The road to Sanlu Town was little more than a dirt path worn thin by countless footsteps and cart wheels, winding through low hills that stretched endlessly to either side, broken only by scattered trees and patches of wild grass.
For the first day I walked alone, passing the remains of old campsites, cold ashes, cracked pots, and the faint traces of travelers who had come this way before me and moved on without looking back.
The world was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing, but by the second day, that silence began to change.
I sensed them before I saw them, two figures approaching from the opposite direction, their footsteps light yet steady. My Perception Eyes caught the faint circulation of qi within their bodies, weak but unmistakable, early-stage cultivators like me judging by the flow.
I slowed my pace, remaining alert but not hostile, and moments later they came into view.
Both were young women, no older than their early twenties.
At first glance, it was impossible not to notice that they were beautiful, but not in the exaggerated, unreal way often described in stories. Their beauty was grounded, shaped by vitality and confidence rather than ornament.
The one on the left wore simple traveling robes in pale blue. Her hair was tied back neatly, revealing a calm face and sharp, observant eyes. She walked with measured steps, her posture disciplined.
The other wore light green, her movements more relaxed, almost playful. A faint smile lingered on her lips as she looked around, as if the journey itself amused her. Her eyes were bright, curious, and quick to take in her surroundings.
They noticed me at the same time I noticed them, and we slowed to a stop a few paces apart, neither side speaking at first as the wind brushed past and stirred dust along the road.
After a brief pause, I was the one who broke the silence. "My name is Jinlong," I said calmly, offering a slight nod. It was a name I chose on the spot, without the original owner's memories, I did not know this body's true name, so I borrowed one from my previous life and used it as my own.
The two women exchanged a brief glance before the one dressed in pale blue stepped forward, her expression open and her smile faint but sincere.
"I'm Xiaoting," she said, gesturing lightly to her side.
"This is my companion, Yaolin." She inclined her head in greeting, her movements graceful and composed.
"It's a pleasure," she added softly.
I could sense their qi clearly now, both early-stage cultivators not far from my own level, with no hostility and no trace of concealed killing intent. With that unspoken understanding, we continued down the road together at an unhurried pace.
"Are you traveling far?" Xiaoting asked, glancing toward the road ahead.
"I'm headed to Sanlu Town," I replied. "I heard it's a good place for wandering cultivators to find work and supplies."
Her eyes brightened slightly. "That's where we're going too."
Yaolin nodded in agreement. "We've been on the road for two days already. It should take another five days or so if nothing delays us."
I hesitated briefly, then spoke. "If you don't mind, may I travel with you? The road feels safer with company."
Xiaoting laughed softly. "Of course. We were thinking the same."
"There's no reason to refuse," Yaolin said. "Three travelers are less likely to be troubled than one."
Relief settled quietly in my chest.
"Thank you," I said.
With that, the three of us continued down the road together, Sanlu Town waiting somewhere beyond the horizon, and as I walked beside them, I couldn't help but notice the striking contrast in their beauty.
Xiaoting was the first to draw the eye. She was fair-skinned, her complexion clear and lively, as if sunlight favored her more than others. Her figure was slender, her waist narrow without appearing fragile, and her movements carried a lightness that made the long road seem less tiring just by watching her walk. When she smiled, it came easily and without pretense, brightening her features naturally. There was a youthful cheer to her expression, open, warm, and sincere, yet nothing about her felt careless. It was the kind of beauty shaped by optimism rather than adornment.
Nevertheless, Yaolin possessed a quieter allure, a beauty that revealed itself only with patience. She was slender and well-proportioned, her waist narrow and her posture naturally graceful, the gentle rise of her ample breast subtly outlined beneath her robes in a way that was elegant rather than provocative. Every movement she made was measured and unhurried, her refined features framed by calm, observant eyes that seemed to notice far more than they revealed. She did not smile often, but when she did, it was soft and restrained, lending her a composed elegance that never sought attention, yet lingered all the same.
Despite their differences, there was no trace of arrogance in either of them; their robes were simple, their manners modest, and neither carried herself like someone accustomed to admiration.
They spoke politely, listened attentively, and treated me as an equal rather than someone above or beneath them.
