“You two seem to be getting along quite well, don’t you?”
A woman’s voice, teasing and light, drifted in from the doorway.
No one knew when Qin Qingyue had quietly leaned against the doorframe, her gaze filled with amusement as she swept over the two tangled figures on the bed.
At this moment, Zhuxin’s jade-like leg was draped over Jiang Huai, nestling against him, whispering softly about how she didn’t want to be with Su Yingman.
The sudden sound of Qin Qingyue’s voice made Zhuxin’s delicate body stiffen, leaving her at a loss, caught in Jiang Huai’s arms.
Jiang Huai immediately sat up, smiling as he asked, “Where did you go? Why didn’t I see you this morning?”
“And Su Yingman?”
He felt a stir in his heart. If even Zhuxin, with her Great Ascension Stage cultivation, was left sore and unable to get out of bed after their breakthrough last night, wouldn’t Su Yingman, who was only at the Soul Formation Stage, be even more exhausted?
Qin Qingyue shook her head lightly, her dragon tail lazily swaying behind her.
“This place is close to the Central Continent Dragon Palace, so I went to find Ao Shuang, hoping to buy a few Azure Dragons to strengthen our sect.”
“But, just like Chi Hong, she refuses to trade her own people. In the end, I only managed to exchange for a few Central Continent Dragon Race with diluted bloodlines.”
Just like the last time, these Dragon Maids carried only a faint trace of Azure Dragon blood, with delicate figures and barely any dragon features.
What surprised Qin Qingyue was that it was expected for Chi Hong to refuse, but that timid little Azure Dragon Ao Shuang actually dared to refuse her too?
“As for Su Yingman…” She switched the topic, her eyes gleaming with more amusement.
“She said she’s angry, that you’re being partial, and doesn’t want to see you right now.”
Of course, this was a lie. Su Yingman had long been dragged away by Qin Qingyue to help her, but she said this only for Zhuxin to hear.
Zhuxin listened, the corners of her lips twitching upwards ever so slightly, before smoothing over again, as if she’d never heard anything at all.
Qin Qingyue watched Zhuxin’s graceful and exquisite figure. Outwardly, she smiled, but inside she pouted.
People really are different. If it were Su Yingman, at the very least, she’d call her Mistress, right?
Jiang Huai looked a bit embarrassed at these words. He lifted the quilt, about to get up and dress.
“Wait,” Qin Qingyue spoke up to stop him.
“No rush.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Huai paused mid-motion.
Qin Qingyue’s gaze remained on Zhuxin’s back as she spoke unhurriedly, “Aren’t you in pain?”
In an instant, a blush blossomed on Zhuxin’s cheeks, that usually cold and indifferent face suddenly painted with maidenly shyness.
“It hurts, but…” She whispered, hesitant.
But before she could finish, a flash of spiritual light appeared in Qin Qingyue’s hand, and a wooden box materialized out of thin air, tossed directly to Jiang Huai.
“As her Husband Lord, you should be more considerate and apply medicine for her.” “When you’re done, come find me at Longyin Hall, Vast Sea Residence.”
Before her words finished, she had already vanished without a trace.
Longyin Hall was at the core of the Dragon Palace, and Vast Sea Residence was where she and Jiang Huai usually rested and cultivated.
“Oh.” Jiang Huai caught the medicine box by reflex. When he looked up again, the room was empty.
He turned to Zhuxin, his tone full of concern. “Rongxin, are you uncomfortable? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Let me apply the medicine for you.”
Since Qin Qingyue had told him to be considerate, and since Zhuxin was truly too weak to move, it was only right to help her.
“I…I…” Zhuxin’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s, her face full of embarrassment, even her ears turning red.
She truly did feel pain; for her body at the Great Ascension Stage to actually feel “hurt” was telling enough.
But… should she really let him do it? The spot was rather…
Jiang Huai looked at her and thought her current demeanor didn’t fit that of a Da Zongzhu famed across the land.
That mature, cold face was now laced with bashful embarrassment.
“Is it inconvenient?”
“If it is, you can apply it yourself.”
He pretty much guessed where the pain was and, saying so, pressed the medicine box back into Zhuxin’s hands, making as if to leave.
Zhuxin took the small wooden box, biting her lip gently.
She leaned against the headboard, silently watching Jiang Huai:
Watching as he got out of bed nimbly.
Watching as he bent over to put on his shoes.
Watching as he tidied himself up.
Watching as he put on his outer robe piece by piece.
