Chapter 5
Mo Xingyun, holding the green-clad maiden, fell from the cliff. The mountainside was precipitous, and his body plummeted downward. He had to immediately channel all his inner strength to steady himself, while desperately trying to grab or step on any flat rock he could find.
"Ah!..." The maiden in his arms cried out continuously, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. The sensation of weightlessness and the rapidly rushing air made her delicate body tremble violently. Panicked and helpless, she could only press herself against Mo Xingyun, clinging to him for dear life.
Amidst a rumbling of rolling stones, just as they were about to hit the ground, Mo Xingyun struck the surface with a powerful palm thrust, using the recoil to slow their descent. His blow created a large crater in the ground. Caught off guard and with no time to adjust his posture, Mo Xingyun and the maiden tumbled into the hole. The ceiling collapsed, and falling rocks quickly sealed the entrance above.
Mo Xingyun held the maiden tightly to his chest as they crashed onto the floor of the cavern. Though he managed to roll several times, dissipating most of the impact, the height of the fall was too great, the force too immense. The uneven, jagged stones tore at his body, and he felt as if every bone had been shattered. They plunged into pitch-blackness.
The maiden was still breathing heavily, trembling all over. Fortunately, she had been shielded by his embrace and seemed to have no serious injuries.
"Wuuu... wuuu..." The maiden whimpered a few times before breaking into soft sobs. Mo Xingyun's external injuries were severe; his bones and flesh ached with a piercing pain. At the same time, his nose caught the faint, enchanting fragrance wafting from the maiden's body.
"Miss, could you please stop crying for now? I think we're safe. We just need to find a way to climb out," Mo Xingyun managed to say, feeling helpless and unsure how to handle her tears. His chest and lungs felt as if they were on fire from the violent impact.
"You can talk!? You're not a mountain demon?" Hearing Mo Xingyun speak, the maiden exclaimed in a voice as clear and melodious as pearls dropping on a jade plate.
Mo Xingyun gave a bitter smile. It was pitch black all around them. Though their bodies were pressed close, they could not see each other's expressions. Only now did he notice the maiden's slight trembling in his arms. Her curvaceous and exquisitely delicate body was soft and supple, radiating warmth and fragrance. Her full, snow-white peaks seemed ready to burst from her torn collarbone, revealing flawless, translucent skin that was smooth to the touch. Her waist was impossibly slender and flexible. The hem of her dress was ripped, exposing her long, beautiful legs wrapped in flesh-colored stockings. The stockings were thin, reflecting a faint, dark luster that outlined the alluring curves of her creamy, tender flesh. Her breath was sweet as orchids, and a floral fragrance drifted from her pink neck and flowing hair, causing his heart to flutter.
Despite the pain wracking his body, Mo Xingyun teased, "When did I ever say I was a mountain demon?"
The maiden realized his voice was that of a young man. Being held so intimately by his bare, muscular chest, she felt his masculine aura wash over her, making her own heart skip a beat. She immediately became shy, but not daring to move in his embrace, she timidly said, "You... are you hurt? You... let me go first..."
"I'm not hurt, but you're holding me so tightly. If you don't let go soon, I'm going to be the one who gets injured."
Mo Xingyun said with a feigned lightness. The maiden's cheeks flushed, knowing she was being teased. She shot him a coquettish glare and pushed him away. Mo Xingyun gently released her and rolled to the side. The space they were in was small, formed by the rockslide. He leaned against a wall, ignoring the maiden, and began to slowly circulate his inner strength to heal his wounds.
The maiden, having been protected by him, was unharmed except for a few scrapes. Seeing him roll away and hearing the faint sounds of his energy circulation, she knew he was meditating. She brushed the dust and pebbles from her clothes and said, "Although I don't know who you are, thank you for saving my life. My family is wealthy. Once we get out of this cave, you can ask for any reward you wish."
Mo Xingyun smiled slightly but didn't answer. After his strange encounter in the lake, his inner strength was profound and vast. With just a little circulation, he felt a warm current flowing from his dantian throughout his body, bringing great comfort. The severe external injuries were healing at an astonishing rate.
Seeing he didn't respond, the maiden knew he was focusing on his meditation and felt a bit bored. She pouted and stood up. The cave was small, and the collapsed ceiling was sealed tight. Trying to force their way out would likely cause another cave-in, burying them alive.
The maiden walked around, investigating, but found no other passage. Her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness. Seeing the man still sitting motionless, she grew increasingly impatient. She walked over to Mo Xingyun, squatted down beside him, and rested her chin on her hand, watching him with his eyes closed. "Hey, I know you're healing your wounds, but I don't see a single crack in this place. If we can't get out, are we going to suffocate in here?"
Mo Xingyun heard her but, needing to focus on his healing, he chose to ignore her.
The maiden, feeling snubbed, stood up again. She paced for a while longer, finding that the dark, airless cavern was surrounded by solid walls with no apparent exit.
She was already lightly injured. Her green dress was torn in several places, and her flesh-colored stockings were ripped, revealing her creamy, jade-like legs. Trapped in the cold, dark space, she felt increasingly stifled and began to panic.
Seeing that Mo Xyun was still meditating, a thin layer of mist coalescing around his body, the maiden walked around a few more times. Finding no way out, she had no choice but to sit down and rest as well. Her own inner cultivation was shallow, and with no internal injuries, she felt mostly recovered after a few circulations.
