Keep Your Necks Apart, Observe Propriety in Each Other's Arms

This soft call seemed to veil the mist in the lotus pond. You Su paused slightly, then slowly turned around, his face still bearing that respectful and aloof expression.

"Does Mistress have any further instructions?"

He Shutong's pale fingertips almost dug into her palm. Looking at the boy's lowered eyelashes, she suddenly remembered how he timidly called her "Mistress" when she planted the Lotus Immortal Seed for him.

The title itself hasn't changed, but the feeling it evokes is completely different.

"Just now... I misspoke."

Her Adam's apple bobbed. She had never imagined that the dignified Lotus Sword Venerable would one day apologize to a mere boy. Yet, if she didn't apologize, she would feel even more uneasy.

You Su clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, "Mistress is too kind. This disciple did not hold it against you."

He Shutong's throat tightened, but before the boy's anger had subsided, she softened and continued, "I have seen your character for myself. Your respect and decorum regarding dual cultivation is the proper conduct of a gentleman, and I... am very pleased."

You Su felt ashamed, realizing that he had harbored lustful thoughts towards his Mistress, even if she was a fake. He was hardly Mistress.

Despite this, he remained very respectful. "It is already a great kindness that my Mistress is willing to tell me these things. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

After saying that, the boy made a move to leave again.

He Shutong felt a chill in his heart. In the past, he would always be reluctant to leave, but now he couldn't wait to get away.

Is this what she wanted to see?

Yes, You Su had expressed those feelings for her, and she had shown resistance. Given that, how could they possibly pretend nothing had happened and return to their previous close master-disciple relationship?

This kind of familiar stranger relationship is the most appropriate one between them.

He Shutong didn't know whether she should call out to the boy who had reached the bamboo curtain. She only felt that her heart was empty as the boy left. In her life, she had experienced too many missed opportunities because of the ice heart she had cultivated. In order to feel that real sadness, she chose to melt her ice heart, but she never expected that the sadness would be so bitter, making her miss the ice heart that could not empathize with anyone.

The late summer rain, fine as silk, suddenly wove a hazy curtain outside the bamboo hut.

A damp and stuffy wind blew in from the doorway, You Su stopped at the door.

Looking at the rain outside the window, He Shutong was suddenly overjoyed. She felt that the rain had come just in time, bringing moisture to her heart before it dried up.

Now that You Su has reached the Feather Transformation Realm, she is naturally not afraid of the rain, but it gives her a reason to keep him here.

"It's raining outside, sit a while longer, I will teach you the method of External Dual Cultivation."

Her voice was as soft as raindrops, yet it resonated subtly in the quiet bamboo hut.

You Su was stunned. He was really afraid that his Mistress would not stop him, so he walked very slowly. But fortunately, he waited for this rain. A person who really wants to leave will not be stopped by such a light rain. Fortunately, his Mistress was also reluctant to let him leave.

"Yes."

He turned around and knelt back down on the prayer mat. He Shutong was already seated on the lotus platform, her plain white silk skirt spread out like a blooming lotus, and fine raindrops swayed outside the window behind her.

The scene was so beautiful that You Su dared not look at it for too long.

After a brief silence, He Shutong spoke softly, "External Dual Cultivation emphasizes the harmony of intention rather than physical form. It requires using Mystic Qi as a bridge to guide the Yin Yang Qi to circulate throughout the body without intersecting at the spiritual platform. The key to this method lies in 'separation,' separating without interruption, only then can harmony be achieved..."

The sound of rain outside the bamboo hut grew louder, and the rain curtain hanging from the eaves sliced the summer heat into fragments of coolness.

He Shutong's voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate, dissecting the essence of External Dual Cultivation word by word. You Su listened attentively, her back ramrod straight, but her gaze remained fixed on the crack in the floor, never lifting her head.

"Any questions?" He Shutong paused, knowing full well that the young man hadn't looked at her once from beginning to end, even though he used to sneak peeks at her when she wasn't looking.

You Su pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "This method requires drawing Qi out of the body, so wouldn't it be unusable for those below the Feather Transformation Realm?"

"Indeed." Her voice softened unconsciously. "The so-called union of yin and yang should naturally be as close as possible. However, this method has many restrictions—they must not get too close when their necks are intertwined, and they must maintain proper decorum when cuddling. Therefore, it not only places requirements on the practitioner, but its effects are also not as good as proper dual cultivation. To achieve their goal of purifying the Demon Core, I'm afraid we will have to proceed step by step."

"In that case, what is the necessity of this method?" You Su couldn't help but ask curiously.

