Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?
Chapter 452: Leading the Way

Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Leading the Way

"I’m so sleepy. Why did you call me out here this early?"

Ruan Hongzhuang was groggily dragged to the balcony by Shen Siyuan. Her face unwashed, hair uncombed, still in her pajamas, she was exhausted and full of resentment.

"Of course, it’s to exercise," Shen Siyuan replied.

"Do you want me dead or something? Seriously? You didn’t mess with me enough last night, and now you want to mess with me early in the morning too?"

"How did he mess with you last night?"

A small voice curiously inquired beside them at that moment.

Ruan Hongzhuang looked down in surprise, seeing Dou Dou nearby, looking up at her with curious eyes, and instantly she was wide awake.

"When did you get here?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked.

"I came last night and saw Aunt was teasing Potato," Dou Dou said, arms akimbo, looking quite proud.

Ruan Hongzhuang looked suspiciously at Shen Siyuan.

"What did you do after I fell asleep last night?" Ruan Hongzhuang was no longer sleepy.

"Don’t listen to her nonsense," Shen Siyuan said.

"I’m not lying; I saw it with my own eyes," Dou Dou huffed angrily.

"What did you see?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked Dou Dou.

Shen Siyuan opened his mouth to explain, but a glance from Ruan Hongzhuang silenced him.

"I saw Potato wasn’t wearing clothes, and Aunt was wearing very few," Dou Dou said honestly.

"(→_→), wow, can’t wait, huh?" Ruan Hongzhuang said with a sarcastic tone.

"Don’t listen to her talk nonsense. Last night after I showered, I coincidentally ran into Taozi. She ordered a lot of takeout, so I sat down and ate some with her," Shen Siyuan hurriedly explained.

"I didn’t say anything; why are you so eager to explain?"

Shen Siyuan: ...

"Besides, even if there was something between you two, I wouldn’t be mad. There’s no need to hide it from me at all," Ruan Hongzhuang said with a sly smile.

Dou Dou carefully observed Ruan Hongzhuang’s smile and then turned around and ran back inside.

She was very familiar with that smile; every time her mother smiled like that, her father would get scolded.

"You little rascal..."

Shen Siyuan gritted his teeth. Instigating trouble and then running away, huh? Looks like he went too easy on her last night.

"Tell me, what really happened last night? I’m not mad, just curious."

Ruan Hongzhuang wrapped her arm around Shen Siyuan’s, smiling sweetly.

A woman’s words are deceitful. Shen Siyuan had been in relationships before; he’d be a fool to believe her.

If he really told the truth, she would instantly turn hostile, not to mention that nothing actually happened between the two of them last night.

After Ruan Hongzhuang understood the situation, she said, "Ah, I thought there was something between you and Taozi?"

"What kind of tone is that? Do you hope there is something between me and Taozi?"

"Yes," Ruan Hongzhuang nodded directly to admit.

Shen Siyuan: ...

He was a bit taken aback by her attitude, and recalling Taozi’s behavior before, he vaguely seemed to realize something.

Seeing Shen Siyuan’s surprised look, Ruan Hongzhuang suddenly glared at him.

"Hmph, got you, didn’t I? You’re clearly up to no good," Ruan Hongzhuang said, pinching Shen Siyuan’s waist.

Shen Siyuan caught her hand, proving that a woman’s heart is impossible to decipher.

"Stop fooling around. There is something serious I need to do that I called you out for this early," Shen Siyuan said.

"What serious matter?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked, somewhat curious.

"Run through ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep’ for me," Shen Siyuan said.

Though a little puzzled at his words, Ruan Hongzhuang assumed the starting position of ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep’ and began to stretch her limbs slowly.

Seeing Ruan Hongzhuang’s movements, Shen Siyuan inwardly sighed with relief; it seems she had been practicing diligently, achieving a standard form, and even grasping some essence of the principles. Unfortunately, in this world lacking Spiritual Energy, no matter how well she practiced, it could only strengthen her body a bit.

But getting her up this early wasn’t just to see her progress with ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep.’

Instead, he intended to use Merit to slightly enhance her body to avoid disharmony when they were together.

He then pointed directly to the back of Ruan Hongzhuang’s neck.

Ruan Hongzhuang only felt a chill at the back of her neck and instinctively stopped her hand movement.

But Shen Siyuan’s serious voice came to her ear, "Don’t stop, keep practicing."

Following his words, Ruan Hongzhuang continued to follow the movements of ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep,’ stretching her body.

This time, she instantly felt a difference, sensing a cool energy flowing through her body along with her movements, roaming her limbs like a Spirit Snake.

Her focus shifted to this energy flow, gradually entering a state of selflessness, her body instinctively following the movements of ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep.’

Gradually, she felt as light as a feather, her soul soaring into the sky, flying freely, embracing clouds, sun, and sky, and the ever-present wind...

It was a freedom from physical constraints, she was utterly immersed forgetting the passage of time.

After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly felt her body become heavy, and she plummeted down.

Regaining consciousness, she instantly awoke, and her movements came to a stop.

She breathed heavily, but the breath was long and calm, something felt off, she looked at her hands and clenched her fists.

Her once weary and sleepy body now felt energetic, as if her entire being was celebrating, alive with vitality, and her body was light.

She quickly turned, delightedly looking at Shen Siyuan behind her, "What did you do to me?"

"I transferred a strand of energy to you," Shen Siyuan replied.

Ruan Hongzhuang blinked, showing some confusion.

Shen Siyuan explained, "’Embrace the Wind and Sleep’ is a good Cultivation Technique, but it can’t produce Qi Sensing; no matter how well you practice, it only strengthens the body because the world is how it is."

"But I just introduced a strand of energy to you; though not much, as long as it isn’t lost, it will circulate within you, activating some special functions of ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep.’

"Will this energy grow stronger as I cultivate?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked with hopeful eyes.

"It won’t, it might even be fully consumed by your body," Shen Siyuan’s words were like cold water.

"Why?"

"As I said, the world is as it is; ’Embrace the Wind and Sleep’ no longer produces Qi Sensing, so it won’t absorb energy into the body, but don’t be disappointed. This energy will strengthen your body, enhancing your physical functions significantly, but it takes time, not instantly."

"I see, there won’t be any side effects, right?"

"Of course not, except you’ll have a bigger appetite and be hungrier, no other effects," Shen Siyuan reassured.

Hearing this, Ruan Hongzhuang thought of Shen Siyuan’s appetite and realized.

Is this leading her into the path?

Thinking this, Ruan Hongzhuang was filled with gratitude, standing on tiptoe to kiss Shen Siyuan on the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you," Ruan Hongzhuang said, full of gratitude.

If Shen Siyuan knew her thoughts, he would think she was overthinking it.

He just wanted to lay the foundation for another cultivation technique for the evening.

At that moment, a small voice came from behind.

"I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see Sister kissing Potato..."

Dou Dou covered her eyes with her hands, her fingers wide apart, peeking at them from behind.