Chapter 196: When Have I Ever Left?

Though the tasks for tonight were no different from those of the previous nights, under Ji Tianqing's watchful eyes and facing such a composed Li Kuanglan, Qianye felt a tinge of panic, unsure of what would happen next.

This time, Li Kuanglan did not turn her back on Qianye. Instead, she faced him with open arms, embracing each other.

Qianye stiffened for a moment, lightly patting her back as he said, "There's no need to hold on so tightly now. A bit of distance is fine too."

"This will make it easier for you. The cultivation opportunities within the Great Vortex are rare; even a little extra time for practice is good."

Qianye was not quite sure, but Ji Tianqing came over with a grin, saying, "We just discussed this. According to our clan's records, while the Great Vortex does help with cultivation, it only provides a slight boost. However, in this area, the cultivation speed can be multiplied, and there are treasures like White Fruit Wine that can help break through bottlenecks. Therefore, this place is the true holy ground for cultivation. Unfortunately, our strength is still somewhat lacking, so we can't stay here for long. But even an extra hour of cultivation here will be greatly beneficial for our future breakthrough to the Divine General realm."

As she spoke, Ji Tianqing winked, hinting at something, "So, don't miss this rare opportunity!" Before she finished speaking, she suddenly reached out and smacked Li Kuanglan's buttocks, making a sharp, clear sound.

Li Kuanglan was startled, gritting her teeth as she reached out to grab Ji Tianqing. But Ji Tianqing ducked and moved as agilely as a cat, slipping behind Qianye and pressing tightly against him.

With this commotion, Qianye, caught in the middle, was in for a rough time. His bloodline began to circulate rapidly, and his blood core erupted with unprecedented power. Each pulse sounded like an ancient war drum, resonating deeply and distantly, striking the hearts of both women and also impacting Qianye's will.

The ancient bloodline started to boil and burst, releasing a massive, almost unstoppable will from the distant past!

In an instant, Qianye's body involuntarily reacted. Even the harshness of the cold, silent night could not suppress the reproductive desires of the ancient blood race.

Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan's senses were incredibly sharp; they noticed even the slightest movement of Qianye's hair, let alone such a significant change. They were momentarily stunned, and Li Kuanglan's face turned red, her body stiffening. She dared not move, trying to create some distance between herself and Qianye. Her position was the most awkward and dangerous; if Qianye moved just a little, her chastity would be in jeopardy.

Ji Tianqing, from behind Qianye, suddenly hugged his shoulders and pushed him forward!

Li Kuanglan screamed, instinctively pulling back, narrowly avoiding the disaster.

Qianye had not expected such a turn of events. Caught off guard, he almost committed a wrong deed under Ji Tianqing's manipulation. But the intense shock of the sudden collision at a sensitive spot nearly broke his steadfast will.

Qianye turned and shouted, "Tianqing! What are you doing?!"

But as he turned, he saw Ji Tianqing leaning in, their faces mere inches apart, noses almost touching. Before he could finish speaking, Ji Tianqing tightened her embrace, sealing his lips with hers.

Qianye wanted to say, "What are you doing?!" but how could he? Ji Tianqing flicked her tongue, prying open Qianye's lips and delving inside.

Her tongue was soft and moist yet possessed great force, overwhelming Qianye's already flustered state. At this moment, Qianye wondered if she had practiced some secret technique on her tongue, otherwise, how could it have such terrifying power? It gave the impression that if he resisted, his teeth might be knocked out.

Though Qianye's mind was still clear, he couldn't bite down, or else it would become a bloody scene. But in this way, Qianye was left completely vulnerable, allowing the enemy to advance unimpeded.

Before he could gather the strength to break free, a hot stream flowed from Ji Tianqing's mouth into his throat, instantly entering his belly. Upon tasting it, Qianye instinctively shivered, realizing the situation was dire.

It was White Fruit Wine!

In an instant, Ji Tianqing poured an entire jug of White Fruit Wine into Qianye's stomach. She then released her grip, looking at him with a complex expression, whispering, "I'm sorry."

The changes were too rapid and too many, leaving Qianye no time to react. Before he could understand what was happening, Ji Tianqing snapped her fingers in front of him.

This finger snap seemed to trigger a mysterious switch. Qianye suddenly felt a fierce flame rising in his abdomen, not only from the recently consumed White Fruit Wine but also from the hidden medicinal power of the White Fruit he had taken earlier. Every cell in his body was ignited, the ancient bloodline's vital energy surged joyfully, roaring and echoing with the deep, hidden river of blood in the void.

