Chapter 184 "Lingering Feelings" and Turbulent Love

Yun Qingyao held Mu Changge and sped along, channeling her full Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. A white sword shadow streaked across the vast sky of the Secret Realm like a swift ray of light.

Her mind was in turmoil. The faint breath of the person in her arms (naturally, it was feigned) was like a sharp blade hanging over her heart, and every rise and fall of his breathing tugged at her taut nerves.

"You must hold on... Junior Brother Mu, you absolutely cannot be in danger..." she whispered, her cold, clear voice trembling imperceptibly. Her arms tightened unconsciously, shielding the person in her embrace more securely, as if this could retain the fading vitality.

She dared not stop for a moment, her perception fully unleashed, alert to any potential dangers around her while simultaneously searching for a sufficiently hidden and safe place to heal. The Secret Realm was filled with crises everywhere, and given the significant commotion from the battle in the valley earlier, it was hard to guarantee that it wouldn't attract those with covetous intentions.

After speeding for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the terrain ahead changed abruptly. The continuous steep mountains were gradually replaced by rolling hilly regions, and the air was filled with a moist sensation carrying the scent of soil and plants.

Passing over a few more low mountains, a strange sight came into Yun Qingyao's view.

It was a valley nestled among the mountains, low-lying yet vibrant with life, starkly contrasting with the desolate Secret Realm surrounding it. The valley was covered in lush green grass, dotted with countless blooming flowers. Most striking were the flowers that were a vibrant, delicate pink, resembling hibiscus or begonia. They grew in clumps and clusters, blooming with extreme splendor, covering almost half the valley. As a gentle breeze blew, a faint floral fragrance drifted with the wind; the scent was not overpowering but rather carried a clear, sweet, and distant quality that refreshed the heart and Soul.

Yun Qingyao was worried about Mu Changge's injuries and did not overthink it, feeling only that this place was remote, densely covered with flowers and grass, and might serve as a temporary refuge. She did not stop, speeding toward the depths of the sea of flowers.

Moving forward another few dozen yards, a natural depression appeared on the ground, about a yard square, half-hidden by dense flowers and grass. Yun Qingyao swept her perception across it and discovered that there was a hidden world beneath this pit, appearing to be the entrance to a naturally formed cave with space inside, and the aura was relatively enclosed.

"This is the place."

Without further hesitation, she held Mu Changge and leaped down.

The cave was not deep, just over three yards. After landing, Yun Qingyao quickly surveyed her surroundings. The space inside the cave was not large, about the size of two or three quiet rooms, dry and tidy. Several cracks above allowed daylight to filter in, so it was not dark. Most notably, that strange pink flower grew on the ground and in the crevices of the rock walls inside the cave, though not as lush as outside, appearing as scattered specks and emitting an even more faint, sweet fragrance.

"This place is acceptable for healing..." Yun Qingyao carefully laid Mu Changge flat on a relatively smooth and dry rock. Seeing him still with his eyes closed, his face slightly pale, and his breathing unstable, her delicate brows furrowed, and the worry in her eyes deepened.

The medicinal power of the "heavenly returning spirit pill" was slowly dissolving, nourishing Mu Changge's damaged Meridians and internal organs, but the entrenched black Devilish Qi was extremely stubborn, continuing to erode his vitality, which caused him to remain unconscious.

"I must help him refine the medicinal power and disperse the Devilish Qi!" Yun Qingyao resolved in her heart. She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, sat cross-legged behind Mu Changge, extended her hands, and placed them palm-to-palm against the vital points on his back.

Pure and gentle spiritual energy slowly transferred from her palms into Mu Changge's body like a trickling stream, carefully guiding the massive medicinal power of the "heavenly returning spirit pill" to flow along his Meridians, repairing the damage while simultaneously attempting to envelop and disperse the strand of Devilish Qi.

Time passed bit by bit. The cave was silent, with only the shallow breathing of the two, and that faint, elusive sweet fragrance quietly permeating the air.

...

However, what Yun Qingyao did not know was that from beginning to end, Mu Changge's consciousness had been clear.

