Is there some misunderstanding between us?

Xiao Qinghe wrestled with himself. "Junior brother, I remember you didn't like men getting close to you."

When they first met in the cave, he had used his body to cool the boy's poison-induced fever, and the boy had nearly sliced him with his sword.

Glancing at the longsword beside them, Xiao Qinghe felt uneasy.

The boy said again, "But I'm cold."

About to freeze his ass off, Xiao Qinghe decided to get a little closer. He tentatively shifted backward until his back rested lightly against the boy's.

So warm.

The Demon Clan possessed exceptional innate gifts, including a body temperature higher than that of ordinary humans. In the freezing cave, the boy was like a human furnace.

He was far better at keeping Xiao Qinghe warm than any firewood.

Shivering all over, Xiao Qinghe unconsciously leaned back a little more.

The boy stiffened, his entire back arching and tensing like a bow ready to loose an arrow.

Just as I thought. He still hates being touched by men.

Xiao Qinghe sighed inwardly and moved away.

The next second, the furnace pressed against him of its own accord.

Almost the boy's entire body was pressed against Xiao Qinghe's back.

Xiao Qinghe felt warm all over, but his nerves were taut, and he didn't dare move.

The boy remained pressed against him for a long time without pulling away.

Warm from head to toe, Xiao Qinghe grew drowsy and slowly drifted off.

He actually slept well.

The cave was dark, without a trace of light, making it impossible to tell the time.

When Xiao Qinghe woke again, it was hunger that roused him.

Xie Jun had gathered a large armful of wild mountain mushrooms from somewhere, then made mushroom and octopus stew.

Its fragrance filled the air.

It infuriated the Octopus Monster enough to make him emerge from the lake again.

Xie Jun raised his sword and brought it down, slicing the severed octopus limb, as thick as a baby's arm, into pieces. He wrapped them in deodorizing herb to marinate and remove their fishy smell, then tipped them into the mushroom soup one slice at a time.

The pot of rich soup smelled mouthwateringly delicious.

Xiao Qinghe declared him a true expert. "Junior brother, you've really got a knack for this!"

The Octopus Monster practically steamed with rage. "I'll kill you both!"

Certain that he wouldn't dare touch Xie Jun, Xiao Qinghe ate his meat serenely. He even remembered to invite their nearly apoplectic friend to join them. "Buddy, this smells amazing. Want a bite?"

The Octopus Monster flew into a rage and almost charged out of the lake.

Xiao Qinghe looked at Xie Jun. "Junior brother, I'm afraid one pot won't be enough."

Xie Jun lifted his sword and looked expressionlessly at the Octopus Monster.

One moment, the Octopus Monster was bristling with murderous intent. The next, he rapidly sank beneath the lake. "Just you wait! I'll be back!"

"Pfft!" Xiao Qinghe clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up.

Being trapped in the cave didn't seem as unbearable as he had imagined.

It was a shame that Xie Jun would miss his fated opportunity.

According to the original novel, Xie Jun was supposed to develop feelings for the female lead in the cave and obtain a cultivation manual through a fortunate coincidence, greatly increasing his cultivation.

Xiao Qinghe suddenly remembered the reward mentioned by the system. "System, where's my reward?"

[Your reward has been issued. Please check that you have received it.]

Accompanied by the electronic voice, a dim glow flared, and a thick manual fell out of thin air, landing in Xiao Qinghe's arms.

Xiao Qinghe was delighted, then immediately alarmed.

Because he saw the words emblazoned on the manual's cover:

["Dual Cultivation Manual"-master it in seven days, ascend to immortality in ten! Everyone who's tried it approves!]

Hearing the noise, Xie Jun looked over, then paused. "Senior brother, this is..."

"I'm not! I didn't!" Xiao Qinghe hastily flung the hot potato away.

As luck would have it, it landed right in front of Xie Jun.

The manual fell open, exposing line after line of cultivation instructions to Xie Jun's gaze.

Xiao Qinghe covered his face.

That damned system screwed me over again!

Now nothing could clear my name.

"Junior brother, please don't misunderstand. I was just so bored in this cave that when I happened to find this manual, I thought I'd practice a little to pass the time..."

Before Xiao Qinghe could finish, Xie Jun suddenly said, "All right."

