Looking at Zixuan, Xu Qing hesitated for a moment. He recalled what the captain had said about the mountains and the fetters.
He had felt that the captain's words made sense, but he had been busy comprehending recently. Therefore, he had only asked Exalted Immortal Zixuan about the Heavenly Dao. They had not talked much and had not met.
Looking at Exalted Immortal Zixuan, Xu Qing cupped his fists and bowed.
"Greetings, Senior."
"Senior."
Hearing Xu Qing's greeting, Exalted Immortal Zixuan raised her eyebrows. After sizing Xu Qing up, many guesses arose in her mind.
She felt that something was wrong.
Two months ago, she had felt that Xu Qing's emotions seemed to have changed. This feeling was even more obvious now. After all, compared to men, women were more sensitive to details.
"Could it be that Chen Erniu is itching for a beating again?"
"Senior."
Zixuan immediately guessed the crux of the matter, but she did not say anything. After walking into the Sword Pavilion, she raised her hand and waved gently.
Suddenly, the door of the Sword Pavilion behind her closed with a bang.
After a man and a woman were alone in a room, Zixuan sat down with a gentle expression and took out a pill bottle.
"Xu Qing, you said that you were going out. Are you going to leave Fenghai County?"
"Senior."
Xu Qing nodded.
"If that's the case, your protection is not enough. Come and sit down."
Zixuan looked at Xu Qing and said gently.
This gaze made Xu Qing sigh in his heart. He silently walked over and sat across from Zixuan.
At such a close distance, the familiar fragrance wafted into Xu Qing's nose and lingered in his mind.
"You should have the protection item that your master gave you. However, if you leave Fenghai County, you still lack a concealment technique."
Zixuan put the pill bottle in her hand aside.
"This pill bottle contains the Sword Sovereign's blood that I received in the battle after the Emperor of the Spirit Sound Forbidden Land went out to wreak havoc in the Emperor Welcoming State and was suppressed by the sects of the Emperor Welcoming State.
"I have been comprehending this blood for many years and have achieved some results. There is not much left. Today, I will use the Sword Sovereign's blood and my own Dao to draw a concealment talisman for you."
"Because the Sword Emperor's blood is used as the material to draw the talisman, the talisman will be of an extremely high level once it is formed. It can conceal all of your aura for a short period of time, so that outsiders won't be able to see your identity as a human or your true appearance.
Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat when he heard that. He looked at the pill bottle that Exalted Immortal Purple Mystic had placed beside him. He knew that this item was extremely valuable. Exalted Immortal Purple Mystic's words stirred his heart.
"Unless you've provoked an existence at the Fourth Level Origin Returning Realm. However, no matter where you go, this kind of existence is always high up in the palace. The possibility of you encountering one is not very high.
"But you have to remember, this blood talisman is constantly volatile, and it won't last long. It will disperse in at most three months."
Exalted Immortal Purple Mystic's voice was gentle and filled with reminders.
Xu Qing opened his mouth to say something, but before he could say anything, the corners of Zixuan's mouth curled up into a smile.
"There's no need for such polite words. Take off your clothes."
Xu Qing was taken aback.
"What are you spacing out for? Naturally, the talisman will be drawn on your body."
Zixuan blinked with a teasing look in her eyes.
If it were anyone else, Xu Qing would not hesitate. However, he was always nervous in front of Exalted Immortal Purple Mystic. However, he also understood the importance of this Void Concealment Talisman. Hence, he took a deep breath and took off his Daoist robe, revealing his well-toned upper body.
Zixuan's gaze swept over him, and her pretty face turned slightly red. She raised her right hand and pointed at Xu Qing's shoulder.
Xu Qing immediately turned around in his cross-legged position. With his back facing Zixuan, he said,
"You have to calm your heart.
"
Zixuan's breath was like orchids. Her voice was like a feather that landed on Xu Qing's heart, causing ripples in his heart.
Xu Qing was very nervous. He had never experienced such a thing in his life. His heartbeat quickened instinctively, and his body stiffened. Exalted Immortal Purple Mystic, who was behind him, picked up the pill bottle and poured out a drop of golden blood. Her expression turned serious.
"Xu Qing, this talisman is complicated. It needs to be completed in one go and cannot be interrupted.
"
As she spoke, Zixuan lifted her fair finger, which was stained with the blood of the Spirit Sound Forbidden Zone's Sword Emperor, and placed it on Xu Qing's back. With a gentle swipe, she began to draw the talisman.
Her finger moved slowly and quickly as it traveled across Xu Qing's back. Everywhere it passed, besides leaving behind a golden mark, it also caused Xu Qing's skin to tremble slightly.
All the hairs on his body stood on end at this moment.
The feeling of her finger moving across his body was like a gentle caress of hair. It seeped into his heart from his skin, turning into more and more waves. As the waves increased, Xu Qing's scalp could not help but go numb.
His heart beat faster and faster, and his breathing could not help but quicken.
In the end, Xu Qing gritted his teeth and took several deep breaths. The Classic of Plants and Vegetation appeared in his mind, and he silently recited it in his heart.
This method was indeed effective. Gradually, his heart calmed down.
Just like that, time slowly passed.
After reciting the Classic of Plants and Vegetation three times, dawn broke outside. Xu Qing's forehead was covered in sweat. The Void Concealment Talisman that Zixuan had drawn for him was also more than half finished.
"Next is the predecessor."
