“I’m just giving you a sponge bath.”
Chi Ling’s expression remained calm, as if that fleeting kiss had never happened.
She naturally pulled the covers back up, tucking Jiang Huai in firmly from the waist down.
Even if he had noticed something, she didn’t care.
What was wrong with a little kiss? It wasn’t as if they hadn’t done far more intimate things.
Besides, she was his rightful concubine; she had much more right to be here than those two Red Dragons nearby, who were ‘hiding ulterior motives’ and only dared to ‘investigate’ him surreptitiously with their tails.
Jiang Huai coughed twice, the dryness in his throat still sharp.
He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the two Red Dragons still coiled around him on his left and right.
Only now did he realize how delicate his current situation truly was.
He tried moving his fingers and slightly flexing his legs.
A lingering sense of weakness washed over him; his flesh had not yet fully filled out, and the contours of his bones were still visible, but he felt much better than the skeletal, dying state he had been in before.
At least his strength was returning bit by bit, and his sense of control over his body was becoming clearer.
He closed his eyes and focused inward. Within his Dantian, the Small World that had nearly collapsed had now re-established its basic framework.
The Two Energies of Yin and Yang had transformed into black and white fish, rotating slowly.
The Five Elements Qi clung to the Yin and Yang energies, cycling through their generation and overcoming phases.
Though faint, they were steadily producing vitality, nourishing his parched Meridians and withered internal organs.
Seeing this, Jiang Huai felt greatly relieved.
‘The Original Source isn’t damaged, and the foundation remains. Recovery is only a matter of time. Moreover, the speed of this recovery is much faster than I anticipated. The tenacious vitality of the Yin-Yang Body is truly extraordinary.’
He shifted his stiff body slightly and spoke to Chi Ling. “Help me sit up.”
“Hmm?” Chi Ling’s eyes flickered.
Following his request, she first tugged the quilt upward to ensure he was properly covered, then carefully supported his shoulders and back to help him lean against the headboard.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hand naturally taking hold of his.
“How does your body feel? Is it really alright now?” she asked softly, her gaze searching his face with clear concern.
Jiang Huai nodded. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
The weakness was still palpable, especially the hollow exhaustion in his limbs.
Yet, at the same time, a certain area was feeling particularly spirited, creating a sharp contrast with his overall frailty.
The untimely hardness brought a wry smile to his lips.
‘Is there something wrong with the order in which this Yin-Yang Sacred Body restores life force? The Small World finally starts running, and the energy it provides goes there first? Could this be the core function of the Yin-Yang Body?’
He couldn’t help but think about how the Yin-Yang Body could drastically improve the cultivation and talent of a dual cultivation partner.
Its reproductive capacity and vitality were exceptionally powerful.
Was the quantity the same way? Was it almost a guaranteed success? White Dew was the best proof of that.
It seemed that no matter how much the Human Race declined, as long as a single male with the Yin-Yang Body existed, the race could rapidly recover and rise again through his powerful reproductive ability and the guaranteed talent of his offspring.
In a world where women held the majority of the power, this trait was particularly prominent and vital.
Jiang Huai subconsciously stroked his chin, pondering.
‘The so-called Yin-Yang Body is born of destiny to ensure the human bloodline never ends and the incense stays lit. Perhaps this is an innate instinct of the physique?’ He also felt a natural hatred for Extraterrestrial Demons, feeling excited whenever he hunted them.
‘Is it because their mission is the opposite of mine? Are they here to extinguish life force?’
“Has anything major happened outside during this time?” He temporarily pushed aside his musings on his physique to ask about official business.
Chi Ling shook her head, gently stroking his hand.
“Nothing particularly urgent. Last time, you risked your life to heavily wound the elite forces of the Extraterrestrial Demons. They seem to have suffered significant losses and have temporarily slowed their offensive on the Northern Plains. Clan Leader White Dew is taking advantage of this rare gap to focus entirely on building a more complete defensive line.”