In the dream, He Shutong had of course told him about the method of External Dual Cultivation, but the contents of the book were not only obscure and difficult to understand, but also bland and uninteresting. This contradicted You Su's purpose of having his Mistress recite the scriptures herself while he was embarrassed. So, he just listened and moved on to the next method that could arouse You Su's interest in asking questions. Therefore, he did not learn much about it at the time.

"The origin of the External Dual Cultivation method is actually the High Antiquity art of spiritual intercourse. The art of spiritual intercourse and the dual cultivation method go hand in hand, and the spirit and body merge, which is the highest realm of yin and yang union. However, the art of spiritual intercourse has long been lost. What remains to this day has evolved into a rule that dual cultivation requires mutual understanding and affection, as well as this External Dual Cultivation method."

"This method is indeed somewhat impractical for couples who are mutually in love, but in the heyday of the sect, not everyone cultivated their feelings from childhood. Those cultivators who had finally reached the Feather Transformation Realm were naturally even less willing to engage in proper cultivation, so this method was often used as a transitional method before orthodox dual cultivation."

He Shutong explained in detail, and You Su nodded frequently. He Shutong was very satisfied that she could answer You Su's questions, but then she suddenly met the boy's unconscious glance.

He Shutong was pleasantly surprised, thinking to herself that the young man really couldn't possibly not look at her at all. But to her surprise You Su immediately looked away again, as if checking if the rain outside the window behind her had stopped.

This inexplicably stirred up some namelessness within her, yet she felt helpless about it. She didn't want the boy to leave just like that, so she softly asked again:

Are there any other questions?

You Su paused, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, then still didn't speak, only shaking her head slightly hesitantly:

"Thank you for your guidance, Mistress. Please rest, Mistress. This disciple will take his leave."

After saying this, he took a half-step back in salute.

Seeing this, He Shutong felt even more bitter and couldn't help but ask himself—did he really want to leave so badly?

I only said I needed some time to calm down; I didn't ask him to never see me again. How could he give up so easily? Didn't he consider how I could possibly accept this change in our relationship so quickly?

That day you placed my hand on your heart, wanting me to feel your extraordinary concern for me, but was it so easy for that surging heart to cool down?

What are these turbulent waves you stirred in my heart? Only my own heart is in turmoil, yet you can simply walk away as if nothing happened? If you have no intention of waiting for the flowers to bloom, why plant them in the first place?

Unconsciously, she clenched her hands into fists, angry at You Su for adapting to the estrangement so easily, and also angry at herself for being so useless, grieving so much because of the end of this relationship.

When she was still pure and innocent, she had too many regrets. But now that her heart has melted, how could she possibly have any more regrets?

She looked at You Su's retreating figure, her anger, self-blame, sorrow, and grievance all coalescing into one thought—she couldn't let him leave like this.

"Etc!"

The teacup was slammed down, He Shutong herself was startled by the stern shout.

You Su paused, for this was the first time he had ever heard his Mistress command him in such a stern tone.

However, after a brief moment of surprise came even greater joy, because he realized that the perpetually respectful and harmonious relationship was merely a superficial intimacy. It was the kind of relationship where one would get angry, distressed, and sorrowful because of the other that truly transcended the teacher-student boundary.

He turned around without saying a word, remaining impeccably proper.

He Shutong, who had been blaming herself for yelling at You Su, felt even angrier at his appearance and said angrily:

"You really understand everything?"

You Su's clasped hands twitched slightly, but he still spoke, "This disciple may comprehend it on his own; I must not disturb my Mistress's quiet cultivation."

He Shutong was momentarily speechless upon hearing this. She never expected that the usually sensible boy could be so infuriating. His words at this moment, saying that he didn't want to disturb her meditation, were clearly a spiteful remark made when she told him to leave that day because she wanted to meditate!

However, she felt helpless about the boy's childish behavior. Was she, as his Mistress's wife, destined to be just as childish?

She could only take a deep breath and solemnly say, "Nonsense!"

The boy was indeed startled and trembled, lowering his head even further.

She was very satisfied with this, as she had never criticized You Su before; this was the first time.

It was because Bingxin was indifferent to him before, and later it was because she tried her best to maintain the relationship. However, the relationship gained from such boundless tolerance was fake, and perhaps it was precisely because of this that the boy's unconventional covetousness was fostered.

Fortunately, the boy was still afraid of her.

"This matter concerns the great Dao, and there is no room for ambiguity. Do you think dual cultivation is a child's play?"

"Su... this disciple dares not..." You Su bowed his head and did not rise.

Is there anything in this world you wouldn't dare to do?

He Shutong blurted out, You Su speechless.

Upon seeing this, the female immortal's face immediately flushed crimson, but she suppressed her embarrassment and said coldly, "You yourself said that this method concerns the snake clan's advancement and the truth you seek. If that's the case, you should take it seriously. How can you be perfunctory just because you're angry with me?"

