"I knew it, Brother Tian. I knew you would agonize over girls. I knew that if I didn't take the initiative, you'd definitely hide from me. But we're about to ascend to the Upper Realm. Will you keep hiding once we get there? By then, you'll have lost your physical body, and you won't even count as a human anymore..." A drop of scalding liquid fell onto my face. They were her tears.
It was true. I liked Zhao Qian—there was no doubt about that. She tempted me, but how could my heart not have suffered as well? I liked her just as she was, like the girl next door. Now, whether it was her understanding of the Dao or the foundation of her cultivation, Zhao Qian was far stronger than her peers. Yet this very girl had always liked only me, unwaveringly. In that regard, I couldn't compare with her at all.
I reached out and grasped her soft, lotus-root-like arm. The fatal warmth of her touch made me draw a deep breath. "Qian... I do like you... but I still can't... You know, it's precisely because of that that I can't let you get hurt. Besides, if you follow me, you'll keep having bad luck..."
"Brother Tian... don't say anything more... I don't even know what you're talking about anymore... Hehe..." I couldn't see Zhao Qian's expression, but I could feel the disappointment in her voice. Just as I was preparing to flee, she suddenly sprawled across me. "Forget it. I won't tease you anymore. But can you just let me hug you for a while...?"
I breathed a sigh of relief. A hug shouldn't be a problem...
But... wait, that wasn't right! She was still stark naked! I hurriedly said, "A hug is fine, but put your