Chapter 6: Ruo Xi, Ruo Xi

After running a few steps, she realized in her heart that she was afraid of what he might do, so she turned back and said: "I advise you not to entertain any improper thoughts."

Feeling the medicinal power within his body dissipate, gradually absorbed by the flowing qi and blood, Shen Lian experienced a tingling sensation all over. He thoroughly enjoyed this state, becoming somewhat oblivious to his surroundings.

Throughout history, those who have delved deeply into their studies often share a similar state of being, which enables them to remain undisturbed by external distractions and achieve great accomplishments

He did not express any intimacy either. Originally, Shen Lian was not very close to the Shen family, and he did not have a childhood friendship with Shen Ruoxi. His excessive attentiveness seemed inconsistent with his identity and past behavior.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, piercing directly into the spirit. When Shen Lian's soul power is strong and his gaze is intense, filled with anger, it is not only a young maiden like Shen Ruoxi who would be frightened, but even an ordinary strong man would take a few steps back in fear

This is a woman's voice, slightly familiar. After a moment of thought, Shen Lian recalled that this was none other than his cousin, Shen Ruoxi.

Although Shen Lian said to wait a moment, quite some time still passed, after all, he still had to dry himself and put on his clothes

Please wait a moment, I will be out shortly

I

Shen Lian bears a striking resemblance to his mother. Although his body has not yet fully matured, his features already exhibit a certain elegance. After exercising and taking a bath, he has shed much of his frail demeanor.

This sense of tranquility that originates from the soul is almost more pleasurable than any material enjoyment

This is also the benefit of returning to the Shen family; if at Qingxia Temple, these matters would still require personal effort, wasting time

Many people are unable to persist in exercising due to a lack of clear goals and an understanding of their own condition, as well as a deficiency in motivation

Even a small amount of experience can clearly reveal one's progress as well as existing shortcomings

He is well aware that "there is no smoke without fire" and fears that it is not merely the idea of the Shen family to have him marry Shen Ruoxi and bear children to continue the family line

Shen Lian leisurely said: "Did you not see that my hair is all wet? To be honest, I was just taking a bath. If you had kicked the door open, it would definitely not have been me who suffered."

This is the man's room, and even though the two share a close blood relationship, Shen Ruoxi felt it inappropriate to barge in.

During this period, Shen Ruoxi urged several times, but Shen Lian remained unhurried.

Calmly awaiting the tranquility of the internal energy and blood, Shen Lian then entered the wooden tub filled with hot water that had long been prepared, washing away the dirt from his body

Suddenly, an annoying knocking sound came from outside, short and hurried, yet lacking in force.

Moreover, a young girl of this age cannot possibly possess a mature mindset; their worldview differs significantly from that of adults

After speaking, her face turned crimson, and then she turned her head and ran away

However, compared to the sage known as 'Fu Sheng', Shen Lian cannot maintain a state of constant spiritual tranquility in his daily life, whether walking, sitting, or lying down.

Shen Lian is luckier than these individuals, as he can clearly feel the rewards brought by every drop of sweat that falls, the satisfaction and joy in his soul, which can offset the fatigue brought by exercise

Of course, he would not go so far as to do this to Shen Ruoxi. Nevertheless, Shen Ruoxi was momentarily lost in thought, and it took her a while to react, angrily saying: "What are you looking at? I tell you, do not harbor any thoughts about me; I will never marry you."

He felt somewhat displeased; no wonder those practitioners chose to establish their abodes in the deep mountains, seeking a quiet place. If such incidents were to occur more frequently, anyone would find it unbearable. Although Shen Lian was somewhat irritated, he still asked, "Who is outside the door?"

In the "Supreme Clarity and Spiritual Treasure: The True Explanation of Natural Locking the Heart and Settling the Spirit," even the simple methods of calming the mind and nurturing the heart opened up a new world for Shen Lian. The deity born from the void is something he still cannot describe with any words. However, whenever he visualizes this deity, although his spirit does not grow stronger, it subdues his easily scattered thoughts, allowing him to feel a sense of fulfillment and purity in his soul

As the Analects states, "Yan Hui lived in a humble alley, with a simple meal and a gourd of water. While others could not bear their worries, he did not change his joy," it can be said that Yan Hui's state is quite similar to that of Shen Lian now

The most striking difference lies in Shen Lian's eyes, as if touched by a divine brush, adding a stroke of black to his delicate features. When Shen Ruoxi meets his gaze, it evokes a feeling reminiscent of a cold night spent gazing at the stars

But this is enough to enable Shen Lian to break free from this state

As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Lian's physique, raised her delicate fist, and said: "Otherwise, you will be in for it."

Having just finished a shower, encountering a charming and lovely young girl is a delightful experience no matter where it occurs. However, being intensely stared at by a bright and youthful maiden brings about a matter of personal interpretation regarding whether it is a pleasure or a burden

Shen Lian is not a person who endures hardship and toil, yet this self-imposed training, under his heightened perception, allows him to almost feel the exhilaration of his muscles and the extraction of his physical strength. The sensation of gradually approaching his own limits is remarkably clear, evoking a sense of joy reminiscent of gaining experience points while playing online games.

Shen Ruoxi let out a snort, unwilling to show weakness, and said: "What were you doing in the room just now? Were you up to some clandestine activities?"

If she is a maid, she should not have come at this time, for he has already sent her away, which means it is the other members of the Shen family.

Shen Ruoxi never expected that the first thing Shen Lian would say was to ask her what she intended to do. Of course, what was even more significant was Shen Lian's calm and composed tone, which carried a sense of an adult questioning a child, causing her to feel somewhat diminished in presence.

Speaking of which, although Shen Ruoxi and he are of similar physical age, in terms of psychological age, Shen Lian could certainly be called "uncle" by her

Just as Shen Ruoxi was about to kick the door open, the door quietly swung open

The two individuals gazed at each other, and Shen Lian naturally showed no signs of shyness or retreat, his eyes clear as water

At the same time, at Qingxia Temple, due to the scarcity of resources, he cannot fully exert himself to seek his limits, as his physical condition is not good at present. If he overexerts himself even slightly, without any supplements like tea or similar medicinal herbs to replenish his energy and vitality, it would be counterproductive.

Shen Lian found Shen Ruoxi's sudden appearance somewhat strange, yet he did not take it to heart and directly asked, "Speak, what do you want from me?"

The reason she appears slightly older than Shen Lian is that Shen Ruoxi was born into a wealthy family, enjoying a life free from worries about food and clothing, which contributed to her well-developed physique. In contrast, Shen Lian had previously focused on cultivating his spirit, which resulted in a delay in his physical development, making him seem somewhat younger than her

Shen Ruoxi then took a good look at Shen Lian and noticed that he indeed appeared to have just taken a shower, with a faint scent of soap lingering on him

This is nothing but a romantic tale of "leaning against the door and looking back, only to smell the green plums"; Shen Lian found it somewhat amusing

Her heart raced like a startled deer, and what she thought was: clearly, she had come to humiliate Shen Lian properly, to let him know that he was out of her league, yet she had blurted out her true feelings without hesitation.

Soaking in the bath, Shen Lian felt extremely at ease, gradually entering a state of tranquility

Knocking on the door in between, the aggressive actions instead appear to be akin to a child throwing a tantrum