“ Chapter 17: Senior Brother, If It's You, It's Okay”

Lin Fengmian sighed and said, "Thanks for telling me, Junior Sister Xia."

Xia Yunxi smiled lightly, "It's no big deal. Senior Brother would have found out sooner or later anyway."

"It seems this trip isn't for me after all, considering it's Liu Mei's assessment," Lin Fengmian sighed again.

Xia Yunxi, appearing thoughtful, suddenly encouraged him, "Senior Brother, you should give it a try. After all, there are other senior sisters, and I'll help you."

"Help me?" Lin Fengmian asked in surprise.

"Yes! I'll put in a good word for you with Senior Sister Liu. Maybe you'll get a chance to go."

Xia Yunxi's gaze drifted off slightly, lost in thought, but Lin Fengmian didn't notice.

"You're right. As the saying goes, 'The cart will find its way around the hill.' Maybe my luck will turn around," Lin Fengmian said with a smile.

"Good luck!" Xia Yunxi clenched her fists in a cute, energetic gesture, radiating positivity.

Lin Fengmian nodded in agreement. As he looked at Xia Yunxi's face, which was so close, he caught a faint fragrance from her, and his mind began to wander.

He thought of all the scenery he'd seen before and suddenly realized that the once-young girl had unknowingly grown up.

Reflecting on Xia Yunxi's kindness toward him, Lin Fengmian suddenly found himself reluctant to leave and wanted to spend more time with her.

To continue the conversation, he asked, "Junior Sister Xia, how did you end up joining the Hehuan Sect?"

Xia Yunxi's expression turned a bit nostalgic as she said, "I was very young when I came up the mountain. I vaguely remember that my family wasn't well off."

"When the senior sisters said they would take me to the mountain, my parents wept with joy. I guess for them, it was a relief that I wouldn't starve."

"According to the senior sisters, if the Hehuan Sect hadn't taken me in, I probably would have been sold to a brothel. My fate wouldn't have been much better."

Lin Fengmian couldn't disagree with the senior sisters' words, but he still looked at Xia Yunxi seriously and said, "But the Hehuan Sect isn't right for you."

Xia Yunxi shook her head gently, "But all the senior sisters say that I was born for the Hehuan Sect, especially with my physique..."

"Your physique may be something you're born with, but how you use it is up to you. Your character doesn't fit the Hehuan Sect," Lin Fengmian said firmly.

"I feel the same, but like you said, fate is out of our control," Xia Yunxi replied with a light smile.

Lin Fengmian fell silent. After all, could he escape his own fate?

The two of them sat on a stone by the mountainside, quietly looking into the distance.

Suddenly, Lin Fengmian felt Xia Yunxi lean gently against him. He turned to look at her.

With her head down, Xia Yunxi's face flushed red. She didn't dare to look up at him.

"Senior Brother, can I lean on your shoulder for a bit?" she asked softly.

Lin Fengmian nodded, slowly realizing the affection and reliance Xia Yunxi had for him.

They sat in silence, but the atmosphere between them grew a little ambiguous.

Xia Yunxi suddenly lifted her head, gazing at Lin Fengmian. "Senior Brother, can you still absorb my spiritual power?"

Lin Fengmian wasn't sure how he had done it the last time and shook his head, "I don't know."

Xia Yunxi's eyes sparkled, "If I'm not mistaken, you can absorb my spiritual power, similar to how we use our dual cultivation techniques."

Lin Fengmian nodded thoughtfully, "So, you're saying..."

"If I train diligently over the next few days, and you absorb my spiritual power, Senior Brother, you could break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining within three days." Xia Yunxi clenched her fists excitedly.

Lin Fengmian's eyes lit up. If this was possible, it would be like both of them cultivating together.

Although, he thought this was wishful thinking—like he and Luo Xue combining their strength to defeat a Hehuan Sect member. He was just an extra!

As Lin Fengmian looked at Xia Yunxi's alluring red lips, he was tempted but worried about offending her.

"Junior Sister, how can I accept this?"

Xia Yunxi shyly said, "If it's you, Senior Brother, it's fine."

Lin Fengmian hesitated, "Will this harm you?"

"It shouldn't. If Senior Brother helps me stabilize my realm, I can delay reaching the Foundation Establishment stage."

Xia Yunxi hit the point directly, asking, "Besides, Senior Brother, don't you want to leave the Hehuan Sect?"

Lin Fengmian found himself momentarily speechless. Xia Yunxi averted her gaze shyly, "If it's you, Senior Brother, it's fine."

She slowly closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly as if ready to be embraced.

Looking at the pure yet seductive Xia Yunxi, Lin Fengmian couldn't help but recall that day's intimate moment, and he, too, felt moved.

He whispered, "Junior Sister Xia."

Xia Yunxi opened her eyes, looking at him with her face flushed red. Seeing the unmistakable affection in his gaze, she murmured softly, "Senior Brother..."

Amidst the beautiful scenery and the enchanting woman before him, Lin Fengmian felt his inner cultivation technique suddenly surge, and a wave of desire washed over him.

Unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed her. Xia Yunxi let out a soft sound, and they embraced, kissing passionately.

Both felt their spiritual power becoming unusually active, but perhaps because they weren't yet fully immersed, the absorption process wasn't as fast as before.

But with such beauty in his arms, Lin Fengmian couldn't help but sink deeper into his emotions, quickly becoming lost in the moment.

He could feel streams of spiritual power flowing from Xia Yunxi into his own body, but he paid no mind, his thoughts consumed by the woman in front of him.

Xia Yunxi also sensed her spiritual energy being drawn into Lin Fengmian but didn't stop it.

As Lin Fengmian grew bolder, pressing Xia Yunxi onto the stone, his hands roamed with passion.

But just as he was about to go further, Xia Yunxi, her eyes misty, stopped him again.

She panted and reminded him, "Senior Brother, that's enough! That's enough!"

Though her eyes were foggy, there was a trace of clarity as she said, "Senior Brother, this is as far as we can go. Any further, and you might get into trouble."

Lin Fengmian, breathing heavily, collapsed onto Xia Yunxi, feeling unbearably restrained.

He realized he had nearly undressed her entirely, almost making an irreversible mistake.

Xia Yunxi's face was flushed with embarrassment, looking both frightened and pitiful.

Lin Fengmian barely managed to regain control of himself with great effort and wisdom.

Not daring to provoke him further, Xia Yunxi quickly turned away and dressed herself.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't control myself!" Lin Fengmian apologized with guilt.

Xia Yunxi nodded and, to his surprise, smiled mischievously, leaving Lin Fengmian confused.

After a moment, Xia Yunxi turned back, her eyes sparkling.

"Senior Brother, it worked! Your cultivation has indeed improved!"

Lin Fengmian was speechless. He finally asked, "Junior Sister, why are you helping me like this?"

Xia Yunxi beamed, "Because you like me, Senior Brother. And I don't want you to die."