C21 A Sad Beauty!

As the woman drew near, a captivating scent enveloped Lin Chen, making his head spin with dizziness.

Despite his strength, resisting Le Hongyan's enchanting allure was a challenge!

"There's no need for that. You're not that type of woman," Lin Chen said, understanding her intentions, yet he couldn't go through with it. Taking advantage of her upon his arrival would lead to serious consequences.

Glancing at his phone for the time, Lin Chen signaled his intention to leave.

"Hold on, we've just finalized the agreement. Shouldn't we at least share a meal before you go? Besides, I'd like your help with my cultivation," the woman said, blocking Lin Chen's way with her graceful figure.

Lin Chen, unable to stop in time, brushed against her, the soft contact causing him to stiffen. He took a breath before responding, "That wasn't part of the agreement, was it? I agreed to confront the Dragonspire Conclave, but let's not overstep..."

Le Hongyan giggled, "Oh, the little guy thinks I'm overstepping, huh? Hehe!"

She laughed heartily, sensing Lin Chen's male hormones reacting to her presence. She was confident that her beauty would eventually win over the young man.

"Heroes often falter before beauty. He'll be mine in time," she thought.

"No worries, it's just a meal. I'm actually quite hungry myself. Go ahead and arrange it. A good meal could aid my cultivation, and we could discuss things, like spiritual artifacts," Lin Chen said with a smile, embracing the openness of the situation.

"What would you like to eat? I'll have it prepared," she offered.

Lin Chen, feeling the pang of hunger, said without reservation, "Given your status, delicacies like abalone, deer antler, and snow frog should be no trouble, right?"

Knowing the clubhouse offered only the finest, and recalling meals with classmates, Lin Chen saw no reason for modesty when she asked for his preference.

"Haha, sure thing. I'll have the chefs whip something up for you right away. As long as you can handle it, it's yours!" Le Hongyan was taken aback by Lin Chen's unusual request. He certainly stood out from the crowd.

Lin Chen made himself comfortable on the plush, stylish sofa, sipping tea as he pondered what Le Hongyan might need help with in her cultivation. He sensed that she lacked inner strength, wondering how he could possibly assist her.

But he was willing to put up with it for the sake of the spiritual artifact. He'd figure it out later.

Before long, the chefs served up an aromatic feast. Lin Chen eyed the spread before him, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He hadn't intended to eat so much. It seemed she was fattening him up like a pig!

Despite being a socialite, Le Hongyan's way of treating guests was quite agreeable to Lin Chen. She didn't dawdle and even served him a bowl of Snuygro rice herself, flashing a coquettish smile. "Mr. Lin, please eat. We can discuss cultivation after your meal."

"Oh, aren't you going to eat all this food?" Lin Chen inquired.

Le Hongyan responded with a sweet smile, "I'm not hungry yet. Plus, I've been dieting recently, so I'm eating less!"

"What? You're dieting? But you're already so slender!" Lin Chen remarked, genuinely surprised.

"Well, what if I get fat later on? Dieting is a lifelong endeavor for a woman. You men just don't get it!" she laughed, then curiously asked, "By the way, do you prefer women to be thinner or a bit more voluptuous?"

Without hesitation, Lin Chen replied, "I like them to look lean but feel substantial!"

"Oh my, you're not as innocent as you look!" Le Hongyan chuckled, finding Lin Chen increasingly intriguing.

What's more, Lin Chen's mastery of ancient martial arts was a refreshing change for her, someone who had always been obsessed with power and wealth.

Lin Chen dug into his meal with gusto, quickly making his way through two bowls of rice and most of the exquisite dishes on the table.

Between bites, he smiled and asked, "Looking at you, I don't think there's anything you need my help with, is there?"

"Can't you tell?" Le Hongyan asked incredulously.

"I'll explain after we eat," Lin Chen replied, nodding as he took a hearty gulp of chicken soup. He then remarked, "This chicken soup has a lot of chewy bits in it. Is that sea cucumber?"

A sly twinkle appeared in Le Hongyan's beautiful eyes as she smiled and said, "Yes, indeed. I've added two pieces of yak whip to it. It's meant to nourish the kidneys and boost your Yang energy."

Lin Chen's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Two... yak... whips... What are you trying to do?!"

"Just drink up," Le Hongyan encouraged, her laughter growing as she observed Lin Chen's flustered expression.

Lin Chen's brow furrowed as he suddenly felt an intense heat surge from his belly, causing his body temperature to rise dramatically, as if steam might start pouring from his head at any moment.

"Ms. Le, why didn't you give me a heads-up? As a young and vigorous guy, you're making me eat this. Are you trying to make my nose bleed?" Lin Chen was at a loss for words, caught between amusement and dismay.

Le Hongyan, however, saw nothing amiss. She rose and sat next to Lin Chen, placing her hand on his shoulder and gently stroking her neck and cheek, her eyes flirtatious as she asked, "Can you feel what's wrong with me?"

Lin Chen was dead serious, not in the mood for jokes. He was sweating from the heat, yet he noticed how chillingly cold her hand felt on his neck.

"Your body temperature is quite low. Is that due to your training?" Lin Chen inquired earnestly.

"I draw in a very Yin type of Spiritual Qi when I practice, which helps me quickly reach the Body Refining Stage. However, it also leaves me with a chronic chill. If you could use your Yang Qi to help me clear my pathways, I could assist you in making a breakthrough!" Le Hongyan explained, her expression tinged with a hint of distress.

"So that's why you fed me the yak whip. You were actually being thoughtful!" Lin Chen said with a wry smile.

"I need your Yang Qi. I was worried you might not handle it well when you return, so it's always good to fortify yourself!" she said, her cheeks blushing as she smiled shyly.

"I'm not kidding. I'm currently at the Body Refining stage, so I can't engage in that sort of activity with you—it wouldn't be fair to my wife! If you could provide me with some Spiritual Qi to help me advance to the Qi Training stage, then I'd be more than willing to assist you with balancing your Qi," Lin Chen explained.

The woman was clearly not satisfied with his response. She boldly seated herself on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting as she spoke, "If you help me harmonize my Yin and Yang, I'll reward you with a Spiritual Weapon for your cultivation. It's healing and pleasurable—what's not to love?"

Lin Chen replied, "You make it sound so simple, but my Yang Qi and the potential of my future generations are invaluable. I won't agree to such an arrangement. The only acceptable solution is for you to provide me with a Spiritual Weapon. Once I've reached the Qi Training stage, I'll be at your service."

As he spoke, Lin Chen became acutely aware of the warmth spreading through his body, a reaction to the woman's close presence.