A Ray of Hope at Last

It seemed that only by breathing in the faint scent of him lingering on his clothes could she slightly ease the longing that had grown wildly in her heart.

She had grown a little thinner, making her already delicate chin seem even sharper. Her large, clear eyes were now touched by a faint sadness born of endless longing, making her look even more pitiful.

When would Young Master come back?

"Creak..."

Just as she was lost in thought, the faint sound of the door opening rang especially clearly through the quiet night.

Shuang'er lifted her head like a startled fawn.

When her gaze passed through the wavering candlelight and recognized the familiar figure standing in the doorway, backlit and etched into her very bones, she froze.

The needle and thread in her hand slipped away with a soft clatter and fell to the floor.

Overwhelming joy and disbelief surged through her like a bursting flood, sweeping away every last defense.

A sheen of tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes, blurring her vision.

"Young... Young Master?"

Her voice trembled, thick with tears and the grievances she had kept bottled up for so long, as well as the joy of having him back.

Seeing how close she was to tears, Lin Xuan felt a pang in his heart. He said nothing, only slowly opening his arms to her.

The next moment, a small, soft figure rushed into his embrace, carrying the sweet fragrance unique to a young woman, like a fledgling returning to its nest.

"Young Master! You... you finally came back! Shuang'er... Shuang'er missed you so much! Sob..."

She held him tightly with all her strength, as though she wanted to melt her small body into his and never be apart again.

Warm tears spilled down her cheeks like beads from a broken string, soaking the front of his clothes in an instant.

Feeling her tremble in his arms and cling to him without reservation, Lin Xuan caught the pleasant scent of her. The desire he had kept pent up for so long flared to life.

He turned and shut the door.

Then he tightened his arms around Shuang'er and lifted her up, catching her by surprise.

She gave a soft cry and instinctively looped her arms around his neck.

Holding her, Lin Xuan strode toward the bed.

After their long separation, the reunion had been bound to overwhelm them.

Lin Xuan had helped Shuang'er grow comfortable with his affection, and she was sensitive to his touch.

Now she clung to him, yearning for his closeness and the comfort of being held.

She responded eagerly, if still a little shy, to every tender gesture. Beneath his arms, her small frame softened against him, as if she were trying to convey all the longing she had felt in their time apart.

Again and again, she whispered his name through her tears.

"Young Master... Young Master..."

"Shuang'er likes you so much... so much, Young Master..."

Her pure, ardent affection filled Lin Xuan with a sense of closeness unlike any he had known. He held her as though he never wanted to let go, savoring the warmth of their reunion.

After a long while, when the storm of emotion had finally passed, only their unsteady breathing remained, mingling in the quiet room.

Shuang'er went limp against his solid chest, utterly spent, her body warm and damp with perspiration. She could barely bring herself to move.

Tearstains still marked her face, yet her eyes and brows were filled with happiness and contentment.

Lin Xuan stroked her sweat-damp hair, savoring the warmth of having her in his arms, yet still longing for more.

The warmth in his chest, briefly quieted, flared up once again.

He said nothing, but his closeness made his desire clear.

Shuang'er stiffened.

She felt that he was eager to continue, pressing insistently against her.

"Young... Young Master..."

Her voice was tearful and soft, full of pleading.

"N-no more... Shuang'er... Shuang'er really... can't go on..."

She was truly at her limit and could not bear another round of overwhelming passion.

Lin Xuan chuckled and kissed her smooth forehead, whispering in her ear:

"Be good. Let me enjoy your company another way."

Shuang'er's face flushed all the way from her neck to the tips of her ears.

She understood what Lin Xuan meant.

Whatever Young Master wanted, she was willing to give.

She didn't hesitate.

Though her body ached as if every bone had turned to water, she slowly moved away from Lin Xuan, a faint tremble betraying her.

She knelt on the bed. Moonlight traced the graceful curves of her small figure, like a flawless jade carving. She took a deep breath, summoning all her courage, then slowly leaned toward him.

It was a posture filled with devotion and submission.

Her soft, warm lips, fragrant with a young woman's shy sweetness, gently met his heated skin.

"Mm..."

A low groan of pleasure escaped Lin Xuan as his body tensed slightly.

Shuang'er was far more practiced than she had been before. She seemed to remember what pleased him, and her warm breath and gentle touches were no longer uncertain, but tender and eager to please.

Her soft lips moved with care, and her warm breath mingled with her quiet sighs, filling the silent room with a hushed intimacy.

She had even learned to use the warmth of her cheek and the gentleness of her touch to bring him pleasure.

Under Shuang'er's loving, attentive care, Lin Xuan finally reached his release.

When his desire ebbed, Shuang'er did not pull away or flinch.

She accepted his affection without hesitation.

Then, under Lin Xuan's approving gaze, she gently wiped away the traces left at the corner of her lips.

Seeing how sweet and compliant she was, Lin Xuan felt a tenderness and satisfaction he could hardly put into words.

He drew her back into his arms and pressed a solemn kiss to her smooth forehead.

"My dear Shuang'er," he said softly. "You're so good."

The next morning, in the inn's dining hall.

Lin Xuan and Shuang'er were having breakfast by the window.

After a night spent close together, Shuang'er seemed transformed. A soft, alluring warmth lingered in her eyes and brows, and her lovely face glowed, rosy and radiant, more captivating than ever.

The inn's curtain lifted. A cool morning breeze swept in, along with a striking mother and child.

Lin Xuan's gaze was drawn to them.

The woman wore a sapphire-blue dress and looked no older than twenty-three or twenty-four.

The fabric was not luxurious silk, but it was fine cotton, tailored to fit her mature, full figure. It accentuated her curves, particularly her ample chest and slender waist, creating a striking silhouette.

