Chapter 169: First Confrontation

Chapter 169: First Confrontation

In truth, this was the first time the two of them had clashed, across both their lifetimes combined.

Jing Wuyan couldn't help but recall events from his past life. His memories aligned closely with what Lin Qingshuang had seen; they both only extended up until the day the two of them formed their bond. Thinking about what had transpired after that, an odd and unwilling resentment began to spread in the depths of his heart.

This girl despised and loathed him in every way, yet why did she treat her Senior Martial Brother so differently? She was even less harsh towards other fellow disciples than she was towards him. He couldn't understand the reason behind it, but that didn't stop him from harboring malice towards the person before him.

At this moment, he was even considering whether, if he were to make her revered Senior Martial Brother suffer or lose out, the girl would soften her stance towards him or beg for mercy just as she once had.

With these thoughts in mind, Mirror Yan's aura grew colder and more profound, as he reached out his hand to lift something unseen.

None of the onlookers had caught sight of the weapon he wielded, yet suddenly they sensed an immense surge of spiritual energy gathering around him. The force of his technique distorted the very air, and the clouds in the sky seemed to have silently converged.

In an instant, a gale rose and storm clouds amassed, thickening to the point where the sky turned pitch-black, exerting an oppressive weight upon all beneath it.

The commotion was substantial, leaving the junior cultivators watching in awe and terror, their faces pale. Perhaps this was how high-ranking cultivators clashed, capable of altering the heavens and earth themselves.

The nearby junior cultivators promptly scrambled to erect protective barriers, fearing they might be insufficient. They hastily retreated to a safe distance, wary of being caught in the aura emanating from the two individuals.

The aura fluctuations were like sharp blades slicing through the air, easily capable of cutting skin if one was not cautious. Nanyan quickly erected a protective barrier around herself.

On the other side, Feng Jixue drew her long sword, her gaze turning increasingly frosty. There was no sign of panic on her face; instead, her eyes burned with the intense desire to engage in a battle against an evenly matched opponent.

He could even sense the sword in his hand trembling slightly, as if it were issuing an instinctive command to confront this challenge.

This adversary was formidable. He couldn't discern the cultivation level of the person across from him, which suggested that their cultivation was higher than his own. Yet, a Sword Cultivator's sword always charged forward fearlessly, ready to take on opponents of higher ranks. To engage in combat with a strong foe was both an honor and a thrill, and it happened that he had been lately stagnating in his cultivation. This very challenge might just be the breakthrough he needed.

Their eyes met, and in an instant, they clashed in a fierce duel. The surrounding spiritual energy intertwined and clashed, while violent sword qi sliced through the air, eventually coalescing into countless wind blades that swept across the market stalls with a shrill whistling sound.

Amidst the shrouding mist, the audience could only discern flickering lights and shadows within the barrier, unable to discern the figures of the two combatants.

In truth, Feng Jixue's talent and cultivation were unparalleled among her peers in the world of cultivation. At the age of seven, she began wielding the sword, adhering to the supreme path of the Sword, which advocated destruction to end slaughter without unnecessary killing.

At the onset of their confrontation, both fighters seemed evenly matched. Feng Jixue's comprehension and adaptability were indeed exceptionally strong, as her techniques shifted according to her opponent's moves.

However, Jing Wuyan was, after all, from the Upper Realm. Even though his powers had yet to fully recover, he was not someone an ordinary Sword Dao cultivator could suppress. His movements were bizarrely domineering, and no one in the cultivation world had ever been able to match him. He had only employed a handful of true techniques, and within less than half an hour, a deadly aura suddenly emerged. With irresistible force, he launched a fierce assault against Feng Jixue.

This impact also shattered the spiritual barrier surrounding Feng Jixue, and if he had wished to evade, he would have had time.

Yet, Feng Jixue caught a glimpse of his junior sister in his peripheral vision. She was too close, and if he dodged, she would undoubtedly be caught in the aftermath. Thus, Feng Jixue transformed his offense into defense, forcefully blocking the overwhelming, chilling assault.

The force of this attack was formidable. Despite his resilience, the immense pressure caused his blood to churn in his chest. He stumbled backward, involuntarily spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Senior... Brother..."

South Yan, witnessing this scene, was momentarily stunned.

It seemed she had never seen her senior brother so gravely injured before; her eyes reddened instantly, and her face paled with fear.

