Charm

Dao discourse was a lofty phrase, but stripped of its grandeur, it was nothing more than an exchange of cultivation insights. From elementary discussions over which meridian converted Source Qi most efficiently, to advanced debates on how to channel two techniques simultaneously in battle without courting qi deviation, all of it fell under the banner of Dao discourse. Most military establishments across Great Yan regularly arranged large-scale study gatherings, dispatching an expert or two to answer the questions of those below. Yet discussions concerning Dao Charm remained exceedingly rare. Dao Charm was unlike raw cultivation; the thing followed no set rules. Just as no two constitutions could be judged by the same metric, even two people who wielded the exact same Dao Charm might have comprehended it through vastly disparate paths. Take Xu Yuan's Meishen Dao Charm, for instance. He had grasped it over a decade of imperceptible immersion in an illusion, guided by the Meishen imprint Yuchu had left him. Yet history recorded someone who had comprehended it directly after merely spending the night with her husband on their wedding eve. Dao Charm was an eccentric beast. Even if someone poured out everything they knew, teaching you step-by-step without holding anything back, and you followed their experience to the letter, odds were you still wouldn't comprehend it. A Dao discourse like the one Ran Qingmo and Bai Muxi were having tonight was truly a rarity. For one, complementing each other was nearly impossible when it came to Dao Charm; for another, Dao Charm served as almost every cultivator's greatest trump card. Baring one's core to another was never simple. Having reached Body Integration and already mastered a Dao Charm, Xu Yuan had occasionally pondered his future path. The diverging branches of cultivation now lay before his eyes. He had yet to decide whether to advance systematically into Grandmaster before ascending to the Origin Realm, or follow his old man's footsteps and leap directly from Body Integration into the Origin Realm, skipping the Grandmaster realm altogether. If he chose the former, which path should he pursue to advance? The Way of Qi, or the Way of the Soul? Between his Innate Dao Body and the subsequent bodily mutations that yielded an extraordinarily resilient dantian and sea of consciousness, Xu Yuan could walk either road with ease. Yet when it came to compatibility, a soul cultivator could undoubtedly draw out the ghostly, elusive qualities of the Meishen Dao Charm far better. On the other hand, if he took the path his father had forged to pursue the ultimate extremes, Xu Yuan hesitated over whether he ought to find a way to comprehend an entirely new Dao Charm. The Meishen Dao Charm was excellent—striking where defenses were weakest—yet he did not possess a true Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique like Su Jinxuan, capable of activating the moment a qi dynamic locked on. For Xu Yuan to plunge an opponent into an illusion, he had to first find a way to injure them or use the Meishen Dao Charm to swim up against their qi dynamic and covertly seep into their body. As his cultivation climbed, the threat of the Meishen Dao Charm would plummet drastically should he cross paths with peers who were truly invincible in their realm, like Xu Changge or Tianyan. Such figures were cautious to the extreme, armed with so many formidable trump cards that they felt no need to rush. Not rushing meant they rarely made mistakes, and the Meishen Dao Charm's requirement of close quarters would easily reveal his intentions, prompting them to mount an airtight defense. In that case, the Meishen Dao Charm would become useless—unneeded against weaker foes, yet unusable against the truly strong. Thus, Xu Yuan was genuinely intrigued by the contents of Ran Qingmo and Bai Muxi's discussion tonight, hoping it might illuminate a new direction for him. However... Xu Yuan now felt completely numb. Tingling, electric numbness. Wrapped in textured white silk, a slender jade foot slid silently across him, its tender warmth seeming to penetrate straight through his robes. Though Ran Qingmo and Bai Muxi's discussion continued, Xu Yuan could no longer register a word. The conversation entered his left ear and shot straight out of his right. That pristine white silk commanded sixty percent of his attention, while