Hearing Chen Mo's words, Yun Yun found them surprisingly reasonable.
She slowly closed her eyes.
However, the moment her eyes shut, a strange tension stirred in her heart. For some reason, she became nervous—worried that Chen Mo might suddenly steal a kiss. She didn't understand why such a thought even crossed her mind.
Her long lashes trembled ever so slightly.
The delicate hand placed behind her back subconsciously clenched into a fist.
As soon as Yun Yun's eyes closed, Chen Mo quickly retrieved an ornate wooden box from his storage ring. With care, he placed the Youth Preserving Pill inside.
It would've felt cheap just handing over a single pill unwrapped—presentation mattered.
He had specifically prepared these kinds of exquisite wooden and jade boxes back in Wu Tan City, knowing they'd come in handy when wooing women.
After taking a light breath to calm himself, Chen Mo presented the wooden box in front of Yun Yun and said gently, "Alright, Yun Yun-jie, you can open your eyes now."
As her eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was the beautiful wooden box in his hands. Curiosity sparkled in her eyes. "What's this?"
Opening it, she found a snow-white pill, about the size of a longan fruit, radiating a soothing, refreshing fragrance.
"A Youth Preserving Pill. It improves the skin's moisture and elasticity, maintaining youth and beauty. It's not a particularly valuable item," Chen Mo said casually.
In truth, for someone at a high cultivation level, such effects could easily be achieved through Dou Qi alone.
But for Yun Yun right now, it was a fitting gift.
More importantly, it wasn't too extravagant—a modest gift that wouldn't make her feel burdened.
If the gift had been overly lavish, she might have started overthinking.
Questions like:
Is he asking me for something?
Does he have ulterior motives?
Am I supposed to repay him?
That's not what he wanted.
Yun Yun picked up the Youth Preserving Pill, gazing at it for a long moment before carefully storing it in her storage ring. A soft, appreciative smile curved her lips. "It's lovely. I like it."
[Ding! Favorability +2. Gained one incense stick's time of Insight.]
"Glad you like it."
For some reason, Chen Mo found himself a little shy around Yun Yun. "Want to go for a walk together?" he asked.
Yun Yun hesitated for a moment, tempted, but then bit her lip. "Both our statuses make us a bit too noticeable. Besides, I slipped out without telling Yanran. If someone sees us, who knows what rumors might spread?"
"I don't mind," Chen Mo replied.
That simple statement made Yun Yun's cheeks inexplicably flush.
"I mean, even if rumors spread, we're innocent. I'm not bothered by it," Chen Mo added, trying to ease the tension.
But Yun Yun seemed to interpret it a little differently. Her lips parted slightly, a little dazed. "It's getting late. I should head back."
Her voice carried a trace of panic as she turned to leave.
"Wait, it hasn't even been that long," Chen Mo said, catching her soft hand.
The moment their hands touched, Yun Yun's body froze. Her heart raced as she hurriedly pulled her hand back and turned toward him. "You—you still have something to say?"
With a warm smile, Chen Mo asked, "Yun Yun-jie, don't tell me you've forgotten what you promised me back in the Magic Beast Mountain Range? You said if we ever met again—"
Yun Yun gave him a playful glare, then said softly, "Twenty-six."
"Twenty-six, huh. That's… a bit on the older side," Chen Mo murmured teasingly.
"You're the one who's old!" Yun Yun retorted with mock annoyance, losing her usual composure and momentarily revealing a more girlish side.
That brief glimpse of her true nature made Chen Mo's heart stir.
He gently reached up, brushing away a strand of hair from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear.
[Ding! Favorability +1. Gained 2 Favorability Points. Intimacy Bonus Activated – Reward: Awakening Tea.]
"What are you doing?" Yun Yun's voice trembled as she recalled their intimate moment in the mountain cave. Embarrassed, she took two steps back.
"Yun Yun-jie, you're truly beautiful," Chen Mo said earnestly, meeting her eyes without flinching.
"I'm your elder sister."
"I'm serious."
"You…" Yun Yun pointed a finger at him, cheeks red, then turned and fled. "I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Chen Mo didn't chase after her. He understood the value of patience and progress made step by step.
Still… he kind of regretted saying that the Scorching Poison could be cleared in just two sessions.
He definitely acted too hastily there.
Now about that Awakening Tea...
He retrieved a small bamboo container from his storage ring. The tea inside was said to refresh the mind and accelerate cultivation.
At the manor…
Ya Fei lay in bed, Chen Mo's head resting against her bosom as she let him do as he pleased.
Just as things were getting heated—
[Ding! Favorability +1. Gained 2 Favorability Points.]
Chen Mo blinked.
The favorability of Butterfly, Queen Medusa, and Ya Fei had all already maxed out. They could no longer increase or decrease.
At this point, Favorability increases would only be announced for newly active relationships.
Sure enough, a quick check revealed Yun Yun's favorability toward him had reached 71.
"You… what are you doing?" Ya Fei asked breathily, arms wrapped around his back, confused as he suddenly paused.
Chen Mo laughed. "You little minx."
At the Nalan Estate…
In a quiet courtyard, Yun Yun lay on her bed, arm raised above her head, her bright eyes gazing at the Youth Preserving Pill in her hand. Her thoughts wandered back to the moment when Chen Mo held her hand.
"What did he mean by that…?"
She recalled their parting in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, when he embraced her with such familiarity. The strange emotions it stirred within her… she didn't know how to deal with them.
It wasn't easy for her—she'd never had anyone she could confide in, let alone any experience with romantic feelings.
She slept all the way till noon.
Chen Mo woke up slowly as the sun reached its peak.
He clenched his fists, feeling the strength inside his body slowly grow.
Glancing down at the beautiful woman nestled beside him, her cheeks still slightly flushed, he kissed her forehead gently.
Pulling the blanket over her delicate figure, he got out of bed and dressed.
He returned once more to the Nalan Estate.
At the entrance, the steward was already waiting and greeted him warmly.
"Master Chen Mo, welcome. Have you eaten?"
"I have. Just take me straight there," Chen Mo said.
"Very well."
They walked slowly along the stone pathway, eventually ascending a corridor that led toward the courtyard where Nalan Jie was resting.
To the side of the corridor, there was a round opening in the wall—no door, just an archway. Peering inside, one could see a separate courtyard.
From within came the sound of soft shouts and the swish of swords.
"That would be the young miss training with Mistress Yun," the steward said with a smile.
Chen Mo stepped inside without hesitation.
The steward paused briefly, said nothing, and simply waited outside.
This courtyard was spacious. What first caught Chen Mo's eye was a lush bamboo grove.
Through the emerald stalks, he could see a clearing in the middle—
Two graceful figures moved like phantoms, swords in hand, dancing with fluid elegance and leaving behind trails of shimmering sword shadows.
****
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