“Ah~”
Strength Certification?
Shen Ye opened her mouth, about to ask, but then realized there really was such a thing.
She smiled at Lin Xiangyi.
“Then let’s just go do that certification thing, it’ll be quick, right?”
Her smile was sweet, but the corners of her eyes still carried traces of fading redness.
Lin Xiangyi looked at her, his heart softening.
She genuinely had the welfare of the Azure Cloud Sect at heart.
Looks like I’ve been misunderstanding her all along.
He spoke, his tone relaxed.
“Then let’s do one more treatment session to see the results, and afterward we’ll go do the Strength Certification.”
“Sounds good, let’s go.”
Shen Ye followed Lin Xiangyi, watching him lead her along as if nothing had happened.
She understood why her Junior Brother didn’t want to make himself look bad.
Men always care about face.
Even though Junior Brother appeared relaxed and composed in front of me, there were still so many rumors and whispers behind his back.
Shen Ye’s heart didn’t stir much because of Lin Xiangyi’s concealment.
On the contrary, she even felt a little relieved.
If it weren’t for this accident, perhaps Junior Brother would never have voluntarily spoken about what he’d been through.
And she would have forever remained that Grand Senior Brother who was obsessed with missions and never cared about her Junior Brothers and Junior Sister.
A flood of emotions swelled in Shen Ye’s heart. She stared at Lin Xiangyi’s profile, dazed, and a thought sprouted within her.
Perhaps, if I weren’t Senior Brother Shen Ye but the Spirit Being “Xiao Ye,” I could become… closer to Junior Brother.
The relationship between us three Senior and Junior siblings could also become tighter, more harmonious, more like…
True brothers and sisters.
“We’re here.”
Shen Ye snapped back to reality and looked at the sign before her. It had only two large characters on it.
โTraining.
Huh?
Where is this?
Shen Ye asked, puzzled.
“Don’t we… do it at home?”
“Hm?”
Lin Xiangyi responded with a question.
“It went smoothly last time, didn’t it? Running all the way back is a hassle, so I thought we’d just borrow the Guild Hall’s Training Room.”
With that, he walked ahead.
“Oh, alright.”
Shen Ye muttered and followed Lin Xiangyi.
Passing through the main entrance, the view suddenly opened up.
Unlike what the name “Training Room” literally implied.
Every guild’s training site was an independent space specially carved out by dedicated personnel, with plenty of room for guild members to stretch their skills.
The spacious area was divided by barriers that didn’t block sightlines, split into several sections arranged along both sides.
In the distance, people were trainingโthe dull thuds of fists and feet colliding, and the whistling roar of Spiritual Power detonating.
Shen Ye froze.
She’d come here a few times before, but always to test techniques.
But really, getting treated here?
Wouldn’t she be completely exposed?
She couldn’t help but cup her slightly flushed cheeks, the heat transferring to her palms, radiating warmth.
Last time, I barely held it in and didn’t let out a sound.
But if I slip up even a little in a place like thisโ
(>๏น<)
Isn’t my life just over?
At the thought of being watched and observed by everyone on site, Shen Ye’s eyes started spinning like mosquito coils.
“If you’re not comfortable with it,”
Lin Xiangyi’s voice came from beside her. He was already accustomed to the girl’s shyness.
He pointed toward several spots further inside.
A row of connected doors, each glowing with faint light patterns.
“There are rooms with Restriction Formations in there. We can do it there.”
“That’s perfect.”
Shen Ye breathed a sigh of relief.
The two walked into the innermost room.
The door closed.
With a low “hum,” a faint wisp of Spiritual Power spread from the doorway, gradually enveloping the entire room.
“The Formation prevents any Spiritual Power Fluctuation from leaking out of the room. Sound can still pass through though, just in case someone tries something untoward.”
“Ah? Okay.”
That’s still better than doing it in public.
Shen Ye muttered to herself.
She glanced around.
The room wasn’t large, but enough for several people to move around.
Lin Xiangyi brought over two soft cushions, laid them on the floor, and gestured for Shen Ye to sit.
“Let’s begin.”
