Chapter 324: The Feeling of a Kiss

Chen Shu had always felt that the heart-moving, tear-jerking moments were merely fleeting, and that the plain, ordinary companionship that could withstand the tempering of time was what was eternal; the most beautiful love was that the world was vast, yet you and I happened to meet, happened to be a perfect fit, spent countless dusks and dawns together, and felt the beauty of time together.

Being able to meet Ning Qing was the greatest stroke of luck.

The perfect time, the perfect two people; had it been off by even a little, these dozen or so years of living side by side would not exist.

There was nothing luckier than this.

And thinking about it carefully, in these dozen or so years that were not earth-shattering, every single moment was so worth savoring.

This song was very plain, very rich in story and imagery, and it was one he liked. The only flaw was the faint regret in the song, but if one were singing it to someone they liked simply out of affection, there was no problem.

He hoped that many years later, they would still be together just as they were now, sometimes sitting under the trees at dusk to reminisce, and would remember this moment.

"One more."

"One more..."

Chen Shu ignored the calls of the crowd and walked off the stage, his eyes only on that young woman sitting in the chair:

"Does it sound good?"

"It sounds good."

"Do you like it?"

"I like it."

"Are you moved?"

"I am moved."

"Then can I have a kiss?"

"..."

"Good, you agreed."

Chen Shu had already sat down beside her, upholding the principle that silence meant consent; he turned to face Qingqing, wrapped one arm around her shoulders, and just as Qingqing also turned her head to meet his gaze, he used his other hand to cup her cheek, preventing her from turning back, while simultaneously leaning in to kiss her lips.

It was two pieces of warmth and softness, held by lips with the most delicate perception, slowly savoring it.

It was a slightly sweet taste, constantly exchanged and tasted.

It was mutual lingering and stirring.

Gradually, Chen Shu had wrapped his arms around Qingqing's neck.

She did not call for a stop.

He did not stop either.

Gradually, a hand also wrapped around his neck.

"Hoo..."

Chen Shu finally let go of Qingqing.

This was the most satisfying time he had kissed her since he stole a kiss from Qingqing when he was a few years old; even on that night when Qingqing advanced to the Sixth Stage and lost consciousness, although he had tasted her for longer than this time, he had lost out on the lack of a response—how fun could a single-player game be?

It was just that this raised a hint of worry in him.

"Does this... also go on the tab?"

Chen Shu was very close to Qingqing, their eyes meeting, thinking to himself that if this were to be put on a tab, wouldn't his credit limit explode instantly?

Ning Qing, however, just looked at him calmly, her hand still resting on his neck, the noise behind her seemingly having nothing to do with her; through his eyes, she seemed to be able to see what he was truly thinking, which she found interesting.

The next second—

Ning Qing wrapped her arms around Chen Shu's neck and leaned in again.

Their lips touched once more.

Chen Shu widened his eyes, suddenly remembering—

At this moment, it had been about two and a half years since the last time Qingqing had taken the initiative to kiss him.

"Hoo..."

The two separated again.

Ning Qing let go of his neck; she pursed her lips, as if cleaning off saliva, or as if savoring the aftertaste, her lips redder than before, yet her expression was as indifferent as ever, staring only into his eyes as she said:

"Balanced out."

"..."

"How does it feel?"

"How does it feel?"

Both asked almost simultaneously.

"Very good."

"Same."

"Do you still want to watch?" Chen Shu checked the time, "It's almost twelve."

"Not watching anymore."

"I still want to kiss."

"In your dreams."

"..."

This heartless woman!

Chen Shu put away the two chairs and left with her.

Walking out of the Martial Cultivation Hall and crossing the Sports Field, it was deserted outside.

The streetlights were dim and yellow, stretching the shadows of the two.

Just as they were walking, Ning Qing's voice suddenly sounded beside him: "Have you noticed that today I am as tall as you?"

"Is that so?"

Ning Qing pursed her lips and continued walking, but did not answer.

Chen Shu lowered his head and glanced at her shoes.

They were a pair of retro shoes with very thick soles.

Ning Qing was only a little bit shorter than him to begin with.

"You're wearing height-increasing shoes!"

Ning Qing still did not respond.

Not until Chen Shu glanced at the top of her head: "But I still don't think you're as tall as me... Let's compare!"

Only then did Ning Qing stop her steps.

Thus, the two stood facing each other, very close.