Especially when she noticed that Mirror Yuan had no intention of halting his attack, she instinctively dashed between the two, "Don't hurt my senior brother..."

Her dash was deliberately timed.

Nan Yan had carefully considered the situation – both parties had been locked in this standoff for quite some time, clearly not intending to kill each other. She believed that by stepping in, she would at most sustain minor injuries, nothing life-threatening.

Thus, she charged forward with her weapon raised, positioning herself protectively in front of her senior brother, catching both opponents off guard.

Jing Wuyan barely had time to react; he never imagined that the pesky girl would be so fearless, daring to intercept a conflict between Core Formation cultivators with only her Foundation Establishment cultivation. Was she seeking death?

He forcefully withdrew more than half of his palm's force, causing a surge of backlash pain in his chest. Despite this, he couldn't completely retract his spiritual energy, and the palm struck Nan Yan's spirit mansion with a fierce impact.

Nan Yan's aura instantly became unstable. Her cultivation was still too weak. Although Jing Wuyan had withdrawn his strength swiftly, the direct hit from the palm still exerted considerable pressure on her.

"Phew—"

She seemed unable to withstand the blow. Her body, like a kite with a severed string, was thrown by the dispersing force into a nearby stall.

The stall had also fallen victim to an unforeseen calamity, with several spirit plants displayed on it. The vendor had wisely taken cover during the fight between the two. Now, under her heavy fall, the stall was utterly shattered into two halves.

Nan Yan collapsed onto the ground, her face pale as she involuntarily spat out a mouthful of blood.

The pain was so intense that tears welled up in her eyes.

"Yanyan!"

Feng Jixue's pupils constricted, and her blood roared within her veins.

He never anticipated that events would unfold in such a manner, much less that the girl would be so daring, almost to the point of losing control of his own emotions. He gripped the sword hilt tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand; in that instant, he was overwhelmed by an impulse to kill.

On the other side, Jing Wuyan was utterly stunned. He truly hadn't expected that the annoying girl would rush over recklessly, nor that he would end up injuring her. For a moment, he felt utterly lost.

He wasn't unfamiliar with killing female cultivators, having even done so in more severe circumstances. But now, looking at Nanyan, pale and spitting out blood not far away, she appeared a world apart from the intact figure that stood before him just moments ago.

Not only did he not feel a sense of satisfaction in his heart, but instead, it felt as if someone had struck him heavily in the chest. A dull, oppressive pain spread rapidly throughout his being.

This caused him to instinctively lower his head and gaze at his own pale palm, where his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

He didn't even know why he was feeling so distraught.

Jing Wuyan's heart pounded rapidly, his lips pale and thin, the thread of blood between them fading from its original hue as he pressed them tightly together, giving him an almost ghostly appearance.

An indescribable sense of panic gripped his chest, especially when he saw her ashen face and the hint of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. It stirred a subtle tremor within his heart, making him somewhat understand what had been haunting him for all these days. But now...

Jing Wuyan's gaze fell once more upon Nanyan's face. At this moment, nothing else mattered.

Driven by an innate impulse, he instinctively rushed towards the injured Nanyan.

He had genuinely injured her, even if it wasn't intentional; that blow landed firmly on her body.

This sudden action startled everyone around them.

Especially Feng Jixue. Upon seeing Jing Wuyan rushing towards Nanyan, his expression shifted dramatically, his gaze sharp, and the sword in his hand instinctively rose.

He assumed Jing Wuyan intended to harm Yanyan. Yet, to his surprise, the man rushed over only to scoop up the fallen Yanyan from the ground.

Feng Jixue's demeanor froze momentarily, his sword pausing mid-air as he struggled to comprehend the reason behind Jing Wuyan's actions.

Gently yet with a tinge of guilt, Jin Wuyan embraced Nanyan and supported her shoulders. "Yan, Yan, how are you? Does it hurt a lot? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that."

He fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out a white jade vase, hurriedly pouring out a lustrous white pill from it. He respectfully held it to Nanyan's lips and whispered, "Yanyan, take this medicine. It's the Jade Bone Pill, effective in revitalizing bones and regenerating muscle. You'll recover quickly once you take it."

Despite being deeply tempted by these words, Nanyan still held her ground and elegantly tilted her head back.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her voice brimmed with resentment. "I don't want anything from you. How can I trust that your pill isn't laced with some poisonous substance? Your blow just now was clearly meant to kill me. Just finish me off now, so you won't have to waste your effort next time."

