The eyelids tried to open but blinked a few times as the sunlight fell on his face. The cerulean irises looked beautiful as he began to regain consciousness, it was the light from the shattered roof that let in the rays.
The room looked like a survivor of a Goblin assault that could still be habitable, and when he glanced next to his bed, a woman was sleeping there, folding her arms like a mattress. Her disheveled silver hair shone, reflecting the light.
A smile broke out on Renxian's handsome face and his feeble hand stroked Meagu's hair. That serene expression was disturbed and she opened her eyes - their irises met each other which made Meagu wide-eyed.
"Sanxiu..." The soft voice was almost a whisper, she who had fallen asleep bent over now straightened her figure in an instant. "What a fool you are to act like that!"
The man with unkept hair sighed as he chuckled. "I have to do what needs to be done," said Renxian who sounded weak and hoarse. "So... how are the others?"
From Meagu's lithe eyes, it could be seen that she was trying so hard to conceal her tears and then she turned, mustering a smile, unlike her usual one. This time it felt sincere. "Look at you! With conditions like that, you're still asking about others' situations. If you mean Siuxa and Niara, they're fine."
Renxian realized when he looked down, almost his entire chest to the abdomen was wrapped in a bandage. "Did the village survive?"
"Not much," Meagu leaned forward, looking closely at Renxian. "Once you vanquished the monster, the Goblins scattered, and the villagers started to recover."
"You snoozed for a solid two days, sluggard!"
Sanxiu gasped in shock and almost rose from his spot. "What? Two days?"
"You endured some burns," Meagu straightened her shape from her seat. "For a Gate 4 cultivator, your heal is so slow. Most would bounce back from this kind of wound in a matter of hours or a day."
[Of course, that is because you have not recovered Renxian's abilities.]
"Is it my healing technique still low?"
[Skill: Healing Technique: 30%]
"What the hell! Why am I so weak?"
Attempting to sit on the mattress, the man felt a slight tingling in some areas, emitting a soft moan. He turned his head to the side, remarking, "This room... it feels familiar."
Unexpectedly, Meagu chuckled. "Of course, you know it, idiot! It's your room in the inn!"
The man who had not realized it also laughed at Meagu who looked different. Although she wore a hanfu with a different design this time, the colors she wore were still the same, white and red. With a face that was still beautiful and seemed more radiant than before.
"Thank you, Meagu."
"Eh?" The woman who was still laughing suddenly choked up, focusing her intention on the man. "For what?"
"I know it was you who threw that magenta aura to block those fireballs," he beamed, still with that smile. "Without you, both I and this village would be no more."
"You know, I no longer see a Fox Demon within you," Renxian admitted. "You've become more human, Meagu."
The sentence left the woman stunned, her astonishment evident as she glanced down, avoiding eye contact with her now-red face. In a soft voice, she murmured, "T-Thanks... it means a lot to me."
"Shall we meet the others, then?" Just as Renxian attempted to rise from the bed, he felt his bones crack. His body not only bore burns but also harbored internal damages from the Hornclaw Goblin's hard blow. "Owch!"
"It feels like I've been crushed."
Meagu turned around, stood right in front of Renxian, then brought herself closer to the man. "Let me heal you a bit." She delicately cupped his cheeks, parted his lips with her finger, and then closed her eyes.
Renxian could never have anticipated that Meagu would act this way, especially in such a circumstance. Their lips slowly fused, embracing each other with alluring tenderness. The astonished man allowed Meagu to continue at her own pace, succumbing to the immersive moment.
[Clever woman.]
"What is it?"
[You were not aware that this Dual Cultivation Resonance could heal the others, were you?]
"I thought it was only to increase the Dual Cultivation success rate?"
[More than that. Kiss and sex are shared something similar for the term of Dual Cultivation. It is a manifestation of the deepest desire. Those who are bound to each other can heal one another, it is a healing technique for themselves but because they were bound together, it heals them instead.]
