Chapter 151 – Not Interested?

  Bai Xuelian met Jun De outside the hot springs at noon the next day. The faint smell of medicinal pills hung about him from his earlier work, while the bright noonday sun added to the persistent heat of the Ironvein Quarry Sect.

  Zhao Wuxian wasn’t joining them today as he was still spending his time in the mines in order to meet the conditions of his wager with Han Lian.

  Bai Xuelian looked more relaxed than Jun De could recall seeing her since they had arrived here, as though the heat wasn’t bothering her Pure Yin Body as much as it had. She was even smiling at him, her usual stoic expression completely absent.

  “You look as though you are adapting well to the heat, Senior Sister Bai.” Jun De greeted.

  “This place has been beneficial for my cultivation. I had doubted I would be able to overcome the defects of my Pure Yin Body, but my time here has shown me that there is a way. Still, I have much work to do.” Bai Xuelian replied as she came close to him and wrapped a hand around his arm, as she had been accustomed to doing over the past few days.

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Jun De said. They slowly walked down the path toward the hot springs, and the temperature gradually rose as the air grew more humid. The hot springs were divided into many different pools, all with different effects for cultivation, as well as by gender and rank.

  “I am prepared to attempt breaking through to Foundation Establishment when we return to the Sect.” Bai Xuelian admitted after a moment of silence fell between them. Her tone was confident and casual, as though she were just discussing the weather rather than an important cultivation milestone.

  “I believe you will have no trouble reaching Foundation Establishment, Senior Sister Bai.” Jun De said truthfully. She was incredibly talented, with the backing of the Sect Master himself behind her.

  “You don’t need to be so formal, Jun De. People will think we are only pretending to be Dao Companions.” Bai Xuelian replied, teasing him once again.

  Jun De chuckled and shook his head.

  “I had an interesting conversation with Han Lian this morning. She was quite impressed by your skills in Pill Refining. She has broken through to the next level of her body refinement technique and plans to challenge Zhao Wuxian to another spar before we depart the Ironvein Quarry Sect.”

  “It wasn’t that hard. Elder Wen helped by switching the Pill Recipe she had given me with something more appropriate for her. Anyone with skill in Pill Refinement could have done the same.” Jun De replied.

  “Anyone?” Bai Xuelian repeated while arching an eyebrow at him.

  “Han Lian said that you only needed a single night to learn the formula and produce the required pill. She also said that one of those pills was of significantly higher quality than all the rest. You are being too modest again, Jun De.”

  Jun De scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He wasn’t used to being praised so much for his own talent. Pill Refining was something that relied on his own knowledge and practice to succeed.

  “I was just lucky the entire process went smoothly. I didn’t want to disappoint Sister Han Lian, or Elder Wen.”

  Bai Xuelian laughed softly, the sound of it carrying around them as clear as a chime.

  “You call luck what others would call talent.” She moved closer to him as they walked, her body pressing up against his arm as she held him tighter.

  “Regardless of whether it was ‘luck’ or ‘talent,’ you did very well. We are trying to strengthen our ties with the Ironvein Quarry Sect, and helping the Sect Master’s Personal Disciple will go a long way toward achieving that goal.” Bai Xuelian paused a moment before continuing.

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  “Apart from the politics for helping her, I find Han Lian to be honest and dependable. I’m glad you were able to assist her.”

  Jun De nodded.

  “I am as well.”

  Bai Xuelian looked up at him and smiled.

  “She also told me that she wishes to thank you properly and asked about your interests in order to determine the perfect gift.”

  “That’s not necessary. I only did what anyone would do. There are no debts between friends.”

  But Bai Xuelian shook her head at his response.

  “I knew that you would say that, but you are far too humble for your own good. Refusing a gift from a friend in appreciation for your efforts can be taken as an insult. You would be implying that her gratitude isn’t worth acknowledging.”

  Jun De frowned.

  “That’s not my intention. I just don’t want people close to me to think that they need to pay me back for the things I do for them.” Jun De admitted. He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair as he thought for a moment.

