Fighting to be Kind in a Cultivation World

Chapter 399: A Little Tease, A Little Laugh

After she covers me with a literal layer of kisses, Gong runs off to take care of some things we discussed. Leaving me to consider the next steps.

Like what I’m going to give Big Sis Crane, as an apology gift.

Of course, she’s expecting me to heal her and whoever she’s bringing in… but with the latest fiasco, and perhaps even without it, she’d want something else.

I think about the many options I have at my disposal.

Alchemy. Talisman Creation. Healing. Information (from my scan).

While there are other things I can do, these are probably my most powerful assets.

Well, taming is out, automatically. Anything I could tame, she could do… and for the things she couldn’t, it would raise questions I’d prefer not to answer.

For alchemy, while I could bring her another new alchemical concoction…she’d expect that. Not only that, but I suspect she is above Nascent Soul… in a realm known as ‘False Ascension’.

A realm that gives pseudo-immortality. Meaning she’s likely been alive for far longer than I may think and has already seen much. I’m still in Qi Condensation, so once again… anything I could make would either catch too much attention or not enough to have her forgive me.

I use my scan to see what the best option may be. To my surprise, it’s a combination.

Healing and Talismans.

If I try to use my healing on her, it would work… but it would take a massive amount of qi. Mostly, since my qi is still in gas-like form because of the nature of the Qi Condensation realm. Nascent Soul qi is radically denser than Core Formation. Just like how Core Formation is solid qi vs Foundation Establishment’s liquid qi.

Meaning that normally, my techniques wouldn’t be able to tickle her.

However, I’m using my techniques like hyper-compressed air, with the amount of qi of qi that a core formation has… while constantly replenishing more. This allows me to push past the barrier of realms.

But to do so with a talisman?

Inscribing a talisman already requires a person to put much more qi in it than would normally be used for the technique itself.

To adjust it to affect a False Ascension realm means I will need many times more qi than even that.

Sigh.

I will need to hole up and focus on that for a few days…but it should be worth it.

…as much as I dislike it, Big Sis Crane is a major supporter of me, and even if I don’t trust or agree with what she does… I need her, for me to be able to help others. And considering her realm…she’s much more compassionate than other higher realm cultivators.

It will be worth it to earn back her forgiveness.

Realizing this, I spend the rest of the day going around to all the different members of my group and helping them with their projects before I start on mine.

For He Wen, that means giving him instructions and materials to practice building items and formations with. Helping him work toward building the fantastical things for our Trauma Team.

For Mei Lin, Jin Chin, and Yalei, that means teaching them more in-depth about Trauma Team actions and how to use the equipment that I’m planning on them having. That besides strategies, combat medic tips, and other related concepts.

While Mei Lin won’t be in the Trauma Team, it is good for her to understand more medical aspects, since she’s on the hospital team and, if necessary, for her to know how to act in group combat medic operations.

For Ai, Lin, and Shi, I assist with their cultivation, leaving them a bunch of spirit stones to use and cultivate with.

…Reaching the end of the day, heading into the night, I stand before the last person I need to meet and reconnect with.

Sister Nuan leans against one of the tunnel walls, a playful smirk on her face.

“So… am I getting my turn now?”

I can’t help but chuckle at her words.

“If you’d like, Sister Nuan…but I think we both know that you wouldn’t want to have a date out here in Monchon City.”

Her smirk only grows as she teases me further. Moving closer to me.

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about a date…”

Even as she says that, I can tell she’s just playing around.

Sister Nuan is a special case… being both my master and someone who wants to be my lover.

She wants to keep that line in place, but break it… in the right situations. Something that will be interesting to play with, as she isn’t as experienced in romantic matters, having spent most of her life on cultivation and dealing with her curse.

As I look into her eyes, I see the opportunity for some teasing of my own.

I take an obvious look around, as if looking around for people. An unnecessary action, with our skills. But a way to lighten the mood for what I do next.

I lean towards her, moving my arm around her waist. Pulling her against me.

My eyes locked on hers.

“…anytime you want, Nuan. You’ll always be special to me.”

As I say that, I raise a hand to her cheek. Giving her a gentle kiss on the lips.

In an instant, she appears flustered. Wiggling in my arms, her raven hair moving back and forth, as she lets out a goofy smile, while kissing me back.

A stark difference from the normally confident woman she is.

I can’t help but pull her closer to me at this sight. My lips briefly leaving hers to whisper words in her ear.

“Nuan…. I’ll definitely take you someplace nice for our date, okay?”

She nods, leading me to release her waist and move away. Giving her time to recollect herself.

I can tease her like this a little, but I shouldn’t go too far. After all, she still has those lines in place. A delicate balancing act. For her, making this more romantic, rather than sexual, is the right choice.

After she takes some time to recollect herself, before changing to a serious look.

“You know that you’ll need to impress her…after what happened, right?”

Matching her new demeanor, I nod.

“Yes. Here’s what I’m thinking…”

I let her know of my plans to give her 5 talismans filled with my healing technique. Something that could even affect Big Sis Crane if she were critically injured.

With a smile of approval, she nods, but still bunches her eyebrows up in concern.

“That would do it…but even so, that might be too much.”

I sigh, feeling the same way.

I take it for granted, but to fully heal from nothing is powerful. Even more so when it involves refilling their qi and cultivation base.

After all, it could even heal soul damage, so it is truly like the ‘full heal elixir’ from games.

“What could I do, though? Anything else I could give her would simply give her even more information to use against me. At least with this… it’s enough to make her happy and also fits within the current information she knows.

“And… if she ever ends up using it, she’ll remember me positively.”

“True, but be careful… I’d only give her 3 of them.”

Nuan insists on this. And while 5 would be received better…I don’t see a problem with three instead. I trust her judgement.

After all, my scan isn’t perfect.

“Okay…I’ll do that then. I’ll see you a bit later. Thanks for everything, Sister Nuan.”

Without much further ado, we separate, and I go into a form of closed-door cultivation…but instead of cultivating, I’m creating talismans.