Chapter 64 Returning to the Sect

Many days later. It was unclear exactly how long the two had stayed in the valley, but Xiao Ming let out a long breath, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out, especially with bouts of soreness and weakness coming from his lower back. Having fought across Realms several times in succession, even though his Physique far surpassed those of the same level and he had consumed Medicinal Pills to replenish his Qi, it was inevitable that he would suffer some "damage to his Origin Qi" at this moment. He subconsciously reached out to rub his lower back, beginning to put on his clothes with slightly stiff movements.

Beside him, Luo Li had long since tidied her appearance, returning to that cold and transcendent look, though the spring-like affection and flirtatiousness swirling in her eyes had become even more alluring. She glimpsed Xiao Ming rubbing his waist with unsteady steps and was stunned for a moment before seemingly realizing something. Two patches of rosy clouds instantly flew onto her exquisite cheeks, but immediately after, a rare flash of cunning and uncontrollable laughter flickered within those cold peach blossom eyes.

“Ahem...” She gave a light cough, trying hard to pull a serious Face, but the slight upward curve of her lips simply couldn't be suppressed. Walking to Xiao Ming's side, she deliberately teased him with a cold and majestic tone, “What’s this? Hmph! Wicked Disciple, are you already at your limit? Weren't you quite... arrogant just now?”

Xiao Ming was grimacing as he felt the soreness in his waist. Hearing this, his movements froze, and he looked up to meet Luo Li's eyes, which were filled with playful laughter. His handsome Face instantly turned red, but he immediately straightened his back (though he almost pulled it) and forced himself to remain calm, stubbornly saying, “What are you saying, Revered Master! This Disciple is as fierce as a dragon and a tiger; fighting another three hundred rounds would be no problem! It’s just... I just accidentally strained my back and feel a bit of discomfort, that's all!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Luo Li drawled, walking a circle around Xiao Ming, her beautiful eyes scanning his waist as the laughter in them became more obvious. “Just a strained back? Why do I feel like some people are... ‘overworked’?” She deliberately said the word “overworked” lightly and slowly, carrying an indescribable charm and mockery.

Xiao Ming's mouth twitched. This woman was getting the better of him and acting smug! Truly, only the ox dies of exhaustion, the field is never plowed to ruin; the ancients did not deceive me! He grabbed Luo Li's wrist, pulled her close to him, and said fiercely, “Whether this Disciple is ‘overworked’ or not, didn't Revered Master experience it deeply just now? How about we...?” As he spoke, he deliberately thrust his waist forward.

Luo Li hadn't expected him to be so concerned with Face, but feeling his burning body temperature and that hollow threat, she felt both doting and helpless. She spat, “Bah! Shameless! Who wants to continue with you! Hurry up and pack; it's time to return to the Sect!”

Seeing her back down, Xiao Ming gave an arrogant snort, but perhaps due to his previous movement, his posture became even more hunched. Xiao Ming tried to circulate his spiritual energy and felt as if his body was empty; even walking felt a bit airy.

Luo Li, seeing all his little movements, finally couldn't help but burst into laughter with a “puchi.” This laugh was like snow melting and spring flowers blooming, incomparably beautiful. She walked to Xiao Ming's side, extended a slender jade finger to gently poke his lower back, and said with a rare tone of coquettishness and concern, “That's what you get for lacking restraint! You deserve it! Hahaha... After we return, I have a few thousand-year-old blood ginsengs and Spirit Medicines for strengthening the foundation at my place. I'll stew some soup for you then to patch you up.”

Xiao Ming felt his heart warm at her rare display of vulnerability and caring words. He took the opportunity to grab her hand and whispered into her ear, “Then this Disciple thanks Revered Master for the concern. However, I feel that the best tonic... is you, Revered Master, isn't it?” Having said that, before Luo Li could react, Xiao Ming quickly gave her alluring, fragrant buttocks a light pat, then laughed loudly as he walked toward the valley exit.

