A Deep Kiss of Love

Although he had some reservations, Xiao Yuan did not refuse Xun'er.

The two left the courtyard together, their footsteps crunching on the gravel path.

The young girl was dressed in pale green, appearing even more elegant and moving against the backdrop of the verdant willow trees. A gentle breeze blew, stirring her waist-length dark hair, while a purple sash around her slender waist accentuated her graceful figure.

Her pace was somewhat brisk, and with her hands clasped behind her back, she shed some of her usual aloofness, gaining a touch of the playfulness befitting a young girl.

As the breeze swept through the willows, it also stirred the girl's long hair.

As the tips of her hair brushed against his cheek, Xiao Yuan could clearly smell the faint, elegant fragrance unique to her.

Is this girl using perfume or rouge or something? Why does she smell so good...

Wait, no. The Dou Qi Continent doesn't seem to have things like perfume.

In other words, this must be Xun'er's natural body scent?

As a man who had been single for two lifetimes, Xiao Yuan felt this subject was worth studying in depth.

"Ahem."

A light cough from Xun'er interrupted his wandering thoughts.

Xiao Yuan looked at the girl beside him in confusion and asked softly:

"What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"

"A cold? What is that?"

Xun'er looked at him with slight confusion, her earlobes and cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Right, Xiao Yuan had forgotten that people here simply did not get sick.

Because when practicing Dou Qi, the energy of heaven and earth would wash over the constitution, strengthening the body to a certain extent.

Therefore, they basically never fell ill.

Let alone minor ailments like a cold.

They could run around naked every day and it wouldn't be a problem.

Xiao Yuan didn't know how to explain it, so he changed the subject rather awkwardly.

"Um, the weather is nice today, isn't it?"

"Mm, it is indeed quite nice."

Xun'er echoed his words, looking up at the sky with him.

The sky today was blue, a perfect, cloudless expanse.

Yet, Xiao Yuan's peripheral vision remained fixed on the beauty beside him.

Sunlight filtered through the dappled tree shadows, landing just right on her slender, jade-like neck, making it seem as if it were glowing.

Tsk tsk, as expected of the young lady of the Ancient Clan, she is truly charming; every gesture she makes could be a painting.

Hearing his inner voice, the corners of Xun'er's lips curled up slightly.

If Xun'er had heard anyone else say such things, she would definitely have pulled out the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame to burn that lecher to death.

But if it was Xiao Yuan.

She only wished for more.

However...

"Brother Xiao Yuan, you are going to leave the Xiao Clan and leave Wutan City, aren't you?"

Xun'er suddenly stopped in her tracks and asked softly.

Xiao Yuan also halted because of this, looking toward the girl.

Under the willow tree, the girl's delicate face was slightly flushed, her pearly teeth biting her alluring red lips, and her beautiful, autumn-water eyes were filled with deep reluctance and attachment.

Yet, the look he gave Xun'er was full of confusion, tinged with a hint of incomprehensible shock.

How does this girl know?

"Xun'er guessed it."

Xun'er blinked her bright, watery eyes, trying to squeeze out a hint of playfulness and spirit.

Regrettably, she failed.

The moment she thought about this matter, her mood became very dejected.

But the stalemate between them lasted only a moment before Xun'er took the initiative to speak again.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, whatever decision you make, Xun'er will not stop you... Xun'er just wanted to ask, how long will you be gone? Will you still come back?"

Her voice was very soft, mixed with a trace of inexplicable pleading.

It was precisely because of the girl's pitiful, abandoned-like expression that Xiao Yuan revealed a gentle smile, reaching out to dotingly tuck a strand of hair from her forehead behind her ear.

"Of course I'll come back. My roots are here; if I don't come back, where else would I go? But as for how long I'll be gone... I think about a year."

The Jia Nan Academy enrollment is in a year; no matter what, I have to make it in time.

After all, that is the location where the plot unfolds, and the Black-Corner Region is so fascinating.

Not to mention the Fallen Heart Flame, known as a cultivation cheat code; that Heavenly Flame is the ultimate tool for lying flat!

I just don't know if this body can withstand a second Heavenly Flame.

As for Zi Yan, she's just an afterthought.

Hearing his inner voice, Xun'er's tense nerves finally relaxed.

But upon hearing the name mentioned at the end of his thoughts, she felt a bit sullen.

Zi Yan—the name alone sounded like yet another girl...

"Brother Xiao Yuan."

Xun'er suddenly called his name softly, interrupting his inner monologue.

