**Chapter 9: You Can't Go to Anyone Else Before I Die!**

Lin Fengmian was dumbfounded. This is called "not a big problem"?

Junior Sister, do you have a misunderstanding about what "not a big problem" means?

Lin Fengmian immediately stood up, wanting to rush back and have a showdown with Liu Mei, thinking about giving her a good lesson. Surely she wouldn't dare to drain him dry, right?

"Senior Brother, where are you going?" Xia Yunxi suddenly grabbed him.

"I'm going back to settle the score with Liu Mei!" Lin Fengmian was anxious. He had no desire to be a man rendered powerless for the rest of his life.

Xia Yunxi burst into laughter, her voice like silver bells. But in this situation, it was like adding fuel to the fire.

"Senior Brother, calm down! Sit down first!"

At this moment, Lin Fengmian finally realized—this girl was getting back at him. She was tricking him!

"Junior Sister Xia, you lied to me?"

Xia Yunxi snorted delicately, "Who told you to trick me first!"

"Junior Sister, stop fooling around! If you keep this up, I won't be able to hold it in." Lin Fengmian said, almost crying.

He felt hot all over, restless and fidgety, not daring to even look at Xia Yunxi.

Xia Yunxi noticed something was off with him and muttered, "Senior Brother, you brought this on yourself. You're still bold enough to touch me, someone with a natural seductive body, while being poisoned."

Despite her words, she stood up, gently cupping Lin Fengmian's face, her cheeks blushing as she leaned closer.

Lin Fengmian couldn't help but misinterpret her intentions, thinking of kissing her.

But Xia Yunxi's face suddenly turned serious, "Don't move!"

She slightly opened her mouth, and a pink mist was drawn from Lin Fengmian's mouth, resembling a scene from mythical tales where demons sucked the essence from people.

As this mist was drawn away, Lin Fengmian instantly calmed down. Still, looking at Xia Yunxi's close and beautiful face stirred something in him.

"It's done," Xia Yunxi released him, smiling sweetly, making Lin Fengmian feel a surge of guilt.

"Thank you, Junior Sister Xia!" Lin Fengmian said sincerely.

Xia Yunxi stood up, snorting softly, "Senior Brother, you're so bad, scaring me by pretending to be a ghost!"

"I just wanted to cheer you up since you were crying so much." Lin Fengmian replied awkwardly.

"But how are you fine? I clearly carried your corpse from Senior Sister Liu's room..." Xia Yunxi trailed off.

"For certain reasons, Liu Mei spared me. But please, Junior Sister, keep what you learned about Uncle Xie a secret for me." Lin Fengmian explained.

Xia Yunxi nodded, then looked at the grave in confusion, "So, what did I just bury?"

"That was Wang Ming. You probably don't know him, but he wasn't a good person."

Lin Fengmian sneered, "To be buried by you, Junior Sister, in such a good spot... he sure got lucky."

"But Senior Sister Liu clearly told me it was your corpse. Why would she lie to me?" Xia Yunxi asked, puzzled.

"She was suspicious of us… so she purposely deceived you." Lin Fengmian replied, embarrassed.

Xia Yunxi let out an "Ah" of realization.

Earlier, the dried corpse had looked too terrifying and grotesque, and because it was naked, she hadn't taken a close look.

"So what do we do? Senior Brother, you won't be in danger, will you?"

Looking at this simple girl, Lin Fengmian couldn't help but smile faintly.

A girl like Xia Yunxi was truly one-of-a-kind in the entire Hehuan Sect.

"I'll be fine. For now, she won't harm me."

Xia Yunxi softly murmured, "As long as you're okay, Senior Brother."

She adjusted her skirt and sat on the grass, her gaze wandering off toward Qingjiu Mountain, lost in thought.

Lin Fengmian sat beside her, looking at her disheveled appearance and feeling a wave of guilt, "I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to."

Xia Yunxi shook her head, resting her hands on her knees, and said sadly, "It's alright, it was bound to happen sooner or later…"

As if worried Lin Fengmian might misunderstand, she quickly added, "It was my first time being so close to a man. It's not like what you're thinking."

Lin Fengmian couldn't help but touch his lips, savoring the moment a bit.

"I believe you. It was also my first time kissing a girl."

Ahem, although it was the first time today.

Xia Yunxi gasped, then lowered her head with a gentle smile, "It feels nice that the first person to kiss me was you, Senior Brother, not some stranger."

Sensing her sadness, Lin Fengmian frowned, "Did Liu Mei say you're about to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Yes."

Xia Yunxi seemed despondent, "Even though I've slowed down, maybe I really am meant to cultivate this kind of technique."

"Even if I don't practice, my cultivation level keeps rising. Soon enough, I'll reach the Foundation Establishment stage…"

Lin Fengmian looked at her with mixed emotions, unable to bring himself to say "Congratulations."

Because once Xia Yunxi reached Foundation Establishment, she would move to the Red Luan Peak like Liu Mei.

That would mean she'd become just like Liu Mei, using men to cultivate as one of the enchanting Hehuan Sect witches.

Xia Yunxi turned her head and smiled softly, "So I don't blame you, Senior Brother. In fact, I'm happy you like me—this insignificant me."

Lin Fengmian frowned slightly. Junior Sister, do you misunderstand what "insignificant" means?

Xia Yunxi continued talking to herself, "But I can't return your feelings. I'll end up like Senior Sister Liu eventually…"

She bit her lip nervously and asked, "Senior Brother, when that happens, will you dislike me as much as you dislike Senior Sister Liu? Will you despise me?"

Lin Fengmian grabbed her cold hand and looked into her eyes seriously, "Of course not. You're not like her."

Xia Yunxi smiled brightly, her face filled with warmth, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin. Even if you're lying, it still makes me happy."

"I'm not lying! You're kind by nature. You're nothing like her!" Lin Fengmian retorted.

Xia Yunxi lowered her head and whispered, "Actually, Senior Sister Liu wasn't always like this either. She used to be very proper and reserved."

"But after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, the seductive poison in the body from cultivating the Entangling Passion Technique is released, making the body a hundred times more sensitive and causing people to lose themselves in carnal desires."

"Over time, it even changes one's personality. I have a naturally seductive body, so I'll probably become even more unrestrained than Senior Sister Liu."

Lin Fengmian hadn't realized the Entangling Passion Technique had such effects, leaving him speechless.

Sensing her growing sadness, Lin Fengmian felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart. He held her hand tighter.

"No matter how you change, you'll always be the person you are now in my heart."

Xia Yunxi looked up at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, making her look incredibly endearing.

The surroundings were silent. In such a setting, Lin Fengmian couldn't help but lean in, wanting to kiss her again.

But his lips were blocked by her soft hand.

Xia Yunxi blushed and said softly, "Although I don't mind getting close to you, Senior Brother, it's better not to touch me too much because of my natural seductive body."

She pulled her hand away from his, stood up, and brushed the grass off her skirt before walking away.

"It's getting late. If I don't return soon, Senior Sister will come looking for me."

Lin Fengmian watched her departing figure, trying to act nonchalant, but a sudden impulse surged within him.

He called out, "If the day comes when you need a furnace to cultivate, I hope I'll be the first."

Xia Yunxi turned around in surprise, "Senior Brother, that would kill you!"

"To die under a peony blossom would still be worth it!" Lin Fengmian laughed freely, "But before I die, you can't go to anyone else."

Xia Yunxi's face bloomed into a radiant smile, her eyes shimmering with tears. Biting her lip, she responded earnestly, "Alright!"