10 The Next Stop

Looking at Xiao Lingxi's beautifully sculpture face, giving Luke the warmest smile, Luke felt incomparably warm. The two were still kneeling; Xiao Lingxi put Luke arms around her supporting his body weight, and one of her soft elastic hands held on to his.

She didn't care at all for the dried blue blood on Luke, and once sensing his injuries automatically repair themselves, her wildly beating heart, felt calmer. After just saving their lives, it would've been a disaster if Luke were to succumb to his injuries. But it seems like his talent gave him another hope!

At least that's what Xiao Lingxi thought.

Luke, however, was feeling vastly stronger and lighter. He felt his mind become sharper, and could even sense miles in front of him! Without the help of Spooky, he could finally use his own spirit sense. Although it's, of course, nowhere near as high as Spooky, it was undoubtedly above any other Nascent Origin cultivator.

"You were fantastic to Lingxi! Without you, I wouldn't have been able to blast out that attack." Luke responded while Xiao Lingxi helped him stand up. He had subtly changed the way he called her name, but Xiao Lingxi didn't mind in the slightest.

The two being so close together, only hair length apart felt like this was natural. It could be said Luke and Spooky quite literally left their mark on her soul. Yet Xiao Lingxi could only think about her grateful she is towards Luke and Andrea. Giggling she still had Luke arm around her while standing saying to him,

"We really do make a great team then! Um, but Luke, why is your blood blue?" It was one question that boggled her mind. She had read about other races maybe possessing different colored blood, though Luke looked entirely human?

'There no one around here, but you should wrap it up soon. People will come to investigate.' Luke was about to make up an excuse, and suddenly Spooky gave him an update time. Now that he was not in such a dangerous situation. Luke held some questions for Spooky, but he knew she was right.

"Same reason I ooze black blood, we were just born this way. How long are you two planning on staying like that?" Andrea and Xiao Yun had walked up to them. She, like Luke, was completely fine besides the dried up black blood painting her body.

Although Xiao Yun's face was a bit pale, being so close and touching Andrea, even as Yurei turned of her curse, still cause intimidation and fear to rise in his chest. He couldn't explain why. He wanted to rationalize it, but nothing in his mind could explain it.

But he couldn't just fling his savior off, can he? So he barrels through his fear, his mind in a complex swing just right after she saved his life. Yet Xiao Linxi nor Luke seemed to catch his slightly pale face as,

"A-Ah! R-Right!"

Xiao Lingxi blushed and stuttered out, moving out from Luke's arm. Although she felt a small loss feeling when she did, she felt so much warmth being under Luke's arm that she probably won't have let go. Realizing this thought, Xiao Lingxi felt more heat rise to her head and kept her eyes to the floor.

Her reaction spawned some ideas in Andrea and Xiao Yun's head though they only gain a small smile.

"Oh." Was all Luke said with Xiao Lingxi not under his arm. However, he remembered Spooky advice of taking more chances and thought, why the hell not? Reaching out with his other hand, he gently grabbed her shoulder, making both their bodies feel tender.

Her eyes match his faint blue, glowing one, and she felt somewhat smitten under it. From the sudden breakthrough of three levels, the blue blood on Luke's face cleared up, and all that was left was a charming looking face.

"Andy just doesn't understand how warm and relaxing it was to be under your tender care and beautiful smile! Don't mind her."

"L-Luke! Don't tease me!" Xiao Lingxi's face went beat red. Her heart flutter and she glaringly pouted at Luke, yet she didn't leave from his grasp. She didn't want to move from his grasp.

Before Luke could take it a step further, Andrea rolled her eyes and pointed to a rock behind them. It was a large gray one a few feet from them, and on top was numerous vibrant herbs!

"Look, there will be plenty of time for this stuff later. For now, we need to get those herbs on that rock."

"Ah, there all Spirit Sky grass! "Xiao Yun had suddenly spoken up after being quiet for a bit. Andrea guessed since it was still a curse, even if Yurei turned it off, it'll still fundamentally change her presence. It's why she brushed off any stiffness or apprehension Xiao Yun had around her.

Luke and Xiao Lingxi also turned around, seeing the abundance of Spirit Sky grass. Xiao Lingxi eyes turned into stars, and as Luke took his hand off she said,

"It really is Xiao'er! With this amount, brother Yuanba will no trouble at all!" Both Xiao's rushed to collect the herbs. On the other hand, Luke and Andrea walked up slowly, having no real need to gather these herbs.

"Since when you became a flirt? The old Luke, I know, could never be as daring." Andrea jested to Luke. She honestly couldn't believe Luke can make a beautiful girl like Xiao Lingxi blush like that.

"I mean the old Luke is dead along with the old Andy. And I don't really know how to flirt; I just took advice from Spooky." Luke answers, getting Andrea to have a bemused face.

"So now ghost girls can also help with romantic interest? I wonder how far this will go."

'Ok, leave now; people are nearing here.' Luke and Andrea suddenly spiked up. Luke assumed Yurei also informed Andrea, and with a jump, they landed on the rock. Both cousins were nowhere confident in thinking they fight that well against human cultivators with a recently discovered ability.