“Mm.”
Shen Ye obediently sat cross-legged and extended her hand.
Lin Xiangyi took her hand, a warm sensation traveling from his fingertips.
The familiar Spiritual Power flowed into her body once more.
Here it comes.
Shen Ye closed her eyes, so tense that all her features scrunched up on her small face.
At first, everything was normalโjust like last time. Gentle Spiritual Power slowly flowed along the circuits within her body, smoothing through her battered and broken Spirit Body.
But soon.
“Mnh…”
Shen Ye’s body gave a violent jolt.
What’s going on, something’s wrong.
She could clearly feel that this treatment was far more intense than the last one, yet Lin Xiangyi’s Spiritual Power output hadn’t changed at all.
At the same time, Lin Xiangyi suddenly frowned.
The Spiritual Power reached an unfamiliar node and suddenly clogged, unable to advance even a fraction.
Looks like I’ll need a bit of finesse.
“Xiao Ye, bear with it.”
He warned.
“Ah?”
Shen Ye felt a sudden surprise.
The next second, that sensation materialized within her body.
“Ahโ!”
With a high-pitched moan, the girl cried out and tilted her head back, revealing a neck as graceful as a swan’s.
Th-this, this, this.
Even with all the mental preparation in the world, I can’t handle this!
Her breathing grew suddenly rapid, moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes. Her beautiful eyes looked at Lin Xiangyi, full of shame and panic.
Lin Xiangyi was stunned too.
Sister, this room is NOT soundproof!
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Just then, a knock suddenly sounded.
Both of them froze simultaneously.
“Sir, ma’am, let me give you a word of warning.”
A clear female voice came from outside the door, carrying a subtle hint of warning.
“Such behavior is not permitted in the Guild Hall’s training rooms. You should know that, right?”
Lin Xiangyi immediately panicked.
“Ah, sorry, we’re notโXiao Ye, get a hold of yourself.”
The last sentence was kept very low by Lin Xiangyi.
Faced with the Patrol Officer’s accusation, he really wanted to open the door and explain everything.
But the treatment had reached its final stage, and forcefully stopping it would only hurt Shen Ye again.
In the end, he could only offer a weak apology.
“Sorry, we’ll be careful.”
“…”
The Patrol Officer gritted her teeth and lowered the hand she’d been ready to use to break through the Formation.
Tch, dog man and woman, daytime indecency.
She cursed under her breath.
Just to be safe, I’ll keep watch here for a while.
She leaned against the doorframe, scanning the people training in the center of the hall.
Inside the room.
Shen Ye covered her mouth, tears glistening in her watery eyes, her face flushed.
“Hey, Xiao Ye, how are you holding up? Just hold on a little longer, it’s almost over.”
Lin Xiangyi reminded her in a low voice, with a hint of pleading.
“Please, I really don’t want to die of social death!”
“Hah… hah…”
Waves of suppressed, delicate breaths escaped from the girl’s lips.
Those clear eyes, which had lost their usual serious expression, now seemed coated in a layer of gold leaf, dazzlingly beautiful.
“Alright, it’s done. Let’s stop here for today.”
Lin Xiangyi sighed in relief. Sweat had unknowingly seeped from his temples.
He glanced at Shen Ye out of the corner of his eyeโand noticed something wrong.
Something seemed off.
Why had her eyes turned gold?
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The knocking came again, and the Patrol Officer outside had heard the sounds from within the room.
She sensed something amiss.
“Ma’am, if you’re in your right mind, please say something.”
“Ma’am?”
The voice outside continued its inquiry, each knock falling on Lin Xiangyi’s heart like a death knell.
Lin Xiangyi looked at Shen Ye’s dazed pupils, his heart sinking.
Say something, sister!
I’ve checked your Spiritual Power Circuits a dozen times and found nothing wrongโby all rights, you should be awake by now!
If you don’t say anything, we’re both done for!
No waitโto protect her identity as a Spirit Being, I can’t drag her down with me.
Which means I’m the only one who’s done for.
Damn it!
This can’t be intentional on her part, can it?
Oh my god!