  “If she insists, perhaps she could help me acquire a new Pill Furnace. I borrowed this one from Lin Yue, and I will need to give it back when we return to the Sect.”

  Bai Xuelian’s smile brightened, and she looked at him with approval.

  “That is something she will be more than happy to provide. The Ironvein Quarry Sect specializes in artifact refinement using the ores they mine. You couldn’t have chosen a better gift.”

  Jun De nodded gratefully.

  “Please pass on the message to Han Lian, Bai Xuelian.” Jun De said, speaking her name with a hint of awkwardness that made her laugh again.

  “I will.” Bai Xuelian replied.

  They walked in silence for a time, enjoying each other’s company as they followed the path deeper into the area of the Sect that contained the Hot Springs. The stone walls began to drip with condensation, and the air had a strong smell of sulphur, while the Spiritual Energy contained more Metal Elemental Essence.

  Bai Xuelian shifted uncomfortably next to him as the temperature rose, and her face blushed from the heat. She resumed their conversation in order to take her mind off her discomfort.

  “The Tranquil Mountain Sect values you, Jun De. Elder Wen speaks well of you, even though he rarely praises anyone. Even Zhao Wuxian, though he won’t admit it, sees you as a worthy rival and possibly a friend.”

  Bai Xuelian hesitated for a moment, then added in a softer tone.

  “And I value you as well. More than you realize.”

  Jun De’s mind blanked, and he couldn’t think of a response before she continued.

  “I know that many others value you as well. That you have relationships with Disciples in the Sect, and that this time we spend together as my ‘Dao Companion’, will likely lead you into tension with them.” Bai Xuelian resumed, obviously referring to Lin Yue and Shen Ruolan. It was no secret in the Sect that he was close to both.

  “I want you to know that I am not looking for a Dao Companion. I am committed to my Cultivation, and I will not allow anything to impede my progress. But I would be dishonest with myself if I said that I do not enjoy our time together.”

  Jun De took a moment before replying.

  “I enjoy our time together as well.”

  Bai Xuelian smiled at him, and they were spared any awkwardness by their arrival at the entrance to the hot spring that they had chosen previously. It was a suitable temperature for Bia Xuelian, with separate pools for men and women.

  As guests from the Tranquil Mountain Sect, it was reserved for their use and warded to ensure that no one else could enter, or, in the case of some Disciples, ‘Sneak a Peek.’

  They parted ways, with Bai Xuelian taking the eastern pool, while Jun De was left with the western pool.

  With a thought, Jun De placed his robes and personal items into the storage ring on his finger that contained the significant wealth of Spirit Stones he still had, along with other things he had picked up on his travels.

  Steam rose from the small pool, and water ran down in small rivulets from the high stone walls that blocked everything outside from sight. When he slipped into the water, the heat seeped into his muscles. The air had a slight metallic taste, mixed with the strong smell of sulphur that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

  Jun De closed his eyes and leaned back against the smooth stone of the wall surrounding the pool.

  “I’m not looking for a Dao Companion.” Jun De repeated softly.

  He hadn’t been lying when he told Bai Xuelian that he enjoyed their time together, because he truly did. She was intelligent, beautiful, and beneath her frosty exterior, kind and warm.

  But he would also be lying if he said her words hadn’t left him slightly disappointed.

  “You’ve got enough on your plate already, Jun De. Harems are nothing but trouble.” Jun De muttered.

  As he sat with his back to the stone wall, his thoughts still circling around Bai Xuelian’s words from earlier, a faint sound drew his attention. Jun De turned and saw that Bai Xuelian was standing at the entrance to the spring.

  She looked at him for a moment, her face calm but unreadable. Then, without saying a word, she loosened that sash of her robe and let it fall onto the stone floor. The blue fabric slid from her shoulders, and Jun De’s breath caught at the sight.

  Bia Xuelian slipped into the water, the surface rippling around her as she moved closer to him. She didn’t rush as she glided forward, doing nothing to hide her body from his view.

  When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around him and settled onto his lap, before leaning forward and kissing him. It wasn’t sudden or forceful, but slow and certain.

  Jun De responded immediately, and neither left the hot springs for a long time.