"Ah! I haven''t rxed like this in a long time!" a beautiful female voice echoed.


    Xu Mei entered her pavilion with a smile, her steps almost skipping, and her smile from ear to ear.


    Xie Qing, of course, was charmed by the sweet demeanor of his ever-yful Master, and it seemed that in this short time, they had gotten to know each other much better than in four years.


    Partly, it might have been because of him. Back then, he wasn''t thrilled about his position, understanding he was in the sect to build a good background first and foremost, and secondly, to hide from his brothers who would undoubtedly want to eliminatepetitors.


    So, the days passed in fear, and everything around him was not so interesting; he was indifferent.


    On that day, which was just like any other, he received an unknown power... one he still didn''t fully trust.


    System – what is it? How did it form? Is it a natural force, or someone else''s trickery? Unknown.


    Is it harmful to him? Does it pose a potential threat? Unknown.


    What was clear was that this power had a vast database and could evaluate even such marvelous and otherworldly techniques as the Nine Golden Dragons, which, for a moment, couldn''t reveal the true history of this technique.


    Zhang Mei was known for finding many ancient secret techniques. Her reputation as a researcher was not an empty sound, and she was considered a very intelligent woman.


    And then, one day...


    Ding!


    [Missionunched... analysis... ready!]


    [Mission received: Kiss the Master]


    [Description: It seems you''ve achieved impressive things and, after so many trials, won the heart of Xu Mei. But is it enough? Hehe, of course not... holding hands and cuddling is nice, but you can''t let your JJ gather dust!


    Requirement: Kiss]


    [Reward: the opportunity to develop one technique, random item (x2), technique "Dragon''s Gaze"]


    "Kha-kha..."


    Xie Qing choked on the wine he was drinking, sitting on the open tform on top of Xu Mei''s pavilion. He stared in astonishment at the mission and felt his spine covered in sweat.


    "Fucking hell... you want me to die?"


    Teasing the Master, holding hands, and touching her face was one thing, but a kiss... he was sure that such persistence would make Xu Mei explode with embarrassment, and her spiritual energy would wipe him into dust!


    However, it seemed the system had already found an effective way to motivate him.


    [Punishment: death!]


    "Well, I never doubted it. Anyway, I''m lucky that I built good rtions with her," he thought, then looked at the ss of wine in his hand and sighed: "Looks like I''ll have to drink..."


    ***


    Xu Mei sat in her room, engrossed in crafting. She was attempting to knit a scarf for Xie Qing, but...


    "Why can''t I get this right?!" she eximed, despairingly grabbing her head.


    She bought a knitting book, confident she could learn, but unfortunately, nothing seemed to work out for her! All her works looked as if someone had torn them from aplete garment.


    "It''s frustrating! Frustrating! Frustrating!"


    She kicked her feet on the floor like a little child. She felt too upset that, being one of the greatest geniuses of the century, she couldn''t handle simple knitting!


    "What a shame!"


    Xu Mei grumbled irritably, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She genuinely almost cried because of her failure.


    Initially, she was in a good mood, deciding to make a scarf for Xie Qing, who had made her happy a few days earlier! At first, everything was fine, but halfway through, it became challenging.


    While she was annoyed, there was a knock on the door.


    Knock-knock.


    "Hmm? Xie Qing? What does he want?" the girl wondered and then smiled, approaching the door.


    As she opened it, she immediately sensed the smell of wine and then saw Xie Qing grinning foolishly, waving at her.


    "Yo, Master."


    "What''s with the ''yo''?! Why are you so drunk?" Xu Mei eximed, rushing to him and supporting his shoulder so that Xie Qing wouldn''t copse on the floor. She helped him sit on the bed and asked, "What happened? I know you don''t like to drink. Are you okay?"


    She asked with concern – her emotions were sincere, and she feared something might have happened to him.


    Shrugging, the young man, with a wide smile on his face, said, "No, why should anything happen? I was in a good mood, so I decided to have a little drink."


    "I don''t believe you. You''ve never had a strong love for alcohol, and you drank enough not to get drunk," Xu Mei sharply interrupted him, crossing her arms on her ample chest. She snorted and added, "How many years do you think I''ve known you?"


    "Heheh..."


    Xie Qing smiled and shook his head. He couldn''t understand if this woman deliberately spoke this way or if she genuinely believed in what she was saying. Every word of hers hit him right in the heart.


    "Hmm... the Master''s scent lingers in this room. It''s so rxing," Xie Qing said and suddenly fell backward onto the bed, smiling at Xu Mei and saying, "Come on, Master, let''s lie down together."


    "No way, thanks," Xu Mei retorted, then approached him, grabbing his hand to help him up, but... "Kyaa!"


    With a cute girl-like scream, she fell directly onto Xie Qing''s chest, who immediately hugged her and pulled her close. His nose touched her crown, and he took a breath, savoring the pleasant scent reminiscent of flowers.


    "Phew... let go of me!"


    Xu Mei "attempted" to break free, but Xie Qing held her tightly, not letting go. Of course, he could only do this because Xu Mei didn''t try to resist.


    After two minutes, she quieted down and fell silent. Xie Qing felt a tickle on his corbone and heard a soft snorting sound.


    "If you like my scent so much, Master, I can hug you more often," he said with a smirk, his cheeks reddened by the influence of alcohol, and his eyes slightly unfocused.


    "N-no, I don''t need that at all!"


    "What? Who was just sniffing me?"


    "W-w-w-w... wait, it was just to avoid suffocating due to ack of oxygen!"


    "As a cultivator at your peak, you can live without breathing at all," Xie Qing said, rolling his eyes. He couldn''t be fooled by her excuses.


    While Xu Mei sought justifications, a gentle touch suddenly visited her hair. Xie Qing spoke in a soft voice.


    "I like your scent too. It''s so calming... makes you forget all the problems," he said, then added, "And your hair feels very pleasant to the touch. So soft..."


    "Ugh..."


    Xu Mei blushed deeply. Xie Qing''spliments indeed made her happy, but she felt too embarrassed. In terms of age, this boy could be her son, if not her grandson, yet being in his embrace and acting like lovers...


    "T-this is so embarrassing, but... so nice. His touch, sweet words... I missed this," she thought, and a tender smile appeared on her face.


    While she was lost in thought, Xie Qing suddenly shifted and slightly raised himself, sitting on the bed. It happened that Xu Mei''s position ended up on his knees.


    "Huh?"


    The woman was surprised by such a sudden turn of events, but before she could react, her lips felt a soft touch.


    "This... this..."


    Xu Mei''s mind was empty. She surrendered to the soft sensation on her lips and fully felt all the love Xie Qing poured into this kiss. She was ashamed and embarrassed, but... her hands never pushed Xie Qing away. She simply epted her fate.


    Their kiss wasn''t as passionate as it might have seemed. A simple peck, yet it made both of them feel as if they were in heaven.


    And again, they fell onto the bed. Xie Qing held her tightly and pressed his nose against her crown, while Xu Mei, lost in the sudden kiss, nestled into his chest.


    "He won''t remember this anyway," she thought and rxed, falling asleep.


    ...Let''s not tell her.


    Ding!


    [Taskpleted! The ringing of your steel balls shook the entire cultivation world!]


    [Rewards will be kept until you decide to im them]