69: Express your feelings

After speaking, Qin Ximeng gave an open-minded smile, the tear-drop mole at the corner of her eye trembling slightly with her light laugh, like a Hong Mei blooming in the snow.

Situ Jun was instantly stunned by her beauty, frozen on the spot.

Qin Ximeng's eyes were like a pool of clear lake water, shimmering with light, cold yet carrying a trace of imperceptible tenderness.

The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, her eyelashes long and thick, and with every blink, they seemed to pluck at one's heartstrings. Her eyebrow shape was beautiful, like a curved crescent moon, complementing those eyes and outlining her exquisite features.

Her small, straight nose made her face appear more three-dimensional.

And that Cherry-like small mouth was naturally red without makeup; when pursed slightly, it held a bit of playfulness, and when opened, her voice was cold and pleasant, like a tinkling spring in the mountains.

Her face shape was rounded yet refined, with smooth and natural lines and a pointed chin, giving off a sense of delicate beauty without losing its cold aura.

Inside Junyue Tower, it became quiet at this moment.

Qin Ximeng picked up her teacup and took a small sip, her cold face seeming to soften slightly:

"Steward Situ needn't be like this. I imagine the number of beautiful ladies in the Dynasty is countless, you..."

Situ Jun snapped back to his senses and gave an embarrassed smile, interrupting Qin Ximeng:

"My apologies, I lost my composure. But Miss Qin is right; I indeed like you."

Qin Ximeng, on the contrary, was stunned to hear this, and only after a long while did she shake her head and smile:

"Thank you for your favor, Steward Situ, but this is impossible. Do not ruin your own future."

Situ Jun gave a gentle smile:

"I know Miss Qin's background is not simple and your status is noble, but I still want to try and see if I can pluck this beautiful flower that is Miss Qin."

Qin Ximeng glanced at Situ Jun. As she stood up, her skirt swept across the high-quality carpet embroidered with gold-threaded cloud patterns, and she slowly approached the window.

The evening glow filtered through the window lattice and fell upon her, making that peerless face appear increasingly ethereal.

After a long while, her cold voice rang out:

"Yesterday at the Jubao Pavilion, I saved Steward Situ twice."

She turned around and looked down at him from above, her eyes shimmering like starlight:

"Is this how Steward Situ thanks me?"

Situ Jun was startled and thought to himself:

What a cold and proud little Phoenix.

A surge of competitive spirit rose in his heart, but his face still wore a gentle smile:

"A life-saving favor should naturally be repaid with a gushing spring. But does Miss Qin know that for some, offering oneself in marriage is the most profound repayment?"

He slowly rose, stepped to Qin Ximeng's side, and cast his gaze out the window at the bustling street scene along with her.

Qin Ximeng gave a soft scoff, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the window lattice:

"Could it be that Steward Situ has taken the plots in storybooks for truth? I have only met you a few times; how much sincerity can there be in the 'like' you speak of?"

Her voice was cold, yet it seemed to carry an invisible hook, making Situ Jun want to explore her true self beneath the cold and proud exterior even more.

Situ Jun's eyes burned brightly. He suddenly reached out and took the Silver Hairpin from Qin Ximeng's hair, causing her to turn her head abruptly, a flash of anger in her eyes.

"Impudent!"

Qin Ximeng's expression changed slightly as she tried to take back the Silver Hairpin, but Situ Jun skillfully evaded her.

Situ Jun nimbly twirled the Silver Hairpin between his fingertips and laughed:

"Does Miss Qin know that when you mentioned the Childhood Betrothal just now, your eyes dimmed for a moment. If you were truly willing, how could you have such an expression?"

Qin Ximeng took half a step back and said coldly:

"Situ Jun, do not push your luck!"

"I just don't want to see a beauty bound by fate."

Situ Jun tucked the Silver Hairpin into his robe, a flash of determination in his eyes as he continued:

"If you have no attachment to that marriage contract, why not try living for yourself for once?"

Qin Ximeng snorted coldly:

"You want to incite me to resist fate with just your Qi Refining Peak Cultivation? Unless you are a Nascent Soul Cultivator, only then would you have the right to say such things."

Her willow-like brows arched slightly, and she scoffed before continuing:

"To be with me, even if you have a background, you must reach the Golden Core Stage at least, let alone the Nascent Soul Stage. Even in the Sect, how many people are stuck at the Foundation Establishment Peak, unable to advance to the Golden Core? Do you think you can do it?"

