Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

The moonlight streamed softly through the window, bathing Fairy Xiyue in a gentle glow.

She wore a pure white long dress, its bodice sculpted in a lofty, graceful arc, proud and full, her waist slender, hips rounded and taut, legs long and straight—every part flawless in proportion.

She remained as ethereal as ever, so immaculate, beautiful in a way that defied worldly women.

Even though they’d just met today, Qin Yu was still frozen there, his gaze filled solely with that figure.

The sense of guilt in him only deepened.

Of course, more overwhelming was the sense of unreality, as if all this were but a dream.

Being watched by him like that, the very first impulse that surged in Su Xiyue’s heart was actually to escape from here.

Her heart was a mess, causing her heartbeat to quicken, her breathing to grow uneven.

She didn’t know how to face Qin Yu, either.

Her feelings for him were too complex to sum up in a single phrase.

Standing before him, she—a Saintess of the Immortal Sect—actually felt a faint...

Trace of fear.

The proud First Fairy, frightened by a mere Qi Refining junior cultivator?!

Beneath her sleeves, Su Xiyue’s jade hands involuntarily tensed. She bit lightly on her lip, her eyes glimmered, wavered—and then solidified into resolve as she stepped closer.

That aura of determination, however, startled Qin Yu.

”Fairy, between you and me, perhaps there’s some misunderstanding. Could you allow me to...”

He tried his best to keep Su Xiyue calm, but before he could finish, he was cut off by a voice, icy as a mountain spring, yet brooking no resistance.

”Take off your clothes!”

”???”

Qin Yu was instantly stupefied. He’d imagined countless possibilities—just not that the fairy would be so direct.

He looked up, startled, his disbelief plain as he stared at Fairy Xiyue before him.

Perhaps it was exactly this reaction of his that made a trace of anger flash through Su Xiyue’s eyes. Decisive and swift, she pushed him straight to the ground.

That was when Qin Yu finally caught on.

So, this Fairy Xiyue abducted him to enhance her Root Bone.

Just as he’d thought!

Enhancing the Root Bone—even this cold, aloof fairy couldn’t resist it!

His expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly, his heart pounded with excitement.

”Rip!”

Poor Qin Yu’s clothes were torn to shreds. Very cooperatively, he put on a new set and lounged carelessly in front of her.

Witnessing this scene—

Even someone as mentally prepared as Su Xiyue couldn’t help her pretty face from growing hot.

Then, with resolute will, she strode toward the chamber’s only bed and slowly lay herself down.

In that pose, she looked every inch a fairy fallen to the mortal world, now facing the tyranny of power—her eyes scintillated with a light where defiance and despair intermingled, every expression painting a tragic scene of ”Better to break as jade than survive as tile.”

”...”

Qin Yu, lost in the moment, just stared—until that ”frail fairy” shot him a vicious glare, her eyes nearly solid enough to pierce. Terrified, he didn’t dare delay, hurrying over.

No, something’s wrong.

Wasn’t he the one who was abducted here?!

How did he become the villain bullying a fairy instead?!

Let’s just call it penance then.

Just as Qin Yu’s fingers brushed the hem of Su Xiyue’s dress, the fairy’s face involuntarily turned away, pearl teeth biting her lower lip, and at her eyes’ corners, two lines of tears as lustrous as pearls slid quietly down, like morning dew rolling from a newly-bloomed petal.

”...”

Qin Yu, for the moment, had no idea how to proceed.

Perhaps it was this hesitation in him, this wavering, that plucked at the deepest, rawest string in Xiyue’s heart. Suddenly, she sat up—and once more, shoved him down.

And then, she pinned the villain right beneath her!

What else could Qin Yu do?!

Faced with this abrupt reversal, he could only yield obediently...

Silently enduring Fairy Xiyue’s clumsy and awkward motions.

Her tears, her pain, seemed to turn into an unspoken plea—one he could neither refuse, nor did he want to resist.

Though sorrowful.

Though painful.

Fairy Xiyue did not relent in her suppression; it was as though she rode a fragile skiff, tossed relentlessly among stormy waves.

Sometimes timid.

Sometimes daring.

Yet never afraid of the tempest.

That sight threw Qin Yu into self-doubt more than once.

This...

Who, in the end, is the real victim here?!

...

Flames flickered, embers scattering like fireflies.

...

[Emotion Point from Su Xiyue +1]

This was already the eighth time!

If not for the pale light of dawn, Fairy Xiyue likely wouldn’t have left yet.

Perhaps... she was still afraid of being discovered?

Through the entire night, Fairy Xiyue hadn’t uttered a word, hadn’t exchanged so much as a glance with Qin Yu.

”What a sin...”

Looking at the empty room, Qin Yu felt on the verge of tears, yet had none to shed.

Never thought he’d see such a day—and worst of all, he didn’t even dare resist, not the slightest bit!

[Su Xiyue Romantic Point: 0 (Initial Acquaintance)]

Thank goodness.

At least he’d gained something—finally, the fairy’s Romantic Point wasn’t negative anymore.

That did make Qin Yu feel considerably more at ease.

After composing himself, he left the room, scanning his surroundings.

”Huh.”

So this was the courtyard right next to Danxin Courtyard.

Convenient, actually.

When he returned to his lodgings, Lin Qianqian and the others were still asleep. Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief and slipped quietly to lie down among them.

Meanwhile, as for Su Xiyue, she had just returned to her own chamber when she saw Liu Zixiao already heading her way.

”Xiyue, you’re up?”

Seeing Su Xiyue returning from outside, Liu Zixiao couldn’t help but ask in surprise.

Normally, Su Xiyue rarely left her quarters, and even if she rose this early, she’d be cultivating. Why would she suddenly go out today?

”Mm.”

Su Xiyue tried hard to appear calm, replying with a word before stepping into her room.

Liu Zixiao didn’t think much of it, assuming Xiyue just needed to relieve the pressure from the Immortal Sect by walking it off outside.

Yet, as she followed, she noticed something odd about her Saintess’s gait...

Something wrong?

What’s going on?

Could Xiyue’s old injury have relapsed?!

At that thought, Liu Zixiao’s expression tightened and she hurried after her, asking, ”Xiyue, did you go see Leng Ruyu, that little demoness?”

Su Xiyue had told her before—back then Leng Ruyu forced her to hide away and recover her wounds. Now that Leng Ruyu had appeared again, of course Su Xiyue would seek revenge; it made sense.

Although the Cyan Mountain Sect planned to explore the Ruins Rift with the Demon Sect, that didn’t erase Su Xiyue’s personal vendetta.

Besides, this alliance was fragile at best.

It was merely to meet the threat from the Hundred Sword Sect together.

But Su Xiyue running off alone to find Leng Ruyu—that made Liu Zixiao worry.

This girl was still too strong-willed; even if seeking revenge, she should’ve brought Liu along—if only as a backup.

”I merely took a walk around town.”

At first, seeing Liu Zixiao so persistent, Su Xiyue tensed up inside, but when she realized Liu hadn’t even suspected she’d gone to see that junior cultivator...

Only then did Su Xiyue relax a little, replying casually in explanation.