Lin Feng felt a tickle in his nose and couldn't help but sneeze.
Opening his sleepy eyes, he saw Qian Renxue smiling softly, holding a strand of her hair between her fingers and brushing it against his nose.
Glancing out the window, he noticed the sky was beginning to lighten, the morning mist not yet fully dispersed.
He pinched Qian Renxue's delicate nose and said,
"We can still rest a bit longer. Stop messing around."
"Oh."
Lin Feng's left arm twitched slightly.
"Uh, Xue'er, my arm's gone a bit numb."
Qian Renxue was startled and quickly sat up, allowing Lin Feng to pull his arm back.
She asked softly, "Are you okay?"
The Innate Treasure Pearl, which had been left aside all night, floated in the air, shedding a soft glow.
"Now it's fine."
Lin Feng blinked.
Qian Renxue's voice faltered, a bit annoyed. She placed Lin Feng's left arm back under her neck.
She said fiercely,
"You didn't say anything when you were squishing my hair. As punishment, you're not allowed to move your arm away on your own from now on."
"Alright, as you wish, my lady."
"Hmph."
Listening to each other's heartbeats and feeling each other's breaths, time passed.
After breakfast and his usual exercise routine, Lin Feng began his daily studies.
Flames danced in his palm, the heat causing the air around it to warp slightly.
With a flick of his wrist, a fiery domain materialized in the air.
Focusing his mind, Lin Feng made subtle adjustments to his soul skill.
A portion of the flames separated from the domain, transforming into a chain-like shape.
The chain gradually solidified, and as a compressed form of energy, its power was undoubtedly greater than the simple fiery domain.
Once it took shape, Lin Feng frowned.
"This won't do. It's too taxing on my mental energy."
Ling Yuan, who was nearby, asked curiously,
"Oh? How many of these chains can you create now, Xiao Feng?"
"About ten. It's too few, and when my mental energy is drained, it becomes harder to control."
Ling Yuan was stunned, then said irritably,
"Every time you say things like this, I feel like giving you a good scolding.
Do you not know how exceptional you are, or are you just showing off on purpose?"
"It's on purpose."
Lin Feng's lips curled into a slight smile as he teased Ling Yuan.
"You..."
Ling Yuan rolled her eyes at Lin Feng. Sometimes, she really couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
Although most of the time, Lin Feng was calm and composed, exuding an air of control and strategy.
But at times like this, he would occasionally reveal a more playful, carefree side.
Ling Yuan chuckled inwardly. Perhaps this was the side of Lin Feng she liked.
"Sister Ling Yuan, didn't you say you had something to ask me last time? What was it?"
Lin Feng, sensing the state of his second soul meridian, asked.
Ling Yuan was momentarily stunned. What was it again?
Oh, right. The issue with Ye Wanqing's family's martial soul.
She silently apologized to Ye Wanqing in her heart.
After returning last time, she had briefly mentioned it, but then Qian Renxue had directly confronted her.
These past few days, she had been so immersed in the joy of finally being able to act openly that she had completely forgotten about Ye Wanqing's family's matter.
"Xiao Feng, do you know about the Nine Heart Begonia?"
Lin Feng nodded.
"Of course. It's the strongest single-target healing martial soul in the soul master world.
No matter how many soul rings it has, it only has one soul skill, but its effect is incredibly powerful.
Bringing the dead back to life and healing severe injuries—it's no exaggeration."
Ling Yuan nodded slightly.
"Exactly. Ye Zixin, who healed you when you were forming your first soul meridian, is actually a branch of the Nine Heart Begonia family."
Lin Feng was puzzled.
"I thought there could only be one inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia in the world at a time. How are there family branches?"
Ling Yuan smiled.
"As the strongest healing martial soul in the soul master world, how could they not have a family?
Injured powerhouses and nobles seeking treatment all turn to them for help.
The ordinary Begonia Flower martial soul is their family's martial soul. It's not as strong, but it's still an excellent support-type martial soul."
Lin Feng understood.
"So, Sister Ling Yuan, are you asking me to do something for them?"
Ling Yuan pursed her lips.
"My friend's sister is the current inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia. Because her daughter is about to awaken her martial soul, she might soon lose her life due to the martial soul's restriction. I was wondering if you could help."
"Of course, Xiao Feng, you don't need to focus all your energy on this. If it's too mentally draining and you can't find a solution, it wouldn't be worth it.
After all, it's a problem that's remained unsolved for thousands of years. Don't stress over it. I just wanted to mention it."
Lin Feng was taken aback. Seeing Ling Yuan's somewhat fragile and hesitant demeanor, his heart ached.
He stepped closer to Ling Yuan, wrapped his arms around her, and gently patted her back.
"Sister Ling Yuan, you don't need to be like this. Given our relationship, if you need me to do something, why would you need to worry so much?"
Ling Yuan was caught off guard by Lin Feng's sudden initiative. Her body trembled slightly, her hands unsure where to place themselves, as she whispered,
"What kind of relationship do we have?"
"I like you, Sister Ling Yuan."
Ling Yuan instantly lifted her head, her eyes filled with joy.
Lin Feng spoke softly,
"In this kind of relationship, both parties should be equal. We are equal individuals.
You don't need to put yourself in a weaker position, nor should you always think for me and forget about your own needs.
When you encounter difficulties, you should tell me without hesitation."
Ling Yuan's racing heart gradually calmed down. She buried her head in Lin Feng's chest, her hands resting on his waist.
"Mm, I understand. The same goes for you. I'm willing to give."
After a moment, Ling Yuan's fingers lightly traced circles on Lin Feng's chest.
"By the way, why did you say it so suddenly today? Aren't you afraid Xue'er will get angry?"
Lin Feng coughed awkwardly.
"Actually, I was awake when you two were talking that day."
Ling Yuan shot him a playful, reproachful look.
"I knew you were scheming. If it weren't for Xue'er's prior warning, I would've had to wait a long time for you to confess."
Lin Feng shook his head.
Originally, he had planned to pretend he didn't know about their conversation, enjoying the benefits Ling Yuan would give while trying to get him to confess.
But after seeing Ling Yuan like this today, he couldn't bring himself to continue with that plan. It was better to come clean sooner.
"So, right now, Xue'er is still in the dark, not knowing that you already know that we know you like me?"
Lin Feng felt a bit dizzy from her wordplay.
"Probably."
Ling Yuan's eyes gleamed with mischief as she whispered something in his ear.
Lin Feng's expression was conflicted, but he was tempted.
"Isn't this... not good?"
Ling Yuan teased him,
"Really? You don't want to?"
"Alright, I do want to a bit."
Ling Yuan broke free from Lin Feng's embrace.
"Then it's settled. I'll go talk to Xue'er first."
"Mm, regarding the issue with the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul, I'll do my best to research it.
But don't tell your friend yet. If I can't solve it, it might affect your relationship."
Ling Yuan smiled, her eyes narrowing playfully.
"Alright."