be put on the agenda soon.
He hadn't expected to touch upon the higher-level secrets of this world so quickly.
Ning Xian continued to rest her chin on the table, her clear eyes watching Fang Xuan's profile as she continued to think gloomily.
Just how could she quickly increase the strength and endurance of this body? Alchemy? Body tempering?
Or should she look for some legendary natural treasures? In any case, she had to find a way to pin Junior Brother down as soon as possible and punish him back thoroughly.
As she thought, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upward...
.......
At that moment, another set of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, accompanied by Chen Fan's irrepressible, excited voice: "Brother Xuan, Brother Xuan, I did it! I really did it!"
The voice stopped outside the courtyard gate, as if he didn't dare to intrude without permission, but his excitement was practically bursting through the door.
Fang Xuan responded, "Come in."
The gate was gently pushed open, and Chen Fan walked in quickly.
Seeing Fang Xuan and Ning Xian, he immediately performed his salutations properly.
"Brother Xuan, Senior Ning."
"This morning, I discovered that a sense of qi was naturally generated within me, and my dantian is showing a faint spiritual light! I... I think I've really cultivated spirit roots!"
He was speaking incoherently, but the meaning was clear.
Fang Xuan merely nodded, his tone indifferent. "Not bad. If you persevere, you may achieve something."
Indeed, people who had been jilted in marriage proposals were always a bit extraordinary, even if it was just the lowest grade of spirit roots.
However, this flat affirmation was a huge encouragement to Chen Fan. He almost knelt on the spot to hug Fang Xuan's leg and cry.
.......
He was so excited he wanted to bow again, but Fang Xuan stopped him with a wave of his hand.
At the same time, Fang Xuan asked, "Is there anywhere fun to go in the capital?"
Since they weren't in a hurry to travel on foot, and seeing Senior Sister's disappointed and gloomy expression, he felt he needed to comfort her and take her out for a stroll.
"Huh?" Chen Fan was stunned for a moment, not expecting Fang Xuan to ask that.
Since ascending the throne, he had been busy with government affairs, and he hadn't paid much attention to entertainment venues in the capital before.
He tried hard to recall, but remained uncertain, saying awkwardly, "This... I've heard that the Celestial Drunk wine at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant in the West Market is a peerless delicacy. Many high-ranking officials and... wanderers of the martial world like to go there. I hear... they also have some elegant song and dance performances."
.......
Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Celestial Drunk wine...
Fang Xuan mentally complained that the names were far too cliché.
It seemed the original author of this world really wasn't that skilled.
"I see." Fang Xuan sent away the still-excited Chen Fan.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Fang Xuan looked at Ning Xian, who was still slumped there.
"Senior Sister, I heard there's a restaurant in the capital with good wine. Since we're not in a hurry, why don't we go try it?"
Hearing this, Ning Xian finally lifted her head from the table and blinked. "Wine?"
In her past life, she had traveled the world; what kind of immortal brews or jade elixirs had she not tasted?
But... was Junior Brother inviting her out?
Just like... those mortal couples in storybooks...
Thinking this, the gloom in her heart dissipated significantly in an instant.
"Mm." Fang Xuan nodded, stood up, walked to her, and took her small hand. "Let's go, Senior Sister. It's my treat."
Fang Xuan gripped her hand and gave a gentle pull, leading her up from her seat.
Then, under her slightly confused gaze, he suddenly bent over, hooked his arm under her knees, and swept her up in a horizontal carry.
"Senior Sister was distracted just now. I was worried you wouldn't look where you were going."
He spoke with total seriousness. A Senior Sister this cute should naturally be packed up and carried away.
Then, with a light tap of his foot, his figure nimbly glided out of the courtyard.
With a few leaps, he evaded the sight of the palace guards and headed toward the West Market outside the palace.
Ning Xian leaned into his chest, listening to the wind whistling past her ears. That bit of disappointment from earlier had long since vanished into the distance.
She secretly buried her small face in his chest.
Junior Brother... could be quite good at coaxing people sometimes...
Rate on N.U.
