"Zhen’Er, this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Su Yu took a deep breath, his expression serious as he gripped her shoulders. "Remember, you must never tell anyone about this. Your Wood Spirit Qi can mature plants. If this gets out, disaster will follow!"

Feeling the undeniable concern and protectiveness in Su Yu’s words, Yang Zhen’s heart warmed, and her eyes reddened slightly.

"Mm, I know, Brother Su!"

"I’ve spent the last few days looking through a lot of ancient texts, but I haven’t found any information about it. I didn’t know what was happening, and I didn’t dare tell my father or the others, afraid I’d put them in danger."

"And the only powerful Martial Artist I trust is you, Brother Su!"

Seeing the helplessness and dependency in her lost gaze, Su Yu felt a ripple in his heart.

’This woman actually told me such an important secret. She really does trust me.’

Su Yu gave her a few more instructions, then told her about the ancient texts he had read and his earlier theories.

"So, Brother Su, is this what they call a spiritual awakening?"

"It’s very similar, but I can’t be sure. The priority now is to fully understand your ability, then find ancient texts to cross-reference."

Hearing Su Yu’s words, Yang Zhen finally had a sense of direction.

"Brother Su, I can produce one strand of this Wood Spirit Qi every three days, and I can store up to three strands at most. Right now, I have one strand left in my body. This spiritual qi actually works on people, too."

"Oh? How does it affect people?"

"Brother Su, I... I’ll show you."

"Um... um, don’t move."

Yang Zhen’s face was flushed red, but with a hint of resolve, she reached out and hugged him.

A cool, gentle aura emanated from her, instantly enveloping Su Yu.

Yang Zhen tilted her head back, looking at Su Yu’s handsome, masculine face, so close to her own. A flash of shyness crossed her eyes, but it was overshadowed by determination and love.

"It can also... help people recover from fatigue, and even injuries!"

Before the words had even left her lips, she rose onto her tiptoes, cupped Su Yu’s cheeks with her hands, and, meeting his stunned gaze, gently pressed her cool, soft lips against his.

"Mmh..."

Their lips met.

There was no fierce taking, only a gentle giving.

Su Yu felt a cool, sweet energy flow through their joined lips, slowly entering his body.

The Spiritual Qi was like a clear spring, instantly quenching the restless energy within him. His tense, sore muscles relaxed completely in that moment, and his mental fatigue was soothed away as if by a gentle hand.

Time seemed to stand still.

In the Martial Arts Arena, beneath the Iron Heart Locust Tree.

One hard, one soft. One yin, one yang.

Two figures embraced tightly.

After a long moment, their lips parted.

Yang Zhen leaned against Su Yu’s chest, panting softly. Her pretty face was as red as a ripe apple, and even the tips of her ears were burning. She didn’t dare to look into Su Yu’s eyes, burying her head in his chest and speaking in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz:

"Brother Su... Are you feeling better now?"

Su Yu felt an unprecedented sense of comfort and tranquility within him. The fatigue from his training had mostly vanished!

’So this is the wondrous effect of Wood Spirit Qi? She’s practically a walking elixir!’

Shaken, Su Yu looked down at the infinitely shy beauty in his arms. He couldn’t help but reach out, gently taking her delicate, snow-white chin and tilting her head up to face him.

Gazing at her large, watery eyes and the red lips that had just offered him a kiss, Su Yu could hold back no longer. He lowered his head and kissed her again, deeply. This time, he was the one taking the initiative.

After a passionate moment, Su Yu felt the fatigue in his body vanish completely. He gently pressed his forehead against hers and said decisively, "Zhen’Er, move into the Su Mansion."

Hearing his words, Yang Zhen’s delicate body trembled slightly. Her gaze went hazy with emotion, and she leaned limply against him, responding in a soft whisper, "Mm... I’ll do whatever you say, Brother Su."

...

「The next morning.」

The gates of the Su Mansion were open as a carriage from the Yang Family slowly rolled in.

There was no grand fanfare, just a few personal maids and simple luggage.

Su Yu stood at the entrance to welcome them.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yang Zhen stepped down with the help of a maid. She wore an elegant, simple silk dress suited for home, and her hair was tied up in a high bun. She seemed to have blossomed overnight.

Behind her, Yang Ai also hopped down from the carriage.

