Xu Qi’an pushed open the bedroom door. The air was filled with a subtle sandalwood fragrance, and the room was completely dark, without any candles lit.

Using the faint light from the outer chamber, he walked to the table and lit the lamp.

Then he lit the two rows of candles by the bed one by one. The bright flames burned quietly at their cores while dancing at their tips, dispelling the darkness in the room.

Only then did he have time to observe Luo Yuheng. She lay on her side on the soft brocade couch, wearing Daoist robes that revealed the alluring curves of a mature woman.

Xu Qi’an’s gaze moved upward from below. First, a pair of fair jade-like feet peeked out from beneath the silk skirt, beautifully rounded with delicate toes, exquisite as the world’s finest jade ornaments.

Making one unable to resist wanting to hold them.

Then the curves of her legs, rising, peaking at her hips, suddenly narrowing at the waist… Such perfect proportions, such graceful curves…

Xu Qi’an marveled internally as his gaze swept past her snow-white slender neck, lingering on Luo Yuheng’s flower-like jade face.

She seemed somewhat feverish, her cheeks flushed, a fine layer of sweat making her skin gleam in the candlelight.

Her dark hair spread across the soft pillow with an unrestrained beauty.

“State Preceptor?”

Xu Qi’an sat by the bed and called softly.

Luo Yuheng moved her delicate head, murmuring: “The pool, take me to the pool…”

Pool? Does she mean the hot spring? He pondered her meaning, then heard her murmur:

“The pool can dissolve my Karmic Fire…”

Xu Qi’an understood somewhat – she usually relied on some pool to dissolve the Karmic Fire.

“Hiss, so hot – is she delirious with fever?”

He placed his hand on Luo Yuheng’s forehead, finding it scorching hot. It was as if fierce flames burned within her body, turning her fair delicate skin rosy red.

“State Preceptor, State Preceptor.”

Xu Qi’an called twice, but Luo Yuheng remained unclear-minded, not responding to his calls.

This put Xu Qi’an in a difficult position. Helping Luo Yuheng calm the Karmic Fire was actually simple – he just needed to use the dual cultivation secret technique from the underground palace, using fortune to replace qi, circulating it through both their bodies to extinguish the Karmic Fire within her.

But dual cultivation was ultimately a two-person matter, difficult to accomplish with just one person.

Eh, among the dual cultivation diagrams I saw in the underground palace, although most required two people working together, some could be led by one person… Thinking of this, Xu Qi’an hesitated no longer and placed his hand on Luo Yuheng’s shoulder.

He felt Luo Yuheng’s delicate body stiffen and caught sight of her small fist quietly clenching.

She’s pretending, at least half pretending… Xu Qi’an was stunned, suddenly understanding. She deliberately waited until now, letting the Karmic Fire entangle her until only a trace of rationality remained.

This way she could “passively” complete the dual cultivation rather than actively seeking pleasure.

Such complex thoughts… Xu Qi’an mused internally. He knew this was Luo Yuheng’s final reserve and pride as the Human Path Sect Leader.

He turned to blow out the candles, kicked off his boots, and was about to get in bed when a pair of small hands pressed against his chest, accompanied by Luo Yuheng’s soft voice:

“Don’t…”

This voice was so complex, mixing timidity, nervousness, reluctant resistance, and a hint of pleading.

Luo Yuheng had opened her eyes at some point, meeting his gaze in the darkness.

After a long wordless moment, Xu Qi’an said softly: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Luo Yuheng stared at him, silent for a long time, before the hands pressing his chest became soft and powerless.

[The intimate dual cultivation scene is implied to take place here]

Half an hour later, Luo Yuheng’s cold voice came from the darkness: “Don’t stick to me, get away.”

Sister-in-law, are you demonstrating what it means to be passionate before and saintly after? Xu Qi’an raised an eyebrow, his chest still pressed against her smooth jade-like back.

His Emotion Gu finally received immense satisfaction, frantically absorbing the power of passion and growing stronger.

Moreover, dual cultivation was mutually beneficial – while Luo Yuheng borrowed his fortune to quell her Karmic Fire, Xu Qi’an also gained tremendous benefits. The qi in his dantian had grown somewhat denser.

It’s worth noting that after reaching the Third Realm, breathing exercises barely increased one’s qi anymore.

Since entering the Third Realm, Xu Qi’an’s cultivation hadn’t progressed. Now, dual cultivating with Luo Yuheng, he saw hope for advancement.

Although the Seal of Demon Suppression restricted his cultivation, someday it would have to be removed.

Xu Qi’an held Luo Yuheng’s slim waist, breathing in the fragrance of her hair, and said softly:

“Shall we continue cultivating?”

Luo Yuheng maintained her Second Realm dignity, saying coldly: “Go away.”

You’re just as tsundere as the Princess Consort… Xu Qi’an raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling a chill in a certain place as Luo Yuheng’s sword finger pointed there.

“Let’s, let’s sleep.”

Xu Qi’an silently moved back, keeping far away from her.

They stopped talking and fell asleep with steady breathing.

About two incense sticks’ time later, a burning hot body moved closer, and Luo Yuheng said softly:

“The Karmic Fire has rekindled…”

The Human Path’s Karmic Fire penetrated the bone marrow – how could it be extinguished just one or two times? Xu Qi’an was long prepared for a prolonged battle, but he was mischievous, remembering Luo Yuheng’s earlier cold attitude, and chuckled:

“I can’t go on, I’m too exhausted. Let’s continue tomorrow night.”