the remaining forty percent stayed glued to Ran Qingmo. The big ice block was at the peak of the Grandmaster realm. Separated only by a single table, Bai Muxi—likewise a peak Grandmaster—might be able to evade her senses, but the slightest movement on his end would likely give him away. All Xu Yuan could do was occasionally cast a warning glare across the table at the green-tea minx. Bai Muxi naturally felt his gaze. Yet she couldn't have cared less. She continued exchanging insights on Dao Charm with the dull girl before her, while beneath the table, her translucent toes continued to glide over him. Back when they were still in the Seven Cities Alliance, that woman Yi Kui had spoken to her about affairs between men and women on more than one occasion. [By the way, Lord Chief Arbiter, did you notice yesterday?] [Looks like you didn't. When you came to my bedchamber yesterday, that man Li Xing was there too, hiding behind the curtain with me~] [Li Xing pined after you for so many years, continually turning me down on the surface. But what happened? A little bit of seduction, and he climbed into my bed anyway. You have no idea how excited he got when he heard your voice through the curtain yesterday~] [None of your business? Of course it's none of your business. This underground palace is so dull; I only wanted to share some amusing gossip with you.] [Men are all hypocrites who say one thing while their bodies do another. Never mind what they say; watch what their bodies do. And the more thrilling it is, the more eager they usually become.] [All right, all right, I know it depends on the person. Someone like that fellow Qin wouldn't chase cheap thrills. But Lord Chief Arbiter, if you insist on walking the path you desire, you might find use for my words one day. Remember to thank me properly in your heart when that happens, tee-hee~] As the discourse unfolded, one Dao Charm art after another materialized, stirring continuous ripples in the chamber's Source Qi. A gentle breeze fluttered her plain white robes, accentuating the untainted, ethereal poise across Bai Muxi's delicate face. Serene and poised. She knew exactly what expression to show and what demeanor to project at any given moment. A sacred fairy performing base, wanton deeds was all the more enticing. Bai Muxi knew she had appeared too late. Whatever she wanted, she had to seize with her own two hands. The dull girl had barged in unannounced tonight. If Bai Muxi did nothing, the young master would most likely leave alongside her once the discussion concluded. Though he looked thoroughly furious right now, the rock-hard sensation against her toes confirmed that Yi Kui's past lessons were no idle boast. Hmph. If he truly wished to reject her, he could easily channel his technique to suppress such wicked urges. Yet he hadn't. The young master was a hypocrite whose body betrayed his words, just like the rest. Then again, that dull girl was truly an airhead. Just as the young master had said, without permission, she really wouldn't use her intent-soul to inspect her surroundings in the slightest. Amid these musings, an abrupt shift shattered the quiet of the guest chamber. Bai Muxi's words cut off mid-sentence. Her lips pressed together involuntarily, while nearby, Ran Qingmo, whose expression was usually frosty, shifted uncomfortably. The room's temperature, previously chilled by the frost the two women produced, seemed to warm considerably in an instant. Just as the two women looked on in bewilderment, Xu Yuan, who had passively endured the teasing until now, suddenly raised his palm. A few black cherry blossoms drifted down like a dream. After a heartbeat of silence, Xu Yuan asked in a gentle voice, "You two said earlier that Dao transformation requires dissociating the body before solidifying it again. If I walk that path in the future, the nature of this Meishen Dao Charm probably won't permit that, will it?" A living man couldn't let himself be suffocated by a full bladder; neither could Xu Yuan let himself be toyed with by this little green-tea vixen. As he spoke, Xu Yuan shifted slightly. A wisp of Meishen Dao Charm surged along Bai Muxi's long leg stretched beneath the table, plunging directly into her body. An open and frank discussion on Dao Charm was already an act of baring one's core. Completely unguarded, Xiao Bai was caught squarely off guard. Without warning, a