Qingxue didn't answer right away. Her eyes remained fixed on the hand Qingyi had just healed with the potion.
A faint blush colored her pale cheeks, and she looked away, biting the corner of her lower lip.
Qingyi merely smiled, letting his hands slide gently down to her shapely hips.
His calloused fingers traced the generous curve, caressing her with tenderness, the warmth of her soft skin seeping through the thin fabric of her dress.
"D-do you want to duel?" Qingxue asked after a moment's hesitation, the words escaping almost as a whisper.
The question drew an honest laugh from Qingyi, who shook his head in amused disbelief.
"Ah… silly master, I've barely arrived and the first thing you think of is dueling?" He smiled, watching that serene face, now softly flushed.
He'd always had trouble looking into Qingxue's eyes, not just because they were cold, but because, even when she smiled, there was pain in them.
Fortunately, that had changed.
