Eloquent Ascent

After a while, Xu Qi continued to show Xiao Yue everything he could do. He even tried to seduce her qi but he failed.

"Your cultivation is different, Xu Qi. You've diverged from the conventional path," Xiao Yue said, her voice a mix of admiration and concern. "This is something that could either be a great boon to the Wandering Palace or a source of suspicion if not handled correctly. You should be careful not to reveal it to anyone else. Only to those you trusted dearly."

"Yes. That's why I must ask senior sister to keep this a secret between us. If Elder He wishes to know, I'll leave it to your discretion. The scroll originated from her. She is also my benefactor." Xu Qi said with a hopeful look in his eyes, the sunlight filtering through the blossoms painted them with a gentle red hue, a stark contrast to the blue of Xiao Yue's eyes.

Her expression grew pensive, the beauty of the garden around them seemed to fade as she considered his words.

"I understand," She murmured, her hand reaching out to gently touch his cheek. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you, Xiao Yue." Inadvertently, Xu Qi called her directly by her name without the senior sister title. It slipped out like the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. The moment felt so intimate that formalities felt like a barrier.

Xiao Yue stared at him, a soft touch of pink returning to her cheek. And Xu Qi knew better.

As her eyes fluttered close, he pushed her head in, capturing Xiao Yue's lips as their connection between them became renewed.

"... Naughty junior brother." Xiao Yue murmured but instead of sounding like a scolding, it carried the hint of her delight.

The kiss was short and fleeting but at that moment, they both felt at ease.

After that, their conversation grew deeper, sharing the nuances of their cultivation and the secrets they held close to their hearts.

Xiao Yue's hand remained on his cheek, the warmth of her touch sending a jolt of energy through him. Likewise, Xu Qi locked their hands together, enjoying another meaningful connection. Their eyes never left each other, the depth of their bond reflected in their gazes.

And when silence reigned between them again, Xu Qi repeated his earlier action, claiming her lips in a soft but firm kiss. Xiao Yue responded in kind, her arms wrapping around his neck as they leaned into each other.

This time, it was a kiss that spoke of a lot of things but underneath it all was their affection for each other.

"Naughty junior brother." The same words as earlier but more cheerful as if it was becoming his nickname. Xiao Yue's voice was a soft whisper against his ear, a gentle tease that sent a shiver down Xu Qi's whole body. Her arms tightened around him, her fingers playing with the strands of his hair as they enjoyed the warmth of their intimacy as they sat together on the stone bench.

Xu Qi chuckled, his heart fluttering wildly in his chest.

"Senior sister is too kind," he murmured, his own hands finding their way around her waist, pulling her closer.

The scent of the cherry blossoms mingled with the sweet smell of their shared breath.

But unlike last time, it didn't escalate further than that. They were outdoors, after all. Xu Qi knew better not to embarrass Xiao Yue.

Soon, their conversation grew lighter as they talked about the upcoming Test of Competence and the challenges that would soon follow.

Xu Qi shared his thoughts with Xiao Yue, who listened with rapt attention, her eyes shimmering with intelligence.

Her gentle nods and occasional laughs were all the encouragement he needed to continue speaking.

Somehow, their talk just went on and on, forgetting the passage of time.

When he mentioned training, Xiao Yue meaningfully smiled as she offered to instruct him and facilitate his training for the day.

Xu Qi didn't reject her. Having been the only other soul to have knowledge of his new path, Xiao Yue provided her insights on how he could improve his abilities.

They focused more on the application of his abilities; taking their strengths and weaknesses into consideration.

Although Xu Qi only explained enough for her to understand the general idea around his unique cultivation path, Xiao Yue had managed to decipher it as if it were her own, allowing her to effectively guide Xu Qi.

It made him realize how extraordinary Xiao Yue truly is

When the night fell, the area they were in became a beautiful spectacle, washing away the sweat and exhaustion from the training.

Xiao Yue had him do one last set where the primal elements danced in a way that he was creating an area around him within his control before calling it a day.

"Good job, Xu Qi. It's about time you take a rest. Don't overexert yourself on training or you might fall into the state of Qi Exhaustion." Xiao Yue flicked her wrist, sending a gale of cool breeze to Xu Qi, wiping away the traces of exhaustion on his and cleaning up the rubble they had done to the place. "The Test of Competence is in three days. You've already surprised me but... I'll still watch over you."

"I won't disappoint you, senior sister," With a voice filled with determination, Xu Qi promised. He knew the weight of her words, the gravity of the trust she had placed in him.

Then, Xiao Yue walked over to him, dusting his sect robes as though she was ensuring he'd always be presentable before smiling contentedly. Once that was done, her thumb glided from his neck to his lips as she dropped a kiss on his lips.

The two stayed like that for a while before Xiao Yue turned to leave and Xu Qi followed right behind her, leaving the garden that became witness to their strengthening bond.

They walked back on the mossy path leading to the area of Xu Qi's quarters. The night sky and the moonlight illuminating their path along with the colorful highlights of the primal elements that Xu Qi seduced.

"I'll see you on the day of the Test of Competence. Remember my warning."

"Yes, senior sister."

With that exchange, the two reluctantly separated.

As Xu Qi watched her go, the warmth of her lips and her touches lingered on his senses. He wanted to ask her if she wanted to stay the night but he wasn't shameless enough to say it yet after just spending an intimate night with another woman.