39: asshole

Life in Jade Void Grotto-Heaven passed slowly and heavily.

For several days, Jiang Xun practiced the same sword art, the Taichu Hunyuan Sword Scripture.

This was thrown to him by Yan Qingning, who said it was the introductory sword manual of the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect.

Jiang Xun believed her.

He practiced for three whole days, yet he couldn't even smoothly execute the trajectory of the first Move, the "Opening Stance."

The sword felt as heavy as an iron bar in his hand; the Spiritual Qi would stagnate as soon as it reached his wrist. The sword Moves he performed were limp—forget killing enemies, they were too dull even for chopping wood.

Only now did he realize just how poor his Aptitude with a Mixed Spiritual Root really was.

In the evening, he sheathed his sword and returned to his room, sitting cross-legged as his consciousness sank deep within.

A light blue interface appeared.

[Current proficiency: 2137]

This was the reward that skyrocketed after he "comforted" Yan Qingning that night. The System seemed to judge that emotional crisis as a "high-difficulty event" and gave generously.

Scrolling down the interface, there was a new item in the inventory.

[hongmeng fish pendant.]

[Description: Innate Spirit Treasure. The wearer gains an additional 10% experience point bonus upon killing a target.]

This piece of equipment was something he had obtained in a game Secret Realm dungeon.

Jiang Xun realized something.

Using his own equipment to give himself a reward?

System, you've really got it all calculated.

This jade pendant was originally part of a pair.

In the game, on the day Yan Qingning's favorability reached its maximum, he had given her this same half of the jade pendant.

Two fish-shaped jade pendants, when joined together, formed a complete Yin and Yang fish.

It was originally intended as a token of love, but it had been left to gather dust in the warehouse after he moved on to romance other characters.

Jiang Xun remembered that when he gave her the pendant, he said its meaning was: "To help each other in times of hardship, never to be separated."

Looking back now, those words were said so flippantly.

And so irresponsibly.

To help each other in times of hardship? Even his "moisture" was about to be dried up by the days spent on this lonely peak.

The jade pendant was a good item, especially with that 10% bonus.

But he couldn't leave now and couldn't kill monsters, so this thing was no different from an ordinary jade pendant in his hands.

Storing the jade pendant into his storage ring.

Jiang Xun went back to practicing his sword.

He didn't use any more points; he wanted to reach the introductory level through his own efforts.

Otherwise, these days would be too hard to endure.

However, Yan Qingning rarely showed her face these past few days.

Aside from taking time each day to guide his sword practice, she spent the rest of her time in the Meditation Room. The door was closed, the barrier was active, and her aura was as still as a pool of stagnant water.

Jiang Xun found it strange at first, but then he understood—she was avoiding him.

Or rather, she was avoiding the emotional fluctuations caused by him.

Yan Qingning's ice heart, maintained for a thousand years, could not possibly crumble overnight.

The backlash from the Cold Marrow Jade Scripture needed to be calmed, and he was the greatest variable.

This actually made Jiang Xun breathe a sigh of relief. At least, for the time being, he didn't have to face her burning gaze and obsessive touches.

Every time they practiced, Yan Qingning would hold his hand for a long time, carefully explaining the flow and method of every Move.

This made Jiang Xun endure it with great difficulty every time.

Jade Void Grotto-Heaven was very large and very empty. He wandered around a few times and discovered a Spiritual Spring under a cliff behind the rear hall.

The spring wasn't large, about ten feet square; the water was warm, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it condensed into white mist. There were a few smooth stones by the spring, looking as if someone often sat there.

Jiang Xun tried it once, and the moment his whole body was submerged, his fatigue receded like a tide.

Spiritual Qi seeped through his pores into his body, warm and cozy, far more efficient than meditating.

After that, he came often.

Today's sword practice was particularly rough; after finishing a set of sword techniques, his inner clothes were soaked with sweat.

Jiang Xun sheathed his sword, walked straight to the back mountain, stripped off his clothes, and stepped naked into the Spiritual Spring.

The water temperature was just right.

He leaned against the edge of the pool and closed his eyes.

Spiritual Qi enveloped his whole body, and his consciousness gradually grew drowsy. After an unknown amount of time, his body slipped, and he sank completely.

There was no sense of suffocation.

The current wrapped around him, as gentle as sleeping in silk.

After a long while, he opened his eyes dizzily. Light blurred in the water, illuminating a small area of the surrounding water.

