Qin Wanyuan was astonished to discover that an acupoint on the sole of her foot had actually opened.
In the cultivation world, the number of acupoints one possessed was considered predetermined by nature and virtually unchangeable through later means. Though there were rumors that in ancient times there existed techniques capable of unlocking acupoints postnatally, those were ultimately just rumors that were never confirmed.
Her innate acupoint count was forty-two, already considered an exceptional talent, allowing her to cultivate far faster than most disciples in the sect. If this newly opened acupoint were added, she would be able to reach even greater heights.
For a brief moment, Qin Wanyuan even thought she might be dreaming.
However, the repeated waves of heat radiating from the sole of her foot told her this was no dream. It was real.
“Was it… Lin Lang who did this?”
She certainly didn’t believe the system’s foot-soaking prescription or its effects on physical constitution alone could cause such an exaggerated result. The only plausible explanation was Lin Que’s earlier “massage”.
This event had not occurred in her previous life, meaning it was a change brought about after her reincarnation.
[Host, are you familiar with the butterfly effect?]
“What’s that?”
[To explain it in a way you can understand. It means that a small change can set off a chain reaction of enormous consequences, possibly even… altering the course of fate itself.]
Hearing the system’s explanation, Qin Wanyuan furrowed her elegant brows. She understood what the system meant: it was precisely because she had followed its tasks during this time that Lin Que had made a different choice from what he had in their previous life.
The mysterious beast egg from the demon beast forest, the cultivation technique Lin Que obtained that could open acupoints postnatally, and his past…
“I know this is just your way of persuading me to continue completing tasks, but… I also know what truly matters most.”
Her gaze dropped slightly.
What mattered most would always be Lin Que’s safety and the happiness of this small family made up of her, Lin Que, and Qin Qian’er.
She would never allow this home to be shattered like in her previous life, destroyed by the disaster brought by the demonic cultivators’ invasion. Nor would she repeat the tragedy of the Qin family’s inner courtyard going up in flames.
“Even if Lin Lang must win over other women… as long as I’m here, this home will never fall apart!”
Qin Wanyuan spoke with unwavering determination.
[…….]
The system gave no response. It was unclear whether it was on standby or silently contemplating something.
***
Under the moonlight in the courtyard, Lin Que stood beside the well, scooping up a basin of well water to wash his hands. He then fetched another basin of cold water to splash his face and cool himself down.
As the Heart-Cleansing Technique circulated through his body, his arousal gradually subsided, and he let out a small sigh of relief.
“As expected, Wanyuan’s acupoint opened smoothly.”
By now, he had already thoroughly mastered the contents of the cultivation method provided by the little demon.
From its index, he learned that the technique was divided into four main sections based on the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, with four meridians beginning in the feet. This meant the majority of acupoint openings were connected to the feet.
If he were using it on himself, it would be relatively simple. He only needed to run his spiritual energy through his meridians and strike the acupoints directly. But if he were helping someone else open their acupoints, then close physical contact, like just now, would be necessary. He would have to use his own spiritual energy to assist in striking their acupoints.
All in all, it was extremely mentally taxing. And since this was Lin Que’s first time doing it, he had maintained an intense level of focus throughout to avoid any mistakes.
Fortunately, the outcome was ideal. Qin Wanyuan had successfully opened an acupoint, and her cultivation would proceed more smoothly in the future.
“Tsk tsk tsk, who would’ve thought you were such a gentleman? Your Dao companion was practically panting just now, and you didn’t even flinch…completely unmoved!”
At some unknown point, the little demon appeared again on his shoulder, lazily swinging her long legs clad in black stockings, as usual.
Lin Que’s shoulder seemed to have become her designated respawn point.
“……”
Naturally, Lin Que didn’t take the bait.
“Oh, I’ve got an idea! Now that you’ve got something this amazing, you can’t just play favorites, right? Look at your former Dao companion, your sister-in-law, and that venerable teacher of yours….they all still have unopened acupoints. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to help them out too?”
The little demon said with a sly grin, vividly describing such a scenario.
“How about this…I’ll give you another part of the technique. I guarantee it’ll be even more exciting. It’s filled with the locations of key acupoints. With that, you’ll have the perfect excuse to help them ‘unlock their acupoints’ and they’ll obediently take off their clothes for your viewing pleasure. Not only that, since external force is needed to stimulate the acupoints, a bit of physical intimacy would be entirely reasonable.”
“At that point, even if you happen to brush against the inner thigh or accidentally touch certain off-limits places, it would still be within expectations. Besides, you saw how that little girl just now got all dazed and entranced, didn’t you? Sure, the others might not be quite as sensitive as she is, but trust me. Just a little touch, a bit of teasing, and I promise you’ll have no trouble winning over even the icy senior sister, the proud little sister-in-law, or that highly respected master of yours~”
Faced with the little demon’s nonstop coaxing, Lin Que’s expression didn’t change much.
“Cut it out.”
Lin Que waved his hand dismissively. He was already used to the little demon’s lewd chatter. She could say whatever she wanted. If he actually went through with any of it, he’d consider that his own loss.
“By the way, is that egg the thing you wanted me to bring back?”
“Mhm.”
Seeing Lin Que deliberately change the subject, the little demon didn’t dwell on her previous vulgar suggestions and instead smoothly followed the new topic. “That egg is good stuff! Boil it up with a few herbs and you’ve got a soup that nourishes yin, strengthens yang, and enhances your physique~”
“Can you say something serious for once?”
While chatting casually with the little demon, Lin Que didn’t let his hands stay idle. He was drawing water from the well to fill the bath and then heating it up.
For a cultivator, this kind of chore was easy enough. With a quick hand seal, the well water turned into a dragon-shaped stream that leapt from the well and poured directly into the bath, then began to boil on its own.
“I am being serious. That’s its edible effect. It’s just that the eggshell is a bit tough…even for you, without using at least eighty percent of your strength, you might not be able to break it open.”
The little demon let slip a key piece of information without meaning to.
“So that’s why those demon beasts were using a refining formation….to try and refine the egg?” Lin Que frowned in thought.
Now he was genuinely more curious about what exactly was going to hatch from that egg.
Lin Que had asked the little demon what the egg’s true form was, but she had only shaken her head, saying that she couldn’t be sure what was inside until it hatched.
It had something to do with fire and was oviparous… Could it be a divine beast like a phoenix or a vermillion bird?
The thought crossed his mind unconsciously just as the water finished heating.
When he returned to the room to call Qin Wanyuan for a bath, Lin Que noticed that the bedding and pillowcases had all been changed, and Qin Wanyuan herself had put on a brand new, plain-colored dress.
Lin Que didn’t ask any questions.
It was important to leave a certain degree of privacy between Dao companions. Just like how Qin Wanyuan had tactfully refrained from asking where exactly this acupoint-opening massage technique had come from.
In this regard, although neither of them spoke a word nor had any direct communication, there was a mutual understanding between them.
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