Chapter 62 Do you really like needing my help?

Xiao Bumian tilted her head, looking at Mingjian who seemed a little dazed. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, which then turned into a faint smile. "Don't you miss me?"

The air became quiet.

Time seemed to stand still, stretched infinitely in this moment.

After a long while, Mingjian seemed to have finally made up his mind. He suddenly raised his head, looked directly at Xiao Bumian, and asked with a slightly imperceptible tremor in his voice, "Xie Hanwei, do you want to cultivate with me?"

Although Xiao Bumian didn't understand why Mingjian suddenly asked that question, he was happy as long as he could be with Mingjian. If they could cultivate together, that would be the best outcome.

That would make him feel as if he were part of Mingjian's very being.

Their souls are intertwined and will never be separated.

"Is it okay?" Xiao Bumian's eyes lit up instantly, and he slowly leaned closer.

Mingjian subconsciously held his breath.

Although there was still some distance between them, Mingjian felt as if their breaths were intertwined, and the atmosphere became ambiguous.

Mingjian didn't know why the person who usually clung to him was suddenly so patient. He steeled himself, reached out and cupped the other's face, and pressed his lips to his. His tongue tentatively explored, and Xiao Bumian gently relaxed his jaw, letting him penetrate deeper.

Their lips and tongues intertwined, the air filled with the sticky, wet sounds that made one blush. Deeper still, their souls began to slowly draw closer and merge, an indescribable tingling and throbbing sensation spreading from the depths of their being.

Their eyes gradually filled with physiological moisture, becoming misty.

Xiao Bumian breathed heavily, stepped back slightly, and, as if unable to bear it any longer, lowered her head and bit Mingjian's shoulder, letting out a suppressed and uncomfortable low moan.

“Mingjian,” he looked up, his lips red and moist from the kiss, his voice filled with the bewilderment of passion and a natural allure. He rested his forehead on Mingjian’s shoulder and asked softly, “I feel so bad, are you feeling bad too?”

Ming's eyes were slightly unfocused, still immersed in the intense sensory impact of the fusion of their souls.

Xiao Bumian didn't wait for his reply and continued to kiss him.

This time he didn't go deeper, but gently rubbed Mingjian's already swollen lips with his cool, thin lips again and again, as if to soothe her, or as if to ask for more.

The hand that was on Mingjian's waist and abdomen moved down a little.

As if he had stumbled upon a wonderful way to alleviate the discomfort, his tone even carried a hint of eager sharing. He asked vaguely, his lips close to Mingjian's, "This... seems to make you feel a little better. Do you want me to help you?"

Mingjian trembled at his sudden action and blunt words, and finally couldn't help but let out a suppressed gasp.

His beautiful eyes quickly turned crimson, and the thrill of their souls merging made his limbs go weak, his slender back unconsciously bending slightly.

A low humming sound came from beside my ear, with a slightly indistinct and sticky quality.

The intense physiological stimulation caused tears to well up in Mingjian's eyes, making his long eyelashes wet.

Xiao Bumian leaned closer and gently licked Mingjian's wet cheek, tasting the slightly salty tears.

His tone was tinged with obvious pleasure, as if he wanted Mingjian's praise. "I found this a few days ago. Do you like it?"

There was no wind, yet the curtains hanging inside swayed gently, unconsciously enveloping the two figures nestled together.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Bumian finally released him. His palm was burning hot, and the heat slowly slid down his slender fingers.

Mingjian's ears were bright red, and her eyes darted around, not daring to meet Xiao Bumian's overly direct and focused gaze.

Overwhelmed with shame and a strange sense of loss of control, he almost instinctively wanted to bury himself in the blankets next to him and hide.

Xiao Bumian chuckled softly, her tone firm yet tinged with a naive cruelty, piercing through his disguise, "You like it so much."

Mingjian: "..."

He couldn't speak, nor did he want to.

Perhaps she didn't want to hear Xiao Bumian's ear-burning laughter anymore, or perhaps she was unwilling to be the only one in such a sorry state.

After a long while, Mingjian finally made a muffled sound from under the covers, "...Do you need my help?"

Xiao Bumian's eyes instantly darkened, revealing a deeper, more intense desire.

His eyelashes were still damp from the passion he had felt earlier, and he was in a state of excitement and pleasure.

She slightly raised her moist eyelashes and stared intently at Mingjian.

Then, unexpectedly, he shook his head.

"No, thank you." Xiao Bumian's tone remained soft and gentle, as if a feather were brushing against the heart.

"Why?" Mingjian was initially a little embarrassed, her cheeks burning hot, but upon hearing the rejection, a strange sense of displeasure and frustration arose in her heart.

Xiao Bumian's long eyelashes trembled slightly, a deeper light flashing in his eyes. He softly suggested, with a hint of seductive guidance, "How about you look at me?"

Mingjian was stunned for a moment.

He heard his heart skip a beat, then begin to pound at an unprecedented speed, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

What followed was an extremely wonderful and indescribable feeling, like a surge of scalding warmth instantly flowing through my limbs and bones, bringing a slight shiver and an irrepressible excitement.

