Fang Xuan emerged from the hot spring, dried his body, and changed into clean clothes.
Throughout the process, he couldn’t help but occasionally reach back and touch his spine.
It was a novel sensation.
The spirit bone’s adaptability was astonishing; he could clearly feel that the circulation speed of his spiritual power had increased significantly.
Even more miraculous was that the length of spirit bone seemed to possess a life of its own, actively merging with his body.
Wisps of golden meridians slowly extended from the spirit bone, winding their way toward his heart.
Fang Xuan clenched his fist, feeling the strength throughout his body become agile and fluid.
He had felt that his previous talent was already top-tier, but now, with the support of a true "innate spirit bone," he understood what it meant for there to always be someone better, and always a better bone.
While he was experiencing the changes brought by the new bone, Ning Xian had already finished dressing and walked over.
In her hand, she held a white hair ribbon that looked quite old.
"Hair." She spoke succinctly, signaling for Fang Xuan to sit.
Fang Xuan was a bit dazed. "I can do it myself..."
"Sit still." Ning Xian’s tone was beyond doubt, her cool eyes watching him with great persistence.
Fang Xuan had no choice but to sit obediently on the bluestone by the pool.
Ning Xian stepped behind him, her fingers gently smoothing his still-damp black hair.
She used that old hair ribbon to tie Fang Xuan's hair into a high ponytail.
Once it was tied, she specifically adjusted the ribbon’s position to ensure it was neat and firm.
Fang Xuan looked at his reflection in the pool water.
Well, it looked spirited, but this hairstyle... the youthful feeling was a bit too strong.
It didn't quite match the "Immortal Venerable" aesthetic he wanted to go for.
He much preferred the look of a venerable with long hair flowing loose.
"Senior Sister, actually, I prefer it loose..." he tried to suggest.
"This looks better." Ning Xian interrupted him.
She looked at her own old hair ribbon on Fang Xuan's hair, feeling a strange sense of pleasure in her heart.
It was as if... by marking him this way, her junior brother seemed more... like he belonged to her.
This thought made her ears feel hot again, and she quickly withdrew her hands, turning to lead the way out of the bamboo forest. "Let's go. After absorbing the medicine, you need to stabilize. Go back and regulate your breathing."
Fang Xuan touched the tight ponytail at the back of his head, shook his head with a laugh, and stood up to follow.
He could easily see through Senior Sister’s little schemes.
However, when Senior Sister was being cold, she tried so hard to keep a stiff face.
Yet when she was shy, she couldn't even speak clearly; he really didn't know how she managed those two states.
........
Returning to the small courtyard, Ning Xian seemed to have things to handle and went out first.
Fang Xuan also returned to his room and closed the door, his first priority being to check the system.
After such an intense experience yesterday, the training value settlement should yield something decent, right?
......
【Yesterday’s training activities have been settled!】
【spirit bun × 166】
【Additional rewards generated because the single-day training value increase exceeded 1,000 points.】
【1. giant spirit bun x 1 (Note: Volume is about ten times that of a small bun, total spiritual power is about a thousand times; please eat within your capacity, and be careful not to choke).】
【2. special constitution unlocked x 1 — I’m Not a Masochist (Junior). Constitution effect: In an injured state, body healing speed is slightly increased, and spiritual power recovery speed is slightly increased. The heavier the injury, the greater the increase, accompanied by a slight surge of exhilaration.】
【3. New function previews:】
【a. training task guidance: Generates phased small training tasks based on Master Ning Xian’s potential expectations and emotional fluctuations; completion yields extra training value and rewards.】
【b. sensory conversion module: Can directly convert pain into exhilaration.】
【Current total training progress: 5%】
【Encouragement: The bond between the subject Fang Xuan and his master is deepening by the day; please continue your efforts to be thoroughly trained by your master!】
.......
Fang Xuan looked at the "giant spirit bun" in his consciousness space, which was as large as a washbasin, and his mouth twitched slightly.
Ten times the volume? A thousand times the spiritual power? Could someone even finish this in one meal?
And that "I'm Not a Masochist" constitution... just looking at the name and description made him feel a shiver of fear...
As for the new functions... the task guidance sounded somewhat useful.
But that sensory conversion... Fang Xuan politely declined; he was truly afraid it would lead him down a strange path of no return...
......
Overall, it was decent.
At least it proved that the system could grow; perhaps it really would drop some great items in the future.
He decided to take out a few normal small buns first.
The pure spiritual power entered his stomach, and combined with the effect of the new spirit bone, his cultivation grew another solid step.
