6: Massage jade feet

"You can't even get a pharmacy's accounts right, what else can you do?"

"Get out!"

Deep in the courtyard, Liu Xuaner's voice exploded with suppressed anger, followed by a sharp "clatter" of a breaking teacup that startled the sparrows under the eaves.

Before the sound of porcelain shards splashing on the bluestone floor faded, the manager's tearful defense rang out frantically:

"Madam, please calm your anger. The discrepancies in the accounts are all because the other madams sent people to take medicine without paying. The Waiters in the shop couldn't stop them..."

"Bang—"

Another teacup was smashed, and this time even the door frame trembled.

Liu Xuaner's scolding drifted out, mixed with the fragrance of medicine:

"From now on, whoever in the manor takes medicine from the pharmacy without paying, record it for me! If they dare to take it for free again, deduct it from their monthly allowance..."

The rambling instructions were like fine rain, making the manager's forehead break out in sweat.

Situ Jun hid outside the festooned gate, listening to the commotion inside and clicking his tongue in secret.

After a while, a middle-aged man looking like a grey-robed shopkeeper walked out, wiping sweat from his forehead as he went, looking as if he had just survived a disaster.

Only after that figure disappeared behind the moon gate did Situ Jun ask the maidservant at the door to announce him.

Having received permission to enter, he straightened his black martial attire and walked in.

As he passed through the festooned gate, a faint scent of Agarwood lingered at the tip of his nose, intertwining with the scent of herbs drying under the corridor, making it a bit more bitter and medicinal than a typical lady's chamber.

Rounding the screen inlaid with Mottled Bamboo, he saw Liu Xuaner reclining on a red sandalwood couch, her moon-white gauze dress flowing like water over the sapphire-green cushions, outlining the slender curve of her waist.

A trace of lingering anger still flickered in the corners of her eyes, yet because she had just taken a nap, a faint blush remained, making her look like the sunset after a fresh snowfall.

Situ Jun walked straight forward and bowed, only to collide with her suddenly opening Phoenix eyes—her gaze was like cold stars, making his heart tighten as it swept over him.

"Situ Jun, didn't I tell you to Cultivate properly when you have nothing to do? Why have you come?"

Her jade-like finger lightly tapped the pearl step-shake at her temple, her tone carrying a hint of impatience.

"Uh, it's like this, Madam. Regarding the 'Foundational Cultivation Essentials' you gave me this morning, Your subordinate has already grasped its essence and fortunately achieved a Breakthrough to the Third Level of Body Refining."

Before his voice faded, a faint green Qi halo flickered around his body, and the rice paper on the table was lifted by the airflow, rustling loudly.

Liu Xuaner was slightly surprised and sat up, her skirt embroidered with gold-threaded lotus patterns sweeping across the floor.

"Not bad. Entering the Body Refining stage in just one day; it seems your previous foundation was solid. Go to Steward Wang and pick two First-Grade Martial Skills, then collect ten body tempering pills. Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage as soon as possible."

Her tone softened, even carrying a bit of praise.

"Thank you, Madam!"

Situ Jun was overjoyed to hear this. He just happened to be lacking cultivation resources; it was truly like someone handing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

"If there's nothing else, you may leave." After Liu Xuaner finished speaking, her beautiful eyes closed again.

How could Situ Jun leave just like that? He still had an important mission and needed to stay in front of her for a while longer to find the right opportunity.

Rolling his eyes, he cupped his hands and said:

"Madam, Your subordinate learned massage when I was young. Since it's your afternoon break, why don't I knead your shoulders to help you relax?"

"How bold! Madam has a precious body, how can you touch it!"

Before Liu Xuaner could speak, the maidservant beside her glared fiercely and scolded him.

Situ Jun was startled and bowed repeatedly to apologize.

Liu Xuaner raised her hand to stop her, her Phoenix eyes shifting:

"This is a folk technique, isn't it? You know this too?"

After a moment's thought, she said to the maidservant beside her:

"Cui Zhu, go wait in the living room first."

"Yes, Madam."

The maidservant named Cui Zhu bowed in response, then turned to give Situ Jun a warning glance.

Once the maidservant left, Liu Xuaner closed her eyes and leaned back against the soft couch, lightly lifting her jade-like feet:

"Then massage my feet; my shoulders were just kneaded."

When she took off her embroidered shoes, revealing small feet clad in white silk socks, Situ Jun's breath hitched—

The soles of the socks carried a faint scent of Spiritual Plants. As the silk slipped off, those feet were white with a hint of red, her ankles had a pearly luster, her toes were as rounded as mutton-fat jade shoots, and beneath the faint blue veins of the instep, a warmth like warm jade seemed to flow.

"Madam, please forgive my offense."

Situ Jun pulled over a footstool, circulated a bit of Qi, and with a gentle force in his fingertips, lightly pushed and rubbed her instep.

His technique was skilled, and his pressure was well-measured. As the massage progressed, he could feel Liu Xuaner's tense body gradually relaxing.

Liu Xuaner initially maintained a bit of alertness, but gradually, the soothing sensation made her let out an involuntary light sigh.

Realizing her loss of composure, she coughed and said:

"The technique is quite good."

After saying that, she closed her eyes and turned her head away.

Situ Jun focused on his technique. After lightly tapping the instep once, he moved to the sole for scraping and pressing.

The moment Situ Jun's knuckle pressed against the Yongquan Acupoint on the sole of her foot, Liu Xuaner's earlobes suddenly turned red.

She subconsciously curled her toes, and a tingling sensation surged up along her Meridians, making her unable to resist letting out a soft moan. She immediately turned her head, using her hair to hide her face:

"Be gentler."

Situ Jun peeked at her reddened cheeks, secretly laughing that his tuition for the foot bath centers in his previous life hadn't been in vain. His fingertips, however, became even more gentle, slowly pressing along the Acupoints on the sole of her foot.

After a long time, Situ Jun's gaze moved upward... "Does it look good?"

She suddenly opened her eyes, and her languid voice gave Situ Jun a start.

"Yes, it looks good..."

Fearful, Situ Jun was about to get up and kneel.

"Time to change to the other foot."

Liu Xuaner's voice rang out again.

Seeing that Liu Xuaner didn't blame him, Situ Jun quickly responded and switched to the other foot.

About half an hour later, Situ Jun really didn't dare to continue. If he went on, the skin of her feet would be rubbed raw.

Situ Jun glanced at Liu Xuaner, whose breathing was even. Not knowing if she was asleep or not, he spoke in a soft voice:

"Madam?"

"Madam..."

Liu Xuaner's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she languidly opened her eyes.

Situ Jun quickly stood up and cupped his hands, speaking with a bit of trepidation:

"Madam, please forgive me. Your subordinate was just worried that sleeping like this would be uncomfortable, and I feared you would wake up with back pain later, which is why I disturbed you. Please punish me, Madam."

"Your subordinate suggests that Madam sleep on the soft couch so that Your subordinate can help clear your spine."

Liu Xuaner was silent for a moment, withdrew her jade legs, and obediently turned over to lie face down on the soft couch.

"Knead my shoulder blades."

Her cold voice came out soft and sweet, and Situ Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

Recalling his previous massage techniques, Situ Jun's fingertips fell on her back, pushing and kneading with rhythmic pressure.

Looking at her relaxed profile, Situ Jun slowed his pace, calculating in his mind how to mix the Medicinal Pill into her food at night and let her take it without anyone knowing.

The warmth of his fingertips intertwined with the breathing of the person on the couch. The scent of medicine and Agarwood filled the air, but his thoughts had already drifted to the deeper night...