Chapter 148: The Day of the Duel
"Heavenly... Wolf... Strike... HA!!"
With Yun Che's explosive shout, the Overlord Giant Sword suddenly released a majestic aura like surging waves and crashing seas. Instantly, the surrounding space trembled violently as air was forcefully pushed aside. The moment the heavy sword cleaved downward, behind Yun Che, the image of a celestial wolf howling at the heavens flashed through the air...
BOOM!!!
The heavy sword struck the ground, and the training space, protected by powerful profound force restrictions, quaked violently. Countless wide cracks spread at terrifying speed, massive amounts of debris flew in all directions, and thick, chaotic dust instantly filled the entire space... If not for the powerful profound force protection, the entire training space would have been shattered into pieces by that single strike.
"Suc... success!" Yun Che leaned on the heavy sword, slowly kneeling to the ground. He was panting heavily, but his face brimmed with an incredibly excited smile: "I finally... finally managed to execute the Heavenly Wolf Strike!"
Mo Li had originally thought that Yun Che comprehending the general formula of the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture within a month would already be his limit. She never expected that not only had Yun Che completely grasped the formula, but he had also fully unleashed the first sword of the Heavenly Wolf—the Heavenly Wolf Strike. During this period, aside from occasionally leaving the training space, Yun Che had never parted with the heavy sword, even carrying it on his back while sleeping. In his daily sword practice, he was extremely strict with himself, pushing himself to complete exhaustion every single time, to the point where even his little fingers could not move... At first, he would exhaust himself dozens of times a day. Gradually, the frequency decreased, and the Overlord Giant Sword grew lighter and more agile in his hands. Yet the power storm each swing brought became even more dominating.
The dust in the training space lingered long without settling. Behind the dust, Mo Li silently watched Yun Che's blurry figure. Her starry eyes were already filled with tears... She had impulsively taught Yun Che the Great Dao Pagoda Art and then the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture—wasn't the purpose for a moment like this?...
That complete "Heavenly Wolf Strike" just now from Yun Che—the swing of the sword, the roar, the movement of his body, the roar of the heavy sword—was so similar. It made her, in that daze, see the figure she yearned for in her dreams...
But reason cruelly told her that was not her brother. Her brother could never appear again.
One "Heavenly Wolf Strike" drained every last ounce of Yun Che's strength. He knelt on the ground for a long time without standing. Just then, the sound transmission jade within the Heavenly Poison Pearl suddenly flashed, and a strand of Lan Xue Ruo's voice sounded in his heart:
"Junior Brother Yun, tomorrow is the day of your duel with Mo Rong Yi. Remember to prepare well. It's best to rest for the entire day. Tomorrow morning, I will come to call you."
Lan Xue Ruo's voice made Yun Che open his mouth...
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow was the day of the duel with Mo Rong Yi?
Time slips away when one is immersed in cultivation. Sometimes, one enters a meditative state and several days pass without notice. Yun Che was completely unaware that three whole months had passed since the first time he entered the training space.
During those three months, aside from one accidental outing where he met the little fairy, leading to a small "incident," he had spent virtually all his time in the training space. Three months—neither too long nor too short—but during those three months, his gains were substantial. Just the completion of the Great Dao Pagoda Art and the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture alone caused a transformative change in his entire being.
Since tomorrow was the day of the duel, Yun Che naturally wouldn't continue training. He had also mastered the first sword of the Heavenly Wolf, so he was content. After recovering some strength, he changed his clothes, left the Profound Gathering Tower, returned to his residence, threw himself onto the bed, and fell asleep.
As he slept, the flame of the first level of the Great Dao Pagoda Art had already reached the first level of accomplishment, marked by the True Dharma character "Duo."
The next morning, when the sun was just rising, Lan Xue Ruo came as promised, carrying a food box. Seeing Yun Che had just woken up, she smiled and said: "I figured you might not have had breakfast yet, so I brought you some. The time for the duel hasn't arrived yet, so eat first, take your time."
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Yun Che took the food box, placed it on the table, opened it, and saw a variety of exquisite breakfast dishes. His mouth immediately started drooling. Without any restraint, he picked up the food and began wolfing it down.
