It was bordering on the absurd.
What was her current level of cultivation?
Mo Ruxue was not a conceited person, but objectively speaking, her current cultivation had nearly touched the limits of what was possible throughout history. Her progress had stagnated for many years. Some things were profound and mysterious, unable to be improved simply through rigid, repetitive cultivation; Mo Ruxue understood this well.
However, for a simple soak in a hot spring to actually improve a Ninth Realm cultivation was far too incredible. The shock she felt was almost greater than her joy.
“I didn’t expect you to finish so quickly.”
While Mo Ruxue was still reeling from the shock, Xu Sheng’s voice suddenly drifted over from behind her.
It would have been better if she hadn’t heard him. The moment his voice reached her ears, Mo Ruxue was reminded of the scene that had occurred when they first met earlier. For a moment, she didn’t even dare to turn around.
Instead, it was Zhu Yuexi who turned first. She looked at Xu Sheng, who was dressed in a gray bathrobe, and scanned him from head to toe. “You soaked in the hot springs too?”
Hearing this, Mo Ruxue’s face turned a shade redder.
Xu Sheng, however, smiled and denied it. “These clothes are just comfortable to wear. I thought I heard the Saintess saying that the hot spring was helpful to her?”
“…” The matter of being poisoned was a lie, so the spring naturally did nothing for toxins, but the benefits to her cultivation were very real.
Zhu Yuexi hated Xu Sheng too much to offer him any words of thanks. Even though the hot spring truly was useful to her, she only responded with a cold snort.
Xu Sheng turned his gaze toward Mo Ruxue.
Mo Ruxue was currently facing away from him. Even though her figure was hidden by the bulky bathrobe, he could still vaguely discern her slender waist and perky…
However, she seemed to be lost in thought, and she didn’t even correct Zhu Yuexi’s offensive attitude.
Feeling the gaze behind her, a strange sensation rose in Mo Ruxue’s heart again. In the end, she still didn’t turn around, instead following Li Qingqing toward the rooms not far away.
***
The dining room was still decorated in a Japanese style, and Zhu Yuexi’s gaze toward Xu Sheng became even stranger.
Xu Sheng likely had nothing to do with that foreign land, so why were these rooms designed in such a specific aesthetic?
Immersion…
Zhu Yuexi suddenly remembered hearing that the people from that land were naturally repressed and mostly lecherous. ‘Could this so-called “immersion”… be for that?’
She looked at Xu Sheng warily. Xu Sheng didn’t seem to notice her gaze as he naturally took off his wooden clogs and entered the room.
Zhu Yuexi glanced at Li Qingqing and Xu Sheng, who had already gone inside, and then looked back at Mo Ruxue. “Master, shall we go in as well?”
In the world of immortal cultivation, feet were considered a relatively private part of the body, though both of them were already wearing white socks. Mo Ruxue looked at the wooden clogs on her feet. After hesitating for a few seconds, she took them off.
***
The table wasn’t a low table in the strictest sense. Instead, it was the type Xu Sheng had seen in Japanese restaurants in his previous life — the floor was recessed to create a space for one’s legs, the tabletop was slightly raised, and the floor was covered in tatami mats.
Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi sat side by side, while Xu Sheng sat opposite them. Li Qingqing sat on her knees beside Xu Sheng, looking like a submissive servant.
Zhu Yuexi already found Li Qingqing unpleasant to look at. Seeing her sitting so obediently by Xu Sheng’s side now, an inexplicable surge of anger rose in her heart.
“Heh… So this is the legendary ‘Little Saintess’ of the Linxian Sect, Li Qingqing? More like a little maid…”
Zhu Yuexi muttered the last few words under her breath, but they were still clearly heard by everyone present.
Mo Ruxue frowned slightly and glanced at Zhu Yuexi as a warning. ‘For some reason… this girl has been getting more and more presumptuous lately. Is it because of the poison?’
However, even after hearing such words, Li Qingqing remained unresponsive. She didn’t even raise her eyelids, silently pouring wine for Xu Sheng.
Feeling ignored, Zhu Yuexi’s anger intensified, but since her master had just warned her, she couldn’t act out any further.
Xu Sheng also began pouring wine for Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi before raising his glass.
“The hot spring earlier served to weaken the toxins; it was an introduction. This wine serves the same purpose…”
Mo Ruxue hadn’t intended to let Zhu Yuexi drink, but hearing Xu Sheng’s words, she gave her disciple a look.
Zhu Yuexi could only obediently pick up her glass and reluctantly clink it against Xu Sheng’s.
“At this point, the treatment has officially begun.”
Just as Zhu Yuexi brought the glass to her lips, Xu Sheng suddenly spoke.
Zhu Yuexi naturally didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind those words, but Mo Ruxue was different.
The treatment had officially begun…
That meant the deal between her and Xu Sheng had also officially started. The so-called treatment could take anywhere from six months to a year, and he would collect interest and benefits gradually starting from the onset of the treatment…
To avoid looking suspicious, Mo Ruxue also picked up her glass and took a shallow sip. But just as the wine touched her lips, her body suddenly stiffened.
Zhu Yuexi asked in confusion, “Master, are you alright?”
Xu Sheng also had a smile on his face, looking particularly concerned. “Indeed, is Fairy Mo feeling unwell?”
Mo Ruxue remained silent for several seconds before finally speaking. “No… it’s just that this wine is quite good.”
The wine was indeed good, but not enough to cause such a strong reaction from Mo Ruxue.
The reason for her reaction was, of course, because Xu Sheng was misbehaving. Right now, Xu Sheng had extended one leg, pressing it squarely against Mo Ruxue’s calf. It wasn’t even through her clothes; it was as if his foot had eyes, as it had brushed aside her skirt.
Mo Ruxue endured the strange sensation and forced herself to swallow the wine.
Hearing Mo Ruxue’s answer, Xu Sheng immediately picked up the bottle and poured her another glass.
“Fairy Mo has a good eye. This is indeed fine wine. After drinking enough, it might even be helpful to your cultivation.”
‘Helpful to my cultivation?’
Hearing this, Mo Ruxue thought back to the hot spring from earlier. ‘Could it be that this wine also has miraculous effects?’
However, the moment Mo Ruxue was distracted, Xu Sheng’s foot stepped onto hers. Even through her white socks, Mo Ruxue couldn’t help but shudder.
Fortunately, Zhu Yuexi’s attention had shifted to Li Qingqing, who was still pouring wine for Xu Sheng.
“Look at that. Fairy Mo is a powerhouse of the Ninth Realm, yet her face is already so flushed after just one cup. It just goes to show how good this wine is.”
Xu Sheng wore an innocent smile as he toasted Mo Ruxue again.
Mo Ruxue could only grit her teeth and drink.
“Saintess Zhu, you should drink up as well. This wine is good for your condition,” Xu Sheng added.
Hearing those words, Mo Ruxue, who had been about to secretly use her spiritual energy to push Xu Sheng’s leg away, involuntarily stopped.
‘The treatment…’
‘For Yuexi’s sake…’