The Third Elder left after seeing Lin Ge's condition improve, not wanting to disturb the exchange between young people.

  Lin Ye also displayed considerable social awareness at this moment, running off to the far end of his territory and claiming he was going to practice his marksmanship.

  Before the bamboo cottage, now only Lin Ge and Xia Li remained.

  "Junior Brother Xia, may I ask bluntly—do you truly have no interest in romantic relationships?"

  Lin Ge was quite confident in her own qualifications. She was basically direct lineage of Lingxu Cave Heaven, with a certain probability of becoming a sect master candidate in the future. At the very least, she would become an influential figure within the sect.

  Though she and her grandfather came from the Lin family, their branch had developed within Lingxu Cave Heaven for generations—the kind that warranted their own page in the genealogy.

  It was the Lin family shamelessly trying to claim association with them.

  And yet...

  When her grandfather actually tried to intervene, the Lin family wasn't happy about it either. Typical wanting-it-both-ways behavior—wanting her grandfather's connections and status in Lingxu Cave Heaven, but not wanting to be managed by him.

  "I am interested. But I don't like being tied down. Consider me a principled rake, I suppose. I'm happy with fleeting romances, but refuse binding marriages."

  Xia Li stated plainly that his belt could not be fastened—it was free.

  This was one of Xia Li's few shortcomings. He was somewhat of a player, disliking the maintenance of long-term romantic relationships.

  And having entered a new era, Earth's people had largely come to share Xia Li's viewpoint.

  "I still think a mutually loyal relationship is better. You should also yearn for such a relationship—you just believe you can't achieve it."

  Lin Ge couldn't claim to understand Xia Li, but her impression of him was very positive. He was like a late-summer breeze.

  Neither hot nor cold, everything just right. If he were truly a rake who only cared for momentary pleasures, he would have long since embraced her and rushed into the bamboo forest depths.

  Yet it was precisely this sense of distance that made Lin Ge uncomfortable, making her want to get closer.

  "Oh? Your insight is quite good."

  Xia Li looked at Lin Ge with some surprise—she had actually guessed correctly.

  The era Xia Li lived in was around 2030.

  It was an era when both infidelity rates and divorce rates rose year after year. With economies declining worldwide, people became increasingly hedonistic.

  Relationships carried more and more impurities.

  They became increasingly unable to withstand the test of time.

  So Xia Li, having lived through that era, recognized one thing: when it came to romantic relationships, whoever invested genuine feelings was a fool. Taking what each needed without emotional investment was the trend.

  The era shapes the person.

  Thus, Xia Li's views on romance carried the unique colors of that period.

  As long as the other party couldn't guarantee they wouldn't cheat, they definitely would.

  This was the classic "Dark Forest Romance Theory" of that time—assuming the worst of human nature from the start, never hoping for anything from relationships, treating infidelity as the norm.

  This way...

  One naturally wouldn't expect any faithful devotion.

  "So are you afraid I'll be unfaithful, or... do you think you lack self-control?"

  Lin Ge was very serious in this discussion with Xia Li. She truly liked him quite a bit—his unique temperament and his origin from the same homeland as her mother both attracted her.

  "I lack self-control. Your primal yin is still intact, while my primal yang is long gone. Must I say more?"

  This world was quite traditional. From holy maidens of great sects to common folk, people prided themselves on fidelity, considering it a virtue.

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  So Xia Li had no doubt about Lin Ge's character. He simply didn't want to make promises he couldn't keep.

  "I... understand."

  Lin Ge lowered her head, her expression somewhat forlorn. But that forlornness lasted only a few breaths...

  Then...

  She decisively raised her head. Seeing her seemingly throwing-caution-to-the-wind expression, Xia Li immediately realized what was happening.

  Having learned his lesson once, Xia Li wouldn't fall for it a second time!

  The instant his body was immobilized, Xia Li's psychic force also spread outward.

  Only his timing was unfortunate.

  Lin Ge was clearly more skilled, faster than Xia Li by a step. By the time she pressed close and put her lips on his, his psychic force only then took effect.

  The two were thus frozen by each other's techniques, their bodies stiff as they kissed.

  This led to a rather alarming phenomenon.

  Xia Li couldn't retract his psychic force, and Lin Ge couldn't cancel her immobilization technique.

  They could only stare at each other, waiting for one of them to run out of spiritual energy or psychic power first before this state could end.

  But both were indeed quite skilled. Xia Li's psychic force was Nascent Soul-level—suppressing Lin Ge, who was only at Golden Core, was child's play.

  Meanwhile, Lin Ge's immobilization technique was no common commodity—it was a Divine Ability.

  Otherwise, how could it immobilize even the soul?

  More than ten minutes later...

  "Brother Xia, I wanted to ask about some marksmanship questions, regarding..."

  Lin Ye arrived at the bamboo cottage and saw Xia Li and Lin Ge's current posture. His expression changed instantly.

  "Sorry, sorry! I'll leave immediately!"

  Lin Ye spoke and ran off, mentally complaining about how Xia Li and Lin Ge weren't being considerate of time and place.

  Go be intimate at your own territory!

  What was this, being intimate in front of his cottage?

  Another ten-plus minutes passed...

  Lin Ge's spiritual energy gave out first. After the immobilization technique failed, Xia Li immediately retracted his psychic force.

  "You... you you..."

  Xia Li pointed at Lin Ge, his finger trembling slightly.

  "Is it my fault? I only planned to sneak a quick one. You asked for it!"

  Lin Ge's face was completely red by now, flushed all the way to her ears. Xia Li truly couldn't find words for the moment.

  "Forget it... don't let it happen again."

  Xia Li didn't want to say more. Seeing that Xia Li didn't scold her, Lin Ge actually came close again with a silly grin.

  "Hehe, next time we continue!"

  She immediately fled after saying this, leaving Xia Li alone to sigh at her departing figure.

  "Why bother?"

  Xia Li truly felt troubled. Lin Ge's behavior reminded him of Yayoi Chihaya, but Yayoi Chihaya was much more sensible—joking around verbally was fine, but actually touch her once and she'd probably explode on the spot.

  But Lin Ge was different.

  Lin Ge was a woman of action, preferring to act directly rather than waste words.

  And Xia Li had another reason for fearing deep emotional attachments...

  They would create unnecessary concern and longing.

  Shortly after.

  Lin Ye cautiously returned to the bamboo grove. Seeing that Lin Ge had left, he walked up and patted Xia Li's shoulder.

  "Brother Xia, do you two not consider me a person at all?"

  Lin Ye was still blaming Xia Li and Lin Ge for their time-and-place-ignoring intimacy.

  "She ambushed me. What could I do? Didn't you notice we couldn't move?"

  "Well... I thought you two were just lost in the moment..."

  "You look like zombies when lost in the moment?"

  "Ahem... regardless, I support you two."