“You... Wicked Disciple!” Luo Li hatefully straightened her messed-up skirt, feeling both shy and annoyed. She stomped her foot in anger but still quickly followed. Looking at the back of the person ahead who was clearly “spent” yet still trying to act tough and stubborn, she felt both sweetness and helplessness in her heart.

Once the two left the valley, Luo Li waved her jade hand, and a burst of pure and gentle ice-blue demonic power instantly enveloped Xiao Ming, lifting him gently. She also floated up, standing side by side with him.

“Hold on tight.” Luo Li glanced at the smug-looking Xiao Ming beside her, her tone cold, but her eyes held a trace of concern that was hard to detect.

Hearing this, Xiao Ming naturally and skillfully extended his arms, circling that slender and flexible waist once more, pressing most of his body firmly against her. His chin rested on Luo Li's fragrant shoulder as he said cheekily, “Revered Master, this Disciple's ‘injury’ hasn't fully healed yet. I'll have to rely entirely on your care for this journey.”

Feeling the arms tightening around her waist and the warm chest pressing against her back, Luo Li's body subconsciously softened slightly. Her cheeks grew warm as she gave Xiao Ming an annoyed look. “No sense of propriety!” However, she didn't push him away; instead, she quietly shifted, finding a more comfortable position.

The next moment, the two turned into a streak of ice-blue light, soaring into the sky and instantly disappearing into the clouds, streaking toward the Heavenly Demon Sect at extreme speed.

Feeling the mountains and rivers flash past his eyes, Xiao Ming couldn't help but marvel, ‘The escape speed of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator is truly astonishing, many times faster than the Nascent Soul Stage!’

The wind whistled in his ears, and the landscape below receded rapidly. During the flight, Xiao Ming held Luo Li tightly, feeling the softness and warmth of the beauty in his arms. The unique and familiar cold fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, making him feel incredibly comfortable. Although his waist was still a bit sore, being able to hold such a masterpiece was the dream of countless people. He even deliberately rubbed his Face against the crook of Luo Li's neck, taking a deep breath of the fragrance wafting from within her robes.

“Mm... don't move around!” Luo Li let out a sensitive hum and shrunk her neck. Her earlobes turned red as she couldn't help but scold him, her body also subconsciously heating up slightly.

“Revered Master, you really smell so good...” Xiao Ming grinned, breathing into her ear with a serious Face. “Your Disciple is dizzy; I need to hold on tight so I don't fall off...”

“Bah, Wicked Disciple, stop talking nonsense! You are now a Nascent Soul Cultivator; how could you easily fall off?” Luo Li said in shame and annoyance. The excuses this Wicked Disciple found were getting more and more lame! She tried to use her elbow to poke him back gently, but he only held her tighter.

“Ouch... Revered Master, take it easy, my waist... my waist is still sore...” Xiao Ming immediately cried out in mock pain, his voice sounding incredibly aggrieved.

Hearing this, Luo Li knew he was likely faking it, but then she thought of the repeated madness in the valley, and her heart softened. That bit of insignificant resistance instantly vanished into thin air, leaving her to let him stick to her like a piece of nougat, taking advantage of her as much as he pleased. Feeling the steady warmth from behind and that large hand occasionally misbehaving, she felt both annoyed and amused, mixed with an inexpressible sweetness. This Wicked Disciple was truly her fated nemesis!

Watching the mountains flash by below, Xiao Ming suddenly remembered something and spoke up, “Revered Master, after we return, the disappearance of Tu Gang and Yin Gu might cause some trouble.” Was he joking? Two Soul Transformation Stage giants of the Sect had died just like that; no matter how you looked at it, it was a loss for the Sect! Although he wasn't afraid, he didn't want his Revered Master to be embroiled in unnecessary trouble.

Luo Li remained calm and said indifferently, “It doesn't matter. The two of them were arrogant and bloodthirsty, committing many evil deeds. My Senior Sister has long wanted to get rid of them! Now that they sneakily left the Sect to try and harm me, only to be killed by me in return—no one knows anyway. Even if they did, no one can prove I was the one who killed them!” Her tone carried the absolute confidence and majesty of a Soul Transformation Cultivator.

