Yue Lan stepped into the room without a word, her silver robe catching the lantern light just enough to showcase her graceful body faintly.
Her robe clung close around her curves, but not too tight, yet precise and refined.
And every step she took made the fabric shift just enough for Li Feng's imagination to fill in the rest.
That soft scent followed her in something is clean, spring-like, almost icy. To the point, it doesn't seem to fit a dusty place like this.
She sat across from him without hesitation, spine straight, eyes calm as still water.
While she was walking, Li Feng tried not to stare... but he ended up staring at her graceful body anyway. How could he not? That silver robe flowed like a second skin.
Her perfect chest rose and fell gently with each breath while her hips, the slight sway in her walk causing the peach-shaped rear hidden beneath that sash to... Li Feng know she wasn't even trying to seduce him, but she was already driving him mad.
He sat down too, opposite her and coughed lightly, trying to calm the blood rushing downward.
"I heard you were rich," Yue Lan suddenly said, her voice beautiful but flat yet also not unfriendly. "Not strong. But just rich."
Li Feng smiled thinly. "Yes Senior Sister Yue, That sounds... about right but may I know why you come to this one humble place...?"
Then Yue Lan pulled out a porcelain bottle plain, no markings and set it on the table.
"Three Cloudbreaking Essence Pills. It can clean out the qi channels for better spiritual absorption. I want to sell this to you as I need spirit stones more than pills right now."
Li Feng looked at it. Yeah, those pills could help… someone else but not him, not now.
"Sorry Senior sister Yue, I'm afraid those pills won't provide help much for me," he shook his head and said wryly. "Even if I swallowed all three, I'd still be stuck at Qi Refining level three."
Seeing his rejection, Yue Lan seemed disappointed, but then looked at Li Feng again at his next words.
"... But you can sell me something else." Li Feng swallowed hard as the words left his mouth nervously.
She met him in the eye and just nodded. "Then tell me."
Li Feng paused a bit, fingers tapping the table slowly as thought went through his mind.
Thirty years in this sect. He'd seen many things, the way people acted, how cultivation made people cold, focused, inhuman. While everything was all about breaking through, advancing, and living longer. While everything else? Nothing but trash.
Flesh? Desire? Nobody cared or paid much attention to those mortal indulgences, as if they were treating their bodies as nothing but vessels or shells to contain the dao.
He glanced at Yue Lan again, taking in her beautiful face and the cold look in her eyes, observing the way she carried herself.
Yue Lan wasn't some innocent flower. Right now, she was probably desperate since she seek him out, and she isn't dumb either.
This was his chance to test out this long term doubt of his... so Li Feng said slowly.
"I'm willing to give 100 spirit stone to you...."
Yue raised her brow, slightly. "What do you want in return?"
Li Feng gritted his teeth and exhaled, then his voice turn calm. "A night. With you."
The room fell silent. Yue Lan expression didn't change when she heard this.
"No dual cultivation !" he added quickly. "Nothing like that. I don't want to take your qi or your Dao insight and I'm not even asking for anything spiritual..."
Yue Lan tilted her head slightly upon hearing this and frowned, "Then what do you want?"
Li Feng leaned forward, his eyes a bit red, and slowly said, "I just want the pleasure of the physical form. A taste of warmth, flesh. Nothing more."
Yue Lan finally understood his words and stayed silent as she stared at him, long and quiet.
Her golden eyes didn't blink, and after what seemed like a long time passing, Li Feng heard her reply.
"I don't normally do this," she said with a neutral tone. "And I would have rejected this kind of deal as it's nothing but a waste of time. But... "
Li Feng stayed silent while letting her continue.
"There's an outer sect competition in a month," she continued. "And the top 5 will get a Foundation Establishment Pill. Right now, I'm very close to breaking through to the ninth level. That's why I need more spirit stones to break through so I can have a chance of contending for the top 5. But if I go and do the sect mission to earn those spirit stones now... by then, it's too late."
Then Yue Lan looked him straight in the eye. "So I wouldn't be here if I had other options, but before I accept the deal... I ask you again, are you sure you want a night with my mortal body in exchange for the spirit stone?"
Li Feng swallowed hard again upon hearing her somewhat accepting tone, his heart already pounding as he nodded hurriedly and replied, ".... Of course!"
Hearing his quick answer, Yue Lan leaned back slightly as she asked, "But why ask for something so pointless? You could have asked for something that could help your cultivation. You've been here longer than me, so you know how this world works. Mortal pleasure? It's just a waste of time and energy."
Hearing her question, Li Feng let out a breath as he pretended to give her a small, tired smile. "Maybe it is pointless...," he said. "But I remember what it's like to be human. This world grinds people down too much, turning everyone into nothing but statues chasing the Dao and forgetting everything else."
He then shrugged lightly. "And I'm not strong, I'm not fast, nor am I talented. But I remember what warmth feels like.
So that's why I'd rather spend my spirit stones chasing that warmth... rather than rot away meditating in the cold."
Yue Lan stayed quiet as she watched Li Feng speak. It sounded honest. Almost noble. But inside?
Li Feng's thoughts were consumed with nothing but heat and desire as he began to imagine her silver robe slipping down her shoulders, those cold golden eyes slowly filling with tears, and her pale naked skin glowing under candlelight.
Not to mention that tight, shapely peach he had stared at for years, finally within reach.
And the best part?
She was still sitting there and still thinking about it.
She hadn't said no.
His heart thumped louder while trying hard to appear calm on the outside.
But inside?
He was grinning.
Like a hungry dog who just saw the kitchen door swing open.