Really Just Training?

The next morning, after washing up and changing into a clean set of clothes, Qin Yu headed toward Xiao Yu's dormitory building.

As he reached the foot of the building and was about to ask someone to call her down, he saw a familiar figure emerge from the stairwell.

Qin Yu paused slightly. Xiao Yu seemed... different from usual today.

Though she normally wore the academy uniform as well, she usually just threw on a set, tied up her hair casually, and went without makeup.

But today, her hair seemed to have just been washed, carrying a faint, fresh fragrance as it fell smoothly over her shoulders.

Her uniform had also been carefully arranged, its blue-and-white skirt neat and pressed without a single wrinkle.

Yet what Qin Yu found hardest to look away from were her round, slender legs wrapped in black stockings.

The sight inevitably reminded Qin Yu of that "poem" that had left a deep impression on him:

When I hear your slender legs are wrapped in gauze so light, Ink-black flowing radiance reflects the sunset bright. A strand of soft silk conceals a bewitching frame, Three parts graceful charm surpass peach blossoms in fame. (Modern · Netizen)

Qin Yu's gaze lingered there for several seconds before he finally came back to himself.

"Brother Yu!"

When Xiao Yu saw him, her eyes lit up, and she jogged over.

Once she reached him, she noticed Qin Yu's gaze resting on her legs. She boldly stepped forward, with much less of her former shyness remaining.

"Ahem, let's go."

Qin Yu turned and headed toward the mountain range on the outskirts of the academy.

Xiao Yu hurried after him. The two walked side by side along the mountain path, neither saying a word.

The morning mountain air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of grass and trees.

Xiao Yu secretly glanced at Qin Yu's profile, sweetness filling her heart.

Actually, Xue Ni had found these black stockings for her, saying that men all liked this sort of thing.

Forget it. Don't think about it.

Xiao Yu withdrew her gaze and focused on walking.

The two followed the mountain path upward, passing through a dense forest as the sound of flowing water gradually reached their ears.

Qin Yu brushed aside the branches before him, revealing the waterfall and pool ahead.

Han Yue was not there.

"This is the place?"

Xiao Yu looked around curiously.

The waterfall was not tall, only three or four zhang high. The clear water crashed against the rocks below, sending up a spray of white foam.

The pool was so clear that its bottom could be seen, surrounded by lush trees. It was quiet and well hidden.

The air was filled with the coolness of mist, mixed with the scents of earth and vegetation, refreshing both body and mind.

"Mm."

Qin Yu nodded, removed his shoes and socks, and stepped barefoot onto the soil. Then he walked up to Xiao Yu and held out his hand.

"Give me your hand."

Xiao Yu looked at Qin Yu's outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed her hand in his.

Qin Yu took her hand, interlaced their fingers, and sat down facing her.

Xiao Yu placed her calves into the icy pool, feeling rather curious. Was this what Qin Yu meant by... helping him cultivate?

"Don't be nervous."

Qin Yu's voice remained calm, but his grip on her hand was steady.

"Circulate your Dou Qi into your palm. I'll guide you."

Xiao Yu took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began circulating the Dou Qi within her body. It surged through her meridians toward her palm, gathering where their interlocked fingers met.

At the same time, Qin Yu began circulating the Mysterious Earth Qilin Formula. Two entirely different kinds of Dou Qi met in their palms.

The gentle blue of water intertwined with the heavy brown of earth, forming a wondrous balance.

"So this is Water-Attribute Battle Qi..."

Qin Yu murmured as he tried guiding Xiao Yu's Water-Attribute Battle Qi into his own.

The moment they made contact, Qin Yu felt a warm, gentle force seep into the depths of his Battle Qi, as though parched land had been nourished by sweet rain.

His originally heavy and steady Earth-Attribute Battle Qi became increasingly vibrant under the nourishment of the Water Attribute.

"It really works."

Qin Yu was delighted. After circulating his Battle Qi through one full cycle, he turned to use his own Earth-Attribute Battle Qi to help Xiao Yu control hers.

The defining trait of water was its strong fluidity and diffusion. It was difficult to control; whatever vessel held it determined its shape, and it had no stable form of its own.

This was also the greatest challenge in cultivating Water-Attribute Battle Qi: it dispersed too easily, greatly reducing cultivation efficiency.

Because of this, Qin Yu had specifically sought out Instructor Ruo Lin yesterday to verify his thoughts.

Qin Yu took a deep breath and sank his focus into the mass of Dou Qi where their palms met.

His Earth-Attribute Battle Qi slowly spread from their palms into Xiao Yu's arm, wrapping around her meridians.

Since Water-Attribute Battle Qi was so prone to scattering, he could simply use his Earth-Attribute Battle Qi to help her contain it!

It was like building embankments across the land, confining rushing river water within its channel.

At the same time as it restrained her Battle Qi, Qin Yu's own Battle Qi could also be washed over by the Water Attribute, achieving a subtle balance.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu could clearly feel that, under Qin Yu's guidance, her own Dou Qi had become more obedient than ever before.

Rather than darting everywhere and leaking away as it had in the past, it flowed obediently through her meridians and gathered in her dantian.

"Keep circulating your cultivation method."

Qin Yu's voice sounded beside her ear.

Xiao Yu nodded. Restrained by Qin Yu's Earth-Attribute Battle Qi, her Dou Qi barely dispersed at all and all gathered into her Battle Qi Vortex!

Eh, something seemed wrong...

Qin Yu called her here, and they were really just cultivating?!

She had thought so much before this, and had even specially dressed up today. In the end, she had simply... overthought it?

"You're thinking about something else? Steady yourself."

Hearing Qin Yu's voice, Xiao Yu hurriedly steadied her mind, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

If he didn't have those kinds of thoughts, and they were only cultivating...

That didn't seem so bad either.

Cultivating together with Qin Yu like this was far more efficient than cultivating alone.

The two continued sitting face-to-face, fingers interlocked as Dou Qi circulated back and forth between them, forming a complete cycle.

Qin Yu's Earth-Attribute Battle Qi continuously condensed and grew stronger under the nourishment of the Water Attribute.

Xiao Yu's Water-Attribute Battle Qi circulated steadily under the restraint of the Earth Attribute, accumulating rapidly.

The two attributes complemented each other, and the pair became increasingly coordinated, their cultivation efficiency gradually improving as well.

Second by second, time passed. The two became fully immersed in cultivation and forgot everything around them.

The waterfall roared, and sunlight filtered down through the leaves. After an unknown amount of time, a silver-haired figure emerged from the forest.

Han Yue had arrived later than usual today.

She had cultivated until late last night and gotten up late this morning, only coming up the mountain now.

She pushed aside the branches and was about to head toward the pool when her footsteps suddenly halted.

By the pool, two figures sat facing one another, their fingers interlocked, surrounded by two completely different auras of Dou Qi.

Water-blue and brown intertwined, giving off a faint sheen beneath the sunlight.

Qin Yu? And... another girl?