Nan Yan also knew that the man hadn't done it on purpose; she had rushed forward herself. But that didn't stop her from blaming him entirely, for he had been the one to cause her trouble from the start.

She hadn't forgotten his initial disdain and contempt when he first appeared. Now that she finally had a chance to retaliate, how could she possibly let him off easily?

Staring blankly at the unevenly breathing Nanyan in his arms, Jin Wuyan was seized by an irrepressible turmoil and helplessness. It felt as if his heart was being gently tugged by an invisible thread, inducing a subtle pain that left him struggling to maintain his composure.

Indeed, he had put her in a difficult spot and was the one who had injured her. If not for his relentless pursuit, none of today's events would have occurred.

Jing Wuyan's breath was uneven, an unprecedented sense of regret weighing upon him. In the end, he could only subconsciously use the sleeve of his robe to gently wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth, his actions cautious lest he cause her any further pain.

Despite having never done any of these things before, nor having felt such deep concern and urgency for any female cultivator, he performed them effortlessly when it came to her.

Jing Wuyan's lips moved, his gaze falling on Nan Yan's pale face, revealing countless regrets in his eyes.

He was no longer the cold and domineering figure he was in the market earlier; even his voice held a hint of urgency.

"It's not what you think. There's nothing in the medicine. I didn't really want to kill you. I've been saving you all along. Why did you rush over just now? You, why did you do that?"

Though he spoke the truth, could Nan Yan acknowledge it?

With resentment and accusation, she pushed away his hand forcefully. "You still say you didn't want to kill me? From the first time we met, you looked down on me. You despised my low cultivation and found me bothersome. There were several times when you wanted to strike me down with one palm. Do you think I couldn't see that? You've been making things difficult for me all along."

Coughing fiercely with her chest heaving, she was both enraged and aggrieved. A tinge of indignation flushed her already pale cheeks. "What are you doing now? Who needs your insincere concern? Do you think I'll forgive you just because you injured me and casually gave me a pill?"

Speaking up to this point, Nan Yan's tears finally spilled uncontrollably. The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt. "It's fine that you snatched the spirit plant I had my eye on first. But you made me kneel and apologize to you. What mistake have I made? It was clearly you bullying me, both of you ganging up against me. I've never even apologized to my master by kneeling in my entire life. Why do you have the right to treat me like this?"

Lifting her gaze to meet his, she grabbed his shirt, filled with anger and frustration. "You obviously have a grudge against me and are using this chance for revenge. Get away from me, don't touch me!"

After Nan Yan finished speaking, another wave of pain surged through her chest, as if her anger had overwhelmed her. She involuntarily spat out a mouthful of blood.

Jing Wuyan was utterly panicked now, more distressed and worried than when he himself was near death. Disregarding her potential anger and resistance, he forcefully fed her the pill. It dissolved instantly in her mouth, leaving Nan Yan unable to spit it out. In the end, she could only glare at him with intensified ferocity.

Indeed, she wasn't wrong. Initially, when they first met, he did harbor murderous intentions towards her. But afterward, those feelings genuinely vanished. This time, the injury was an unintentional mistake. Though he complained about her annoyance, he didn't genuinely despise her deep down, nor did he have any intention to harm her.

Kneeling to admit his fault wasn't sincere; he himself didn't understand what was happening. Witnessing her extreme disdain when facing him and her gentle obedience towards her senior brother stirred up unbearable resentment and frustration in him.

He wanted her to regret, to apologize, to obediently stay by his side, just as before.

Arrogant and proud by nature, especially accustomed to being above others, he tended to force submission from others with even greater sternness rather than reflecting on his own mistakes. He couldn't lower his pride, nor could he bear to soften his stance and yield to her.

He assumed that if he defeated her senior brother, she would plead for mercy just as she used to. Yet, he never imagined she would rush at him without regard for her own safety.

It was he who had hurt her, albeit unintentionally. The truth of the matter could not be denied, no matter how much regret he felt. He could only apologize more humbly, "I'm sorry, I never meant to harm you. Let me tend to your injuries first..."

Jing Wuyan knew that his words were useless at this point. He seemed to have consistently employed the wrong approach and adopted the wrong attitude. Her disdain for him wasn't solely due to his lofty demeanor; it also stemmed from the hostility he had once shown her.