A dark-blue sleeveless jacket completed the outfit, lending her a poised bearing that was both spirited and gently feminine.

She had the full figure of a mature woman, and moved with a steady rhythm. Her back was straight, and every step landed firmly, revealing the bearing of someone trained in martial arts.

Her face was what drew the eye most.

She was strikingly beautiful, with an oval face, graceful brows, and phoenix eyes that tilted slightly upward at the corners. Their shifting gaze might have seemed alluring, but now they held a hint of wariness and reserve.

A veil of chill lay over her, like frost on a spring lake. She seemed distant, someone to admire from afar but not approach.

Her lips were beautifully shaped and sharply defined, yet pressed into a firm line that spoke of determination and stubbornness.

She was a beautiful woman, and one with a story to tell.

Her beauty was neither that of an otherworldly immortal nor a pampered noblewoman. She was a wild rose blooming defiantly through wind and frost, thorny and intoxicating.

She held the hand of a boy of five or six.

His cheeks were flushed with fever, his steps unsteady, and his eyes clouded with illness. Every so often, he let out a dry, stifled cough, his small brows drawn tight. Still, he stubbornly refused to be carried, insisting on walking by himself.

The woman's expression was cool, but whenever she looked down at her child, the frost melted away, replaced by a pool of tender worry and affection.

She led him to an empty table and sat down briskly.

"Shopkeeper, a pot of hot tea, two meat buns, and a bowl of rice porridge."

Her voice was clear and composed, with a hint of a northern accent. It was not rough; rather, it had a character all its own.

She didn't lament her child's illness like an ordinary woman, nor did she look to those around her for help. Instead, she calmly poured a cup of hot tea, tested its temperature against her lips, and carefully offered it to her child once it was cool enough.

Lin Xuan watched, a trace of admiration in his eyes.

He had met all kinds of people, and could tell at a glance that this woman was no ordinary person.

The calm resilience about her, along with the steadiness of her steps, suggested that she possessed considerable martial skill.

For a woman like her to travel all the way to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain alone with a sick child, she must have had her reasons.

Lin Xuan glanced over a few more times.

He had no interest in approaching her.

He could clearly sense the aura of someone who wanted to be left alone. Trying to strike up a conversation would only earn him a cold reception.

The woman quickly finished her simple breakfast. Taking her child's hand, she went to the counter, paid, and asked the shopkeeper for directions to Quanzhen Sect.

"May I ask which path leads up Zhongnan Mountain to Quanzhen Sect?"

The shopkeeper cheerfully pointed her in the right direction. She thanked him, then led her child out of the inn without hesitation, toward the stone steps winding into the depths of Zhongnan Mountain.

Lin Xuan turned his gaze away, lifted his teacup, and took a small sip.

Lin Xuan continued to be looked after with loving care by Shuang'er during their stay at the inn.

He knew that Shuang'er had average aptitude and only knew a little basic martial arts. If they encountered a truly formidable enemy, she would be unable to defend herself.

That day, Lin Xuan sat beside Shuang'er. He took her wrist and gently placed his fingers against her pulse.

In recent days, he had gained a deep understanding of the Nine Yin Manual. It covered a vast range of martial arts, and its internal cultivation method was exceptionally profound. The "Tendon-Transforming and Bone-Strengthening Chapter" was especially suited to improving one's aptitude and nourishing the meridians.

Shuang'er, with her pure and untainted nature, was particularly well-suited to cultivating the Nine Yin Manual and unlikely to suffer a deviation in her training.

"I'll teach you an internal cultivation method. From now on, practice it once at midnight and once at dawn every day. Don't slack off." Lin Xuan's serious tone made Shuang'er sit up straight.

She knew that anything Lin Xuan said so seriously must be important, and immediately nodded. "Shuang'er will remember your instructions, Young Master!"

Lin Xuan continued, "This method is difficult to understand, but you only need to remember the route I give you and guide your qi along the meridians. This cultivation method is very profound. You must not pass it on or mention it to anyone."

Shuang'er nodded earnestly.

Lin Xuan helped her sit upright, then began teaching her in a gentle voice. He didn't tell her that it was the Tendon-Transforming and Bone-Strengthening Chapter of the Nine Yin Manual.

He patiently guided her as she sensed the threads of qi within her body.

Shuang'er's aptitude was indeed poor, but her trust and reliance on Lin Xuan allowed her to accept his guidance without reservation. She listened closely, memorized every word of his instructions, and imitated each breath and movement he demonstrated.

At first, Shuang'er made slow progress. Her inner qi moved in fits and starts, and at times the pain of her meridians stretching made her face go pale. But Lin Xuan knew the mysteries of the Nine Yin Manual's internal cultivation method well, and the "Tendon-Transforming and Bone-Strengthening Chapter" truly could cleanse and strengthen the body.

He continually guided her with his own qi, helping her clear the blocked meridians.

Sure enough, after only a few days, Shuang'er could already feel that her body had grown much lighter and her previously sluggish meridians had become clear. She could even feel a gentle warmth flowing slowly along the route Lin Xuan had taught her. It was faint, yet continuous, and full of vitality.

Her appearance also grew even lovelier. Her once slightly childish face had softened, and her fair, smooth skin glowed with a healthy blush. She was like a pear blossom newly opened after the rain, fresh and delicate with droplets of dew.

One afternoon, the sun was warm and the breeze gentle.

Lin Xuan walked along the country lane outside town, holding Shuang'er's hand.

Shuang'er leaned against him, her small frame warmed by contentment. She had never imagined life could be so peaceful and sweet. Just walking with Young Master, even without doing anything special, filled her with a happiness she had never known before.

She secretly turned her head to gaze at Lin Xuan's handsome, almost divine profile. Her heart fluttered like a deer's, and a blush quietly spread across her cheeks.