The taste was very familiar. The moment it entered his mouth, Yun Che's appetite became even more voracious in a way that was hard to control. But after just a few bites, he suddenly paused, his face showing a strange expression.
"Xue Ruo... Senior Sister, this taste..."
"How is it?" Lan Xue Ruo's beautiful eyes sparkled slightly as she gently asked, "Does it suit your taste?"
"It suits my taste more than usual." Yun Che swallowed, his eyes fixated on Lan Xue Ruo: "Did you make this yourself?"
"You guessed right." Lan Xue Ruo smiled lightly, "I saw you've been cultivating hard these past few months, barely eating much, so I wanted to make a decent meal for you. I was worried it might not be to your liking, but it seems the worry was unnecessary."
Yun Che was deeply moved. He knew what it meant for a girl of Lan Xue Ruo's status to personally prepare a meal for him. He lowered his head and continued eating, eating with even more relish, until only the bare plates remained.
"Senior Sister, you really don't need to be so thoughtful towards me." When Yun Che lifted his head again, he had a gentle smile on his face: "But since you made it with your own hands, I can't bear to waste a single bite and ate it all."
"That's good." Lan Xue Ruo nodded happily, a hint of comfort and ease appearing between her brows.
This subtle change in her expression made Yun Che pause, and he tentatively asked: "Senior Sister, could these dishes be... your own work?"
"Yeah." Lan Xue Ruo nodded, smiling: "It's best if it suits your taste. But your eating manner... you're still like a child."
"I'm already seventeen! Where am I like a child!" Yun Che rubbed the tip of his nose, lifting his eyes, a slight aggression glinting in them as he gazed into Lan Xue Ruo's beautiful eyes: "Senior Sister, you're so beautiful, so gentle, and you have such great culinary skills... I wonder which lucky man, lucky enough to be struck by lightning, will eventually win your affection... Um, you really can't consider a man who is younger than you and already married?"
"Here we go again." Lan Xue Ruo gave him a helpless glare: "If you dare tease your senior sister again, I won't cook for you anymore."
"Ah... you mean, if I don't tease you, Senior Sister will still cook for me often?" Yun Che's face suddenly lit up with a delighted smile.
"It depends on your behavior." Lan Xue Ruo chuckled softly, her tenderness carrying a hint of charm even she didn't notice. She took out a set of pristine white training clothes from her space ring and placed them in front of Yun Che: "I just made this training outfit for you. It should fit you well. It's been specially treated, not only comfortable for movement but also provides some resistance to external forces. Wear it when you face Mo Rong Yi later."
Yun Che took it, but didn't put it on immediately. Instead, he gave it a light sniff. The scent was faint, but familiar—the gentle, heartwarming fragrance unique to Lan Xue Ruo. He smiled and said: "Did Senior Sister make this training outfit for me with her own hands too?"
Lan Xue Ruo moved her pink lips, a very faint blush appearing on her snow-like face. She lowered her eyes and said: "This is the first time I've made men's clothes, so I'm not sure if it'll be suitable... Anyway, try it on first."
After saying this, Lan Xue Ruo turned her back. Watching her silhouette, Yun Che smiled, a warm, intoxicating current surging in his heart. He quickly took off his outer clothes and put on the training outfit Lan Xue Ruo had made with her own hands.
"Senior Sister, I'm done changing."
Lan Xue Ruo turned around, and seeing Yun Che in the white training outfit, her beautiful eyes suddenly glowed with a different radiance.
Compared to three months ago, Yun Che was a bit taller. Lan Xue Ruo, being meticulous, had considered this while sewing. So the training outfit fit him perfectly, with no sense of awkwardness. But over these three months, Yun Che had changed not only in height. Under the transformative effect of the Great Dao Pagoda Art, his eyes, skin, aura, and temperament had all subtly changed. His eyes became deeper, as vast as the boundless starry sky when looked into. The smile at the corner of his mouth was warm yet carried an indescribable charm. His increasingly mature face was exceptionally handsome... She had seen too many handsome men; she never felt any stir within because of a man's appearance. But looking at Yun Che in this moment, her vision blurred and she felt inexplicably lost, her heart thumping wildly.
