To her surprise, Ling Chongxiao's response was even more explosive. He asked her, "What is a dream?"
Xia Lianqiao: "..."
This has completely turned into a comedic scene!!
But the young man's brows were tightly furrowed, his expression serious, and it didn't seem like he was joking.
Given Ling Chongxiao's proud and aloof personality, he probably wouldn't stoop to deceit.
Xia Lianqiao: "..."
Heaven have mercy, what sin has she, a pure college girl, committed to have to teach Ling Chongxiao about physiological hygiene?
"It's, it's..." Xia Lianqiao braced herself, "a normal physiological phenomenon, common among teenagers during puberty."
"Do you mean nocturnal emission?" Ling Chongxiao replied expressionlessly, his face showing no change, his purely academic attitude both shocked Xia Lianqiao and made her feel a bit ashamed.
Look at his matter-of-fact academic approach.
"So, for the sake of our... harmony, would you like to try doing it yourself?"
"How?"
Xia Lianqiao was stunned into silence, the shock even overshadowing her current state of arousal.
Closing her eyes in desperation, Xia Lianqiao assumed a look of grim determination, gesturing with her hands, her face as red as a ripe tomato, "It's, up and down..."
What kind of bizarre energy is this, like showing a straight-A student a porno?
Ling Chongxiao pursed his lips slightly. Though Xia Lianqiao's explanation wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him, having cultivated for many years, he had occasionally experienced erections due to his vigorous yang energy but had strictly followed the teachings of his Daoist texts and never released his essence.
The girl before him was flushed like the morning clouds, her forehead damp with sweat, strands of hair clinging to her fair skin. Her usually clear almond-shaped eyes were now watery, yet she was trying hard to stay composed, her gaze avoiding him.
"I might give it a try," the young man said, averting his gaze, his jawline tense, speaking with some discomfort.
"...Then, then go to the back, I'll wait here," Lianqiao pointed to the screen depicting cranes and mountains that he had just knocked over with his sword.
Watching the young man obediently step behind the screen, Xia Lianqiao finally breathed a sigh of relief, but soon, she couldn't relax anymore.
The screen was made of fine silk, and as for its ability to block the view, let's just say it was quite impressionistic.
The dim light cast on the delicate silk surface revealed distant mountains and nearby peaks, shrouded in mist, with white clouds drifting and cranes flying in pairs. A jade-like figure was reflected on the silk, like an immortal in a painting, a crane in spring mountains.
There was a certain beauty in the shadowy, indistinct view of a beauty under the lamp.
Xia Lianqiao didn't dare to look at the slender, upright figure.
Fortunately, it was completely silent, except for the sound of waves lapping against the jade channel, there were no other strange noises.
Ling Chongxiao had been behind the screen for so long without any movement. Thinking of his explosive answer earlier, Xia Lianqiao moved her lips, feeling the weight of responsibility, and bravely asked, "Brother Ling, how, how do you feel? Have you, um, finished?"
"Not yet," the young man's cold, stiff voice finally sounded after a long pause.
Xia Lianqiao awkwardly replied, "Oh..."
She slowly sat up, hugging her knees, momentarily at a loss for words. Her whole body felt like it was crawling with thousands of ants.
Every little sound around her made her jump, her eyes wide with fear, perfectly embodying the phrase "startled by the slightest sound, seeing enemies in every shadow."
The lingering sweet scent of incense in the room was like musk.
The dripping water clock sounded like rustling water.
A screen, just a short distance away, made her legs weak with shame, and she couldn't muster any strength.
At this moment, the young man suddenly spoke, his voice sounding hesitant, "If... it doesn't happen, what should I do?"
Xia Lianqiao found it hard to articulate, "Have you studied the art of the bedchamber?"
The young Ling Chongxiao paused slightly before replying, his voice still cold and proper, chilling, showing no sign of disturbance, "I have some knowledge of it."
His tone was resolute, "But this is entirely different from the base acts of ordinary men and women and cannot be compared to the false teachings of the world." He even emphasized the word "base" to show his disdain.
Xia Lianqiao: "...Though I've also complained before about male protagonists in cultivation novels who practice the path of emotionlessness but end up rolling in bed with the female lead after being drugged, what kind of emotionless path is that? But Ling Chongxiao's level of having no lascivious thoughts at all, his Daoist heart remaining pure and unmoved, truly treating desires as dry bones, is really too explosive."
So now the problem is,
She has to lead Ling Chongxiao astray, to taint his pure and untainted Daoist heart, at least to make him have a little bit of lascivious thought.
"Do you have a lady you like?" Xia Lianqiao stammered on.
Ling Chongxiao's reply was very straightforward, "No."
Xia Lianqiao instinctively wanted to ask what he thought of Lang Huan, but the next second she realized her mistake in the heat of the moment, to make Ling Chongxiao fantasize about Lang Huan's daughter, is she an idiot? She should slap herself twice.
"Do you... remember that painting of a lady hanging in your room?" Xia Lianqiao asked, "Think about that painting?"
Unfortunately, not everyone is as fond of paper people as she is. Ling Chongxiao's fingers twitched, clenching and unclenching, then he replied expressionlessly, "Useless."
He didn't know what the appeal of such matters between men and women was. For eighteen years, he had often cut off the three corpses, expelled distracting thoughts, his spiritual platform as clear as a mirror, constantly wiping it clean, seeking the pure essence of his nature, so that distracting thoughts would naturally disappear. This was almost an instinct ingrained in his bones.
"Then let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a great beauty, exceptionally beautiful, named Pan Jinlian..." Xia Lianqiao emphasized Pan Jinlian's beauty, then coughed and continued, "...This Pan Jinlian had a husband named Wu Dalang, but that's not important. What's important is that there was also a tall, rich, and handsome man named Ximen Qing... One day, this Pan Jinlian..."
