234: pampering

After an unknown amount of time, Hua Hanxiang suddenly rolled over, her fingertips brushing empty space across the Brocade Quilt, her murmur as light as a feather.

She opened her eyes dazed, the interlocking lotus pattern on the canopy coming into view, while the familiar clear scent of sandalwood lingered around her nose—it was Situ Jun's scent.

Turning onto her side, she found him sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at her, the candlelight casting faint shadows beneath his eyelashes.

That gaze was so warm and soft that her heart suddenly felt an itch, softening into a complete mess.

Propping herself up halfway, her hair fell messily over her shoulders as her fingertips lightly hooked onto his cuff, her voice still carrying the soft, nasal tone of someone who had just woken up:

"Why is Master sitting here? Won't you lie down with your Servant Girl?"

Situ Jun turned to look at her, seeing that her eyes were still misted over and her cheeks were flushed with a lingering blush, making her look like a cat that had just woken up.

He raised his hand to pinch her chin, his tone carrying a hint of a smile:

"Restless as soon as you wake up? The Spiritual Energy cleansing just now took quite a toll on your mind; why not rest a bit longer?"

"I've rested enough."

Hua Hanxiang leaned closer to him, her knees lightly brushing against his legs as her fingertips slid up from his cuff, stopping at his wrist to gently stroke it:

"As soon as your Servant Girl woke up, she missed Master... I want to try that feeling from earlier again."

As she spoke, her cheeks grew redder, but she didn't look away. Instead, she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with light:

"Didn't Master say that your Servant Girl's 'Hundred Flowers Charming Body' is the best match for your Cultivation Technique? I didn't get to feel it properly just now... Won't you accompany your Servant Girl one more time, okay?"

Situ Jun's heart warmed at her blunt words. Seeing her fingertips still tracing light circles on his wrist, the trembling sensation surged through the Meridians toward the Dantian, even causing the Spiritual Energy to become restless.

He leaned in close, his nose pressing against her forehead, his voice low and raspy:

"Greedy little thing, aren't you afraid the Spiritual Energy will surge through you until you have no strength left to speak?"

"I'm not afraid."

Hua Hanxiang immediately shook her head, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned toward his lips, her breath carrying a soft sweetness:

"With Master protecting me, your Servant Girl isn't afraid. Besides... Master's Spiritual Energy is so comfortable that even if I lose all my strength, I'm willing."

As she spoke, her fingertips lightly grazed his abdomen, nuzzling against him as if acting spoiled:

"Master, please dote on your Servant Girl a bit more. I want to further stabilize my Cultivation, and I also want to... spend more time with Master."

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes and the way they unconsciously misted over, the softness in Situ Jun's heart completely overflowed.

He raised his hand to clasp her waist, pulling her into his arms. His lips brushed against her earlobe as he spoke with a hidden smile:

"Since you want it so much, then it shall be as you wish."

Hua Hanxiang immediately smiled, tightening her arms as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her nose nuzzled his warm skin, her voice filled with joy:

"Thank you, Master!"

Situ Jun said no more, only reaching out to pull the Bed Curtains together. The glow of the candlelight became soft as it filtered through the gauze.

He placed his palm on Hua Hanxiang's back and lowered his head for a kiss, as gentle Spiritual Energy slowly poured in, circulating through her Meridians.

Hua Hanxiang immediately relaxed, letting out a soft hum in his arms. That sound was even softer than before, laced with complete dependence and joy, ringing out clearly within the quiet curtains.

The soft sound of intertwining Spiritual Energy rose again, blending with their mingled breaths and gradually fading into the moonlight outside... After a long time.

Hua Hanxiang's fingertips tightly gripped Situ Jun's arm. Feeling the docile Spiritual Energy circulating within her and the warmth from his palm, she felt her entire body suffused with satisfaction.

The warmth of the Spiritual Energy circulating through her Meridians had not yet dissipated. Leaning in Situ Jun's arms, Hua Hanxiang's fingertips still trembled slightly, but she couldn't help leaning closer to his palm.