"Lingxi, Yun, we need to leave now. People are coming over to investigate here, and they're in large groups, bests for us to avoid them." Luke hurriedly told the two, and both Xiao's understood.

Especially after they just had a grand fight, they weren't all too keen on dealing with another potential battle for their treasure. Although the Xiao's couldn't help but notice neither of the cousins took any of the herbs.

"Why didn't you two took any of the grass?" Xiao Yun asked, but the cousins only shrugged their shoulders with Luke saying,

"Don't really need it. Follow me!" After collecting all that they need, Luke, directed by Spooky, leads them to a safe distance away from other people traveling on.

"Oh, by the way, have you guys got all that you need?" Luke asked while leading them.

"Ah, yep. The combined amount of Ground Spirit grass and Sky Spirit grass is enough to last brother Yuanba for a while." Xiao Lingxi happily answered him. All because of the cousins did this grueling task became so simple.

"I see, then we have no reason to stay here any longer."

'You don't want to visit the inner edge? I'm sensing some valuable stuff down there.' Spooky chimed in, but her senses never stopped directing Luke out of the mountain range.

'Not when I don't have any idea on how to use this soul lightning. We also have a lot to talk about at the inn too.' While Luke was talking to Spooky, Xiao Lingxi came beside him. Her face carried a hint of blush, and she seemed nervous. But one look into Luke face inspired with her a bit of courage saying,

"W-When we leave, I have something to ask you." Her tone became quieter at the end, feeling shy about this. Yes, it has only been a day since she met Luke, but the bear fight left a profound mark on here that'll never go away.

"Sure, I'm all ears." Luke's words was like a glow of insurance. Xiao Lingxi pleasantly smile still staying next to him and saying,

"I have another question to ask you this one different. Do you guys have any change of clothes? You're all dried up in a blue stain." She started to laugh softly at the end. There was no spatial ring on either of the cousin nor any bags with them. So where can they even keep their clothes?

Luke, once hearing the question, had a realizing expression that further amused Xiao Lingxi.

I haven't showered, nor change my clothes in two days! The only silver lining for him was he didn't stink despite not washing, assuming it's probably apart of cultivation. However, he and Andrea was currently stuck in their dried-up clothes with no other options.

"No, I guess we don't, though I suppose you will help us out with this?" Luke smilingly question, getting Xiao Lingxi to nod.

"Of course! It's only natural I would help at least this much. Me and Xiao'er prepare extra spare clothing if we were to get damaged or stay another day, but now we don't really need it, do we?"

"Nothing wrong with the plain side of clothing, but I guess we do need a change," Andrea remarked from behind. It was also bothering her not taking a bath for two days straight and yet remained smelling fresh.

"Given all of our bodies type, I'm sure you two will fit quite well into ours." Xiao Yun assured her feeling a bit calmer being around Andrea. Now that he was sort of used to the fear caused by Andrea, he could slightly handle it.

All four of them happily chatted on, though two ghost girls were deep in thought, thinking about the next place the cousins will visit.

….

"Finally, we're out! So what did you want to ask me, Lingxi?" Luke stretched his arm, cracking out all the kinks along with his cousin. Effortlessly Spooky guided Luke to the exit with no further trouble arising.

And now they all were heading back to town with Xiao Lingxi feeling increasingly nervous about her question. The fear of rejection was there, but a blue spark in her soul flash! Her eyes jumped, and with newfound courage, she got in front of the cousins.

"Um, w-where are you two planning on going after this??" Xiao Yun got next to Xiao Lingxi as he guessed what she was going to ask of the cousin. And in his chest, he felt a slight mix of anticipation and small fear mainly because of Yurei's curse.

"Oh? We're not sure actually. We're kind of like wandering adventures wanting to experience what life has to offer. What's your question?" Luke couldn't stop a small knowing smile on his face while Andrea crossed her arms, shrugging.

"Then, do you want to come back with us to Floating Cloud City? Our city has a lot of sights seeing for you and our Xiao cl-"

"We gladly accept your invitation," Luke told her.

"It seems like an interesting place to go, going off from you two. So why not?" Andrea also agreed.

And like flowers blossoming, Xiao Lingxi gained a broad smile. Xiao Yun was also similarly happy; the two had just so readily agreed! With a bounce in her step, Xiao Lingxi went over to Luke side excitedly saying,

"Great! This great! You have my word you won't regret coming with us!" Her words caused a desire to bud in Luke's chest, and Andrea also recognized that Luke is always right so far in his prediction.

Although neither cousins could've guessed how impactful this city would be for them.

….

Up in their rooms, Luke and Andrea had recently returned with the Xiao's. The cousins held good looking robes in their hands for a change too. All of them had agreed they would set off to the city tomorrow since they all work themselves.

Plus, they all had one more night to stay after Andrea learned from it from the front lady desk. However, both cousins had it in their minds to talk with their ghost girls. Sitting on their beds, Luke asked,

'So what did you do to Lingxi soul? What's soul lightning, and how can I use it?'