The man remained in deep silence, contemplating the incredible ability he owned. His strength to replicate another chi from external sources captivated him, especially through enhanced weapons that stored potent power. He wondered if he could even harness a restorative skill by merely touching Niara's staff.
His eyes remained fixated on the stick carried by the woman beside him. However, what he acquired was limited to a Healing Technique for himself. To mend others, he realized the necessity of a specific tool. Nevertheless, the potential of this knowledge couldn't be denied; it harbored a significant threat.
[Not only enhanced weapons, you will be able to receive skills from others when you do Dual Cultivation.]
Renxian abruptly halted, his motion ceased, which initiated Niara's concern to surge. "Sanxiu? What's the matter?" Concern etched across her face as she inquired.
"Ah," he realized then forced himself to smile, "no, it's nothing." Renxian walked back. "Is this enough for the four of us?"
In his hands were now various foods to eat, wrapped in bamboo baskets with intricate but aesthetic motifs. The night would fall soon as the sunlight began to fade in the western horizon, setting the stage for dinner.
"I believe it's more than sufficient," Niara replied with a smile, her cheeks adorned with a rosy hue from the sunlight that resembled a blush. "Unless they happen to have enormous appetites."
Renxian couldn't help but smile in relief as he observed Niara's cheerful demeanor. It was a start in mending her heart after the profound loss. "Niara, thank you for all this. I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble of buying so much."
"No sweat, I was taught to do this manner of my earnest appreciation," she said, looking down, a twinkle of hope in her eyes. The last sentence was barely audible, almost a whisper, "For taking me in."
Sanxiu chose not to respond, recognizing that Niara's journey toward recovery wouldn't be a straightforward one. Especially considering the woman's troubled past, which had shaped her into an individual she never wished to become. Niara had lost herself but when she at this village, she began to find herself anew.
Upon introspection, he couldn't deny the accuracy of what the system had revealed. Charles, his real name in the last world, shared a similar fate with Niara. He too had been expected to uplift his family but ended up being cast into a deep abyss from which he couldn't climb back.
However, when presented with this remarkable chance, he was determined not to repeat the same errors, and it appeared that Niara held the same mindset, striving to maintain what was in front of her to the best of her capacity.
Navigating through several intersections, they eventually arrived at a desolate and eerie road, leading to an old, weathered wooden house. The shabby exterior and interior made it clear why renting a room here was inexpensive; it was unclean and far from well-maintained.
"Meagu isn't back yet?" Renxian inquired as she set the bamboo basket on the spacious round table inside Siuxa and Niara's room.
"I thought she'd be with you all," Siuxa replied, now clad in black robes that concealed her entire form. "Where did you leave off?"
The man secured the katana on his waist beside him. "Searching for weapons," he explained, while Renxian neatly folded his white sleeves. "Niara knows one of the blacksmiths in town, so I can conserve my finances."
Siuxa, who had readied hot tea, started pouring the liquid from the teapot into a ceramic cup. "He gave it to you?"
"You could say that," the man replied, assuming Siuxa still had to dedicate time to martial arts practice and meditation to reach Gate 2. He then turned his head and asked, "Ah... Siuxa, do you have time after this?"
"Eh?" The black-haired woman, her hair cascading down, exuded an even more allure. Lowering her face, she stammered, "Well... maybe I don't have anything scheduled."
"Perfect!" Renxian exclaimed, then turned to the blonde woman beside him, organizing some food. "What about you, Niara?"
"No, I'm here," she replied, placing the meals on the dish. "Just in case Meagu returns and she looks for us later when there's no one around."
Renxian, appreciative of Niara's decision, noticed the wide-eyed and bashful expression on Siuxa's face. His eager stomach echoing his enthusiasm, he declared, "Let's satiate our hunger!"
They delved into the assortment of treats on the table, engaging in lively conversation while saving some for the Fox Demon who hadn't returned. Following Niara's decision, the woman found herself alone in her room, leaving Siuxa and Renxian with their training intentions.
