~~~ Xia Ning Chang's POV ~~~
A young woman lurked in the shadows, her delicate frame barely making a sound as she trailed behind a certain man. Her heart pounded, her breathing unsteady—not out of exhaustion, but from pure disbelief.
Just moments ago, she had witnessed something beyond comprehension.
Three consecutive breakthroughs.
If it had only been within the Body Tempering Stage, she would have been shocked, but not to this degree.
But this…
This was the Qi Transformation Stage.
A realm that should take years to reach—achieved in mere seconds.
She felt her fingers tremble slightly. "This isn't normal… there's no way this is normal."
Her master had once warned her—"If a cultivator advances too fast, they may fall into the demonic path."
And right now, the only explanation she could think of was…
"Has he… become a devil?"
The mere thought sent shivers down her spine.
And so, she followed him—hoping to uncover the truth.
👀 A Training That Shouldn't Exist
As she continued to observe, she saw Yang Kai performing a basic punching routine.
It looked simple.
Ordinary.
But Xia Ning Chang's sharp eyes immediately noticed something was off.
"Wait… no… this isn't normal."
Even though his movements seemed basic, there was an undeniable depth to them—as if the very laws of the world were bending to accommodate his fists.
She couldn't understand it.
And that terrified her even more.
🌊 The Mysterious Disappearance
Yang Kai suddenly stopped, turning towards a secluded lake.
Xia Ning Chang instinctively followed, keeping her distance.
But just as he reached the water's edge—
He vanished.
Her breath hitched.
"What?!"
Her divine sense spread out instantly, scanning every inch of the surroundings.
But he was gone.
Impossible.
She was about to turn back when—
💀 A Chilling Voice
"Now, now… what do we have here?"
A creepy voice whispered right behind her ear.
Her body froze.
A moment later, a firm yet careful touch landed on her back. Acupoint sealed.
Her limbs went numb.
Her cultivation… was sealed.
Pure panic surged through her veins.
"No! This technique…!"
With her medical knowledge, she instantly recognized the method—he had struck key acupoints, restricting her movement completely.
She was trapped.
As she stood there, helpless, Yang Kai emerged from the shadows, a curious expression on his face.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
Then—
🩸 The Interrogation
Yang Kai smirked. "So, are you going to tell me why you were following me?"
Xia Ning Chang remained silent, forcing herself to maintain a calm expression.
But inside, she was panicking.
"I need to find a way out of this…"
Yang Kai's sharp gaze saw through her hesitation immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Let me guess… you saw my cultivation base, didn't you?"
His voice was low, dangerous.
Xia Ning Chang bit her lip.
She wanted to lie.
But the pressure in his tone, the overwhelming dominance of his presence—
She felt her throat tighten.
"…Yes."
She hated how her voice trembled.
Yang Kai chuckled darkly. "You know the idiom, 'Curiosity killed the cat'?"
He took a step closer.
Xia Ning Chang's heart pounded violently.
"Now tell me…" Yang Kai tilted his head. "What should I do with you?"
That was it.
She broke.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she began trembling, her voice shaking with raw emotion.
"P-Please… let me go… I swear I won't tell anyone!"
Yang Kai's smirk vanished instantly.
He hadn't actually meant to scare her this much.
His initial plan was just to tease her.
But seeing her tear-streaked face, his chest tightened in guilt.
"Ah… crap."
Without hesitation, he wiped away her tears gently.
"Sorry, Senior Sister… I was just teasing you."
His voice was softer now, more genuine.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he unsealed her acupoints.
💕 A Small, Unwanted Attachment
Xia Ning Chang blinked in surprise.
For a moment, she considered running.
But… she didn't.
She felt conflicted.
She should be furious, right?
But instead, she was just relieved.
"You knew I was your senior sister, yet you did this?" she muttered, rubbing her wrists.
Yang Kai grinned playfully. "Sorry… but you looked so cute when you were flustered. I couldn't stop myself."
Xia Ning Chang harrumphed and turned away, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Bah! Shameless."
Yang Kai chuckled. "Alright, Senior Sister. Just one request—don't tell anyone about my cultivation."
She sighed. "Fine. But… one thing is bothering me."
"Hm?"
"You knew I was watching you the whole time, didn't you?"
Yang Kai simply smirked. "What do you think?"
That answer alone sent another wave of shame and embarrassment through her.
She had followed him thinking she was undetected, yet he had known all along.
Just as she was about to leave, Yang Kai suddenly said, "By the way… thanks for that medicine you gave me earlier."
Xia Ning Chang froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"So you knew…?" she whispered.
Yang Kai nodded. "Of course. But as for the details… I can't tell you yet."
Xia Ning Chang hesitated.
She had wanted to ask something—something important.
But before she could, Yang Kai cut her off.
"If you're wondering whether I've 'become a devil'—the answer is no."
Her heart skipped a beat.
It was as if he had read her thoughts effortlessly.
She quickly looked away, her face slightly red.
"…Okay," she mumbled.
Yang Kai smirked. "Well then, see you around, Senior Sister. If you ever need anything… just call me."
And with that, he vanished.
Xia Ning Chang stood frozen in place.
"What… just happened?"
As she recounted the events, she suddenly realized—
She had followed a Qi Transformation Peak cultivator without thinking.
That was beyond reckless.
She should have been terrified.
And yet…
She wasn't.
Instead, a tiny, unexpected warmth bloomed in her chest.
And unknowingly—she began to like him.
She quickly shook her head and vanished into the night.
🔹 Ding! Mission Completed: Raise Xia Ning Chang's Affection to 30.
🔹 Rewards Stored.
🔹 Power Geass Skill Restriction Lifted.
~~~ Yang Kai's POV ~~~
🔹 Ding! System has sensed the host's wish.
📜 [Mission Issued]
Raise Xia Ning Chang's Affection to 30
Rewards: ??? + 60,000 SP + Daily Sign-In System
🔹 Ding! Congratulations! You have received:
🔥 60,000 SP
🔥 Daily Sign-In System
🔥 Dao of Space & Time
Yang Kai froze.
"Wait… WHAT?!"
Dao of Space & Time?!
A mad grin stretched across his lips.
"Heh… looks like things are about to get REALLY fun."
🔥 To be continued… 🔥