"I... I didn't argue with my Mistress..."

The boy spoke evasively, lacking confidence, and finally lost the aloofness he had previously feigned.

He Shutong was immediately delighted, thinking to himself that a young man is indeed a young man. He then pretended to be serious and said, "Whether you are angry or not is not important. Since you are going to use this method, you must understand it. Otherwise, you will only harm yourself and others if you don't grasp the essentials. So if you have any questions, just speak up."

Despite her encouragement, You Su remained hesitant and stammering, refusing to speak. Annoyed, she said:

"You Su, are you really going to hold a grudge to the very end?"

You Su suddenly raised his head, and when he looked up, he met He Shutong's concerned eyes, a tenderness that almost drowned him.

"I'm not angry, I just have too many questions and I'm afraid to ask more..."

"I'm not practicing meditation today. Ask me whatever you want." He Shutong frowned, secretly annoyed that this child still had the nerve to say he wasn't angry. She decided to shut him up with that excuse.

"The Cultivation Method my master's Mistress recited were all in ancient language. I could understand them after hearing them only once, but I couldn't grasp the essence. It's like this phrase, 'Separated yet unbroken, only then can they be integrated.' I understand the meaning, but I don't know how to achieve 'separated yet unbroken.' What you learn from books is never enough. I was afraid of causing trouble for my Mistress, so I thought I'd go back and figure it out myself..." You Su's voice was calm, and at the end, she muttered softly, "It's not that I'm being angry..."

This little bit of stubbornness both annoyed and pleased He Shutong, and she softened her voice a bit. "As a teacher, why would I find it troublesome to answer questions and resolve doubts? It's the pretending to know what you don't that I find troublesome. You're right, what you learn from books is never enough. Let's put it into practice today, so that I can correct you on the spot if there are any mistakes."

The sound of rain outside the bamboo hut suddenly stopped, You Su felt his eardrums throb with the sound of his own heartbeat.

A few moments later He Shutong realized what she had said and immediately regretted it. In her moment of excitement, she had been so generous.

"This..." You Su lowered her eyelids, only daring to steal glances at He Shutong out of the corner of her eye, "Has Senior Sister finished her seclusion?"

He Shutong bit her lower lip. She saw the boy's timidity and doubt, which clearly indicated that he thought she couldn't possibly have said such a thing. However, He Shutong also knew that the boy's timidity and doubt stemmed from his expectation. This made He Shutong realize that he still harbored desires for her, but like someone who had been bitten by a snake once, he was afraid to show it again, so he used a distant shell to protect himself.

He Shutong suddenly felt a surge of determination. She was going to tear off this shell, she was going to let You Su know the consequences of provoking her, and she wouldn't let him give up so easily. So, she decided to take a step forward as well.

"No." He Shutong sat up straight. "Besides, she's not Mandarin Sword Sect disciple. I'll practice with you personally so you can master it as soon as possible."

You Su swallowed hard, not daring to look up, for fear that his Mistress would retract her decision.

Although it's External Dual Cultivation, isn't it still dual cultivation...? This isn't some dream where you can indulge in unrestrained pleasures; this is reality...

His Mistress's wife had absolutely no need for this, yet she was willing to condescend to teach him personally, which shows that she also liked him, which is why she was willing to do this...

The copper bells on the eaves jingled softly, and You Su, who was suppressing his ecstatic joy, suddenly felt a burning thirst in his throat.

"What should I do?" he asked tremblingly.

He Shutong's fingertips unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt. You Su's flustered appearance made her feel both ashamed and happy.

She was ashamed that she was about to engage in dual cultivation with her disciple, even if it was External Dual Cultivation, something she had never done with You Su in either dreams or reality; but she was also happy because he was nervous, expectant, and afraid, all of which showed that You Su still had feelings for her and that his aloofness was an act.

"Come sit down." Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly as she gestured for the empty space in front of her.

You Su's heart pounded like a drum, but he forced himself to remain calm and stepped onto the lotus platform, a position he never dared to even dream of.

The lotus platform was no more than three feet square. When the two men's knees touched, he could clearly hear them holding their breath at the same time.

He Shutong's knee touched his shinbone through the thin gauze, the soft touch making his fingertips tremble.

"Don't panic." Her fingertips lightly touched the back of his hand, the coolness spreading through his palm. "To condense Qi, you must first calm your mind."

You Su's Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt his master's Mistress's hand trembling slightly, yet still gently comforting him. Although he had long been accustomed to the intimacy with his Mistress in his dreams, it still made him flustered in reality. The lotus fragrance in her hair mixed with the scent of sweat entered his nostrils, even more intoxicating than in his dreams.

