114: Healing Talks at Night, Love Entwined

The night was deep. In a secluded residence in Tianshu City, secretly arranged by Deputy Commander Situ Yue, faint lamplight flickered.

Lin Xuan gently placed Qu Feiyan on the soft bed. Her face was still pale, and her breathing weak. Forcibly enduring a blow from a Nascent Soul Stage skeletal hand had severely injured her. Lin Xuan dared not delay, immediately taking out his best Medicinal Pills for healing, and using his own pure and gentle magical power, he carefully guided the medicinal effects through her, repairing her damaged Meridians and internal organs.

Qu Feiyan's eyes were closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. She felt the familiar flow of Lin Xuan's magical power, carrying a hint of masculine warmth, like the gentlest caress, dispelling the intense pain and cold within her body. She had never shown such a vulnerable side to anyone, nor had she ever so peacefully entrusted herself to another.

Time slowly passed in the quiet healing. Outside the window, the faint clamor of the distant market only highlighted the tranquility within the room.

After an unknown period, Qu Feiyan's breathing finally stabilized, and a hint of color returned to her face. She slowly opened her eyes, and what met them was Lin Xuan's handsome face, close at hand, filled with concentration and worry.

"How do you feel?" Lin Xuan, seeing her awake, let out a sigh of relief and asked softly.

Qu Feiyan didn't answer immediately; she just gazed at him quietly. Her charming eyes shimmered with a watery sheen, devoid of her usual calculations and allure, replaced by an indescribable complex emotion. She extended her slightly cool hand and gently placed it over the back of Lin Xuan's hand, which was still transferring Qi to her.

"Lin Xuan..." Her voice was a little hoarse, yet carried an unprecedented softness, "If I said... that this time, I, your older sister, have truly fallen for you, what would you do?"

Lin Xuan's movements paused. Feeling the coolness and slight tremor on the back of his hand, the softest part of his heart was touched. He turned his hand to hold her cool hand, meeting her gaze, his tone deep and serious: "Then I will be responsible to the very end."

These simple words, however, struck Qu Feiyan's heart like a heavy hammer. She stared at him blankly, her eyes instantly clouded with mist, which then transformed into a captivating smile of relief and determination.

"Good... you said it." Her fingertips tightened slightly, returning his grip. "My body, my heart, your older sister will rely on you from now on. If you dare to betray me..." Her unfinished words carried a hint of her usual threat, but her gaze clearly conveyed complete trust.

Lin Xuan's heart stirred as he witnessed her rare display of genuine emotion. He leaned down and pressed a gentle, cherished kiss on her smooth forehead. "I won't."

No more words were needed; all affection and promises were contained within that single kiss and those two words.

Qu Feiyan closed her eyes, feeling the warm touch on her forehead. A heart that had drifted aimlessly, struggling in darkness for too long, finally seemed to find a harbor to rest. She wrapped her arms around Lin Xuan's neck, burying her face in his neck, greedily drawing in his reassuring scent.

The atmosphere in the room was enchanting and warm.

However, both were still injured, and this was not the time for romantic dalliance. After a moment of tenderness, Lin Xuan gently patted her back: "Alright, your injuries haven't fully healed yet, you still need to recuperate properly. I also need to recover my magical power to deal with the upcoming troubles."

Qu Feiyan reluctantly let go, but still held onto his sleeve, looking at him with alluring eyes: "You should recuperate here, don't leave."

Lin Xuan smiled helplessly, knowing that her emotions were unstable and she lacked a sense of security at the moment. He nodded, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion by the bed, and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique to restore his greatly depleted magical power and Divine Sense.

Qu Feiyan watched his profile as he meditated with closed eyes, her heart filled with an unprecedented sense of peace and contentment. She also lay back down, circulating her Cultivation Technique, guiding the pure magical power and medicinal effects that Lin Xuan had transferred into her body to jointly repair her injuries.

Perhaps it was the relaxation of their minds, or perhaps it was due to their Cultivation Techniques originating from the same source (Lin Xuan's magical power already contained a trace of her blood lotus aura), but their auras in the quiet room subtly intertwined and circulated once again without them realizing it. Unlike the intensity of battle, this was a gentle, natural fusion, like streams flowing into a river.

