Chapter 427: The Assessment of the Ice and Fire Duo

"Splash..."

Qin Jian and Shui Bing'er fell into the warm bath almost at the same time.

Fortunately, both of them were wearing their undergarments...

This kiss was earth-shattering, sending waves crashing and splashing the bathwater all over the floor.

Fortunately, as Spirit Masters with powerful constitutions, the two did not need to worry about being above or below the water; they could simply let themselves go completely.

This kiss, driven by such intense emotion, was so fervent it felt as if they wanted to swallow each other whole.

It was just a pity that although Spirit Masters are strong, they cannot hold their breath indefinitely...

"Whoosh..."

The two sat up from under the water simultaneously, breathing in deep gulps, then both looked at each other at the very first moment, and then both burst out laughing with a "pfft."

There was no helping it; the two had been submerged for so long that they were naturally dripping wet, with water streaming down their faces—it looked funny no matter how you saw it.

They weren't exactly disheveled; after all, their looks were there, and no matter how soaked they were, they only looked better the more you watched.

It was just that neither of them had ever seen the other in such a state, and with the images they held of each other suddenly shattered, they naturally couldn't help but laugh.

But this laughter brought their hearts even closer together.

Because when you have no more reservations in front of the other person, no longer worry about your image, no longer worry about saying the wrong thing, and no longer worry that the other person will stop liking you because of some action, you become completely and utterly yourself; such a relationship is the most stable.

And having experienced years of parting and reuniting, Qin Jian and Shui Bing'er at this moment had already reached such a realm.

No matter how you are, I have chosen you, and it will remain unchanged for a lifetime.

"Splash!"

Just like that, the two, dripping wet, hugged each other again.

The tactile sensation at this moment was truly hard to describe...

But fortunately, the two had more intimacy and tenderness in their hearts at this moment, and they were not driven to lose control by that kind of impulse.

"Jianjian, what have you been doing for the past five years? Are you doing well in the Spirit Hall?" Shui Bing'er asked, leaning on Qin Jian's shoulder.

Qin Jian was already getting used to this bizarre nickname...

"Me..."

A look of reminiscence flashed in Qin Jian's eyes, and then he said softly: "In the Spirit Hall, there has been warmth and danger, trust and backstabbing... All in all, it has been... quite a rollercoaster."

"It must have been very difficult, right?"

Shui Bing'er lowered her beautiful eyes: "The influence of the Spirit Hall covers every corner of the Dalu. It must be very difficult to live easily and comfortably at the center, not to mention that you are a Humanoid Spirit Beast; there must be many high-level Spirit Masters who want to kill you."

"There certainly are, but fortunately I have endured it all, and I have also gained my own support and obtained power that truly belongs to me," Qin Jian said.

"Your support?"

A strange look flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes: "Is it that Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall outside? Or that... Pope?"

Qin Jian was very embarrassed: "How did even you hear about these rumors?"

"Who told you to make such a big scene establishing the Spirit Academy and presiding over the badge-changing ceremony this time? News about you is like wild grass in spring, spreading everywhere... Not to mention that it concerns the Pope and her disciple, which makes it even more intense, with all sorts of versions, and..."

Shui Bing'er separated from him slightly, her beautiful eyes looking him over with interest: "And Jianjian, is that really a rumor? At least that Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall outside is definitely not; she seems to care about you particularly."

"She and I are indeed..."

Qin Jian found this very hard to express: "As for the Pope... uh... I don't know how to put it..."

"Then don't say it; who wants to hear your stories with other women."

Shui Bing'er rolled her icy blue eyes at him in a beautiful way: "We agreed you would bathe me, and the water has already gone cold..."

"That's simple..."

Qin Jian didn't bother refilling the water; his fifth Soul Ring lit up slightly, and the surrounding water slowly began to turn warm again.

Shui Bing'er was left between laughter and tears: "Is a soul skill meant to be used for this?"

"If not used for this, what is it for?"

Qin Jian blinked his eyes: "Using it for battle is the real waste; making life convenient and improving life is the true Dao..."

Shui Bing'er didn't notice the deeper meaning in his words, but feeling the gradually warming water, she suddenly said: "Jianjian, I came back with Huo Wu this time..."

Qin Jian was instantly delighted: "Huo Wu is here too?"

Shui Bing'er pinched him lightly, chiding: "Are you that happy just hearing news of Huo Wu?"

"Uh..."

Qin Jian obediently shut his mouth, but the look of inquiry in his eyes was so obvious that it made Shui Bing'er roll her eyes again.

"Alright, alright, don't look at me like that, I'll tell you..."

Shui Bing'er said: "These five years, Huo Wu and I followed your advice and went to the Extreme North, where we found our own opportunities. It was only when the two of us, one fire and one ice, appeared together that we triggered the Mysterious Trial..."

"Mysterious Trial?"

Qin Jian paused: "Is it a God Trial?"

"God Trial? What God Trial?"

Shui Bing'er said confusedly: "We don't know what it is, but every time we pass one, there are rewards, and our strength grows rapidly during the process of the Assessment."

They don't know about the God Trial? Could it be something else?

Qin Jian was a bit confused.

The ice and fire aura of the Extreme North was indeed something he had detected before he took human form. He couldn't investigate it in detail at the time and only roughly sensed that the place was not simple. Now, it sounded very similar to a God Inheritance.

Shui Bing'er didn't know what he was thinking, and seeing him silent, she continued: "The reason we came back this time is because there is a stage in the Assessment that we cannot complete on our own; it requires..."

She raised her icy eyes, letting them fall on Qin Jian: "It requires the help of a man."

"The help of a man?"

Qin Jian said without hesitation: "I will help you."

Shui Bing'er's eyes curved into crescent moons: "Of course it's you helping us. Even if you hadn't come, we were planning to go to Wuhun City to find you."

"What kind of Assessment is it?" Qin Jian asked curiously.

God Trials are strange and varied; although they always point toward an increase in strength in the end, the process itself is unpredictable.

Shui Bing'er leaned against him in the warm water, her soft lips brushing gently against his ear: "It's like this..."

Qin Jian remained expressionless at first, but as he listened, he became dumbfounded: "There... there's an Assessment like this?"

"Yeah, we all suspect that the ones behind this Inheritance are a married couple..."

Shui Bing'er whispered: "So, let's try it tonight and see if this way works. If it doesn't, then I'll have no choice but to give up. After all, both Huo Wu and I like men; we wouldn't like women..."

"Then... let's bathe."

Finally returning to the main topic, Qin Jian splashed some water on her, smiling as he wiped from her graceful neck down, to her beautiful shoulders, and then to her fair, perfect figure.

While it was called bathing her, at their level as Spirit Masters, where would they even need to bathe...

It was merely a flirtation that both parties understood perfectly well. If Qin Jian were to actually bathe her in all seriousness... then he would be unworthy of the name Love Flower!

(End of chapter)