“Huh?”

Qin Lianyi blinked, her curiosity piqued.

“What do you mean? Don’t you even know if you had a nightmare yourself?”

Han Lie rubbed his temples, the phantom image of cold, imperious eyes still burned into his mind.

“I just… dreamed about our Sect Leader,” he said succinctly.

Han Lie actually didn’t consider it a nightmare in the traditional sense. At this point, his fear of Ye Qingxuan had greatly diminished, replaced by a complex mix of respect and wariness. It was probably because the psychological shadow she had cast over him for the past hundred years was too deep, etched into his very soul, which was why she appeared in his dreams when his defenses were down.

“Pfft…”

Qin Lianyi covered her mouth with a delicate hand, laughing lightly. She was unsure how to comment.

If anyone else dreamed of Ye Qingxuan—the terrifying “Ice Demoness” of the cultivation world—that would indeed be considered a nightmare. But for Han Lie, a disciple of the Heavenly Void Sect, dreaming of his own Sect Leader… could that really be called a nightmare? Or just a very stressful staff meeting?

After calming down, Han Lie asked about his situation. He found out that he had been unconscious for nearly ten days.

Due to Mu Feng’s involvement and the political sensitivity of the situation, Qin Lianyi couldn’t take him back to Qin Yang City to recuperate. So, she had found a secluded, dry cave in the wilderness and temporarily settled him there.

Since she didn’t carry high-grade healing pills suitable for Golden Core cultivators and didn’t dare to leave him unguarded, Han Lie’s injuries had been healing slowly. If not for the tyrannical self-healing properties of his Pure Yang Sacred Body, his condition would have deteriorated significantly.

“Since you’re awake, I’ll go back to Qin Yang City first to get some proper pills for your recovery,” Qin Lianyi suggested, standing up and brushing off her robes. “I’ve cleared out the demonic beasts nearby, so theoretically, you shouldn’t be in any danger for now.”

“That’s fine,” Han Lie nodded weakly. Relying solely on natural recovery would take months.

After Qin Lianyi left, Han Lie lay back against the stone wall, his thoughts drifting.

It seems I need to stock up on more healing pills in the future. This time, I was lucky to have Princess Qin Lianyi’s help. Next time, when I’m alone in the wild, who can I rely on then?

Taking advantage of the solitude, Han Lie calmed his mind and assessed his internal state.

He sent his spiritual sense inward, scanning his body. Only then did he discover with shock the extent of the damage. Several major meridians were severed, twisted like broken strings. Some of his internal organs had shifted slightly out of place from the impact. His kidneys and liver showed hairline cracks.

“Holy crap!”

Han Lie winced.

“No wonder it hurt so much when I exerted just a little force earlier—I’m actually this badly injured…”

He curled his lips in a bitter smile. The price of fighting a peak Golden Core cultivator head-on was steep.

Taking a deep breath, Han Lie began circulating the Yin Yang Demonic Art. He mobilized the scant spiritual energy remaining within his dantian, guiding it to flow through every damaged meridian and bone. With the nourishing warmth of the Pure Yang energy, the pain dulled slightly, and the knitting of flesh began.

And so, several hours passed.

Qin Lianyi returned, bringing with her the scent of fresh air and medicine.

She dumped a collection of jade bottles onto the stone slab next to him. A rough estimate suggested at least ten or more types, and each bottle glowed with a faint spiritual light.

“I don’t know much about cultivation pills specifically,” Qin Lianyi admitted. “It’s just that the royal physician said these are top-tier for treating severe internal injuries and meridian damage.”

“Alright, thank you for your trouble, Princess Lianyi.”

Han Lie picked up the bottles, inspecting them. Blood Knitting Pill, Bone Mending Elixir, Meridian Rejoining Powder… all high-quality goods.

However, all medicine is three parts poison. Even with the Pure Yang Sacred Body, Han Lie didn’t dare to swallow all of these indiscriminately. After careful selection, he chose three potent pills that wouldn’t conflict with each other.

With Qin Lianyi’s support, Han Lie sat up straighter. He swallowed the pills, calmed his mind, and mobilized his Pure Yang energy to digest the medicinal essence.

Seeing this, Qin Lianyi stepped back to the cave entrance to stand guard, giving him space.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

With the harmonizing effects of the royal pills and the relentless nourishment of the Pure Yang energy, Han Lie’s internal injuries recovered at a miraculous speed. His meridians reconnected, and his organs healed.

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly, Han Lie frowned.

He felt a strange heat rising in his lower abdomen. It wasn’t the warm comfort of healing; it was an evil fire, erupting like a dormant volcano.

