Hu Hong slowly awoke, feeling a splitting headache, yet his limbs were filled with a strange power. A powerful, unfamiliar green energy rampaged through his body, making him feel unprecedentedly strong, yet also causing him great pain from the distension of his meridians. He vaguely remembered being injured by Liu Ji and then falling into that strange Yin-Yang Pool... after that, everything was a blur.
"I... where am I?" Hu Hong struggled to sit up, looking around. He found himself in an elegant and luxurious chamber, the air filled with a faint, intoxicatingly sweet scent of a strange orchid.
"You're awake." A familiar female voice, cold yet tinged with a hint of laziness and natural charm, spoke. Hu Hong followed the sound and saw the door to the room gently pushed open as a breathtakingly beautiful figure he had long dreamed of gracefully entered.
Ning Xuefei's gauze nightgown was as thin as a cicada's wing, almost completely transparent. It clung tightly to her mature, voluptuous, and exquisitely curvaceous figure. As she moved, her ample breasts swayed, her slender willow waist twisted, and her large, round, and plump pink buttocks swayed and swung beneath the thin gauze. Her long, beautiful legs created a seductive ripple in her stockings.
Hu Hong's heart pounded wildly, and his mouth was dry. The Holy Empress exuded a fatal temptation no matter the time or place. Her unique, captivating body fragrance, a mix of orchid and musk, now drifted clearly into his nostrils, making his spirit sway. He almost forgot where he was and the discomfort within his body.
"Your... Your Majesty," Hu Hong struggled to get out of bed to bow, his voice trembling. "Before this, under your orders, I went to investigate the Xuan Palace... I have already made a discovery, but then I encountered that scoundrel, Liu Ji."
Ning Xuefei moved with lotus-like steps, gracefully approaching the bedside. Her voluptuous body was faintly visible beneath the gauze nightgown. She looked down at Hu Hong, her soul-stealing phoenix eyes complex and inscrutable. She waved her hand, her voice still cool and clear as she said, "I am already aware of the matter in the Xuan Palace. You have done your best this time, but you are seriously injured. There is no need for such formalities."
Hearing this, Hu Hong's heart leaped with joy, and he quickly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I am unharmed! It's just that after falling into that pool, I lost consciousness, and my body... my body feels a bit strange..."
Ning Xuefei extended her slender, jade-like hand, seemingly casually placing it on Hu Hong's wrist, but in reality, she was secretly channeling her [Xuanhua Divine Art] to investigate. When her extremely cold yin internal energy touched the green energy within Hu Hong's body, the power inside him immediately rebounded uncontrollably, causing him to grunt, his face flushing red.
Ning Xuefei quickly withdrew her hand, a flash of understanding in her phoenix-like eyes. This Hu Hong probably didn't know the actual situation; he merely thought that the power within him was some kind of mutation caused by his severe injuries. He might even think this power could better "heal" her, but he didn't know that it was the very source of the Qinghua Secret Treasure that he had mistakenly absorbed from her own son!
Ning Xuefei thought to herself, "This man stumbled upon it by a stroke of immense luck, and actually reclaimed my Ning family's secret treasure. This 'Qinghua' power is extremely yang and hard, complementing my 'Xuan Shuang' power, which is extremely yin and soft."
"To extract it to heal Xing'er, or to add to my own cultivation, ordinary methods will likely be ineffective. Forcibly stripping it away would destroy both the secret treasure and this young man's life..."
"The only foolproof method seems to be..."
Ning Xuefei's beautiful, dark eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. If she did this, there would be physical intimacy. This Hu Hong had been infatuated with her for a long time and was obedient, making him an easily controllable pawn. In terms of appearance, he could be considered handsome and robust.
However, when had she, Ning Xuefei, ever been a woman indulging in mere physical pleasure? Over the years, she had submitted to the tyrannical power of the Emperor Wei Wuyuan, only to protect the Ning clan. She had never truly given her heart to any man, let alone become infatuated. If it weren't for Xing'er, for the crucial 'Qinghua' power, she would never consider such a deep entanglement with any man.
"Fine..." After some consideration, Ning Xuefei sighed inwardly, having made her decision.
She sneered in her heart, her beautiful eyes calm as her cool yet charming voice, slowly began, "Young Master Hu, the situation inside your body... is more complicated than I imagined. It seems that in the Yin-Yang Pool, you coincidentally absorbed a vast and myriad foreign energy. Although this energy is powerful, it is also extremely violent. If it is not sorted and guided in time, I'm afraid your life will be in danger."
Hearing this, Hu Hong's face changed. He could indeed feel the power in his body was difficult to control and hurriedly asked, "Is it really that dangerous? What should be done? I ask for Your Majesty's guidance!"
Ning Xuefei looked at his worried yet excited eyes, pondered for a moment, and said, "I recall, you once mentioned that you would use your Hundred Flower Island's Night's heart art to share my burdens?"
Hu Hong's eyes instantly lit up, and he eagerly asked, "Yes, Your Majesty, please speak! As long as I can share your burdens, I would go through ten thousand deaths without regret!"
Ning Xuefei was silent for a moment, her voice as cold as frost as she said, "Since that's the case, I will give you this opportunity. The foreign power in your body is compatible with my [Xuanhua Divine Art], yet they also complement each other. Through dual cultivation, I can guide the chaotic power within you and help you tame and control it. And your 'Yexin' secret art, combined with this new power, can also aid in advancing my cultivation. This method may solve your current predicament and would not be in vain for your previous intention to share my burdens."
Hu Hong was immediately overjoyed, almost to the point of fainting! He had dreamed of getting close to this peerless seductress, never expecting her to propose it herself. He immediately threw aside his previous simple thought of "healing" the Empress, his mind filled only with the enchanting scenes that might happen next. He thought it was his past loyalty and his current "adventure" that had moved the Empress, finally making her willing to give him a chance to get close.
However, facing her cool and majestic gaze, although he was ecstatic inside, Hu Hong suppressed his inner fervor, maintaining a calm expression. He took a deep breath, struggled to rise from the bed, bowed deeply to Ning Xuefei, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is willing to grant this disciple such a great opportunity and to guide me personally. I am endlessly grateful and have no way to repay you! I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's high expectations and follow all your arrangements!"
Ning Xuefei looked at his appearance, respectful yet with a hint of restrained excitement, and a flicker of almost imperceptible satisfaction flashed in her phoenix eyes. At least this kid knew his place and wasn't getting carried away.
She said lightly, "It's good that you understand. I have never liked useless people. Rest well first and stabilize the energy in your body. At noon tomorrow, come to the hot spring under the back mountain villa and wait for me. The spiritual energy there is abundant, suitable for us to practice."
"I obey your command! I will be there on time to await Your Majesty's arrival!" Hu Hong's throat moved slightly as he repeatedly agreed.
Having achieved her goal, Ning Xuefei did not stay longer and turned to leave gracefully.
*****
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