Perhaps even he himself didn't realize that his breathing had become much more rapid than usual, his eyes were surprisingly bright, and his whole body was filled with an eager impulse.

But Xiao Bumian noticed it.

A knowing smile curved his lips.

He had noticed it long ago: Mingjian seemed to particularly enjoy seeing him show vulnerability or lose his composure, especially when his eyes reddened and he looked like he was about to cry. Mingjian's reaction was always more sensitive than usual.

As long as he lightly touches Mingjian's waist, abdomen, or other sensitive areas, Mingjian will give him the most direct and enthusiastic response.

This he found incredibly interesting.

"Ah...ah?" Mingjian stammered, "This...this isn't a good idea, is it?"

He internally shook his head frantically: No, no! He's not that perverted! Could this be Xiao Bumian's peculiar fetish?!

However, reality soon proved him wrong.

When he clearly saw the faint redness rising at the corners of Xiao Bumian's eyes, and heard that suppressed yet alluring low moan lingering in his ear... Mingjian realized that he had shamefully fallen for her.

Later, Xiao Bumian almost half-huddled him in her arms, patiently guiding his unfamiliar and clumsy movements.

Because it was daytime, Mingjian was initially extremely nervous, his entire body tense, his ears perked up, afraid that Gu Zhi's loud shouts or Song Heyu's knocking would come from outside the door, afraid that this secret pleasure would be discovered by anyone.

But after an unknown amount of time, perhaps as long as a century, the extreme emotional fluctuations and physical exhaustion eventually overcame the tension. A strong drowsiness surged up like a tide, and he couldn't resist it. His consciousness gradually blurred, and finally, leaning against Xiao Bumian's chest, covered in stickiness and exhaustion, he fell into a deep sleep.

She could hear Xiao Bumian's low breathing, and the hem of her moon-white clothes still faintly showed the fine wrinkles caused by Xiao Bumian's hand as he stroked her, like ripples spreading out in circles on the surface of water.

They stirred up his pond and the fish in it, making a complete mess of it and preventing it from ever finding peace.

—

Mingjian woke up in the evening.

Xiao Bumian was still asleep.

Mingjian saw that his clothes had been changed into a clean and refreshing set, and his body did not feel sticky or uncomfortable. It was likely that Xiao Bumian had cleaned him up after he fell asleep.

He got up with renewed vigor, tiptoed out the door, and went out.

The cloud boat has already traveled some distance.

The scenery at sea was breathtaking. The setting sun painted the sky with a soft pinkish-purple hue, and seabirds soared freely across the horizon. As autumn approached, the evening sea breeze carried a refreshing coolness on my face.

Mingjian walked onto the deck in a good mood, ready to admire the beautiful scenery where the sea and sky meet, but suddenly felt a chill down his back, as if he was being stared at by some resentful gaze.

He turned around in confusion and saw Gu Zhi huddled dejectedly in the shadows of a corner, looking at him with a mournful expression.

Mingjian: "...?"

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Mingjian felt a little uneasy under his gaze.

Gu Zhi laughed in despair, "Hahaha—"

Mingjian thought that Guzhi might have gone mad.

"What’s wrong with you?"

It can't be that bad, right? It's just that you don't have spiritual power and can't use the Spirit Mirror, can it?

Besides, he also gave Gu Zhi a few storybooks, enough for him to read until tomorrow.

We'll be fine once we arrive in Qiyun Town tomorrow.

Gu Zhi remained silent for a long time. After holding back for a while, he finally couldn't help but lower his voice and ask the question that had been tormenting him all afternoon, "Mingjian, your relationship with Xie Hanwei isn't what I think, is it?"

Mingjian was still stretching when Gu Zhi asked him this. He was taken aback at first, but then nodded quite frankly, "Yes."

He figured it out and didn't think there was anything wrong with saying it.

If he wanted to hide it, Xiao Bumian wouldn't, given his personality; he usually does whatever comes to mind.

Since it's bound to be discovered sooner or later anyway, I might as well admit it now.

Gu Zhi was prepared for Ming Jian to deny it. Although Song Heyu looked at him with a foolish expression, he recalled the past interactions between Ming Jian and Xiao Bumian and it seemed a bit strange. But if Ming Jian said no, he could deceive himself into believing him.

"What's wrong?" Mingjian looked at Guzhi's stunned expression and found it a bit strange. "You can't possibly think that two male cultivators can't be together, can you?"

Gu Zhi shook her head, her voice slightly unsteady, "That's not it."

Mingjian: "Why is that?"

Gu Zhi gritted her teeth, "What exactly do you like about Xie Hanwei?"

Mingjian: "I don't know."

Seeing that he was taken aback by the question, he thought about it carefully and then honestly shook his head: "I don't know."

To be honest, although that damn system kept telling him that Xiao Bumian loved him, he was actually risking his life to stay by Xiao Bumian's side at first.

With that yandere, unpredictable personality, who knows if she'll kiss you or kill you the next second?

"Don't you think Xie Hanwei's way of speaking is annoying?" Gu Zhi asked sincerely, trying to wake up her friend who had gone astray.