luscious flush washed over Bai Muxi's snow-pale, delicate face. The slender leg resting against his thigh jerked back as though struck by lightning. Watching the Dao Charm Xu Yuan had conjured, the big ice block retained her cool composure, yet a faint blush crept onto her cheeks as well. She said honestly in a soft murmur, "Xu Yuan... your Dao Charm is affecting us." Xu Yuan feigned ignorance, looking mildly puzzled. "You're both peak Grandmasters. My Dao Charm shouldn't be able to affect you, right?" Ran Qingmo explained patiently, though her breath grew slightly hurried: "Neither Mr. Bai nor I were channeling our cultivation for protection, so... it affects us to some degree." Xu Yuan's eyes flickered, his tone turning solicitous. "Are you all right then?" Ran Qingmo carefully gauged her body before answering with a flushed face, "Just... a little hot." "Then I'll disperse it right away." With that, the black cherry blossoms vanished from the room in an instant. Then Xu Yuan looked at Ran Qingmo and asked, "Still hot?" "A little," she replied. "Do you want to take off your outer robe—" Xu Yuan began to suggest, but before he could finish, Ran Qingmo casually condensed a layer of frost and pressed it against her soft cheek. She shook her head at him. "No need. This is much better." With that, Ran Qingmo's dark eyes naturally turned toward Xiao Bai. She noticed that Mr. Bai's condition seemed somewhat off. Bai Muxi had lowered her head, three thousand dark strands tumbling around her cheeks to conceal her flushed face. Her hands gripped her plain robe tightly, and beneath the table, her white-stockinged legs pressed firmly together. Seeing this, Ran Qingmo quickly asked in concern, "Mr. Bai, what's wrong?" The big ice block had at most been brushed by the fallout of the Meishen Dao Charm, but the green-tea girl had taken a direct hit to the bullseye. After a heartbeat of silence, Bai Muxi spoke in a trembling voice, her crossed legs rubbing together faintly: "I... I'm fine. The young master's Dao Charm is extraordinary; I'm simply having trouble withstanding it." Her voice was clear and melodious, yet it carried an allure that sounded as though it could drip with moisture. Ran Qingmo blinked and said briskly, "Then hurry and channel your cultivation!" Though Dao Charm defied conventional reason, its potency remained constrained by one's cultivation realm. A chasm lay between Bai Muxi's cultivation and Xu Yuan's. Now that Xu Yuan had dispersed the charm and cut off its source, Bai Muxi needed only to circulate her cultivation slightly to expel the abnormality from her body. Yet Xu Yuan gave Xiao Bai no such opportunity, suddenly remarking out of the blue, "My Dao Charm clashes somewhat with Muxi's constitution. Circulating her cultivation right now might damage her meridians." Saying so, Xu Yuan looked across at Xiao Bai, who kept her head bowed, and smiled faintly. "Isn't that right, Muxi?" Her soft, supple frame trembled faintly. Bai Muxi slowly lifted her intensely flushed, lovely face, her eyes brimming like water as she bit her lower lip. "That's... right." Hearing this, Xu Yuan gave a satisfied nod, curving his eyes in a gentle smile toward Ran Qingmo. "It's fine. I didn't push the Dao Charm to its limit just now. She'll be fine once she endures it for a bit." Concern still lingered in Ran Qingmo's eyes as she looked at Bai Muxi. After thinking it over seriously, she raised a slender hand, condensed a large block of ice, and offered it across. "Mr. Bai, if you're truly hot, press this ice against yourself. I formed it with my Dao Charm, and it can freeze many things. Applying it should make you feel much better." Bai Muxi instinctively assumed the other woman was mocking her—adopting a stance of feigned purity to sneer as a victor. But when she looked up and met Ran Qingmo's gaze, she froze. "..." Staring into the young woman's sincere eyes, as spotless as blank paper, Bai Muxi pursed her lips unconsciously. A strange pang of guilt rose in her heart. A strange wave of gratitude, and... an indescribable sting of jealousy. She... could not beat her. She finally began to understand why the young master cared so deeply for this woman. Looking at the large block of ice held out to her, Bai Muxi pressed her lips together and didn't reach for it. Because the young master hadn't given the word. "What are you standing on ceremony