Two fair maidens, similar in form yet distinct in spirit, one warm and cheerful, the other serene and graceful, walked the same humble road as I did, and somehow, that shared simplicity made their beauty feel all the more real.
We hadn't gone far when the road narrowed between two low ridges, tall grass swaying quietly on both sides, the air unnaturally still.
I was just about to speak when my Perception Eyes flared on their own, a sharp warning striking my mind, danger. "Stop~!" I said immediately.
I was a heartbeat too late as a sudden shout shattered the silence, followed by the sharp whistle of an arrow tearing through the air and burying itself in the dirt where I had been standing only a moment before. "Bandits~!" Xiaoting cried.
Figures burst from the tall grass, five in total, dressed in rough clothes with hardened faces and weapons already raised: blades, clubs, even a bow. Their movements were quick and practiced, betraying experience rather than desperation.
These weren't mere mortals scraping by; they had done this before. "Drop your spirit stones and valuables," the man at the front sneered, "and we'll let you leave with your lives."
Yaolin stepped forward, her eyes turning cold. "We don't have time for this." Neither did I.
Drawing in a sharp breath, I activated the qi within my dantian, Yin and Yang rotating together as they flowed through my meridians and into my limbs. My body felt lighter, sharper, but I knew my limits.
At my stage, charging recklessly would only get me killed. Instead, I moved in close, positioning myself to support rather than lead, deflecting an incoming blade and disrupting the first attacker's rhythm to create an opening.
Xiaoting seized it instantly, darting in from the side with swift, decisive strikes, while Yaolin remained calm at the rear, her movements precise and economical, her attacks landing exactly where they were needed.
I stayed between them when I could, parrying, interfering, and lending what strength I had, even as pain jolted up my arm with each clash of steel.
Dust filled the air, shouts echoing between the ridges; one bandit collapsed clutching his chest, and another was knocked to the ground, unmoving.
But then my Perception Eyes caught something wrong, too late to stop it. A small vial shattered at our feet, releasing a faint green mist that spread swiftly through the air.
"Poison!" I shouted as Xiaoting's steps faltered and Yaolin's breathing tightened, their qi flows disturbed but not yet thrown into chaos.
Gritting their teeth, both of them forced their qi outward in a last, decisive burst, powerful strikes that tore through the mist and slammed into the enemy line.
Faced with such sudden resistance, the remaining bandits broke ranks and fled, disappearing into the tall grass as fast as their legs could carry them.
Silence returned, we had won, yet it felt hollow.
The poison soon made itself known as Xiaoting leaned weakly against a tree, her cheeks flushed despite the cool air, while Yaolin's breathing grew uneven, her usually composed expression strained as restless qi churned within her.
I activated my Perception Eyes and felt a faint heat coil in my own dantian as well, subtle, but unmistakable. The poison had reached me too, though its effect was far weaker.
What I saw made my heart sink: it wasn't suppressing their qi or damaging their meridians, but stimulating it, driving Yin and Yang toward a dangerous imbalance as waves of heat rolled off their bodies.
By the signs alone, the nature of it was clear, an aphrodisiac-type poison, filthy and insidious, meant to incapacitate cultivators without killing them.
We were exposed on this road, and staying any longer would only worsen things. "We need to move," I said, steadying my breath. "We'll find a safe place first, then deal with the poison."
They nodded without hesitation, trusting my judgment, and we pressed on despite the poison gnawing at our control. The journey felt longer than it was, every step heavy, until we finally found a shallow cave tucked beneath an overhang of stone. It was dry, shielded from wind and rain, and hidden enough to keep prying eyes away, a temporary refuge from the road and its dangers.
Inside, the effects of the poison intensified. Xiaoting's breaths grew shallow, her face burning with unnatural heat as she clutched at her robes, while Yaolin sat down heavily against the cave wall, her composure cracking as uncontrollable desire flickered in her eyes.
Their qi surged restlessly, seeking release, and both of them looked to me with strained, pleading expressions. "Jinlong," Xiaoting whispered, voice trembling, "we can't endure this much longer…"
Yaolin closed her eyes, steadying herself, then spoke softly but firmly. "Please… help us detoxify it," her voice strained yet resolute. "This poison can only be neutralized by introducing stable Yang energy into our systems. Alone, we can't balance it, we need you."
