In the western suburbs of Tian Dou City, within a secluded courtyard.
Dai Chengfeng gazed at Qian Renxue in his arms—her breathing slightly uneven, her golden eyes shimmering with a dreamy glow. He looked at her breathtakingly beautiful face, still tinged with the remnants of shyness…
He didn't make any immediate moves, simply holding her quietly. His fingers unconsciously lingered through her soft hair, feeling the subtle shift in her body as it relaxed from its initial tension to complete surrender.
The moonlight flowed gently, casting shadows of her fluttering lashes and highlighting the rosy gloss on her lips left by his kisses.
Time passed, second by second.
After a long while.
Finally, Qian Renxue's breathing gradually steadied, and the captivating flush on her cheeks faded slightly, leaving behind only a delicate pink hue.
She seemed to have regained some clarity, struggling to sit up straight and extricate herself from this embrace that both troubled and strangely entranced her.
However, Dai Chengfeng had anticipated this. With a slight tightening of his arm, he used his free hand to retrieve a flower from his soul tool and held it out to her.
"For you."
"For me?"
Instantly, Qian Renxue's gaze was drawn to the faint glow emanating from the object.
It was a small, pure white flower, elegant in form, with petals layered like the finest carved jade.
Even more extraordinary was the gentle, pure radiance it emitted—not blinding, yet enough to dispel the surrounding darkness. A faint, refreshing fragrance subtly filled the air.
Just being near it made her feel as though her soul power had become slightly more active.
Qian Renxue immediately understood…
This flower was no ordinary object!
However, she didn't take it. Her refined brows still carried traces of lingering indignation, and she shot Dai Chengfeng a glare.
"Hmph!"
"Don't think giving me a flower now will make me forgive you! You just… just…"
As she spoke, the vivid memory of the sharp pain on her rear resurfaced, causing her cheeks to flush red once again. Her voice softened, and she ended with an indignant declaration:
"Anyways… this isn't over!"
"Hehe."
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly, his laughter devoid of any fear from her threat but brimming with amusement.
At the same time, he calmly explained, "This isn't some last-minute attempt to 'win your favor.'"
"It's a token of gratitude."
Dai Chengfeng paused, allowing the strange flower to shine even more brilliantly under the moonlight. His tone grew more serious: "A few days ago, you gave me a piece of 'jade,' remember?"
"I examined it closely afterward. That thing is truly an invaluable treasure, offering immeasurable benefits to soul masters."
"One good turn deserves another."
"A gift of such magnitude… so this flower is my way of reciprocating."
"Really?"
A flicker of doubt flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. Her golden irises scrutinized Dai Chengfeng's face, searching for any trace of insincerity or deceit.
"Of course," Dai Chengfeng met her gaze openly, his eyes clear. "Don't you know me by now?"
Qian Renxue instantly let go of her doubts. After all, she did know him.
Dai Chengfeng might be cunning, domineering, and even somewhat mischievous, but he never stooped to lying about such matters.
A peculiar warmth spread from her heart, momentarily overshadowing her earlier embarrassment and anger.
"Hmph, I guess you do have a bit of conscience."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue turned her attention to the sacred little white flower. "But… this flower doesn't seem ordinary either. Isn't it too precious…?"
"Precious?"
Dai Chengfeng lightly pinched her cheek, his touch smooth and warm. "Do we really need to keep track of such things between us?"
"When you gave me your gift, did you ever expect me to repay you?"
"And when I give you this, why should I care about its value? It belongs to you."
Between us…
These words seemed to carry a certain magic, causing Qian Renxue's heart to tremble inexplicably.
She lowered her eyelids, her long lashes concealing the emotions in her eyes but unable to hide the slight upward curve of her lips.
Indeed, sometimes keeping things too distinct only creates distance.
If he said it was a "gesture of goodwill" and a "token of gratitude," then refusing further would only come off as pretentious.
Thinking this, Qian Renxue accepted the flower from Dai Chengfeng's hand. "What's this flower called?"
Her voice had softened considerably, carrying a hint of curiosity. Her fingertips cautiously approached the petals, feeling their smooth, jade-like texture imbued with vibrant vitality.
Watching Qian Renxue accept his gift, Dai Chengfeng nodded in satisfaction and proceeded to explain: "It's called 'Sacred Moonlight.'"
"It's a supremely pure and immaculate immortal herb, best suited for cleansing a soul master's soul power and stabilizing their foundation. Especially for someone with a light-attribute martial soul like yours, its effects are doubled."
"It's even said that while boosting soul power, it can nourish the essence of one's martial soul, with a tiny chance of inducing positive evolution in the martial soul itself."
"Martial Soul evolution?!"
Qian Renxue abruptly raised her head, her golden eyes blazing with disbelief!
As the young master of the Spirit Hall, she knew all too well what martial soul evolution meant!
It was the opportunity countless soul masters dreamed of their entire lives!
The Six-Winged Angel was already a god-level martial soul—if it could evolve further… what kind of scene would that be?
For a moment, Qian Renxue looked at Dai Chengfeng, her eyes brimming with gratitude. Though Dai Chengfeng had said the jade stone she gave him was also a treasure, she wasn't entirely sure of its specific use.
But now!
Dai Chengfeng clearly knew how precious the Sacred Moonlight was, yet he still chose to give it to her.
"Dai Chengfeng…"
Qian Renxue silently murmured his name in her heart.
Across from her, Dai Chengfeng took in the shock, desire, and gratitude in her eyes, smiling and nodding. But then he added:
"Though the chance is slim, the potential is immense."
"If it doesn't evolve your martial soul, the boost and stabilization it provides to your soul power will still double your cultivation speed."
Even after understanding Dai Chengfeng's explanation—that the Sacred Moonlight wouldn't guarantee martial soulevolution—Qian Renxue still looked at him with great anticipation. "How do I use it?"
After all, as Dai Chengfeng had said, even if it couldn't evolve her martial soul, the enhancement and stabilization of her soul power alone would be enough to double her cultivation speed.
"The method of consumption… you must chew and swallow the entire plant. As the medicinal properties dissolve, guide your soul power to envelop its essence, infusing it into every part of your body before returning it to your martial soul."
"The process may cause some pain, but enduring it will result in a complete transformation."
Qian Renxue nodded, her gaze fixed firmly on the Sacred Moonlight.
"Thank you, Little Tiger…"
Instead of immediately consuming the Sacred Moonlight, Qian Renxue raised her head, gazing deeply into Dai Chengfeng's profound eyes.
"You're really going to thank me? Words alone won't cut it."
"Once your martial soul evolves successfully, you can properly 'thank' me then."
Qian Renxue, catching the playful glint in Dai Chengfeng's eyes, instantly understood his meaning. She felt her cheeks grow warm again and couldn't help but retort:
"Don't get your hopes up!"
With that, Qian Renxue eagerly looked at the Sacred Moonlight. "So… shall I consume it now?"
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