She looked up at him, the flush at the corners of her eyes yet to fade, her voice as soft as if it had been dipped in honey:

"Master, just now... your Servant Girl seemed to be able to keep up with the rhythm of your Spiritual Energy circulation, not panicking like the first time."

Situ Jun looked down at her, seeing the joyful light in her eyes and even the tip of her nose tinged with pink. He gently rubbed the top of her head with his fingertips:

"You are quite clever to notice that. After a few more practices, you'll be able to cooperate on your own even without my guidance."

"Really?"

Hua Hanxiang immediately sat up a bit straighter, her hand unconsciously grabbing his arm:

"Then... can we practice one more time now? Your Servant Girl wants to reach the Half-step Nascent Soul stage sooner so I can be of better help to Master."

Situ Jun was amused by her eager look, his thumb lightly brushing across her flushed cheek:

"You just rested for a moment and you're already in a hurry for more? Can your small frame truly handle it?"

"I can handle it!"

Hua Hanxiang nodded immediately, shrinking back into his arms. Her nose nuzzled his lapel, her voice carrying a spoiled tone:

"Your Servant Girl feels full of energy now, and the Spiritual Energy in my Meridians is circulating without any obstruction. Besides... with Master here, I'm not afraid of anything."

As she spoke, her fingertips lightly traced the side of Situ Jun's waist, scratching like a feather:

"Master, please accompany your Servant Girl one more time, okay?"

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes and her unconsciously pouting lips, the heat in Situ Jun's heart began to rise again.

He raised his hand to clasp her waist, pulling her toward the center of the bed. The curtains were lightly blown by the wind and then slowly fell, enveloping their figures in the soft candlelight.

"Since you want it so much, then let's do it one more time."

After an unknown amount of time, when Situ Jun withdrew his palm, Hua Hanxiang was still immersed in the afterglow of the Spiritual Energy circulation. Her cheeks were flushed with a translucent red, and her breathing was slightly hurried.

She opened her eyes to look at him, her eyes filled with joy:

"Master, your Servant Girl..."

"But that's enough for today. If we continue, you'll be exhausted. We still have to travel tomorrow." Situ Jun helped her smooth her messy hair, the smile in his eyes deepening.

Although Hua Hanxiang was still a bit reluctant, she knew he was doing it for her own good. She nodded obediently and snuggled closer into his arms, her fingertips lightly clutching his clothes:

"Then Master must stay with your Servant Girl."

"Alright, I'll stay with you."

Situ Jun answered softly, pulling up the Brocade Quilt and wrapping them both in the warm bedding.

The candlelight gradually dimmed, leaving only their mingled breaths inside the curtains. Along with the faint chirping of insects outside, they blended into the quiet night.

When the candlelight in the curtains was completely extinguished, moonlight spilled through the window lattice, reflecting a patch of fragmented silver light by the bedside.

Resting in Situ Jun's arms, Hua Hanxiang's breathing gradually stabilized, but her fingertips still unconsciously clutched his lapel, as if afraid he might suddenly disappear.

Situ Jun looked down at her, seeing the faint shadows her eyelashes cast in the moonlight and the lingering blush on her cheeks. He couldn't help but reach out and gently brush her cheek.

When his fingertips touched her delicate, warm skin, his movements paused, and a sense of softness he had never felt before suddenly surged in his heart.

While he was lost in thought, the person in his arms suddenly moved slightly.

Hua Hanxiang opened her eyes dazed, her eyes still misted over. Seeing him looking down at her, she immediately nuzzled further into his arms, her voice carrying the soft sweetness of someone who had just woken up:

"Master isn't asleep yet?"

"I was just about to." Situ Jun reached out to tuck the slipping Brocade Quilt around her, his fingertips brushing her shoulder. "Did I wake you?"

"No."

Hua Hanxiang shook her head, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face deeper, her nose nuzzling his clothes:

"Your Servant Girl just... feels like I haven't held Master enough."