In truth, he couldn't blame anyone but himself. If someone had treated him likewise, even if he was temporarily weaker, he would have sought brutal revenge once his strength had increased.

How could he possibly develop affection for such a person?

Reflecting on this, Jin Wuyan stabilized Nan Yan's back with one hand, gently kneeling to cradle her in his arms. His other hand pressed firmly against her chest.

In an instant, a warm and mystical force coursed through Nan Yan's body, alleviating the pain in her chest and restoring some color to her face.

With a slight recovery of her strength, Nan Yan immediately struggled more vigorously. She didn't believe his pretended kindness and pushed his hand away forcefully.

"Who allowed you to touch me? Get away!"

"Senior Apprentice Brother..."

She cried out her senior brother's name, tears streaming down her face.

On the other side, the senior apprentice brother finally regained his composure. His eyes turned cold as he gazed intently at the male cultivator who held Yan Yan in his embrace.

In fact, anyone with sharp eyes could tell by now that there was some connection between the two. The male cultivator's anxious and worried attitude toward Yan Yan even made Feng Jixue suspect that perhaps from the very beginning, the man had no intention of harming Yan Yan; he had only acted out of disdain for Feng Jixue himself.

Feng Jixue's gaze darkened. He had no idea when Yan Yan had met that person, nor did he know what intentions the man held towards his little junior sister.

At this point, he had no inclination to ponder such matters; his entire being was focused on Yanyan's injuries.

Especially upon hearing Yan Yan's aggrieved sobs, he snapped back to reality instantly. With a casual swipe of his hand to wipe the blood from his lips, he charged forward and pushed Jing Wuyan, who was standing aside, out of the way.

Reaching out, he gently drew Yan Yan into his embrace.

Windfall Snow instinctively reached to feel her pulse, then fished out a pouch of medicinal pills from her chest. Most were for healing internal injuries and replenishing vitality. Like feeding candy, she shoved them all into the girl's mouth, her expression tense as if the victim had already lost too much blood and was on the verge of fainting from weakness.

Nanyan wept as she ate, and as she continued, she found the food surprisingly appetizing. Her tears gradually subsided, and with her hands clasped around her senior brother's neck, she poured out her distress and vulnerability in a pitiful manner.

In truth, her injuries weren't that severe; it was just that the sight of her vomiting blood made it appear particularly grave. However, with all these medicinal pills for recovering vitality and blood consumed, it wouldn't take long before she was back to her lively self, tormenting her senior brother once more.

Feixue Feng observed her ceasing her tears before gently wiping away the tears and blood on her cheeks. In that split second when she had rushed forward, he had truly been terrified to death by her.

This audacious girl had acted recklessly in such a perilous situation. Did she think a battle between cultivators above the Golden Core stage was child's play? If not for that person holding back half his palm strength, she would likely have perished at that moment.

His heart still pounded uncontrollably, unable to regain its calm.

Despite knowing she was injured and aggrieved, Feixue Feng couldn't entirely suppress the annoyance in his heart.

He reached out to grasp her wrist, forcefully pulling down one of her hands and tightly clutching it. "Why did you charge forward recklessly? Are you not afraid of death? Haven't I warned you before to always think calmly before acting? Who allowed you to be so impulsive? Have you completely disregarded my words?"

The icy demeanor of the senior apprentice brother was naturally intimidating, especially when his anger was genuine.

Nan Yan usually dared to provoke him, but that was because she knew where his limits lay. Now, by recklessly charging forward without regard for her own life, she had clearly crossed a line with the senior apprentice brother.

"Do you have any idea that your meager cultivation wouldn't even withstand a single move from them? Aren't you usually the most cowardly and fearful one? Aren't you always the one hiding at the first sign of trouble?"

"Are you out of your mind today? To rush into such a perilous situation, Su Nanyan, if you ever dare to act so foolishly again, I'll confine you to the Contemplation Cliff for half a year. You won't be released until you make a breakthrough. Let's see if you still dare to behave so recklessly!"

The senior apprentice brother exuded an icy aura from head to toe.

This time, he was genuinely enraged, not putting on an act as usual. A chill could be sensed in the creases of his brows and the corners of his eyes.

Nan Yan's eyes welled up with tears under his scolding. Feeling stifled, she pressed her lips together and lowered her head, refusing to speak, clearly demonstrating her defiance.