“Revered Master is so domineering!” Xiao Ming flattered her with a grin. Seeing the beauty in his arms seemingly recover that majestic posture belonging only to a Soul Transformation expert, he only felt the desire for conquest grow stronger. His fingers began to misbehave, lightly sliding and wandering around Luo Li's waist.

“Revered Master, after we return, can this Disciple... move into Heartless Peak to live? It would be easier to ‘serve’ Revered Master nearby, and also... to nurse my waist?” The underlying meaning in his words couldn't be more obvious.

Luo Li, who had been cold just a moment ago, saw her pretty Face instantly turn crimson, even her snow-white neck dyed a layer of pink. She turned her head slightly, glaring at Xiao Ming in shame and indignation. “Wicked Disciple... you... don't even think about it! You are the Saint of my Heavenly Demon Sect; what would it look like for you to live at your teacher's place! Stay at Holy Son Peak properly for me!”

She secretly fumed in her heart: ‘This Wicked Disciple, what is he thinking about all day! If he moves into my place, how will I ever Face anyone again?’

“Oh...” Xiao Ming drawled with a feigned look of disappointment, but his arms around Luo Li tightened even more, and he buried his head deeper. He breathed hot air into her ear and smiled wickedly, “Then this Disciple will just have to go to Heartless Peak every day to ‘pay respects.’ Revered Master better not find me annoying when the time comes.”

“You... Shameless!” Luo Li was so angry she wanted to hit him, yet she was helpless against this Wicked Disciple's rogue behavior. In the end, she could only spit with a red Face and accelerate her flight, as if trying to shake off this unshakeable piece of nougat behind her.

High in the sky, above the vast sea of clouds, a streak of ice-blue light pierced through the heavens. Within that light, the cold and transcendent Soul Transformation female Cultivator was held tightly by her “sore-waisted and weak-legged” Disciple. One was a mix of shame and annoyance, the other was triumphant, forming a strange yet warm picture. The sounds of flirting and bickering dissipated into the whistling wind.

...

After an unknown amount of time, Luo Li, who was speeding forward, already had a Face like a peach blossom and hurried breathing. She gave Xiao Ming a helpless glare and feigned anger, “Wicked Disciple, the Sect is just ahead!”

Xiao Ming looked at the faint outline of the Heavenly Demon Sect's gate in the distance, but his hands didn't stop, continuing to provoke her. He wandered through the thin fabric across those full and soft heights, feeling incredibly content.

“Ngh... you... how audacious! We're... we're almost there... don't...” Luo Li's breathing became even more rapid, her whole body trembling slightly, and her cheeks were so red they looked like they could drip blood. With the Sect in sight, they could be seen at any moment. This intense sense of shame intertwined with the faint pleasure was almost driving her crazy. She fruitlessly used her hand to push at the large hand misbehaving at her waist, but it seemed more like she was welcoming him.

Just as Luo Li was lost in a daze, feeling both ashamed and intoxicated while glaring resentfully at Xiao Ming.

Suddenly, dozens of miles ahead, a flame-like aura was racing toward them!

Luo Li, who was currently in an affectionate state, felt her body shudder. Her eyes, which had been blurry and full of spring, instantly regained clarity, even flashing with a hint of panic.

“Wicked Disciple, someone is coming!” Her voice carried urgency as she began to frantically smooth the wrinkles on her dress.

Looking at his Revered Master baby who had been so passionate just now and had instantly returned to her cold Fairy appearance, Xiao Ming's mouth was full of amusement. However, he didn't continue to tease her; his Revered Master baby cared a lot about Face!

He slowly withdrew his hand and moved to a safer distance from his Revered Master, his expression becoming incredibly respectful.

Luo Li hurriedly tidied her dress. Her pretty Face instantly turned from the crimson of passion to a pale white of embarrassment, then quickly flushed red again, her heart beating like a drum.

‘Heavens! If others saw me, the Peak Revered Master of Heartless Peak, being held so intimately by my own Disciple on the way back to the Sect—even... even with my clothes disheveled and my breathing erratic—I wouldn't be able to show my Face anymore!’