After listening to Su Cheng's words, Ah Yin, who had been quietly lying on his chest since the beginning, remained silent for a long time.
She slightly raised her slender, fair neck, lifting her head to carefully observe him.
Back when they first met, Su Cheng had just turned ten, and he still looked quite immature, a youthful innocence that couldn't be entirely hidden no matter how mature his demeanor tried to appear.
But now, he had completely grown from a boy into a man, both in appearance and temperament.
She looked at his now more naturally coordinated, handsome features, at his calm eyes that were as gentle as water, and at the sharpness and intensity that once resembled an unsheathed sword, now transformed into an effortless, calm confidence…
Ah Yin's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile, though there was a trace of hidden bitterness and regret within it.
It was a shame that during these years of his rapid growth, she hadn't been able to accompany him and witness it all.
Leaning against Su Cheng's chest, Ah Yin lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes hiding the gentle light in her eyes.
She whispered softly, "Su Cheng, do you know what I hate most about you?"
"Hmm?"
"You were just a child, but you always acted so self-righteous. You always thought you understood others so well, making definitive judgments about the past and future. It's like you think you know my thoughts and plans better than I do."
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"However, maybe you were right." Ah Yin subconsciously reached out with her slender fingers, gripping his shirt. "I've always lacked resolve, often swayed by others' wills when making decisions. The few times I've acted on my own, I ended up bringing unnecessary trouble and regret to myself and those around me."
"Then stop overthinking it. I don't like talking about meaningless philosophies. Just leave the future in my hands."
"Give me more time, okay? There are still many things I haven't figured out."
"Time…" Su Cheng smiled, "Of course, no problem, my sister."
Hearing this title again, Ah Yin's expression became slightly embarrassed, and an inexplicable shyness welled up in her heart.
She whispered, "Don't call me that anymore."
"Why not? Didn't you always want to be my sister?"
"I said no, so it's no. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!"
Ah Yin raised her elbow and forcefully hit Su Cheng's chest.
She knew this guy often had some mischievous tendencies, and calling her that now was clearly intentional.
"Alright, I won't call you that." Su Cheng replied casually, with no sincerity, then handed over a wine jar that was placed beside him, "Do you want a drink?"
He glanced at the shattered pieces of the wine jar on the ground not far away and the still slightly damp surface, "What a pity, you wasted a good jar of wine."
"Well, that's your fault for going too far. I have a temper too."
Ah Yin retorted in a low voice, though inwardly, she felt a sense of relief.
No matter what, she had finally made her way back into his heart, right?
She looked at the large wine jar before her, hesitated, then cautiously took a small sip.
"I've heard that alcohol can numb the nerves, but I don't know if it's true. If it really could make me pass out, I probably wouldn't have so many worries anymore…" she thought to herself.
No matter how clear their conversation just now had been, and no matter whether Ah Yin could truly let go of the past, there was still a hurdle in her heart that she couldn't easily overcome.
Especially when she thought about how, unlike Qian Renxue or Zhu Zhuqing, she couldn't completely match Su Cheng in age, appearance, race, or status. After all, she had once been a wife and a mother.
Even if Su Cheng didn't say it out loud, could he really just pretend that nothing had ever happened?
Not to mention, if they encountered Tang Hao again in the future, how would she handle it, and would it affect Su Cheng's mindset? These were all things she had to consider.
If it were another transformed spirit beast, they might not have so many concerns. They might easily discard such complicated emotions and quickly immerse themselves in a new life.
Because adapting to nature and surviving the fittest is a beast's instinct.
Even if they take human form, it's hard to completely erase the habits they've accumulated over the years.
This can be seen in Xiao Wu.
From an emotional standpoint, she was naturally extremely loyal to Tang San, but in terms of behavior, she wasn't overly bound by human ethics.
When she first entered human society, she naturally chose to sleep in the same bed as Tang San, who had a new bedding set.
Aside from the comfort, another important reason was that close contact with a talented human soul master could help her grow quickly after her transformation.
This was for survival.
Compared to that, the importance of gender differences was clearly far less significant.