She paused before adding, “However, a certain Dragon Saintess comes to visit almost every day, wanting to see you. I’ve turned her away every time.”
It wasn’t that she was being intentionally difficult or jealous, but Jiang Huai’s appearance during the early stages of his injury was truly frightening.
Su Yingman had specifically instructed that no one outside the core circle should see him to prevent news from leaking, which could affect morale or invite unnecessary trouble.
“A Dragon Saintess? Which one?” Jiang Huai frowned slightly.
Aside from Chi Huang, was there another Dragon Saintess he was close with? One who would come every day?
“Qin Xuange,” Chi Ling pouted, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious pique.
“The one from the Black Dragon Clan. She comes once a day to ask about you, rain or shine. I’ve refused her every time according to Sister Su’s instructions. But she still comes every day just to stand in the courtyard for a while.”
‘Qin Xuange?’ Jiang Huai was startled.
The Black Dragon Saintess whose appearance and temperament were seventy percent similar to those of Qin Qingyue?
“So it’s her…” he murmured, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.
“If she comes again, please let her in.”
For some reason, he suddenly wanted to see that face. It wasn’t that he had any particular feelings for Qin Xuange herself, but rather those similar eyes.
Qingyue was in the Immortal Realm now; she must have sensed his previous peril through the Black Dragon Mark. He wondered how worried she must be.
Thinking of Qin Qingyue, the corners of Jiang Huai’s mouth curled into a faint, tender arc.
This subtle smile did not escape Chi Ling, and it set off alarm bells in her mind.
‘He smiled just hearing her name? Did something happen between them while they were practicing their swordplay?’ She made a mental note to “casually” investigate later.
“Go on out for now. I have some things I want to discuss privately with Clan Leader Chi Hong and Saintess Chi Huang,” Jiang Huai said to Chi Ling.
“Aren’t you going to apply your medicine?” Chi Ling looked at the prepared medicinal liquid.
“In a little while,” Jiang Huai said.
“Alright.” Guessing that Jiang Huai might need to discuss matters with his two “personal nurses,” Chi Ling didn’t ask further.
She briskly tidied the items, tucked the corners of the quilt for him, and then stood up to leave gracefully.
Once the door clicked shut, the room returned to silence. Jiang Huai moved his arms, which were finally somewhat free, and looked helplessly at the two sides of his body.
“Could you two perhaps get off me? My injuries are mostly healed.”
His internal vitality was surging, his Yuanyang was fully restored, and in this spring-like room, he could no longer feel even a hint of a chill.
Being “protected” this closely was becoming a bit too warm.
Chi Huang blinked her crimson Dragon Eyes.
Her Dragon Body rubbed against Jiang Huai’s side playfully as she looked up, her tone a bit mischievous.
“Are you really better? Shouldn’t we observe you for a few more days? What if there’s a relapse?” She hadn’t even had a chance to talk to him properly yet; how could she be dismissed so soon?
“I am indeed much better. Thank you both for your dedicated care during these days,” Jiang Huai said with a firm, sincere nod.
Upon hearing this, Chi Hong was the first to move.
She slowly uncoiled her dragon form, sliding off Jiang Huai to coil on the inner side of the bed.
Her dragon head tilted up slightly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.
“Young Master Jiang Huai, you are too kind. It is I who should be thanking you. If you hadn’t risked your life to save me, I, Chi Hong, would already be nothing but withered bones in a grave.”
“Clan Leader Chi Hong, there’s no need to be so polite.” Jiang Huai could finally move his left arm freely, and he gave a small wave.
“We are all in the same boat, fighting for the future of the Five Provinces. We should support one another.”
Hearing this, Chi Hong’s heart dimmed slightly for some reason.
‘Yes, for the future of the Five Provinces.’ It was a noble, irreproachable reason.
But if she set aside that grand cause—if it had just been her, Chi Hong, in danger, with no relation to the greater good—would Jiang Huai still have risked his life to save her? Or, if someone else had been in danger instead of her, would he have made the same choice?