In the next moment, Qianye's rationality was completely shattered. As his will crumbled, Qianye managed to maintain a sliver of clarity, asking, "Why...?"

Qianye didn't understand why this was happening. They had already left the core area, and the gravity was decreasing. The cold, silent nights were not as harsh, and although they still needed external help to survive, it was no longer as arduous as when they first entered, where every night felt like a rebirth.

In just two more days, perhaps even one, the three of them would reach a fully adaptable area. Ji Tianqing could spend the night alone, and Li Kuanglan would only need a little help at midnight. They wouldn't even need to undress, sparing them from awkwardness.

Three days later, they should be approaching the edge of the empire's known explored area. There, the environment would no longer be a deadly factor, and collecting resources and defending against strong enemies from the Evernight faction would become the main focus. This was the familiar world and rhythm for Qianye and the two girls. With their combined strength, they could handle any threat from either the empire or Evernight.

The darkest moments were clearly about to pass, and dawn was within sight. In fact, a sliver of morning light was already visible on the horizon. Why, then, did Ji Tianqing do this?

Qianye couldn't fathom it. In the previous few nights, he had occasionally thought about this. Qianye was now half-blooded, with his ties to the Zhao family severed. He also had Nighteye, and for her, he had fought and shocked the empire. Given Li Kuanglan and Ji Tianqing's status, they surely knew the whole story.

Li Kuanglan's initial offer to sacrifice herself made sense. At that time, neither she nor Qianye saw hope for the future, nor did they know how long they could resist their instincts. If they didn't want to die, then, for dignity's sake, doing what was inevitable while conscious was a choice.

After meeting Ji Tianqing, Qianye never took their occasional jokes seriously. He didn't think he was outstanding enough to make these top-tier girls fall in love with him. If there was a reason, Qianye thought it was simply that they didn't want to die, and he was a tolerable option. That is, not so bad that they couldn't bear it.

That was what Qianye thought.

But now, it was clearly not the case, and Qianye couldn't understand Ji Tianqing's motives. Pouring the White Fruit Wine into him endangered both girls.

In the final moments before his consciousness faded, Qianye suddenly thought of Song Zining. Perhaps only he would understand the thoughts in these girls' hearts.

This night was long, wild, and restless. Qianye was like a fish in the desert, struggling to find a pool of clear water.

In a daze, he suddenly awoke, finding himself in the quiet courtyard of Blackstream City. Rubbing his eyes, he confirmed that it was indeed the same tranquil courtyard. A floating continent slowly passed overhead, casting a vast shadow that devoured the city's light.

This was the Evernight, this was Blackstream City.

Qianye pushed open the door and entered the courtyard, which remained as serene and simple as ever. Nighteye sat by the stone table, holding a book of the Empire's history, already halfway through.

"Nighteye?!"

Nighteye looked up, revealing an indescribably beautiful smile, "Why are you back so early? Was there nothing to do at Darkflame today? I've been so engrossed in reading, I haven't even started cooking yet!"

"I'm not very hungry. Where are you in the book?"

"I just reached the part about the empire's resurgence. I was wondering, even though the Martial Ancestor was so powerful, why was his lifespan so short? Also, did he improve the Bingfa Jue, the one you practice? Oh, never mind, I won't think about it. It's about time for dinner. What would you like to eat?"

"You," Qianye said, grabbing her and pushing her onto the table.

She struggled and whispered, "What are you doing? Not here, someone might see us. Why... why so urgent? These past few days, I've... I've given you everything, haven't I?"

Qianye was confused, "Given me everything? I don't remember."

But Nighteye's clothes were already half-removed, and Qianye could no longer resist. Sweeping aside the thick book and other clutter, he laid her down and fumbled to enter.

Nighteye, exasperated and amused, bit Qianye's shoulder hard, saying, "You act as if you haven't touched a woman in years. Can't you wait a bit?"

"Years without, can't wait!" Qianye kissed her.

In that moment, all the longing turned into a primal flood, yearning to burst forth and destroy.

Nighteye sighed softly, shifting slightly to make it easier for Qianye. Otherwise, this impatient and clumsy guy would take forever to get it right.

The moment of entry brought a long-forgotten intense pleasure, tinged with a bittersweet pain. He felt that Nighteye had finally returned to him. Qianye held her tightly, fearing that if he let go, she might leave again, disappear, or become someone else.

The physical pleasure was strong and fresh, seemingly different from before. But the subtle differences were hard to discern in this frenzied moment. Qianye felt his physical desire receding, but his emotional fervor was growing. He didn't want her to leave, to separate their hearts again.

But hadn't she always been in this courtyard, waiting for him to return?

When had she ever left?