Xiao Qinghe: "???"

Xie Jun raised his eyes and said expressionlessly, "This technique requires two people to practice together. If you want to practice it, senior brother, I'll practice with you."

I don't want to practice it!

Not one bit!

Stay away!

Horrified, Xiao Qinghe asked, "Y-you, why do you want to practice this?"

"I want to become stronger." Xie Jun stared intently at Xiao Qinghe and clenched his fists. "In this world, the strong prey on the weak. Even a mere stinking octopus could leave me in such a miserable state. I refuse to accept that!"

Watching helplessly as that stinking octopus humiliated Xiao Qinghe and nearly killed him, Xie Jun had hated his own weakness more fiercely than ever before.

It was just like the bullying he had endured since birth, all that despair that made life worse than death.

He didn't want to remain at others' mercy, much less watch Xiao Qinghe get hurt before his eyes while he stood powerless to help.

Xie Jun advanced step by step.

Xiao Qinghe backed away again and again. "B-but this technique requires dual cultivation!"

"Are you unwilling, senior brother?" Xie Jun frowned.

Kid, do you even know what dual cultivation is?

What kind of dual cultivation can two men do?!

Xiao Qinghe kept retreating until his back struck the stone wall, leaving him nowhere to go. "There are countless cultivation methods. It doesn't have to be dual cultivation! Building a solid foundation and progressing steadily is the proper path. Dual cultivation is a crooked shortcut. You can't do it!"

"A crooked shortcut?" Xie Jun stopped and smiled bitterly. "In your eyes, senior brother, is everything about the Demon Clan crooked?"

"That's not what I meant..." Xiao Qinghe was at a loss for words.

Xie Jun lowered his eyes, looking forlorn.

Seeing him like that, Xiao Qinghe felt an inexplicable stab in his heart.

Xie Jun had been born into the Demon Clan, yet he still knew nothing about his birth parents. Malicious people had even taught him that he was an ill omen who would bring disaster to everyone around him, causing him to hate himself for a time.

Other people's disgust at his Demon Clan identity was undoubtedly a sharp blade thrust into his sorest wound.

After a fierce internal struggle, Xiao Qinghe finally softened. "Even if you're determined to practice this technique, there's no need to rush. At least wait until we get out of the cave, then find a woman..."

"Why a woman? I don't need a woman." Xie Jun drew closer, step by step.

Xiao Qinghe's head felt ready to explode. He wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere left to go.

Xie Jun came up to him and sat cross-legged. Noticing that Xiao Qinghe was leaning back with his entire body pressed against the stone wall, he couldn't help frowning. "Senior brother, why are you staying so far away?"

Xie Jun looked utterly determined. Clearly, he wouldn't settle for anything less than practicing it.

Sweat beaded on Xiao Qinghe's forehead. He felt he could barely handle this. "If you insist on practicing it, junior brother, then let's avoid any unnecessary physical contact..."

Xie Jun paused. "It doesn't require physical contact in the first place. What are you worried about, senior brother?"

Xiao Qinghe: "???"

Xie Jun spread the manual open before him. "The Breath-Exchange Method only requires you to listen to the other person's breathing. What they exhale, I inhale; what I exhale, they inhale. That is dual cultivation. Haven't you read the manual, senior brother?"

The air froze.

An unparalleled awkwardness filled it.

"So it's breath exchange! Hahaha!" Xiao Qinghe sprang back to life. "You should've said so earlier! Hahaha!"

I nearly thought we were going to do... that!

Scared the hell out of me!

Xie Jun leaned a little closer. "Senior brother, take it slowly. Sink your breath into your dantian, regulate your breathing, and inhale and exhale evenly..."

Exceptionally gifted, Xie Jun quickly entered the proper state. With each breath, his breath flowed through the air and into Xiao Qinghe's breathing, circulating through Xiao Qinghe's body before passing back into his own as they exchanged breaths.

Xiao Qinghe felt only a surging force pouring into his body with each breath.

Could this be the legendary magic power?

Xiao Qinghe, a novice of mediocre aptitude who had yet to grasp even the basics of cultivation, immediately became enthralled, so absorbed in cultivating that he couldn't pull himself away.

So much so that he completely ignored his surroundings.

A figure quietly approached.