He was "unconscious," letting Yun Qingyao carry him at full speed, feeling the warm, fragrant, and soft embrace. His cheek could even feel the astonishing elasticity and warmth of those proud, full mounds through her clothing, and his nose was surrounded by the maidenly sweet scent unique to Yun Qingyao... This feeling was truly not bad.

He divided a portion of his mind, currently "settling" the gains from this battle.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully severely wounding the Child of Fortune Jian Wushuang (severing one of his arms) and completely changing Yun Qingyao's destiny trajectory!]

[Rewards are being calculated...]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Cultivation Technique: [Fourth-Grade Heavenly Sword Manual] 2/4 (Unknown)]

[Reward: +39,000 villain points!]

The System's cold notification sound rang in his mind.

"Thirty-nine thousand?" Mu Changge secretly raised an eyebrow, though he wasn't too surprised. As the Luck Rank increased, the villain points that could be harvested from the Children of Fortune encountered later would also become increasingly higher.

'Have to say, that brat Jian Wushuang really has a tough life. Even in that situation, he could still rely on the "soul suppressing tower" and life-saving Magic Treasure to escape, only having one arm severed by that final finger wind from You Li (Body Integration Stage Cultivator)... However, being able to severely wound him to this extent and force out his prepared trump cards can be considered not bad.'

Immediately, he turned his attention to himself. Looking inward, the scene inside his body was quite strange. In his Dantian Qi Sea, two forces floated clearly distinct from each other: one side was the magnificent Righteous Qi, pale golden in color, upright, peaceful, vast, and bright; the other side was the grim Devilish Qi, pitch-black like ink, overbearing, treacherous, and full of evil aura. These two forces, which should have been incompatible like fire and water, were currently at peace, even showing faint signs of complementing and merging with each other.

At the boundary between the Righteous and Devilish Qi, a bead the size of a dragon's eye, flowing with a Chaos-colored luster, floated quietly and rotated slowly. It was like a core, a hub, and a vortex, firmly adsorbing the Righteous and Devilish Qi, and regulating and transforming them according to some mysterious rule, allowing Mu Changge to call upon either power at will, or even call upon both simultaneously, without producing any conflict or backlash.

"Chaos Bead... truly mysterious." Mu Changge praised inwardly. This was exactly the reward he received after completing the previous task issued by the System—the Chaos Bead (previously, due to his Physique, he could convert them, but couldn't use the Righteous and Devilish Qi simultaneously). Now with this bead, he was the only unique dual Cultivator of Righteous and Devilish paths in this world, with infinite potential.

His thoughts withdrew from within his body, and Mu Changge's attention returned to the outside world. He naturally "felt" Yun Qingyao carry him into this cave, and also "smelled" the omnipresent, clear, sweet, and distant pink floral fragrance inside and outside the cave.

At first, he did not pay much attention. But gradually, he detected a hint of something wrong.

Perhaps it was because under "serious injury," the circulation of Qi and blood was already more active than usual; or perhaps this floral fragrance was truly strange. He only felt that as he breathed, the wisps of sweet fragrance seeped into his heart and spleen, the speed of blood circulation in his body seemed to faintly accelerate a bit, and an inexplicable feeling of stifling heat quietly rose from the depths of his lower abdomen and began to slowly spread to his limbs and bones. The feeling was not strong, but like a trickling stream, moistening things silently.

"This flower..." Mu Changge felt a shiver in his heart. Combining his experience from his past life of watching films (crossed out) and reading countless novels, a guess floated into his mind, "Could it be... a substance like love flowers or Hehuan Powder that induces lust?"

Once this thought arose, his original plan to "wake up at the right time" was instantly pressed with the pause button.

"Interesting..." Mu Changge was not alarmed; instead, an indescribable sense of playfulness and... anticipation rose in his heart.

