Chapter 51

"Why are you back again? Senior Sister doesn't mean anything by it, don't you go thinking too much!" Liu Xiao Qiang said, her cheeks slightly flushed as she saw Xia Daoming return.

"Uh! Think what too much?" Xia Daoming looked at Liu Xiao Qiang, whose cheeks were flushed and who looked both annoyed and shy, and couldn't help but look stunned.

What is this all about!

Am I that kind of person? Just because you gave me some money, I'd voluntarily come over and offer myself?

"If you don't have ideas about Senior Sister, why did you come back?" Liu Xiao Qiang asked, looking relaxed instead of embarrassed when she saw Xia Daoming's stunned expression.

It's good that you don't have ideas!

In Liu Xiao Qiang's heart, this Xia Shidi Xia was different from Gu Ren; he genuinely appreciated and cared about her, and she really couldn't bear to hurt his feelings.

"Don't ask why yet, you first arrange a private place!" Xia Daoming said.

"You..." Liu Xiao Qiang was stunned, looking at Xia Daoming in disbelief.

"Senior Sister, don't think too much. I have something to give you, and it's inconvenient for others to see or know about it," Xia Daoming said in a low voice.

"Who's thinking too much? You're the one thinking too much!" Liu Xiao Qiang's pretty face flushed red, and she gave Xia Daoming a fierce look with her peach-blossom eyes, saying, "Follow me!"

Having said that, Liu Xiao Qiang led Xia Daoming through the moon gate in the backyard and walked all the way to her boudoir.

"This..."

"No way!"

Business had been bad recently, and many of the girls in Yaohua Pavilion were idle, their eyes wandering around. They soon saw Liu Xiao Qiang leading Xia Daoming straight to her boudoir, and their eyes couldn't help but widen.

"My god, Sister Qiang actually brought Xia Ye to her boudoir. How is this possible?"

"This should be the first time I've seen her bring a man to her boudoir!"

"Xia Ye is amazing! He's only been here a few times and he's already in the boudoir!"

"So Sister Qiang likes young men!"

"I wonder if Xia Ye is good in that department? Don't be like some young men who look impressive but turn out to be all show and no substance!"

"That's simple, just see how long Xia Ye stays inside and we'll know!"

"Sisters, should we start a bet? I bet one stick of incense!"

"Pfft, one stick of incense? You underestimate Sister Qiang's charm and skill too much. I bet a quarter of an hour, and Xia Ye will be defeated!"

"I heard that Xia Ye is currently the youngest fifth-rank Great Wu Shi in the Hidden Dragon Martial Hall; his stamina must be good. I bet one and a half sticks of incense."

"Forget it, Master Gu is even younger than Xia Ye and is also a fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, and he couldn't even last a quarter of an hour with Xiao Li!"

"Master Gu is too unrestrained. Xia Ye is different from him; every time he comes here, he keeps to himself. Otherwise, with Sister Qiang's picky eyes, she wouldn't have taken a fancy to him!"

"But how come I heard that Xia Ye keeps five youthful and lovely maids at home!"

"Ah, this..."

Women are always gossipy, and soon the news that Liu Xiao Qiang and Instructor Xia had gotten together spread through the circle of girls in Yaohua Pavilion, sparking an underground gambling game.

"Senior Sister, I only said I needed a private place; you didn't have to bring me to your boudoir!" Looking at the feminine decorations and supplies in the room, along with the faint fragrance, Xia Daoming couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration, knowing exactly where this was.

"As long as you don't let your imagination run wild, it's fine. Tell me, what is it you want to give me that you're being so mysterious about!" Liu Xiao Qiang said.

"Alright, this is for you," Xia Daoming handed the jade bottle to Liu Xiao Qiang.

"What is this?" Liu Xiao Qiang pulled out the stopper, took a light sniff, and immediately felt refreshed, her face showing surprise.

"Longevity Jade Liquid, it can increase vitality and delay the decline of qi, blood, and strength. Senior Sister, you have just passed thirty; you are in your prime, so it's not yet a matter of qi and blood decline.

So as long as you can use the Longevity Jade Liquid to stabilize your qi, blood, and strength for a few more years, and then take some elixirs and practice diligently, it's not impossible to hope for success in cultivating dark energy, breaking through to the fourth-rank realm, and becoming a Great Wu Shi," Xia Daoming said.

"Longevity Jade Liquid! This is actually Longevity Jade Liquid! There's so much of it, how much money must this be worth?" Liu Xiao Qiang had clearly heard of the great name of the Longevity Jade Liquid, and upon hearing this, the hand holding the jade bottle trembled uncontrollably.

"Between us as siblings, why talk about money? How vulgar!" Xia Daoming smiled slightly.

"Forget it! Such a precious item, you should keep it for yourself; you might need it in the future. My martial arts talent is limited, and even with the help of the Longevity Jade Liquid, there's an eight or nine in ten chance I won't be able to cultivate dark energy," Liu Xiao Qiang quickly gritted her teeth and tried to stuff the jade bottle back to Xia Daoming.

