Jinyuan Apartment.
"Yu Mian, Xin Xia, I'm back."
"Brother?"
"Lu Ling?"
Hearing him, both girls turned around in delighted surprise.
But Xin Xia's expression quickly turned cold, her face frosty as she demanded:
"Brother, why have you brought another woman home?"
Beautiful, noble, icily alluring... the sense of crisis she inspired even surpassed what Xin Xia had felt when Ding Yumian first arrived.
Xin Xia, the resident cat, was brimming with hostility toward Netherworld.
Netherworld, meanwhile, kept a cold expression, looking unexpectedly cute. Cuter than Xin Xia.
"It's a long story. I'll introduce you later." Lu Ling turned a deaf ear and walked straight toward Ding Yumian.
"Ah..."
Ding Yumian let out a startled cry.
Those eyes, always tinged with melancholy and calm, now darted about in a panic like a startled fawn's.
"You never used to get shy. Looks like you've recovered quite a few emotions."
"I... thank you." Ding Yumian's voice was as faint as a mosquito's, her body a little stiff. After half a year apart, this familiar embrace actually made her feel a rush of heat.
"Brother... I want a hug too."
Xin Xia knew perfectly well that Lu Ling was giving Ding Yumian her so-called "treatment," but she still couldn't help getting jealous.
Even if she needed treatment... he shouldn't do it right in front of her!
"Xin Xia's all grown up now. No more hugs."
"What?!"
"Haha, just kidding, just kidding."
Lu Ling gave her a brief, token hug, satisfying the jealous little Xin Xia's wish.
"So... who is she?" Ye Xin Xia asked.
"Her name is Netherworld. She's my... contracted partner, something like a Contract Beast."
"Hello." Netherworld knew a great many things and gracefully curtsied to the two girls. Like a lady of Western high society, a pure and noble swan.
"Huh?!!!"
Night had deepened.
Ye Xin Xia tossed and turned on the soft bed.
Brother, you're so bad!
"How am I bad?"
"Ah!" Ye Xin Xia jumped and sat up in bed, discovering Lu Ling standing beside it, watching her with a smile.
She instantly flushed red.
"Why were you eavesdropping on me?!" Ye Xin Xia was utterly mortified and indignant. "Wait, I didn't say anything just now."
"Your emotions were so strong that I could sense them without even deliberately using Mind Element Magic."
"...What are you doing here so late? And you came into a girl's room without even knocking. That's rude. It really loses you points with girls..." Ye Xin Xia rattled on and on, her attempt to cover things up far too obvious.
"If I didn't come show you some concern, I was afraid you'd burst from bottling it all up."
"I wasn't!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she went rigid, the tips of her ears instantly burning as her cheeks turned the color of ripe cherries.
"Then I'll go."
"Don't go!"
Xin Xia's coy resistance nearly made Lu Ling laugh aloud.
"How have you been these past six months?"
"I went to the magic high school to study now and then... The magic college entrance exam is coming up soon."
"Looks like you'll soon be my junior."
"That's right."
Alone together for the first time in half a year, they talked about the simplest things in their lives, giving vent to their pent-up longing.
"Brother..." Xin Xia had been leaning against Lu Ling's shoulder, but now she began making bolder incursions.
"There are so many women around you."
"...Not that many, surely."
Xin Xia put on an angry expression, then swiftly kissed him while his guard was down.
"..."
A full minute passed before Xin Xia could bear to release his lips.
"I'm your brother." Lu Ling's breathing was unsteady, as though something was on the verge of setting him alight.
Any normal younger sister would probably have felt afraid upon hearing those words, but Xin Xia wasn't normal.
"You're not just my brother." She didn't let go, but continued, "Would you be willing to watch me be with someone else?"
"Of course not."
"Then... keep me by your side for the rest of my life!"
Ye Xin Xia watched Lu Ling fall silent, tears swirling in her eyes, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Even after all this, is it still not enough?"
"All right."
Lu Ling answered with action, bending down to kiss her, not knowing whether she was sad or happy.
She was clearly such a fragile person, yet the more fragile someone was, the braver they became at certain moments.
He hadn't anticipated tonight.
"...It hurts."
"..."
He slept deeply. For once, he hadn't cultivated, but had instead enjoyed a sound, restful sleep.
With how things had gone last night... cultivation hadn't been possible anyway.
"Mmm..."
The beauty in his arms stirred, then opened her eyes.
Their eyes met, and Ye Xin Xia smiled sweetly.
"Brother, I love you."
"Morning."
"Oh, that's not how you're supposed to answer!" Xin Xia wriggled petulantly, looking as though she wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted.
"What's wrong?" Lu Ling truly found her both adorable and funny.
"Hmph. Say you love me."
"I love you, Xin Xia."
"Mhm!" Only after hearing what she wanted did Xin Xia look happy.
"Come on. Let's get you a bath."
Lu Ling threw back the covers, scooped Xin Xia straight into his arms, and headed toward the bathroom beside them.
"Okay..." Ye Xin Xia blushed slightly, only then remembering that she seemed to be completely naked. Although last night they had already...
"You haven't helped me bathe in so long."
"It's only your legs that don't work. You've grown up, so of course I can't keep helping you."
"I haven't grown up!"
"You're pretty big."
"...You're awful."
Warm water poured into the bathtub, white bubbles almost filling it.
"Brother, are you joining me?"
"In a bit. Let me scrub your back first."
"Oh."
Feeling the gentle pressure on her back, Xin Xia closed her eyes in comfort, as though the happiest moment of her life was right here today.
At that thought, Xin Xia curled her toes in excitement.
Wait!
Xin Xia suddenly straightened her back, excitement covering her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Brother... I think I..."
Xin Xia braced her hands against the edges of the tub and slowly exerted strength through her legs. Before Lu Ling's eyes, she successfully stood up!
"Brother! Look!" Xin Xia let go, supporting her body with the strength of her legs alone.
"I can stand!" Although her legs felt a little weak after so long without moving, today was definitely the strongest they had ever been in her life!
"What?!" Lu Ling's eyes widened, his face full of astonishment.
She was cured?!
When he learned that he could establish contact with the Parthenon Divine Soul, Lu Ling had thought that one day Xin Xia might stand without the Divine Soul's approval. He hadn't expected it to actually happen, and so soon!
All he'd done was... go deep, deep inside and sleep!
"Brother, could it have been last night..." Ye Xin Xia thought of the unusual things that had happened last night.
"Xin Xia... that really is possible."
Lu Ling briefly explained the cause of her condition, but didn't explicitly tell her that the soul inside her was the Parthenon Divine Soul.
"Focus on rehabilitation exercises over the next few days."
"Okay!"