Nanya successfully broke through to the 12th stage of body refinement. But she hadn’t had enough of her servant’s qi yet.

"We demand more!" Her voice was squeaky, her eyes were scorched.

“M’lday… you messed up.” Su Yafeng said with relief. “Come, you can get back to rebellious behaviours later. Please calm the Matriarch’s fury first. And next time, use the Harmonious Heaven grade warding talismans.”

The maid picked up the fox Nanya, the adorable vixen chirping and squirming.

“Release us!” Fox Nanya bit Yafeng’s hand to no avail. “We shall bite you!”

Su Yafeng gave Ziyou Yung a knowing look. Nanya bit the maid again.

The madlander boyfriend blushed, “I-I-I-I….” He bounced up like a plank, “I’sGottaGoSilkyWhereIsSilkyAhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

He dashed out of the room once more, exactly as he had this morning. However, the circumstances that framed his departure were a stark contrast, as if the day and night themselves had swapped roles.

***

Yung crashed down the stairs and kicked the door to his newly assigned sleep quarters open. He felt like his heart was about to burst.

“Silky!”

The critter flew out of his dantian. He grabbed the foxmoth and placed it outside the door,

“Go play with Floofy!”

Then slammed it close.

“Oh god!”

Yung clutched his trembling hands.

“I groped her boobs!”

His knees wobbled weakly.

“Jesus Christ!”

Then he touched his lips, nicked by Nanya's fangs. He touched his pants. It was damp, where the vixen had straddled Yung like a constricting boa. The wetness had a sweet, tangy aroma.

Like strawberries and grapes.

“Holy shit!”

The shock of what had transpired hit Yung like a tsunami.

“That was my first… first kiss!”

He collapsed on the floor, punching it with bravado.

“Awesome!”

Then he jumped onto the bed, shaking the pain away from the bruised knuckle.

“Oh god. Moira. Gaia. Mum! I kissed a girl!”

He rolled around, hugging his body, squealing like the teen he was.

“A girl kissed me!”

He ran to the window and opened it, screaming,

“I KISS—”

He closed the window.

“—ssed a girl. Om in! Om out… We snuggled. I snuggled a girl!” He felt his raging erection refusing to stay in his pants despite his meditative humming. “I-I gotta do my assignments. Wait, no. Miss Yafeng and Nanya always spy on me. I can’t do my assig—I need a cold shower!”

Yung felt like his head would pop like a cork, and his heart would crawl out of his neck, dancing to Can't help falling in Love.

“Nyanya…” Yung muttered, weak, “She’s so cute.” It was funny how a simple kiss completely set possibility into certainty. He never imagined that with one sensual touch, the way he saw the fox maiden had transformed from merely a crush to…

To…

To liking Su Nanya—a lot. Was he that easy? Yung shook his head. He was definitely in love!

“Kissing her wasn’t part of the plan.” He remembered Jung’s tactics: “I… need to ask her out on a date!”

***

Yung woke up before the sun, feeling hot and refreshed. A quick delve into his sea of consciousness revealed why.

“I broke through?”

The True qi lake had expanded by a fold, and he was officially in the 4th stage of the faith refining realm—no longer an early stage novice but a median stage one.

"I-is this what the extreme yin thing was about?" Yung grinned, then left the illuminated yet dark sea. His regular True qi conversion rate, even with the superior foxfire creek heart sutra, was barely one in a hundred thousand. But after a short time making out with Nanya, that rate shot through the heavens.

“Awesome,” Yung laughed, then blinked, “I kissed a girl. Ehehehehehe.”

He rubbed his teeth with a coal branch and gurgled with salt water. He combed his hair, then checked if his curly cow lick stayed in place. It didn’t.

He stretched out his best pair of clothes, which was basically a Youjin garb courtesy of the hotel. Then he stretched his arms and howled. And snickered. And giggled.

The short boy did a power pose and bounced around. Like his bed hair, the spring in his steps would not go away.

Knock! Knock!

“Who is it?” He asked, hurriedly forcing a composure.

“It’s me, lad.” Ziyou Maque’s voice came through.

Yung opened the door, only to find the corridor filled up with Ziyou Maque, Ziyou Ling, Elder Gangkai, Youjin Chun, and a dozen other unfamiliar people. They were radiating a threatening aura filled with bloodlust and excitement.

He tilted his head in confusion. Yung didn’t feel threatened with Su Yafeng in the building, but who were these people?

“Good morning,” Youjin Chun offered, and there was a “Sup!” from Ziyou Ling. Youjin Gangkai merely grunted.

"Sorry to bother ye this early in the morn'." Said the Free Sparrow gang leader. He was all bandaged up like a mummy and stood with a limp. But seeing him well enough not to carry a crutch around after so many days was a welcome sight. "We gotta discuss the foxmoth hunt."

“Oh shit!” Yung said. I forgot about that, with Nanya and all…. I kissed her. Ehehee!

“Kii!”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

No Silky, I didn’t suffer qi deviation. It’s the opposite!

