After a long silence, Jiang Luo saw that Xu Lin was still immersed in cultivation and hadn’t moved. She called out again,
“Senior Brother, are you awake?”
Still, there was no response.
Jiang Luo hesitated, then carefully rose from the bath tub.
She covered her chest with one hand, a faint glow shimmering across her skin as the spirit plant’s medicinal essence lingered, slow to fade.
Her toes touched the floor, water droplets sliding down her legs and dripping onto the ground.
Even though Xu Lin had his eyes closed in meditation, Jiang Luo’s cheeks still burned, the blush spreading all the way to her neck.
Standing naked before Xu Lin—even though he couldn’t see her now—filled her heart with shame.
Just as Jiang Luo was about to grab her clothes and hurry out of the room, her gaze fell on Xu Lin’s calm face.
A thought so bold it surprised even herself suddenly took root in her mind.
A fierce battle raged within her heart, her toes unconsciously fidgeting as she struggled internally.
Finally, Jiang Luo bit her lip and crept closer to Xu Lin, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
“Senior Brother… Xu Lin, you’re not pretending, are you? Like I was back then.”
Jiang Luo tested him again.
Her voice was very soft, afraid of waking him.
Seeing no reaction from Xu Lin, Jiang Luo bit her lip again, having made up her mind.
Still keeping one hand over her chest, she used the other to lightly brush aside her wet hair so it wouldn’t block her view.
Then, her face flushed crimson, she leaned down and awkwardly pressed a gentle kiss to Xu Lin’s cheek.
It was as light as a dragonfly skimming water, a brief taste, and soon Jiang Luo straightened up again.
‘Thank you, Senior Brother.’
She said this to herself, not aloud.
She knew that without Xu Lin’s help, she wouldn’t even have reached the True Mystery Realm; she might still be plagued by her physique issue, unable to move forward.
Just then, Xu Lin’s brows twitched, startling Jiang Luo so much that she hastily retreated to the corner of the outer room.
After a long while, she peeked out from the corner and saw that Xu Lin still had his eyes closed in quiet meditation.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Not daring to think too much, Jiang Luo quickly put on her clothes.
She glanced at the leftover food box on the table, tidied it up simply, and then tiptoed out of the room.
By the time the sun hung high in the sky, Xu Lin finally woke from his cultivation state.
Between refining medicine and cultivating, the night had not been easy for him. When he opened his eyes, fatigue still lingered.
He glanced at the bath tub by the bed; Jiang Luo was already gone.
The medicinal liquid in the tub had faded and dulled compared to before.
“Looks like the medicinal power was absorbed well.”
Xu Lin unconsciously touched one side of his cheek and then brought his fingertips to his nose.
Why did it smell like medicine?
Before he could fully recover, the sound of a sword swinging came from outside.
He paused, not needing to guess who it was.
He stood up, lightly brushed his sleeves, then pushed open the door and stepped outside.
Just as he expected, in his line of sight, a young girl was wielding a sword, her light-sleeved pink dress fluttering like a butterfly.
Jiang Luo was too focused to notice Xu Lin standing at the doorway.
Xu Lin chose not to speak, instead sitting down on the stone steps nearby, watching Jiang Luo’s sword forms as a way to relax.
After a long while, Jiang Luo stopped, panting, her cheeks flushed and sweat dripping down her neck.
“True Mystery Realm, first level—that’s beyond my expectations.”
Xu Lin spoke slowly.
Jiang Luo froze, turned her head, and saw Xu Lin with his hand propping up his cheek, looking as lazy as an old man basking in the sun.
Meeting Xu Lin’s gaze, Jiang Luo shyly curved her brows and eyes, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Thank you for your help last night, Senior Brother.”
Remembering what happened last night and this morning, Jiang Luo’s ears instantly grew warm, but she quickly suppressed it.
Judging by Xu Lin’s expression, he really didn’t seem to know what she had done this morning.
Xu Lin didn’t acknowledge her thanks; he just shook his head.
“It’s too bad your sword forms are too crude. Given what happened before, I’m afraid some Spirit Returning Realm guy will show up and knock you flat.”
Jiang Luo scratched her cheek awkwardly. If anyone else had said that, she might have taken it as mockery and gotten angry.
But hearing it from Xu Lin, she didn’t mind.
“But I’ve always practiced this set of sword forms. I don’t have anything else suitable right now.”
“Victory isn’t decided by how refined or powerful your techniques are. What matters more is catching the opponent off guard.”
Xu Lin had spent a long time in the Vast Dao Sect and had seen many disciple sparring matches, so he understood a little.
A sword form like Jiang Luo’s—stable and rigid—would let anyone predict her next move after the first glance.
“Then…”
Jiang Luo wanted to ask further, but the words died on her lips.
Xu Lin kept his cheek-propping pose, taking in every change in Jiang Luo’s expression.
“What’s wrong? Afraid to ask further?”
Xu Lin’s tone was teasing.
“Worried that if I help you too much, I’ll drag you into an abyss of ruin when I make my request?”
“No, no.”
Jiang Luo quickly shook her head in denial.
“It’s just that you’ve helped me so much, Senior Brother, and I don’t seem to have anything to offer in return. If I keep asking so casually, I’ll feel ashamed.”
Xu Lin narrowed his eyes. At least Jiang Luo had that right.
“When I need your help, I’ll naturally ask. But be prepared—I might not be a kind person. I could be scheming something bad under the guise of goodwill.”
Jiang Luo didn’t fully understand Xu Lin’s words. After a long pause, she answered earnestly,
“Senior Brother, if you ever need me, I’ll do my best to help.”
Xu Lin felt he had hinted clearly enough, yet Jiang Luo’s sincerity moved him.
He pondered for a moment, his brows furrowing in hesitation.
“For example, what would you think if one day I suddenly told you that I wanted you to help me escape the Sunset Sect?”
It was nearly a confession, and a risky one at that. Xu Lin stared at Jiang Luo, his gaze deep and cold as an abyss.
“Huh.”
Jiang Luo’s eyes went wide, shock surging within her.
Even though Xu Lin hadn’t admitted it outright, he was essentially the Holy Son of the Sunset Sect.
For the Holy Son to say he wanted to escape the sect—no one could understand that instantly.
Xu Lin had expected her surprise; it was within reason.
Then Xu Lin stood up, yawned, and turned to go back inside.
“Take it as a joke. No need to dwell on it.”
Throughout their time together, Xu Lin had left Jiang Luo with an impression of being both real and illusory, making it hard to tell which of his words were true and which were false.
For a moment, she didn’t know if Xu Lin’s words were a test or if he really meant it.
When Jiang Luo came back to her senses, she took a small step forward and called out to Xu Lin,
“Senior Brother, if there’s anything I can help with, just tell me.”
It was almost the same answer, but it made Xu Lin pause.
A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips. He didn’t turn around or respond, just raised his hand and gave a wave.