The Transmigrator’s Cultivation

Arc 16: Tai Gu Desert | Chapter 316: Love

However, Xu Ziqing was now more cautious than before. Back then, he could still tease his Shixiong with his tongue, but now he only dared to press his lips against Yun Lie’s, and he could not take a further step.

Now, the two of them were entwined in each other’s breaths, creating an atmosphere filled with ambiguity and intimacy.

The warmth of this breath brushed against Xu Ziqing’s face, causing him to blush from his cheeks all the way to his ears.

The feeling of shyness in his heart was far more intense than before…

Seeing Xu Ziqing’s actions and recalling what he had said earlier, Yun Lie’s breathing involuntarily slowed. He also remembered the situation during his possession, and his gaze shifted slightly. Following the memories, he traced his tongue over Xu Ziqing’s lips, applying a little pressure and delving in.

Xu Ziqing trembled, then held his breath, his face turning as red as blood, and his heart raced even faster.

This was… his Shixiong.

…the clear-headed Shixiong.

As he thought this, he unconsciously felt a warmth rising in his body.

Yun Lie was unaware of the turmoil in Xu Ziqing’s heart. As he grew closer, he found Xu Ziqing’s tongue and entwined it with his own.

No matter how close they had been before, it couldn’t compare to the entanglement of their lips and teeth, the tender mutual support.

To Yun Lie, this sensation was extremely unfamiliar.

But also…

Xu Ziqing’s eyes were tightly closed, and he didn’t even realize that he had shifted from standing to sitting beside his Shixiong, nor did he notice that his hands had clenched into fists.

Now, he only felt a tingling in his tongue, overwhelmed by his Shixiong’s cold breath, which left him a bit entranced and alarmed.

Shixiong, Shixiong.

This was all he could think of, causing him to forget everything else.

After a long while, their lips slightly parted.

Xu Ziqing gasped for breath, unable to speak.

He had been too immersed in the moment to notice how tense and stiff his body had become, to the point of now feeling somewhat numb.

Yun Lie reached out and pulled his arm.

Before Xu Ziqing could react, he found himself in his Shixiong’s embrace, his head resting on Yun Lie’s left shoulder.

At that moment, his body felt weak and soft, unable to support itself, and he could only lean against Yun Lie.

Yun Lie held his waist and shoulder securely.

How intimate…

Xu Ziqing thought vaguely, never having imagined that there would be a day like today.

Yet, being this close to his Shixiong made him feel even more embarrassed than the forty-nine days during Yun Lie’s possession.

Perhaps it was because his Shixiong didn’t understand worldly matters back then…?

Now that his Shixiong was awake, Xu Ziqing always felt a deep admiration in his presence, making him even more at a loss during their intimacy.

The two of them quietly embraced, not speaking a word.

Yet, the atmosphere between them was peaceful, and gradually their heartbeats synchronized, making it feel as though nothing could be more intimate or calm than this moment.

When Xu Ziqing awoke, the sky was still dim. He was about to turn over when he realized he was lying in a warm place, his head resting on an arm, and he felt a heavy weight on his waist.

It was… his Shixiong.

At this moment, he realized he was still awake in his Shixiong’s embrace.

Xu Ziqing raised his head and indeed saw Yun Lie lying on the bed, his long black hair cascading down, his expression still, with his eyes slightly closed.

Yesterday, he didn’t know why, but he had fallen asleep in his Shixiong’s embrace. For cultivators, often sitting in meditation could rejuvenate them, making this situation quite rare. He thought that perhaps it was because his long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled, allowing him to relax and drift into a deep sleep.

When Yun Lie was possessed, Xu Ziqing had carefully observed his Shixiong’s appearance, but he hadn’t seen him since his spirit returned.

Now, seeing him again, Xu Ziqing felt many changes in his heart.

But when he thought of all the faces from his past lives, none had made him feel the way he did about his Shixiong, evoking such deep affection.

