Shen Qi took a deep breath, his expression having calmed down. Now that the words were out, the rest was much easier to say.
"Junior Sister Yuan, it was my presumption just now. I was in a moment of desperation and didn't know you were bathing."
"But since it has already happened, I will definitely take responsibility, as long as you are willing..."
"Are you willing, Yuan Shu?"
Yuan Shu looked up in shock, her eyes full of disbelief. "Eldest Senior Brother, you..."
She gently clutched the lapels of her robe at her chest, looking like a panicked little white rabbit backed into a corner.
Her face showed conflict, hesitation, and bewilderment.
Inwardly, however, she was complaining frantically.
These orthodox cultivation sects were truly something else!
If this were the Joyous Sect, no male cultivator would have been able to resist the temptation of such an ambiguous and stimulating scene.
They probably would have made love right there in the bathing room until the sky went dark!
But now, the passionate intensity she had expected was completely absent. Instead, it drew out a speech about "taking solemn responsibility" from Shen Qi?
Yuan Shu lowered her eyes and remained silent, pondering secretly in her heart.
As expected, things had progressed a bit too hastily.
Meanwhile, seeing her remain silent, Shen Qi's heart grew colder bit by bit.
Was she unwilling?
Was it because of Shu Linyuan?
Did she actually still like Shu Linyuan?
Shen Qi's hands slowly clenched within his long sleeves.
Was it too fast?
That secret desire hidden deep in his heart had sprung up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain in just a single day.
Had it frightened Yuan Shu?
His throat felt a bit dry. After a long while, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he spoke in a deep voice, "If you are unwilling, Junior Sister Yuan, you don't have to force yourself."
"I was too abrupt just now."
With that, Shen Qi cupped his hands in a serious bow, took two steps back, and was about to turn and leave.
"Eldest Senior Brother..."
He had barely taken two steps when a soft, delicate call from behind stopped him in his tracks.
"Eldest Senior Brother, please let me think about this matter first," Yuan Shu said softly.
She didn't completely refuse, just said she needed to think about it?
Shen Qi's brow lifted, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes. He nodded in strong agreement. "Such a major event indeed requires careful consideration."
"Mhm, so... are you still willing to apply medicine for me, Eldest Senior Brother?"
The soft, delicate voice carried a hint of apprehension as she spoke with some hesitation.
The content of her words, however, caused Shen Qi's newly calmed breathing to suddenly catch.
Apply medicine. Apply... medicine!
"Eldest Senior Brother, my hand still hurts a lot. Could I... ask you to apply the medicine for me again tonight?"
Yuan Shu bit her lip as she spoke, her eyes looking slightly upward, her gaze rippling with a touch of embarrassment.
Shen Qi turned back and looked down, just in time to see that the redness on Yuan Shu's wrist had yet to fade.
"How could it be this severe?"
He stepped forward, carefully taking her hand in both of his, his long, fair fingertips gently touching Yuan Shu's wrist.
Yuan Shu shrank back in feigned pain, tears welling up in her watery eyes.
She shook her head, as if she herself didn't know why it was so severe.
Shen Qi's heart ached. He had thought it was just a little red and would be fine after some rest, so he hadn't helped her apply medicine in the morning.
He hadn't expected it to turn out like this now!
He quickly took out the medicinal liquid from his Qiankun bag, poured it into his palm, and carefully rubbed it onto her skin.
Once the medicinal liquid on her wrist was fully absorbed, Shen Qi's Adam's apple rolled.
"Since your hand is inconvenienced, then, then I will help you apply the medicine for the bruises on your body. You... bear with it a little."
Yuan Shu nodded obediently. "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother."
Shen Qi took two deep breaths to calm his slightly turbulent emotions.
Then, he helped Yuan Shu lie down and reached out to slowly pull open her lapels.
Snowy-white skin was exposed to Shen Qi's eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed frantically, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably again.
The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is easier.
He forced himself to stay calm, poured the medicinal liquid into his palm, carefully covered the bruise, and gently rubbed it.
Neither of them spoke.
But the place where his palm touched her body grew uncontrollably hot.
The atmosphere began to grow bizarrely intimate.
"Eldest Senior Brother, could you move a little further to the front? It hurts... a bit."
Yuan Shu's cheeks were flushed. She bit her lip and turned her face away, seemingly not daring to look at Shen Qi.
Shen Qi's ears were equally red. He carefully shifted his hand, looked away, and said in a hoarse, strained voice, "...Alright."
"Ah!"
Yuan Shu let out a cry of alarm and suddenly sat up. Shen Qi was startled and turned his head to look.
The moment their eyes met, both of them were somewhat dazed.
The loose lapels slipped down her shoulder.
Shen Qi's eyes widened abruptly.
"Gulp."
He heard the sound of his own swallowing.
He had seen this very scene just now in the bathing room.
But now, without the running water to obscure it, and without clothing to hide it, it was even clearer and more distinct.
Shen Qi's breathing grew noticeably heavier. Yuan Shu seemed frightened as well, staring at him innocently with wide eyes.
Suddenly, he grabbed Yuan Shu's waist, and immediately after, he lowered his head.
...
The night was dark, and a figure suddenly darted across the tranquil night sky.
His white robes stood out in the night breeze as he bounded over walls and crossed rooftops, rushing to disappear into the nearby darkness.
It wasn't until he managed to flee all the way back to his own courtyard that Shen Qi looked down, his heart still pounding wildly.
He walked quickly to the well, drew a bucket of ice-cold well water, and poured it over his head.
Splash.
The well water washed down from the top of his head, bringing a wave of freezing cold, but it could not wash away the heat in his blood.
In his mind, the scene from Yuan Shu's room kept replaying.
He, he had actually kissed her...
Shen Qi couldn't believe it. How could such a wanton and unrestrained person be him?
How could he have done such a thing?
But he had done it, and he had been unrestrained for nearly a quarter of an hour.
It wasn't until he heard Yuan Shu's soft sobbing from above that he woke up as if from a dream!
He had fled back here just like a deserter.
Leaving Yuan Shu alone in the room, her clothes disheveled, having been thoroughly bullied.
Was his self-control too weak?
No, it wasn't!
It must be because Yuan Shu was too beautiful, too enchanting!
He was also a normal man with his own desires!
It was just that he usually disguised it too well, and he had never had feelings for any woman. Even if he did, it was always a dignified and steady affection that stopped at the boundaries of propriety.
Never, never like tonight.
Just now had clearly been an accident. Yuan Shu's bruise had hurt, scaring her into sitting up.
Yet he had taken advantage of her vulnerability!
But that taste was so damn sweet, his mind was about to explode!
He couldn't forget it, he still couldn't forget it!
Shen Qi took a deep breath and sat cross-legged in the courtyard. Wearing his soaking wet clothes, he let the night breeze blow over him, bringing waves of icy chill.
...
Meanwhile, in Yuan Shu's room.
Dropping her innocent and frightened expression, Yuan Shu lazily stretched her body.
This Shen Qi really was a novice; he bit her so hard it hurt!
However, progress was a good thing.
She believed that what she wanted would soon be delivered right to her door.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Yuan Shu's mouth.
A knock came from outside the door. "Miss Yuan."
