Ning Xian's small head could no longer make sense of anything, so she turned and hurried away.
After entering her room, she quickly shut the door.
She leaned her back against the bamboo door, her hand pressed against her racing heart.
She did not know why she was in such a state of panic...
"It must be the toll of indulgence!" she thought, taking a deep breath and forcing an excuse upon herself.
From tomorrow onward, she would give up wine!
She spent a long time rebuilding her composure in the room until the heat on her face finally faded, and she managed to pull herself together.
Performing the bone-exchange for her junior brother was the priority; she could not let these minor interludes delay them.
Moving to the corner of the room, she began to organize the herbs she had brought back from the secret realm.
It had to be said that the spirit medicine from that ancient secret realm was of exceptional quality and age, making it perfect for a medicinal bath and as an aid for the bone-exchange.
Fortunately, she had been thorough enough during her scavenging.
.......
Once the herbs were ready, she pushed open the door and walked out.
There was originally a small hot spring in the back mountain, which she had now converted into a medicinal bath.
She grabbed Fang Xuan and led him away.
They reached the depths of the bamboo forest on the back mountain.
A small, natural hot spring pool was hidden there among the greenery.
She had already added dozens of types of spirit medicine to the water, and steam was rising from the surface.
"Get in," Ning Xian said, her expression becoming slightly unnatural as she looked away.
Fang Xuan was quite direct, shedding his outer robes and inner robes in short order.
He then entered the water, leaning against a smooth rock at the edge of the pool and letting out a sigh of comfort.
The warm, slightly hot water enveloped him as the medicinal power began to seep into his body bit by bit.
Looking at his bare upper body, Ning Xian felt her face heat up again, and she could hardly suppress her inner thoughts...
She quickly added the remaining herbs into the water one by one.
Fang Xuan watched her silhouette as she carefully placed the medicine, the fragrance of the herbs growing increasingly thick in his nose.
Suddenly, he remarked, "Senior Sister, this smell... why do I feel like I'm being simmered in a pot of brine? It just needs some peppercorns and star anise."
Ning Xian's hand froze for a moment. "Don't talk nonsense."
However, his interruption managed to dissipate some of the earlier awkwardness.
She set down the herbs and noticed Fang Xuan's black hair was damp with steam, a few strands clinging to his forehead.
After a moment of thought, she also stepped into the pool and leaned closer to him, reaching out to gently untie the ribbon holding his hair.
"The medicinal effects will take hold quickly. Circulate your cultivation method to assist with the absorption. Just focus on bringing yourself to your peak state."
"Mm, alright," Fang Xuan replied obediently, beginning to circulate his energy.
The hem of Ning Xian's plain white robes was soaked by the pool water, and the clinging fabric felt uncomfortable.
She simply untied the sash of her outer dress and shed the wet garment, leaving only her thin inner robes.
Then, she sat down directly beside Fang Xuan.
The wet fabric of her inner robes became translucent as it soaked through, tracing her slender, graceful silhouette.
Feeling a bit uneasy, she crossed her arms over her chest, but her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Fang Xuan beside her.
.......
The pool was quiet for a while, save for the faint sound of the bubbling spring water and the thickening aroma of the medicine.
After some time, Ning Xian finally spoke. "Regarding the Central Plains, you must go there with me."
Her voice sounded somewhat ethereal amidst the dense steam.
Fang Xuan hadn't actually given that matter much thought yet.
The Central Plains was the heart of this world, far more prosperous than the Southern Wilderness, with numerous sects and entrenched families; the waters there were much deeper.
Mostly, his original plans had been disrupted, but he felt there was nothing wrong with following his senior sister's lead.
"Mm, alright," he looked at her and agreed quite readily.
Ning Xian had not expected him to agree so easily, and she was momentarily stunned.
She had been prepared for him to question her or even oppose the idea, and she had even considered a desperate measure like knocking him out and taking him away if necessary.
"Why... are you so obedient to me?" she lowered her head and couldn't help but ask.
A trace of apprehension appeared in her cold eyes.
Looking at her small face, which was flushed from the steam, Fang Xuan replied, "Because you're my senior sister."
The answer was simple, but it didn't seem to be what Ning Xian wanted to hear.
Her eyes dimmed slightly as she lowered her head, wet strands of hair falling beside her cheeks. "Is that so..." she murmured.
There was a hint of hidden disappointment in her tone.
Fang Xuan sensed her slight change in mood.
He leaned closer to her until his shoulder almost touched hers, adding with a smile, "Then what would Senior Sister like it to be..."
"A dao companion, a wife, or a madam?"
"Which one do you prefer?"
Ning Xian was speechless.
Her eyes widened instantly, filled with bashful panic, looking like a startled deer.
Then, she bit her lower lip hard and quickly turned away, leaving Fang Xuan with only the view of her slender, pink-tinged back.
Fang Xuan could even see her fair neck and ears turning a bright red at a visible speed.
Senior Sister was starting to steam again.
Hahaha.
.......
After a long while, Ning Xian felt that the medicinal power in the pool had been mostly absorbed and her state had reached its peak.
She took a deep breath, barely suppressing the heat on her face before turning back around.
"Alright... prepare for the bone-exchange."
Her voice was still a bit unsteady, but she tried her best to sound serious.
"Mm." Fang Xuan also put away his smile and nodded solemnly.
Ning Xian had him turn around so his back was toward her.
She focused her mind and extended her right index finger, concentrating a wisp of sword intent on the tip, then lightly pressed it against his back.
She sliced through the skin, revealing the jade-white spinal column beneath.
Throughout the process, Fang Xuan only felt a slight cooling sensation; the pain had already been temporarily blocked by Ning Xian using her spiritual power.
Next, her movements were gentle and meticulous as she carefully removed a small section of Fang Xuan's ordinary spine.
Then, without hesitation, she aligned the spirit bone and gently pressed it into the gap in his back.
Her heart rose slightly as she tensely monitored the reaction within his body.
A spirit bone transplant was most susceptible to rejection.
Even though this spirit bone had originally come from her own body, it was still a foreign object now that it was being placed into Fang Xuan.
The moment the spirit bone touched Fang Xuan's flesh and blood, it glowed faintly. As golden light flowed, it naturally began to connect with the surrounding bones and meridians, the process smoother than she could have imagined.
The thick spiritual power within Fang Xuan seemed to surge there of its own accord, nourishing the newly inserted spirit bone without any sign of rejection.
Ning Xian's heart finally settled, and she let out a soft sigh of relief.
However, she did not withdraw her hand immediately, but instead involuntarily stroked Fang Xuan's back.
Her palm rested near the freshly healed wound, which now only appeared as a faint red mark.
For some reason...
As she looked at her own spirit bone now residing inside her junior brother's body...
It just... felt strangely satisfying?
An even bolder thought began to emerge uncontrollably... she really wanted to replace all of her junior brother's bones with her own...
She quickly shook off this strange idea, her face heating up again.
"Senior Sister?" Fang Xuan felt the warmth of her palm lingering for a long time and turned his head in confusion.
"It's... it's nothing." Ning Xian pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, coughing lightly to hide her embarrassment.
"The bone-exchange was very successful, and the spirit bone integrated perfectly. You need to rest for the next few days to stabilize your realm and familiarize yourself with the changes brought by the spirit bone."
"Mm, I understand."
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