Dual cultivation makes you stronger, everyone else is a prodigy, and I'm the only one slacking

After the tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead missed its target, it roared and its massive body rampaged through the forest.

With Shi Shangxu's cultivation level, he was certainly not afraid of a white tiger who was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. However, the presence of a woman on his body made it difficult for him to exert his full strength.

The woman wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, shrinking into his embrace.

With each movement they made, their bodies inevitably collided.

Shi Shangxu's face flushed red, and he didn't dare to lower his head at all. His voice was somewhat hurried: "Fellow Daoist, could you... relax a little?"

Yu Luoning didn't loosen her grip; instead, she buried her head even deeper, her voice trembling, "It's so scary, my back hurts so much, don't leave me..."

Helpless, Shi Shangxu could only reach out and put his arm around her waist. The moment he touched her, the feeling of her delicate body made his hand pause slightly.

However, the next second the tiger pounced. Without hesitation, he pulled her close, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and soared into the air like a swallow. The tiger missed its target and landed with a cloud of dust.

Shi Shangxu made a hand seal and summoned three huge fireballs, which he blasted out and smashed into the ground, leaving three fire marks.

Forced back, the tiger glared fiercely at the two men for a moment before finally turning and disappearing back into the woods, leaving behind a parting remark:

"Human cultivators, humph! I've remembered you two. You won't be allowed to leave this forest easily."

The roar gradually faded into the distance.

The sun had long since sunk below the mountains, and all around was pitch black.

Shi Shangxu raised his hand, and a fireball landed on the campfire, whereupon the flames burst into flames.

He released his grip, his voice clear and gentle, yet tinged with urgency: "It's safe now."

It took Yu Luoning a while to calm down before she slowly pulled away from his embrace. She looked up and saw the handsome profile of the young man, his eyes clear and firm, but his gaze never lingered on her for even a second.

Yu Luoning sighed inwardly.

Why are all the items in the encyclopedia so difficult to approach?

Can't a sweet romance be a little more proactive? She was actually hoping this boy would lose control and sleep on the ground under the sky...

Judging from the boy's innocent appearance, he's probably just indulging in wishful thinking.

She gave a soft "hmm," her voice weak: "I was... rude just now, I was terrified."

"It's alright." Shi Shangxu still didn't look at her. "The situation is urgent. But young lady, your wound..."

The slap was quite forceful, leaving three bloody welts on her back. Yu Luoning had endured the pain for so long, but now she finally felt the surge of agony. She wanted to grit her teeth in pain, but she was afraid of ruining her image, so she held it in, biting her lip, with a little water glistening in the corner of her eye.

"I have medicine in my storage bag, you can do it yourself."

She touched the wound several times but couldn't reach it. She turned her head to ask Shi Shangxu for help, but found that the boy had already turned around and was facing away from her, his back stiff and straight.

Yu Luoning suppressed a laugh, "Young master, could you please apply some medicine for me? I really can't reach the wound on my back."

Shi Shangxu hesitated for a moment and did not move.

"Could it be that young master is also such a pedantic person? What about the taboo against men and women touching each other? Special times naturally require special treatment."

Shi Shangxu then turned around, his gaze falling on the skin on her back that was faintly glowing in the firelight, and he immediately lowered his eyes.

"Okay. I'm sorry for the offense."

He sat down, took the ointment, and kept his gaze fixed on the wound, not daring to look around.

The medicine on my fingertips felt slightly cool as it was applied to the wound.

Shi Shangxu seemed to have been burned, and his breathing clearly faltered.

He took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and quickly applied the last layer of ointment to the wound.

At that moment, Yu Luoning deliberately shrugged, her hair sliding down her rounded shoulders and brushing against the boy's tense hand.

Shi Shangxu lowered his eyes and quietly put away the medicine bottle.

After he finished doing everything, he immediately retreated to the other side of the campfire, with the entire fire separating the two of them.

Yu Luoning was secretly amused. What kind of man-eating monster was she? Sitting so far away.

Okay, although she really wanted to eat that little white rabbit across from her.

After fastening her clothes, she said softly, "I never expected to have such a connection with you, young master. This afternoon you gave me spirit stones, and now you've saved me. I don't know how to express my gratitude enough."

"These are nothing serious," Shi Shangxu said calmly. "Cultivation is inherently arduous, and it is only right that we help each other when fellow practitioners are in trouble."

Yu Luoning raised an eyebrow: "Not many people think that way. Cultivators usually travel alone, and those who meddle in other people's business often die quickly."

Shi Shangxu: "No matter what others do, I only seek to have a clear conscience."

Yu Luoning glanced at him but didn't say anything.

The campfire crackled, casting long shadows of the two men.

