231: Sleepless night

"Master, the bedding has been prepared."

Hua Hanxiang stepped forward lightly, her skirt sweeping across the floor without a sound. Her voice was as soft as if it had been soaked in spring honey, warming the surrounding air by several degrees.

"Would you like to rest for a moment? This Servant Girl will go and prepare some food—after the fatigue of the journey, you haven't had a proper dinner yet."

When Situ Jun looked up, his gaze first fell on the back of her hand—the previous bright red burn had completely faded, leaving only a pale pink mark like a newly bloomed peach petal gently covering her skin.

He withdrew his gaze, his tone as flat as still water.

"No need. Eating late at night easily stagnates Qi; I wouldn't want it to interfere with official business."

After a brief pause, he suddenly changed the subject, tapping his fingertip lightly on the edge of the table as he asked,

"You must have heard the discussions of those Cultivators in the lobby just now. Do you know how many forces have gathered in the heart of the Southern Border in total?"

Hua Hanxiang's heart jolted.

How could she not know that he was testing her?

She lowered her eyes, her fingertips lightly twisting the dark patterns on her skirt, pretending to reminisce as she spoke very slowly.

"This Servant Girl vaguely heard them mention the 'Qingyun Chamber of Commerce' and the 'Ten Thousand Gu Sect', as well as the names of two or three Loose Cultivator Alliances. They also said... Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave was originally supposed to open in three days, but with the sudden early activity, they fear some power has secretly broken the outer Restriction."

After speaking, she peeked at Situ Jun. Seeing his brow slightly furrowed, she quickly added with a hint of well-timed timidity in her voice,

"Some also said that the 'blood hand' Village Elder Gongsun, who had previously vanished, has recently reappeared in the Southern Border and has already injured many Cultivators. This Servant Girl is frightened just hearing it—the methods of those Evil Cultivators are always ruthless. If Master intends to go to the Immortal Cave, it would be best to bring more Guards."

Situ Jun merely gave a faint "Mhm" and didn't press further.

He stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open a crack.

The night wind rushed in, carrying the humidity unique to the Southern Border, mixed with the distant, faint sound of clashing weapons and a trace of herbal fragrance. It was like wild orchids yet to bloom in the deep mountains, hiding vitality within their bitterness.

His Divine Sense spread out again, more cautious than when he was in the lobby, avoiding the prying eyes in the shadows like a thread of silk as it quietly probed toward the heart of the Southern Border.

After a long while, he withdrew his Divine Sense, his voice remaining flat.

"It's late. Go and rest; we have to travel tomorrow."

Hua Hanxiang nodded in agreement but didn't turn around immediately.

She walked to the daybed and carefully smoothed the quilt before saying softly,

"Master should also rest early. This Servant Girl will be waiting in the outer room. If there's any movement, just call out, and I'll come immediately."

With that, she retreated to the door with light steps. She looked back at Situ Jun's silhouette standing by the window, a complex light flashing in her eyes—a mix of awe, expectation, and a deeply hidden calculation.

Then, she gently closed the door, leaving the silence of the room to its occupant.

Situ Jun sat back down in the chair and reached out to take a ring from his Dantian.

The ring was pitch-black, its surface carved with intricate patterns, but its spiritual energy fluctuations remained weak—he had spent much effort refining it, yet he still couldn't make it hold living things.

If he could seize that bead-shaped spatial Magic Treasure this time, he could use this ring just like a Storage Pouch.

A wisp of spiritual energy condensed at his fingertip as he slowly injected it into the ring, wanting to see if he could improve it further.

But the moment the spiritual energy touched the ring, a sound transmission talisman in his Storage Pouch suddenly lit up with a faint white light, particularly conspicuous in the dim room.

Situ Jun's brow furrowed slightly as he reached out and took the sound transmission talisman.

Lines of small characters gradually appeared on the talisman paper; it was a transmission from Bai Yu.

"Master, a large number of Cultivators have appeared at the outskirts of the Immortal Cave. There are no fewer than ten at the Half-step Nascent Soul realm!"

"It seems this anomaly has forced many of those hiding old monsters out into the open."

Situ Jun murmured in a low voice and put away the sound transmission talisman.

Rubbing the patterns on the ring with his fingertip, he sighed softly and returned the ring to his Dantian.

The chirping of insects outside stopped at some point, replaced by several beast roars from the distance—clearly, some Cultivators had run into Yao Beasts on the road and a conflict had broken out. The roars were wrapped in the tremors of spiritual energy, faintly reaching the inn.

On the daybed in the outer room, Hua Hanxiang had no desire to sleep.

She thought about how Situ Jun's Cultivation was unfathomable and about the Dual Cultivation they had previously agreed upon. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

As long as she could perform Dual Cultivation with him, her Cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds. Only then could she truly stay by his side and no longer be just a replaceable Poison Scorpion Cult Elder.

The night grew deeper, and the inn became so quiet that only the occasional insect chirp remained, making the surroundings seem even more silent.

Hua Hanxiang got up quietly, stepping barefoot on the cold floor as she walked to the door and looked into the master bedroom through a crack.

Situ Jun was still sitting in the chair. Moonlight leaked through the window, falling on him and outlining his tall figure. The spiritual energy radiating from him carried a faint warmth, like spring sunlight, making her unable to resist wanting to get closer.

She took a deep breath and pushed the door open gently. With very light steps, she walked behind Situ Jun, her voice as soft as if she were acting spoiled.

"Master, are you not asleep yet? It's so late; would you like to rest for a while? This Servant Girl... this Servant Girl can warm the bed for you."

Situ Jun slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the unconcealable seductiveness in her eyes—tonight she wore a pale pink nightgown, its collar slightly open to reveal a small patch of fair skin, looking even more charming under the lamplight.

The corners of his mouth curled into a very faint arc, his tone carrying a hint of a half-smile.

"What, do you want to bring up the matter of Dual Cultivation again?"

Hua Hanxiang immediately lowered her head, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. Her voice carried a hint of grievance, as if her heart's desire had been exposed.

"This Servant Girl only feels for Master and wants you to rest well. If Master is unwilling, I... I will go back now."

As she spoke, she made to turn around, but her steps were deliberately slow, clearly waiting for him to speak.

Looking at her feigned grievance, Situ Jun found it somewhat interesting—this woman's intentions were quite direct, yet she insisted on acting so timid.

He reached out and gently squeezed her wrist, which was as smooth as jade. The skin he touched was delicate and warm, like the finest warm jade.

His tone carried a hint of indulgence.

"Very well. Since you are so proactive, then... as you wish."

When Hua Hanxiang's fingertips were enveloped by the warmth of his palm, her body trembled imperceptibly, and then she leaned toward him like a vine.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them. Her voice was full of joy yet deliberately suppressed into softness.

"Thank you, Master, for fulfilling my wish."

Situ Jun didn't speak, merely leading her toward the inner chamber.

The silver lamp by the bed burned with a weak light, stretching their shadows long and overlapping them on the silk-covered bedding.