Lin Xuan could feel that his depleted Divine Sense was recovering at a speed far exceeding the usual, and even his comprehension of the chapter of the blazing sun fragment and the Thunder Law seemed to have subtly improved. Qu Feiyan, on the other hand, felt that the hidden danger of her Acquired Charming Bone was considerably smoothed out under the nourishment of this gentle, masculine, and vital aura. Her Cultivation Technique circulated more smoothly, and her recovery speed was much faster.

This was a silent resonance and complementarity, reaching the very depths of their Souls.

The night passed without a word.

When the morning sun streamed through the window the next day, Lin Xuan was the first to open his eyes. His gaze was sharp yet restrained, his aura profound. Not only were his injuries fully healed, but his cultivation also seemed to have advanced further. He looked at Qu Feiyan on the bed; she was still in meditation, but her face was rosy, and her breathing was steady and long, clearly indicating an excellent recovery, even benefiting from the misfortune, making her aura more condensed.

Noticing Lin Xuan's gaze, Qu Feiyan slowly opened her eyes. Their eyes met, and both saw an affection and tacit understanding different from before. After yesterday's life-and-death protection and the subsequent silent healing resonance, the relationship between them had undergone a qualitative change.

"How do you feel?" Lin Xuan got up and walked to the bedside.

Qu Feiyan stretched languidly, her graceful curves fully revealed. She smiled charmingly, her eyes shimmering: "With Junior Brother Lin by my side, I couldn't be better." Her tone carried undisguised intimacy and dependence.

Just then, faint footsteps were heard from outside the courtyard; it was Deputy Commander Situ Yue.

Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan exchanged a glance, reining in their emotions and returning to their usual demeanor.

Deputy Commander Situ Yue pushed the door open. Seeing that both of them had recovered their complexions, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she didn't ask further, only stating with a solemn expression: "Fellow Daoist Lin, Fellow Daoist Qu, the situation is a bit grim. Although we evacuated in time last night and left no obvious traces, the City Lord's Mansion and the Guixu Cult people are clearly alarmed. Early this morning, the City Guard received orders to impose a city-wide lockdown, searching for unfamiliar Cultivators, especially... those above the Golden Core Stage."

She looked at Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan: "Your appearances and characteristics have probably been identified by the other party. You cannot stay in Tianshu City any longer."

Lin Xuan frowned slightly; this was indeed troublesome. He pondered for a moment, then asked: "Commander Situ, do you know what their next move might be? With the mine pit destroyed, they certainly won't let it go."

Deputy Commander Situ Yue shook her head: "The City Lord's Mansion is keeping a tight lid on information; I can't find out more for now. However, according to my informants in the black market, a group of unidentified Cultivators has recently been heavily purchasing Materials for long-distance teleportation and spatial positioning. Their destination... seems to point to the Nether Abyss."

Nether Abyss! Where is that again!

Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened. It seemed that after the destruction of the Guixu Cult's stronghold in the mine pit, they were likely to accelerate their plans in the Nether Abyss.

"We must rush to the Nether Abyss as soon as possible," Lin Xuan said gravely. Not only to stop the Guixu Cult's conspiracy, but Su Wanqing also needed support, and the Nether Abyss was likely the key convergence point for all of this.

"I will find a way to get you exit tokens for the city and a detailed map of the area near the Nether Abyss," Deputy Commander Situ Yue said decisively, "but the rest of the journey will be up to you."

"That's enough, thank you, Commander Situ," Lin Xuan clasped his hands in thanks.

Deputy Commander Situ Yue waved her hand: "No need to thank me. Eradicating evil and protecting this region is my duty. I only wish you both a smooth journey." She glanced at Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan, a hint of complex emotion in her eyes, then turned and left to make arrangements.

Inside the room, only Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan remained again.

Qu Feiyan walked to Lin Xuan's side, leaning gently against him, and whispered: "We have to travel again... but this time, with you by my side, anywhere is fine."

Lin Xuan put his arm around her shoulder, feeling the warmth in his embrace, and looked out the window, his gaze deep and resolute.

The Nether Abyss, a den of Dragons and tigers, he would brave it! For those by his side, and to uncover the mystery of the 'Ruins'!