The two woke up, and everyone tactfully avoided mentioning the previous night's events, as if they had collectively lost their memory. Then, they each went off to cultivate.
This time, Ning Beichen and Luo Yingying decided to cultivate here for a period. Even without any reminders, they both sensed that the journey ahead would likely become increasingly arduous. Therefore, enhancing their own strength was the only way they could continue moving forward.
Ning Beichen and Luo Yingying paid no heed to the Star Stones, using them relentlessly. This was because Ning Beichen had once told her a particular phrase: "People's greatest tragedy is often having money but no life. So don't be a miser. In their world, the debtors are the masters, and misers are usually the poorest." Luo Yingying wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment.
After the events of the previous night, Ning Beichen and Luo Yingying tacitly avoided seeking each other out. Instead, they each cultivated within their respective dug-out snow caves, utilizing the Star Stones. While the Star Stones couldn't instantly elevate their realms at this point, they were immensely beneficial for improving their existing cultivation. With the Star Stones, a day of cultivation was equivalent to a month's worth of normal cultivation time. Although there were no clearly defined sub-realms within the extraordinary realm, they could sense the subtle advancements each day.
Approximately ten days later, Ning Beichen and Luo Yingying concluded their rest. That same day, Ning Beichen prepared another hot pot meal. This time, however, he refrained from bringing out the wine, opting for a simple hot pot meal with Luo Yingying. After finishing their meal, they both lay down. Perhaps it was a lingering thought of the previous night's events, but a strange quiet descended upon the scene.
After a while, Ning Beichen's voice broke the silence. "Yingying, are you asleep?"
"No," Luo Yingying replied quickly.
A short while later, it was Luo Yingying's turn to speak. "Ning Beichen, are you asleep?"
"No," Ning Beichen responded.
The snow cave fell silent again. After an indeterminate amount of time, Ning Beichen's voice echoed again. "Yingying, are you cold? Do you want to come sleep with me?"
Ning Beichen regretted speaking the moment the words left his mouth. While he often teased Luo Yingying, it was merely in jest to alleviate the monotony of their lives, and he never truly intended for anything to happen between them. After all, he, Ning Yanwang, had been quite the playboy years ago, only slightly changing after being with Liu Yilin in recent years. However, as the saying goes, "A leopard can't change its spots."
Ning Beichen received no immediate reply from Luo Yingying, which made him feel uneasy, silently chiding himself for his impulsiveness. However, not long after, he heard a rustling sound, and then saw Luo Yingying approaching him. Neither of them spoke. Luo Yingying simply lay down in Ning Beichen's embrace, resting her head on his arm, her cheeks flushed. Ning Beichen held her, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, and his heart began to flutter. After all, he was a normal man, not a paragon of chastity.
At this moment, Luo Yingying shifted, pressing against him, which ignited Ning Beichen's passion.
"Ning Beichen, what are you doing?" Luo Yingying said in a flustered voice.
"Naturally, doing what men and women do." Ning Beichen had transformed into a great demon king, instilling fear in Luo Yingying, yet she found herself unable to push him away.
Not long after, Luo Yingying let out a soft moan, a feeling of fullness pervading her body and mind. The sensation was somewhat painful, but more so, it was pleasurable, a joy of a different dimension. Soon, Luo Yingying began to hum softly, her initial resistance giving way to active cooperation.
After an unknown duration, the cave fell quiet. Then, after a few minutes, a pig-like scream of agony erupted from Ning Beichen. Luo Yingying had bitten his arm, leaving a deep imprint of her teeth.
"You scoundrel, this is your lesson," Luo Yingying said, gritting her teeth.
"Yingying, I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I will treat you well for the rest of my life." Ning Beichen immediately tried to make amends, knowing that Luo Yingying was not like the models he had casually dated in the past.
"Humph!" Luo Yingying snorted and turned her face away, refusing to look at him. Ning Yanwang felt rather awkward and had to resort to all his wiles to appease her.
"Humph, I'm not talking to you, you bad man." Luo Yingying had actually calmed down, but she was unwilling to admit it verbally. Ning Yanwang, having been through the romantic trenches, could discern Luo Yingying's underlying feelings and inwardly rejoiced. He intensified his efforts to flatter her, and finally managed to win her over.
A long time later, Luo Yingying lay in Ning Beichen's arms, her earlier spirited demeanor completely gone, now resembling a docile kitten.
"You scoundrel, how are you going to explain this to Liu Yilin?" Luo Yingying said, pinching him. After coming out here, she had turned Luo Yingying into his woman, and he was clearly not being honest.
"Don't worry, I'll explain it to her properly," Ning Beichen said, gently stroking her face. Ning Beichen was neither a saint nor a heartless man; he wanted to give all of them happiness and did not wish to choose between them.
Since Luo Yingying was experiencing this for the first time, Ning Beichen abandoned the idea of leaving immediately and decided to let Luo Yingying rest for a couple more days. For the next two days, Ning Beichen did not cultivate. Instead, he and Luo Yingying left the snow cave for the first time and ventured out into the icy landscape.
"Yingying, do you want to admire the snow scenery here?" Ning Beichen said to Luo Yingying.
"Yes, we haven't really seen the scenery here yet," Luo Yingying nodded. They walked hand in hand through the frozen landscape.
"Ning Beichen, do you think there are any monsters here?" Luo Yingying asked curiously, looking around at the snowy expanse.
"I don't know, but we can try to find out," Ning Beichen winked at her.
"How do we try?" Luo Yingying asked him curiously.
"Hey, are there any monsters here?" Ning Beichen suddenly shouted loudly, startling Luo Yingying. Seeing his method of searching for monsters, she playfully hit him on the arm, half amused and half exasperated.
"In this kind of desolate place, surviving would be a miracle. It's freezing cold, and there's no food," Ning Beichen said with a laugh.
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than they heard a deafening roar from a distance, immediately causing them both to draw their weapons in defense. At this moment, Luo Yingying looked at the embarrassed Ning Beichen with playful, expressive eyes, a look that seemed to say, 'Let's see how you get out of this.'