Mingjian glanced at Guzhi and sighed silently in his heart.

How desperate would Gu Zhi be if he found out later that Xie Hanwei and Xiao Bumian were the same person?

The following afternoon, the cloud boat docked in Qiyun Town.

Qiyun Town is a small town built along the water, with beautiful scenery. The banks are covered with maple trees, and at this time of year, the leaves are a brilliant red. From a distance, they look like burning clouds on the horizon, reflecting against the blue sky and clear water, creating a scene that should be one of tranquility and peace.

They arrived in the afternoon; the sun wasn't too strong, and wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, carrying a faint aroma of food. But the town was unusually quiet; every house was locked, the streets were deserted, and an eerie stillness permeated the air.

Occasionally, one or two households would leave their doors slightly ajar. The people inside, peeking through the cracks, would see this group of outsiders whose clothing was clearly different from that of the townspeople. Instead of being curious, they would slam the doors shut in a panic, as if they had seen some kind of monster, as if they were afraid of being entangled by them.

Song Heyu frowned, walked to a courtyard that looked relatively tidy, and knocked on the wooden door.

"Is anyone here?" Song Heyu asked.

After knocking for a long time, just when they thought no one was home, the wooden door creaked open a crack. A pair of bloodshot and tired eyes peered warily at them through the crack.

"Who are you...?" a hoarse male voice asked hesitantly.

Song Heyu cupped his hands in greeting, "I am Song Heyu, a disciple of Jianming Immortal Mountain."

Yun Hanyi also slightly bowed, her voice soft, "Yun Hanyi, disciple of the Hehuan Sect."

"The immortals have arrived!" The young man's eyes lit up with intense joy when he saw their clothes, and he raised his voice to shout into the alley.

His shout was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering the town's lifeless facade. The previously tightly closed doors creaked open, and countless residents peeked out from behind doors and windows, their faces a mixture of anticipation and a barely perceptible fear. A cacophony of voices quickly spread.

"Immortals, you've finally arrived!"

"If the immortal doesn't mind, you must come to my house for a visit and a rest!"

The crowd gradually gathered, chattering excitedly, almost impatiently. But for some reason, Mingjian felt an eeriness emanating from their enthusiastic words.

But having accepted the mission, there was no reason to turn back. The group exchanged glances and ultimately decided to stay and investigate the situation later.

They were greeted by the same young man who had opened the door earlier, named Li Huan. His family was considered wealthy in Qiyun Town, owning a spacious three-courtyard house, which was more than enough to accommodate them temporarily.

Li Huan led them into the house, sighing as he walked, "To be honest, you immortals, strange things have been happening in our Qiyun Town for about a month now! All the living things in the town—chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, even the guard dogs—have vanished overnight! They've disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead!"

“Those are all our hard-earned possessions, how could we not feel the pain? At first, we thought it was just bandits, and the whole town took turns keeping watch at night, not daring to blink! But the strange thing is, even if we kept watch, the livestock would still disappear! Silently, very eerily! We had no other choice but to trouble you immortals to make this trip.”

Mingjian suddenly realized why he felt something was wrong as soon as he entered the town; it was too quiet. There wasn't a sound of livestock, and it lacked the vitality that a typical town should have.

The group nodded, indicating they understood the general situation.

Since the strange events all occurred at night, they had to wait until evening to go out and investigate. After arranging rooms for them, Li Huan took his leave.

After Li Huan walked away, the female disciple of the Hehuan Sect named Wangyou couldn't help but pout, her face showing some disappointment and displeasure. "I thought it was some exciting big mission, but it turns out it's just helping mortals find their lost chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep. Really..." She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Yun Hanyi disagreed, saying, "Wangyou, you mustn't say such things."

The female disciple grumbled a complaint, but ultimately said nothing more, and turned back to her assigned room.

Yun Hanyi's eyes were filled with apology as she spoke softly, "Junior sister is young and ignorant, please forgive her."

After saying that, he turned and left, glancing at Xie Linzhao before he left.

After several days of arduous travel by water, Mingjian was indeed feeling physically and mentally exhausted. He and Xiao Bumian returned to their room, intending to rest for a while and recharge for the night.

When he woke up again, it was already evening. Mingjian and Xiao Bumian walked out of the guest room together, but immediately sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the courtyard.

Gu Zhi and Song Heyu stood in the courtyard, their expressions more serious than ever before, their brows furrowed, as if they had encountered some extremely difficult matter.

Shi Lian, standing to the side, still had dampness and a faint redness in the corners of her eyes, clearly having just been emotionally agitated.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Gu Zhi's tone was not good. She shoved the Spirit Mirror into Ming Jian's hand, her voice urgent and deep, "Look for yourself! News just came from the sect. The sect leader is seriously injured and is still unconscious, his life hanging in the balance. I don't know who leaked the news, but it has already spread throughout all the major sects!"

For some reason, Mingjian felt a sudden jolt in his heart, and a strong sense of foreboding rose within him.

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Author's Note: It's been subtle enough... If I delete any more, everything will be gone, leaving the readers to guess? zjk, please have mercy on me!

(He was licking tears [which had melted])