Shui Bing'er's Alluring Temptation-Why Are You Blushing?

Six years later.

Skywater Academy.

The morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice and fell upon Shui Bing'er.

She stood before the mirror, her water-blue hair cascading past her slender waist.

Several strands rested against her chest, making her delicate face appear even fairer.

Six years had already shed her initial youthful innocence.

She had grown tall and slender, with a narrow waist and graceful shoulder and neck lines.

Her water-blue dress clung to her body as it flowed downward, its hem just covering the backs of her knees and revealing a pair of fair, long legs.

She raised a hand and adjusted her collar.

The woman in the mirror had cool, clear features and an ethereal bearing.

Shui Bing'er looked for a while before lowering her gaze to the dress she wore.

She had personally chosen this dress a few days ago.

Fine snowflakes were embroidered along its hem, while a silver-white sash around her waist perfectly outlined her slender figure.

Normally, she rarely spent time dressing herself up.

But today was different.

Qian Chen had been in seclusion for three years, and today, he should emerge.

After entering the cultivation room three years ago, he had never come out.

Shui Bing'er occasionally passed outside the cultivation room, but she had never knocked and disturbed him.

Now, a full three years had passed.

She had not seen Qian Chen in a very long time.

Shui Bing'er brushed her hand over her skirt, her fingers slowly tightening.

"I wonder if he still remembers me."

As soon as she said it, a faint flush spread across her fair cheeks.

"He'll definitely remember."

"We cultivated together every day. How could he possibly forget me?"

Shui Bing'er raised her eyes to look at herself in the mirror.

After a brief pause, she softly added,

"I wonder whether he'll like this dress."

At the thought, she immediately turned around.

Shui Bing'er picked up a hairpin from the table and gathered up her loose hair again.

Only after making sure her clothes were free of wrinkles did she leave her room.

The eastern side of the academy.

A secluded courtyard stood quietly by the lakeside.

Blue-Leaf Snow Orchids grew along the courtyard wall, while clear lake water slowly flowed beneath the stone bridge.

Qian Chen's door was tightly shut.

Shui Bing'er came to the door and raised her hand.

Her fingertips were only an inch away, yet she hesitated for a long time without knocking.

Three years without seeing him.

Would barging in disturb his cultivation?

But today was the day he emerged from seclusion.

Shui Bing'er pursed her red lips and ultimately knocked softly three times.

There was no response from within.

She waited a little longer.

"Qian Chen?"

There was still no movement.

After hesitating, Shui Bing'er grasped the handle and pushed open the door.

No lamps were lit in the cultivation room.

Sunlight streamed in through a high window, illuminating the white-robed man seated cross-legged on the floor.

Qian Chen wore nothing on his upper body.

He sat cross-legged atop a Cold Jade Meditation Cushion, his black hair draped loose behind him.

His broad shoulders and firm chest were exposed to the light, every muscle line sharply defined.

His waist and abdomen were taut and powerful, and he was taller and stronger than he had been three years ago.

A faint violet-gold radiance flowed beneath his skin.

With every breath, he drew the surrounding Soul Power into a slow surge.

Shui Bing'er stood in the doorway, frozen in place.

Not a single word of everything she had prepared came out.

Qian Chen's eyes were closed, his expression calm.

The sunlight fell over him, making that body especially striking.

Shui Bing'er's gaze uncontrollably lingered on his chest before quickly shifting elsewhere.

Yet the next moment, she could not help looking back.

Qian Chen had changed too much over the past three years.

The handsome youth from the past had now completely grown up.

Shui Bing'er's heartbeat quickened more and more.

She hurriedly raised both hands and covered her eyes.

"Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

Qian Chen slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at Shui Bing'er standing in the doorway.

That water-blue dress clung to her tall, slender figure, with the silver-white sash encircling her waist.

Her fair legs showed beneath the hem, looking especially well-proportioned in the sunlight.

He withdrew his gaze and calmly said, "Why would I need to wear clothes in my own room?"

Shui Bing'er lowered her hands but did not look at him right away.

"You... you should at least be mindful of that."

"What is there to be mindful of while cultivating?"

"This is the academy."

"My room is in the academy, but it's still my room."

Qian Chen stood up and casually grabbed a white robe from nearby, draping it over himself.

Its front did not fully close, still exposing part of his firm chest.

He walked over to Shui Bing'er.

After three years apart, the distance between them suddenly became very close.

Shui Bing'er lifted her eyes and met his gaze directly.

"Shui Bing'er."

"Mm?"

"After three years, you've grown up."

As those words fell, Shui Bing'er's cheeks reddened even more.

Qian Chen appraised her, his gaze settling on the silver-white sash.

"You've changed so much, yet you still came in without knocking?"

Shui Bing'er immediately turned her face away.

"I knocked just now."

"No one answered."

"So you came right in?"

"I only wanted to make sure you had already emerged from seclusion."

Qian Chen took a step forward.

Shui Bing'er instinctively stepped back, her back lightly bumping against the doorframe.

"Did you make sure?"

"I did."

"You looked so carefully. Do you have some ulterior motive toward me?"

Shui Bing'er raised a hand and pushed him.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Qian Chen did not move back.

He lowered his gaze to the dress she wore.

"You're dressed so beautifully?"

Shui Bing'er's hand froze in midair.

"I like it myself."

"Just because you like it?"

"Of course."

"Then why were you staring at my clothes the whole time?"

"I wasn't."

Shui Bing'er answered very quickly.

But Qian Chen had already seen her gaze clearly.

Qian Chen bent closer.

His faint breath brushed against Shui Bing'er's ear.

Her slender body tensed, and a trace of panic appeared in her water-blue eyes.

"Shui Bing'er, you're blushing."

"It's too hot in the room."

"The cultivation room is surrounded by Cold Jade. How could it be hot?"

"If I say it's hot, it's hot."

She pushed Qian Chen away and turned to walk toward the window.

But after only two steps, Qian Chen's footsteps sounded behind her.

Shui Bing'er stopped, yet did not turn around.

"You've been in seclusion for three years. How did your cultivation go?"

"Not bad."

"Just not bad?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

Shui Bing'er turned around and was about to continue asking when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

A jade-green figure appeared in the doorway.

Ice Empress stood there, her gaze sweeping over the two people in the room.

Qian Chen stood beside Shui Bing'er with his robe draped over him.

Shui Bing'er's cheeks were flushed, and her fingers had pinched faint wrinkles into the corner of her skirt.

Ice Empress's expression slowly darkened.

"Did I come at a bad time?"

Shui Bing'er immediately straightened up.

"It's not like that."

"I only came to inform Qian Chen."

Ice Empress crossed her arms.

"Inform him of what?"

Shui Bing'er glanced at Qian Chen and hurriedly said, "Xue Qinghe sent word, inviting Qian Chen to lead a team to Heaven Dou City and take part in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."

After saying that, she turned and headed out the door.

"The message has been delivered. I'll head back first."

Shui Bing'er walked away quickly.

Only after leaving the courtyard did she stop by the lake.

A gentle breeze swept across the water, stirring her water-blue hair.

She raised a hand to cover her cheeks.

The way Qian Chen had leaned close just now appeared in her mind once more.

They had been too close.

Close enough for her to see his features clearly and feel the scent that belonged to him.