He was not some righteous gentleman who could remain unmoved by a woman in his lap, nor was he a Saint who strictly adhered to rules and regulations. He was Mu Changge, the Devil Son of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and he always acted according to his own whims, doing as he pleased. Having held back for so long, he had long been feeling itchy and impatient. The Yun Qingyao before him, who appeared cold and peerless but had actually secretly developed feelings for him, wasn't she just a delicious meal delivered to his mouth?

Moreover, he had been circling Yun Qingyao and cultivating their relationship for a period of time. Although this woman's attitude toward him was clearly different and her affection grew daily, she had always guarded the final line of defense and had never given a clear response. At this moment, with the timing (seriously injured needing care), location (hidden cave), and human factors (love flowers aiding the mood) all present, was this not a god-given Opportunity?

However, information about Yun Qingyao's Physique flashed through his mind. Subconsciously, his thoughts moved slightly, and he brought up the detailed information about her in the System panel:

[Name: Yun Qingyao]

[Realm: Late Nascent Soul Stage (has a knot in her heart, slow cultivation)]

[Luck Rank: Green]

[Physique: Sword-Nurturing Physique (Special)]

[Physique Details: Possesses Innate Dao of Sword, treating the body as the Dao, and nurturing the sword with the heart. Must maintain the state of original Yin for thirty years, day and night nurturing the "Heart Sword" within the body. Once the thirty-year period is complete, the "Heart Sword" will be self-formed. The first person to unite with her can instantly trigger the resonance of the "Heart Sword," gain insights into the Dao of Sword, and the Sword Intent will reach the "Extreme Realm," which can be called reaching the heavens in one step. If the original Yin is lost before thirty years, the "Heart Sword" will collapse, and the sword body will be ruined.]

[Life Script: Expandable...]

"Sword-Nurturing Physique... thirty years... original Yin..." Mu Changge clicked his tongue inwardly. This Physique was indeed Heaven-Defying, but it also had huge limitations. If he took her now, he could certainly enjoy her beauty and relieve his itching heart, but this damn Sword-Nurturing Physique would be ruined.

Mu Changge only hesitated slightly for a few breaths before he had made a decision.

'Screw whatever damn Sword-Nurturing Physique! I have Super Comprehension, I have the System, what am I afraid of? What can't I get?'

The heat rising in his body as he inhaled the floral fragrance, along with the soft touch coming from beside his cheek and the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose, were constantly teasing and impacting his reason. Especially when thinking about this Saintess, who was looked up to by countless Cultivators in the Sect, and the future auxiliary Opportunity for the Child of Fortune (presumably this Physique was prepared for the Child of Fortune again), potentially being under him, yielding and intoxicated... that evil fire had a tendency to become uncontrollable.

"Damn it, I am not a Saint..." Mu Changge cursed inwardly, his mind becoming active. Since leaving the Heavenly Demon Sect and disguising himself as a Disciple of the Righteous Path, he hadn't touched a woman in a long time. Now with a beauty in his arms, the environment was ambiguous, and there was this unknown love flower fueling the fire...

Just as he was distracted and hesitant—

Inside the lapel of his chest, that soul-containing jade that he wore close to his body suddenly, without any warning, became slightly hot!

Immediately following, a strand of extremely faint pink light, which ordinary Cultivators would find it extremely difficult to detect, flickered from the jade pendant.

A voice, enchanting to the bones and carrying wisps of seductive magnetism like silver bells, rang directly in the depths of his mind, with three parts teasing and seven parts flirtatious:

"Revered Master, since when did you like this kind of style? And you even need to find something to help set the mood?"

Mu Changge was startled at first, then suddenly realized: "How could I have forgotten her?"

In the soul-containing jade, there didn't just live the ethereal and clingy little female ghost You Li, but also another "tenant" he had "subdued" and almost never summoned—Phantom. This fellow had been exceptionally quiet since entering the soul-containing jade. If she hadn't suddenly spoken up just now, Mu Changge would have almost forgotten her existence. It was no wonder; previously, he was surrounded by Revered Master Luo Li, You Li, and various female Cultivators with different styles in the Heavenly Demon Sect. Later, infiltrating this Wandao Sword Sect, he had to disguise himself and scheme against Yun Qingyao and Mu Wanning, so he had indeed neglected this "Phantom" who was proficient in the Dao of Enchantment.