Situ Jun was taken aback and asked in confusion:

"Is entering the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Stages very difficult?"

Qin Ximeng was speechless for a moment, but thinking of how Situ Jun dared to express his feelings so bluntly to her, she still explained patiently:

"To enter the Golden Core Stage, one must consume the third-grade Medicinal Pill 'gold condensing pill', as well as the 'Dust-Shedding Pill' which increases the chances. These are not ordinary Medicinal Pills, and the medicinal ingredients are even rarer."

"After advancing to the Golden Core through a thousand hardships, you still have to prepare various Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, or Formations to deal with the Four-Nine Lightning Tribulation."

"Such as healing Medicinal Pills, Heart Demon resistance Medicinal Pills, protective Magical Artifacts... but even if prepared, it is often difficult to safely pass through the Heavenly Tribulation. Therefore, high-level Cultivators on the continent are few, and those above the Golden Core are even rarer."

Speaking of this, Qin Ximeng likely thought of the tragic scene of her mother's failure when attempting to reach the Golden Core, where she barely escaped with her life, and her expression couldn't help but turn sorrowful.

Situ Jun was silent for a moment and then said:

"I have all the things you mentioned, and I have also Cultivated a Body Tempering Art. Passing the Lightning Tribulation shouldn't be much of a problem."

"You!"

Qin Ximeng was exasperated; after all her talking, he was still so arrogant.

Situ Jun knew she had somewhat misunderstood him. He paused, turning the information about Qin Ximeng's mother's shattered Golden Core into a subtle hint:

"I also have life-saving Spirit Medicine. Even if Undergoing Tribulation fails, I can preserve my life and Cultivate again."

These words were like a stone thrown into a deep pool; Qin Ximeng's face instantly turned red with excitement.

She stared fixedly at Situ Jun, her voice trembling:

"Are you... are you telling the truth?"

Situ Jun was secretly delighted, but he maintained a steady expression:

"Of course!"

He took a step forward, his internal spiritual power surging slightly, weaving an indistinct barrier between the two of them:

"Moreover, I can feel that Miss Qin is not entirely without good feelings for me. If I can successfully advance to the Golden Core Stage..."

Qin Ximeng turned around abruptly, her back to Situ Jun, but her tone was no longer as firm as before:

"Even so, some things are not for you or me to decide. The Heavenly Dragon Dynasty..."

She suddenly fell silent, realizing she had misspoken, her fingertips tightly clutching the window screen:

"In short, do not pester me anymore. You should not tell others about having such an Opportunity."

Situ Jun, however, was relentless. He moved in front of her, his gaze gentle and persistent:

"What if I insist on pestering you? Why don't you give me a chance, Miss Qin, and I am willing to share half of this Opportunity with you."

Saying that, he suddenly took out a red fruit emitting a soft glow that he had obtained from the System:

"This mysterious yin vermilion fruit can allow someone without a Spiritual Vein Physique to change their fate and possess a Spiritual Vein or Physique. So even if Undergoing Tribulation fails and the Foundation is completely destroyed, as long as one is still alive, they can rebuild their Dao Foundation and Cultivate again."

Qin Ximeng's gaze was locked onto this 'mysterious yin vermilion fruit', her breathing becoming rapid.

After a long time, she slowly reached out and took the fruit, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"Why would you go to such lengths? Do you know how precious this fruit is? This is a Heaven-Defying treasure that might not even be found in the ancient Secret Realms of the Sect."

Situ Jun raised his hand and gently brushed away a strand of hair from her cheek, whispering:

"Because you are worth it."

His voice carried a bewitching magic that echoed for a long time within Junyue Tower, while outside, the twilight deepened, quietly enveloping the two figures.

Qin Ximeng's eyelashes trembled, and a bitterness rose in her throat.

Her Sect identity, Family interests, and this bold and reckless man before her... She suddenly laughed softly, but tears fell onto the fruit, creating tiny ripples:

"You don't fear that this is like a moth flying into a flame?"

Situ Jun took her trembling hand, the warmth of the mysterious yin vermilion fruit seeping into their touching palms:

"If I can go into the sea of fire with Miss Qin, I am willing to let this fire burn."