The very next second, Xiao Yuan felt a fragrant breeze wash over him, followed by a sensation of warmth and softness against his lips.

Xun'er had her hands behind her back, standing on tiptoe to kiss him.

It was merely a light peck at the corner of his mouth.

It was as fleeting as a shooting star.

So much so that Xiao Yuan couldn't even snap back to reality for a moment.

I just got kissed?

What, what, what, what is happening here?!

This part wasn't in the original story, was it?

Wait, I'm not Xiao Yan, I'm Xiao Yuan, but why does it feel like this treatment is far exceeding what Xiao Yan ever got?

Xiao Yuan's thoughts were in chaos.

The surrounding Xiao Clan disciples were so shocked by this scene that their eyes nearly popped out; they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Especially Xiao Ning, who was peeking at all of this from a dark corner—he gnashed his teeth so hard they creaked!

The flames of jealousy igniting in his heart were almost enough to burn through his sanity.

Why?!

Why is it that no matter how much I, Xiao Ning, try to please her, I only get ignored, while this brat with no parents gets the favor of Cousin Xun'er!

He wanted to strike, to snatch Cousin Xun'er back.

But thinking of his grandfather's warnings and Xiao Yuan's current cultivation level, he had no choice but to give up, despite his deep unwillingness, and slowly unclenched his fists.

However, no one cared to understand the maggot-like behavior and thoughts of Xiao Ning, hidden there in the darkness.

Just like Xun'er at this moment.

She listened to Xiao Yuan's inner voice, raising a jade hand to cover her cherry lips, trying to hide her smile.

Her heart and eyes were filled only with the young man before her.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, Xun'er will be here waiting for your return."

She stood on tiptoe once more, grabbing the hem of Xiao Yuan's clothes with both hands, and whispered into his ear.

But Xiao Yuan didn't speak.

Once he regained his senses, he simply wrapped an arm around Xun'er's slender waist, pulling her body flush against his own.

Then, he leaned in and kissed those cherry lips deeply.

The moment their lips met, Xun'er's eyes widened slightly, her body tensed, and her hands gripped the fabric over Xiao Yuan's chest tightly, her face flushing so red it looked like it might bleed.

Should she push him away?

The young girl had no such thought; on the contrary, she wanted to continue nestling into this chest—not particularly broad, but exceptionally warm.

She wanted to listen to his heartbeat.

She didn't even dare to breathe, fearing she might disturb this kiss.

As for Xiao Yuan, he was even more unbridled, deepening the kiss further.

What's the harm in a kiss? As long as I don't lose my virginity before becoming a Dou Sheng, it's fine.

Though, come to think of it, does the back door count as losing it?

Xiao Yuan was lost in his wild thoughts when, the next second, he felt a sharp pain in his lips.

He'd been bitten!

The kiss between the two broke off right there.

Xun'er glared at Xiao Yuan slightly with her autumn-water eyes, then leaned into his embrace, panting softly.

This had been her first kiss, and she hadn't expected it to be so intense.

In a breath.

She heard Xiao Yuan's voice once again.

"Wait for me, I'll be back in a year... If I could, I really would want to take you with me, Xun'er."

These were Xiao Yuan's heartfelt words.

After spending so many years together, the person he found hardest to let go of in the Xiao Clan was Xun'er.

But there was no other way.

Although he wanted to be a slacker lying flat, in order to be worthy of Xun'er and to withstand the pressure and threats from the Ancient Clan and nine-star Dou Sheng experts, he had to become stronger!

Xun'er understood this too, so she didn't reply.

If she answered, she feared she wouldn't be able to stop herself from agreeing to leave with Xiao Yuan.

But she couldn't do that.

The mission her father had entrusted to her was not yet complete, and the whereabouts of the fragments of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade remained unknown...

Just then, Xiao Yuan's inner voice rang out again.

[Come to think of it, didn't Xun'er come to the Xiao Clan for the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade back then?]

[I bet this girl could never imagine that it's actually in the hands of every generation's clan head, serving as something like a patriarch's token.]

[But speaking of those ancient clans... it's one thing for that guy Hun Tiandi to have the help of the Void Devouring Flame, but why is that old guy Gu Yuan so stubborn?]

[There are so many inheritance cave mansions left behind by Dou Emperors, and even though they are all in the void space, why is he so fixated on the most difficult one, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion?]

As the inner voice faded.

Xun'er's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

It seemed she had just heard something incredible?!