Chapter 86 of 100
Chapter 86
13 min read3,135 words
Qin Zhen stood before the stone monument at Yin-Yang Ridge, her thoughts spreading like weeds. Compared to a year ago, she had grown taller, and the childishness on her face had gradually faded, giving her a more mature appearance.
Calculating the days, she thought it was about time to return to Tiandu Peak to wait for her senior brother.
To avoid becoming a burden and to walk alongside her senior brother, Qin Zhen had devoted herself to diligent cultivation in the Ghost Gate Abyss. She had recently opened the thirteenth acupoint on the Conception Vessel, just one step away from forming the Dao Fetus.
This was the critical juncture between the mortal and the transcendent. If she crossed it, the world would be vast and boundless; if she failed, she would still struggle in the mortal realm.
The Ghost Gate Abyss was occupied by monsters, but after the fierce battle between Qi Du and Qiluo, the human-faced dove had become much more restrained. Qin Zhen was always very cautious, never venturing too close to the abyss. The green wolf was extremely alert, warning her of any danger early on. Over the past year, although there were a few close calls, she had managed to stay relatively safe.
However, to form the Dao Fetus, she had to descend into the Ghost Gate Abyss. The deeper she went, the more intense the fire qi became. Given Qin Zhen's aptitude, there was no need for her to take such a risk.
The difficulty of forming the Dao Fetus was crudely compared to childbirth by previous cultivators. Some births went smoothly, while others ended in stillbirth. The most dangerous scenario was a double fatality.
So, she decided to leave, return to Tiandu Peak, find her senior brother, and wait for him to help her cross this critical juncture.
Looking back at the misty Ghost Gate Abyss, Qin Zhen felt a twinge of reluctance. Living alone, isolated from others, her days were monotonous and lonely, but she did not find them unbearable. Whenever she felt lonely, she only thought of her senior brother. Even if she returned to Tiandu Peak and mingled with people, she still felt alone.
Longing was like a cup of wine; the longer it aged, the more potent it became.
She gathered her emotions, tucked her hair behind her ear, and turned to look at Tiandu Peak.
Amidst the mountains, the sunset was like a wisp of smoke. A figure stood not far away, quietly watching her. Qin Zhen's nose tingled, and her vision blurred with tears. She wanted to run to him and throw herself into his arms, but her legs felt heavy, unable to move.
Wei Shizhong walked forward, gently embracing her and patting her head. He smiled, "You've grown taller, almost to my chest. You can't sit on my shoulders like before."
Qin Zhen wrapped her arms around his waist and finally burst into tears.
"Don't cry. Look, I'm back safe and sound. You've grown up, and we're both doing well. We will continue to do well in the future."
"Yes, I won't cry..." Qin Zhen wiped her tears on his robe, looked up at him, and saw her reflection in his pupils. Her cheeks flushed, and her ears slowly turned red.
She had truly grown up, with delicate features and skin fairer than snow. Wei Shizhong's heart stirred, and he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her lips.
Her lips were thin and soft, and her breath was fresh. After the kiss, he licked his lower lip with his tongue, a subconscious action that aroused Wei Shizhong. He lifted her chin and kissed her for a long time, teasing her until Qin Zhen was flustered and almost suffocated.
Is this... the world of adults?
Qin Zhen felt uneasy but also a bit eager. Standing on the threshold between a girl and a woman, she experienced a strong sense of stimulation, desire, and danger for the first time in her life.
Qin Zhen's hands pressed against her chest, but she didn't push him away. Wei Shizhong hesitated, wondering if he should take her now or wait a bit longer.
The howl of the green wolf reminded Qin Zhen. Her face turned red, and she pushed Wei Shizhong away, covering her mouth, flustered and unsure what to do. Wei Shizhong was a bit disappointed and turned to see the green wolf bounding out of the forest, running to his side, and playfully nudging his legs. He had to squat down and pat the wolf's head, smiling, "You, you, really..."
Qin Zhen heard the unspoken meaning in his words and felt even more embarrassed. She glanced at him, but Wei Shizhong was focused on playing with the green wolf, not paying attention to her. She sighed in relief, feeling a small complaint in her heart. After more than a year, why had her senior brother changed... changed...
After a while, she calmed down and tried to act composed, saying, "Senior brother, have you... have you been well?"
Her voice was a bit formal and trembling. Wei Shizhong couldn't help but laugh, tapping her forehead with his finger, "Speak properly!"
Finally, they could sit down and talk about their time apart. Wei Shizhong's experiences were full of twists and turns. To avoid worrying his junior sister, he downplayed the dangers, but Qin Zhen was very perceptive and noticed the discrepancies. However, she pretended not to understand, just hugging his arm and smiling as she listened to him.
Seeing her so obedient, Wei Shizhong couldn't resist pinching her nose and asked, "What about you? How was your year?"
Qin Zhen counted on her fingers, "Cultivation, eating, sleeping, thinking about you... and the stories you told, that's it."
"Oh, how is your progress with the *Taiyi Foundation Building Scripture*?"
Qin Zhen proudly raised her face, "I've opened thirteen acupoints on the Conception Vessel. I can start to connect the meridians and form the Dao Fetus."
"Good, you truly are a genius with seven innate acupoints."
Qin Zhen pouted, "Don't talk like that annoying guy, all slick and smooth!"
"Have you thought about the story of the honey?"
Qin Zhen hesitated, "Not all of it, but I've thought of some... the black and white rats, do they represent day and night?"
"Yes."
"The tree roots represent life and death?"
"Good, you're getting somewhere."
"The rats gnawing at the tree roots mean the alternation of day and night, the passing of life. The venomous dragon represents death, and the honey represents the joys and comforts of life." Qin Zhen's eyes sparkled, "Senior brother... I've thought about it for a long time, you... you... are my honey!"
Wei Shizhong was silent. The five drops of honey in the story represented the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. He had told her this story before leaving to hint that life was impermanent and not to be lost in desires, losing the heart to seek the Dao. He hadn't expected her to understand it this way.
"You are my honey," what a touching confession! In this life and the previous one, only this sentence had moved him.
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