As for that giant bun, he decided to save it for when he needed to break through a bottleneck.
Pushing open the door, the sky was nearing dusk.
The afterglow dyed the horizon purple and red, the clouds were outlined with pale gold edges, and a few lonely birds headed home across the sky, leaving behind a few clear cries.
The evening wind carried the chill of late autumn, making the bamboo leaves in the courtyard rustle.
The scenery was beautiful.
Fang Xuan stood under the eaves, lost in thought.
Without realizing it, nearly half a year had passed since he arrived in this world and moved into this small courtyard.
From late spring to late autumn, winter would be here soon.
Time passed so quickly.
For most of this half-year, he had spent his time in this mountain valley courtyard.
Practicing the sword, eating, teasing his senior sister, being annoyed by the system, and occasionally going down the mountain... it was simple, even a bit monotonous.
But he found that he liked it quite a bit.
He liked the quiet here, the rustling of the bamboo forest.
And he especially liked Senior Sister.
Unfortunately, they would have to leave this place in two months.
......
Well, it was about time for dinner.
Although a cultivator at his realm had long ago achieved fasting, Ning Xian enjoyed cooking and liked watching him eat, so he was happy to cooperate.
Moreover, Senior Sister’s cooking included all sorts of top-tier spirit medicines, making its qi and blood replenishment effects better than many pills.
He took two more buns from the system and nibbled on them as he strolled to the nearby woodshed.
With over a hundred buns, he’d be eating them for at least a week.
In a corner of the woodshed, a soft, squishy lump sensed his approach and immediately shivered, shrinking deeper into the shadows with a "puji-puji" sound.
Over the past few days, it seemed to have grown a tiny bit, but it was still far from being "plump and edible."
Fang Xuan squatted down and poked its cold body with his finger.
The black tai sui trembled even harder.
"You're growing so slowly..." Fang Xuan muttered, pulling a low-grade trash pill from his storage ring and casually stuffing it into the black tai sui's mouth.
"Hurry up and grow. I'm craving a taste of you."
The black tai sui: "..."
After feeding his "reserve rations," Fang Xuan’s target was the small wine jars in the corner of the woodshed.
It was spirit wine Ning Xian brewed herself; there wasn't much, and he occasionally came to steal a bit to drink.
Wine bought outside, no matter how famous or expensive, always lacked a certain flavor.
He picked up a jar and shook it; they were all empty, leaving only one small jar left.
"It's almost gone..."
Fang Xuan felt a bit of regret.
Winter was coming; if he could use the flower buds of those old plum trees in the corner of the yard that were about to bloom to have Senior Sister brew some plum blossom wine, that would be wonderful.
However, they were leaving in two months.
Plum blossom wine... he probably wouldn't make it in time.
.......
He walked out of the woodshed and returned to the courtyard.
He sat alone on the roof, taking small sips of wine against the cool evening wind.
He watched the last sliver of rosy light being slowly swallowed by the twilight.
Ning Xian came out of the house at some point and sat down beside him.
She didn't speak, just sat there quietly, watching the sky with him.
After a while, she suddenly spoke in a soft voice, "Why are you still daydreaming?"
Fang Xuan snapped out of it and smiled. "It's nothing."
"Senior Sister, the new year is almost here."
Ning Xian gave a soft "mm." After a moment of silence, she quietly reached out, her fingers hesitating as they moved toward him inch by inch.
Then, she gently slipped her hand into Fang Xuan’s, which was resting casually at his side.
Fang Xuan was slightly startled, but he immediately closed his fingers, enveloping that cool little hand.
Their palms pressed together, and warmth was transferred.
Feeling the warmth from his palm, Ning Xian’s heart skipped a few more beats.
She lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she were gathering great courage.
As the night deepened, stars began to appear sporadically.
No lamps were lit in the courtyard; only the hazy moonlight and starlight filtered down.
Just as Fang Xuan thought she would remain quiet like this, Ning Xian suddenly spoke again.
Her voice was very, very light, almost scattered by the night wind:
"Does... what you said before... still count...?"
"Hm?" Fang Xuan didn't understand which sentence she was referring to. "What?"
In the darkness, Ning Xian's face flushed red instantly, the pink hue even reaching her neck.
It was as if she had used all her courage to ask that question, but once Fang Xuan asked back, that courage collapsed in an instant.
"No... it's nothing..." She pulled her hand back and quickly stood up, speaking at a rapid pace. "I... I'm going to check the herb garden."
Without waiting for Fang Xuan to react, she turned and walked quickly toward the herb garden, her silhouette appearing somewhat flustered under the moonlight.
Rate on N.U.
