A few minutes later, Ye Guyi's pretty face had turned completely red, but she still stubbornly refused to open her mouth. Afraid something might happen to her, Xu Tianming immediately reminded her:
"If you really can't stand the heat, sit in the ice bucket. Don't force yourself; it won't do you any good."
At that, Ye Guyi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help opening her tightly sealed lips:
"R-really?"
Just from the rises and falls in her voice, Xu Tianming could tell she was already near her limit.
It seems the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue is too potent. Even a small piece isn't something Ye Guyi, who hasn't obtained her First Soul Ring yet, can absorb and refine on her own.
After silently reaching this conclusion, Xu Tianming nodded.
"Of course. Get in quickly. If you keep forcing yourself, you might leave behind a hidden injury that'll be hard to recover from."
Hearing Xu Tianming say that, Ye Guyi immediately tried to get up and sit in the ice bucket.
But before her legs could even straighten, she felt her whole body go weak and sank right back down.
The sudden turn of events left Ye Guyi stunned. When she came to her senses, she tried to stand again, but the result was almost impossible to believe:
Under the influence of the heat raging inside her, she didn't even have the strength to move.
A sense of shame unlike anything she'd ever felt flooded Ye Guyi's heart. Instinctively, she wanted to ask Xu Tianming for help, but the words died on her lips. Afraid he might find her weak physique off-putting, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
Just as the heat was about to overwhelm Ye Guyi's reason, she suddenly felt herself grow light. She struggled to open her unfocused eyes, only to find herself cradled in her benefactor's strong arms.
At such close range, Ye Guyi gazed at Xu Tianming's handsome profile. Combined with the heat coursing through her, it left her eyes dazed before she even realized it, and her heart began racing.
"Thump! Thump!"
Just as Ye Guyi couldn't help letting her thoughts run wild, Xu Tianming suddenly stopped.
Ye Guyi froze for a moment, then quickly realized he was about to lower her into the ice bucket.
Though he was doing it for her own good, for some reason, Ye Guyi didn't want to leave the warm, comfortable embrace.
If only I could stay like this a little longer!
As the thought surfaced, Ye Guyi's mind went blank. She used the last of her strength to throw her arms around Xu Tianming's neck and clasped her hands together. She didn't say a word, but her actions made it plain that she didn't want to leave his arms.
The sudden turn of events caught Xu Tianming off guard.
Though he liked the feeling of being embraced by a soft, fragrant girl, this wasn't the time. If he didn't put Ye Guyi in the ice bucket soon to suppress the intense heat inside her, her body might really be harmed.
But just then, Columbina suddenly spoke from within his Mental Sea of Consciousness:
"Her body is as hot as yours was just now... Don't put her in the ice bucket yet. Let me see if I can help her. If my method doesn't work, you can continue."
As she spoke, Xu Tianming's Frost Moon Martial Soul appeared at Columbina's call.
And since it was already late at night, the Frost Moon Martial Soul looked even brighter than before.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was that the instant the Frost Moon Martial Soul appeared, Columbina guided a stream of gentle moonlight into Ye Guyi's body. Just two seconds later, Ye Guyi couldn't help moaning again:
"Mmm~ That feels so good..."
At the same time, her strength gradually returned. Without realizing it, she tightened her arms around Xu Tianming, pressing herself even closer to his warm chest.
Ye Guyi was certainly enjoying herself.
But she hadn't considered how uncomfortable this was making Xu Tianming.
Fortunately, Columbina noticed and promptly sent a stream of gentle moonlight into him, calming the heat in his heart.
Once Columbina's power eased the heat inside Ye Guyi, the medicinal power of the Whale Rubber began to strengthen her body in turn.
Generally speaking, women didn't benefit as much from absorbing natural treasures with such intensely masculine yang energy. But Ye Guyi's Angel Martial Soul was also intensely yang in nature, making her perfectly suited to absorb this medicinal power.
About a quarter of an hour later, Ye Guyi successfully refined all the medicinal power of the Whale Rubber inside her body. She could clearly feel that she was much stronger than before.
The feeling of getting stronger was wonderful, but at that moment, Ye Guyi's emotions were tangled beyond measure...
Oh heavens! What did I just do?
I actually kept clinging to my benefactor and wouldn't let go!
What was that gentle, cool feeling just now...? Didn't my benefactor say I had to get into the ice bucket to suppress the heat...?
But his embrace was so warm. I really wish I could stay like that forever...
At the same time, Xu Tianming took the chance to speak with Columbina:
"I didn't know your power was so miraculous, Columbina... But why did you stop me from putting her in the ice bucket just now?"
"I was afraid she'd catch a cold."
"Huh?"
"I was afraid she'd catch a cold... Even I think the water in that ice bucket is a little cold. This girl is so young. If she gets in and catches a cold, she'll feel awful..."
Xu Tianming could hardly believe that reason.
But it certainly fit Columbina's strange way of thinking and personality.
His consciousness returned to his body.
Feeling that Ye Guyi's skin had returned to a normal temperature and her breathing had gradually steadied, Xu Tianming knew she had nearly finished refining the Whale Glue's medicinal power.
"How are you feeling?"
At Xu Tianming's words, Ye Guyi opened her eyes without thinking.
"I feel... great."
"How much longer are you going to stay in my arms?"
"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! That was so rude of me..."
At Xu Tianming's sudden question, Ye Guyi reacted like a startled cat. She hurriedly let go and jumped down.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I never said I blamed you..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Your body probably hasn't reached its limit yet. If so, have some more Whale Rubber. But since you can't handle much, this time I'll use the power of Frost Moon to nourish your body throughout. You won't have to endure that unbearable heat again."
For Ye Guyi, this was certainly good news.
But for some reason, after hearing Xu Tianming's last sentence, she felt a little disappointed.
After all, if that was the case, she'd have no proper excuse to get close to her benefactor again...
Before you continue