Fang Xuan never expected that he would return to the small courtyard in Xunyuan Town in such a state.
Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting a warm and comfortable glow over him.
He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the familiar roof beams...
He could no longer sense a single shred of spiritual energy within him; his dantian was as empty as if it had been hollowed out, and his meridians were limp and withered.
Except for his right hand, which Ning Xian had given him and still retained a faint trace of the laws of space, everything else was gone.
His sixth level of Tribulation Crossing cultivation, his three laws, and his two sword intents—all of it had vanished.
He truly was a mortal now, perhaps even weaker than one.
At least a mortal had some physical strength, whereas he now found even a light jog exhausting.
"Senior Sister, I'm really fine," he said weakly.
Ning Xian sat by the bed, holding a small bowl of freshly brewed medicinal porridge that was still steaming.
Hearing his words, she immediately pulled a long face, putting on a "strict Senior Sister" expression. "No talking."
She scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and held it to his lips.
Seeing Fang Xuan still dazed, she opened her mouth and coaxed him like a child. "Ah—"
Fang Xuan: "..."
He looked at the spoonful of porridge, then at her "if you don't eat, I'll be angry" expression, and could only silently open his mouth.
The medicinal porridge was incredibly bitter, making his mouth go numb.
Ning Xian carefully fed him the porridge and then gently wiped the corner of his mouth.
Fang Xuan watched her.
He felt like his Senior Sister was... in a very good mood today?
Although she still wore that cool expression, a faint, indiscernible smile hid in her eyes, and the curve of her lips was just a tiny bit sharper than usual.
Impossible... he must be overthinking it.
With him in this state, how could his Senior Sister possibly be happy?
He was just about to sit up to show he was truly alright—
"You are not allowed to get out of bed," Ning Xian immediately pressed him down, her tone solemn.
"Let me research you first."
Fang Xuan froze.
Research?
What research?
He suddenly realized something, and a chill ran down his spine.
In his current state... he wouldn't be played to death by his Senior Sister, would he?
"Senior Sister," he swallowed hard and spoke cautiously, "now that my spiritual energy is sealed and my body is weak, I probably... don't need to do any more dual cultivation... right?"
Ning Xian blinked.
"Junior Brother, what are you talking about?"
She frowned slightly. "This is all to better understand the cause of your problem. Dual... dual cultivation is absolutely necessary. In fact, it's a daily necessity."
Fang Xuan sat straight up at those words.
He was genuinely panicking now.
"That... well, Senior Sister, I... my health isn't good."
Ning Xian took it as a matter of course. "It's precisely because your health isn't good that you need to be nourished."
"No, no, that's not right." Fang Xuan shook his head.
"Yes, yes, it is." Ning Xian also shook her head, even more earnestly than he did.
...
Looking at her like that, Fang Xuan finally gave up struggling.
Fine.
It was true that this could be considered a way to expend energy while nourishing the physique...
And Senior Sister... she should be a bit gentler with him now... right?
He comforted himself with that thought.
Then he realized just how horribly wrong he was...
...
"Don't... please don't—"
Fang Xuan lay paralyzed on the bed, one hand reaching weakly toward the floor.
He was so close, just a hair's breadth away from touching the ground.
Then, that hand was gently pulled back.
Ning Xian embraced him from behind, her chin resting in the crook of his shoulder as her warm breath brushed against his ear.
Her voice was soft and sweet. "Junior Brother, just one last time. I'll definitely be gentler this time..."
Fang Xuan spoke breathlessly, "Se... Senior Sister, I really can't move anymore."
"I... I didn't ask you to move anyway," Ning Xian whispered, her ears turning red.
"Senior Sister, if this continues, I'll die..."
"You won't." Ning Xian held him even tighter, her voice carrying a hint of guilt but even more righteous confidence.
"Senior Sister knows when to stop."
Fang Xuan wanted to say he couldn't see any sign of her knowing when to stop.
But he no longer had the strength to speak.
...
The sunlight outside the window moved from the east to the west, and then from the west back to the east...
He didn't even know how much time had passed.
Regardless, when Ning Xian finally let go of him with satisfaction and curled up in his arms to sleep, he felt as if his soul were about to drift away.
...
On the morning of the third day.
Fang Xuan finally staggered into the courtyard, sporting faint dark circles under his eyes and a hollow step.
He felt as if every step were on cotton; his legs were so weak he could slip to the ground at any moment.
He had to lean against the wall, inching his way to the stone table.
He sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.
His hand was still shaking as he poured.
Ning Xian was in the courtyard, watering the apricot tree.
Hearing the movement, she turned around.
Seeing Fang Xuan's state, a visible look of guilt appeared on her face.
"Ju... Junior Brother," she quickly put down the watering can and trotted over, "didn't I tell you not to get out of bed?"
Fang Xuan picked up the teacup and took a sip.
If he didn't get out of bed, he was going to die in it...
"Senior Sister, I might not make it to the future..."
Ning Xian's face flushed crimson.
She lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes as she whispered, "No, you won't. Senior Sister knows when to stop..."
Looking at her guilty expression, Fang Xuan suddenly felt like laughing softly.
Though even laughing made his lower back ache right now.
"Senior Sister," he said.
"Hmm?" Ning Xian looked up.
"Can we... do it a few less times today..."
Ning Xian's face turned even redder.
She opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but realized she couldn't defend herself at all.
Yesterday... was indeed a bit excessive.
But she really couldn't help herself.
When her Junior Brother was weak, that look of being at her mercy...
She swallowed hard and quickly shook the thought out of her head.
No, no, Junior Brother needs rest right now.
Even though... even though he really is tempting.
She stole a glance at Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan was holding his teacup, looking at the apricot tree in the courtyard with a face full of despondency.
The sunlight fell on his profile, making the dark circles under his eyes look particularly prominent.
A small pang of guilt welled up in Ning Xian's heart.
But it was only a small one.
After all... it was all for the good of her Junior Brother's body.
Although his energy was being consumed, his physical foundation was being nourished.
It was like water in a wooden bucket; what was being consumed now was the water... but the bucket itself was expanding... so she could fill it more later...
No... that's not it...
Anyway, it was something like that.
Rate on N.U.
