Chapter 154: D

Having spent a few days at my senior sister's place and sought her counsel on various matters regarding cultivation, I couldn't help feeling a slight sense of regret that the heavenly flower seed still showed no signs of sprouting. When I voiced this concern to her, the response I received was entirely matter-of-fact.

"Isn't that completely normal? From the time you began your cultivation until now, not even a full year has passed, yet you have already reached the second stage of the Human Immortal realm. With such meteoric advancement and no time for proper consolidation, stagnation in your realm is practically inevitable. Instead of worrying, you should use this opportunity to reflect and contemplate deeply."

"Contemplate what?"

"Contemplate what needs to be contemplated."

Facing this ambiguous reply, Liu Ping could only feel a deep sense of regret, thinking to himself that his senior sister truly had the talent of a charlatan. As the days slipped by one by one, the time for departure finally arrived. After all, he had promised his younger sister he would be away for only four or five days, and significantly more time had already passed. Even though there was a difference in the flow of time between the inner grotto-heaven and the outside world, it was high time to return.

He accordingly bid farewell to his senior sister, originally intending to leave Yining in her care so that her injuries to the divine soul could be monitored regularly. To his surprise, however, Yining tightly clutched the hem of his robe and refused to let go. No amount of persuasion could reach her, and even when he grew stern and spoke in harsh tones, she clung on with absolute stubbornness. Left with no other choice, he had to give up and bring her back with him.

This caused Liu Ping an extraordinary headache.

At the moment, having hired a carriage, they were hurrying back along the return road. The carriage was reasonably priced, considered a top-tier conveyance, both fast and stable. Leaning back inside the carriage compartment, Liu Ping looked at Yining, who was resting against his chest, and found himself at a loss for words.

The most pressing issue right now was: how on earth was he supposed to explain bringing such a breathtakingly beautiful young maiden back home to his younger sister and the rest of his family? Was he supposed to say she was a long-lost sister? Wait, she was already supposed to be his "cousin"—wasn't that reason enough? As for the mystery surrounding Yining's mother, and why his own mother had claimed she died more than a decade ago—yet that very woman had reappeared before his eyes in what appeared to be the transformed state of a fox—he had already roughly figured out what was going on. Everything would wait until he got back to properly inquire and confirm the details.

Now that this matter was settled, it was time to deal with other business...

With this thought in mind, he casually traced a sound-isolation talisman in the air, sealing off all noise within the carriage compartment.

Stroke by stroke, his hand brushed through Yining's silky dark locks, and inadvertently, his palm slipped down to her waist, whispering softly beside her ear: "Yining?"

"Mhm?"

As expected, she wasn't fast asleep. But the moment Liu Ping made his next move, that puzzled murmur instantly transformed into a startled cry of surprise.

"Ah!"

Liu Ping's hand had closed over Yining's breast, maliciously kneading it. This inevitably startled a cry of surprise out of Yining, a few flushes of crimson blooming across her cheeks. Yet, far greater than her embarrassment was her confusion. Lifting her head, she asked, "Older brother?"

That title, "older brother," was naturally the result of long and thorough conditioning back within the minor grotto-heaven... At this moment, she felt somewhat perplexed. Why was her older brother grabbing her breast with his hand? Did this have some special purpose? It was truly strange, and besides, the sensation felt rather odd. It carried an indescribable comfort—so comfortable. Why did it feel so good... It was just a little forceful... Mhm... The motion gradually grew softer and gentler, becoming more and more blissful.

This feeling...

"Yingning... mhm..." Yining couldn't help emitting a soft moan, her face gradually turning completely crimson, her eyes watery and brimming with alluring charm as she looked at Liu Ping, her expression entirely transformed.

"How does it feel?" Liu Ping asked in a low voice.

"Comfortable."

"Do you like it?"

"I like it."

Watching the captivating and tender expression of Yining nestled in his arms, Liu Ping couldn't help swallowing hard time and time again. With such an enchantingly lovely beauty in his arms, completely at his mercy to toy with, if he wanted to pluck and consume her right now, she probably wouldn't put up the slightest bit of resistance...

However, this was not Liu Ping's objective. He hurriedly shook his head, halting his movements, and raised a finger as he instructed: "Remember this, you are never allowed to let any other man touch your body. If anyone tries to do what I just did, you must attack them immediately. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Although she didn't quite grasp the purpose behind her older brother's words, she obeyed him instantly all the same. In any case, her older brother had never been wrong, nor would he ever treat her badly—she repeated this reassurance to herself in her heart.

Liu Ping nodded and smiled, glancing down at his own palm with an expression of speechlessness. He had truly been "decisive and ruthless" just moments ago. Such conditioning was simply too inconvenient to carry out inside his senior sister's grotto-heaven, leaving him no choice but to do it here.

"That's right, such a good girl."

He patted Yining's head with satisfaction, but she raised her head and murmured softly, "Older brother, I want more..."

"More of what?"

"I want older brother to... do what you just did again, and touch me here." Yining tilted her head, locking eyes with Liu Ping, her gaze carrying a pleading expression. Clearly, the sensation from moments before had left her feeling intensely comfortable, and she had already acquired a craving for it. She thought to herself: since older brother doesn't let anyone else touch me, wouldn't it be fine just to let older brother touch me instead? In fact, older brother's warning was rather redundant anyway; she wasn't a little child, so how could she possibly let just anyone casually touch her body...

"Do you really want it?" Hearing this bold request, Liu Ping couldn't help swallowing another mouthful of saliva, asking with some hesitation. The ruthless and decisive kneading from earlier had been a necessary measure for the sake of her conditioning, but if he were to touch her again now, he really might not be able to exercise restraint...

