"Dantian position..."
Yuyan murmured to herself while sitting on the bed, her hand instinctively moving to her lower abdomen and pressing gently.
She was more at odds with herself than with Yino.
After all, the dantian wasn't like legs, shoulders, or the back; it was relatively close to private areas.
Although Yino hadn't insisted, Yuyan found it hard to get past her own mental barriers.
But if she just flat-out refused, Yuyan felt she might be overreacting. It wasn't some intimate act between men and women; it was purely for cultivation and healing.
Back when they were at the Mountain Temple, hadn't she leaned into Yino's embrace?
Could she really refuse treatment on such a weak excuse if she were in a life-or-death situation on the battlefield?
"Never mind, Forget I said anything; it was a bit too forward of me..."
Seeing Yuyan biting her lip, struggling to let go, Yino didn't press further, the gentleness in his gaze fading.
After all, Yino had never said he liked Yuyan; it was just that his little brother seemed to react strongly to her perfect, busty, mature figure, so he often wanted to get closer to her at Ranmo Peak.
Just because his little brother was interested didn't mean Yino had to act like a simp.
If Yuyan didn't want his help, he'd let it go. He wasn't going to waste words, but she was still his senior sister and mentor, so he always kept an attitude of respect.
"Senior Sister, let's wash up and sleep. I have to leave for the Azure Forest on an immortal boat tomorrow."
With that, Yino sat up, picked up the tray of ointments, and turned to leave.
But as he was about to stand, a hand from the bed quietly grabbed the corner of his clothes—
Yino looked back to see Yuyan on the bed, her lips slightly pouting, her beautiful face still flushed, and her eyes full of dissatisfaction.
Yino raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.
"It's just channeling energy through the dantian, I didn't say no. Go ahead and do it!"
Yuyan felt a bit slighted, said with a hint of resentment.
She hadn't even said anything yet, and Yino had already assumed she refused, planning to leave abruptly.
"I thought Senior Sister found my hands dirty..."
Yino pouted discreetly with a sarcastic tone.
At this, Yuyan felt a strange bitterness in her heart, like she had become a spoiled princess in everyone's eyes without realizing it.
"Yino, what do you think I am?"
"A super awesome, gorgeous sword immortal senior sister, of course."
Yino said in a cheeky tone, but halfway through, he smiled, his eyes betraying his admiration for his senior sister.
Yuyan felt something was off.
While she did need to maintain her image as the Sword Immortal in public, privately, she wasn't as cold or distant as some might think.
She thought she had treated Yino well, not being high-and-mighty, but it seemed the boy still saw her as untouchable, like the backside of a tiger you wouldn't dare touch...
"Yino, don't ever belittle yourself like that again!"
"It's just cultivating through the dantian, if I really thought your hands were dirty, would I have let you massage my legs and feet all these days?"
With that, Yuyan took a deep breath, seeming to have made up her mind.
She then pulled back the covers, sat up straight, waiting for Yino to begin the technique.
Yino sat back down on the bed, smearing the various ointments on his palms, and casually remarked:
"Actually, I was afraid Senior Sister would think my hands were dirty, not that they really are."
Yuyan didn't catch on at first.
But soon, realization dawned, and her face flushed red as she instinctively covered her lower abdomen with her hand.
"So, are your hands dirty?"
"Of course not! I just didn't want Senior Sister to be uncomfortable."
"This young lady only guards against small-minded people, not gentlemen." Yuyan crossed her arms, teasing.
Yino rubbed his hands together, continuing to chat with Yuyan as he infused the ointments with spiritual energy.
Yuyan looked into his eyes and couldn't help but laugh.
"You're assuming you're a gentleman now, are you?"
"Have I done anything ungentlemanly?"
Yino responded calmly.
At the same time, he had already prepared his palms, signaling Yuyan to lie down closer to him.
Yuyan, unguarded, lay down as if following a doctor's orders.
"A gentleman wouldn't be staring at his Senior's legs during sword practice!" She let out a cold snort and closed her eyes.
"That's because Senior Sister was wearing a slit skirt and black pantyhose..."
"Are you saying I tempted you?"
"Not at all. I just enjoy looking."
"And you're still a gentleman?"
"A gentleman might appreciate wealth, but he acquires it with propriety—beauty is the same."
Yino said sincerely, looking at her profile on the bed. "Maybe one day, if Senior Sister's heart moves for me, I wouldn't mind acquiring affection with propriety."
Yuyan thought Yino was joking and responded with a cold, amused hum.
But as she finished speaking, she noticed the boy's sincere eyes, and her lips tightened, amending her words: "That would depend on how you perform in the future."
This time, Yuyan spoke more earnestly.
"Can I put in a pre-order then?"
Yino looked at her, half-joking, half-serious, influenced by the warm atmosphere.
Yuyan had never really considered such things from childhood to now.
Often, her reaction time was slower than Yino's, not quite managing
instant understanding.
"Yeah, I want to pre-order a spot in Senior Sister's heart because I'm afraid that before I achieve anything, another man might steal your heart..."
The playful banter gradually faded from Yuyan's smile.
This time, Yuyan really fell silent.
She looked into Yino's eyes; what started as casual conversation had suddenly made her heart race and stirred something deep within.
Was this Yino confessing his love?
But she could confirm that, unlike the clumsy love letters or deliberate flattery she had experienced, she didn't find Yino's words or even his gaze off-putting.
Sincerity was always the best weapon.
Thinking about it, Yuyan found herself deeply moved by Yino's words; she couldn't bear to see him disappointed or sad.