This Thing Inspires the Deepest Longing (Thanks to "Yi" for the Monthly Pass!)

A gentle breeze swept past, making the flower branches sway softly.

Blood, carrying the twin loves of past and present lives, spilled onto the white flower.

The white flower was stained crimson, taking on a few touches of bewitching charm.

The wind stopped,

and the flower fell.

Resting quietly in a delicate jade hand, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red silently spoke of its owner's deep devotion.

It began in days gone by and did not end in the present.

May you pluck it, for this thing inspires the deepest longing.

Hu Liena carefully cradled it to her chest as though it were a priceless treasure. Her usually seductive, affectionate eyes were fixed blankly on the white flower.

"Sister Liena, you...?!"

Xu Peinian's hesitant voice jolted everyone present awake.

Aside from the curious gazes of the three elders, there was also the complicated look Zhu Zhuqing sent from the other side of the pool.

She actually had someone she loved deeply. Who was that person? Could it be...

Zhu Zhuqing did not dare continue thinking about it. This clearly had nothing to do with her, yet an indescribable ache rose in her heart.

Coming back to herself, Hu Liena's lips curled slightly before she turned and gave her A-Nian a wink.

Only today did Xu Peinian truly understand what it meant for a single backward glance and smile to give rise to a hundred charms.

"Sister Liena, so you have someone you like? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Looks like I was being full of myself... Xu Peinian spoke in a teasing tone, but bitterness welled up in his heart.

Hu Liena carefully put away the Lovesick Heartbreak Red before hopping cheerfully toward Xu Peinian with her hands behind her back.

At that moment, she no longer resembled a seductive, mature beauty. She looked exactly like a little girl who had received the gift she had longed for.

"What? Is my little A-Nian jealous?"

Hu Liena came close and teased him.

"How could I be jealous? It's a good thing that you have someone you love."

Hu Liena could now be considered the person who understood Xu Peinian best in the world. Seeing her A-Nian acting indifferent while forcing a smile, how could she not know what he was thinking?

With that thought, Hu Liena suddenly struck while Xu Peinian was unprepared, lunging at the side of his face.

The warm, soft touch vanished the instant it appeared, but Xu Peinian's mind felt as though it had been struck by lightning.

A current immediately raced through his entire body.

But Hu Liena was not done. Switching effortlessly between the gentle older-sister and lively young-girl sides of herself, she grabbed Xu Peinian and pressed his head into a patch of softness.

"Idiot A-Nian, from beginning to end, your sister has never fallen for anyone but you."

Xu Peinian was already dizzy from experiencing the face-washing service, and hearing Hu Liena's near-confession whispered into his ear only made his head spin further.

Even someone as bold as Hu Liena blushed furiously after doing this in front of several seniors, but she had no intention of letting go.

Since the truth was out, she no longer needed to pretend.

She had originally planned to wait until A-Nian grew up a little more before properly savoring him, but seeing those familiar faces from their past lives come knocking one after another, she no longer wanted to hold back, even if the fruit was still a little unripe.

If she kept enduring, A-Nian would be stolen away by them again. That was absolutely unacceptable!

The more Hu Liena thought about it, the more worked up she became, and she pushed Xu Peinian's head down even harder.

"Mm, mmm..."

Severely deprived of oxygen, Xu Peinian was no longer dazed. He instinctively struggled to get up.

"Ha! Sister Liena, are you trying to suffocate me?"

Xu Peinian gasped for breath and asked, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Hearing that, Hu Liena forced herself to remain composed and hooked her arm around Xu Peinian's. Her voice remained utterly alluring:

"Your sister apologizes to you. Will A-Nian forgive your sister?"

"Will you~?"

As she twisted her body, the front of her clothes kept brushing against Xu Peinian's arm. Her voice grew ever more lilting, sweet, and bone-meltingly seductive.

How could Xu Peinian withstand that? He hurriedly broke free and put some distance between them.

"Sister Liena, don't come any closer for now."

Xu Peinian's CPU was overheating. He needed to cool it down first.

Judging by the current situation, with the Lovesick Heartbreak Red's confirmation, Hu Liena truly liked him.

He did not dislike Hu Liena, and he even had quite a favorable impression of her, but he had never expected Hu Liena to be into younger boys?

So I've already been on someone's mind for all these years. This damned charm... It was Xu Peinian's first time being confessed to by such a stunning beauty. If his Dao heart had not been firm, he would have fallen long ago.

"Hu Liena, do you truly like Xiao Nian?"

A wave of pressure instantly descended upon Hu Liena, forcing her delicate body to bend slightly.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, what are you doing?!"

"Boy Nian, don't get anxious yet."

Light Feather Douluo spoke up in reminder, his voice gentle yet impossible to refuse.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had spoken first, remained silent as he stared at Hu Liena. His expression was stern, entirely unlike his usual calm demeanor.

Those raised by the Elder Hall would most likely become Xue'er's trusted aides in the future. How could they be snatched away by Bibi Dong's disciple?

With several old bones like them around, this pair would never happen!

"Honored offerings, this junior's sincerity is witnessed by heaven and earth. There is not the slightest falsehood in it!"

Though crushed beneath immense pressure, Hu Liena still gritted her teeth and defended herself.

The two offerings kept their faces stern and did not answer. It seemed they would not let the matter rest unless Hu Liena changed her tune.

What a sin... Xu Peinian raised a hand and rubbed his brow before stepping in to mediate.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, Fifth Grandpa, please spare Sister Liena for my sake."

Seeing that they remained unmoved even after hearing him, Xu Peinian could only step closer to Golden Crocodile Douluo and whisper:

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, don't worry. I know my limits. I won't be easily fooled by a woman like her."

After a brief pause, Xu Peinian continued, appealing to both emotion and reason:

"Besides, perhaps we can use this opportunity to win Hu Liena over and drive a wedge between her and Bibi Dong. Then our Elder Hall gains another genius while also suppressing Pope Hall's momentum. It would kill two birds with one stone."

Xu Peinian spoke with heartfelt sincerity, though nine parts of what he said were true and one part was false.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze flickered slightly before he finally nodded at Fifth.

The two offerings withdrew their released auras.

"Since Xiao Nian has put it that way, I'll spare you this once."

"However," Golden Crocodile Douluo's sharp gaze pierced Hu Liena in the distance, "if I discover that you harbor any improper thoughts toward Xiao Nian, I will not spare you next time!"

"Ahem, all right, it's over now. Sister Liena, refine the immortal herb here with Zhuqing first. I'm heading out for a while and will be back soon."

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing had already begun refining hers while Hu Liena had not moved, Xu Peinian asked in confusion:

"Sister Liena, why aren't you doing it?"

"I... I want to keep it by my side."

Sigh, what else could he do when the person before him was a seductive older sister in the bloom of youth, the kind who could even whimper cutely... Xu Peinian's tone was helpless, yet carried a trace of indulgence.

"If you don't want to refine it, then absorb that Narcissus Jade Muscle and Bone instead."

"Okay."

Perhaps because Golden Crocodile and the others were nearby, Hu Liena did not dare act as flirtatiously as before. She merely nodded obediently.

Thus, a world where no one got hurt was achieved.

Narcissus Jade Muscle and Bone: ? Hey, what about me!

With the matter settled, Xu Peinian asked Dugu Bo to stand guard before leaving together with Golden Crocodile and Light Feather Douluo.