Later, as a close-combat agility-type soul master, Xiao Wu's dominant soft skills required close contact with the enemy to exert the best effect.
For techniques like Soft Bone Lock, she needed to make close contact with the opponent to restrain them.
Many female human soul masters might hesitate in this regard, but Xiao Wu never wavered.
It wasn't because of promiscuity, but because of a difference in perspective.
After all, the Star Dou Forest was full of dangerous lone beasts, and she also had to deal with the pursuit of human soul masters.
Growing up in such a perilous environment, Xiao Wu wouldn't let human conventions affect her survival.
In life-and-death battles between animals, what does close contact matter?
Who would think about such trivialities during a fight?
Even the changes Xiao Wu underwent later, including letting go of her hatred for Tang San and even abandoning the entire spirit beast clan, were essentially part of her adaptation to a new life and environment.
But Ah Yin found it hard to do the same.
Perhaps it was because of the inherent nature of the Blue Silver Emperor, or because there weren't many dangers in the Blue Silver Grass Forest, or maybe because she had observed human society for too long after her transformation…
Of course, it might just be her innate character.
Her soft, kind heart had been so deeply ingrained with worldly concepts that it was even heavier than that of ordinary humans.
But this was precisely what made her endearing.
Su Cheng understood this too, so even though time was short, he was still willing to wait.
Seeing Ah Yin cautiously leaning forward to drink, both anxious and eager, Su Cheng couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Then, he took out a medium-sized container from the soul tool that Spirit Hall had reequipped him with, poured about two kilograms of Hundred Flowers Brew into it, and handed it to Ah Yin, "This is for you. Drink it slowly, and the rest is mine."
"Mm…"
Ah Yin held the wine container and gently swallowed a sip.
Suddenly, she realized that if she didn't drink so hastily, the Hundred Flowers Brew she had made wasn't bad at all.
Though it still had a hint of spiciness, the lingering aroma in her mouth remained long after swallowing, with an aftertaste that was truly unforgettable.
At the same time, a slight dizziness crept into her mind.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but it wasn't unpleasant.
"When are you planning to return to Spirit City? Do you have any other plans?"
While sipping the wine, Ah Yin asked, though her eyes seemed to avoid his gaze.
If possible, Ah Yin actually hoped that Su Cheng would say it would take longer before they returned.
She didn't want to be separated from Su Cheng now, but she also wasn't willing to go back with him just like that.
If they returned to Wuhun City, she would have to face those people in the Spirit Hall. Moreover, even though Qian Renxue had already left that place, Zhu Zhuqing was still there.
She really didn't know how to handle those relationships or what identity she could assume to stay by Su Cheng's side.
"I haven't thought about it yet," Su Cheng glanced at Ah Yin. "Before I get your answer, I'll stay here with you."
For him, the most important thing right now was to naturally accumulate strength and silently wait for the complete integration of his soul and physical powers.
In this situation, the environment for cultivation was no longer of much importance, and even the external spiritual power was something optional.
At least, for now, that was indeed the case.
"..." Ah Yin's eyes flickered upon hearing this, a trace of joy flashed through her gaze, which she quickly hid carefully.
Su Cheng, sitting beside her, seemed oblivious.
His left hand continued to rest on Ah Yin's shoulder while his right hand held a large wine jar, drinking and chatting with her.
He drank quickly, and before long, the large jar of Hundred Flowers Brew was nearly empty.
He wasn't addicted to alcohol, but for him, this was a rare moment of relaxation.
Healing had taken almost a year.
During that year, no matter how smoothly things progressed, he could never fully relax.
He hadn't felt this at ease in a long time.
However, though the Hundred Flowers Brew made by Ah Yin had a good taste, the alcohol content wasn't very high. For someone with his digestive capability, it hardly had any significant effect.
After drinking so much, he only felt a slight tinge of intoxication.
In contrast, Ah Yin's pace was much slower, and by this time, she had only consumed about half of her jar of wine.
At this moment, Su Cheng's hand suddenly started to move slowly again.