Watching as he straightened his attire and, taking a step, prepared to leave for a new day.
That word to keep him rolled around on the tip of Zhuxin’s tongue.
She struggled inwardly, not knowing if she should speak.
As Jiang Huai dressed, he pondered about asking Qin Qingyue for some new Sword Formula techniques.
With the secret realm adventure ahead, he couldn’t just rely on the Basic Sword Formula.
He had only just entered Foundation Establishment and was still unsure about his own strength.
With these thoughts, Jiang Huai finished dressing and was about to go discuss with Qin Qingyue.
Just as Jiang Huai’s figure was about to vanish past the door, Zhuxin drew a deep breath, a barely detectable hope in her voice, and finally spoke up softly:
“How about…”
“Husband Lord, help me apply the medicine.”
Since she already called him Husband Lord, it’d be a waste not to let him do it.
“Hmm?” Jiang Huai, already halfway out, paused.
“Alright.”
He turned and came back to the bed, taking the wooden box from her trembling hand.
Lifting the lid, a cool medicinal fragrance spread through the air.
“Where… does it hurt?” His voice grew even softer and more careful.
Zhuxin’s blush deepened. Under the brocade blanket, she fidgeted for a while, finally lifting a corner of the covers.
She still didn’t dare look at him, turning her head aside, her voice thin as silk.
“Come on, then.”
Seeing the situation, Jiang Huai was inwardly startled.
Redness.
He caught sight of the crimson silk undergarments tossed aside, dipped his finger in the cool ointment.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect…”
He truly hadn’t imagined that, as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could actually injure a Great Ascension cultivator’s body this way.
“It’s… alright.” Zhuxin squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to keep calm as she felt his warm fingers, laced with cool medicine, gently press down.
Jiang Huai had no idea that, in this world, this act was already a huge reward for Zhuxin.
Especially for someone like her, who had guarded her chastity for so long.
“Mm…”
A suppressed moan slipped from Zhuxin’s throat.
She could no longer tell which sensation was stronger—the sharp pain or the strange pleasure that followed.
“Ah…”
Another indescribable whimper, soft and lingering like an oriole’s song.
Zhuxin let out a “battle moan”.
Dragon Palace.
Qin Qingyue lay lazily across a black stone dragon throne, eyes half closed, her tone careless.
“What do you think, will Zhuxin let Jiang Huai apply her medicine?”
“She could just do it herself, right?”
Beside her, Su Yingman gently plucked the zither strings, letting music flow through the hall.
She did not stop playing, only said with a smile,
“She will. Zhuxin will let Jiang Huai do it.”
“Why?” Qin Qingyue lifted her lashes slightly.
The music slowed. Su Yingman spoke softly,
“The Blazing Sect’s Technique is all about repression—deep, bone-deep repression.”
“People have seven emotions and six desires. They talk about severing worldly ties, but how many can truly rid themselves of desire that’s as natural as breathing?”
She herself, at the Integration Stage, often claimed every time would be the last, only to play with dumpling wrappers again after a few days.
“The disciples of the Blazing Sun Sect all remain pure and detached not because they’re all heartless, but because the cultivation method does it for them,” Su Yingman explained with a smile.
She paused, her gaze seeming to pierce the palace, landing on a distant, shy, struggling figure.
“When that technique is undone, Mistress will witness…”
“The dammed-up desires of centuries bursting all at once.”
Qin Qingyue mused, “I see…”
So it’s repressed. The dam has broken, well and truly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would be like this.” Zhuxin’s breathing finally steadied, her voice still tinged with embarrassment.
She took out a silk handkerchief, gently wiping the dampness from Jiang Huai’s face.
As she wiped, her fingers paused for a moment, using the cloth as cover to quietly lean in and sniff.
Fortunately, the body of one at the Great Ascension Stage was free of impurity, leaving only a faint and elegant fragrance.
“It’s alright, as long as you’re okay.” Jiang Huai let her wipe him, his tone reassuring.
After a pause, he looked at her still-flushed cheeks, curiosity in his eyes.
“I’m just a little curious…”
Jiang Huai pointed at the forgotten medicine box.
“After that… can the ointment still be applied?”
Zhuxin’s hand paused almost imperceptibly.
Out of Jiang Huai’s sight, a thread of pure Lingli quietly flowed, erasing every trace of the ointment without a sound.
She put away the handkerchief, tilting her face just slightly, her tone carrying a hint of genuine regret.
“Sorry, it seems…”
“It didn’t get applied, after all.”
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