Today, Yang Ai was still dressed in her fiery red martial attire, looking as vibrant as ever, but her large, usually high-spirited eyes were now tinged with a subtle dimness. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

She watched Su Yu gently take her sister’s hand, watched the natural intimacy and understanding that flowed between them, and an indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart.

’My sister has broken through to the Martial Artist realm and awakened that amazing ability. She can help Brother Su... but what about me?’

Yang Ai subconsciously tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.

’I’m still at Three Times of Knocking. My Qi and Blood haven’t even reached Perfection, let alone breaking through to become a Martial Artist...’

A deep sense of anxiety enveloped her.

’I want to help him too. I want to be closer to him... I don’t want to fall further and further behind my sister and Brother Su!’

"Sister, what are you spacing out for? Hurry and come inside," Yang Zhen called out to her from a distance.

"Oh! Coming!" Yang Ai suppressed the bitterness in her heart, forced a bright smile, and hurried to catch up.

...

In the Inner Courtyard, beneath the Iron Heart Locust Tree, dappled shadows fell upon the two of them.

Su Yu took an herb from a brocade box. It was crimson all over, its leaves covered in dark red veins like blood vessels. He carefully transplanted it into the soil next to the tree’s roots.

"Zhen’Er, try it on this ten-year-old Dragon Blood Grass."

Su Yu’s eyes were filled with anticipation. "This treasure is extremely sensitive. For every month it grows, another thin, blood-colored vein appears on its leaves. It’s perfect for testing the effect of your Wood Spirit Qi."

"Alright."

Yang Zhen’s expression turned solemn. She took a deep breath and mobilized the Wood Spirit Qi within her body.

She extended a slender, jade-like finger. A speck of brilliant, dew-like green light once again gathered at its tip before she gently touched it to one of the Dragon Blood Grass’s crimson leaves.

VMM...

The green light flowed like water seeping into sand, instantly disappearing into the plant’s stem.

This time, however, there was no astonishing phenomenon of rapid growth.

The Dragon Blood Grass only trembled slightly. Its leaves grew a little thicker and redder, and its unique, spicy medicinal scent intensified a bit before it fell still again.

"This..."

Seeing that the herb hadn’t grown much taller, an unconcealable look of disappointment appeared on Yang Zhen’s beautiful face. She bit her lip and said, "Why is the effect so poor? The weed from before grew several times bigger in an instant..."

Su Yu activated Five Senses Divine, his gaze becoming incredibly sharp. He precisely spotted a new, faint half-vein that had appeared on one of the leaves. He then plucked off a small piece of the leaf’s tip, placed it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.

"The medicinal potency has increased... It’s about equivalent to a month of natural growth."

Su Yu swallowed the piece of leaf. Seeing Yang Zhen’s dejected expression, he smiled, ruffled her hair, and comforted her, "This is normal. A weed is a common thing, but this Dragon Blood Grass is a treasured herb! The Spiritual Qi it needs to grow is over a hundred times more than what a weed requires. The fact that your bit of spiritual qi could mature it by a month is already insane!"

Su Yu wasn’t lying. She could currently accumulate one strand of Wood Spirit Qi every three days, and one strand could mature the plant by a month.

In other words, she could gain a month’s worth of medicinal age every three days. That was a time acceleration of a full ten times!

A sharp glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes. This meant that while others had to wait ten years to grow an herb, they would only need one!

Moreover, the more powerful the treasured herb, the more its value increased with each year of growth. If used correctly, this Wood Spirit Qi was practically an endless Treasure Basin!

Listening to Su Yu’s confident analysis and praise, the disappointment in Yang Zhen’s eyes vanished, replaced by the sweetness and pride of being acknowledged.

"As long as I can help you, Brother Su, I’m content."

"Help? This is much more than just help..."

Su Yu looked at her face, which seemed even more beautiful and captivating in the dappled light of the tree. His heart stirred, and he suddenly leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive shell of it.

"Zhen’Er, next, let’s test the spiritual qi’s ability to restore the body again."

WHOOSH!

Yang Zhen’s pretty face instantly turned beet red, and even her translucent earlobes were tinged with crimson.

Her eyelashes fluttered with embarrassment, but she didn’t refuse. She just shyly closed her eyes, her body leaning softly against Su Yu as she let out a murmur as faint as a mosquito’s buzz:

"Mm... I’ll do whatever you say, Brother Su..."