Watching Shui Bing'er hurry away from the training field, the smile at the corner of Huang Yan's mouth grew wider.
Night fell.
A soft knock sounded at Huang Yan's door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Shui Bing'er walked in wearing a loose, ice-blue dress. She looked a little awkward.
"Sit down."
Huang Yan pointed to the bed and sat cross-legged first.
Shui Bing'er took a deep breath, walked over to him, and sat down cross-legged as well.
"Today was only an initial test. Tonight, we'll attempt a deeper fusion."
Huang Yan looked at her, his tone turning serious.
"What do we do?"
Shui Bing'er asked.
"Press your palms against mine and let our Soul Power complete a full cycle through each other's meridians."
Shui Bing'er looked up sharply:
"Our meridians will intertwine?
Wouldn't that mean..."
For Soul Masters, their meridians were an extremely fragile and private part of the body.
Allowing another person's Soul Power to enter was no different from placing one's life entirely in their hands.
"That's right. It means we have to let our guard down completely around each other."
Huang Yan looked straight into her eyes.
"If you feel uncomfortable with this, it's not too late to change your mind."
Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment.
"Since I agreed, I won't back down."
Shui Bing'er slowly held out both hands and pressed them against Huang Yan's palms.
"Let's begin."
"All right. Close your eyes and open your mind."
Huang Yan guided her softly as dark-red Evil Fire slowly surged from his palms into Shui Bing'er's body.
Shui Bing'er trembled violently and let out a muffled groan:
"It's so hot..."
"Don't resist. Use your Ice Phoenix Soul Power to guide it and wrap it up."
There was a hint of reassurance in Huang Yan's voice.
Shui Bing'er gritted her teeth and immediately summoned the icy Phoenix energy within her, sending it toward the raging Evil Fire.
The two opposing forces crashed into each other inside Shui Bing'er's meridians.
"Hiss—"
Shui Bing'er drew in a sharp breath. In an instant, her forehead was beaded with sweat, and her face turned pale.
"Hold on. Guide it along another meridian and back into my body. Complete the cycle!"
Huang Yan's voice was low and firm.
Shui Bing'er didn't speak, only doing her utmost to control her Soul Power.
Gradually, the flame—wrapped in icy energy and cleansed by it—flowed back into Huang Yan's meridians through his other hand.
Feeling the Soul Power flow back into him, Huang Yan shuddered. A glint of delight flashed in his eyes:
"It worked!
The impurities in my Evil Fire really have been cleansed!"
"Don't get distracted..."
Shui Bing'er's voice was weak, with a slight tremble.
"Keep the cycle going. This Evil Fire is too overbearing. My Soul Power... can't suppress it much longer."
"Leave the rest to me."
Huang Yan took control, and the vast Soul Power within him instantly assumed the lead.
Carrying Shui Bing'er's icy energy, it flowed swiftly and steadily through their bodies.
Inside the room, red and blue lights interwove, casting shifting shadows across their faces.
Faint, clear Phoenix Cries echoed through the room.
After who knew how long, they opened their eyes at the same time and slowly withdrew their hands.
Shui Bing'er panted, utterly drained. Her body was drenched in sweat, and her ice-blue dress clung tightly to her.
"How long has your Evil Fire been building up?
It's like a bottomless pit."
Feeling the Martial Soul inside him grow much more relaxed, Huang Yan let out a satisfied breath. His gaze toward Shui Bing'er burned even brighter:
"Thanks for all your effort.
Tonight went even better than I expected."
Shui Bing'er looked away from him and pushed herself to her feet:
"If it worked, that's good.
I'll head back and rest."
"Wait."
Huang Yan grabbed Shui Bing'er by the wrist.
"You've drained so much Soul Power. If you go back now, you won't even be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
Shui Bing'er struggled, but couldn't break free:
"Then what do you want?"
Huang Yan patted the space beside him and smiled.
"Sleep here.
I'll use my pure Phoenix Power to nourish your meridians. Consider it... your payment for tonight."
A blush rose on Shui Bing'er's fair cheeks, and her voice turned colder:
"No way.
A man and a woman alone in the same room—how could I ever face anyone again if word got out?"
"Do you think you can even make it out that door in your current state?"
Huang Yan chuckled and let go.
Shui Bing'er gritted her teeth and forced herself to turn and take a step.
But her exhausted body wouldn't obey. Her legs gave way, and she pitched straight forward.
The pain she expected never came. Huang Yan caught Shui Bing'er securely in his arms.
"Let go of me..."
Shui Bing'er's voice was faint as a whisper. She didn't even have the strength to struggle.
"Don't push yourself."
Huang Yan scooped Shui Bing'er up and gently laid her on the bed.
"If I'd really wanted to do something to you, you wouldn't have been able to resist when our meridians were completely intertwined just now.
I'm not exactly a paragon of virtue, but I'm not about to take advantage of you."
Leaning against the headboard, Shui Bing'er looked at Huang Yan's open, unguarded expression. At last, the tension in her body eased:
"Just this once.
And don't you dare try anything."
"Turn around and face away from me."
Without another word, Huang Yan sat cross-legged behind Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er turned around as he asked.
Huang Yan gently placed both palms against her back.
A gentle, pure scarlet Soul Power—without a trace of that frenzied energy—slowly flowed into Shui Bing'er's body.
Shui Bing'er let out a soft sigh of relief:
"This Soul Power... it's so warm.
It's completely different from that sinister flame just now."
"This is pure Phoenix Power, cleansed by you."
As Huang Yan guided the Soul Power through her meridians, he explained:
"Extreme ice and fire may be opposites, but Phoenix bloodlines of the same origin can nourish each other.
You help me suppress my Evil Fire, and I use the refined power of my bloodline to nourish your meridians.
Over time, the quality of your Ice Phoenix will improve as well."
Feeling her strength gradually return and her meridians slowly heal, Shui Bing'er let her guard down completely:
"No wonder you insisted on trying Martial Soul Fusion.
This is several times faster than cultivating through meditation on my own."
"So coming to my room every night will benefit both of us."
Huang Yan withdrew his hands, then lay down beside Shui Bing'er, resting his hands behind his head.
"All right, your meridians have been nourished. Go to sleep.
Tomorrow's Elite Class training won't be easy.
Besides, since you came with me to Spirit Hall, you'll naturally have to join the Martial Soul Hall Academy Team.
That means you'll have to eliminate one member of your old team."
Shui Bing'er looked back at Huang Yan. She hesitated, but in the end, she didn't get up to leave.
Shui Bing'er pulled over the nearby blanket, covered herself, and lay on her side with her back to Huang Yan:
"Huang Yan."
"Hmm?"
"Tonight... thank you."
A smile tugged at Huang Yan's lips as he closed his eyes:
"What are you thanking me for? We'll be doing this every night from now on. You'd better get used to it."
Shui Bing'er caught her breath, then managed to force out two words:
"Scoundrel."
Before you continue