Qiu Wanxi unleashed her might, wiping out the Wolf Bandits

"Why didn't you kill them?"

"Huh?" Qiu Wanxi failed to register Xiao Yao's question.

"I asked why you didn't kill these beasts. With your Soul Saint-level cultivation, that shouldn't be a problem."

There was not a trace of a question in Xiao Yao's words; instead, they carried a measure of command.

This made Qiu Wanxi rather uncomfortable:

"You were still outside. What if they came out while I was fighting them and did something to you..."

"We're right beside you now. You can make your move."

Xiao Yao's tone was icy, the command in it stronger still. Strangely, however, Qiu Wanxi felt no aversion this time and instead patiently explained:

"If you weren't here, I could fight them until the sky darkened and the earth dimmed, until their blood flowed in rivers."

"But with you beside me, I have to put your safety first. Come with me now. Once I've settled you somewhere safe, I'll come back and slaughter every last one of them."

Xiao Yao said, "What if they've left by the time you return? Will you chase them down and tear them out by the roots? Won't they just repeat their crimes somewhere else? Won't people in other villages suffer the same pain?"

"I'll prove I can protect myself. But please do as you said, too-fight until the sky darkens and the earth dims, until their blood flows in rivers."

[Intimacy +20]

[Shui Bing'er's Intimacy has reached 50. Weapons Chapter: "Spirit of Ice" unlocked. Please gift it to your contracted partner, Shui Bing'er.]

[Shui Bing'er's Intimacy has reached 50. Skills Chapter: "Heavenly Fire God-Forging Art" unlocked.]

Xiao Yao had received the Intimacy rewards he had longed for, but he paid them no mind now. Instead, his killing intent grew fiercer.

"Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, fallen heart flame-Wolf Spirit."

"Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, sea heart flame-Leopard Spirit."

Xiao Yao had even used fallen heart flame, but because it had neither form nor substance, neither woman noticed.

Instead, Shui Bing'er and Qiu Wanxi's attention was drawn to the lifelike sea heart flame Leopard Spirit.

They had never imagined Xiao Yao's water-control (fire-control) ability could be so formidable. Judging by its presence, this Fire Leopard was certainly no mere likeness; it might even have the power of a thousand-year Soul Skill.

The wolf and leopard struck together. Fallen heart flame and sea heart flame, two kinds of heavenly flames, appeared at once and burned a Wolf Bandit to ashes without any resistance.

Xiao Yao looked at Qiu Wanxi, the meaning in his gaze plain without words.

Qiu Wanxi froze for a moment, then her lovely face, like a snow lotus on an iceberg, blossomed:

"I didn't expect a little girl like you to have some skills."

"Since you've proved you can protect yourself, leave what comes next to me."

"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar."

A crystalline, pale-blue light bloomed from Qiu Wanxi's body. It was not dazzling, yet it was enough to conceal her figure.

An exotic beast slowly emerged from the light, and Xiao Yao saw the true appearance of Qiu Wanxi's Martial Soul for the first time.

It was a moon-white fox with a figure of consummate grace.

The Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox.

These Wolf Bandits were only comparable to Soul Grandmasters and Soul Elders in strength. With Qiu Wanxi having unleashed even her Martial Soul Avatar, the outcome was naturally settled.

But Xiao Yao was very interested in Qiu Wanxi's Martial Soul.

The Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox-he had heard Xiao Wu mention this Soul Beast species.

It was a cursed species whose cultivation could never exceed ten thousand years throughout its lifetime.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would undergo a tribulation after another thousand years. Even if it was lucky enough to survive, every hundred thousand years, it would still have to face a stronger lightning tribulation, one even more likely to destroy its life and cultivation.

Yet the curse of the Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox was even more terrifying than a Ferocious Beast's lightning tribulation, so much so that not a single demon fox could survive it.

Logically, to suffer such a terrible curse, the Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox ought to possess talent that invited heaven's envy.

But their strength was merely so-so. Only their speed was noteworthy; every other aspect was unremarkable. Their overall strength was nowhere near the level of Soul Beast overlords like the Titan Giant Ape.

So Xiao Wu did not know why the Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox suffered such a curse either.

Xiao Yao did have a conjecture. Perhaps the Ice-Overriding Curse-Mark Demon Fox was far stronger than they imagined, but had been sealed and could only display its current strength.

After dealing with the Wolf Bandits, the three did not leave right away.

Qiu Wanxi went to the nearest city to report to the imperial army and have them handle the bodies and other follow-up matters.

Xiao Yao and Shui Bing'er stayed behind.

As the moonlight gradually brightened, Xiao Yao found a lake.

"I didn't expect such a beautiful lake near this little mountain village. Senior sister, let's go down and bathe."

Xiao Yao smiled as he spoke.

"It's so beautiful."

Beneath the moon, a layer of mist rose over the lake. Moonlight shone upon it, as though coating it in a halo.

Shui Bing'er was entranced, but she had no intention of going down to bathe.

Xiao Yao patted her shoulder. "Come on. We're covered in the smell of blood after today's battle. It's terribly uncomfortable. Let's go wash it off."

Shui Bing'er still shook her head in refusal. "Our teacher taught us not to venture carelessly into unfamiliar places. There are Wolf Bandits here, yet this lake's water is still crystal clear. There must be danger."

"What's there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten my sea heart flame? It can control water. If there aren't any Soul Beasts in the lake, fine. If there are, I'll show them what it means to topple mountains and overturn seas."

With that, he paid Shui Bing'er no further mind, stripped off his clothes, and swam toward the center of the lake.

It was precisely where the bright moon was reflected. With one moon overhead and another beneath him, it was truly beautiful.

In the end, Shui Bing'er's reason failed to overcome her yearning for beauty. She stripped completely, too, and swam over to Xiao Yao.

The two had long since grown used to bathing together and practicedly scrubbed each other's backs, chests, and legs.

Suddenly, Shui Bing'er said, "Lingji, you were really amazing today."

"Huh?"

Shui Bing'er sank into recollection, looking a little lost in thought:

"When I saw that horrific scene today, my mind went completely blank. I'd never encountered anything like it, and I'd never imagined I would. But you stepped forward and asked Director Qiu to kill all those Wolf Bandits."

"Honestly, when Director Qiu said we should leave first, and that she'd come back to kill the Wolf Bandits after settling us somewhere safe, I agreed with her in my heart. I didn't dare face that brutal scene or those terrifying creatures either."

"But you stuck to what you wanted without the slightest hesitation. You even killed a Wolf Bandit to strengthen Director Qiu's resolve."

"To be honest, I'm ashamed as your senior sister. I don't even have as much courage as an eight-year-old child like you. I even thought you looked..."

Watching Shui Bing'er rack her brains without finding an adjective, Xiao Yao smiled slightly:

"Handsome, right?"

"More than that. Though it's not quite appropriate to describe a girl like you this way, I really thought you were very manly."

Understanding dawned on Xiao Yao. So this was where those twenty points of Intimacy had come from.

He looked at Shui Bing'er. "Senior sister, let's kiss."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you think I was handsome and manly? If I were a man, would you like me?"

Shui Bing'er thought for a moment. Though she found it hard to say, she still answered, "Yes."

"Then isn't it perfectly normal for a girl to want to kiss the boy she likes?"