Walking behind Jian, Fei Ling had already begun calculating, as she didn't expect Jian to accept so quickly. But she had made up her mind and prepared for the worst, silently reciting in her head: anything to become Fairy Mei Lian's disciple is worth it .
On reaching his quarters, Jian turned and said, "Wait herr a moment," before stepping inside.
Jian entered his quarters putting on his spartial ring which he had taken off earlier he stored his items away, he walked into Maria's room seemingly looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. By now, he began to panic a little. He then checked the cultivation chamber, only to see her cultivating—she had broken through and was now at the third stage of the Body Refining Realm.
Not wanting to distract her, he slowly shut the door.
Stepping out to the door, Jian smiled. "You can come in."
Fei Ling followed, her smile stiff and forced, acting the part of a shy little sister.
Walking into his quarters, she let her eyes wander carefully, trying to pick up any piece of information she could.
"How long have you been a disciple in this sect?" Jian asked as he approached her, only stopping when he was close enough for her to feel his presence.
He reached out, gently shifting her hair to the side so he could see her face clearly. "You're truly a beauty," he said moments later, his tone calm but steady. The words prompted her to blush ever so slightly, "I became a disciple five years ago," she responded.
"You said you were interested in my technique?" Jian smirked, his voice carrying both teasing and intent. "Why don't I show you?" he added, leading her toward his room.
As they entered his room, Jian gestured toward the bed.
Fei Ling obeyed, lying on her belly, her face pressed toward the sheets, her breathing steady though her thoughts raced.
"Unlike the dummy, I can't really touch your pleasure points," Jian said, his tone calm yet edged with intent. "I can't release spiritual energy outwardly, and your cultivation is higher than mine. For the technique to be more efficient…" his eyes narrowed slightly, "…you'll need to remove your robes."
Fei Ling bit her lips in frustration. She hadn't expected things to escalate this quickly. Yet, Jian's reasoning sounded flawless, leaving her without an excuse to refuse.
Slowly, she rose from the bed. One by one, her hands slid over the fabric of her robes, pulling them free from her body. Piece after piece fell away until she stood bare, her skin glowing softly under the dim light, her ample breast and her figure though petit had a voluptuous curve.
Her figure was lean yet filled with curves that spoke of both grace and strength. Being a dual cultivator for so long, she had no trouble stripping before him—yet seeing his gaze locked on her the subtle tremor in her fingers betrayed, that this time felt different.
Lying on her belly, face pressed into the bed, Fei Ling felt Jian's fingers glide across her back. He traced her skin slowly, deliberately, feeling every contour, preparing her mind and body for what was to come.
Channeling his inner energy, Jian guided spiritual Qi into his fingertips until they glowed with a yellowish-red light. With measured rhythm, he pressed them against Fei Ling's skin—soft at first, then firmer when he reached key spots.
Yet no matter how precise his movements were, he met resistance. Fei Ling's body was tense, her muscles tight, her skin faintly shimmering as she discreetly layered it with spiritual Qi.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, feigning innocence, her voice carrying the shaky edge of false vulnerability.
Jian's lips curved into a mischievous smirk. His tone dropped low, teasing yet commanding.
"Do you want to feel ecstasy?"
"Yes… yes ahh uhh ," she breathed, forcing a fake moan, her words dripping with the act of a desperate little sister trying to sound convincing.
"Then ecstasy you shall feel," Jian murmured, his voice like a blade of silk. "Stay still."
But instead of obeying, Fei Ling quietly increased the spiritual energy reinforcing her skin, thickening the protective barrier against his touch.
Jian only chuckled under his breath, his smirk widening as his eyes glinted knowingly.
He had noticed the flickering spiritual Qi along her back from the start.
"Clever girl…" he whispered, almost to himself.
Then, without hesitation, Jian drew out his newly purchased artifact from the treasury. Pulling forth the Soul Steel Needle, he let it gleam under the faint light. His smile carried no warmth.
"Stay still… no matter what," he warned again, voice low and deliberate.
"What do you want to do—" Fei Ling began, but her words broke off mid-sentence as a wave of terror surged through her body.
Her spiritual energy began to drain with frightening speed.
Her heart pounded. No… this can't be…! She tried to circulate her Qi, but the flow collapsed before it could gather. The strength she relied on so heavily had vanished, as though stolen from her veins.
In truth, Jian had not robbed her cultivation—he had merely sealed it. The Soul Steel Needle pierced her meridian pathways at precise nodes, locking her channels in a circular formation.
With every breath, she could feel the suffocating emptiness of being powerless.
Panicking, she twisted around, stumbling toward the mirror at the side of the room. Her eyes widened in horror.
There, etched across her bare back, was a circle of glimmering needles, each embedded with uncanny precision.
"You—" she gasped, her face draining of color. "What have you—what have you done to me!?"
Jian stepped closer, his expression unreadable, but his eyes cold and sharp.
"I told you to stay still," he said flatly had you stood up a second earlier you would have harmed yourself," each word carrying an edge that made her shiver to the bone.
"I wouldn't hurt you," Jian said calmly, his voice steady as his gaze lingered on her trembling form. "But your spiritual Qi was getting in the way. I don't care why you chose to follow me—I don't sense killing intent from you. If I had, I would have ignored you from the very beginning. As I am now, I don't have the adequate strength to protect myself from true malice."
He gestured toward the bed with a flick of his wrist.
"Lay down again. If what you said earlier is the truth, then there's no need to fear me. I'll remove the needles. But if what you said was a lie…" His eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a weight that pressed against her chest. "Then lay down all the same as Pulling them out carelessly on your own will leave permanent damage to your meridians."
Fei Ling froze. His words struck her harder than she had anticipated—not because of the threat, but because of the sharp precision of his observation. He had seen through the flimsy veil of her excuses with unsettling ease.
Her lips parted but no words came out. For the first time, she was speechless.
What do I do now…? she thought in a panic. Her heart hammered against her ribs as though trying to break free. She hadn't expected him to pin her down so directly, to strip her of every option until only compliance remained.
Inwardly, she bit down on her fear.
If I admit the truth now, he'll never let me near him again. But if I keep lying… will I even leave this room in one piece?