"But this resonance does not appear to someone who has low bonds, right?"
[No. This resonance will appear when one of you has an interest in the other.]
"Why don't you show me the interest status alongside the bonds and the others?"
[You have (Sex Interest).]
"Yeah, right, whatever." Renxian refocused on Meagu's kisses which became more and more intense. "Where am I with Meagu?"
[Name: Meagu
Bond: 50℅
Trust: 75℅
Sex Interest: 90℅]
"What? How did I earn all this so fast?"
[It is been a while since you last checked this status. Keep in mind, that fluctuations can occur independently, unaffected by Side Quest interventions. The extended time you've spent together likely contributes to the continuous growth in Meagu's data.]
Meagu's exploration of his tongue sent resonances through Renxian's soul. What had felt frail and crumbling now seemed to regain its former strength in a few minutes. It was a reminder of Meagu's formidable strength, something he occasionally forgot.
The quenched desire now ignited, enveloping Renxian as the atmosphere heated up. He reciprocated Meagu's kisses, his hands tracing the contours of her neck and back. The silver-haired woman arched, pressing her body against Sanxiu, who remained seated on the edge of the bed, wrapping both hands around his shoulders.
Renxian, drawing from his experience with Siuxa, boldly explored deeper into Meagu's curves. His hands traveled from her waist to her well-rounded buttocks, taking the initiative to squeeze the supple flesh. This elicited a reaction from Meagu, causing her to be taken aback and break the kiss. She placed her index finger on Renxian's lips, signaling a halt.
"Oh, you are craved for this too, aren't you?" the woman smiled, her naughty expression coming across her face again. "Save it for tonight; we have someone waiting to hear from you downstairs. Let's not let them worry too much about you."
Sanxiu didn't expect Meagu to hold back the rising tide this time, ending the passionate action between them. However, before they composed themselves, the man was a little skeptical and asked, "Tonight? You want to do it tonight?"
Meagu, now on her feet, replied, "Why? Not interested?" She moved closer to the door, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "We're still roommates; there's no chance for you to escape."
Now that he was restored, Renxian donned the black robes he had brought and descended the stairs with Meagu. All eyes turned toward him as he entered the front room of the inn, arranged to accommodate several people. They were all victims of the monster invasion.
One of the black-haired women, who had been caring for the residents, teary-eyed and unable to contain her emotions, swiftly stood up and rushed over to him. She hugged him so tightly that Sanxiu winced. "Thank goodness you're awake."
"Sanxiu..." one of the old men in red attire stood fragilely, his shoulder-length white hair waving as he stepped closer. "I don't know what to say but, you saved us all."
Niara stood up, followed by the man who gave off a noble aura approaching them. The village chief continued, "This man has told us everything that happened. With our misunderstanding that almost killed you, an apology may not be appropriate to make amends."
"Moreover, what these female friends of yours have conveyed is that you saved them all," the old man turned to Niara, Siuxa, and Meagu. "Sanxiu seems different from what they say out there, isn't he?"
"So, is there anything we can do to make things right?"
Renxian found himself at a loss for a response. He hadn't anticipated anything in return; when he resolved to protect the villagers, his focus was solely on ensuring their safety. Witnessing the humans survive was gratification enough for him.
Even after what he had been through, Charles, was just an ordinary man who did not dare to do bad things.
"Ah, maybe some free food?" he smiled and chuckled. "My companions here might need it."
"Oh, come now, what's so difficult about admitting that you're starving?" Meagu, perched on the stairs, chuckled as she tousled Renxian's disheveled hair.
Unable to conceal his embarrassment, he awkwardly stopped Meagu's increasingly playful actions. The onlookers smiled, with Siuxa even letting out a chuckle at Sanxiu's cheerful and radiant demeanor. The Chief lowered his head and departed, acknowledging the request of the man who hadn't eaten in two days.
At that moment, Niara approached, saying something, "Sanxiu, there's something we want to talk to you about. Is there time?"