Can I Call You A-Nian?

Spirit Hall Academy, by Autumn Bright Lake.

The lake shimmered with rippling light, while blade shadows layered the shore.

Xu Peinian had swung his blade a thousand times and practiced the most basic blade techniques hundreds of times.

After resting briefly, he began practicing the Netherworld Three Forms again.

It had to be said that training in a different environment greatly improved the results.

Not far from the lakeside.

A graceful figure swayed her slender waist as she stepped lightly toward the end of the path. Her perfectly proportioned figure was enough to make any man drool.

As the trees on either side fell away, Hu Liena's view suddenly opened up, and her gaze locked intently in one direction.

Just then,

by the lake.

The boy in black training clothes drew his blade and slashed upward.

Blade light flared, willow leaves spun gently, and the strike cut straight into her heart.

Hu Liena pursed her full red lips, then gracefully moved forward, lifting her skirt as she walked toward the lake step by step.

From the shadows of the forest path to the warm sunlight by Autumn Bright Lake, she crossed the long walkway as though she had stepped from a past life into this one. At both the beginning and the end, she had met him.

Beside the small lake, the waters gleamed beautifully beneath the clear sky.

The girl in the golden dress stood alone.

As splendid as an autumn chrysanthemum, as lush as a spring pine.

She rarely wore long dresses, but to leave A-Nian with a perfect first impression, she had deliberately put on a magnificent gilded gown today.

As she raised her head, she tucked the loose strands of hair by her forehead behind her ear.

The exquisitely dressed beauty curved her lips into a breathtaking smile and spoke as if they were meeting for the first time:

"Hello, junior. My name is Hu Liena."

Hearing this, Xu Peinian froze where he stood.

No matter how hard Xu Peinian racked his brains, he could not understand how he had encountered her here—someone both familiar and unfamiliar.

Having read the original novel, Xu Peinian naturally knew the name Hu Liena well, but since arriving in this world, he had never met her.

Moreover, he did not want to meet Hu Liena.

After all, she was Pope Bibi Dong's disciple and the future Saintess of Spirit Hall. She was naturally opposed to the Elder Hall, where Xu Peinian belonged.

The two of them were destined to be enemies, so they should not have had any connection at this point in time.

Thus, when Xu Peinian saw the stunning beauty before him take the initiative to greet him, his CPU burned out.

The gears of fate had not even begun to turn, yet the chain had already fallen off.

Seeing that Xu Peinian did not respond, Hu Liena's fingers slowly curled, and a trace of inexplicable panic appeared in her eyes.

"Junior, what's your name?"

"Huh? I... I didn't call out." Xu Peinian's answer was completely off the mark.

Realizing what had happened, Xu Peinian patted his head and awkwardly reorganized his words:

"Sorry, Senior Hu Liena. I didn't react in time just now and said the wrong thing."

After a pause, Xu Peinian adjusted himself and formally introduced himself:

"Hello, my name is Xu Peinian. Pei as in timely rain, Nian as in having a good year."

Seeing the man she loved, so close at hand, looking adorably flustered, Hu Liena's slight concern instantly vanished. She let out a silver-bell-like laugh.

Are you provoking me...? The warm smile on Xu Peinian's face instantly stiffened, and his grip on the Netherworld Blade tightened again and again.

Hu Liena regained her confidence and once more seized the initiative.

"Xu~ Peinian. Such a nice name. Then can I call you A-Nian?"

Big sister, what exactly are you playing at?

Xu Peinian could not make heads or tails of anything this seductive vixen did, so he could only nod and temporarily go along with her wishes.

Seeing Xu Peinian agree, Hu Liena's charming fox eyes narrowed into thin slits. The corners of her lips rose slightly, making her look exactly like a sly little fox that had successfully stolen something delicious.

"Hehe, then I'll call you A-Nian from now on?"

"Uh, alright, Senior."

His answer seemed to dissatisfy her, and her lovely brows drew together.

"You can call me Sister, or you can call me Nana. But don't call me Senior. It makes us sound too distant, and it doesn't sound nice."

Big sister, isn't this our first time meeting? Isn't being distant perfectly normal? And you want me to call you Sister? If I get any bolder, are you going to ask me to call you Mom...? Xu Peinian grumbled inwardly, but answered honestly:

"How about... I call you Sister Liena?"

Nana and Sister were far too intimate. Xu Peinian could not bring himself to say them.

"Mm... alright."

Hu Liena did not press too hard and settled for the form of address Xu Peinian had suggested.

"Um, Sister Liena, do you need anything else? If not, I need to continue practicing my blade."

"Do you want Sister to practice with you?"

"No need, Sister Liena."

How could Xu Peinian know what Hu Liena was plotting? What if she had deliberately approached him on Bibi Dong's behalf, hoping to win over this rising star of the Elder Hall?

So Xu Peinian could only deliberately keep his distance from her, even if she was a mature beauty with a slim waist, long legs, and both a valiant and seductive charm.

"Hehe~ What, are you afraid Sister will eat you?" Hu Liena covered her mouth and giggled, her breath fragrant as orchids.

Having lived through two lifetimes, Hu Liena exuded astonishing allure in every gesture.

"No, no. It's just that I've practiced alone for so long that I'm not used to practicing with someone else."

How could a virgin like Xu Peinian withstand this? He hurriedly waved his hands in refusal, then stepped aside, raised the Netherworld Blade, and began swinging it.

Today was their first meeting, and Hu Liena knew she should not overdo things. So she stopped disturbing Xu Peinian and merely stood to one side, silently watching him practice.

Being alone with A-Nian, even if she could only stand there and watch him swing his blade, made Hu Liena feel incomparably happy.

It also strengthened her resolve to create a world that belonged only to her and A-Nian!

Xu Peinian's movements were initially somewhat distorted because his heart was unsettled, but as time passed, he gradually calmed his mind and immersed himself in the mysteries of blade techniques.

From a short distance away, Hu Liena watched her A-Nian diligently swing his blade. Such days were so ordinary, yet she felt utterly content and fulfilled.

As Xu Peinian swung his blade again and again, sweat ran down his cheeks, while time quietly slipped away.

Gradually, the sun sank westward.

The tail end of summer carried a hint of autumn chill.

The evening breeze lifted the short hair by the girl's ears and brushed it toward the boy tirelessly practicing his blade in the distance...

After finishing his blade practice, Xu Peinian bid Hu Liena farewell and returned alone to the small courtyard where he lived.

After washing up simply, Xu Peinian went to bed early, intending to ease the day's exhaustion through plenty of sleep.

What a fulfilling day!

Xu Peinian let out a long sigh inwardly. Aside from inexplicably getting to know a seductive older sister, his day had been quite fulfilling and satisfying—breathing exercises in the morning and blade practice in the afternoon.

He rather liked days like this. If things could continue this way forever, it would not be a bad choice.

Accompanied by the chirping of summer insects, Xu Peinian fell into a deep sleep.

Late at night.

A dark figure quietly slipped out of the neighboring courtyard again. Then, just as she had the previous night, she skillfully opened a crack in the window and released purple Soul-Confusing Incense.

After estimating that the Soul-Confusing Incense had taken effect, Hu Liena entered Xu Peinian's room once more.

A moment later, faint rustling sounds of blankets and clothes rubbing together came from within the room.

After a moment of silence, a satisfied moan drifted out the window and disappeared into the night.