Seeing her demeanor, Feng Jixue knew that this stubborn girl still refused to acknowledge her mistake. He tightened his grip on her wrist. "Are you still not admitting your fault? Do you think I'm being too harsh on you?"

Nan Yan's voice was slightly hoarse. She lifted her gaze to look at him, her teary eyes revealing exceptional distress. "But wasn't I just worried about you? You were coughing up blood..."

Hearing this, the senior apprentice brother felt a mix of anger and helplessness. He pulled her into his embrace and pressed his palm firmly against her back, softly reprimanding her close to her ear. "Yanyan, even if you worry about me, you can't act so impulsively."

"Today, you were fortunate to escape with minor injuries. But should such an encounter repeat itself, do you truly possess the means to safeguard your own life?"

He gently patted his junior sister's back, aware that she had been deeply frightened today. Thus, he softened his tone even further, "I'm not scolding you with these words. Rather, I want you to understand a reality: you have only one life, and your own safety is paramount. No one in this world deserves your reckless abandon."

Nan Yan was held firmly in his embrace, unable to move, yet she gently twisted her two fingers around the edge of his sleeve.

Feng Jixue released his hold on her as he spoke, gently running his palm through her smooth hair. He knew that his little junior sister was young and naive, not understanding many things in life.

Though cultivators in the Realm of Cultivation enjoy lengthy lifespans, they spend most of their time in practice, thus missing out on many experiences.

Even a girl of Junior Sister's age in the mortal world would barely have come of age.

She had never ventured out of the sect alone to gain experience, nor had she encountered the intricacies of life-and-death duels. On regular occasions, she would explore mystic realms alongside her senior brothers; thus, she had never truly faced mortal peril.

It was precisely due to her lack of experience that she was so heedless of her own life.

Fortunately, he was much older and could gradually impart these lessons and wisdom to her over time.

At present, Feng Jixue could only exercise patience, soothing her emotions bit by bit.

"Yan Yan, if you truly care for me and have feelings for me, you should trust me even more. Trust that I would lose honorably, not hiding behind a woman's protection and relying on your sacrifice to save my life."

"How could such a Feng Jixue deserve to be your senior brother? How could he have the strength to always guard and protect you in the future? You underestimate me too much; even injured, I won't die. But it's different for you—your cultivation is still too low. That blow could truly take your life. Yan Yan, please be more sensible from now on. Promise me you won't do anything like this again, alright?"

Feng Jixue was already contemplating that once the love poison was resolved, he could take her away from the sect, travel with her through the cultivation world, help her break through her realm, and solidify her skills.

Upon hearing this, the frustration in Nan Yan's heart dissipated. She reached out and grabbed the fabric of her senior brother's chest.

Then, she nodded and mumbled, "I know I was wrong. I won't dare do it again, isn't that enough? At least spare me some dignity and don't scold me in front of so many people…"

Upon hearing this, the eldest disciple felt an overwhelming mixture of helplessness, frustration, and a tinge of undeniable pain in his heart.

His brows relaxed slightly as he let out a breath. Gently massaging his junior sister's head with his palm, he then hesitated for a moment, worried about hurting her, before softly saying, "You're all cried out like that, yet still so concerned about your pride? Come on, let me take you home to tend to your injuries."

With those words, Feng Jixue scooped her up into his arms without a second thought, ignoring everyone and everything behind him. He carried her steadily back to his own courtyard.

Nan Yan nestled quietly in her senior brother's embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. Her fingers clutched at the fabric of his robe. Lost in thought, she subconsciously lifted her gaze to glance at the silent Jing Wuyan who had been standing behind them.

His hand hung by his side, his face only darkening significantly when Feng Jixue initially pushed him away.

He then continued to watch them silently, his gaze unwavering.

Knowing that he had no right to approach now, nor could he afford to disregard her feelings by forcefully taking her back from the arms of her beloved.

Jing Wuyan observed and listened to their conversation. Unnoticed, his hand clenched within his sleeve, and he remained bowed, lost in thought.

When Nanyan looked over at him,

as if sensing her gaze, his eyes subtly lifted. His gaze was somewhat profound as he stared deeply into her eyes.

With resentment burning in her heart, Nan Yan glared at him fiercely when she noticed he still dared to stare at her unblinkingly. She then turned away with a huff, treating him as an enemy in her mind.

...

