Zhu Xiaoliang, Were You Born in the Year of the Puppy?!

"Would your senior sister lie to you?"

"That instant increase in my cultivation just now was the best proof!"

"But..."

Zhu Xiaoliang looked at the spiritual power that flashed across Qi Zhaoyue's fingertips, which was indeed considerably denser than it had been an hour ago...

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, yet not knowing what to say.

Qi Zhaoyue looked at her and continued, "Junior Sister Xiao Liang, Martial Aunt Yu'er must have told you that gaining power quickly usually comes at a price."

"And with Xu Changsheng, that price is you yourself."

"Now tell your senior sister..."

"What is your choice?!"

"No... no, no, no..." Zhu Xiaoliang's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She hurriedly shook her head hard and instinctively stepped back. "I..."

"Junior sister, have you forgotten your own mother?"

Qi Zhaoyue's voice was soft, but Zhu Xiaoliang, who had just been retreating repeatedly in embarrassment, instantly stopped in her tracks.

"Junior Sister Xiao Liang..."

Qi Zhaoyue stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around Zhu Xiaoliang's shoulders, her voice tender. "I understand you very well."

"Because I, too, bear a sea of blood vengeance for my mother."

"And you're much luckier than I am. At least your mother is still in Northern Liang, waiting for you to grow strong enough to save her and reunite with her."

"But I..."

Qi Zhaoyue took a deep breath and did not continue the subject. "In any case, I hope you'll think it over carefully. Don't wait until you've lost her to be left with regrets beyond remedy!"

With that, Qi Zhaoyue extended a finger and lightly touched Zhu Xiaoliang's palm.

A white Lotus Seal appeared on Zhu Xiaoliang's palm.

"I'm leaving," Qi Zhaoyue said, releasing Zhu Xiaoliang. "Whatever decision you make next, I won't interfere again."

"If you want to leave, activate the Lotus Seal. It'll send you back to Mount Qingliang."

Qi Zhaoyue took one last look at Xu Changsheng sitting in his chair, then turned and headed out of the hall without another word.

"Once you find the Tang straight saber, remember to have Ye Luoxue bring it over."

Watching her retreating figure, Xu Changsheng called out to her.

Qi Zhaoyue did not look back.

"Also, there's still a little on your nose and hair... ahem, remember to wash your face!"

Qi Zhaoyue paused mid-step. In the end, she still did not look back, but her steps quickened, and she vanished through the doorway in the blink of an eye.

Only Xu Changsheng and Zhu Xiaoliang remained in the Hall of Longevity.

Xu Changsheng sat in his chair, watching Zhu Xiaoliang standing in the Hall of Longevity, her eyes clear. Several times, she wanted to turn and leave, yet she never managed to take a step.

He lifted his teacup and took another small sip, continuing to rehydrate. After all, he had lost a great deal of fluid just now...

Damn juicer girl!

Xu Changsheng silently grumbled, then asked Zhu Xiaoliang, "Have you made up your mind?"

"I..."

Zhu Xiaoliang raised her head slightly and stole a glance at Xu Changsheng sitting in his chair.

Xu Changsheng's profile looked particularly handsome in the candlelight. His gaze was calm, without the slightest coercion, as though her choice had nothing to do with him.

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

The hall was so quiet that only the crackle of the burning candles and Zhu Xiaoliang's slightly nervous breathing could be heard.

An unknown amount of time passed.

At last, Zhu Xiaoliang drew a deep breath, as though she had reached some sort of decision.

She raised her head and looked at Xu Changsheng, fine beads of sweat covering the tip of her nose. Her pearly teeth bit hard into her lower lip, and her voice trembled slightly.

"I... I've decided. You... go ahead."

Seeing Zhu Xiaoliang looking ready to face death, Xu Changsheng rolled his eyes at her and said speechlessly, "What do you mean, 'go ahead'?"

"You make it sound like I'm bullying you. Clearly, you and Qi Zhaoyue are bullying me, all right?"

"We're bullying you?!" Zhu Xiaoliang froze slightly.

"What else? Who got the origin essence of my Divine Yang Sacred Physique and all my cultivation?"

"Uh..."

Zhu Xiaoliang thought it over carefully. It seemed...

That really was the case?!

Xu Changsheng clearly possessed a supreme physique, yet now he had no cultivation whatsoever, and her senior sister had even locked him inside this Lotus Grotto-Heaven.

And she really was the one who wanted to use the origin essence of his Divine Yang Sacred Physique to increase her cultivation.

Put that way, it really did seem as though she was bullying him.

At that thought, Zhu Xiaoliang picked lightly at her fingers, lowered her head, and said quietly, "I'm... I'm sorry."

"But I really want to increase my cultivation. I want to save my mother. Please, I'm begging you to help me."

A flicker of amusement crossed Xu Changsheng's eyes as he looked at Zhu Xiaoliang, so innocent and naive that not only was she going to give herself to him, she was even apologizing to him instead.

He set down his teacup and crooked a finger at Zhu Xiaoliang.

"Come here."

Zhu Xiaoliang hesitated, but obediently stepped forward and walked up to Xu Changsheng.

She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Xu Changsheng's eyes. Her long eyelashes trembled incessantly like two little fans.

"Open your mouth and tilt your head back."

Xu Changsheng looked at her and spoke mildly.

"Huh?" Zhu Xiaoliang raised her head and looked at Xu Changsheng in confusion.

"Just do as you're told..."

"Oh..."

Though puzzled, Zhu Xiaoliang obediently followed Xu Changsheng's instructions, parting her red lips slightly and tilting her head back with a hint of inexperienced allure.

Xu Changsheng smiled and picked up the white jade wine flask beside him.

He tilted its spout, and a clear, sparkling stream of wine, carrying a faint fragrance and a trace of sweetness, slowly flowed into Zhu Xiaoliang's mouth.

Zhu Xiaoliang instinctively tried to swallow.

But the next second, "Mmph, mmph, mmph!"

Zhu Xiaoliang's pupils abruptly contracted.

She discovered that Xu Changsheng had already gently caught her lips between his, a warm sensation spreading from their touch.

Was... was this a kiss?

Zhu Xiaoliang's mind instantly went blank. Her entire body froze in place, her clear eyes wide as she stared at Xu Changsheng's face, mere inches away.

She forgot to breathe and forgot to struggle, until...

"Hiss!"

Xu Changsheng sucked in a sharp breath.

Tasting blood in his mouth, he released Zhu Xiaoliang and rolled his eyes at her in exasperation.

"Seriously, were you born in the year of the puppy?"

"Huh?!"

Zhu Xiaoliang abruptly came to her senses. Seeing the blood Xu Changsheng spat out, she hurriedly apologized. "I'm... I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

"I... I was too nervous... next time, I definitely won't..."

In her distress, she kept wringing her Daoist robe with both hands, looking utterly pitiful.

Looking at Zhu Xiaoliang, so innocent and naive, so clear and uncomprehending that she was like a blank sheet of paper, Xu Changsheng could only sigh helplessly in the end.

"Forget it."

He waved a hand and stood up. "Let's go."

"Huh?" Zhu Xiaoliang raised her head and looked at him in confusion. "Go... go where?"

A flicker of heat flashed through Xu Changsheng's eyes. "Naturally, to..."

"Bathe!"

In an instant, Zhu Xiaoliang's cheeks flushed so red they looked ready to drip blood.

She nervously clutched the white Daoist robe she wore, her voice as faint as a mosquito's whine. "B-bathe..."