Chapter 45

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A few moments later, a soft rap on the door broke the silence.

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Song Jia entered the dimly lit room, her footsteps light yet purposeful. She carried a small woven basket containing smooth river pebbles and neatly folded white linen clothes.

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A dejected expression clouded her delicate features, her lips pressed into a thin line.

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"Brother Ji, here's what you asked for," she said in a subdued tone, lifting her gaze to find Lian Rougang and Ji Wuye seated across from each other on simple reed mats.

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Song Jia's eyes widened slightly as she noticed the warm smile gracing her Senior Sister's lips, indicating that contrary to her initial trepidation, nothing untoward was transpiring between them.

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A wave of relief washed over her.

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"Oh, Sister Song! Thank you...thank you..." Ji Wuye's face broke into a grateful smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he shook his head gently.

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With a calming gesture, he motioned for Song Jia to place the basket next to Lian Rougang, who offered a slight nod of acknowledgment to her Junior Sister's arrival.

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"Now, Senior Sister, please lay down here," Ji Wuye said, sweeping his arm towards the cleared space before them, the floorboards scrubbed clean of dust and debris.

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Before Song Jia's arrival, they had already discussed the treatment plan in hushed tones. Lian Rougang would lie down while Ji Wuye administered his techniques, helping to unblock the stagnant flow in her Ren Mai Meridian.

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Following Ji Wuye's instructions, Lian Rougang awkwardly lowered herself onto her back.

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Song Jia, feeling slightly calmer now that her initial concerns had been allayed, was not asked to leave by her Senior Sister or Ji Wuye.

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Instead, she found a place to sit where Lian Rougang had been seated moments before, the reed mat still bearing the imprint of her Sister's form.

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Now, Lian Rougang lay in the middle, with Ji Wuye on one side and Song Jia on the other, creating an awkward yet strangely intimate situation for the two women.

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As Ji Wuye's gaze fell upon Lian Rougang's recumbent form, he finally understood why his fellow Martial Brothers had always praised the natural beauty of his Senior Sister.

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Her delicate features seemed to glow in the soft candlelight, her raven tresses fanning out like a dark halo against the worn floorboards.

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Lian Rougang was dressed in a white flowing martial arts robe with azure blue stripes, the lightweight fabric draping elegantly over her lithe form.

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Her skin was smooth and unblemished, with a luminous glow akin to pure milk. Her lips were full and rosy, the delicate petals of a freshly bloomed flower.

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Even her finely sculpted eyebrows seemed to accentuate her exquisite beauty. Yet, when a warm smile graced her features, it radiated a kindness and serenity that belied her formidable martial prowess.

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This defied common perception, as most women who dedicated themselves to the martial path were expected to bear rougher, more weathered appearances.

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However, thanks to the internal arts, she was able to maintain her youthful complexion and feminine curves while harnessing incredible power.

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In comparison, most men did not undergo such breathtaking transformations or have their figures enhanced to the same degree when practicing the same inner arts. It was as if the inner arts, or at least the majority of them, were biased towards women, making them look more stunning.

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This was also why Du Chen, much like Ji Wuye, was renowned not only for his martial excellence but also for his striking handsomeness and gentle demeanor.

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It seemed that the privilege of beauty was indeed a tangible force to be reckoned with.

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'But once they reach floor 25, the fate of men will change,' Ji Wuye chuckled inwardly.

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He then refocused his attention on his Senior Sister, who lay as still as a carved statue, possibly embarrassed by his prolonged, appreciative stare.

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"Please forgive my indecent stare. I was just recalling some memories related to this technique. I want to ensure that all the preparations are ready. I don't want to hurt Senior too much, after all,"

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Upon hearing this, Lian Rougang felt a warmth blossom in her chest, and a faint smile curved her lips. "It's okay, Junior. But don't push yourself too hard. Even if this fails, the effect of that pill is still in effect."

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'Ah...' Ji Wuye didn't know how to respond to Lian Rougang's words. It seemed that she either genuinely wished to offer her body as an experiment or didn't fully trust his ability to heal her completely.

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'Well, it was a normal reaction, after all,' he mused inwardly.

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While the Senior and Junior spoke warmly to each other, little did they know that Song Jia was having a difficult time suppressing her discomfort.

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A look of barely concealed envy and still… a little suspicion clouded her delicate features as she witnessed their seemingly intimate interactions unfold.

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"Senior Sister, try to relax your breathing. Now, I will check your Ren Mai line once more," Ji Wuye instructed after Lian Rougang gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

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With utmost care, Ji Wuye's middle fingers began gently exploring the path of Lian Rougang's Ren Mai meridian, searching for any tender or obstructed points.

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His brows furrowed in concentration as he felt the tension in her muscles and energy pathways gradually lessen, thanks to her cooperation and deep, steady breaths.

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Next, he began to methodically palpate along the Ren Mai line, applying featherlight pressure with the pads of his fingers. He shifted his gaze towards Lian Rougang's serene countenance as he asked in a low murmur, "Do you feel any discomfort at these points?"

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Lian Rougang's lips curved in the faintest of smiles as she responded, "Not really."

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Nodding in confirmation, Ji Wuye continued his meticulous search for the blockage, assessing differences in texture, temperature, and pain response along the vital meridian with each delicate touch.

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After several confirmations from Lian Rougang's steady voice, he finally identified the problematic points, a look of grim determination settling over his features.

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"Let's move on to the next step," he stated.

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*Song Jia, Lian Rougang illustrations uploaded! Tired of waiting? Purchase a membership on my Patreon.com/dragonknov! that costs very cheap! 23 members have already become patrons!