As if sensing what Mu Changge was thinking, that enchanting laughter rang out again, carrying a touch of just-right resentment: "Revered Master hasn't called for me for so long, have you forgotten me? I am so sad!"

Mu Changge was slightly embarrassed and transmitted his voice back: "How could that be... Let's not talk about this for now. You speaking up at this time, surely there is something?"

"Revered Master, you're so mean, you actually forgot about me..." Meiying giggled, her voice melting into the bones, not dwelling on this topic, instead speaking with a tone of surprise and playfulness: "However, the flowers inside and outside this cave are truly rare treasures! If I am not mistaken, this flower is called 'you su', and it also has the aliases 'Bone-Eroding Injury' and 'Single-Minded Devotion'. Its efficacy is by no means comparable to ordinary aphrodisiac flowers and plants; it is extremely profound~"

She paused, lowering her voice, adding more mystery and temptation: "The fragrance of this flower, when first smelled, is only perceived as sweet and pleasant, having the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. However, its true wonder lies in 'gradual entry' and 'targeting'. As the inhalation time increases, the fragrance will silently infect the Soul, its efficacy accumulating layer by layer, like silk and threads, entangling the heart, making people unknowingly intoxicated by it, unable to extricate themselves. Those with slightly weaker Cultivation or Soul, or those with deep obsessions, are very easily affected."

"And its most peculiar aspect lies in," Meiying's tone carried a hint of indescribable meaning, "the person affected will not fall into pure lust without reason. Their emotions and desires will be quietly amplified by the flower's fragrance, focused on the person who has the strongest impact on them during this period. The affected person will develop a progressive emotional change towards them: from good feelings, to closeness, then to admiration, adoration, and even... worship and devotion. Viewing them as a special existence, a spiritual sustenance, or even... the only true love. The longer the flower's fragrance lasts, and the more contact the two have, the deeper this guided and amplified emotional brand will become, making it harder to erase. Hehehe... Revered Master, tell me, isn't this much more interesting than those simple, crude, and vulgar things?"

"And," her voice became even sweeter and sticky, with a teasing tone, "the fragrance of this 'you su', for me, is a Treasure Trove... a great tonic! When I absorb it, I can guide it slightly, making the 'effect' of this fragrance on Revered Master... even more significant and longer-lasting~ I guarantee that Revered Master and this pure and flawless Saintess will both be able to... fully, enjoy, the, experience!"

She said the last four words slowly and softly, full of endless temptation and implication.

Mu Changge was speechless, directly ignoring the second half of Meiying's ambiguous sentence, and felt emotional in his heart: "This is the first time I've heard of being able to Cultivate by relying on flower fragrance? This method of Cultivation is indeed... unique." He pondered slightly, and then did not think about it further.

"Since that is the case, you may come out. Keep the disturbance small, do not let her notice." Mu Changge transmitted his voice.

"Alright... I won't disturb Revered Master's good deed." Meiying replied happily.

Immediately, it could be seen that inside the lapel of Mu Changge's chest, the soul-containing jade flashed with a faint pink light again. A wisp of pink smoke, faint and barely visible to the naked eye, drifted out from the jade pendant, as if it had life, sticking to the ground, silently drifting towards the cave entrance, and in an instant, it submerged into the brilliant sea of pink flowers outside the cave, disappearing.

Inside the cave, it returned to silence again, with only that sweet fragrance lingering, refusing to dissipate.

Mu Changge composed his mind, refocusing his attention on Yun Qingyao, who was "healing his injuries" behind him.

Some time passed. Under the dual effect of the medicinal power of the "heavenly returning spirit pill" and Yun Qingyao's pure spiritual power, the "injury" that Mu Changge had staged in his body had actually long stabilized, and the lingering "Devilish Qi" had also been secretly guided by him, dissipating for the most part, but he still kept some (how can he use it as evidence if he doesn't keep some?). He still maintained the illusion of being in a coma, while also silently "admiring" Yun Qingyao's changes.