"By the way," she looked up, "my name is Luo Ning. May I ask how you are addressed, sir?"

"Time and Order".

"The order of things... all things have their time, and they are orderly without contention. Your name, sir, is truly like the gentle breeze under the moon, bringing peace of mind just by hearing it."

Shi Shangxu raised his eyes and looked at Yu Luoning seriously. His eyebrows curved into a smile, revealing a genuine tenderness: "This is the name my mother gave me."

"Your mother loves you very much."

Shi Shangxu nodded, "My parents are both very good people."

Yu Luoning said "oh" and thought to herself, "To raise such a gentleman, his parents must be quite good too."

She turned her head and looked at him seriously: "Did your mother ever teach you a single sentence?"

Shi Shangxu asked with slight confusion, "What does the young lady mean?"

"The more beautiful a woman is, the more dangerous she is."

The time for business was interrupted.

Yu Luoning suddenly said mysteriously, "Do you feel very dangerous right now? Do you feel a chill down your spine, as if you're being held captive by fate?"

Shi Shangxu tilted his head slightly.

Yu Luoning pointed at herself, blinked, and said, "Me? Didn't my beauty make you sense the danger?"

Shi Shangxu suddenly laughed and chimed in, "Yeah, it's too dangerous. I feel like I can't even breathe right now."

Yu Luoning covered her mouth with both hands, then suddenly exclaimed in horror, "Is it starting already? Has my beauty already physically attacked you? Hang in there, young master!"

Seeing Yu Luoning's exaggerated expression, Shi Shangxu's smile deepened.

This girl was completely different from what he had imagined.

After a brief pause, the girl said:

"Since it's so dangerous, as the source of that danger, I have a duty to take responsibility for your personal safety."

"How about this? To prevent me from continuing to charm others unintentionally, how about... you take on a little trouble, young master? Let me... follow you, okay?"

Shi Shangxu's smile froze for a moment.

"So...you used so many quotations just now because you wanted to...follow me?"

Yu Luoning nodded, a hint of embarrassment on her face.

"Since you've seen through me, I'll stop pretending. Actually, the way you saved me just now was so cool. I feel like my heart has been captured by you. Don't laugh at me, but actually... I want to be your Daoist partner."

Shi Shangxu looked at her, his body stiffened, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

The firelight reflected on his face, and a blush spread from his ears to his neck.

Suddenly, he lowered his head. "Miss... please don't joke. Marriage is a matter of parental arrangement, and Shi Shangxu's future is uncertain. How can we... be so hasty?"

A moment of silence fell over the air.

Yu Luoning also realized that she was getting a little anxious.

She set her sights on Shi Shangxu's illustrated guide. Only by establishing a formal relationship could she conveniently continue to follow him.

Unfortunately, he used too much force and frightened the person.

Yu Luoning sighed inwardly.

It seems that the process of replication still needs to be done step by step.

Having figured all this out, Yu Luoning chuckled, waved her hand, and broke the awkward silence.

"Look how frightened you are, young master! I was just joking!"

"We've only met twice, how could I possibly want to become your Daoist partner?"

Shi Shangxu breathed a sigh of relief.

After an unknown amount of time, he raised his eyes, the firelight reflecting in his clear eyes.

Shi Shang Xu Dao:

"Actually, I have a technique called the Mind-Clearing Technique. After practicing this technique, one can observe the aura around a person. The young lady has clear eyes and a pure aura, so she is not a bad person."

"Although your words were beautiful, your aura was chaotic. Though I am dull-witted, I know that those words did not come from your heart."

"I don't know what your purpose is in joking like that, but since you're injured, I won't abandon you in this forest."

Yu Luoning: "..."

Yu Luoning suddenly remembered that there was indeed a "Mind Clarity Mantra" in the illustrations of Shi Shangxu.

This is some kind of heaven-defying technique; it's like a lie detector.

Yu Luoning's desire to obtain it grew increasingly urgent.

She muttered, "Your technique is inaccurate; it's definitely broken."

Shi Shangxu didn't reply, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Techniques are merely supplementary; actions speak louder than intentions. I also trust my intuition."

"Girl, you should get some rest."

"And you?"

"If I keep watch, that tiger spirit probably won't let it go."

Yu Luoning nodded.

He took out a soft cushion from his storage bag and lay down on his side.

All around was silent, save for the gusts of wind and the crackling of burning dry wood.

Her gaze passed through the flickering flames and landed on the boy meditating opposite her.

Shi Shangxu closed his eyes, his back straight, and his face appeared even more handsome and distinct in the firelight.

His handsomeness is completely different from Feng Qiguang's flamboyant beauty and Li Yunyu's aloof and noble demeanor.

His good looks come from within; he is clean-cut and open, making people feel that he is trustworthy and at ease.