A tickling sensation came to his nose, and Lin Feng couldn't help but sneeze.
As he opened his bleary eyes, Qian Renxue was smiling sweetly, gently twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers and brushing it across Lin Feng's nose.
Glancing out the window, he saw that the sky was just beginning to brighten. The morning mist hadn't fully lifted yet.
He pinched Qian Renxue's delicate nose."You can sleep a bit more. Don't fool around."
"Mm."
Lin Feng tried to move his left arm."Um… Xiaoxue, my arm is kind of stiff."
Qian Renxue was startled. She propped herself up, letting him pull his arm out.
"Are you okay?"
Nearby, the Innate Treasure Pearl, left idle for the night, floated into the air and scattered a few dots of gentle light down.
"It's fine now," Lin Feng blinked.
Qian Renxue froze, then pouted slightly. She gently placed Lin Feng's arm back under her neck.
"You crushed my hair and I didn't say anything. From now on, you're not allowed to take your arm away without permission."
"Yes, ma'am. As you command, my lady."
"Hmph."
Listening to each other's heartbeat and feeling one another's breath, time passed quietly.
After breakfast and some routine training, Lin Feng began his daily cultivation.
Flames danced in his palm, the heat so intense it made the very air shimmer.
With a flick, a fire domain appeared, hovering mid-air.
Guided by his thoughts, Lin Feng made subtle adjustments to the soul skill.
Part of the flame split off from the main field and began forming into chains.
The chain gradually solidified. As compressed energy, it was undeniably more powerful than a normal fire field.
But once formed, Lin Feng frowned.
"This won't do. It consumes too much mental energy."
Ling Yuan, watching from the side, asked curiously,"Oh? Then how many chains like that can you currently make?"
"Ten or so. But that's too few. Once I'm mentally drained, they're hard to control."
Ling Yuan paused and then rolled her eyes."Every time you say something like that, I just want to teach you a lesson.
Do you really not realize how exceptional you are? Or are you just showing off on purpose?"
"On purpose," Lin Feng smirked, teasing her.
"You…"
Ling Yuan shot him a look. Sometimes she really couldn't figure out what Lin Feng was thinking.
Most of the time, he was calm, composed, and in control. But every now and then, like now, he'd show a mischievous and carefree side.
Ling Yuan smiled inwardly. Maybe it was that side of Lin Feng she liked most.
"Ling Yuan-jie, didn't you say you had something to ask me last time? What was it?"
As Lin Feng probed his second soul vessel, he asked offhandedly.
Ling Yuan paused. What was it again?
Oh right—Wanqing's family's martial soul issue.
She silently apologized to Ye Wanqing.After she came back, she only briefly mentioned it, and then Xiaoxue had come clean directly. Since then, she'd been so caught up in the joy of being able to openly show affection that she'd completely forgotten about it.
"Lin Feng, do you know about the Nine-Heart Begonia?"
Lin Feng nodded."Of course. It's the strongest single-target healing martial soul in the soul master world.
No matter how many soul rings it gains, it only has one soul skill—but the effect is extremely powerful.
Bringing the dead back to life and regrowing flesh from bones—it's not an exaggeration."
Ling Yuan nodded slightly."That's right. You remember Ye Zixin—the girl you helped heal when you were forming your first soul vessel? She's from a branch of the Nine-Heart Begonia family."
Lin Feng was puzzled."I thought there could only be one inheritor of the Nine-Heart Begonia at any given time. How could there be a whole family, or branches?"
Ling Yuan smiled."With such a powerful healing martial soul, of course there's a legacy.
Heavily injured experts and desperate nobles all seek their aid.
The family's typical martial soul is the Begonia Flower. Not as powerful, but still a strong support-type soul."
Lin Feng understood."So why are you bringing them up? Do you want me to do something?"
Ling Yuan bit her lip."A friend of mine has an older sister who is the current inheritor of the Nine-Heart Begonia. But due to her daughter's upcoming awakening, she might lose her life soon because of their martial soul's limitations.
So… I was wondering if maybe you could help."
"But you don't have to prioritize it. If it's too difficult or exhausting, just let it go. It's a problem that's stumped people for a thousand years—I only brought it up casually."
Lin Feng froze.
Seeing Ling Yuan looking so small and hesitant pained him.
He walked up to her, pulled her into an embrace, and gently patted her back."Ling Yuan-jie, you don't have to act like this. With our relationship, you don't need to be so cautious when asking me for help."
Ling Yuan was flustered by his sudden affection, trembling slightly as her hands hovered awkwardly. Her voice quivered,"W-What relationship do we have?"
"I like you, Ling Yuan-jie."
Her head snapped up, eyes shining with surprise.
Lin Feng spoke softly:"A relationship like this should be mutual. We're equal individuals.
You don't need to see yourself as the weaker one, or keep putting my needs above your own.
When you're facing something difficult, just tell me. You don't need to hold back."
Ling Yuan's racing heart slowly calmed. She rested her head on his chest, her hands wrapping gently around his waist."Mm. I understand. And I'll do the same—I'm willing to give, too."
After a pause, she playfully circled her finger on Lin Feng's chest.
"By the way, what made you say that out loud today? Aren't you worried Xiaoxue will get mad?"
Lin Feng coughed awkwardly."Actually… I was awake when you two were talking that day."
Ling Yuan glared at him."I knew it. You're always scheming something. If Xiaoxue hadn't made the first move, I bet we'd still be waiting for you to open your mouth."
Lin Feng shook his head.That had been his original plan—pretend not to know, and enjoy the perks Ling Yuan offered to coax a confession out of him.
But after seeing her vulnerable side today, he couldn't bear to keep pretending. It was better to be honest sooner than later.
"So… right now Xiaoxue still thinks you don't know that we both know you like me?"
Lin Feng blinked, confused."Probably?"
A mischievous glint appeared in Ling Yuan's eyes. She whispered something in his ear.
Lin Feng's expression turned conflicted… but intrigued."Isn't that… kind of wrong?"
Ling Yuan gave him a teasing look."You really don't want to?"
"…Okay, I kinda do."
She slipped out of his arms."Then it's settled. I'll go see Xiaoxue first."
"Mm. As for the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul problem, I'll do my best to study it.
But don't tell your friend just yet. If I can't solve it, it might damage your relationship."
Ling Yuan narrowed her eyes in a sweet smile."Alright."
T/N: For up to fourteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle