"I feel... I feel like I can't breathe properly..."
A blush of red spread across Mei's fair face, making her look delicate and lovely.
"Don't scare me like that!"
Ling Feng said anxiously. He had been jostled by someone, causing him to press further in, and accidentally made physical contact with Mei.
Suddenly, the tram started going downhill. The inertia sent things bumping around inside. Mei lost her footing and stumbled onto Ling Feng, her head burying itself in his chest.
The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
The overwhelming scent of male hormones, combined with such close physical contact with Ling Feng, made Mei feel as if she had been electrocuted. The blush on her cheeks deepened, like a boiling kettle.
Mei was now too embarrassed to even lift her head, whimpering softly.
"...Mmmph..."
Seeing Mei like this, Ling Feng wondered why things had turned out this way.
They had simply agreed to go out and buy things for a party and happened to get on the same tram.
Now, he felt so awkward he could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground.
"It's over..."
"Huh?"
"Now... I won't be able to get married..."
"!!! No, wait, I didn't do anything at all, did I?"
Mei's words made Ling Feng incredibly nervous, as if he had done something heinous and worse than an animal.
"Hahaha..."
Suddenly, Mei let out a soft laugh, which made Ling Feng's eyelids twitch incessantly.
Mei lifted her head slightly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over him as she met Ling Feng's downward gaze. She spoke softly, "Actually, this is quite stable, much better than before."
"...You should stand up straight soon, otherwise... I... my chest feels stuffy."
Buried against his chest was not only Mei's head but also the soft touch of her ample bosom.
And the faint scent from Mei's hair, tickling his nostrils. He was merely a good young man, unable to withstand such a test.
"Haha, I was just kidding. Actually... this is really quite stable."
Mei buried her head in Ling Feng's chest again, speaking softly, word by word, "My body, and my heart... both feel much more stable."
"I never thought... and never felt... that in an environment like this... I could be so at ease..."
"Looking back, Ling Feng, you, Kiana, Sagiri, Mirai, everyone... you've all helped me so much. Whether it was at Senkai Academy, when escaping Changkong City, or at St. Freya... you were all looking after me, showing me what true friends are like."
"After that incident at Senkai Academy, I always asked myself if it would be better if I were alone... I always asked myself... if it would be better not to let others get too close to me."
"Only then would everyone be happy. Only then would I not hurt others."
"I know... Ling Feng, you were always trying to help me, but at that time, I was afraid of affecting you and didn't dare to accept."
"Only later did I understand that being with friends and facing things bravely is the right path."
"I am truly grateful to you, to all of you..."
Ling Feng remained silent. The clatter of the tram reached his ears as it continued its journey. The girl in front of him, her hand tightly gripping his sleeve, spoke to herself as if lost in thought, as if pouring out her heart.
Ling Feng did not interrupt. He acted as a proper listener, gazing at the passing scenery through the tram's window, listening quietly.
Before he knew it, the tram arrived at its stop, and the doors beside them opened. Soon, the tram became empty.
"Let's go, we're getting off."
Mei's eyes sparkled, and she gave a faint smile. Having poured her heart out, she felt incredibly relieved.
"Okay."
Ling Feng nodded and followed Mei off the tram.
For the next half of the day, the two of them went around the city, purchasing the items on Mei's list.
...
Night fell, the sky was clear and studded with stars.
At St. Freya Academy, in Ling Feng's dormitory, the usually quiet living room was now bustling with activity.
The dining table in the living room was laden with various delicacies, including Shenzhou's Mapo Tofu, braised pork, and various desserts.
A rich aroma intertwined in the air, tantalizing the taste buds.
Such a lavish spread of delicious food, appealing to both sight and smell, was almost irresistible to a certain white-haired, grass-like creature.
Kiana's eyes were fixed on the food on the table, her mouth watering, and her body twitching restlessly.
However, she remained seated, suppressing the urge to start eating, locked in an internal battle.
Seeing Kiana struggling so hard, everyone couldn't help but smile.
Ling Feng, as the host, stood up, raising his glass of wine and calling out, "To celebrate Ms. Himeko's recovery and discharge from the hospital, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Fu Hua and the others smiled and raised their glasses. Durandal maintained her cool demeanor, raising her glass with a calm expression.
"Thank you, everyone, and Ling Feng. Theresa told me it's thanks to your medicine that I might not have survived this time."
"Ahem, enough of that. While I was in the hospital, Theresa didn't allow me to touch any alcohol. This time, I must drink to my heart's content!"
Himeko first spoke seriously, then began to vent.
Theresa sighed, "Himeko, please drink in moderation for your health."
The sound of glasses clinking filled the air as everyone drank. Of course, Sagiri, being underage, couldn't drink, so Ling Feng replaced her drink with milk under her displeased and resentful gaze.
Kiana and some of the others didn't like alcohol and used soft drinks instead.
Only Ling Feng, Himeko, and Durandal were truly drinking.
After a glass of fine wine, Himeko felt refreshed. In two words: exhilarating!
A blush gradually crept onto her cheeks.
Being a frequent drinker, she could taste the extraordinary quality of Ling Feng's wine; it far surpassed any fine wine she had ever tasted.
Himeko, with a flushed face, exclaimed, "Excellent wine! Ling Feng, where did you buy this wine? I must buy a few cases."
Ling Feng poured her another glass and, shaking the bottle, said with a smile, "I brewed it myself. It's one of a kind in the world, you won't find another."
This was wine brewed in his Sword Cultivation Gourd. While not a divine elixir, it was brewed with rich spiritual energy, making it several times stronger than ordinary wine.
