Lyra’s cheeks flushed pink, but before could answer, Flaxseed hopped off his seat and paced with his hands clasped behind him, brow furrowed, thoroughly disgruntled.
“Mr. Flaxseed, you just advanced to Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine. That’s a cause for celebration, so why the troubled expression?” Jared asked in puzzlement.
Flaxseed halted immediately and turned to stare at Jared. “What do you think? You two kept moaning over there every day. How was I supposed to concentrate? I may have broken through, but now I’m simmering with fire, and there’s nowhere to put it, that’s hardly cause for joy!”
Jared burst into booming laughter. Meanwhile, Lyra, mortified, wished the floor would swallow her, both hands flew over face, and even the tips of ears turned scarlet.
“My oversight, my oversight entirely,” Jared admitted, still chuckling.
“Once we’re back outside, I’ll find a few female cultivators so you can indulge yourself. Mr. Flaxseed. How’s that?” Jared added.
Flaxseed huffed, but the promise softened his scowl. Even so, the look threw at Jared fairly dripped with envy. After tidying their belongings, the trio stepped out of the Pentacarna Tower.
Jared tucked the tower away and led the others from the cavern. As the stone door slid shut behind them, sunlight spilled over their shoulders, warm, familiar, achingly welcome.
They realized an entire year had passed inside the tower, yet only three days had slipped by in the outside world. The door sealed. The final ember of rune-light winked out, leaving only cave-shadow and the echo of their own breathing.
Lyra lingered, fingertips still tingling with remembered celestial energy, while mountain wind rustled the pines overhead.
“Truth be told, the air out here feels fresher than the tower’s,” Jared said, stretching until his joints popped like castanets.
Newly tempered Earthly Immortal Realm spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, slow, strong, and utterly steady. He glanced at Lyra. She stood with head bowed; a blush crept up the pale column of neck while fingers twisted sleeve without thought
“What’s wrong?” Jared asked, taking two quiet steps closer. He stepped closer, catching the faint fragrance of a spiritual plant in hair.
It was Dew Herb, which grew by the stone grotto. Legend said its petals, infused with celestial energy, could calm the mind and steady the soul. He figured Lyra must have quietly picked it during cultivation and tucked it into hair.
“N-Nothing,” Lyra whispered, eyes darting away. “The sunlight is… A little bright, that’s all…”
A breeze swept past, rolling dry leaves along the path and tickling a loose strand of hair across cheek. Lyra lifted a hand to smooth the stray hair at temple, but a warm palm closed gently around wrist.
Jared’s touch still carried the heat of the tower, far warmer than the mountain breeze. His fingertips brushed pulse, and heart skipped, startled and pleased all at once.
“When you broke through inside the tower, your spiritual energy was restless…” Jared’s voice deepened, but it carried a caring tone. “Once we’re back, steep some spirit tea with Calming Herb…”
“And don’t stay up too late. You’ve only just reached Earthly Immortal Realm Level Seven, your foundation needs time to settle.” He paused, gaze lingering on the faint blush along ear. “Which means you might have to come looking for me, often, so we can continue with dual cultivation and keep that foundation steady.”
Lyra shot a quick sideways glance. Of course, understood exactly what Jared was hinting at. Even away from the tower, away from cultivation altogether, would find an excuse for that intimate practice.
The truth was, had come to enjoy it. She wouldn’t say no to pleasure, cultivation, and faster progress all in one. Only poor legs suffered for it; every step still ached that day.
“Mhm…” She nodded but left hand where it rested inside his. Another gust slipped through the pass, lifting skirt hem so it brushed Jared’s trouser leg.
The sensation dragged mind back to their last night inside the tower, when the surge of spiritual veins had struck and Jared, determined to steady spiritual energy, had worked with for three whole hours.