Zixuan's voice was also a little different from before. Before Xu Qing could identify it carefully, Zixuan pointed at him and he immediately spun half a circle.
He was now facing her.
Her fragrant breath landed on Xu Qing's face. He could clearly see her trembling eyelashes and the fine hairs on her face. He could also see the red clouds rising up from her skin.
"She's nervous too?"
She thought.
Xu Qing gaped.
He had never seen such an expression on Zixuan's face before. Even as he was thinking, Zixuan cleared her throat. Her face was slightly red, and her eyelashes trembled. However, her eyes were bright as she tapped Xu Qing's chest.
She began to draw the talisman.
As soon as they touched, Xu Qing's mind trembled. He closed his eyes, settled his Qi, and focused his mind. He continued to recite the Classic of Plants and Vegetation, doing his best to calm himself.
Zixuan's fingers were like flowing water, gently caressing his body, becoming an obstacle for him to recite the scripture. As more and more golden runes appeared on Xu Qing's body, that intense feeling made Xu Qing's mind feel as if waves were surging, wave after wave, unceasingly rising.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and the sky outside brightened, Zixuan's finger returned to Xu Qing's chest. She paused for a moment. "Xu Qing, your heart is beating so fast."
"Sigh."
Zixuan's voice was soft, but in the quiet Sword Pavilion, it echoed clearly in Xu Qing's ears.
Xu Qing took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He saw Zixuan's flushed face.
"Don't move. This is the last stroke."
They looked at each other, and Zixuan's voice trembled.
Her finger moved slightly, moving from Xu Qing's chest to his neck, then to his chin, and finally to the back of his ear.
As she did so, she slowly drew closer to him.
Xu Qing's body was incomparably stiff. The Classic of Plants and Vegetation couldn't form in his mind. His eyes were blank.
As Zixuan drew closer and closer, the captain's excited voice suddenly rang out from outside the Sword Pavilion.
"Little Ah Qing, how are you? Come out. Let's go and do something big."
"Eh, why is there an extra layer of protection here?"
"Little Ah Qing, what are you doing?"
"Alright."
As the captain's voice rang out, Zixuan quickly retracted her fingers and stood up nervously. Although she usually teased Xu Qing and acted like a big sister, she had never experienced anything that Xu Qing had never experienced.
At this moment, she blushed and tidied up her hair to hide her panic. She coughed and quickly spoke, not daring to look at Xu Qing.
"Xu Qing, be careful."
"Alright."
Zixuan turned around and walked towards the door of the Sword Pavilion. With a wave of her hand, the door opened, revealing the captain's astonished face.
In the next moment, the captain's expression changed from astonishment to shock. His eyes widened as he stared blankly at Zixuan, then glanced at Xu Qing, who was putting on his clothes.
"I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything!"
"Alright."
The captain quickly took a few steps back and closed his eyes. His heart was in turmoil. He wondered if something indescribable had happened between the two of them.
"Chen Erniu."
Before the captain could continue thinking, Zixuan spoke.
"Yes, Master!"
The captain closed his eyes.
He replied loudly.
"Last month, the Eight Sect Alliance sent a letter saying that there was some filth on the ancient snake skeleton in the secret ground."
The captain's heart skipped a beat. He could hear the meaning behind those words, so he quickly thought about whether he had done something wrong. Soon, he found the reason. He thought to himself that he must have bumped into the other party's business … or seen something that he shouldn't have seen, so he quickly spoke up.
"Immortal, I had a problem with my cultivation yesterday. I don't know why my eyes are broken."
"Hmph."
Zixuan snorted coldly and continued speaking.
"Also, I have a close friend called Li Shi Tao. She told me a few days ago that she saw a sneaky guy eating peaches in Fengxuan Palace while peeking at her. Was it you?"
"Hmph."
"Definitely not Disciple. Disciple would never peek and only eat apples!"
The captain's expression was solemn as he spoke without hesitation.
"…"
Zixuan didn't say much. After a few simple sentences, she left with her heart racing.
Only after Zixuan left did the captain open his eyes. After looking around, he quickly stepped into the Sword Pavilion and looked at Xu Qing in disbelief.
"What's going on?"
Xu Qing had already put on his Daoist robe and his expression was normal.
"What's wrong?"
"…"
"Uh?"
The captain was stunned. He carefully sized up Xu Qing and asked secretly.
"You and Immortal Zixuan …"
"Eldest Senior Brother, we should go."
Xu Qing said as he walked out of the Sword Pavilion.
The captain followed behind. He looked at Immortal Zixuan's blurry figure and then at Xu Qing. He took out a peach and took a bite. Chuckling, he quickly chased after them.
There was no snow today, but the wind was strong. However, this didn't affect the clear sky. Because of the thin clouds, the sky was blue.
Therefore, the first rays of the morning sun were especially dazzling. They fell on the ground and on the two people in the distance, elongating their shadows.
A light breeze blew, bringing with it a sound.
"Little Junior Brother, tell your Eldest Senior Brother, did you come of age last night?"
"…"
"Little Junior Brother, why aren't you saying anything?
Are you shy? "
"…"
"Aiya, forget it. I won't tease you anymore. My dear Little Junior Brother, you must remember to introduce my Taotao to me when we come back. I want to come of age too."
"…"
The teasing words were accompanied by laughter as they echoed. As the two people walked further and further away, the laughter gradually turned into whispers.