An Intimate Interlude

Chen Ning was bare-chested, his eyes tightly shut and his brows knotted together. He looked as though he was in great discomfort.

Seeing him like this, Xiao Mei grew anxious too.

Although she knew the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit would not cost him his life, there was always a chance something could go wrong. If anything really did happen to Chen Ning...

Wouldn't her brilliant future be ruined before it had even begun?

She feared she would remain stuck where she was for the rest of her life.

For members of the Devil Race like her, cultivation grew more difficult the further they progressed.

If she did not follow Chen Ning, she feared she would have no chance of entering the Heavenly Martial Realm. In that case, she would spend the rest of her life undercover in the Dragon-Seeking Sect.

Or her clan might assign her another task.

She did not want a future like that.

She, too, harbored the ambition to become a ruler.

She also wanted very much to sit in the Devil Race leader's seat and have a taste of what it was like.

But all of it depended on Chen Ning.

Only if Chen Ning stayed alive and continued using the secret treasure to influence her cultivation

would she have a chance to reach that realm.

Only then could she have a brilliant future.

So she could not let anything happen to Chen Ning.

With that thought, she took off her shoes and socks and climbed onto the bed. Placing a jade hand against Chen Ning's back, she sent a steady stream of the purest True Essence Power into his body.

True Essence Power was a power martial artists could cultivate only after entering the Earth Martial Realm.

It was far purer and more condensed than Essence Power.

With the aid of this True Essence Power, Chen Ning's pain was instantly reduced by more than half.

The restless power of the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit in his meridians was also suppressed to a tolerable level.

It methodically purified the meridians throughout his body and strengthened his bones and muscles.

Xiao Mei passed her True Essence Power to Chen Ning without hesitation. By now, she herself was drenched in fragrant sweat, and her expression had grown a little wan.

Time gradually passed.

After a long while, Chen Ning opened his eyes and felt completely refreshed.

"Phew!"

Chen Ning opened his mouth and breathed out a mouthful of turbid air. He moved his body a little and discovered that someone had taken off his shirt without him even knowing when.

He turned around and saw Xiao Mei leaning weakly against his broad back on the bed.

Seeing that he had finished cleansing his marrow, Xiao Mei managed to squeeze out a faint smile. "Sect Master..."

"Ah, don't speak yet. Get some rest."

Only then did Chen Ning recall that, halfway through the marrow cleansing, he had indeed felt a strange power intervene and help him finish.

Now that he thought about it, that must have been thanks to Xiao Mei.

Chen Ning tried to get up and help Xiao Mei lie down properly, but she gave a soft whimper. "Don't... could you stay here...?"

Her red lips trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of allure.

Who could resist that?!

Chen Ning was not good at refusing people. Besides, she had just done him a huge favor; refusing her now would seem too heartless.

Chen Ning had no choice but to let Xiao Mei lean against him. He even adjusted his position a little so they could both be more comfortable.

Feeling Xiao Mei's delicately curved body against him, Chen Ning could only empty his mind.

Xiao Mei was a Martial Venerable-level expert, so she only needed to regulate her breathing to recover. All she needed was time.

But with his upper body bare, their skin was inevitably pressed even more intimately together.

Chen Ning worried that if he lost control of himself in a little while, things would get awkward.

But with a woman as alluring as Xiao Mei before him, wouldn't it be strange if he had no reaction at all?

Time slipped quietly by in an intimate haze...

The next morning.

Chen Ning had somehow fallen asleep leaning there, though he did not know when. His body felt terribly weak.

But he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Xiao Mei was a Martial Venerable expert, after all. Even if she had used up a great deal of True Essence Power to help him,

surely she wouldn't have needed the whole night to recover?

He had the feeling she had been deliberately snuggling against him.

Honestly! Fortunately, after cleansing his marrow and refining his bones, Chen Ning's body was stronger. He only had to move around a little before the discomfort was gone.

"Sect Master."

Xiao Mei called out to him in a cloyingly sweet voice. Chen Ning did not dare look at her. After a whole night, her robes had become somewhat disheveled.

He was afraid he might see something he shouldn't.

Although she had helped him, and had not resorted to any schemes when she saw him exhausted during yesterday's struggle for the divine fruit,

Chen Ning still couldn't put his mind at ease.

An undercover agent was an undercover agent, after all.

He wasn't tall, rich, and handsome, nor was he some heavenly treasure that could grant immortality if eaten. Why would she be utterly loyal and sincere toward him?

"Let's set out for Vermilion Bird Peak today."

With his back to the bed, Chen Ning walked outside.

"As you command."

Xiao Mei's voice was exceedingly gentle. If he had turned around then, he would also have seen a smile on her pretty face, pleased that her little scheme had succeeded.

She had spent a fine night with the Sect Master, not only succeeding in being alone with him, but also earning his approval.

Xiao Mei felt more at ease in body and mind than ever before.

No matter how she looked at it, this trip with the Sect Master had been immensely fruitful.

As long as she worked hard to become the Sect Master's most capable subordinate, sooner or later she would get another chance for him to use the secret treasure to help her improve.

The Sect Master had only recently assumed his position and had no trusted confidants. This was the perfect opportunity.

The sooner she gained the Sect Master's approval, the more it would benefit her.

Especially after seeing the Sect Master's magnificent bearing on this trip, when he had sent that arrow soaring into the sky.

At that moment, Xiao Mei had felt her heart skip a beat.

Perhaps the handsome Sect Master before her might one day rise to the pinnacle of the human race.

In the thin morning mist, two Immortal Feather Spirit Beasts traveled among the mountains.

"Sect Master, we're almost there."

Xiao Mei smiled faintly and guided her spirit beast a little lower.

"Thank you for your effort."

Chen Ning offered the courtesy casually.

After all, aside from Su Ling'er, Xiao Mei was currently the only person who had spared no effort to help him.

Although he wasn't sure whether she was plotting something,

Chen Ning still wanted to maintain their friendly relationship.

Sending her a few jars of wine from time to time was worthwhile, even if it only gained him an ally on the surface.

"It was no trouble. It's this humble woman's duty."

Xiao Mei smiled.

Seeing how happy Xiao Mei looked, Su Ling'er pouted and muttered in displeasure, "Hmph, bad woman."

The two Immortal Feather Spirit Beasts soon came to a stop atop Vermilion Bird Peak.

Vermilion Bird Peak was blessed with the beauty of nature and surrounded by Spiritual Qi all year round, offering a glimpse of the grandeur of an immortal mountain. It was also foremost among the three main peaks of the Peach Blossom Spring Mountain Range.

It had always been the Sect Master's residence.

As for the nine elders, they each presided over the other peaks.

But now, several disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall were already waiting there.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

After paying their respects, the disciples immediately reported, "Sect Master, Hall Master, we've discovered the identity of the person who tried to snatch the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit on the road yesterday."

The disciple was referring to the person Chen Ning had shot down with an arrow yesterday.