The fact that Jingliu appeared here was a delightful surprise.
And since the topic was Jingliu, one naturally had to mention her Mara-Struck state.
So, Ye Feng transformed himself into Jingliu's "Mara."
Black arms explored high and low, testing Jingliu's willpower.
The peerless female sword immortal's cheeks flushed, and her pliant, delicate waist, too slender to be held in one grasp, trembled as her armor fell away.
Fine beads of sweat drenched her alluring body, and her snow-white skin, now tinged with a faint pink, looked even more captivating. In this moment, Jingliu possessed an indescribable, enchanting allure.
Ye Feng turned Jingliu around so that her back was facing him.
He saw her elegant and serene back as she was bent over a desk.
Her ice-blue hair cascaded freely down her back.
"Rip."
With a crisp, soft sound, Ye Feng accidentally tore the clothing on her back.
The fragrant garment fell away, revealing Jingliu's snow-white back, crystalline and lustrous.
Her bare back beneath her hair was smooth and fair, like the finest porcelain. It was flawless as white jade, perfectly proportioned. A sexy, graceful spinal line descended from her neck, partially hidden by her hair.
This line, born from within and expressed without, added an endless charm to Jingliu's beautiful back.
Jingliu's spirit trembled.
She could distinctly feel a scorching hot object pressing against her back.
'Why is this Mara-Struck episode so bizarre?'
'Does it wish to shatter my sword heart?'
'My sword can fell the sun, moon, and stars. Can it not slay you?!'
She focused her mind, and just as she was about to counterattack, her thigh was suddenly lifted high, forcing her into a standing split.
Jingliu's almond eyes flew wide open. Her center of gravity was destroyed, and the breath she had been gathering was instantly disrupted, forcing an involuntary grunt from her lips.
Jingliu couldn't see her own posture, but she imagined it must be an extremely humiliating one.
She knew she was suffering a tribulation unlike any she had ever faced.
"Do not panic."
A gentle voice came from the darkness.
"I am only helping you with your training."
"!!!?"
For a moment, Jingliu couldn't tell if this was an inner demon of her own making or a consciousness from the outside world.
Jingliu regained her center of gravity. Although she couldn't lower her raised leg, she stood remarkably steady on one foot in a standing split.
As expected, those who practice swordsmanship are on another level.
Kiana's body was also very flexible and she could do the splits, but she could never be as stable as Jingliu; every time they moved, she would end up collapsing softly.
"Who are you?"
The peerless sword immortal's cherry lips parted slightly.
She needed to use dialogue to discern the nature of this presence.
"The one who can help you suppress your Mara-Struck state."
"Help me suppress my Mara-Struck state?"
"Mm. Don't speak. Feel with your heart."
And then Jingliu felt a pressure on the area of her heart, making her chest feel tight.
"…"
Jingliu's body trembled slightly, the toes of her vertically raised foot quivering like a flower in the wind.
Ye Feng asked with a smile, "Are you feeling it?"
"…Let me go."
Even in such a predicament, the peerless sword immortal's voice remained as cool and clear as moonlight.
"Not yet."
"Who in the world are you?" Jingliu asked again.
"More importantly, when you practice your sword, don't you also have to hold a horse stance?"
"?"
A standing split and a horse stance were quite different.
"I'm guessing you hold it for at least half a day," Ye Feng chuckled. "Let's hold this for half a day, too."
"?"
No, what was wrong with this person?
Jingliu's mind was now filled with confusion.
Because she really was being held in a one-legged standing split.
Her hips were completely open. Anyone with a long-handled weapon could easily attack, and she would be unable to parry.
It was a cardinal sin in combat!
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
"'Legs for a year,' you know the saying, right? I really love these legs of yours. Icy skin and jade bones, perfectly toned, smooth and snow-white. They look slender, but they're firm and full of a sensuous feel."
"…"
"Let me hug them. Mm, and rub against them a bit."
Ye Feng wasn't just talking; he really did hug them and rub against them for a whole afternoon.
Jingliu had never been subjected to such an intense "spiritual attack."
After all, the posture was incredibly indecent, one might even call it wanton.
And there was no doubt that the "black hand" belonged to a male.
"Leave it to me. As long as you can pass my special training, the Mara's influence on your mind will be negligible."
"…"
Jingliu bit her lip, saying nothing.
The former sword master of the Xianzhou had experienced countless battles.
She naturally understood the principle that "truth lies only at the edge of the sword."
She was completely restrained now, with no room to resist.
In that case, all she could do was observe her surroundings and wait for an opportunity.
---o---
While Ye Feng was carrying out his special training on Jingliu, Ji Lin, whose consciousness was attached to the Xuanyuan Sword, arrived before the formation core.
The figures of Cangxuan and Danzhu were gone, leaving only two red crystals overflowing with dense Honkai energy.
"Cangxuan, Danzhu…"
Ji Lin whispered their names.
She could no longer feel any trace of their life force.
"Is there truly still a chance for them to be revived…"
At that moment, how she wished Ye Feng's words were true.
"Over here, over here! It's just ahead!"
The voice of an energetic young girl echoed from the dim passageway, from which several figures were approaching.
Just as Ji Lin was hesitating about whether to hide, she saw a particular figure, and the body of the sword couldn't help but tremble.
"Red Kite!"
The emotion with which Ji Lin called out this name was completely different from when she had called for Cangxuan and Danzhu.
Swoosh!
The golden Xuanyuan Sword shot through the air, stopping right in front of Fu Hua.
Its voice was filled with excitement.
"Red Kite, is it really you?!"
"Wow, the sword is talking!" Kiana exclaimed in amazement.
She was about to bounce forward to check it out but was held back by Mei.
"Be careful, Kiana. Don't be reckless."
Fu Hua puffed out her chest slightly and took a step forward, shielding the others behind her.
"And you are?"
"It is I."
The Xuanyuan Sword hummed, projecting a phantom image of Ji Lin.
Ji Lin was gentle and ethereal, carrying a classical charm, like a fairy descended to the mortal realm.
If Elysia were here, she would definitely say, "Wow, what a beautiful girl! Can I take her home?"
And at this moment, even this dignified and elegant fairy, upon seeing Fu Hua, had a face full of excitement and joy.
But Fu Hua, facing the emotional Ji Lin, had a look of confusion on her face.
She cupped her fists in a salute and said apologetically:
"…I'm sorry, have we met?"
At Fu Hua's words, Ji Lin's gaze dimmed.
What that person said was true. Red Kite has lost the memories of her time with me… with us.
When she had heard Ye Feng's explanation, a girlish, dream-like hope still lingered in Ji Lin's heart: Even if her memories are erased, surely Red Kite will still remember me?
However, reality was so cruel.
Never mind remembering, she didn't even have the slightest impression.
Ji Lin's heart ached with disappointment, but she still managed a gentle smile. She gazed at Fu Hua with watery eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Ji Lin. Um… It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time."
"Hmm…" Kiana stared at Ji Lin, feeling that the way she was looking at Fu Hua was a bit strange. It was like her gaze was so intense it could almost draw silk.
Author's Notes:
All the settings and plot in this book are in service of letting the protagonist do [BEEP] better. I probably don't need to emphasize this point again, right?