"How do you know it won't work if you don't try? Besides, even if it doesn't work, if it can have a beautifying effect for Senior Sister, then it's worth the price," Xia Daoming said.

"You, do you really think so?" Liu Xiao Qiang bit her lip upon hearing this, her eyes fixed intently on Xia Daoming.

"Of course it's true. The Longevity Jade Liquid has a price, but Senior Sister's beauty and youth are priceless," Xia Daoming said without hesitation.

As he spoke, he stuffed the jade bottle back into her hand.

Clutching the jade bottle tightly, Liu Xiao Qiang had an urge to cry.

Men who come to Yaohua Pavilion these days, before taking off their pants, all say sweet, deceptive words that sound like the moon could be plucked from the sky.

Once they pull up their pants, they all become sages who are unmoved by temptation; talking about money, jewelry, or material promises is all considered vulgar.

But this Xia Shidi in front of her is truly different!

He hasn't even taken off his pants yet, and he's already brought a bottle of Longevity Jade Liquid that has a market price but no supply and stuffed it into her hands!

This is true love!

"Senior Sister, that's it, I'm off!" Xia Daoming couldn't bear to see a beautiful woman cry, and besides, the boudoir was too filled with feminine scent; staying too long wasn't appropriate.

"Stinky brat, what's the rush? Do you think I'd eat you?" Liu Xiao Qiang took a deep breath and gave Xia Daoming a look with her peach-blossom eyes.

"Cough, cough, there are things to do at home, things to do," Xia Daoming said hurriedly.

"Oh, I almost forgot Lian'er is waiting for you. Go, go," Liu Xiao Qiang waved her hand.

Xia Daoming felt as if he had been granted amnesty and lifted his feet to leave.

A man and a woman alone in a boudoir, and neither of them is a saint or a chaste maiden—heaven knows what indescribable things might happen if he stayed any longer.

Leaving is the best strategy!

Regarding this Senior Sister, Xia Daoming still hoped to maintain a relatively pure relationship between fellow disciples and not get entangled in unclear romantic relations.

"Wait a moment," just as Xia Daoming was about to open the door, Liu Xiao Qiang called out to him.

"Senior Sister, is there anything else?" Xia Daoming felt a shiver in his heart.

Senior Sister, I really didn't have designs on your body!

Let's just keep this pure friendship so we can see each other again in the future!

"You only observed the secret map twice and you grasped dark energy, and in a short time became a fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, with actual combat power not inferior to a sixth-rank Great Wu Shi. Your martial arts talent is countless times better than mine.

If I take this Longevity Jade Liquid and my vitality and qi become abundant, I will definitely swallow my pride and beg Master to allow me to observe the secret map again. So, I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on observation experience and tips beforehand," Liu Xiao Qiang said.

"Phew!" Xia Daoming let out a long sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Stinky brat, what's with that expression?"

"Nothing at all!"

"You were clearly relieved!"

"Can't I be relieved?"

"This... alright, just tell me, will you give me pointers or not?"

"Of course I will!" Xia Daoming said hurriedly.

"Good! Come on then!" Liu Xiao Qiang took a deep breath, her chest heaving.

"Senior Sister, relax, don't be nervous. Understanding the secret map and practicing the Dragon-Snake Art is actually quite simple. By the way, do you have any thin sticks or a writing brush here?"

"What for?"

"Well, men and women should keep their distance, so I was thinking that when I explain later, if I could use an object to demonstrate on your body, it should make it easier for you to grasp."

"No thin sticks, I'll get you a writing brush then," Liu Xiao Qiang looked at Xia Daoming deeply, got up, and fetched a writing brush.

"Come, Senior Sister, sit cross-legged opposite me, and we will exchange teachings face to face," Xia Daoming took the brush and said, preparing to sit cross-legged on the floor.

"Don't, the floor is dirty, get on the bed!" Liu Xiao Qiang grabbed Xia Daoming and said.

"Cough, cough! Senior Sister, don't scare me, okay?" Xia Daoming was slightly stunned, then made an exaggerated expression of lingering fear.

"Stinky brat, where did your mind go? I meant get on the bed to exchange teachings—pfft, pfft—I meant get on the bed and sit cross-legged!" Liu Xiao Qiang's cheeks flushed slightly, and she reached out and pinched Xia Daoming hard.

"Haha!" Xia Daoming laughed triumphantly.

"Stinky brat, you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Liu Xiao Qiang pinched Xia Daoming again, then followed suit and laughed.

As the two looked at each other and laughed, the ambiguous atmosphere in the boudoir seemed to vanish all at once.

PS: It's New Year's Eve today, and I don't know what blessings to send everyone, so I wish all female readers to be forever eighteen and make a fortune; and I wish all male readers to have beautiful women voluntarily feed them soft rice and have great health!