The moon hung low over the Silver Rain Sect, casting pale shadows over jade-tiled rooftops and glimmering lotus ponds. Jiang Yuefeng stood in the courtyard of the Inner Disciple Pavilion, his expression calm, eyes quietly assessing.
He had risen to Qi Refining Level 5. A single level may seem small to others, but for him, it was a milestone built not through raw talent—but through calculated effort, carefully cultivated lust, and emotional exploitation.
Mu Shilan had proven useful. Her protection had silenced those who would have blocked his entry into the Core Disciple trials.
But he knew better than to trust a woman simply because she moaned his name at night.
No. He would never place his life in anyone's hands.
Tonight, though, was not for Shilan. It was for his next step.
Lan Xueyi—a proud alchemy genius, known for her coldness, sharp tongue, and unmatched beauty. She was the youngest to ever pass the Saint Alchemy Exam, and even the elders gave her leeway. She was also extremely cautious. Exactly the type Yuefeng loved to break.
She stood outside her personal pavilion garden, mist coiling around her like smoke. Her silver-blue robe clung to her figure—hips curved like they were sculpted by divine hands, chest full and rising with every breath, her long legs partially visible beneath the slit of her outer garment. Her eyes, narrow and cold, met Yuefeng's with disdain.
"What do you want, outer disciple?" she asked, folding her arms beneath her ample chest.
Yuefeng bowed slightly. "To help you."
She raised a brow. "Help me?"
"I can sense something wrong with your spiritual flow. I've studied body meridian therapy under Elder Tan. I offer to correct it."
It was a bold lie. He had studied nothing—but the system had offered a new technique after his last dual encounter: "Yin Meridian Synchronization." It allowed him to sync his Qi with a woman's meridians… but only during intimate contact.
She sneered. "I don't need the help of someone beneath me."
Yuefeng smiled. "Even the high clouds draw water from the ground. Pride can block flow more than any toxin."
That struck her.
She didn't trust him—but pride could be a weakness. After several minutes of debate, she finally nodded.
"Fine. You get one chance."
Inside her alchemy room, the scent of dried petals and incense surrounded them. Lan Xueyi sat cross-legged on a jade mat, her robe loosened slightly around the shoulders.
"You'll need to expose your back and lower spine," he said softly, sitting behind her.
She unfastened her robe, revealing flawless pale skin, smooth and firm. Her back was arched slightly, her breathing calm—but guarded.
Yuefeng placed two fingers along her spine, tracing the meridian line from her nape to her lower back. The system flared to life:
System Alert: Yin Meridian Detected – Consent Threshold Reached – Initiating Synchronization
Target: Lan Xueyi (Beauty Score: 89)
Emotional Depth: Low (Guarded)
Chance of Advancement: 41%
He leaned in, his lips brushing the base of her neck as his Qi flowed through his fingers.
"What… what are you doing?" she whispered, but didn't pull away.
"This is part of it," he lied smoothly. "I have to connect more deeply."
He let his hands drift downward, along the curve of her waist, fingers parting the fabric at her sides. She trembled but said nothing.
When he pulled her onto his lap and whispered into her ear, "Trust me," she turned her face slightly. Their lips met—tentative, uncertain. But she didn't stop him.
Her robe slipped from her shoulders, baring her perfect chest—high, round, and tipped with rose-colored peaks that stiffened in the cool air. He took one into his mouth slowly, circling it with his tongue while his hands traveled between her thighs, feeling her warmth bloom.
She let out a slow breath, her hand gripping his wrist.
"I hate this…" she murmured.
"But your body doesn't," he answered gently, slipping inside her.
She gasped, clutching him. He moved slowly at first, savoring the feel of her tight, heated walls clenching around him. His hands explored every inch—her soft thighs, her flat stomach, the swell of her breasts, the nape of her neck. He kissed her deeply, making it seem like passion, not conquest.
As their rhythm built, she arched beneath him, her moans slowly rising from restrained to helpless. And he whispered things she wanted to hear, pretending to bare himself.
He never meant a word.
System Notification:
[Lan Xueyi – Beauty Score: 89]
[Dual Harmony: Successful – Qi Refining Level 6 Achieved]
+5% Talent Gain
+1 Passive Charm Trait (Soothing Aura)
Emotion Detected: Distrust Mixed with Curiosity – Slight Emotional Hook Secured
As she lay beside him, her breathing slowing, she finally whispered, "Who… are you really?"
He kissed her shoulder. "Just someone who sees you."
Hours later, Lan Xueyi watched him leave from her window. Her eyes narrowed.
Something about him wasn't right. But her body still ached for his touch.
Meanwhile, Yuefeng walked alone through the misty garden paths, his spiritual sense stretched wide.
Trust no one. Show them what they crave—never what you are.
Two women down.
Dozens more to go.
And each one would be a step toward the heavens.
End of Chapter 12