Chapter 118 – Purely Academic

  Mu Yanyu stepped lightly into the room, her robes brushing against the wooden floorboards like gently flowing water. Her eyes swept over the low table where a teapot and three cups remained, along with the ‘Go’ board that still had scattered stones from the recent game Jun De had played.

  She paused as a faint, delicate fragrance lingered in the air. It was a floral perfume with a touch of sweetness. Her eyebrows drew together as Mu Yanyu frowned, the gesture marring her normally calm and composed expression.

  Mu Yanyu could clearly sense the presence of the others who had just departed Jun De’s room; their Qi was still faintly etched into the surroundings.

  Lin Yue. Shen Ruolan.

  For a single moment, a sharp twinge of emotion stirred in her chest. It was the unwelcome prickle of jealousy, and she pushed it away at once, banishing the feeling with the ruthless discipline of a cultivator that had trained for decades to rid herself of anything that could create an Inner Demon.

  She turned around just as Jun De slid the door closed behind her. That faint sound of the wood shutting sealed off the little noise that had been entering the room from outside. Now, there was only the quiet hum of the ship’s arrays that created a steady vibration in the floor beneath their feet.

  Mu Yanyu’s eyes met Jun De’s, and they were calm and steady once again.

  “We need to talk.” She said softly, and her voice carried a heavy weight that made Jun De’s steps slow as he walked toward her.

  Mu Yanyu drew in a deep, steadying breath, and she tried her best to calm her racing heart and calm her expression.

  “Jun De, have you noticed any changes in your body since our Dual Cultivation?”

  Her tone was calm and steady, but there was a subtle edge beneath it that spoke of her uneasiness with discussing the topic. Mu Yanyu ignored the faint warmth rising to her cheeks as she asked the question, and refused to let her thoughts wander to the memory of Jun De’s breath against her skin, and the heat of his body as it pressed up against him.

  ‘I won’t indulge in any distractions! This question is purely academic and required in order to help Jun De reach his full potential.’ Mu Yanyu thought to herself as she pushed away the image of Jun De’s lips against her own.

  Jun De blinked in surprise as he was caught completely off guard by Mu Yanyu’s question. For a moment, his mind went blank, and he could only frown in confusion as she suddenly brought up the topic.

  It took a few seconds for his mind to reboot and process what she had asked.

  He gave a slight shake of his head.

  “No, I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. Nothing has changed with my body.” Jun De said, his voice uneasy.

  ‘Was there something wrong? Did I do something to Elder Mu?’ Jun De thought, and he stared at her face in puzzlement as he tried to gain some insight into whatever worried her.

  Mu Yanyu’s eyes sharpened as she studied him, and she folded her arms.

  “Think carefully, Jun De. Has your cultivation felt easier than before, or have you noticed any changes in your Qi?”

  Jun De let out a sigh of relief as he was growing more worried that there was something seriously wrong. Hearing her ask about his cultivation, Jun De knew that it wasn’t anything too serious.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He took a moment to reflect before answering.

  “When I first started cultivating, it was difficult.” Jun De admitted.

  “Breaking through to the first level of Qi Condensation felt almost impossible, like I was climbing a sheer cliff with my bare hands. But, as I progressed, the breakthrough came more naturally. Each level since has been easier than the last.”

  Jun De shook his head slightly.

  “But I don’t think that has anything to do with our Dual Cultivation. It was like it before, and I haven’t really noticed a change.”

  Mu Yanyu’s composure slipped, and her true emotions appeared on her face for the first time that night. Her eyes widened, and her normally reserved features shifted to open surprise at the admission.

  “That is the opposite of how it should be, Jun De.” She murmured half to herself.

  She stared at Jun De with an intensity that made him shift slightly under her scrutiny.

  “For most cultivators, the first few steps on their cultivation journey are the easiest. The path only becomes more arduous as they advance. Yet for you, it has been the reverse. That is not typical or normal.”

  Mu Yanyu’s thoughts stirred at the possibilities.

  ‘Could it be a Dao Body? Or some hidden constitution that even Jun De is unaware of?’

  The idea took root more firmly with every passing heartbeat. The memory of his dual cultivation with her resurfaced, how his Qi had surged afterwards, breaking through to the next level. It was as though there were no barrier or bottleneck.

  Then there was her own Qi. It had somehow been purified after joining with his, becoming denser and stronger. She hadn’t achieved a breakthrough, but her cultivation had increased after the act.

  The faintest tinge of awe and excitement coloured her expression, but Mu Yanyu forced herself to remain steady when she finally spoke again.

  “You may not realize it, but this is a sign of something unique within you. Ordinary talent can’t explain how easily you break through, or the quality of your Qi.”

  “A sign of what exactly?” Jun De asked in concern.

  “I believe you possess a Dao Body, or a special Constitution that is well hidden or unique to you. It is a legendary sort of nature that is rare, even in the Sect Records. Tranquil Mountain has many Disciples with special Constitutions, but they are easy to recognize and identify.”

  “Are you positive you aren’t mistaken, Elder Mu?” Jun De asked at last, shaking his head. Seeing Mu Yanyu nod, Jun De let out another sigh.

  “Even if there is something unusual about me, I don’t see how that changes anything.” Jun De said, meeting Mu Yanyu’s eyes again. Her lips parted, then closed again as if she were weighing her words carefully.

  Finally, when she spoke, her voice was softer than before, and her cheeks were flushed red.

  “My own cultivation has been smoother since that night.” She admitted, and her eyes flicked away from his for a moment, before she continued.

  “My Qi flows more easily, with fewer obstructions. The progress I have made in these past months has been more significant than the years previous.” Mu Yanyu’s fingers tightened and clenched within her robes, and her composure faltered. The blush on her cheeks spread until her entire face was red.

  “That is why I would like to understand more about your constitution, Jun De. If…If you are willing.” Mu Yanyu stumbled slightly with her words as the realization of what she was saying struck her.

  Jun De froze as the meaning of her words sank in. He stared at her in shock, and his heartbeat quickened. The silence between them seemed to stretch for a long time.

  ‘She wants to Dual Cultivate again!’ Jun De’s mind supplied the thought before he consciously had it. His own face warmed, and it was as though the floor beneath his feet had shifted.

  Mu Yanyu, seeing the shock written plainly across Jun De’s face, quickly steadied herself. She drew in a deep breath and forced the heat from his cheeks as she tried to regain her composure.

  “Do not misunderstand me, Jun De. I am not suggesting we become Dao Partners. This is not about forming a bond of that nature between us.” Mu Yanyu explained in an even and deliberate tone.

  “What I am suggesting is only this: I will assist you in uncovering the truth of your constitution. Whether you truly possess a Dao Body, or something else that may be hidden within you. The improvements to my own cultivation, and even to yours, are secondary.”

  Her gaze softened as she realized that she was being too harsh, and she shook her head.

  “But you should understand that, since my cultivation is higher than yours, the flow of Qi will naturally favour you. Even if we do not discover the secret within you, there will be a benefit to us both. If we Dual Cultivate, you will very likely experience an increase in your own Qi. As for me, I believe the benefit will be similar.”

  Mu Yanyu’s blush returned, but her eyes never left his.

  “So, Jun De, I ask you plainly. Will you allow me to help you discover the truth?”

  Jun De immediately, and eagerly, nodded.