As Xu Ziqing gazed, he couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly, and his expression softened further.

At that moment, Yun Lie opened his eyes, locking gazes with him.

Xu Ziqing smiled gently and said, “Shixiong.”

Yun Lie responded with a simple, “Hmm,” acknowledging, “You’re awake.”

Xu Ziqing laughed, “Yes, I’m awake.” He reached out, hesitating briefly, to tuck Yun Lie’s long hair behind him. “How long did I sleep?”

Yun Lie replied, “It’s already the next day.”

The two exchanged words, yet neither made a move to get up.

Surrounded by his Shixiong’s presence, Xu Ziqing felt incredibly comfortable, becoming somewhat lazy.

Yun Lie, not knowing why, also remained still.

They lay like this for a while longer, and as the daylight brightened, Xu Ziqing reluctantly sat up. He gestured to summon his robes from the bed and put them on.

Yesterday, he had simply fallen asleep, so it was undoubtedly his Shixiong who had removed his clothes. This made him feel a mix of embarrassment and warmth.

Yun Lie was also dressed in his inner robe, and he quickly donned his own robes as his body emitted a slight glow.

Then Xu Ziqing tied up his hair, and Yun Lie did the same.

At that moment, Xu Ziqing noticed that not only did he always use the bamboo pipe given by his Shixiong to tie his hair, but Yun Lie was still using the hairband woven from grass that Xu Ziqing had made for him when they first met.

That hairband was a gift for their meeting, a token of friendship.

Recalling that day, a smile grew on Xu Ziqing’s face.

At that time, he had just entered the grand world and didn’t realize that the “Yun Xiong” in his storage ring was not just a soul but that the real Yun Lie was in seclusion within a major sect. Seeing him in person had naturally startled him and left him flustered.

Looking back now, it was clear that Yun Lie had come to welcome him personally, seeing him as a true confidant and friend, not merely Xu Ziqing’s one-sided affection.

No matter how much respect he had for “Yun Xiong” back then or how awkward their first meeting had been, reminiscing about it now brought him warmth.

However, now that he had gained more strength, the grass-woven hairband that had once sufficed should indeed be replaced.

Thinking this, Xu Ziqing walked to Yun Lie’s side and reached out to tug at his hairband.

Yun Lie quietly watched him and did not stop him.

Xu Ziqing smiled and, with a flick of his fingertips, summoned thin green grass stalks.

The plant seeds he had merged within his dantian had been polished multiple times, giving them greater resilience. After a bit of refinement, they could already be considered magical tools.

But just being a magical tool was still not enough.

Xu Ziqing pondered for a moment, then extended his other hand, revealing a blood-colored vine.

This vine, named Rongjin, was his natal wood, the foundation of his Dao, and the essence that supported him; it was fundamental to his being.

If there was anything that could express his feelings, this would be the best choice.

Xu Ziqing conveyed his thoughts to Rongjin, and soon a very thin shoot sprouted from the blood-colored vine, with no buds, merely a slender stem as red as blood.

He placed this slender stem alongside other grass stalks and began to weave.

After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he crafted a hairband that was about an inch wide and two feet long.

The hairband was entirely a vivid green, with a bloodline woven through the center. It looked simple, yet that bloodline added a touch of elegance.

Xu Ziqing examined it and then pricked his fingertip to draw a drop of blood, merging it into the hairband.

As the bloodlight flickered momentarily, the hairband became increasingly lustrous and beautiful.

Finally satisfied, Xu Ziqing held up the hairband, walked behind Yun Lie, and tied it in the middle of his long hair.

Yun Lie did not move, allowing him to act.

Before long, the long hair was secured, and a smile emerged in Xu Ziqing’s eyes, making his expression particularly gentle. “All done.”

Yun Lie nodded slightly, raising his hand to press the bamboo tube into his hair.

In no time, a flash of black and gold light swept through, and within the bamboo tube, a strand of sword intent was stored.

