Midnight Knock, Shy Shui Bing'er: I'm Not Staying Here Tonight!

Watching Shui Bing'er hurry away from the training grounds, the smile on Huang Yan's lips deepened.

Night fell.

A soft knock sounded at Huang Yan's door.

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and Shui Bing'er walked in, looking slightly uneasy in a loose, ice-blue gown.

"Sit."

Huang Yan gestured toward the bed, sitting cross-legged himself first.

Shui Bing'er took a deep breath, walked over to him, and sat down cross-legged as well.

"The daytime was just a preliminary test; tonight, we must undergo a deeper level of fusion."

Huang Yan looked at her, his tone turning serious.

"How?"

Shui Bing'er asked.

"Join palms and let our soul power complete a grand cycle through each other's meridians."

Shui Bing'er's eyes snapped open:

"Merging meridians?

Wouldn't that be..."

For a soul master, the meridians are extremely fragile and private places.

Allowing another person's soul power to enter is no different from placing one's life entirely in their hands.

"That's right, it means we must be completely defenseless against one another."

Huang Yan looked straight into her eyes.

"If you feel forced, there is still time to back out."

Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment.

"Since I have promised, I will not retreat."

Shui Bing'er slowly extended her hands, pressing them against Huang Yan's palms.

"Let's begin."

"Good, close your eyes and open your mind."

Huang Yan guided her in a low voice, and his dark red Evil Fire slowly surged from his palms into Shui Bing'er's body.

Shui Bing'er's body shuddered violently, and she let out a muffled groan:

"So hot..."

"Don't resist. Use your Ice Phoenix soul power to guide it, to wrap around it."

Huang Yan's voice carried a hint of reassurance.

Shui Bing'er gritted her teeth, immediately mobilizing the phoenix's icy energy within her to meet the manic Evil Fire.

The two extreme forces collided with a roar inside Shui Bing'er's meridians.

"Hiss—"

Shui Bing'er gasped, a fine layer of sweat instantly covering her forehead as her face turned pale.

"Hold on! Guide it along the other meridian back into my body to complete the cycle!"

Huang Yan said in a deep voice.

Shui Bing'er did not speak, focusing all her effort on controlling her soul power.

Gradually, the flame, now wrapped and cleansed by the icy energy, flowed back into Huang Yan's meridians through her other hand.

Feeling the returning soul power, Huang Yan trembled, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes:

"It works!

A portion of the impurities in the Evil Fire has truly been purified!"

"Don't lose focus..."

Shui Bing'er's voice was weak, carrying a slight tremor.

"Continue the cycle. This Evil Fire is too overbearing; my soul power... is almost unable to suppress it."

"Leave the rest to me."

Huang Yan took the initiative, his massive soul power instantly seizing control.

Carrying Shui Bing'er's icy energy, it began to circulate steadily and rapidly through both their bodies.

Inside the room, two lights—one red and one blue—shone in tandem, casting flickering shadows across their faces.

Faint, crisp sounds of a phoenix cry echoed softly within the room.

It was unknown how much time had passed when both of them opened their eyes simultaneously and slowly withdrew their palms.

Shui Bing'er gasped as if drained of all strength, her entire body soaked in sweat, her ice-blue dress clinging tightly to her skin.

"Your Evil Fire... just how long has it been building up? It's practically a bottomless pit."

Feeling the significant relief within his martial soul, Huang Yan let out a satisfied breath. His gaze toward Shui Bing'er grew increasingly fervent: "Thank you for your hard work. Tonight's results were even better than I imagined."

Shui Bing'er avoided his gaze and propped herself up to stand: "As long as it was effective, that's all that matters. I'm going back to rest now."

"Wait."

Huang Yan grabbed Shui Bing'er by the wrist. "Your soul power is severely overdrawn; if you go back now, you won't even be able to get out of bed tomorrow."

Shui Bing'er struggled, but could not break free: "Then what do you want?"

Huang Yan patted the spot beside him and chuckled softly: "Sleep here. I will use my pure Phoenix soul power to nourish your meridians—consider it... payment for tonight."

A blush rose to Shui Bing'er's fair cheeks, and her voice turned colder: "Impossible. A man and a woman alone in one room? How could I ever face anyone again if word got out?"

"Do you really think you can make it out that door in your current state?" Huang Yan chuckled and released her hand.

Shui Bing'er gritted her teeth and forced herself to take a step forward.

However, her overdrawn body refused to obey; her legs went weak, and she collapsed straight forward.

The expected pain did not come, as Huang Yan caught her firmly in his arms.

"Let me go..." Shui Bing'er's voice was as thin as a thread; she no longer had the strength to struggle.

"Stop trying to be brave." Huang Yan scooped her up and gently placed her on the bed. "If I truly wanted to do something to you, you wouldn't have been able to resist back when our meridians were fully intertwined. While I, Huang Yan, am no saint, I am not the type to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state."

Leaning against the headboard and looking into Huang Yan's candid eyes, Shui Bing'er finally let her tense nerves relax: "Only this once. And you are not allowed to do anything improper."

"Turn around and face away from me." Huang Yan didn't waste words, sitting cross-legged directly behind her.

Shui Bing'er complied and turned around.

Huang Yan pressed his palms gently against her back.

A gentle, pure, and entirely calm crimson soul power slowly flowed into Shui Bing'er's body.

Shui Bing'er let out a comfortable sigh: "This soul power... it's so warm. It's completely different from that evil, strange flame from before."

"This is the pure Phoenix power, purified by you." As Huang Yan guided the soul power through her meridians, he said, "Although extreme ice and fire are antagonistic, our shared Phoenix bloodline can nourish one another. You help me suppress the Evil Fire, and I use my refined bloodline power to nourish your meridians. Over time, the quality of your Ice Phoenix will improve as well."

Feeling the strength gradually returning to her body and her meridians slowly repairing, the guard in Shui Bing'er's eyes completely vanished: "No wonder you were so insistent on attempting a martial soul fusion."

"This cultivation speed is several times faster than my own meditation."

"So, coming to my room every night is beneficial for both of us."

Huang Yan withdrew his palms and took the opportunity to lie down beside Shui Bing'er, resting his hands behind his head.

"Alright, the meridian nourishment is finished, go to sleep.

Tomorrow's training for the Elite Class won't be easy.

After all, since you followed me to Martial Soul Hall, you naturally have to join the Martial Soul Hall Academy team.

This means you must eliminate one person from your original team."

Shui Bing'er turned to look at Huang Yan, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not get up to leave.

Shui Bing'er pulled the quilt from the side to cover herself and lay down on her side, facing away from Huang Yan:

"Huang Yan."

"Hmm?"

"Tonight... thank you."

A smile curled the corners of Huang Yan's mouth as he closed his eyes:

"What are you thanking me for? It will be like this every night from now on, so you'd better get used to it early."

Shui Bing'er's breath hitched, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out two words:

"Scoundrel."