The Confusion and the Truth
As the sun's rays pierced through the dense forest canopy, the girl's violet eyes fluttered open. The world around her felt sharper, more vivid, as though she had awakened in a completely different realm. Her body felt light and powerful, her qi flowing effortlessly through her veins.
For a moment, she reveled in the sensation, the pain and weakness of before now distant memories. Then her gaze shifted, landing on the young man sitting just a few paces away.
Xiao Feng lounged lazily against a tree, his long white hair shimmering in the sunlight, his silver eyes fixed on her. There was no warmth in his stare, only a calm, piercing curiosity.
Her cheeks flushed faintly under his scrutiny. "Is there… something on my face?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with confusion.
Xiao Feng tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "No," he replied smoothly, "I'm just curious. Who are you? What's your cultivation level? And how did you end up injured like that?"
She hesitated, her hand instinctively moving to where her wounds had been. The memory of the attack was still fresh, but something else nagged at her—how she was alive, unharmed, and stronger than before.
"I…" she started, but her words trailed off as realization struck her. Her violet eyes narrowed, and she looked at him sharply. "How did you heal me? Not just heal me, but also… increase my power?"
Xiao Feng chuckled softly, his gaze steady. "Oh, that's simple. I fucked you."
Her eyes widened, her face turning a deep shade of red. "W-What did you just say?"
"I said," Xiao Feng repeated casually, his tone utterly indifferent, "I fucked you. Or, to put it more delicately, I performed Dual Cultivation with you. Is there something wrong with that? I only did it to save you, after all."
Anger Unleashed
The girl's face burned with both embarrassment and fury. She shot to her feet, qi flaring around her as she glared at him. "You did what?!"
Her anger boiled over, and she lashed out without thinking. A burst of violet qi shot toward Xiao Feng, crackling with raw energy.
But Xiao Feng didn't flinch. His expression shifted from playful to deadly serious in an instant. With a flick of his wrist, the attack dissipated into nothingness, absorbed by his Soul Absorption skill.
Before she could react, he moved with lightning speed, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her off the ground effortlessly. His silver eyes glinted with cold menace as he held her in place, her feet dangling helplessly.
"Is this how you treat your savior?" he said, his voice low and chilling. "If I had the power to heal you, do you think I wouldn't also have the power to kill you?"
He tossed her aside like a ragdoll, her body landing with a thud against the mossy ground. She scrambled to her feet, her violet eyes wide with a mix of fear and indignation.
Xiao Feng dusted off his hands and stared at her impassively. "There were no other options to save you. You were on the brink of death. And since I'm a Dual Cultivator, it worked out for both of us. Win-win, wouldn't you say?"
The Truth About Dual Cultivation
The girl's qi flickered faintly around her as she tried to calm herself. She studied him, her mind racing. Everything about him screamed danger—his calm confidence, his overwhelming power, and his unnervingly beautiful appearance.
"But…" she said hesitantly, her voice trembling, "Dual Cultivators are known for their… evil ways. They absorb their partner's qi, leaving them to die miserably. How am I supposed to believe you didn't do the same?"
Xiao Feng chuckled, the sound cold and mocking. "Is that what they teach you in this backwater world? That Dual Cultivation is inherently evil?" He stepped closer, his presence looming over her like a storm cloud.
"I didn't absorb your qi. In fact, you've gained strength from our union. Or have you already forgotten how weak and helpless you were before?"
Her hands clenched into fists, but she couldn't refute his words. It was true—she felt stronger than ever. But the stigma surrounding Dual Cultivators was hard to ignore.
"You could've killed me," she said softly, her voice wavering.
"And yet, here you are, alive and more powerful than you were before," Xiao Feng replied sharply. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have bothered saving you in the first place."
She looked away, struggling to process everything. The fear and anger in her heart slowly gave way to uncertainty—and a reluctant sense of gratitude.
A Fragile Understanding
After a long silence, she finally spoke. "You're… not like anyone I've ever met."
Xiao Feng smirked, his silver eyes glinting with amusement. "You're right about that."
She hesitated, then added, "Thank you… for saving me."
He shrugged. "Don't thank me. I didn't do it out of kindness. I did it because it benefited me. Remember that."
His bluntness left her speechless, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. For better or worse, her fate was now tied to this enigmatic, dangerous man.
Xiao Feng turned away, his white hair shimmering in the sunlight as he began to walk deeper into the forest. "If you're coming with me, keep up. If not, stay here and fend for yourself. I don't care either way."
The girl stared after him, torn between fear and fascination. After a moment's hesitation, she hurried to follow, her heart pounding with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite understand.