In Xiao Wenchuan's eyes, that figure standing in the sunlight looked almost dreamlike.
She wore a white satin robe. The hem of her skirt swayed gently, half bathed in sunlight, the other half hidden in shadow. Light and darkness blended together like something out of a dream.
Inside the cave, a faint, elegant fragrance lingered.
Xu Luoshui's eyes sparkled with focus as she smoothed a pair of sheer, purple silk stockings up her leg.
It was the first time Xiao Wenchuan had seen such stockings. They drew almost all of his attention. They didn't seem like clothes. They felt like part of Xu Luoshui herself, full of allure.
She gently lifted her delicate foot, resting lightly on the dressing table. Xiao Wenchuan felt the air freeze around him. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
His eyes followed the movement of Xu Luoshui's fingertips. Her gestures were slow and careful, like she was performing a quiet ritual meant only for herself.
As her fingers moved, the silk seemed to come alive. It gripped around her smooth leg, but it was Xiao Wenchuan's heart that got entangled.
A faint blush appeared on Xu Luoshui's face as her eyes flickered with a dreamy haze in the shifting light. She looked like she was caught in a subtle fantasy, enjoying the sensation of her own body, and maybe... waiting for something deeper.
Xiao Wenchuan stood frozen in the sunlight, not making a sound, afraid to disturb the moment.
Wrapped in that dreamy purple sheen, Xu Luoshui's legs looked even longer and more tempting. It felt like an invitation to uncover the secret hidden beneath the silk.
Without realizing it, Xiao Wenchuan stepped forward, slowly blocking the light from the doorway.
His shadow crept onto Xu Luoshui's body.
That was when she came back to her senses and looked toward the door.
"Senior Brother!" she cried out, 'panicked,' and grabbed a robe from the bed, holding it tightly to her chest.
A deep blush rushed from her neck to her ears, then her cheeks.
She clutched the cloth tightly, but her feet, wrapped in those purple stockings, still stuck out.
Nervously curled up, they drew a shape that was impossible to ignore. Xiao Wenchuan suddenly felt like spiritual power had exploded inside him. He charged forward in a flurry of movement, completely unthinking.
He grabbed those delicate, curled-up, purple-covered feet.
"Ah, Senior Brother."
She might've been a woman now, but part of her still felt awkward about this. Still, she hadn't expected Xiao Wenchuan, always so proper, to be into something like this.
He held both feets in his hands, breathing fast. His eyes lost all focus. The only thing left was that purple glow in front of him.
His nose nearly touched her soft skin. The scent was light and elegant. He knew—it was Xu Luoshui's perfume.
Her legs were completely exposed now, caught in the open air as he held her feet.
His gaze followed the arch of her feet, traced along the fading shade of purple, then caught a glimpse of her pale skin.
Xu Luoshui quickly pulled the robe down to cover herself.
She thought about the time. It felt about right. Any longer, and it would be too much.
What you can't have is always the most tempting.
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother? Calm down. It's me, Luoshui. I'm your junior sister."
Her voice echoed again and again, pulling Xiao Wenchuan's mind back from somewhere far away.
He blinked, came back to himself, then gently placed her feet back onto the bed.
"Ah… Junior Sister, I'm sorry. I just broke through and my mind was a little unstable." There was a trace of regret and longing in his eyes.
Before letting go, he gave a soft squeeze.
"Senior Brother, how can you treat me like this?" Xu Luoshui's eyes turned red.
Xiao Wenchuan had to spend a while coaxing her before she finally calmed down.
"I thought it was the senior sisters coming to see me. So it's not really your fault."
"No, I should've had more self-control. But it's also because you're too charming, Junior Sister."
"If you keep talking like that, I'm going to get mad."
After some back and forth, they finally got to the real topic.
"Junior Sister, I might have to go into seclusion for a while. I may not be able to help you if anything comes up."
"Senior Brother, what are you saying? You've already helped me so much and guided me. But didn't you just come out of seclusion? Why are you going back so soon…?"
Even as she spoke, Xu Luoshui was thinking, 'No, don't go into seclusion. You just touched and smelled me. That can't be all for nothing, right? I'm still counting on you to clash with Yu Dazhi, so I can raise my value.'
"I'll only tell you this, and you can't tell anyone else. Monster beasts have started attacking the borders. A conscription order will likely come to our area in two to three years."
"Monster beasts attacking the borders?"
"Yes. Every few decades, they launch attacks on the frontier. This domain is right on the border between the human and monster clans. It used to be monster territory, in fact.
"They intentionally use low-level beasts to wear us down while testing our defenses. If they find an opportunity, they'll push deeper and try to reclaim Tianyan domain.
"So whenever this happens, Foundation Establishment cultivators are drafted according to stages. They rotate in and out. And it just so happens I reached Foundation Establishment at the wrong time."
"That sounds really dangerous. Senior Brother, is there any way you don't have to go?" She showed a hint of worry at just the right time.
"It's dangerous indeed. But with my master around, I should survive. Skipping it is out of the question. Danger brings opportunities too."
"Senior Brother, if you're heading to such a dangerous place, my heart..." she said softly as she took his hand and held it tightly.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely come back. Who knows, maybe by then you'll have reached Foundation Establishment too. Besides, there are still a few years left." He gently patted her hand.
Just as the mood between them started to feel a little intimate, a voice called out from outside.
"Junior Sister Luoshui, are you inside?"
It felt oddly familiar.
And once again, the person outside was Liu Xingzhi.
Xu Luoshui let go of the hand she was holding and said, "Senior Brother Liu doesn't usually come to see me. He must be here for something today."
"Yeah."
Xiao Wenchuan sat upright on the bed and said nothing more.
Men with ambition like him need their desire for control satisfied. Xu Luoshui knew how to play that role perfectly—cute, sweet, dependent.
Yu Dazhi, for example. He was a classic fake gentleman, a bit too full of himself. The more difficult it was for him to get what he wanted, the more twisted and obsessive he became.
He'd chase harder, even take extreme steps. But once someone like that got their wish, all the suppressed violence inside would explode.
If this clone still had value, Cheng Qian wouldn't tease or provoke too much. And even if he did, he wouldn't take it any further.
However, he had a feeling that his clone might not be able to escape the whirlpool waiting at the end.
But it didn't matter. He already had a backup plan.
If it came down to it, one for one was a fair trade—Xu Luoshui's clone, in exchange for his whole family.
****
Spirit beast is changed to monster beast.