[NEW MISSION: First Synchronization Trial (Stage 3)]
Objective: Achieve Stage 3 Dual Cultivation through intimate energy circulation.
Requirements:
- Extended physical embrace (minimum 15 minutes)
- Skin - to - skin contact at major meridian points
- Full trust and consent from both participants
- Qi circulation through shared pathways
Setting Recommendation: Private, comfortable, no interruptions. Suggest using cultivation cave with enhanced privacy arrays.
Rewards:
- Both participants: +30 Qi Purity
- Host: Meridian Integrity +15%
- Mei: Fire Qi Stabilization (Permanent)
- Synchronization Rate: 94% → 97%
- Unlock Stage 4 access (when ready)
Failure Conditions:
- Either participant withdraws consent
- Qi dissonance due to emotional dishonesty
- External interruption breaking concentration
Penalty for Mission Rejection:
- None. This mission is OPTIONAL.
- However, your cultivation will progress more slowly without it.
- Your partnership development may stagnate.
Time Limit: None. Attempt when both participants are ready.
Note: This is a significant step in your partnership. Take it seriously. Communicate openly, and for the love of the Dao, don't rush it.
Mei read through it carefully. "The mission is optional, and there's no penalty for refusing."
"The system is being... surprisingly reasonable," Lin Wei said.
[I'm ALWAYS reasonable! I just also recognize that forced intimacy defeats the entire purpose! This only works if you both genuinely want it!]
"When would we do this?" Mei asked.
"We don't have to decide right now—"
"Tomorrow," Mei said firmly. "I'll overthink it if we wait too long. Tomorrow evening, we'll set up proper privacy arrays, make sure we won't be interrupted and... we'll try."
"You're sure?"
"I'm nervous, but yes, I'm sure." She looked at him. "Are you?"
Lin Wei thought about it. His heart was racing just thinking about it—about holding Mei that close, for that long. About the intimacy of it but underneath the nervousness was genuine desire, joy. He wanted this, wanted to feel her closer to him.
"Yes, let's do this."
Mei nodded, decision agreed on. "Okay. Tomorrow evening, we'll need to prepare."
She pulled out her notes again, falling back into researcher mode.
"Privacy arrays, I'll reinforce the cave's existing formations with additional sound dampening and visual obscuration. No one will be able to sense what we're doing inside."
"I'll gather supplies, comfortable cushions, maybe some calming incense. Make the space welcoming."
"We should both meditate beforehand, clear our minds, settle our Qi and approach this with calm rather than anxiety."
Lin Wei didn't really understand what happening right now, he was just agreeing to whatever she said.
"Agreed."
They spent the next hour planning like they were preparing for an important experiment. Which, in a way, they kind of were.
Finally, Mei gathered her books.
"I should go, It's getting late."
"Yeah."
She paused at the cave entrance, she smiled like she was about to regret her actions, then hesitated. "Can I... can I try something?"
"Okay?"
Mei walked back over to him and, very carefully, hugged him.
Not a cultivation embrace, just a hug. Her arms around his waist, her head against his chest, his arms coming up to hold her.
No Qi circulation or synchronization, just two people holding each other.
"Practice," she said, voice muffled against his robe. "For tomorrow."
Lin Wei held her, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat, the way she fit perfectly against him.
"Good practice," he managed.
They stayed like that for a minute, then Mei pulled back, face red but smiling.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
She left.
Lin Wei stood in the now empty cave, still not totally sure what went on—From the challenge to the mei's being surprisingly okay with it, even planning it, to the hug. He might understand it, but he definitely was open to whatever, the system might be the best thing to ever happen to him.
[You two are adorable. Also, you're both completely falling for each other. It's very obvious.]
"I know."
[Good! Because Stage 3 works best when there are actual FEELINGS involved! The texts don't mention this, but emotional connection amplifies Qi synchronization by up to 200%!]
"Really?"
[Really! Why do you think I've been so patient about letting you two develop naturally? Forced cultivation partnerships are weak! But genuine emotional bonds? THOSE create the strongest practitioners!]
Lin Wei sat down, mind still racing.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow they would try Stage 3.
Tomorrow he would hold Mei for fifteen minutes with minimal clothing between them.
Tomorrow they would either deepen their bond or discover they'd rushed things.
"I'm kind of terrified," he admitted.
[That's normal! First intimate cultivation session is always scary! But you trust her, she trusts you, you're compatible. You'll be fine.]
[Probably.]
"'Probably' isn't reassuring."
[95% probability you'll be fine! 4% probability of awkward fumbling but ultimately success! 1% probability of complete disaster!]
"What's the disaster scenario?"
[Someone barges in at exactly the wrong moment and you both die of embarrassment, but I'll monitor for external threats! That's what I'm here for!]
[Well, that and optimizing your cultivation. And providing commentary and shipping you with your partners. I multitask!]
Lin Wei shook his head but couldn't help smiling.
Tomorrow.
He should sleep, meditate and prepare mentally.
Instead, he pulled out the texts Mei had left behind and started reading.
The technical details of Stage 3 circulation, the proper meridian pathways and the breathing patterns.
And, inevitably, the sections on what came after Stage 3.
Stage 4: Deep Resonance.
Stage 5: Perfect Union.
The diagrams got progressively more explicit.
The techniques required progressively more trust.
And the rewards were... extraordinary. Permanent Qi sharing. Synchronized cultivation breakthroughs. The ability to sense each other across vast distances.
Partnership in the truest sense.
"One step at a time," Lin Wei muttered, closing the books.
First, Stage 3.
Then... they'd see.
[That's the right attitude! Now get some sleep. You'll want to be well rested tomorrow. Trust me. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]
"Please stop making suggestive emoticons at me."
[Never! It's part of my charm! Now SLEEP!]
Lin Wei lay down on his sleeping mat, but sleeping in this moment would be a long impossible task.
His mind kept drifting to tomorrow.
To Mei, to the feeling of her in his arms.
To the possibility of something deeper, and softer.