Chapter 27: A Costly Affair and a Playful Healing

“None at all, none at all,” Shen Xiulan quickly assured him, her heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settling. At the very least, she was spared death.

Though Murong Yuntian was now placated, countless other families and sects would prove far less amenable. Shen Xiulan could only conclude that this would truly be a costly affair, a massive drain on resources.

****

Inside the Secret Realm,

Xian Yuan, accompanied by Murong Fier, had already fled into a mountain cave.

“I’m exhausted, utterly exhausted!”

Xian Yuan exclaimed, collapsing onto the cave floor. ‘How much more comfortable it was to be away from home,’ she mused, ‘where a mountain of behavioral strictures stifled her freedom.’

“Waaah… waaah…”

A soft, mournful whimpering drifted into Xian Yuan’s ears.

“Why are you crying?”

Xian Yuan propped herself up, only to see Murong Fier beside her, softly sobbing. With her face tear-streaked like pear blossoms after a spring rain, she presented a truly pitiable sight.

“Boohoohoo… I, I can’t bear to live on with this shame,” Murong Fier sobbed, her voice thick with despair.

Xian Yuan sighed, extending a handkerchief. “Wipe your tears; you look hideous.”

While Xian Yuan possessed a mischievous streak, she genuinely felt remorse for her actions. Yet, as a girl barely eighteen, she often acted impulsively, failing to consider the repercussions and thus lacking proper restraint.

Murong Fier accepted the handkerchief, dabbing at the tears on her face, yet her choked sobs refused to cease.

Having been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she had never once experienced such humiliating treatment.

Suddenly, Murong Fier rose, walking up to Xian Yuan, and glared at Xian Yuan with a fierce, teeth-gritting intensity.

“What are you going to do?”

Xian Yuan instinctively shuffled her rear backward.

“I’ll bite you to death!”

Murong Fier declared, swinging her two delicate, pale fists as she lunged at Xian Yuan, who promptly dodged out of the way in alarm.

“Hold on, hold on, Murong Eldest Young Lady, don’t bully the weak! Besides, you’re not even biting!” Xian Yuan hastily protested.

“Who’s bullying whom?” Murong Fier retorted, her expression fierce. “You dared to defile my purity; today, I’ll flay you alive!” With those words, she lunged at Xian Yuan once more.

Xian Yuan dodged Murong Fier. “Hey, hey, I didn’t do it on purpose! I merely got carried away by a momentary lapse of judgment,” Xian Yuan protested.

“Shut up!”

“Fine, I’ll shut up!”

…

The two playfully bickered for a while before finally stopping.

Xian Yuan rubbed her stinging face, then playfully hugged Murong Fier’s arm. “Heh, Murong Eldest Young Lady, have pity on me! Sister Murong, please let me off the hook.”

Xian Yuan’s innocent, guileless eyes made her appear utterly like a sweet girl next door, yet Murong Fier, having just endured the recent ordeal, was certainly not about to be swayed.

“Such a brazen body,” Murong Fier muttered, shaking off Xian Yuan’s hand. Though her anger had largely dissipated, she knew full well that Xian Yuan had held back; otherwise, even with her injuries, she wouldn’t have stood a chance.

“Brazen? What are you talking about? This is simply natural beauty, innate charm!”

****

“Hmph!” Murong Fier huffed, her gaze sweeping over Xian Yuan’s perfectly sculpted form—the alluring curves, the graceful dips. Then, glancing down at herself, a wave of dejection washed over her. Even during their playful scuffle, she had found herself inexplicably drawn to that physique. How could someone of her profound cultivation be so easily swayed by mere external appearances?

Murong Fier couldn’t help but shake her head, silently chastising herself for being so weak-willed.

Seeing that Murong Fier’s anger had subsided, Xian Yuan chuckled mischievously. “Sister Murong, look, you possess striking beauty and a perfectly fine figure. As for me,” she continued, puffing out her chest, “I’m tall, with slender legs, a delicate waist, ample bosom, and skin like polished jade—truly a peerless enchantress, one in ten thousand. If you don’t believe me, feel for yourself and see if my proportions aren’t utterly harmonious.”

At these words, Murong Fier’s face flushed crimson. She nervously darted her eyes around, finding nothing amiss in their surroundings, before reaching out to grasp Xian Yuan’s collar. With a swift tug, she pulled Xian Yuan back, pinning her against the rough stone wall.

“Ah, what are you doing?!”

“Brazen, utterly brazen!”

Murong Fier delivered a light tap to Xian Yuan’s head. “Don’t tease me so, we’re not nearly that familiar.”

“Oh, we’ll become familiar soon enough,” Xian Yuan chirped. “By the way, Sister Murong, let me heal your injuries.”

‘I have no desire to be familiar with you,’ Murong Fier thought to herself.

Murong Fier pouted, but slowly released Xian Yuan, who then obediently accepted the healing.

Xian Yuan pressed her palm against Murong Fier’s back, channeling her immortal essence into Murong Fier’s body to mend her wounds.

“Mmmph~~~” Murong Fier couldn’t suppress a soft groan. The immortal essence flowing from Xian Yuan was intensely hot, causing her to involuntarily squirm and twist her delicate frame in discomfort.

Murong Fier’s restless movements only served to further stimulate Xian Yuan, causing the immortal essence she was channeling to waver and deviate from its intended path.

“Sister Murong, please don’t move.”

“Can you hurry up?”

Feeling her skin grow scorching hot, Murong Fier’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

…A few minutes later…

Xian Yuan withdrew her hand. “Alright, Sister Murong, you’re mostly recovered now.” Xian Yuan pulled back her arm.

“Thank you, Xian Yuan,” Murong Fier said, her face still slightly flushed.

“Mhm, mhm,” Xian Yuan nodded. “Um… Sister Murong, I really didn’t hit you that hard earlier.”

“I know, of course.”

Murong Fier’s gaze held a complex depth. While Xian Yuan’s playful blows had inflicted minimal damage, a peculiar energy now lingered within her, a force she found herself utterly unable to refine or expel.

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