You Su lowered her eyes to avoid his burning gaze, and gently raised her delicate hand to untie his outer robe.

You Su was tense as a bowstring, but then she touched his brow with her fingertip and said in a clear voice, "Close your eyes, concentrate, and purify your mind."

You Su did as instructed, but her eyelashes trembled slightly.

He Shutong loosened her belt, she recalled a scene from the novel "The Return of the Return of the Condor Heroes": the male and female protagonists practiced the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra together, and later, their bodies were filled with heat. They had to find a spacious, deserted place and open their clothes to practice, so that the heat could dissipate immediately.

What she and You Su did at this time, though different from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, was similar in its effect, as if by some twist of fate.

Now that things had come to this, she didn't hesitate any longer. She took You Su's hand and placed it on her exposed lower abdomen, while she also placed her hand on You Su's abdomen.

The External Dual Cultivation method does not require actual dual cultivation, but it does require direct contact with the spiritual platform in order to form the circulation of Qi.

You Su could hardly believe the delicate touch on her fingertips, yet she knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

His painstaking efforts were not merely to get He Shutong to take the initiative once, but rather because he had finally found an opportunity to use his Tai Sui Power to heal his Mistress's injuries.

His Mistress refused his help, Xue Ruo couldn't get any answers from him on the sacred mountain, yet he couldn't just sit and wait to die. So even though angering his Mistress made him feel incredibly guilty, he had to persevere.

"We need to work together, and do as I do..."

The Mystic Qi overflowed from his fingertips, swirling around his dark Mystic Qi like pale pink lotus petals.

You Su felt ripples stirring deep within his mind. The two forces, which should have clashed, melted into warm mist upon contact, like winter snow melting into spring fire.

You Su's mind went completely blank for a moment, and he almost couldn't resist the urge to pull the woman into his arms. However He Shutong saw through all his thoughts.

"To condense Qi and release it from the body, you need... a unified mind and spirit." She forced herself to remain calm, "Don't get distracted."

Upon hearing this, You Su's heart sank slightly, yet she couldn't help but pay attention to the sensation on her fingertips.

They kept their necks close but avoided each other, maintaining proper decorum. So, could they perhaps get a little closer...?

The thought filled him with guilt, and he subconsciously wanted to withdraw his hand and end the attempt so that He Shutong wouldn't notice his unease.

But to his surprise, his wrist was suddenly grabbed; He Shutong had no intention of letting him go.

The fairy's eyelashes trembled violently, and a soft sigh escaped her throat. The next instant, You Su felt warmth approaching, almost touching her body.

"If you're going to be greedy, you'd better show some ability..."

He Shutong and You Su embraced each other, and He Shutong whispered a helpless and coquettish tone in the young man's ear.

She ultimately fulfilled the boy's desire for a closer relationship, but also hoped that he would study hard as a result.

You Su suddenly realized that the real embrace made him clearly feel his master's Mistress's feelings; their hearts had been so close for the first time.

His mind suddenly cleared; there was nothing more joyful in the world than knowing that the person you love also loves you, so he absolutely could not let the woman in his arms underestimate him.

The Mystic Qi acts as a bridge, drawing in the Yin Yang Qi, circulating throughout the body without intersecting at the spiritual center. This separation, yet continuity, is the key to achieving harmony...

Everything seemed to fall into place naturally. He Shutong felt the burning heat hidden within his Mystic Qi, a heat that only she could perceive, a heat belonging to the young man.

He Shutong closed her eyes, feeling the heartbeat against his chest. Suddenly, she felt that the blind child kneeling in the snow in her memory was gone, replaced by You Su stood tall and had a strong chest.

Amidst the falling rain, the two's Mystic Qi finally parted ways with reluctance.

When He Shutong had already straightened her clothes. Apart from her slightly disheveled hair, she had transformed back into the dignified and holy Lotus Sword Fairy.

You Su naturally reverted to his original form. He Shutong looked up and saw a satisfied smile in his eyes, like the cunning of a young man after achieving his goal, or the mischievousness of someone who had seen through her deepest thoughts.

She turned her face away in embarrassment and annoyance, her ears turning red as she questioned him:

"If you can't even achieve a pure and desireless mind, why bother deceiving yourself with this External Dual Cultivation method?"

"They are different from my Mistress," You Su said softly. "Only when I'm with my Mistress can I not be detached from worldly desires."

He Shutong clearly found these words unbearable to hear, yet she still felt a secret joy, as if she were being favored.

"The rain has stopped, I'm going to take a break now."

Looking out the window at the clear sky that had returned, she couldn't wait to see the ending of "The Return of the Condor Heroes".