It could gradually improve one's constitution, cleanse impurities from the body, and even increase cultivation for low-level cultivators.
Of course, everything had its limits.
"Then how much do you have left? How much can you sell? Name your price."
"Ms. Himeko, I'm not short of money."
Ling Feng said calmly. Money was just a number to him.
"Then what do you want? Don't tell me... you've taken an interest in me, your elder sister, and want me?"
"It's not impossible. Don't you have an old saying in Shenzhou, 'A life debt must be repaid with oneself'... You saved my life, so..."
Himeko pursed her lips with a charming smile, casting a suggestive glance at Ling Feng with captivating allure.
"Look at you, you're drunk and talking nonsense. Here... have some food. I'll send you a case of that wine later." Ling Feng quickly interrupted Himeko's enchantment.
If he let her continue, who knew what else she would say.
Durandal subtly glanced at Himeko Infinite Tower.
As a Fox Fairy of the Red Thread, a being who dealt with emotions and cultivated through affection, even in another world, her innate abilities were still somewhat retained.
This woman was truly smitten with Ling Feng. Not just her, but also...
Durandal's gaze swept over the girls present. Quite a few had a favorable impression of Ling Feng, with several having strong feelings.
Durandal took a large gulp of wine. Although she had agreed to Ling Feng having multiple wives, seeing this still made her a little upset.
Meanwhile, Mei suddenly spaced out, Himeko's words from earlier echoing in her mind: "A life debt must be repaid with oneself." A blush slowly spread across her face, her body growing hotter, her mind becoming a little muddled.
"Mei sister, what's wrong? Why is your face so red all of a sudden?"
Kiana, engrossed in eating beside Mei, didn't notice Mei's abnormality, but the alert Bronya did, tilting her head and asking curiously.
"Ah!"
Mei instinctively shivered, her heart racing, like being caught by her parents playing on her phone late at night.
Mei shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She smiled at the curious Bronya beside her, fanning herself slightly, looking a little nervous.
"It's nothing, I just feel a bit hot. I'm going to the balcony to get some fresh air."
Mei got up and hastily fled the table to the balcony for some air.
Mei sister seems to be hiding something... Bronya watched Mei's retreating figure, narrowing her eyes, looking suspicious.
But since Mei sister didn't say anything, Bronya didn't want to pry further. Everyone had their own secrets.
"Bronya, Bronya."
"Hmm? What is it, Sagiri?"
Feeling someone poking her, Bronya turned to see Sagiri and asked curiously, tilting her head.
Sagiri nudged her chair closer to Bronya's, leaning in and whispering something in her ear.
During this, Bronya's face turned red, her eyes showing hesitation, curiosity, and shyness. She turned back and chatted with Sagiri for a while longer, and finally, the two girls shook hands, as if they had reached an agreement.
Mirai, seeing the two girls hit it off, looked hesitant. She glanced at the host, then at Sagiri, and after a moment of thought, lowered her head to eat.
Keqing and Fu Hua were the most normal. They ate at a moderate pace. They had already agreed to a training room battle to the death after dinner.
After eating a little, Fu Hua kept helping Ling Feng and the other two pour wine, a smile on her face and graceful movements.
Not long after, Mei calmed down and returned to the table. Himeko changed the subject, reminiscing about amusing events. When talking about Kiana, Himeko looked extremely disappointed.
"You are truly the worst student I've ever taught..."
"Can't you learn something from Mei and the others, besides eating? Look at Sagiri, she's younger than you and her academic performance is several times better than yours..."
Himeko, flushed from drinking, was spitting and letting loose.
Kiana wanted to retort but was no match for her. Bronya then joined the fray, ridiculing and mocking Kiana, making Kiana so angry she almost flipped the table.
Ling Feng and the others around them laughed uncontrollably, the atmosphere harmonious.
The celebratory party concluded amidst laughter and merriment.
Keqing and Fu Hua left first. Sagiri, Mei, and the others then helped the flushed and staggering, drunken Himeko back to her dormitory.
Before leaving, Himeko was still mumbling incoherently.
Fu Hua stood up, preparing to tidy up the mess.
Ling Feng dispersed most of the drunkenness with his qi, but it was spiritual wine, and some residual effects remained.
He held his forehead, trying to alleviate the dizziness, and said softly, "Fu Hua, you go take a bath and rest first. I'll clean up in a while. I need to rest for a bit to sober up."
"It's okay, Ling, you go rest. I'll clean up." Fu Hua gave a sweet smile, looking like a housewife.
While they were talking, Durandal, tipsy, returned to her room.
Ling Feng insisted, "You always clean up. It's too messy today, I'll do it, otherwise, I'll spoil you."
If I could, I would truly spoil you into a useless person, then no one would like you, and you wouldn't be so fickle... Seeing Ling Feng's insistence, Fu Hua sighed softly, nodded reluctantly, and turned towards the bathroom.
"I can't drink so much Peach Blossom Wine in the future." Ling Feng rubbed his forehead, feeling a slight headache.
Midway through drinking, Ling Feng had switched to a different spiritual wine, the Peach Blossom Wine. This was a true spiritual wine; even cultivators would get drunk from it.
Ling Feng strode into his bedroom and, with a "thump," unceremoniously collapsed onto the bed, his breathing steady as he entered a deep sleep.
At the bathroom door, Fu Hua looked towards Ling Feng's room, a hint of anxiety and hesitation in her eyes. She lowered her gaze to the potion in her hand; the pink liquid within sloshed gently, looking rather alluring.
This bottle of potion was given to her by Fox Shrine Priestess. She hadn't expected that even after her resurrection, her belongings would still be with her.