“Oh no… it’s because the residual medicinal effects combined with the Pure Yang energy…”

His eyes widened in realization. The pills were potent, meant to stimulate vitality and blood flow. Combined with his already excessively Yang-heavy constitution, it had caused a massive surplus of Yang energy.

His Pure Yang energy had become excessively abundant.

If he were back at the Heavenly Void Sect, this would be a trivial issue to solve.

But right now… The only person beside him was Qin Lianyi…

Sweat beaded on his forehead. Han Lie tried to suppress this roiling tide of energy with his will.

However!

The more he suppressed it, the more fiercely the Pure Yang energy fought back, demanding release. It was like trying to cap a geyser.

“Come on, buddy…” he groaned through gritted teeth.

Right at that moment, footsteps echoed.

Qin Lianyi returned from foraging.

She saw Han Lie lying face down on the straw mat, his body trembling. His hands clutched his abdomen, and wisps of faint, hot steam were actually rising from his skin.

“Daoist Han!”

Qin Lianyi’s beautiful eyes widened in alarm.

She hurried forward, kneeling beside him and helping him sit up.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt again?”

Even through his clothes, she could feel the scalding heat radiating from him. It was like touching a furnace.

“What’s wrong with you! Is there something wrong with the pills?” Qin Lianyi visibly panicked, her hands hovering over him.

“The pills are f-fine,” Han Lie replied, his face flushed a deep crimson, his voice strained. He gave a helpless, bitter smile. “It’s just that the residual effects… mixed with my constitution… produced… well…”

He looked at her, his eyes burning with an unnatural intensity.

“You know what I mean—it’s similar to those kinds of undesirable pill effects.”

“Ah?”

Qin Lianyi froze. Realization dawned on her face, turning her cheeks pink.

“Then… what should we do?”

For a moment, the poised princess was at a complete loss.

Qin Lianyi’s stunningly beautiful face, her skin as white as jade, and her concern-filled eyes were continuously assaulting Han Lie’s visual nerves and crumbling self-control.

In just a few breaths, the dam broke.

Han Lie completely lost control.

With a low growl, he pushed Qin Lianyi down onto the soft straw mat. He pinned her fragrant shoulders with both hands, veins bulging on his forehead as he fought a losing battle against his instincts.

“Sorry, Princess Lianyi! I really… can’t hold back anymore!”

Qin Lianyi didn’t scream or fight. She furrowed her delicate brows slightly, a complex look flashing in her beautiful eyes—surprise, resignation, and perhaps… anticipation.

Her mind raced through many thoughts in those few short seconds.

It’s alright; I bear some responsibility for this too, anyway. I brought the pills.

She looked up into his burning eyes.

“Just… can you promise me that you will definitely come back to marry me in the future?” she asked solemnly.

“I promise you!” Han Lie swore, his voice rough.

“Alright then… I’ll help you dispel the negative effects.”

With Qin Lianyi’s permission, the excessively abundant Pure Yang energy within Han Lie finally burst forth like floodwaters breaching a dam!

He frantically tore at Qin Lianyi’s clothes, his movements urgent and rough. He greedily seized the sweetness from her delicate red lips, kissing her deeply.

An endless stream of Pure Yang energy passed through their lips and teeth, flowing into Qin Lianyi’s body like a hot river.

When that energy entered her, Qin Lianyi gasped. She could clearly feel her cultivation base, stagnant for years, loosening in an instant under the potent nourishment.

Soon, the atmosphere inside the cave heated up to a fever pitch.

Outside, a full moon hung high in the night sky, surrounded by brilliant stars. The cool, silver moonlight spilled over the earth, making the wilderness appear extraordinarily tranquil.

But inside the cave, it was infinitely enchanting… clouds and rain mingling in a storm of passion.

……

Time flew by.

In another blink, five more days passed.

The fierce battle inside the cave had finally concluded, but an atmosphere filled with heart-pounding intimacy still lingered in the air, thick and sweet.

Qin Lianyi lay in Han Lie’s embrace, her head resting on his chest. Her breathing was still heavy, coming in large gasps.

Her exquisitely beautiful face bore two deep blushes, and her expression was one of boneless satisfaction. Having tasted for the first time what it meant to be a woman, Qin Lianyi was still savoring the aftershocks of everything that had passed between her and Han Lie.

After five consecutive days of relentless activity, the Pure Yang energy within Han Lie had finally returned to safe levels.

Han Lie held onto Qin Lianyi’s slender waist—so slim it seemed one hand could encircle it—and stroked her hair gently.

“Sorry, Princess Lianyi,” he said, his voice soft and apologetic. “You’ve suffered these past few days.”

Qin Lianyi slowly raised her gaze, looking at him through half-lidded eyes.

She cooed softly, a smile playing on her lips.

“If this is called suffering… then I’d rather suffer more like this.”