Yung shook his head to get the previous night’s events out (for now) and said, “I don’t think these many folks will fit in my room.” He glanced at the strangers, “Hi?”

“Hello!”

“Well met.”

“Cheers!”

A chorus of welcoming words came back. Yung gulped. These people had eyes filled with unfiltered greed; the Empathic links did not lie.

“It be fine, Young Yung. Care for breakfast? We’ll talk in the restaurant.” Ziyou Maque assured. Ziyou Ling and Youjin Chun were glaring at each other. Elder Gangkai fiddled with his wine gourd. The twelve-odd mean-looking fellas grinned.

“Cool, cool cool.” Yung was feeling mighty hungry, “Let’s go then. But, umm, they are…?”

“These fine folks,” Ziyou Maque did the self-introductions, “are from the Dark star mercenaries. A group of fiendhunters, adventurers, and mercenaries renowned for their prowess in the Warring twilight region.” Ziyou Maque said, “Their leader is an Imperfect Heaven 3rd realm powerhouse, and she’s quite interested in this sound transmission token you’ve made. They took on the mission Youjin Liu put out.”

“Oh, yeah…” I forgot about that too. Which reminds me, I also need to look into how the Youjin clan can edit captured footage in jade slips. “I heard there was a stigmata building realm mercenary too who came? Is he with you guys? I got this from the auction house recently.” Yung showed the pink heart ring, and the dozen strangers visibly cringed, shying away.

“Ah, so you were the one who bought this nasty thing. Be careful with it, or your life and reputation will be over.” One of the mercenaries said, “That man isn’t part of our group. He bolted yesterday night, no doubt with a sack full of spirit stones from the auction house.”

Huh? Was I fleeced? Yung thought it over as they made their way down the stairs. The ring constantly drained his Heart qi for supposedly no purpose, but with the deluge of worship aimed at his totem every moment, the drain helped him.

He spotted the female wait staff who usually got his food, the girl acting innocently nonchalant, looking away. He read her Empathic link and paled. Scary! Never judge a book by its cover.

Then he saw Su Yafeng coming down from the opposite set of stairs leading up.

“Miss Yafeng.” Yung greeted with no small amount of embarrassment.

“Ziyou Yung,” She greeted back and curtsied, “If you could follow me for a second.”

Yung froze, then looked at Ziyou Maque.

The gang leader sighed before saying, “We’ll be waiting downstairs. Take yer time. Can’t leave the Fox clan waitin’.”

The others nodded too, but the mercenary group’s Empathic links read an average of fear, reluctance, and wariness.

Youjin Chun opened her mouth to speak but closed them again.

“I-I’ll be right back.”

With that, they slowly climbed up. Su Yafeng in front, Yung behind. The boy subconsciously tried to make himself as small as possible.

Wait, why should I?

He straightened his back, puffing his chest out. The maid turned around, staring.

Yung tried not to slump again and asked, “W-What is it?”

Su Yafeng said nothing. There was a strange aura. Not threatening, but not welcoming either. Her link read utter confusion.

Huh.

“You broke through….”

Yung breathed loudly through his nose, face red like a tomato. He mumbled a question, “W-was that h-her Essence qi?”

"Perhaps." She didn't confirm nor deny. The maid resumed climbing.

The silence lasted until they reached Su Nanya’s queen’s suit.

“Do not lie to her. Ever.” The maid said, hands clasping the door handles. “Promise?”

Yung was confused but knew he could only answer in one way.

“You have my word.”

“Good,” With that, she opened the gates to the sacred castle, and Yung walked it.

Only to find no one there.

“Under the bed,” Su Yafeng said.

Yung tiptoed inside the newly furnished room. It was amazing how quickly the hotel staff replaced all the furniture Su Nanya had broken with her tantrums. She is paying though, right?

Yung crouched and saw a human-sized burrito shivering like a spring under the bed.

What is it with the Su fox clan and hiding under beds after wrapping themselves up?

“Nyanya?”

“Eek!” Came out a cute exclamation.

“Eek?” Yung repeated.

The burrito stopped trembling, and a fox tail stuck out, followed by a pretty face.

“So the time has come.” She asked tearfully, “Have you come to ravage us?”

“What? No!” Yung denied, “Maybe? What do you mean? You don’t wanna see me?”

“Do not twist our words!” Su Nanya said, quickly crawling out and grasping his hand in a death grip.

Yung released a sigh of relief.

“Our Essence qi is engaged to yours.” Su Nanya whispered, raising Yung’s heartbeat, “Yet we shall not accept you.” The fox girl had an uncertain look on her face. But her Empathic link read guilt and… and pleasure? Adoration? What?

She likes me! No… Does she? She has to! Stupid Empathic links sending me mixed signals.

Yung screamed internally but didn’t interrupt the girl.

“Yet,” Her tiny lips mouther, “our hearts cannot bear to reject you.”

Phew!

“For if we did, then would you not be dishonest in your bid to woo us?” She asked, eyes upturned.