It was likely night outside by now. She didn't know where they were, but she could feel a chill seeping up from the ground, growing colder and colder. Her clothes were thin, her inner strength not deep enough, and there was nothing to make a fire with. Before long, the cold air had penetrated her body, and she was shivering violently.
"So... so cold..." the maiden moaned weakly.
Mo Xingyun was at a critical point in his circulation. He opened his eyes slightly and saw the maiden's delicate form trembling in the darkness. The earth's yin energy was stronger at night, and cold groundwater was seeping in, making the air frigid.
While continuing to circulate his energy, Mo Xingyun said softly, "Come over here. I'll keep you warm."
Hearing this, the maiden's face flushed with shyness. She felt it was improper, but her shoes were lost somewhere, her beautiful feet exposed. Her long legs, clad only in the tattered stockings, were on full display, her creamy flesh peeking through the holes. Her slender ankles were as lustrous as jade. Her clothes were in tatters and offered little warmth, and she was shivering uncontrollably. She had no other choice. She walked over to Mo Xingyun and gracefully sat down, leaning against him.
Mo Xingyun felt the maiden's enchanting fragrance as her soft body pressed against his. The tear in her chest revealed breasts like jade, full and firm. Her pink, tender flesh and the deep cleavage visible between the rags trembled slightly, exuding a faint, sweet scent. His heart skipped a beat. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable closeness to this maiden. He wondered why he had risked his life to save her today.
He reached out with a large arm and pulled her into his embrace. The maiden let out a soft, shy, "Mmm..." As he held her, she felt the warmth from his body spread to hers, instantly making her feel warm all over. A gentle, comforting energy flowed into her, bringing her immense relief.
"So comfortable..." She hugged Mo Xingyun's broad back and unconsciously held him tighter. The man's solid, bare chest, his firm muscles, and his strong masculine scent gave her, who had little contact with men, an overwhelming sense of security.
A strange feeling stirred in her heart. She actually found it incredibly comfortable and pleasant to be lying in the arms of this strange "mountain demon," and before she knew it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
Mo Xingyun had had little contact with women since he was young. Now, with a beautiful maiden sleeping soundly in his arms and her sweet, youthful fragrance filling his nostrils, he found it impossible to focus on his cultivation. He looked down at the maiden in his arms. Though it was dark, a faint, ambient light allowed him to see her stunning, face-capturing beauty. Her eyebrows were dark as ink, her lips as red as cherry blossoms, and her nose was straight and delicate. Her brows arched gracefully beneath a fringe of loose hair. Below her swan-like neck, her green dress held two full, firm breasts that pressed tightly against his own chest. Her bright, moist lips trembled slightly with each breath, glistening with a crystalline sheen.
Overcome with a sudden surge of emotion, he couldn't resist. He lowered his head and planted a deep, affectionate kiss on her sweet, moist lips. As their lips met, he felt they were soft, tender, and smooth, a sensation that was both refreshing and intoxicatingly sweet.
Mo Xingyun's heart pounded wildly after the stolen kiss. He quickly lifted his head after just a peck. Fortunately, the maiden was exhausted and did not wake up.
Having stopped his cultivation for just a moment, the cold from the stone floor began to seep into his lower body, and the pain from his earlier injuries flared up. Mo Xingyun quickly collected his thoughts, settled the maiden against his chest, and focused his mind to resume his healing.
Suddenly, a cool voice echoed in his mind: "Circulate your inner energy from the dantian, up the Ren Meridian, through the Tanzhong acupoint, then disperse it through your limbs. Your external injuries are severe, but the Azure Flower within you can help you heal. Do not be distracted."
Mo Xingyun's heart jolted. He whispered, "Master? This disciple... obeys."
Long Yue's voice chuckled softly. "I see your heart is beating so fast, and you even stole a kiss from this maiden. Hmph, the bloodline of the Immortal Palace is truly sentimental."
Mo Xingyun said awkwardly, "Master, this disciple... it was just a moment of weakness. I didn't... I didn't think too much about it."
Long Yue snorted. "A moment of weakness? Tsk, tsk. Young man, full of vigor, stealing a kiss from a young girl. Are you thinking of doing more?"
Her warm breath seemed to brush against his ear as she continued in a low voice, "Banish all distractions. Focus. Circulate your inner energy up the Du Meridian to the Baihui acupoint, then down to your limbs. Repeat this cycle three times."
Mo Xingyun's face burned with shame at her words. He followed her instructions, and a green energy flowed like a great river from his dantian along the Ren and Du meridians, spreading throughout his body. The sharp pain in his bones and muscles rapidly dissipated, and the gashes on his skin healed at a visible speed. He secretly marveled at the wondrous power of the cultivation method Long Yue had imparted.
The maiden slept for a few hours before gradually awakening. By this time, Mo Xingyun's cultivation was nearing its end, at a most critical juncture. After being held in his arms for hours, she felt warm and comfortable all over, and even her minor injuries seemed to have mostly healed. A fine layer of fragrant sweat glistened on her forehead.
When she woke up and found herself still in Mo Xingyun's embrace, she shyly pushed his arm away. She thought to herself that she was, after all, an unmarried maiden who had barely spoken to a man, yet here she was, being held and intimately embraced by this strange "mountain demon." If her parents found out about this when she got back, she had no idea what kind of punishment she would face.
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