Xiangling: ???
She was still an innocent girl after all and didn't immediately understand the deeper meaning behind Lu Lin's words.
That was fine. She would understand eventually—this was part of growing up.
Under her confused yet faintly expectant gaze, Lu Lin lowered his head and kissed her soft lips.
This wasn't technically her first kiss—he had taken that in the Guizhong domain—but to her, this felt like her true first kiss, because this time she was fully conscious.
The Pyro blossom nectar didn't have strong aphrodisiac properties. Its effect was closer to alcohol—putting someone in a pleasantly tipsy state, making them bolder than usual.
The words she spoke were her true feelings. Normally, she would never dare say them. But now, emboldened, she had.
This time, Lu Lin's kiss was gentle. After all, the girl was full of curiosity and longing about intimacy; he wanted to give her a good first experience.
He didn't rush. He slowly savored her lips, letting her adapt before deepening the kiss.
Meanwhile, his hands began to move.
Lu Lin was sitting; Xiangling had melted into his arms, her small frame curled slightly, making it easy for him to hold her close.
She wore a fitted outfit for mobility. After some effort, most of it was loosened.
Under the firelight, her skin glowed warm and flushed.
He trailed kisses downward.
"Lu Lin ge~"
Her voice rang clearly in the night air, echoing faintly through the empty valley.
The place was remote and dangerous; otherwise, that sound might have drawn attention.
The grass was soft, but Lu Lin laid down bedding from his Serenitea Pot anyway.
The bonfire crackled nearby, casting flickering shadows.
She lay there, illuminated in warm firelight, nervous yet eager.
He knelt beside her.
Xiangling was devoted to spear practice; naturally, she was curious about unfamiliar "weapons," testing and exploring with earnest enthusiasm.
Lu Lin, meanwhile, explored gently and carefully, like someone evaluating a new residence—observing, assessing, appreciating.
He seemed unusually particular about "houses," always inspecting new "valleys" with serious consideration.
This one, in his view, was delicate and beautifully formed.
Satisfied, he pulled her close again for another kiss.
When the moment felt right, he leaned down.
"Lu Lin ge~"
A brief sharp discomfort made her instinctively bite his shoulder, her voice carrying both tension and fulfillment.
"Stir-frying" was, after all, a common cooking method—preserving tenderness and locking in flavor.
Lu Lin thought to himself that this dish was turning out quite well.
The firelight cast two swaying silhouettes against the valley walls.
The night wasn't quiet—there were insects—but gradually, their rhythmic sounds were overtaken by clear, rising notes that echoed through the valley long into the night.