“If you rejected me, then I’d… I don’t know. Be sad? Move on? I can’t imagine wasting time on a woman without a chance of a committed relationship.”

“We concur wholeheartedly! But not on you moving on. You are forbidden from such blasphemy.” She tightened her grip around his palms; ouch. “Are we clear? We henceforth neither reject nor accept you… okay? We unaccept and unreject you!”

Does she mean she will string me along as a backup option? Or not? An ambiguous more than friends less than lovers relationship….where we kiss?

Yung sat up straight and asked, “That sounds kinda sexy….”

"It most certainly does not. We command you, henceforth, to refrain from describing our affairs in such a deplorably coarse manner!"

“Then how should I define it?”

Su Nanya went quiet. She looked at him with those fox eyes, examining his every imperfection. A warm, tingly feeling spread from their clasped hands and raised goosebumps on Yung’s skin.

“Cultivation.” Su Nanya said, nodding as if to assure herself. “How could one such low… we mean…. Blemished nose….my, how tricky…” She stopped. Deep in thought to find the right words.

Yung smiled. The vixen took what he had said about hurtful words to heart. That was great! Their relationship already had working boundaries. She respected his lines, so he would always respect hers.

Su Nanya thought it over and started out confident, articulating her flawless logic, “How could one with such a low cultivation base ever be our equal? Nay, we stand far above. Hence, from hereafter, the new servant is none but our… Essence qi… partner.” Her voice grew as quiet as a mosquito’s buzzing by the time she stopped.

“Sex friends?” Yung’s eyes were as round as circles. Jesus Christ. “Fuck buddies?”

Su Nanya bristled, “Hush, you unrefined being!” and covered his mouth. “We mean no such thing. We merely claim that while we do reject you from ever having our hand in marriage, we unreject your honest devotion to us, in… in complementing us in our path of cultivation.”

That means the same damn thing! Yung roared, his heart beating like drums. But I’ll take it!

“Exclusive Essence qi partners.” He said.

Su Nanya flinched, then pouted, “What ever do you mean?”

“Either I am your exclusive partner in the path of,” Yung held in a snicker, much to Su Nanya’s dismay, “dual cultivation—”

“Normal cultivation!”

“—normal cultivation, where we exchange Essence qi. Or it’s not worth it.”

“We are not worth it?” Su Nanya gaped as though hearing the most sinful words ever uttered. Her face blanched, looking like she’d been betrayed.

“I mean, devoting my life to pursue you won’t be worth your time,” Yung explained slowly, “Or mine.”

“Oho, well spoken.” Su Nanya exhaled, and her stiff shoulders relaxed.

Yung continued shyly, “You can’t do the things we do with anyone else, okay? L-Like yesterday.”

Su Nanya let go of his hand and blushed. Yung hugged her, and she yelped but settled in the embrace without struggle.

“Deal?”

“We… we…”

“I don’t want to share you with anyone. Not your fiancé, not some other guy with whatever yang body types. Not. Ever! At least when it comes to exclusive physical intimacy.”

“We unreject it.”

“Say it clearly.”

“We…. Accept.”

Yay! Yung’s heart cheered like it had won the lottery. It had. He had! First goal secured. Now for the clincher.

"That's awesome! I love you." He didn't give her time to rest. He put his cheek on her's and started rubbing against it madly.

“Eeeeeeek!”

“I mean, I enjoy exchanging Essence qi with you.”

“V-Very well. You may proceed.” Su Nanya squirmed in his arms, then closed her eyes and stuck her lips up.

Yung was tempted to give in. But a good foundation was the basis of healthy relationships. He needed to Mirandize his intimacy needs, relationship goals, and future expectations in clear, kind, non-needy words.

“But there’s one more thing.”

“Scoundrel! We knew it. You merely wished to use us for your ends.” The vixen pushed against his chest.

“I also want to be your friend.”

Su Nanya lost balance and almost clawed his skin out. Yung’s new robe was ripped where she had scratched, but he wasn’t injured.

“Friends? As in, that ‘Girlfriend’ notion the new servant had proclaimed, which meant us to be your lover? We shall not give you such benefits!”

This lewd girl actually wants to be friends with benefits with me, right?! Right? Right! Yung had trouble understanding Su Nanya’s thought patterns. Why does every phrase this girl utters drip sexual innuendo? Indeed a divine talent.

“Friends,” Yung said, “as in, I want our uniquely personal relationship to be grounded in unselfish support for each other’s needs, well-being, and interests. I want it to be voluntary, where I am a friend for your sake and you for mine. If that involves some degree of intimacy, emotional or physical, then so be it.”

"Friends." Su Nanya savoured the words as though she was licking a sweet sugary lozenge, and mouthed, "Perchance, my comrade? Ally. Companion?"

Yung nodded. “I want to start as friends that can talk to each other about anything and everything without feeling the need to play mind games or be defensive. A conversation partner. Someone I can feel comfortable depending on, and who feels the same for me. Whether in times of happiness or sorrow.”