Chen Shu placed his palm on top of his own head and moved it horizontally toward her side, while his eyes remained fixed on her eyes—

Ning Qing, wearing these shoes, was indeed about the same height as Chen Shu; there was no need to compare, because at this moment, their eyes were level, perhaps only five or six centimeters apart, and the two pairs of eyes were looking straight at each other.

Naturally, their noses were also level.

Their lips were also level.

Chen Shu could not help but embrace her again, leaning forward just a little, a distance of a few centimeters, and then lightly caught her lips.

This time, it lasted a little longer.

A loud explosion came from the Martial Cultivation Hall not far away, allowing the two to imagine the scene of fireworks bursting.

……

The center of the Forbidden Land.

Soft Buddha Light filled the heavens and earth, spreading outward, flowing like running water.

Amidst the shining Buddha Light—

The white tiger's body was rapidly repaired.

"Swish!"

It opened its eyes, its pupils like beans.

Placed within the Buddha Light, she only felt her whole body warm, incomparably comfortable and at ease, as if she had returned to the womb; this was a pleasure that did not exist in the human world.

"Oh my god..."

The white tiger stood up, shook its fur, turned back toward the center of the Forbidden Land, and lowered its head to bow respectfully:

"Thank you, Bodhisattva."

After saying this, the white tiger seized the time and ran outward quickly.

Amidst the shining Buddha Light—

The woman wearing the Metal Mask who had fallen to the ground woke up, and light lit up on the mask once again.

The woman flipped up, and the sword wounds all over her body had disappeared.

"Hum..."

The Long Sword on the ground hummed and was summoned back into her hand; the sword scabbard in the distance also flew back. She held the sword in one hand and the hilt in the other, performing a simple sword flourish in the air. With a *clang*, the Long Sword entered the scabbard.

"So this... is what death feels like."

The Nüxia of the moonlit night stood where she was, silent and motionless, feeling it for a few seconds before holding her sword to return the salute to the center of the Forbidden Land:

"Many thanks, Bodhisattva."

As her voice fell, her figure flashed several times and disappeared into the dense forest.

The Buddha Light continued to flow outward—

The Resurrected Ones turned into light dust and disappeared.

The few scattered corpses lying on the ground were also restored as before. These young people in their twenties opened their eyes again, and after slightly experiencing their own state, they all bowed and thanked the depths of the Forbidden Land at the first opportunity; even the arrogant Night People lowered their heads at this moment.

"Thank you, Bodhisattva..."

"Paying tribute to you..."

"Praising you..."

"……"

The Buddha Light flowed past the very edge of the Forbidden Land.

Zhang Suannai had been in a fierce battle with the Seventh Stage Wangting Sword Sect for a long time. Relying on the sharpness of her Divine Sword and the sturdiness of her light armor, she stubbornly had not been killed and was currently fleeing. However, while running, she kept using words to provoke the other party to prove that she had not fallen into a disadvantage.

"Can't catch me, can't catch me...

"A Wangting Sword Sect running so slowly, and you still call yourself a Sword Cultivator?

"Let me tell you, don't look at me running; this is just my strategy. Once your Spirit Power is used up, I'll turn around and stab you with a sword, damn it!"

"Swish!"

A sword slashed past Zhang Suannai's side.

"Holy crap!"

Relying on her freakish Spiritual Sense, Zhang Suannai dodged to the side narrowly. She saw that the Long Sword's material was like a full moon, slashing down against her light armor. In that instant, she seemed to hear the *hissing* sound of the sword body rubbing against the light armor and saw sparks flying.

"Rip!"

In just an instant, the sword slashed down.

"Whoa!"

Zhang Suannai gritted her teeth and wanted to accelerate again, only to find that her speed had already reached its limit.

How could a Sixth Stage Sword Cultivator fly faster than a Seventh Stage? It was nothing more than relying on the power of the Divine Sword. In this situation, she was unable to accelerate any further.

But the opponent had already gritted their teeth and caught up.

A sword thrust straight at her heart.

The Court Sword, the sharpest of all.

Zhang Suannai had already felt the chill; it was as if, through her light armor, the skin on her back had already split open and was seeping blood.

"Oh, wow!"

Just at this moment, golden light shone down.

The world turned golden.

Amidst the golden light, the figure of the Wangting Sword Sect cultivator turned into fly ash, disappearing inch by inch.

Zhang Suannai couldn't brake in time and flew another few hundred meters; only when her entire body was enveloped by the Buddha Light did she react. While reaching back to touch her own back, she looked back and immediately felt joyful.