However, an inexplicable apprehension and uneasiness mesmerized Niara's heart. A strange sensation, the meaning of which eluded her, left her feeling restless, particularly when she thought of him. She shook her head, then plunged into the not-so-plush mattress, burying her face completely in the pillow.
Meanwhile, the night insects serenaded with their chirping, and a chilly breeze rustled their clothing as they ventured into a wide expanse. They found themselves in an open area surrounded by rice fields, with a small river flowing before them. In this place, the beauty of the sky was utterly breathtaking.
"Since you have mastered the martial arts, one essential thing you should do is to meditate," Renxian leaped over the river with ease, followed by Siuxa who was trailed behind. "Try to open yourself to nature, feel the chi flowing within you."
Siuxa nodded, comprehending Sanxiu's direction. The man further instructed, "Take a seat here; I'll lead you."
She, now with her hair tied back and not raising many queries, sat cross-legged on a large rock, adjusting her clothes. Transitioning into the lotus stance, she closed her eyes, gently took a deep breath, and exhaled multiple times until she achieved a state of calm.
"So what after this?"
[You said you know the steps?]
"I'm not sure how to communicate this!" Renxian pondered. "Just tell me what needs to be said."
[A Gate 4 cultivator who did not even know how to harness the flow itself. Marvelous!]
"Then, concentrate yourself in one spot. Clear out all the things that make your head cluttered, let it disperse with all your nervousness and fear." Renxian tried to speak out the words with a soft voice. "Embrace the void within. Let your mind be devoid of all except yourself."
Siuxa's serious countenance gradually transformed, replaced by an increasing sense of tranquility radiating from her beautiful face. Her breath was now harmonious, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. A triumphant smile crossed Renxian's face, signifying his success in guiding Siuxa into a trance.
"Do you think I've become a Great Master someday?"
[Perhaps. But a Great Master does not need a system to tell them what to do.]
"I could manage that," he replied with confidence. "But, it would be quite lonesome, right? To have not someone to talk to."
[Yes. It would be.]
As Sanxiu refocused his attention on Siuxa, he sensed the chi beginning to radiate from her body, a realization that further endeared the moment. With his Enhanced Senses reaching 40%, he effortlessly perceived the flow steadily permeating Siuxa, growing more apparent with each passing moment.
However, there was an unusual shift in the woman's demeanor this time. She was no longer composed but appeared somewhat flustered. As time went on, her face reddened, her lips opened, and her breathing became irregular. Her once steady, cross-legged sit gave way to violent tremors, accompanied by soft moans.
"Ah... right there..."
Siuxa's head lifted, her body straightening, as if she were electrified. It was as if a force of its own took over her as her hands moved, one towards her nether region and the other toward her chest.
"What the hell!" Renxian, who was right beside her, naturally panicked and felt completely overwhelmed by this unexpected turn of events. "Could she have become aroused amid meditation?"
[Seems like it.]
"Please, more," Siuxa's soft, lustful voice made Sanxiu blush. "I want more, darling... ah..."
Suddenly, Renxian's remembrance of being transported to the future and encountering a woman similar to Siuxa, who had uttered the same single word, flashed through his mind. He could not believe it, but it appeared that somehow Siuxa might have also experienced a glimpse of the future.
Hastily, the man roused the woman, gently shaking her out of her unconscious state. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing tanned irises that mirrored the moonlight and stars. She appeared as though she had just experienced intense pleasure, with heavy breathing, and upon waking, she noticed Renxian standing before her.
"Congratulations, Siuxa," the man offered a soothing smile, his charm undeniable. "You've successfully cultivated to Gate 2!"
However, the woman, still not fully conscious, began to babble, "Sweetheart..." Siuxa reached out, caressed his cheeks, and drew Renxian's face closer to hers.
The man was undoubtedly taken aback, as he could sense Siuxa's warm breath against his skin. The gap between them steadily diminished until Renxian felt the touch of Siuxa's lips, pressing against his own. His eyes remained wide open while hers drifted shut once more, lost in the fervor of the moment that had kindled between them.
[I did not expect this. Should you resist?]
Sanxiu closed his orbs as well, letting himself be carried by the uncontrollable wave. "I don't know."