Yun Lie said, “If life and death are at stake, you can use the sound of the flute to summon the sword intent to protect yourself.”

Xu Ziqing also smiled, saying, “This hairband is connected to my blood. If my Shixiong encounters any danger, it will surely inform me.”

Though they exchanged no sweet words, their hearts and feelings needed no further expression to others.

Just as the warmth lingered, the formation in the room suddenly shifted.

Xu Ziqing was startled. “Is someone coming to seek us?” After a brief thought, he realized it was the pair of twin brothers next door. He recalled that after establishing a bond with his Shixiong yesterday, he had fallen asleep and was somewhat embarrassed about how the two had fared. He waved his sleeve and opened the formation wide.

As expected, the twin brothers stood outside the door.

Seeing them, Xu Ziqing smiled, “I was just about to look for you two. I didn’t expect you to come first.”

The Jin brothers bowed in greeting and then spoke, “We are grateful to both seniors for saving us; we should come to pay our respects daily.”

Seeing their earnest expressions, Xu Ziqing shook his head, saying, “No need for such formality.” He continued, “We cannot linger here much longer. My Shixiong and I have been out for quite some time and are preparing to return to the sect. What are your plans?”

The Jin brothers exchanged glances, both saying, “This…”

Xu Ziqing had asked earlier and knew they had nowhere else to go. He had already planned to take them back to the sect. Now, he merely wanted to see if they had discussed any other options. Observing their still confused and somewhat anxious demeanor, he realized their situation hadn’t changed. He added, “Since you two are unwilling to go back, would you like to come to my sect?”

The Jin brothers were taken aback and replied in unison, “Senior is…”

Xu Ziqing smiled, “We are disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect. If you two accompany me, I cannot make the decision; I will need to take you for an assessment before the elders of the sect can decide. If you wish to accompany me, you must be aware of this.”

Upon hearing this, the Jin brothers exchanged a look, feeling somewhat conflicted.

The Wuling Immortal Gate was a major power in the Eastern Region; how could they not know? However, previously, while they were aware that these two disciples had excellent potential, they had not known they belonged to the Wuling Immortal Gate. Since they both practiced demonic cultivation techniques, if they were taken into that sect, it would be hard to hide it for long. But if they were to leave… they wouldn’t find a proper excuse. Thus, they decided to accompany him for now and look for an opportunity to part ways along the way. They couldn’t help but sigh about how things could have been different if they had encountered the two of them back then…

Quickly changing their mindset, Jin Cheng said, “I, as a junior, naturally wish to accompany you, senior. Regardless of the outcome, we must thank both seniors for their great kindness!”

Xu Ziqing smiled slightly in response.

Since the decision was made, the group didn’t linger.

After settling accounts, Xu Ziqing released Chonghua from the courtyard. Previously, it had been confined within Yun Lie’s Beast Token, which had been somewhat uncomfortable. Now that it was freed, it let out a long roar.

The four of them climbed onto its back, and the next moment, it spread its wings and soared straight into the sky.

Due to the presence of the two brothers in the Foundation Establishment stage, Chonghua didn’t fly as swiftly as before, but it still rushed through the air with a roaring wind.

Before long, they passed through the city and arrived in a wild area.

There, the mountains stretched endlessly, and many wild beasts and monsters lurked in between. However, as they were merely passing through, they did not attract attention.

They soon reached the foot of a giant mountain, when suddenly, a massive hand swept through the air.

The pressure was extraordinarily strong, several times more potent than anything they had encountered before.

Xu Ziqing’s pupils abruptly contracted, and vines began to spread across his body.

It was the Nascent Soul Laozu!

Yun Lie acted even faster than him, having already unleashed his Small Universe prototype form, charging directly toward it!

Translator: Lynn

Translator’s Note:

Dem guys. Like I said, it’s a roller coaster ride. I fed you guys with a lot of fluff(based on how rare romace was until this point) this week, enough to cause diabetes. Buckle up for next week’s update. Save that sugar till the end guys :’)

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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