I steadied them and guided them to sit, the heat radiating from their bodies palpable even through cloth as my Perception Eyes confirmed the imbalance worsening by the moment.
Xiaoting looked up at me with hazy eyes still filled with trust, her voice soft as she said it would be too late if I didn't help now.
Yaolin met my gaze next, hesitation flickering briefly before settling into quiet resolve. "We're asking you," she whispered.
I leaned in slowly, giving them time to pull away if they wished, but neither did.
I brushed my lips against Xiaoting's first, brief, gentle, meant more to steady her than to ignite anything, then turned to Yaolin, whose breath caught softly as our lips met in the same restrained, lingering way.
The contact was enough. Their trembling eased, and the frantic heat within them began to respond, drawn toward the steadier rhythm of my Yang energy.
I stayed close, guiding their breathing to match mine, letting the connection deepen without haste. With each slow exchange, the chaotic surge within them softened, their qi beginning to circulate instead of riot.
The cave grew quiet again, filled only with shared breaths and the subtle pulse of energy as we focused on restoring balance, one careful moment at a time.
The night deepened, and the cave wrapped us in silence, broken only by ragged breaths and the soft hum of qi circulating. Heat clung to every inch of skin, sweat dampening robes and hair as bodies pressed together, instinctively seeking balance.
Xiaoting leaned heavily against me, trembling as her chaotic qi began to synchronize with mine, while Yaolin moved close more quietly, her restraint slowly dissolving into trust.
Each subtle touch, chest to chest, palm brushing forearm, amplified the circulation, drawing Yin and Yang into a rhythm beyond conscious control.
The dual cultivation unfolded automatically, wild at first but gradually harmonizing with the intensity of our shared energy, leaving our muscles tense and alive, our senses sharp to every shiver and pulse of heat.
Time stretched and blurred as the night deepened, the cave steeped in warmth and the intoxicating rhythm of merging qi. With each circulating surge, the poison's grip weakened, eroded by the steady current of balanced Yin and Yang.
Our breaths mingled, the heat between us no longer overwhelming but grounding, anchoring us in shared focus. Every measured touch sent controlled ripples of energy through their meridians, soothing the turbulence within and reinforcing the fragile bond taking shape.
When the moment felt right, I drew forth my Thick Dao Tool, my movements calm and deliberate. One at a time, I inserted it into Xiaoting, then Yaolin, back and forth. Carefully, gently, steering it with precision. I continued to move my Thick Dao Tool, moving it unhurriedly, patiently circulating qi until balance was perfectly achieved.
Only when the moment was right did my Milky Dao Seeds finally burst out inside both of them, purging the lingering poison as they spread through flesh and spirit alike, while a subtle imprint of loyalty was etched deep into their cores, quiet, invisible, yet impossible to deny as trust and devotion settled into their hearts.
—
The first light of dawn filtered weakly into the cave, casting a soft glow over the three of us. I stirred, and slowly opened my eyes. To my surprise, Xiaoting and Yaolin were draped across my arms, one on the left, one on the right, both still wrapped in their robes.
The night's heat had left a lingering warmth, and although they had no undergarments beneath their clothing, their breathing was steady now, calm and even.
When they woke fully, their eyes widened with realization. The poison's disruption had, in the end, triggered something extraordinary: their qi had not only stabilized but surged beyond its previous limits. Xiaoting gasped softly. "I… I've broken through," she whispered, awe and delight mingling in her voice. Yaolin's hands clenched briefly at her sides, her calm composure giving way to a small, radiant smile. "Me too," she said quietly.
I focused inward and felt it myself, the sudden clarity, the energy flowing smoother than ever. In a heartbeat, I realized my own breakthrough: 3rd Stage Body Tempering.
Both of them turned to me at the same moment, faces soft, eyes bright with gratitude. "Thank you," they said almost in unison, and each pressed a quick, tender kiss to my cheek, their smiles sweet and genuine.
The cave, once tense with poison and fear, now felt warm, filled with relief, joy, and a subtle bond that words could never capture. After a few moments, we untangled ourselves from the lingering comfort of the night, gathered our robes, and stepped back onto the path.
With Sanlu Town waiting somewhere beyond the horizon, the three of us resumed our journey, stronger, closer, and more confident than ever before.