The sun peeked through the forest canopy, its light glistening on the dew-covered leaves. Amid the serenity, the sounds of passion echoed faintly. Xiao Feng and Su Mei lay entwined on a soft bed of moss, their bodies intertwined as they indulged in each other's warmth. Their breaths mixed with the fresh forest air as the aftermath of their intimacy left Su Mei resting her head on Xiao Feng's shoulder, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"That was… different," Su Mei muttered, avoiding Xiao Feng's gaze. She fidgeted with a strand of her hair, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… I didn't feel any power-up or change this time."
Xiao Feng chuckled, his deep voice filled with amusement. "Oh, I think I forgot to activate the Dual Cultivation Technique."
Su Mei's eyes widened in disbelief, her face shifting from embarrassment to irritation. "You… what?! You did it intentionally, didn't you?"
His smirk widened as he lazily stretched his arms behind his head. "Maybe," he said with a teasing tone, the glint in his eyes unapologetically mischievous.
Before she could respond, Xiao Feng leaned closer, brushing his lips against her ear. "How about we fix that? Let's go for round two, but this time, I'll make sure the technique is active."
Su Mei's cheeks flushed crimson as she sat up, crossing her arms over her chest. "Absolutely not! You're insufferable!"
Xiao Feng, unfazed by her refusal, sat up as well and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're going to waste an opportunity to grow stronger. Isn't revenge on the Black Tortoise Sect your goal? Or do you want to remain weak forever?"
Su Mei glared at him, torn between frustration and the undeniable logic in his words. Despite herself, she couldn't deny the allure of growing stronger and the strange, inexplicable pull she felt toward Xiao Feng.
"Fine," she muttered begrudgingly, avoiding his gaze.
Xiao Feng's grin widened triumphantly. He wasted no time, guiding her back into the intimate embrace. This time, as their bodies and energies entwined, Xiao Feng activated the Dual Cultivation Technique, his core pulsating with light and dark energies merging in perfect harmony.
The forest seemed to hum with power as the technique took effect. The air grew dense, vibrant, and charged with spiritual energy. Waves of qi flowed between their bodies, a harmonious exchange that elevated both their cultivation levels.
When they finally finished, both lay breathless yet revitalized. The system notification chimed in Xiao Feng's mind:
[System Notification: Dual Cultivation Complete. Partner's cultivation has increased to Spirit Realm 3rd Stage. Host's cultivation has reached Origin Realm 6th Stage. Progress towards the 7th Stage: 50%.]
Su Mei rested her head on Xiao Feng's chest, her cheeks still tinted red. "That… felt different this time," she admitted quietly.
"Of course, it did," Xiao Feng replied smugly. "With my technique active, how could it not?"
She sighed, closing her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"And yet, here you are," he replied with a playful smirk, running his fingers through her hair.
Su Mei didn't respond, but deep down, she couldn't deny that Xiao Feng's confidence and strength—infuriating as they were—gave her a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time.
As the two rested, their energies stabilized, and the forest remained eerily quiet, as if the world itself was holding its breath, knowing these two would soon leave their mark on it.