Luo Yuheng seemed too proud to beg for pleasure, using her smooth delicate body to rub against him, clumsily trying to seduce him.

Xu Qi’an remained unmoved, refusing to touch her.

They remained in stalemate for a quarter-hour. Luo Yuheng’s skin burned fiercely, her face flushed like she was drunk, suffering from the Karmic Fire’s burning.

Sweet hoarse sounds occasionally escaped her rosy lips.

“Stop teasing…”

The State Preceptor’s voice came from the pillow, hoarse with anger mixed with softness.

Gone entirely was her previous cold detachment.

Strong woman, I must conquer you during these seven days of dual cultivation… Xu Qi’an licked his lips and said softly:

“State Preceptor, let me tell you a joke.”

After a pause, he continued:

“Long ago, on a cold night like this, a bowl of iced sour plum soup left its ice cube to go play. As it played, it found the ice in its bowl had melted. So it cried and went back to find the ice cube. Guess what the ice cube said?”

Luo Yuheng’s bright beautiful eyes looked at him.

Xu Qi’an didn’t keep her in suspense, saying softly: “The ice cube said: Come up and freeze yourself.”

Having said this, he looked at Luo Yuheng expectantly, waiting for her reaction.

Luo Yuheng stared at him coldly, grinding out each word: “Xu—Qi—An—”

“State Preceptor, I was just joking.” Xu Qi’an knew when to yield.

He then pressed down on her but met with Luo Yuheng’s fierce resistance. The cold beautiful woman kept her face stern, her soft jade-like hands firmly pressed against his chest, pushing him away each time he tried to get close.

She’s angry, throwing a tantrum… Xu Qi’an grabbed her wrists, and after some struggling and entanglement, Luo Yuheng stopped resisting, turning her head aside as if sulking.

[Another intimate scene is implied]

As dawn broke, Luo Yuheng wore her robe and opened the window, letting the cold wind fill the room, blowing her disheveled hair and collar, occasionally revealing glimpses of snow-white skin.

She gazed blankly at the whitening eastern sky, reflecting on everything that had happened that night, feeling as if it were a dream.

The joy of first using fortune to quench the Karmic Fire; the feeling and melancholy of first experiencing a Dao partner’s touch; and the emotions in her heart that she didn’t want to acknowledge but truly existed.

A year ago, if someone had told her that her future Dao partner would be that young constable from the Night Watchmen’s Office, Luo Yuheng would have sneered.

But fate was mysterious that way. The young man who had seemed like a junior, even a child in her eyes back then, was now sharing her bed.

“Has the first day’s Karmic Fire subsided?”

Xu Qi’an’s voice came from behind.

Luo Yuheng was about to speak when her waist was encircled by a pair of arms, hot kisses lingering on her nape…

Her whole body broke out in goosebumps. She frowned, shaking off Xu Qi’an, trying to keep her voice calm:

“We agreed on three conditions last night – between us, this is just a transaction, limited to quelling the Karmic Fire.”

Such a face-saver… Xu Qi’an said helplessly:

“State Preceptor, we’re already Dao partners.”

Luo Yuheng sneered: “My Dao partner can only have me alone.”

“…”

She didn’t dwell on this topic, pondering before saying: “Do you know why I avoid others whenever the Karmic Fire burns me? Why I must seclude myself for seven days?”

“Afraid Yuan Jing Emperor might take advantage of the situation?” Xu Qi’an guessed.

She shook her head: “The Karmic Fire then wasn’t strong enough to burn away reason. If I didn’t want it, no one could force me. The real reason for my seclusion is the Seven Emotions!”

“Seven Emotions?” Xu Qi’an asked.

“Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire.”

Luo Yuheng continued slowly: “Over the next seven days, I will be dominated by these seven emotions, becoming unlike myself and frequently losing composure.”

The Human Path’s Karmic Fire was essentially the seven emotions and six desires. Xu Qi’an nodded with partial understanding.

“You’ll understand after daybreak. But before that, I need to agree with you,” Luo Yuheng gazed into the distance and warned:

“Don’t tell anyone about this; during these seven days, you must come to my room before midnight.”

After Xu Qi’an nodded in agreement, she closed the window, wrapped herself in the quilt, and steadied her breathing.

Xu Qi’an wasn’t tired, but rather energetic, so he put on his robe and left the bedroom.

He walked through the breaking dawn light, facing the cold wind, coming to the hot spring.

Steam swirled around, and though the spring was slightly hot, the temperature was just right for him.

“Should I have brought her out to bathe too? What if she gets pregnant…”

Soaking in the warm comfortable pool, Xu Qi’an suddenly thought of this issue.

The State Preceptor was already a great shark – if she got pregnant through dual cultivation, would other fish have any place left?

“Did she not consider this factor, or is she secretly calculating but not saying anything…”

Thinking of this, Xu Qi’an became somewhat restless.

At the same time, a famous line from his previous life inexplicably flashed through his mind: I will use my internal power to force out what you left inside me.

He’d forgotten the source, but such a provocative line had stuck with him for two lifetimes…

If only the State Preceptor had such awareness!

The sky grew brighter, and half a red sun hung in the east.

Xu Qi’an felt thoroughly refreshed from his soak. As he came ashore and put on his robe, his vision blurred, and Luo Yuheng appeared before him.

Her expression was strange – seeing Xu Qi’an brought one part relief, one part lingering fear, and eight parts anger.

Luo Yuheng’s eyebrows drew together as she demanded angrily: “Where did you go? Why weren’t you by my side?”