"Hey, where did you go? Keep chasing!"

"Hahaha, not chasing anymore..."

"The final winner is always Zhang Suannai..."

Zhang Suannai shook her head, talking to herself.

A mere piece of Wangting trash dared to chase her? Did they not know what a protagonist halo was? Truly overestimating themselves! Look, they were played in circles by her strategy, and in the end, she won this battle without any effort.

Oh, it took a tiny bit of brainpower.

This was a battle won by wisdom.

Worthy of commemoration.

Zhang Suannai was immensely proud, not forgetting to cup her hands toward the center of the Forbidden Land:

"Many thanks, Big Boss."

Immediately, she let out a "Whoosh."

Zhang Suannai stepped on her Sword, skimming over the forest, turning left and right to vent her exhilarated mood.

For these past two months and more, she had never once slacked off.

Although she had borrowed the power of the Divine Sword and light armor, she had always borrowed them in a limited way, ensuring only that she would not die. Beyond that, she dared to say that the position she had been in was definitely the deepest of everyone, and her battles were the most intense of everyone, constantly challenging Seventh Stage opponents with her Sixth Stage cultivation, learning the combat styles and means of application that only high-tier powerhouses possessed. The tempering of Divine Power, combined with the honing of battle, had benefited her greatly.

Zhang Suannai's cultivation had already been ahead of Chen Shu's, and in the Forbidden Land, she had long since reached the Sixth Stage Peak.

Under the tempering of Divine Power, her Spirit Power Quality was continuously improving.

This harvest was what made her the happiest.

Especially the harvest after her own unremitting efforts.

This was the joy of a bountiful harvest.

Every single bit belonged to herself.

Zhang Suannai secretly decided in her heart—

After leaving the Forbidden Land, she must beat Chen Shu up. And she would record it, post it online, let everyone see Zhang Suannai beating up Chen Shu, let everyone see a Sword Sect Disciple beating up a Spirit Sect disciple, take back the limelight Chen Shu had stolen at the previous Martial Body meeting, let everyone praise Zhang Suannai, let everyone question why Spirit Sect disciples were so weak, being finished off by a Sword Sect Disciple so easily, let her roommates see that he was a noob, and that Zhang Suannai was the number one in the world.

At the thought of the Martial Body meeting, Zhang Suannai felt a dull pain in her heart.

That limelight should have belonged to her.

The one who was supposed to show off should have been her.

She could not accept that someone could show off more than her.

Thinking this, she accelerated again.

"Swish..."

The female Sword Immortal headed straight for the black curtain.

The speed of the Buddha Light was faster than her; after filling every corner of the Forbidden Land, it continued to spread outward.

The golden light flowed over the Beast Camp.

Jiang Lai's physical body had been completely transformed by the Founding Spiritual Power; he was now like a Humanoid Exotic Beast, but he had been entirely devoid of life until the Buddha Light brought him infinite vitality, gently stroking his wounds and bringing the power of resurrection.

His heart suddenly began to beat.

"Thump-thump..."

The first sound was like the beat of a drum.

His lungs, after many days, contracted once more.

"Haa..."

Like a broken bellows.

Jiang Lai opened his eyes; his pupils looked like green beans, only returning to normal after a few seconds.

The Buddha Light illuminated the entire affected area of the Forbidden Land, lighting up half the sky of Yujing; even people living in the city, pushing open their windows to look, could see a golden glow shining from the direction of Qingshan Ridge, soft and not blinding.

The pious had already knelt down, praying sincerely.

Another golden light rose from Qingshan Ridge, cutting through the night sky, heading toward the Daoist ancestral court, Yuan'an Temple.

The sect's Defense Array did not react at all.

The golden light was not blocked by buildings either.

The man lying on the bed opened his eyes.

At the same time, temples all over the world received the news—

The Bodhisattva who responded to the tribulation had achieved full merit, surpassing those before, and thus transformed into a Buddha, continuing to lead everyone to purify their hearts, do good, and save the world and themselves.

Consequently, the Spiritual Luck Treasure Hall was renamed the Shengxiong Baodian; the original Buddha statue of the Righteous Light Buddha was moved back, and the central Buddha statue was replaced with the already prepared Buddha statue of the Tribulation-Responding Buddha, so that the newly born Buddha could receive the world's incense and lead everyone in cultivation and heart-refinement.

The last day for double monthly votes.

Everyone, don't miss out while passing by.