24: Springtime in the Morning Light

Situ Jun and Xu Lian spent a sweet night together, and the lingering affection had not yet fully dissipated in the dawn.

Soft sunlight filtered through the window screens, spilling over their embracing bodies.

Situ Jun opened his eyes slightly and looked at Xu Lian beside him, his heart full of tenderness and attachment as he gently brushed away the strands of hair from her cheek.

Her jet-black hair was scattered across the moon-white pillowcase, and a faint crimson remained at the corners of her lips, like a crushed peony flower.

However,

"Thump! Thump!"

A sudden, urgent knocking on the door broke the tranquility.

"Aunt Xu! The sun is already shining on the hibiscus curtains! Are you still not up?"

Nangong Xue's voice, wrapped in seventy percent coquettishness and thirty percent mischief, exploded outside the carved door.

Xu Lian sat up abruptly, the brocade quilt slipping from her shoulders to reveal several ambiguous red marks on her snowy skin.

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she hurriedly gathered her clothes, yet her earlobes were even redder than the rouge box by the pillow.

Situ Jun also scrambled to put on his outer robe, fearing that Nangong Xue might suddenly burst in.

As Xu Lian leaned over, the scent of jasmine in her hair brushed past his nose, and her warm lips pressed against his ear:

"I have to go take care of the Madam."

Her breath carried a sweetness like morning dew.

"Don't always come running to my place, be careful not to neglect your proper duties."

Xu Lian gave him a mock-reproachful look, her fingertips skillfully fastening the buttons of her dress.

"Madam only has me as her maid; right now, she's getting up and there's no one to help her with her hair and makeup."

With a playful huff, Xu Lian hurried to the bronze mirror to tidy her clothes and hair.

Situ Jun stood up to help her comb her hair into place.

"I'll come see you again at noon."

Situ Jun took Xu Lian's jade-like hand, his face full of deep affection.

"Don't. If you do this every day, you'll get tired of me. You should focus on being a steward; you can't be obsessed with feminine charms."

Xu Lian said urgently.

After speaking,

Xu Lian walked quickly to the door, opened it, and lowered her head with a shy expression.

Nangong Xue, feeling a bit frustrated by her lack of resolve, pinched her glowing, supple cheek:

"You've been completely devoured! From now on, you're not allowed to spend the night here anymore, hmph!"

After saying that, she turned and left, and Xu Lian hurried to follow.

Situ Jun leaned against the window, watching the two graceful figures disappear through the moon gate. A ridiculous thought suddenly occurred to him—if he could take Nangong Xue into his arms as well, it would save a lot of trouble.

Several days passed like this.

On this day, Situ Jun had just finished flirting with a few maids in the North Courtyard and was returning to the Stewards Office.

Cui Zhu came running in with small steps, wearing a moon-white skirt.

The crabapple flower newly pinned to the girl's temple trembled with her movements, and her pink face was covered in a light sweat:

"Steward Situ, Madam Su is looking for you."

"Alright."

Situ Jun nodded and followed Cui Zhu to Liu Xuaner's courtyard.

Along the way, Cui Zhu was made to giggle repeatedly by Situ Jun's teasing.

While crossing the winding corridor, Situ Jun intentionally or unintentionally knocked the silk flower from her hair. Watching her stomp her embroidered shoes in mock anger, the smile in his eyes deepened.

"Sister Cui Zhu, why did Madam call for me? Is there something going on?"

Situ Jun asked curiously.

"It is Madam Su who wants to see you."

Cui Zhu gave him a look and said.

"Madam Su? Why is she looking for me?"

Situ Jun asked with some doubt, thinking to himself that it couldn't be for writing poetry again, could it?

The two of them soon returned to Liu Xuaner's residence.

He straightened his collar and stepped over the threshold.

At this time, in the living room,

The scent of sandalwood mixed with borneol lingered in the warm room. Su Yunniang leaned against a soft couch, her light purple silk dress stretched into seductive curves by her voluptuous figure.

Especially at this moment.

Because she was sitting, the fabric of her skirt was pulled tight by her rounded, peach-like buttocks, as if it were about to burst.

The full curves of her chest were faintly visible, exuding the unique charm of a mature woman.

And opposite her,

Liu Xuaner's charming lips parted slightly, glistening with a hint of moisture, which made her face, as beautiful as a lotus emerging from water, appear even more radiant and moving.

At this moment, they were discussing something interesting, which had Su Yunniang smiling brightly.