In the meantime, Nan Yan was carried straight to her eldest senior brother's courtyard. Feng Jixue gently placed her on the bed and, noticing the bloodstains still on his junior sister's face, although he could easily wipe them off with a purification spell, a tender impulse suddenly arose in his heart to clean her personally.

Thus, Nan Yan watched her eldest senior brother bustling about, fetching a basin of warm water, soaking a cloth, wringing it out, and then carefully wiping away the dirt from her face with utmost care.

The sudden gentleness and consideration from her senior brother was somewhat unsettling for Nan Yan, perhaps because he was inherently reserved and traditional. Despite his deep affection for the girl, he seldom expressed his feelings.

Now that she was injured, he seemed to have become more caring.

As Nan Yan pondered whether to take advantage of the situation, her senior brother finished cleaning the blood from her face. Seeing some color return to her cheeks, he felt a slight relief in his heart.

Noticing the delicate, snow-like complexion of her skin, a tender emotion welled up within him, accompanied by a subtle impulse. Unable to resist, he leaned in gently and kissed her, imbuing the gesture with tenderness.

He then drew her into his embrace and whispered, "Yan Yan, let's form a bond."

Southyan was still in a daze when she heard him continue,

"Your cultivation is too low. After we bond, we can practice dual cultivation to help you advance to the Foundation Building stage sooner. Then, I'll take you away from the sect, down the mountain, to experience the mortal world. Would you like that?"

Big Senior Brother's arms around her tightened slightly.

His face was slightly flushed as he spoke, but his expression was earnest, and his tone was sincere.

He genuinely intended to help her advance in cultivation, not for any other ulterior motives.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan was even more startled. It took her quite a while to regain her composure. She then reached out to pat her senior brother's back, signaling him to release his grip promptly.

The senior apprentice brother seemed to understand the unspoken message and reluctantly released his grip.

South Yan's eyes shimmered softly. She lifted her gaze to meet Senior Brother's dark ones, the corners of her lips curving slightly before she promptly straightened them. It was as if she was trying to hide her joy while maintaining composure. Then, she tugged on his shirt and pretended to be displeased, asking him a question:

"Is it because you feel indebted for my injury today that you wish to compensate me in this way?"

Feng Jixue held her soft fingers and found her expression amusing. He then shook his head and said, "No, I've had this thought for a long time. I was just worried that you're too young. As you grow older and meet more admirable men, you might regret being with me."

Moreover, he had always been uncertain if his feelings for her were truly genuine or induced by the Love Charm. But now, even if they were due to the charm, it didn't matter anymore.

He realized he had been misguided all along. He had feared that removing the Love Charm would hurt his little junior sister, but he wasn't someone who would abandon his responsibilities. Removing the charm wouldn't mean leaving her.

Even after the Love Charm was gone, he would still treat her as the beloved junior sister of the sect and cherish her without any changes due to the removal of the charm.

Upon hearing him, Nan Yan immediately grasped his hand back. She glared at him, clearly displeased. "Who's going to regret? I like you so much; there's no one else in this life except you. As long as you don't suddenly get angry or bully me like you did before, I'll never leave you."

Upon finishing her words, the junior sister suddenly lunged into her senior brother's embrace. Then, she leaned back, causing both of them to topple onto the bed. The senior brother supported his body to prevent himself from crushing her.

Although he was well aware of his junior sister's feelings, he couldn't help but let a hint of a smile flicker across his eyes upon hearing her unwavering response.

Seeing him smile, Nan Yan couldn't resist teasing him again, "Senior Brother, how does one practice dual cultivation? When did you learn such a cultivation technique? How come I didn't know about it?"

How could the senior brother be unaware of her playful intentions? His cheeks flushed slightly, and his voice carried a touch of irritation as he replied, "Yan Yan, what truly matters in life is one's inner self. Dual cultivation enhances cultivation, not external appearances. For cultivators, physical beauty is insignificant, and even pleasures of the flesh are secondary. If your inner strength doesn't grow stronger, focusing on these superficial things will ultimately prove futile in the long run..."

His words were persuasive, but if his body had been as restrained as his speech, Nan Yan might have found his words more convincing.

Thus, Nan Yan blinked innocently, mercilessly exposing him, "But Senior Brother, your body seems to be telling a different story."

This time, the eldest disciple shamelessly acknowledged it calmly with a simple "Mm," "My inner self is still untrained. It's normal for such situations to occur. There might be even more... extravagant reactions in the future."