She didn’t know the answer, and she didn’t dare ask.
It was a childish and unreasonable question, but the human heart is like that sometimes, perversely wishing for a biased answer to a childish question.
She even had the absurd thought to ask: ‘If I weren’t the Dragon Clan Leader, but just an insignificant treasure, would you still have risked your life to rescue me when danger came?’ The answer seemed obvious; who would risk their life for a treasure?
If it broke, one would merely feel a bit of regret.
Seeing her Honored Master move, Chi Huang couldn’t very well stay. She reluctantly wriggled against Jiang Huai a few more times before unhappily sliding to the side to coil up.
“Are you really okay alone? Do you want me to stay and keep you company?” Chi Huang’s voice was very low, tinged with anxiety. She knew Jiang Huai never lacked company, but she couldn’t help asking.
Jiang Huai shook his head, his tone gentle.
“It would be too much trouble for you both. One is a Clan Leader and the other a Saintess; the Red Dragon Clan has many affairs that require your leadership. If you stay here too long, there might be trouble within the clan. It’s better if you head back soon.”
“I suppose… I suppose so,” Chi Huang murmured, lowering her dragon head in disappointment.
Her Honored Master had indeed been away from the clan for a long time to care for Jiang Huai. Although the Elders were managing things, it wasn’t a good long-term plan.
At that moment, a crimson light flowed over Chi Hong’s dragon body, and the radiance quickly retracted.
In the blink of an eye, the red dragon vanished, replaced by a mature, curvaceous, and stunningly beautiful woman sitting languidly on the bed.
Jiang Huai instinctively looked over and froze instantly.
Chi Hong sat sideways.
Her red hair wasn’t messy; instead, it was meticulously groomed, gleaming in the morning light.
Her figure was the epitome of the Red Dragon Clan’s typical mature charm.
Her shoulders were rounded but not broad, her waist was narrow, her hips were full, and the curve of her chest was breathtaking, yet it blended perfectly with her overall flow.
Even just sitting still, she exuded a confident, lazy feminine charm refined by time.
While the figures of the Red Dragon Clan were generally those of curvaceous, mature women, their temperaments and bodies still differed.
Chi Ling’s figure was like this, though she was only slightly more curvaceous than an average woman and lacked that extreme mature allure.
The Clan Leader before him, however, had taken this physique to its limit; every movement carried the charm of a mature woman.
Jiang Huai felt his blood pressure spike and quickly turned his head away, his voice unsteady. “Clan Leader Chi Hong, why did you transform like this?”
As he turned his gaze to the other side, another flash of red light occurred.
Chi Huang had also transformed into her human form.
A similarly fair and mature—though slightly more youthful and a size smaller—perfect body appeared before his eyes.
Although Chi Huang’s red hair wasn’t as neat or supple as her master’s, it had a different kind of youthful vitality.
Her figure inherited the traits of the Red Dragon Clan, being equally curvaceous and enticing, though her lines were tighter, lacking a bit of lazy maturity but possessing more firm elasticity.
Jiang Huai’s breath hitched, and his eyes widened. “???”
‘Wait, does wearing clothes interfere with your transformation? What do you mean by both of you being like this?’
Master and disciple sat on either side of the bed, kneeling.
Four eyes stared in unison at Jiang Huai, who was sandwiched between them and looking utterly at a loss.
Jiang Huai felt his cheeks burning and quickly closed his eyes, saying somewhat desperately, “Don’t be like this.”
Chi Huang placed her hands properly on her joined knees, stealing a slightly resentful glance at her master.
By now, how could she not understand? Her master wasn’t here to help her move in; she was here for herself! No wonder she refused to leave!
“Jiang Huai,” Chi Hong’s voice rang out, carrying a slight tremor.
A faint blush crept onto her face as she quietly shifted her knees, moving closer to him. Her curvaceous, fair body swayed gently with the movement.
“I have something to say to you.”