She quickly averted her gaze, slightly flustered: "It fits perfectly, and... it looks good too."
Yun Che lifted his arm, lightly sniffing the scent on the sleeve. Smiling, he said: "This is a set of clothes made for me by my senior sister. I will definitely treasure it... Thank you, Senior Sister."
"Then... how are you going to thank me?" Lan Xue Ruo's eyelashes curved slightly, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
"Well, let me think about it." Yun Che looked up, pretending to ponder, then suddenly gave a mysterious smile: "Senior Sister, close your eyes first."
"Eh?" Lan Xue Ruo blinked, then obediently closed her eyes, waiting for Yun Che's "thanks." She guessed he might have a surprise for her, and every girl, no matter what, has an irresistible anticipation for things like "surprises."
The moment she closed her eyes, she felt a familiar masculine presence draw close, and then a pair of arms suddenly encircled her slender waist. Before she could react, a burning heat pressed against her cherry lips, the strong male scent lingering at the tip of her nose.
"Eep!"
Lan Xue Ruo's eyes flew wide open. Her delicate body trembled and stiffened, her mind going completely blank. Then, she instinctively struggled, letting out whimpers like a wounded little animal. But Yun Che held her tight, and her struggles were weak, unable to break free. The sensation on her fragrant lips grew clearer with each passing moment. The breath so close stirred her heartstrings, making her heart race like a startled deer, pounding fiercely. Her strength slowly drained away. Finally, her struggles grew weaker; the small hand she raised to Yun Che's chest went limp and drooped down. Her body remained stiff, not daring to move, and her eyes quietly closed together.
Lan Xue Ruo's reaction eased the tension in Yun Che's heart. A slight smile curled at the corner of his lips. No longer satisfied with just touching lips, he greedily began to suck the delicate, petal-like softness of her lips. His increasingly aggressive movements made her breathing quicken, her heartbeat even more intense. With no experience at all, she had no idea how to fend off his advances. Her pearly teeth parted easily, and Yun Che's tongue invaded directly, touching her shy little tongue.
"Mmm..." Lan Xue Ruo's entire body quivered as if struck by lightning. A few strands of light, sweet ambrosia entered his mouth. The taste was unexpectedly sweet and refreshing, making him subconsciously want more. His hands tightened around her waist, he intruded into every corner of her mouth.
Lan Xue Ruo's eyes quietly opened a slit, her gaze misty and blurred. Her delicate nose let out repeated soft hums. Under Yun Che's increasingly fierce assault, her slender neck tilted upward. From instinctive retreat she shifted to unconscious, subtle responses. The hot breath from her nostrils hit Yun Che's face, her delicate body growing increasingly hot, and her soft arms unconsciously wrapped tightly around Yun Che's body.
Then, one of Yun Che's hands quietly slid from her slender waist, mischievously landing on the high, full curve of her chest. He grasped that plump softness, gently kneading it through the thin fabric.
"Ah..."
The intense stimulation made Lan Xue Ruo's body stiffen. Her beautiful eyes opened wide, and she let out a sudden, urgent gasp. In panic, she broke free from Yun Che's embrace. She instinctively raised her hand to cover the spot that had just been violated, her gaze dazed, her cheeks flushed, her hair disheveled, and she heaved for breath.
"Senior Sister, I..." Yun Che's mind also snapped back to clarity, realizing he had acted too rashly.
"You..." Lan Xue Ruo bit her lip, not daring to meet his eyes. The turmoil in her heart refused to settle.
"Bad... bad man!" She had intended to scold him, but once spoken, it sounded more like a lover's petulant rebuke, causing her face to turn even redder. She ran out as if escaping.
"Senior Sister, wait for me!"
Yun Che quickly chased after her and caught her tiny hand. Lan Xue Ruo instinctively tried to pull away, but after several attempts, she couldn't free herself, and had to let him hold it. Walking side by side, hand in hand, she kept her head bowed, never daring to meet his gaze again.