"Well, it's a good thing you're willing to cultivate now. Strengthening your body will make things a little easier when your cold affliction strikes..."
Lin Xiao fell silent for a moment before sighing.
At his words, the joy on Qingtan's face faded slightly, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
Hun Changqing noticed this as well. He looked at Qingtan and asked in confusion.
"Cold affliction?"
Qingtan shook her head, forcing a smile onto her face.
"It's nothing, Brother Changqing..."
Hun Changqing nodded silently. He was not a man of many words these days, and since Qingtan did not want to explain, he would not press her.
"All right, Qingtan, I've already examined your aptitude. There's no problem with you cultivating. I just need to examine Changqing's meridians. It's also possible that you cultivated before losing your memory, Changqing."
Lin Xiao spoke up, breaking the rather heavy atmosphere.
Hun Changqing nodded and asked.
"What... should I do?"
"Just hold out your hand."
Nodding, Hun Changqing laid his hand flat on the table before him. Lin Xiao placed two rough, heavily callused fingers against his wrist and began examining him.
After a while, Lin Xiao's brows knitted tightly, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. He slowly withdrew his fingers, wiped the sweat away with the hem of his clothes, then let out a long breath and shook his head.
"How strange. Changqing, you really have never cultivated before. There isn't a trace of Yuan Force in your meridians, and your pulse is extremely peculiar. I've simply... never encountered anything like it..."
"Ah! Does that mean Brother Changqing can't cultivate?"
Qingtan cried out in alarm. She was no longer that young and knew something of the world outside. Strength had the final say in everything. Women had it a little easier,