for?" Xu Yuan said in half-jest. "Do you want Ran Qingmo to hold that up for you all night?" With those words, Bai Muxi lowered her head slightly, reached out to take it, and held it against her cheek. "Mm... thank you." Ran Qingmo shook her head. "Don't mention it." "..." A brief silence settled over the room. Under the influence of the ice crystal condensed from Ran Qingmo's Dao Charm, the flush on Bai Muxi's face receded rapidly. Seeing this, Xu Yuan swept his spiritual vision over Bai Muxi with mild intrigue. Then, his brows twitched faintly. Ran Qingmo... really wasn't joking. Could this big ice block truly freeze the Dao Charm he had driven into Xiao Bai's body? The realization left Xu Yuan's mind blank for an instant. A scene surfaced unbidden in his memory: When slaying Qin Mo, the protagonist of the original plot, Ran Qingmo's final sword strike had seemed to freeze space itself... After several breaths of silence, the corner of Xu Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile. He realized he had truly underestimated this big ice block. He had always assumed Ran Qingmo's Dao Charm was merely ordinary frost, its mechanics bound by the conventional five elements of the world. He never expected its true power to be so terrifying. It seemed that poseur Xu Changge's praise of the big ice block back then had been no empty flattery. Perfect. Once Ran Qingmo broke through to the Origin Realm, he would drag her along to give that posturing king Xu Changge a thorough thrashing. At the thought, a strange sense of eager anticipation welled up in Xu Yuan's chest. After that incident, Bai Muxi refrained from any further mischief. Yet when discussing the Dao with Ran Qingmo, she still spoke in a halting manner, her long, shapely legs held tightly shut. Ran Qingmo's Dao Charm had yet to fully mature, and the block of ice she provided could not completely freeze his Meishen Dao Charm. The two women's first Dao discourse drew to a close amidst this ambiguous, peculiar atmosphere. Everything in the room settled into quiet. Watching Bai Muxi see Ran Qingmo out the door with an awkward gait, before turning around and walking toward him with blushing cheeks, Xu Yuan remained seated on the wooden chair before the square table. After being teased like that, tonight naturally wouldn't end here. Making up an excuse about having other matters to discuss with Bai Muxi, he had sent the big ice block off without her suspecting a thing. Yet as Bai Muxi swayed her supple figure and drew near, Xu Yuan caught a flicker of hesitation between her delicate brows. Just as he reached out to pull her curvaceous frame into his arms, Bai Muxi came to a halt a step away. Their eyes met for a heartbeat. Xu Yuan looked slightly bewildered, his voice soft. "Muxi, what's wrong?" Bai Muxi lowered her gaze to the floor beside them, her voice low and laced with a faint sensuality induced by the Meishen Dao Charm: "Young Master... what if we call it off tonight?" "?" Xu Yuan leaned against the back of his chair, waiting for her explanation with a puzzled look. A bizarre silence hung for several breaths. Bai Muxi suddenly bent her slender waist, sinking slowly to her knees before Xu Yuan's seat. "The firstborn son... should probably be left to Mr. Ran." Xu Yuan's expression stiffened for a moment. He parted his lips, intending to tell her she could simply expel it with Source Qi, but quickly realized that would ruin the mood. He chuckled and shook his head. "What brought on this sudden change of heart?" Bai Muxi pursed her lips, a self-deprecating glint in her eyes. "Muxi... knows she cannot compare to Mr. Ran." "..." After a few breaths of silence, Xu Yuan let out a soft sigh and slowly rose to his feet. "Fine, then tonight we'll just... Hm? What are you doing?" Mid-sentence, Xu Yuan felt Bai Muxi's hand grasp the hem of his trousers. Kneeling on the cold floor, Bai Muxi said, "Wait, Young Master... Though Muxi cannot offer herself tonight, still..." With that, Bai Muxi reached up and slid off her plain white robe, exposing a vast expanse of snow-white skin to the cool air. Trembling slightly, she shuffled forward on her knees until she was right before Xu Yuan. He looked down at her from above; her full, pale curves were half-hidden beneath her dudou. She lifted her eyes to look up at him, and slowly parted her moist, tender, alluring lips... "..." "..." "..."