Nuna met Kyle by the back exit. She was dressed in a nice but simple dress. It matched well with the color of her hair.
The back exit of the Ravenshade manor opened onto a cobblestone path that wound its way down through a small forest before opening up into the bustling merchant district of Ravenshade City.
Kyle waited there, dressed in modest clothing, a simple dark blue tunic and black pants that, even though expertly made, wouldn't immediately mark him as nobility.
When Nuna appeared, Kyle's breath caught slightly.
Seeing her in mundane clothes and not her maids' uniform was a different experience altogether.
She had chosen a flowing emerald dress that complemented her figure beautifully, her short blue her decorated with small white flowers she must have picked from the garden.
"You look stunning," Kyle said, offering his arm.
A soft blush colored Nuna's cheeks. "Thank you, Kyle."
Kyle looked at the hairpin holding her bangs to the side, and he corrected it with a smile. "Don't be so stiff, Nuna. We're just a young couple enjoying the city."
As they walked down the winding path, the sounds and smells of the city grew stronger. The air thrummed with activity.
'The Qi here is so turbulent. Must be because of the abundance of people.'
Kyle had also discovered that with his increase in strength, his sensitivity to the presence of Qi only grew stronger.
Wisps of qi danced visibly around certain buildings, and Kyle could sense the cultivation levels of passersby with his ability.
As expected, the majority were early-stage qi condensation experts, and then there were a few outliers, ranked higher in the realm.
And so with no cultivation to speak of.
Kyle and Nuna walked further down the road, not taking any turns, while conversing here and there.
"Where are we going, Kyle?"
"Oh, don't worry, you will find out. In fact, we are going to a lot of places today." He spoke, the corners of his mouth quirked slightly upward.
Their first stop was the bustling Heart Market, where vendors hawked everything from spirit herbs to enchanted trinkets.
Colorful banners fluttered overhead, and the scent of exotic spices mingled with the metallic tang of refined spiritual metals.
The city was just as Kyle expected it to be. Busy, rich with mediocre cultivation resources and treasures, packed.
If you came to the common marketplace looking for high-grade Qi stones or treasures, you would be in the wrong place.
Those were found in the underground black market or auction houses. Kyle was actually here for nothing more than the fresh air and to spend some time with Nuna.
After all, who didn't like to spoil their beloved with gifts and such? This was the first time for both of them.
"Fresh Phoenix Berries! Increases qi absorption by thirty percent!" called out an elderly merchant with a wispy white beard.
Kyle guided Nuna toward a jewelry stall run by a middle-aged woman whose cultivation base emanated the steady middle-stage of Qi condensation.
"Something for the lovely lady?" the vendor asked with a knowing smile.
Kyle's eyes fell on a delicate silver bracelet inlaid with small qi stones that glowed with soft blue light. "This one."
And of course, it only caught his attention because he could feel the abundance of Qi in the stones decorating it.
And it was a very lovely piece of art. It was nothing of note, but he just felt like getting something, for the memories.
"Ah, excellent choice! Those stones will help regulate qi flow and—"
"I'll take it," Kyle interrupted, not bothering to haggle. He fastened it around Nuna's wrist himself, his fingers lingering on her skin.
He threw a few gold coins on the table.
The woman smiled sheepishly, she had gotten even more than what she was going to charge.
Inwardly, though, she was mocking Kyle for his stupidity.
'Typical men, trying to flaunt their wealth to impress a woman.'
"Kyle, you don't need to, and this is too expensive," Nuna whispered, but her eyes sparkled as she admired the bracelet.
"Nothing is too expensive for you," he murmured, close enough to her ear that his breath made her shiver.
The jewelry vendor watched their interaction with amusement. "Young love in a city, there's nothing quite like it. The spiritual energy here amplifies all emotions, you know."
Kyle paid the blabbering woman no mind, walking away hand in hand with Nuna.
As they continued through the market, Kyle noticed how other cultivators' gazes lingered on Nuna.
He was not surprised, but he could not say he appreciated the men's hungry gazes. He could literally see them undressing her with their eyes.
And so, he directed a little bit of killing intent at anyone who was bold enough to stare for too long.
Every few seconds a so, a random person would shriek or flinch comically, drawing surprised reactions from those around.
"Kyle?" Nuna, who guessed what was going on, decided to speak out.
"Ehem...Yes, my lovely Nuna..." He cleared his throat awkwardly when he was found out.
"Don't...you never know who's watching. Besides, this happens often. I'm used to it."
Kyle chuckled. "The little maid has quite the presence," Kyle said with pride. "But just because you are used to it does not mean you have to tolerate it."
After walking for a bit, they took a left turn at a corner street.
Their next destination was the renowned Floating Lotus Teahouse, a three-story establishment where each floor literally floated above the next, suspended by formation arrays.
Cultivators of various levels sat at wooden tables, some meditating over their tea, others engaged in heated discussions about cultivation techniques.
A young server with Peak Qi condensation cultivation led them to a table by the window on the second floor.
The view overlooked the city's central plaza, where a magnificent fountain shot water infused with pure spiritual energy high into the air.
They settled into their seats.
"I recommend the Dragon Well Spiritual Tea," the server suggested. "It helps circulate qi and has a wonderful jasmine undertone."
Kyle ordered a full spread: the spiritual tea, along with plates of Moonlight Dumplings filled with spirit beast meat, Cloudberry pastries that literally floated on the plate, and Harmony Soup that changed color as you stirred it.
As they waited, Nuna reached across the table to straighten Kyle's collar. The simple gesture sent warmth through his chest.
"You're taking quite good care of me today," she said softly.
"I always want to take care of you," Kyle replied, catching her hand and bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
The kiss, though light, lingered for a few moments, as Kyle savored her taste.
The intimate moment was interrupted by a commotion from the table across them. They could see a young cultivator in expensive robes berating a server.
"This tea is barely lukewarm! Do you know who I am? I'm from the prestigious Wind Sect!"
Kyle's expression darkened.