"I want it." Yining showed not a shred of shyness now, nodding earnestly. In stark contrast, Liu Ping himself was currently twisting and hesitating like a shy maiden.

"Then I'm really going to do it?"

"Mhm." Yining answered softly, only to suddenly change her tune: "Wait..."

"Oh?" Liu Ping let out an 'oh' that was a complex mixture of regret, disappointment, and a sliver of relief—all sorts of feelings welling up inside him at once. He thought to himself: as expected, she got shy and changed her mind after all, didn't she? Though it was somewhat regrettable, it was completely understandable...

However, to Liu Ping's absolute astonishment, the situation was not what he had imagined.

Yining sat up straight, then slowly turned her body around so she was face-to-face with Liu Ping, boldly and generously thrusting her twin peaks forward.

"Like this, it's more convenient."

The crisp and decisive remark was remarkably bold. Had it not been for the few blushes of shy crimson dusting her breathtakingly alluring face, it would have been hard to believe those words had come from Yining at all.

At this moment, Yining was dressed in plain garments draped in light gauze, looking remarkably ethereal and refined. From Liu Ping's perspective, he could faintly make out the silver undergarment beneath, and below that delicate piece of fabric, the fair, voluptuous mounds that seemed ready to burst forth. Judging by the tactile sensation from earlier, these proud, jade-like peaks were at least a D-cup.

The tactile experience of kneading them could truly be described as reaching the absolute pinnacle of perfection, leaving him with an unavoidable lingering sense of unfinished business. No wonder he had felt a tinge of regret just a moment ago—who could have imagined that happiness would arrive so swiftly?

"This is simply..." The sudden reversal and the massive emotional roller coaster left Liu Ping deeply moved. Hesitantly, he asked, "Then... here I go?"

"Mhm."

"Here I come..."

As he slowly reached his hands forward, Yining couldn't help letting out a soft hum, a few more layers of rosy red blooming across her cheeks.

In the span of just a few words, the atmosphere inside the carriage had turned somewhat peculiar, the breathing of both parties growing involuntarily hurried.

Just as Liu Ping's hands were about to touch Yining's chest—

An accident occurred.

With a sharp screech, the carriage's speed gradually diminished. The driver was pulling desperately at the reins, but moments later, he collapsed face-down onto the ground with a dull thud.

"Bandits?" Liu Ping was slightly taken aback and very perplexed. With a look of profound regret at Yining's chest, he reluctantly withdrew his hands, casually dismissed the sound-isolation talisman, and lifted the carriage curtain.

At this moment, the carriage had come to a halt in the middle of a desolate wilderness, with human habitation only faintly visible along the distant horizon. The driver lay sprawled upon the ground, unconscious, while not a single other soul was in sight.

"Come out," Liu Ping said calmly.

As soon as his voice fell, a middle-aged woman appeared directly ahead of them.

Upon seeing this person, Liu Ping froze: "It's you, Qin Han? No, perhaps I shouldn't call you Qin Han anymore."

"Call me mother-in-law?" Qin Han actually split her mouth into a grin, making a joke. She glanced at Yining inside the carriage and said with a smile, "I came to see Yining."

Yining shrank back behind Liu Ping, watching the woman ahead with wary caution.

Such a posture instantly caused Qin Han to freeze in place: "This is?"

Liu Ping replied, "Because of that talismanic seal, her divine soul was injured, and she doesn't remember many things."

Hearing this, Qin Han, who had been all smiles just moments before, instantly turned gloomy. She asked word by word, "How is... her condition?"

"Decent enough. At least there's no immediate danger to her life. She just needs peace and quiet to recuperate."

"Can I take her away?" Qin Han looked over, her gaze filled with pain and deep guilt, clearly still tormented by what had happened not long ago. Yet, having spent so many years with Yining and sharing a deep bond, she couldn't help asking, "May I...? After all, she is my daughter..."

"Of course not," Liu Ping interrupted matter-of-factly. "I don't wish to give my reasons, nor do I plan to."

"You!" Qin Han flared with anger, glaring at Liu Ping, but her gaze quickly softened, clearly forced to yield. "Fine... I owe her a debt. Take good care of her, and once her injuries are healed, have her come visit me often."

With those words, Qin Han turned around, preparing to leave.

Liu Ping watched Qin Han's receding back and suddenly asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Qin Han."

"You are not Qin Han."

"I wasn't before, but I am now."

Soon enough, the voice gradually faded away. Watching the direction in which Qin Han had vanished, Liu Ping muttered to himself, "Just as I thought."

On the second day, Liu Ping returned home.

Bringing Yining home inevitably stirred up quite a commotion. His younger sister looked at Yining with a very peculiar expression, a hint of hostility lingering in her gaze, while his parents were utterly astonished, bombarding him with questions about who the young woman was and why she had suddenly been brought home. Could she perhaps be their future daughter-in-law? Looking at her, she was truly stunning—was she the daughter of some prestigious noble family?

Liu Ping, however, did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Mother, may I ask you a question?"

"Ah? Of course you can, Ping'er, what is it you want to ask?"

"It's about Qin Han."

"Older sister?" Mother Liu, who had just been fussing over Yining's identity, grew instantly still at the mention of that name. Her previously enthusiastic expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a stirring in her eyes as she asked, "Do you have news of her?"

"Not yet. I just wanted to ask, Mother, do you remember if she ever had a child?"

"A child? No, she didn't. Why do you ask?"

"That settles it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Not only Mother Liu, but Father Liu and the younger sister Yue'er standing nearby were all left completely baffled, wearing utterly confused expressions as they struggled to make sense of it all.