"Mesdames!"

Situ Jun stepped forward and gave a salute.

"Steward Situ, it's my sister who is looking for you. She has come to my place for three consecutive days but didn't happen to run into you. So, she asked me to call you over."

Liu Xuaner glanced at Situ Jun and then looked at Su Yunniang.

"Madam Su, I wonder what you might need?"

Situ Jun asked with some confusion.

Su Yunniang's gaze dodged slightly as her jade-white fingers held a celadon cup. She took a small sip of tea and said:

"It's not a big deal. Didn't I say that day? To thank you for writing poetry for me, I wanted to teach you how to Cultivate. But you haven't come to see me these past few days, so I had to come looking for you."

"Uh, this... Madam, there's no need for that. It was my honor to write poetry for you."

Situ Jun said with a smile.

"But I want to thank Steward Situ properly. You wouldn't refuse my kindness, would you?"

Seeing Situ Jun refuse her good intentions, Su Yunniang felt a bit bitter in her heart and couldn't help but try to provoke him.

"Situ Jun, since Sister is willing to lower herself to guide you, why are you refusing? If I weren't so busy, I would have wanted to personally guide you so you could reach the Foundation Establishment Stage sooner."

Liu Xuaner shot him a look, speaking with some dissatisfaction.

"Many thanks to both Madams. Your subordinate could never dare to waste your time. I will work hard at my cultivation on my own to achieve a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage soon, so I may better serve you both."

Situ Jun cupped his hands and gave a salute.

"It's fine, it won't take up much of my time. I am the most idle person in the entire West Courtyard."

Su Yunniang directly blocked Situ Jun's excuse, feeling a bit annoyed in her heart that he was being so ungrateful.

"Starting from today, you will come to my courtyard at dusk. I will explain and check your cultivation progress every day. The time is set for one hour."

Su Yunniang made the decision directly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

Situ Jun looked at Su Yunniang, then at Liu Xuaner, and could only give a wry smile as he cupped his hands in thanks.

"Very well, having Sister teach you cultivation is your good fortune. Go on and attend to your business first; don't forget to go to Sister's place for cultivation tonight."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Situ Jun turned and left the living room.

Walking along the paths within the manor, Situ Jun scratched his head, somewhat unable to understand why Su Yunniang was acting this way. If it was to thank him and not want to owe him anything, she could have just given him some money or cultivation resources. Why go through the trouble of personally teaching him? Besides, he was already at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

Thinking of his first level of Foundation Establishment, he was startled and hurriedly called out to the System in his mind:

"System, are there any items in the mall that can help me conceal my Cultivation?"

[Detected that the Host's heavenly luck value is insufficient to exchange for treasures that hide cultivation Rank. It is recommended that the Host exchange for a Cultivation Technique to hide cultivation.]

"What technique? Exchange it for me."

Situ Jun asked urgently.

[It is recommended that the Host exchange for the first level of the "Breath Concealment Technique." It requires 500 heavenly luck value and can hide cultivation across one major Realm. Host currently has 1200 heavenly luck value.]

"Exchange."

Situ Jun exchanged for it without hesitation. Before anyone in the manor discovered his cultivation, he had to hide it first to protect himself.

Additionally, Situ Jun discovered that for techniques rewarded or exchanged from the System, as long as he received them and silently thought "Learn" or "Cultivate," he would immediately master them. He didn't need to spend time practicing them slowly himself.

After exchanging and learning the "Breath Concealment Technique," Situ Jun felt slightly more at ease. He suppressed the Qi fluctuations in his Dantian to look like the Third Level of Qi Refining.

This Cultivation was neither too high nor too low, just right for his current status.

At the Stewards Office, Situ Jun brewed a pot of good tea, sat in a chair, and leisurely sipped tea while flipping through the expenses of the past few days.

During these days, he had used up all the lucky draws rewarded by the System. As expected, he didn't draw anything particularly good, and he directly removed some useless items from his bag.

He did manage to draw 2000 Elementary Spirit Stones. Adding the 1000 he drew last time, and excluding the 200 he gave to Xu Lian, the Spirit Stones on him actually totaled 2800.

It wasn't that he was stingy in giving Xu Lian so little; he was afraid that giving too much would cause trouble. He preferred to give small amounts frequently to minimize risk. This was also to indirectly protect Xu Lian, not because he didn't trust her.

"Everything is moving in a good direction, everything is wonderful."

Situ Jun sighed with emotion.