At first, Yun Qingyao was still able to stabilize her mind, focusing entirely on channeling spiritual power for him. But gradually, she discovered that something was wrong.

The space inside the cave was relatively closed, and the flower fragrance accumulated quietly here, with a concentration far higher than outside. As her spiritual power circulated and she breathed in and out, more and more flower fragrance was inhaled into her body.

At first, she just felt that it was a bit hot and stuffy inside the cave; she didn't pay attention to it, thinking it was caused by circulating her energy. But soon, that feeling of dry heat did not dissipate due to the circulation of spiritual power; instead, it quietly rose from her lower abdomen, like a small flame being lit, beginning to spread throughout her body. Her breathing also unknowingly became slightly rapid, and her full chest rose and fell slowly with her breathing.

"Inside this cave... why is it so hot and stuffy?" A trace of doubt flashed in Yun Qingyao's heart, but she glanced at Mu Changge's still pale (pretended) side face in front of her, and worry outweighed her doubt, so she continued to concentrate on transmitting spiritual power.

However, that feeling of dry heat became more and more obvious. She began to feel her cheeks burning, and the skin on her neck, behind her ears, and other places also flushed with a faint pink. Inside her body, it felt as if countless small ants were crawling gently, bringing bursts of numb itching, especially in a certain place, where an inexplicable palpitation came. Her crossed legs subconsciously moved slightly closer, trying to alleviate that inexplicable feeling.

"Mmm..." A very slight, unbearable nasal sound escaped her lips uncontrollably. Yun Qingyao was startled by this sound herself, and her beautiful face instantly flushed scarlet, as if stained with the most brilliant sunset glow in the sky. She bit her lower lip fiercely, forcing herself to wake up with a little pain.

"What's going on? I... I am..." She was shocked and shy in her heart, having a faint premonition of something bad. She then forced herself to compose her mind, trying to use the method of internal observation to investigate herself and dispel the abnormality. However, under internal observation, she did not find any signs of toxins or external evil invasion; only her blood and Qi circulation were much faster than usual, and her heartbeat was more powerful and rapid than usual. An indescribable heat flow was surging through her limbs and bones, impacting her line of defense of reason.

What's worse is that as her mood fluctuated and her spiritual power circulation became slightly stagnant, the dry heat that she had temporarily suppressed surged back like a tide, and it was even more turbulent than before! She only felt her whole body softening, and the palms of her hands pressed against Mu Changge's back actually seeped with fine beads of sweat, becoming damp and hot. Her delicate body was trembling slightly uncontrollably, and an indescribable feeling of desire grew from the depths of her body, growing wildly like wild grass.

"No... no way... Junior Brother Mu is still seriously injured and has not woken up... How can I..." Yun Qingyao bit her teeth tightly, trying to use a firm will to fight against the abnormality of her body. However, the flower fragrance was pervasive, and with every breath she took, it was eroding her reason. A slight sense of trance even began to appear before her eyes. The temperature from Junior Brother Mu's broad back and his handsome and dashing appearance made her want to get closer, yet she felt extremely ashamed.

And Mu Changge, who had been maintaining a "coma" but was actually taking everything into his "eyes" in secret, was also clicking his tongue in wonder in his heart, secretly praising this great Saintess Yun for her extraordinary determination.

You know, a Saintess... that is not something just anyone can be; it must be someone with excellent talent and a mind like a demon who can become one.

'Even such a person has reacted so quickly... and looking at her appearance of forced endurance, it actually has a unique charm.' Mu Changge could clearly feel that the pair of hands behind his back, which were originally cool like jade, had now become warm and even somewhat hot, pressing against his back, bringing bursts of numb touch. Yun Qingyao's slight trembling, slightly heavy breathing, and that expression of forced restraint that still leaked a trace of charm, all stimulated him.

