I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

Before Fang Xuan could finish his bewildered "Huh?", Ning Qian blushed and took a few steps forward to grab his wrist.

"Senior sister...?"

Fang Xuan was being pulled towards the bathroom in the backyard, and he quickly tried to politely decline...

"Um... I can do it myself, really, I promise I'll wash it thoroughly, inside and out..."

Moreover, cultivators are naturally clean and pure, free from worldly dust.

.......

"Senior sister, senior sister, no!"

Ning Qian's ears turned even redder from his shout, and she quickened her pace.

They practically dragged him into the steamy bathroom and then slammed the door shut behind them.

"Stop...stop shouting, let me see..."

"Let's see if you've washed properly at all."

Ning Qian awkwardly helped him remove his undergarment, which was basically just stripping it off and tossing it aside.

"Turn around."

Fang Xuan obediently turned around, his back to her.

Soon, a pair of cool, soft little hands touched his back and gently rubbed it with soap.

Fang Xuan felt that... it was actually quite comfortable.

My senior sister is so attentive to my needs.

After washing his back, Ning Qian's voice was even lower, almost touching Fang Xuan's ear: "Front, hurry up."

"Senior sister, I'll handle the front...the front myself."

"Senior sister?"

Ning Qian seemed to wake up with a start, her gaze falling on Fang Xuan's wet hair, and she found another excuse: "His...his hair isn't clean either."

No.

Absolutely not.

She washed the back only so she could wash the front...

He simply gritted his teeth and said, "Hurry up, turn...turn around."

........

"Senior sister... Senior sister, please don't rub there."

"Shut up, I... I'm just checking."

Fang Xuan: "..."

Senior sister, is your scope of examination getting wider and wider?

.......

The distance between the two gradually disappeared...

Amidst the swirling mist, Fang Xuan gazed into those panicked and bewildered eyes.

"Senior sister, now... isn't it my turn to check?"

Behind.

Ning Qian's mind had completely turned into mush...

The sound of water in the shower room lasted for a very long time...

As time went on, the sky outside the window changed from deep black to inky blue.

Finally, the faint morning light peeked through.

......

The consequence of taking a shower... and staying in the shower until almost dawn is—

Fang Xuan walked out of the room feeling refreshed and invigorated, and his cultivation had also improved.

The faint bluish-black circles under Ning Qian's eyes seemed to have become more pronounced.

But she didn't have time to rest; she simply changed into a clean and simple dress and went to the front yard.

Then he went out again and went to the palace.

After handling the final handover matters cleanly and efficiently, they packed up the entire national treasury and took it away.

Afterwards, she took Fang Xuan's hand and prepared to return to the Qingyun Sect...

......

The streets were still bustling and noisy, with people coming and going, filled with the ordinary, everyday atmosphere.

Fang Xuan really liked this simple and peaceful atmosphere, which made him feel like he was still living in a real world.

Instead of a tragic novel filled with fighting, killing, and life-or-death struggles.

I saw some candied hawthorns for sale on the street; they were bright red and looked really appealing.

He bought a string of them and handed it to Ning Qian.

"Senior sister, would you like to try some?"

Ning Qian frowned as she looked at the string of snacks that seemed somewhat childish to her, and instinctively wanted to refuse:

"No, this is for children..."

Fang Xuan ignored her, smiled and stuffed the candied hawthorn into her hand, then pretended to be attracted to other stalls.

Ning Qian looked at the string of candied hawthorns in her hand, her ears turning slightly red.

In the end, she secretly lowered her head and ate the rest of the candied hawthorn in small bites.

The sugar coating melts in your mouth, mixing with the sour pulp of the hawthorn.

So this is what it tastes like.

She tilted her head slightly, a look of bewildered understanding, like "I see," flashing in her cool eyes.

Fang Xuan was also secretly observing from the side, watching her somewhat dazed expression.

So cute...

.......

Chen Fan personally led a group of people to escort them a long way, all the way to the end of the official road.

Fang Xuan had a good impression of this sensible younger brother. Before parting, he casually took out a cultivation manual that he didn't need from his ring and tossed it to him.

"Practice diligently; you might need it in the future. It all depends on your own destiny."

Chen Fan took the seemingly ancient manual, but at first he didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it was some ordinary martial arts technique.

He has no spiritual roots and is therefore unable to cultivate.

When he glanced at it subconsciously, he was struck dumb, frozen on the spot, his hands holding the manual trembling.

Earth-rank cultivation technique?!

In mortal dynasties where cultivation resources are scarce, even Xuan-rank cultivation techniques are enough to cause bloodshed, while Di-rank techniques... are legendary treasures that only top-tier cultivation sects can possess.

Moreover... it's also a method to reshape one's spiritual roots!

He suddenly looked up at Fang Xuan and Ning Qian's figures that were about to disappear at the end of the mountain path, and his eyes instantly reddened.

Without hesitation, he knelt down and kowtowed three times in that direction, his voice choked with emotion:

"I will never forget your great kindness, senior! I will serve you with my life!"

"You...you are Chenfan's eternal godfather!"

Fang Xuan almost stumbled when he heard the heartfelt voice of his godfather from afar.

Goodness, so he's already recognized me as his father?

.......

Beyond the borders of the mortal realm, the mountains and forests grew even denser.

Night fell.

The tired, dark circles under Ning Qian's eyes became even more pronounced.

Fang Xuan looked at her for a while, and finally spoke up: "Senior Sister, take a rest, there's no rush."

Ning Qian turned to look at him and smiled gently at him: "Yes, that's fine too."

......

We plan to rest for the night first and not rush on our way.

The campfire crackled, dispelling the chill of the winter night.

Ning Qian sat by the fire, hugging her knees, the firelight illuminating her fair profile.

She was actually really at her breaking point.

For the past two weeks, I've barely had a proper night's sleep... cough, I've hardly slept at all.

Although his cultivation level was increasing, the mental fatigue was very real.

She sat down by the fire.

Fang Xuan lay down on the grass next to him, one hand behind his head, gazing at the dazzling starry sky above.

After a while, he felt someone lie down next to him. It was Ning Qian.

She carefully adjusted her posture, then quietly reached out and groped her way to Fang Xuan's hand.

Then, gently, she intertwined her fingers with his.

"Does your senior also like stargazing?"

Fang Xuan didn't turn his head, but looked up at the sky and asked.

"...Mmm," Ning Qian replied softly.

Actually, she doesn't like looking at the stars.

The starry sky was too distant and too cold, always reminding her of some lonely nights.

But now that her junior brother is here with her, that's enough.

The mountains and fields were silent, save for the faint crackling of the campfire and the distant chirping of insects...

After an unknown amount of time, Fang Xuan felt the grip on his hand loosen a little.

He turned his head slightly and found that Ning Qian had fallen asleep at some point.

She closed her eyes, her breathing even and gentle, and subconsciously nuzzled her head against his arm.

The sleeping senior sister was unusually well-behaved.

Fang Xuan reached out his other hand and carefully brushed away a few stray strands of hair from her forehead.

He lowered his head and lightly touched her slightly pursed lips.

Ahem... Don't get me wrong, he's not a pervert.

Just a kiss.

He quickly lay down, feeling guilty.

.......