Chapter 25: Ever Closer

Teasing Mo Ruxue was a delight.

Watching her react so intensely to a single word from him, as naive and flustered as a maiden in love, while her identity was that of the esteemed Linxian Sect Master.

This contrast alone was enough to fill a book.

Xu Sheng smiled warmly, his expression not lewd in the slightest.

And this time, Xu Sheng hadn’t even said anything first—Mo Ruxue had walked right into it herself.

Xu Sheng shifted his gaze from her eyes to the corner of her lips, his look burning with intensity.

If earlier Mo Ruxue had been inexperienced and didn’t understand Xu Sheng’s intentions…

Now, she had gained some experience.

At the very least, she understood the look in his eyes now.

In truth, whether in the mortal world or this world of cultivation, a kiss was an exceptionally intimate act.

The initial relationship between Mo Ruxue and Xu Sheng absolutely did not reach the level of kissing.

Even if Mo Ruxue had truly honored their deal and done something with Xu Sheng, she likely wouldn’t have been willing for this kind of contact.

But at some point, without her realizing, Mo Ruxue seemed to have abandoned that notion in her heart.

Or perhaps, she was no longer resisting this kind of contact from Xu Sheng.

Xu Sheng looked into Mo Ruxue’s eyes. He knew she understood his hint and indeed wasn’t resisting.

This time, Xu Sheng leaned in slightly, bending at the waist to bring himself closer to Mo Ruxue.

His movement was slow, extremely slow. Forget that Mo Ruxue was a Ninth Realm powerhouse; even an ordinary mortal woman could easily avoid this contact.

This was Xu Sheng’s deliberate choice.

Mo Ruxue vaguely understood in her heart that even if she avoided his touch now, he probably wouldn’t insist.

But if she didn’t avoid it this time, Xu Sheng wouldn’t just tease her lightly like last time. This kiss would truly land.

And after it landed?

Mo Ruxue knew this was Xu Sheng letting her choose.

For whatever reason, it was true that she no longer disliked his touch.

But that certainly didn’t mean Mo Ruxue would kiss Xu Sheng.

In what capacity?

What would their relationship be after the kiss?

Was their current relationship one where they could kiss?

Did Xu Sheng want to… take their relationship a step further, and that’s why he wanted to kiss her?

These chaotic thoughts flashed through Mo Ruxue’s mind. Just as Xu Sheng’s lips were about to touch hers—

Mo Ruxue dodged.

She looked at Xu Sheng’s eyes with some alarm. There was no particular reaction in his gaze, as if her action didn’t surprise him.

But it was precisely this kind of look that made Mo Ruxue even more flustered.

“I…”

In the next second, Xu Sheng’s eyes seemed to grow even calmer than before.

Not colder, just more placid.

Mo Ruxue felt something climb onto her thigh.

She looked down.

It was Xu Sheng’s hand.

Xu Sheng’s hand was well-defined, with long, slender fingers. Under the moonlight, his skin seemed to glow, possessing a certain aesthetic beauty just to look at.

But that didn’t lessen Mo Ruxue’s shock.

She was about to cry out in surprise when Xu Sheng’s other hand covered Mo Ruxue’s mouth.

This time, it wasn’t a mortal’s speed. Mo Ruxue’s gasp was instinctive, and Xu Sheng’s movement was faster than the instinctive reaction of a Ninth Realm powerhouse.

She had refused that kiss just now.

So, Xu Sheng spoke to Mo Ruxue calmly:

“Didn’t I tell Fairy Mo that before completely curing your disciple, I need to collect a little interest first?”

Mo Ruxue’s eyes even grew misty.

The sensation on her thigh transmitted through, even through the fabric, she could feel the scorching heat of Xu Sheng’s palm, as if it wanted to leave a brand on the place it caressed.

Interest…

Mo Ruxue naturally understood what this so-called ‘interest’ was. But Xu Sheng had just tried to kiss her, had just spoken of wanting another layer to their relationship, and now he was touching her thigh and demanding interest.

This shift was a bit too fast for Mo Ruxue.

Was it because of her evasion just now?

And Xu Sheng clearly had no intention of giving Mo Ruxue time to think:

“I advise Fairy Mo not to make a sound. After all, this place isn’t actually that far from your disciple’s room, and I haven’t activated any sound-isolation arrays…”

Mo Ruxue glanced out of the corner of her eye toward Zhu Yuexi’s room.

Xu Sheng released the hand covering her mouth, then wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace in one motion.

He never let go of the hand caressing her thigh.

In an instant, enveloped by Xu Sheng’s scent, Mo Ruxue’s mind went somewhat blank.

Already wrapped in his outer robe, Xu Sheng’s presence had been lingering at the tip of her nose, enough to make her dizzy.

Now, his warmth transmitted from her back, making Mo Ruxue even more unable to withstand it.

Xu Sheng leaned his head in from behind Mo Ruxue, his lips close to her ear, and whispered softly:

“I said I want my interest. Do you agree, Fairy Mo?”

Feeling Xu Sheng’s hot breath against her ear, Mo Ruxue’s body couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Xu Sheng’s hand still rested on the inner part of Mo Ruxue’s thigh.

This, too, was waiting for Mo Ruxue’s choice.

Or perhaps, Mo Ruxue no longer had room to refuse.

This so-called interest was something agreed upon before their cooperation began, and Xu Sheng’s information had already proven effective…

She had no grounds for refusal.

But Xu Sheng remained relentless. His lips even pressed against Mo Ruxue’s ear. She could feel the damp heat on her earlobe.

“I’m asking you. Do you agree or not?”

It seemed he absolutely had to hear her say it aloud.

Mo Ruxue was already weak all over. The sensation on her thigh was more than she could bear, let alone such intimate breathing against her ear.

Mo Ruxue could only force herself to suppress her panting and shame as she spoke:

“Mmm…”

If their relationship were a few steps closer, or if Mo Ruxue’s character were a bit less resolute, Xu Sheng would definitely have made her recite a complete sentence for it to count.

But this was just the beginning. Getting Mo Ruxue to this point was already sufficient.

Hearing this affirmation, Xu Sheng began to move his hand.

Xu Sheng seemed to intentionally press his palm more fully against Mo Ruxue’s body, wanting to better transfer the heat of his hand to her.

This proved effective.

Although Xu Sheng couldn’t see Mo Ruxue’s expression from behind, her eyes had already grown dazed with his movements.

And Xu Sheng clearly had no intention of stopping here.

The reason he kept lingering and not getting to the main point was because someone like Mo Ruxue needed a gradual approach.

His hand remained on her thigh.

Continuously testing, as if wanting to go a step further.

Until Mo Ruxue’s body unconsciously began to anticipate the next step forward.

Further…

…

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