He himself was not feeling well either. To act realistically, he did not circulate his spiritual power to deliberately resist the flower fragrance (after all, someone was channeling spiritual power for him behind), and at this moment, the efficacy of the "you su" was also fermenting in his body. His blood and Qi were flowing faster, and evil fire was rising in his lower abdomen. What's worse is that Yun Qingyao was right behind him, that aura of coldness mixed with endured charm, that temperature transmitted through the palms and the faint fragrance, all became catalysts to intensify his impulses.

'Damn it, this little lady can really endure...' Mu Changge cursed inwardly, knowing that continuing to "faint" was not a solution; it was time to increase the intensity for her. And looking at Yun Qingyao's state, she was almost at her limit; that taut string could break at any moment.

Just when Yun Qingyao once again, because of the unbearable dry heat in her body, unconsciously twisted her delicate body slightly, trying to alleviate that strange and surging feeling of emptiness—

"Cough... cough cough..."

A faint but clear sound of choking coughs sounded from in front of him.

Yun Qingyao trembled all over, her beautiful eyes, which were struggling in a daze, instantly cleared for a moment, and she looked up sharply.

She saw that Mu Changge had already opened his eyes, his arms moved, and his whole person exuded a weakness and exhaustion of not yet recovered from serious injuries.

"Mu... Junior Brother Mu? You're awake?" Yun Qingyao was pleasantly surprised, forgetting her own embarrassing situation for a moment, and hurriedly leaned closer, asking with concern, "How do you feel? Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?"

However, just as she finished speaking, Mu Changge looked as if he had just woken up from a nightmare, and as if he had seen the person he trusted most after surviving a disaster, an indescribable excitement, relief, and... lingering fear (of course, he was faking it) instantly erupted in his eyes.

"Yun... Senior Sister Yun?!"

He called out in a hoarse, low voice, his voice weak but full of emotion. Immediately afterwards, before Yun Qingyao could react, Mu Changge, not knowing where he found the strength, turned around abruptly, opened his arms, and suddenly pulled Yun Qingyao, who was sitting cross-legged behind him, tightly and forcefully into his embrace!

This embrace came so suddenly and with such force, as if he had used all his strength, wanting to knead her into his own bones and blood. Yun Qingyao was caught off guard, letting out a soft cry, and her entire delicate body, warm and fragrant, fell completely into Mu Changge's broad and scorching embrace. The two bodies pressed against each other seamlessly; she could clearly feel the rapid and powerful heartbeat under his chest, as well as the astonishing heat transmitted through his clothes that almost melted her.

"Senior Sister Yun... it really is you..." Mu Changge buried his face deeply in the crook of her neck, greedily breathing in the faint fragrance from her hair and the side of her neck, his voice trembling with choking and uncontrollable excitement, "I... I thought... I would never see you again..."

His arms tightened, making it hard for Yun Qingyao to breathe, but strangely, she couldn't muster any resistance in her heart. Instead, in that close embrace and scorching body temperature, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace and... palpitation. The dry heat that had just been stirred up by the flower fragrance now, like dry wood thrown into a spark, suddenly burned even more fiercely.

"Mu... Junior Brother Mu, let go first... you are still injured..." Yun Qingyao tried to push him away, but her voice was involuntarily soft, carrying a slight tremor that even she hadn't noticed. Her heart was in a mess at this moment; she had joy at Mu Changge's awakening, worry about his "injuries," and even more, the strange wave of emotion ignited by this sudden embrace that was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress. Reason told her she should push him away immediately, but her body seemed to have its own consciousness, craving this closeness and warmth, and even unconsciously responding slightly, leaning closer to the source of that scorching heat.

Inside the cave, the pink aura bloomed quietly, the sweet fragrance becoming increasingly rich, silently permeating, tightly surrounding the two. One was "newly awakened from serious injury," "unable to control his feelings"; the other had lost her mental defense, with waves of emotion surging in the dark. The ambiguous aura flowed in the air, and the temperature seemed to be rising quietly.

The threads of fate were quietly intertwined at this moment; the dam of reason, under the impact of the tide of desire and "accidents," was on the verge of collapse.