[A/N: "I'm undecided about the route Xiang Yun should take after Xiao Ning'er's treatment. Which would be better, an arc outside of Glory City, or an Alchemy training arc? Leave your comments here]
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"Xiao Ning'er, you're sick!" Xiang Yun said, but before he could continue, Xiao Ning'er charged at him, slashing quickly with her daggers.
"Sick!? You're the one who's sick! Your whole family is sick, that's what!" she shouted fiercely, waving her daggers like a wild cat. But Xiang Yun easily dodged the attacks before jumping onto a tree branch, looking down at her.
"Crazy girl! I'm trying to help you, don't you know that?" he yelled, then threw the Daoyin technique and the copied scroll that mentioned the Arctic disease toward her. "Look at this. It explains the same symptoms that are on your skin. You just need anyone with soul force to use this technique on you, and you can recover in a few days."
With a frustrated sigh, unable to reach him, Xiao Ning'er stopped her attacks and picked up the two scrolls that had been thrown toward her.
She first shot a sharp glance at Xiang Yun, then began reading the scroll about the Arctic disease, quickly confirming that the symptoms listed were exactly the ones she had started feeling a few days ago.
Xiao Ning'er was momentarily stunned.
Her fists clenched tighter and tighter as she read the scroll, and her eyes grew red. How could this be possible? Even though she was mentally strong, after learning this news, she couldn't bear the blow. Xiang Yun had identified her illness with just a glance. And what was written on that scroll confirmed that it was all real. If she continued cultivating, she could not only lose her cultivation but even die.
Was this it? After going through so much hardship, would she end up crippled or even dead? Where was the justice in this world?
Her eyes were stained with tears, but she quickly wiped them away and picked up the Daoyin technique. As explained, the cure was simple. Massage the affected area with soul force, and in more severe cases, take medicine. Fortunately, her disease was only in the early stages, without too many issues for now.
Xiao Ning'er sighed in relief, then looked gratefully at Xiang Yun. 'Looks like I misunderstood him... With his qualifications, how could he have any other thoughts about me...' She blushed lightly at her own thoughts.
Shaking her head to clear away the unnecessary thoughts, she asked, "Xiang Yun... Do you... do you know how to use this Daoyin technique?"
Xiang Yun finally sighed in relief and came down from the tree, stopping in front of her. "Of course I do. But as you saw yourself, it's a technique that requires direct contact with the skin. I would recommend that a family member of yours do it." he answered honestly.
Xiao Ning'er looked at Xiang Yun curiously. He was a whole head taller than her and undeniably handsome. His silver eyes seemed to glow like the moon, making her get lost in them for a moment. Right now, he seemed very mysterious, making her want to uncover that hidden mystery.
She decisively lowered her head, blushing, and murmured, "If you can do it, I don't mind. You're just treating me, right? I don't want to die from cultivating, and even less become useless."
That last sentence was definitely meant for herself, as reassurance.
At that moment, in front of Xiang Yun, Xiao Ning'er lowered the cold guard she kept up against everyone.
"Well..." Xiang Yun seemed hesitant for a moment, but inwardly he was smiling.
Then he said:
"Very well then. I'll help you with the Daoyin technique to treat your illness twice a week. With your current symptoms, two weeks—four treatments—will be enough. If that works for you."
"En! Thank you." Xiao Ning'er nodded, blushing deeply, knowing that a man other than her father or mother would be directly touching her body.
Xiang Yun smiled. "I need you to show me the areas that have those strange patches, and if possible, I'd like to see your cultivation technique. I might not know much, but maybe if I research a bit, I can see why it's affecting you this way. Is that alright?"
At that moment, Xiao Ning'er paused, hesitant.
"My cultivation technique?" She hesitated briefly. That was not only her personal technique, but also one of the best her family had. Handing it to him... didn't seem like a wise decision.
But in the end, she bit her lip and decided to trust him.
She retrieved her cultivation technique from her interspatial ring and handed it to him. It was a slightly aged scroll, densely packed with text.
As he received the scroll from Xiao Ning'er, Xiang Yun accidentally touched the palm of her white, soft hands, but he didn't mind. Instead, he read the paper carefully.
This time, he truly wasn't pretending. He wanted to compare her technique with the one he found in the library—and as expected, his own technique seemed light years ahead.
Meanwhile, after feeling her hand touched by Xiang Yun, Xiao Ning'er felt a shiver run through her body and quickly pulled her hands to her chest, feeling her heart race.
She then glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
At least he seems better than that scumbag Shen Fei, right? A bastard who only knows how to play with women everywhere. — Compared to that, showing a small part of her body to Xiang Yun didn't seem like a big deal.
"Besides..." Xiao Ning'er struggled with herself for a while. 'If the disease isn't treated, I'll fall further and further behind the geniuses of my age.' That she couldn't bear.
While Xiang Yun was memorizing the technique, Xiao Ning'er finally made her decision and began to undress slowly, button by button.
Xiao Ning'er looked at Xiang Yun, who was still focused, and thought: 'He won't think that... that I'm some kind of pervert, will he?'
If it weren't for the treatment, she would never have taken the initiative to remove her shirt. As she unbuttoned it, her hands trembled slightly, and her inner struggle was evident.
After the fifth button was undone, Xiao Ning'er's perfect curves were absolutely stunning.
Xiang Yun finally finished memorizing the technique and looked up—but quickly looked away, coughing to hide his embarrassment. His body reacted immediately, but he hid it well so it wouldn't be noticed.
Even though he was mentally stronger, he couldn't suppress his own instincts. Especially when Xiao Ning'er's white, smooth, fat-free skin was clearly visible, glowing under the moonlight.
She was almost naked on her upper body. Only a purple sports-bra-style top covered her chest, but that small piece of fabric left a lot to the imagination.
Xiao Ning'er blushed at how Xiang Yun reacted to seeing her that way, but besides embarrassment, she felt a bit amused and... proud.
"Cough! Cough!"
Xiang Yun coughed lightly to break the awkwardness and then sat down, beginning to calm his mind. Xiao Ning'er also sat in front of him, watching, with her hands wrapped around her chest.
"Alright. Let's begin!" he said after calming down, starting to concentrate his soul force into two fingers.
"En." Xiao Ning'er hesitated for a second, then extended her injured foot with soft, almost timid movements.
He nodded. "It might hurt a little at first, so hang in there." Xiang Yun said, then gently took the foot she extended.
The bruise was on her ankle, and barely noticeable. If you didn't look closely, you wouldn't even see it.
Suddenly—Aahn!—Xiao Ning'er moaned when Xiang Yun lightly tapped his two fingers on the bruise.
She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, blushing all the way to the tips of her ears.
'How could I make that sound? He won't get the wrong idea, will he?' she wondered, shyly glancing at his face.
But unlike what she expected, he was treating her with the same seriousness as when he started.
Unlike him, she couldn't maintain her composure and kept her hand over her mouth, suppressing any sound that might come out.
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[A / N: If you liked it, add the library and leave a comment. If you are unhappy with something or the pace, also comment, so I can try to improve.]