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

Shi Shangxu stood frozen in place, his hand clenching tightly in his sleeve, yet he still couldn't escape Yu Luoning's gaze.

Time passed second by second, and he didn't know how many breaths had passed before he finally raised his eyes.

He didn't speak immediately, his eyes seeming to hold something bitter under his gaze.

"Miss Luo Ning."

"Um."

Do you like me?

Shi Shangxu asked very seriously.

Yu Luoning opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to answer.

She does like people, of course, but she is very affectionate and easily likes many people.

Yu Luoning stared at him for a while, feeling inexplicably guilty.

Instead of answering, she replied irrelevantly, "I want to practice dual cultivation."

At this moment, the Mingxin Jue of Shishangxu quietly began to operate.

Really.

She genuinely wanted to practice dual cultivation.

But she didn't like him, otherwise she wouldn't have changed the subject.

He could feel it.

Shi Shangxu lowered his eyes and remained silent for a long time. It was as if something was being pulled in his heart, slowly tightening, making even breathing difficult.

"Miss Luo Ning, you may care about me to some extent, but I know you only see me as a friend, someone you can rely on."

"This kind of relationship... is not suitable for dual cultivation."

Yu Luoning raised an eyebrow. "What if I insist on cultivating with you?"

Shi Shangxu fell silent.

Yu Luoning looked at him and knew his answer.

Taking a deep breath, he casually said, "Fine, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll go find someone else to cultivate with."

Shi Shangxu's eyes flickered slightly, and he pursed his thin lips.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, "I respect Miss Luo Ning's decision. However, Miss Luo Ning, please don't let my silence make you feel cold and easily give comfort to others."

"..."

Yu Luoning looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"My cousin said he respects my decision, so whether it's dual cultivation or seeking solace, it's my own business. What does it have to do with you?"

Shi Shangxu was speechless when asked the question. He pursed his thin lips and remained silent.

The room fell into an alluring tranquility.

Yu Luoning looked at his expression, which showed that he was clearly being manipulated but stubbornly resisting, and her smile deepened.

She wouldn't let him go, and moved an inch closer.

"Cousin, why are you so against me dating someone else? Are you afraid I'll be frivolous? Or are you jealous? Or do you like me?"

Shi Shangxu remained silent, but his usually calm and gentle eyes were churning with unreadable emotions.

Shi Shangxu looked at her, sighed softly, and nodded slowly.

Yu Luoning blinked, and had to admit,

The fact that Shi Shangxu liked her made her feel very good.

He clearly likes her, but he won't touch her.

They hold outdated views and stubbornly believe that dual cultivation can only be done by two people who deeply love each other, and that it cannot be done without them.

How can such things be clearly divided?

Sex and love are inherently complementary.

That old-fashioned guy, it would be great if they could live together.

Yu Luoning didn't believe he could control himself.

Her eyes lit up, and she said she wanted to take Shi Shangxu for a stroll around the outer gate.

Shi Shangxu readily agreed.

Yu Luoning had already thoroughly explored the outer area in the past few days, and deliberately took him to the chaotic shantytown.

The area was set up haphazardly, but it was beginning to resemble a small street. Everyday necessities like food, drink, and toilet supplies could be found there, and cultivators could freely exchange goods. In short, it was a place brimming with the atmosphere of everyday life.

Yu Luoning: "None of us have very high cultivation levels, but we still have to survive here. This street is a bit chaotic, but it has everything."

Shi Shangxu nodded and followed, his expression focused as he carefully observed his surroundings.

Yu Luoning has excellent eyesight and immediately spotted the three spiritual sisters and their two protectors on the street.

Several people were seen kneeling on the ground, pleading with a man.

"Brother Cao, we don't know where Sister Qianqian went either?"

The man called Brother Cao is actually named Cao Jinglei, and he is Liu Qian's Daoist partner.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could roam freely even in the outer sect's relatives' area.

In order to help him accumulate enough contribution points to enter the inner sect, Liu Qian kept recruiting people to join her group, all in order to squeeze money out of him and support him.

Now that Liu Qian has gone missing, Cao Jinglei is anxious to find her.

Yu Luoning has the confidence to do things without being discovered.

Liu Qian was someone she personally sent to the cleaner's lake to feed the little fish.

She did it very cleanly, leaving no evidence whatsoever.

However, in order to make use of this group of people, Yu Luoning decided to do so.

She tugged at Shi Shangxu's sleeve, feigning an unnatural expression, and said, "I suddenly feel like there's not much to see here. Let me take you to see the flower field. I know a really beautiful flower field."

Just then, one of the girls in the group spotted Yu Luoning not far away.

"Brother Cao, why don't you ask that vixen? Sister Qianqian has been trying to recruit her these past few days, hoping she can help her earn some spirit stones. She's been ungrateful. Maybe Sister Qianqian's disappearance is related to her."

Cao Jinglei turned his head upon hearing the sound.

His gaze fell on Yu Luoning, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.

If Yu Luoning had been in the outer sect for half a month, why hadn't Cao Jinglei noticed such a beauty as her? It was all thanks to Liu Qian.

Cao Jinglei was busy cultivating, and Liu Qian accompanied him when he went out. Liu Qian managed her subordinates, and she managed to prevent Yu Luoning's news from reaching Cao Jinglei's ears.

At this moment, Cao Jinglei strode over.

Yu Luoning trembled slightly and deliberately shrank half a step closer to Shi Shangxu.

Shi Shangxu caught this scene, and a thin layer of frost covered his brows.

Do you know that group of people?

Yu Luoning nodded.

"They targeted me as soon as I arrived. They kept surrounding me, trying to get me to join them. When I refused, they bullied me..."

Shi Shangxu didn't speak, but simply took half a step in front of her.

Cao Jinglei strode in aggressively, his gaze sweeping over Shi Shangxu's inner disciple robes. His steps involuntarily slowed, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, and his imposing aura subtly diminished.

He cupped his hands in greeting, his tone becoming much more polite: "Greetings, Senior Brother. My name is Cao Jinglei, and I am the steward of this area. My wife seems to know the young lady beside you. She has been missing recently, and I've come to inquire about her."

Yu Luoning spoke first, looking innocent: "I don't know where Sister Qianqian went. She said she would take me to earn contribution points, and then she disappeared. I'm wondering about it too."

The younger woman persisted, taking a step forward: "You kept disagreeing, which made Sister Qianqian angry several times. After you two broke up, she disappeared. Why do you say it has nothing to do with you?"

Yu Luoning sighed, her tone extremely aggrieved: "I didn't mean to refuse on purpose. I was waiting for my cousin. Only when he comes can I make a decision with peace of mind."

As she spoke, she moved closer to Shi Shangxu.

Cao Jinglei's gaze lingered on Shi Shangxu for a moment, his expression shifting before a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I suppose we've misunderstood. I'll go look elsewhere. Sorry to bother you, Senior Brother."

After saying that, he led the others away in a hurry.

After Yu Luoning and the others had walked away, he straightened up and dusted off his sleeves.

Shi Shangxu looked down at her. "Was that girl the one who caused you trouble before?"

"Um."

"Is her disappearance... related to you?"

Yu Luoning looked up at him, her expression calm, and blinked: "Cousin, do you think I could do that?"

Shi Shangxu remained silent for a moment.

The Mind-Enlightenment Mantra was quietly activated.

Her aura was slightly disordered when she spoke.

He withdrew the Mind Clarity Mantra, asked no more questions, turned around, and continued walking forward.

"Let's go to the flower field you mentioned."

Yu Luoning followed, a slight smile playing on her lips.