Anyone holding such a soft and warm beauty in their arms would find it difficult to restrain their natural impulses, let alone someone like him who had never been an ascetic.
Unconsciously, his hand slid down from her shoulder to her waist, silently exploring deeper.
Soon, his palm reached her flat abdomen, gently stroking the tender flesh beneath the silk dress.
Perhaps due to the different structure of her body, Ah Yin, unlike ordinary soul masters who had subtle muscle traces, felt soft yet resilient to the touch.
Her waist felt particularly supple, not necessarily better, but definitely comfortable to touch.
Meanwhile, Ah Yin's movement with her wine jar paused slightly.
If, at first, Su Cheng's hand on her waist could be considered accidental, then his current actions were clearly deliberate.
Not only that, the two of them were extremely close at this moment, their bodies tightly pressed together, and even their heads were just inches apart.
As his warm breath, mixed with strong alcohol fumes, caressed her earlobes and neck, Ah Yin's body softened.
Even though she was leaning on Su Cheng, her entire body felt weak, almost melting like a puddle of spring water.
Ah Yin felt a surge of heat.
The constant waves of warmth didn't just come from his breathing and the mischievous hand exploring her body but also from deep within her heart.
A hint of desire began to slowly ferment.
Under such external and internal stimulation, Ah Yin's face quickly turned a deep shade of red.
Fine beads of sweat appeared near her temples and collarbone.
Even those indescribably private parts seemed to be flooded with waves of sensation, rising and falling, continually crashing against the dam of her inner restraint.
Ah Yin silently lowered her head, pretending to be calm. Only her slightly squinted eyes and tightly furrowed brows reflected the turmoil within her.
As time passed, the faint itch below her abdomen became more apparent.
It felt like tiny bugs crawling inside her or like a delicate hand pressing gently, causing a mixture of pain and pleasure that left her in a state of limbo.
Her nerves seemed to be roasting under the sun, and her mind was in a daze.
The next moment, her legs instinctively tightened and then began to rub together.
Ah Yin's trembling lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she bit her red lips tightly, refusing to speak.
She didn't dare make a sound now, fearing that if she did, she would lose control and moan aloud.
However, as she silently allowed this to continue, Su Cheng's actions became increasingly bold.
His fingers gradually moved upwards, and soon they rested on a rounded mound that even one hand couldn't fully grasp.
But this time, it wasn't just the lower part; he grasped it entirely from above.
—This was inevitable.
With the same surface area and density, a sphere's mass is greater, and naturally, its gravitational pull is stronger.
Such a perfectly shaped form inherently possesses a unique allure.
Whether it's the planet beneath our feet or the sun hanging high in the sky, they all share this flawless shape.
For this reason, it was no surprise that this rounded mound unconsciously guided his hand's movement.
Moreover, at the peak of the mound, there was a delicate and exquisite spherical protrusion, equally mysterious.
"Mm—"
As her peak was touched and gently squeezed, Ah Yin finally couldn't hold back a stifled moan.
It was only then that she regained a bit of clarity from her dazed state.
Feeling the sticky sensation between her legs and the involuntary slight movements of her body, she was so ashamed that she almost burst into tears.
She hurriedly grabbed his mischievous wrist and whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "Don't."
"Don't what?" Su Cheng asked, feigning confusion.
"Stop moving."
"Oh, you mean this."
Su Cheng cleared his throat and explained seriously in a low voice, "Don't overthink it. I'm just checking your body. Do you remember what I told you before? Your power is very special now. I need to check to make sure everything's fine."
"Is... is that so?" Ah Yin stammered softly.
As soon as she spoke, her gaze, already filled with mist, became even more embarrassed.
Though she wasn't exceptionally smart, she wasn't a fool either.
Su Cheng's words were full of loopholes, and it was obvious he was making things up.
Who would check someone's body and power structure like this?
Setting aside the mystical "True Power" she couldn't understand, wasn't his external spirit bone, which resembled an eye on his forehead, far more effective for inspection?
Perhaps she just needed a reason to convince herself to go along with it.