Unexpectedly, Ling Chongxiao's focus was not on the affairs between Pan Jinlian and Ximen Qing: "Is this the kind of storybooks you usually read?"
Xia Lianqiao blushed, "Ahem, never mind that, listen to me..."
"Then Ximen Qing deliberately brushed a chopstick off the table, and it fell right next to Pan Jinlian's skirt..."
"Ximen Qing said, 'Madam, have pity on this humble man...' Then without further ado, he carried her to the bed..."
She tried her best to make the story vivid and colorful, but there was no reaction from the other side of the screen.
Xia Lianqiao: "..." Could it still be too subtle? If only she had a phone! With a phone, she could just pull up an educational video for Ling Chongxiao to watch, and that would be it.
Though the other party didn't react as she had hoped, despite her embarrassment, Xia Lianqiao persisted and quickly finished the story. Finally, she asked Ling Chongxiao for his thoughts, "So, what do you think of this story, Brother Daoist?"
Ling Chongxiao's voice was as cold as ever, "Some might find it erotic, but to me, it's nothing but a complete tragedy..."
Xia Lianqiao: "Thank you. Those who read 'The Plum in the Golden Vase' and feel compassion are Bodhisattvas. You really are a living Bodhisattva, but this isn't a literature appreciation class."
Ling Chongxiao: "..." Though he didn't understand what the girl meant, he felt that Xia Lianqiao's calling him a Bodhisattva seemed to be out of anger.
Xia Lianqiao, racking her brains, while Ling Chongxiao remained as aloof and cold as ever, couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment, silently thinking, you're so noble, you're so great.
She had done all she could, and now it was up to Ling Chongxiao's own efforts.
After sitting uneasily for a while longer, Xia Lianqiao thought, perhaps she could talk about some modern literary educational works?
Before she could search her mind for other literature, there was suddenly no movement from behind the screen.
Xia Lianqiao was startled, "Brother Ling?"
Wait, could something have gone wrong?
"Brother Ling?!" She stood up.
"I'm here," the young man's voice paused.
Xia Lianqiao breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought you might have slipped and fallen into the hot spring."
"You..." the young man hesitated.
"What?" Xia Lianqiao was puzzled.
The crisp, clear voice of the young man, like the sound of a bubbling spring, flowed into her ears, "It's nothing, just that there's already a slight sign."
Xia Lianqiao's brain exploded with embarrassment, "You don't need to tell me that!"
This person is really contradictory. Earlier, he didn't even dare to look at her rolled-up pant legs, how could he so calmly say such shameless words?
Realizing that her tone had been a bit harsh, Xia Lianqiao worried that she might have scared Ling Chongxiao away again. After some hesitation, she softly encouraged him, "Then... try a little harder."
Ling Chongxiao: "..."
"Alright."
After what felt like an agonizingly long wait, there was finally a faint rustling sound from behind, and a tall, upright figure emerged from behind the screen.
Xia Lianqiao stood up in surprise, "Ling... Ling Chongxiao? Are you done—"
Her words trailed off as she was momentarily stunned, her face flushing with heat.
Though she didn’t know exactly what method Ling Chongxiao had used, it seemed he had succeeded.
The young man before her had his brows slightly furrowed, his skin as pale as snow, and his long, glossy black hair cascaded over his shoulders. A faint red mark, like a trickle of water, ran down from the center of his forehead.
For some reason, looking at Ling Chongxiao now made it hard for her to meet his gaze.
She had once heard some vulgar internet comments about how women looked more radiant and alluring after their first intimate experience. Seeing Ling Chongxiao now, Xia Lianqiao couldn’t help but think that perhaps the same applied to men.
Yes, even though the young man looked no different, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about him had changed.
Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had allowed himself to indulge in desire, but his lips were now a deep crimson, and the sword-like mark between his brows seemed even more striking and alluring.
His dark lashes were lowered, and his brows, lashes, and hair were all damp, glistening with the steam from the hot spring. He looked like a newly bloomed lotus, standing pure and graceful, with an innate elegance and charm.
When their eyes met, Ling Chongxiao gave a slight nod. His fair skin was taut, and his slender, jade-like fingers rested at the edge of his sleeve, his nails neatly trimmed and faintly pink.
Xia Lianqiao quickly averted her gaze, her throat suddenly dry and parched.
What on earth was she thinking?
Shaking off her thoughts, she looked at Ling Chongxiao again, but this time, no improper thoughts arose.
Despite his alluring appearance, the young man’s expression remained as clear and pure as snow, his spirit unshaken. It truly embodied the lines: "With a sincere and pure heart, the path is revered, like the bright moon in the sky. Sweep away the clouds of confusion, and the radiant light fills the vast void."
Xia Lianqiao’s lips parted slightly. In that moment, she suddenly understood why so many people outside the story adored him.
Regardless of what kind of person Ling Chongxiao was, his unwavering determination, his relentless pursuit of the "Dao," his resilience in the face of adversity, and his untainted spirit were all qualities she couldn’t help but admire.
He was born for the Dao, and he would die for it.
"I’m sorry," Xia Lianqiao said, looking away.
She felt that making Ling Chongxiao "break his vows" was a terrible thing to do.
Ling Chongxiao: "There’s no need to apologize. My primordial yang remains intact. As you suggested, I’ve used it to form an illusory elixir."
If that was the case, Xia Lianqiao thought, then this part of the plot had probably been successfully navigated.
Her stomach no longer hurt, after all.
But if this part of the story had indeed been resolved, Xia Lianqiao suddenly realized a pressing issue: wouldn’t the next step be the infamous "killing one’s wife to prove the Dao" plotline?
Was she really going to let Ling Chongxiao kill her?!