He raised his hand to look at the storage ring.

Inside, the hongmeng fish pendant was emitting a dim green light.

"So it can even ward off water."

He simply relaxed his body and allowed himself to slowly sink to the bottom of the pool.

The bottom was covered with soft white sand, and a few aquatic plants swayed gently. The green light reflected off the ripples, creating an unreal sense of peace.

Drowsiness struck again.

When he woke up again, his whole body felt as refreshed as if he had been reborn.

Jiang Xun opened his eyes and found himself still lying at the bottom of the pool, the green light still glowing softly. He moved his limbs, took the fish pendant out of the storage ring, and examined it by the light.

The patterns were clear, and it felt warm to the touch.

He put away the jade pendant, kicked off the bottom, and swam upward.

The Spiritual Spring wasn't deep, and he soon approached the surface.

Through the hazy white mist, he saw a figure—slender and graceful, with her back to him. Her long hair was wet and clung to her shoulder blades, and water droplets slid down the line of her spine.

Is it Yan Qingning?

Jiang Xun paused.

She's also here for a soak?

This thought made him a bit embarrassed. If he were caught and treated as a peeping tom... wait, no.

On second thought, even if he were seen, nothing would probably happen.

These past few days she had been deliberately cold, barely coming within three feet of him except for the necessary contact during sword guidance.

But every time they sparred, Jiang Xun could see that suppressed, overflowing emotion in her eyes.

He knew the backlash of the Cold Marrow Jade Scripture wasn't so easily calmed.

She was enduring, and it was very hard for her.

In that case... a thought suddenly popped into Jiang Xun's head.

He wanted to go out, to escape this state of being kept like a pet.

And Yan Qingning was currently the only person he could "negotiate" with.

This opportunity might be worth a try.

With his mind made up, Jiang Xun swam forward silently.

The hongmeng fish pendant made his movements as graceful as a fish, barely disturbing the water.

He soon approached the back of that figure, close enough to see the delicate skin on her shoulders and a few strands of wet hair sticking to her neck.

Jiang Xun wasn't actually that bold.

With Yan Qingning's cultivation, how could she not notice someone approaching?

Unless... she allowed it.

This realization emboldened Jiang Xun. He reached out from behind and wrapped his arms around the other person's waist—

The touch was wrong.

Too thin.

Moreover, when he used to hug Yan Qingning like this, his arms could wrap around her waist and abdomen. But now, his arms had slipped up a bit, wrapping around... her chest.

The size was also clearly wrong.

The person in his arms suddenly stiffened.

Immediately—

"Ah—!!!"

A short and sharp scream exploded, making Jiang Xun's eardrums ache.

A thought rose in Jiang Xun's heart: "Oh no, I've got the wrong person."

The white mist was thick, and since he had come to Jade Void Grotto-Heaven, it had always been just him and Yan Qingning. It wasn't surprising that he acted without thinking.

Who would have known an outsider would come to this private place for a soak?

Before he could react, a tyrannical force struck from his chest—the blow was vicious!

Bang!

Jiang Xun was sent flying like a ragdoll, slamming heavily against the rocks by the pool, his internal organs feeling displaced.

He choked on some water, and before he could catch his breath, he heard three "whoosh" sounds of something cutting through the air.

Three Golden Rings shot out like lightning, precisely encircling his wrists and neck, and suddenly tightened!

Jiang Xun was pinned firmly to the edge of the pool, unable to Move.

This familiar scene... he coughed up some water and looked up.

In the white mist, that graceful figure had already frantically grabbed the clothes on the shore and thrown them on, scrambling to cover herself. In her haste, water splashed everywhere, and one could catch glimpses of snow-white skin and a slender silhouette.

Though she had put on clothes, the wet garments clung tightly to her body, making the outlined silhouette even more breathtaking.

Only then did the figure turn around, her face flushed red and filled with rage as she stomped over.

Jiang Xun saw her face clearly.

It wasn't Yan Qingning.

It was a younger, more vibrant face, though now it was flushed crimson with eyebrows raised in anger.

It was Sang Linger.

She walked to the edge of the pool and glared down at him, her chest heaving violently, wet hair still dripping.

Jiang Xun looked at her, twitched the corners of his mouth, and squeezed out a dry smile:

"Hi."

He paused and added:

"Long time no see."

Sang Linger's eyes widened even further.

She raised her hand, spiritual power gathering at her fingertips, her voice trembling with rage:

"You... bas... tard—!"