225: Accompanying

The night wind on the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower carried a hint of chill, and her moon-white skirts rustled like butterfly wings.

Hua Hanxiang stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the black carriage galloping toward the Southern Border at the city gate, her expression a mix of complexity and secret joy.

Situ Jun's Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivation was like a towering, insurmountable mountain to her; it inspired both awe and a nearly pathological dependency—as if by relying on this powerhouse, she could find a moment of stability in the treacherous world of Cultivation.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the sound transmission talisman in her palm. The icy touch of the jade spread from her fingertips to her heart, making her tremble slightly.

"Master..."

A low murmur escaped her red lips, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled into a complex, inscrutable arc—three parts awe for the strong, three parts submissive compliance, and the remaining four parts a blazing desire for a higher Cultivation Realm that had been forcibly ignited.

"This Servant Girl is coming to find you..."

As she spoke, her pale cheeks suddenly flushed with an unusual redness, like rouge tempered by fire.

A moment later, the flush faded. Hua Hanxiang's gaze suddenly sharpened, her chaotic thoughts instantly withdrawing, replaced by the efficiency expected of a Xuan Yin Sect Elder.

Her fingers formed hand seals quickly and precisely. Several streaks of spiritual light flew out of the window, and before long, the Sect Disciples she had brought with her appeared together.

"You all head to the Southern Border first and wait for orders; I will follow shortly," she said, her voice cold and decisive.

Although the Disciples were full of doubt, they didn't dare ask more. They respectfully answered "Yes," turned into streaks of light, and disappeared into the morning mist.

When the day was fully bright, Situ Jun's carriage slowly stopped by the Official Road ten miles from the city gate.

Before long, a pink figure descended from the clouds. A light veil covered her face, but it couldn't hide her enchanting figure—her waist was slender enough to be held in one hand, and as her skirt billowed in the wind, her exposed ankles were as white as jade. Even her eyes, the only part visible, shimmered with natural charm.

The corners of her eyes were crimson, seemingly carrying a seductive smile that dazzled the eyes in the morning light. Even from several yards away, one could sense the woman's peerless beauty.

"Halt! This is Lord Situ's carriage. Do not approach!"

Seeing her approach, the Guard immediately drew his sword and shouted a warning while blocking the front of the carriage. The cold light of the blade reflected in the morning mist, showing full alertness.

Inside the carriage, Situ Jun's Divine Sense had already perceived everything.

He had clearly sent a sound transmission talisman for Hua Hanxiang to come. Hearing the commotion outside, he spoke indifferently, his voice passing through the carriage walls, steady and calm:

"I know this woman. Let her in. Continue the journey."

"Yes!"

The Guard sheathed his sword and stepped aside. He watched as the pink figure lifted the curtain and entered the carriage before taking his position at the side again, cracking the whip to urge the horses. The black carriage once again galloped toward the Southern Border.

The morning light completely dispersed the thin mist, dyeing the fields on both sides of the road in golden splendor. Even the rumbling sound of the wheels on the road seemed wrapped in a layer of warmth.

Situ Jun's carriage looked spacious and sturdy, but the interior was not extravagant, focusing instead on comfort and practicality.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat subtle. As Hua Hanxiang lifted the hem of her pink gauze skirt and stepped inside, the silver bells at her waist jingled softly. The delicate "ding-ling" sound was exceptionally seductive in the silence, scratching at one's heart like tiny hooks.

She raised her hand and removed her veil, suddenly revealing a stunningly beautiful face: curved willow-leaf eyebrows, natural crimson at the corners of her eyes shimmering with moisture, and a hint of a smile on her lips. Even her falling hair carried a lazy charm, as if she were born to enchant souls.

"Servant Girl Hua Hanxiang pays respects to Master."

Her voice was as soft as honey. When she curtsied slightly, her skirt bloomed like a pink lotus, revealing a section of her jade-white ankle, and the curves of her waist under the gauze skirt appeared even more exquisite.

She didn't stand up, only looking up at the seated Situ Jun, her lips curled slightly, her peach-blossom eyes glistening:

"Having received Master's summons, this Servant Girl did not dare delay for a moment and came immediately. Master's aura is still so reassuring; even after riding the wind all this way, I don't feel tired at all."

Her voice was soft and sweet as she spoke, the end of her sentences rising slightly in a calculated yet natural-sounding flattery.

Her fingertips quietly touched the hem of Situ Jun's robe, the cool sensation transferring through the fabric. But just as she was about to reach his wrist, she suddenly paused—she knew that was the most guarded spot for a Cultivator and didn't dare overstep, merely rubbing the fabric gently like an obedient cat.

"Rise."

Situ Jun's voice was flat, showing no emotion, as he simply uttered one word:

"Sit."

"Thank you, Master."

Hua Hanxiang then rose cautiously, but she didn't sit down immediately.

The space inside the carriage wasn't large to begin with. As she stood, a faint scent of incense spread, mixing with the unique feminine charm that drifted toward Situ Jun's nose with a subtle hint of seduction.

She took light steps toward the low stool beside Situ Jun. Still not sitting, she leaned down again and reached out her slender, jade-like hands—her fingertips shimmering with a lustrous glow. She naturally moved to massage Situ Jun's shoulders and legs, looking exactly like a most dutiful Servant Girl.

Her fingertips carried a hint of coolness. Just as they were about to touch Situ Jun's knee—

"No need."

Situ Jun's voice remained flat, yet it carried an unquestionable refusal.

An invisible force of Qi quietly brushed past, gentle yet exceptionally firm, steadily pushing Hua Hanxiang's hands away.

Her movement instantly froze, her fingertips suspended in mid-air, and even the smile on her face faded slightly.

She slowly raised her enchanting eyes to look at Situ Jun. A flash of astonishment crossed her eyes, quickly turning into disappointment, even hiding a trace of imperceptible fear—as if her master's refusal was a total negation of her "value."

"Master..."

Her voice carried an aggrieved tremor, her red lips pursed slightly, and her eyes were already glistening with tears.

"Did this Servant Girl... do something wrong to displease Master?"

"Sit properly."

Situ Jun didn't explain, only pointing to the low stool again, his tone even more unquestionable.

He had indeed initially intended to use Hua Hanxiang as a Cauldron to help him break through to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul, but by a twist of fate, he had already advanced to the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

As for how to utilize Hua Hanxiang's special Physique, it still required careful consideration and couldn't be decided rashly.

Hua Hanxiang didn't dare disobey and could only submissively sit sideways on the low stool, her posture still respectful.

She lowered her head slightly, her hands folded over her knees, her long eyelashes cast down like a kitten waiting for instructions, even her breathing becoming light.

A brief silence fell over the carriage, with only the rumbling of wheels and the occasional neighing of the horses faintly echoing through the walls.

Situ Jun's gaze returned to the fields and woods receding rapidly outside the window, but his mind was already deep in calculating the situation in the Southern Border—taking Hua Hanxiang along was a risky move, but also a hidden trump card.

Her identity as a Xuan Yin Sect Elder, combined with her unique Cultivation Technique, might play an unexpected role at certain critical moments.

But the prerequisite was that she had to be intact and without any mishaps.

He need her strength, her... loyalty, and that special Physique.

(I've been holding it in for a month, thinking that reaching 500,000 words would bring some traffic, but after three days, it's still the same; hardly anyone is reading. I haven't been in the mood to write these past two days either, and I'm planning to just slack off or finish it up.)