The realization that he could hear sent Nie Kong into a burst of elation, instantly followed by the awareness that all sensation had returned to his body. He quickly opened his eyes, and the first thing to greet him were Tai Yan's large, dark pupils, shimmering with anxiety and concern, looking as if she were on the verge of tears.

"Tai Yan, your brother is alright now."

Nie Kong managed a smile for her, but then something felt distinctly off. His body was limp, which was understandable since Tai Yan was currently draped over him, but the lower half of him felt sticky, and the sensation of skin-to-skin contact was intensely clear.

Instinctively raising a hand to wipe, his fingers brushed against two plump, rounded mounds of flesh. Nie Kong started in shock, abruptly flipping over to sit up. Looking down, he saw that Tai Yan was completely unclothed, her most intimate parts fully revealed. He could only manage a wry smile: "Tai Yan, why did you put your clothes away again? Hurry up..."

The words died in his throat. Not only did he see Tai Yan's body, but he also noticed his own 'Lingxi Battle Robe' was pushed up, leaving his waist down starkly bare. The clothes he had been wearing lay in a messy pile beside them. Furthermore, the surrounding red walls seemed to have vanished; he was now inside a pale blue sphere, woven, it appeared, from the leaves and branches of the Azure Moon Illusionary Heart Orchid.

A prickle of unease began to surface within Nie Kong.

Seeing Nie Kong awake, an undisguised joy bloomed on Tai Yan’s face. But Nie Kong's subsequent expression made her a little sheepish, like a child caught stealing candy: "Brother, we fought, just like you and Sister Xue Chan fight."

"What?"

Nie Kong’s vision darkened, and he nearly passed out. The very thing he had always diligently avoided while conscious had happened while he was unconscious?

"Bro... Brother..."

Tai Yan's urgent, sweet cry pulled Nie Kong’s consciousness back. Taking a deep breath, Nie Kong spoke with gravity: "Tai Yan... did we really fight?"

"Yes, we fought eight times in a row!" Tai Yan nodded honestly.

"Eight... times..."

The headache that had just subsided resurged, making Nie Kong dizzy again.

Gritting his teeth, Nie Kong used both hands to cup Tai Yan’s perfectly round, upturned snow-white hips and shifted her slightly backward. Looking down, he saw clear traces of their recent 'act' remaining on Nie Xiao Er, along with faint spots of blood—undeniable evidence. The same was true for Tai Yan; it seemed their battle had only recently concluded.

Nie Kong suddenly understood. No wonder he had felt a persistent warmth enveloping him, a sensation that abruptly ceased when his cultivation broke through to the sixth rank of the Cave Spirit realm—it was because their bodies had been locked in an intimate embrace, maintaining a continuous energy exchange until the cycle was finally broken.

It was this physical connection that sustained the energy loop between them.

"I can't believe a situation like this could even occur?"

Nie Kong smiled bitterly to himself. What he had done with Long Xue Chan and Long Mei Xian already burdened him with guilt toward Hua Mei; now, having this happen with Tai Yan only deepened that shame. Furthermore, Tai Yan was no ordinary woman. Especially her incomparably clear gaze made Nie Kong feel like an utterly heinous villain. Regardless of whether he saw her in the future, a profound sense of culpability would cling to him.

"Truly a deep sin..."

Nie Kong sighed inwardly. Yet, after a few seconds, he grew confused. That overwhelming feeling of guilt and remorse simply failed to materialize. "What's going on?"

He glanced at Tai Yan, whose beautiful eyes were now utterly pure and devoid of impurity. Nie Kong couldn't resist lifting his hand, cupping her full, soft breast, and gently kneading it. The feeling—soft, resilient, delicate—arose from the depths of his heart, exquisitely wonderful, yet utterly lacking in any sense of sin. "Brother, you aren't angry anymore?"

Tai Yan’s pretty face, which had looked pitiable just moments before, as if she were awaiting a scolding for a misdeed, relaxed under Nie Kong's sudden affectionate touch. Then, she bloomed like a fresh flower, her face breaking into a brilliant smile—the slight curve of her eyes and lips was utterly captivating.

"Uh... uh..."

Nie Kong was utterly perplexed, responding unconsciously. His hand moved over Tai Yan's ample bosom, slid across her flat abdomen, and then tentatively ventured further. The tips of his fingers felt slick as cream, smooth as oil, making him reluctant to pull away. Soon, a soft hum escaped Tai Yan’s nose, as if he had brushed a tender spot.

Nie Kong snapped back to full awareness, snatching his hand away instantly. His confusion deepened. If this were the past, not only would such fondling be impossible, but even merely entertaining a licentious thought about it would cause that sharp sting of shame and repentance to strike him down.

But now, he had touched even Tai Yan’s most private area, and there was no abnormality, not even a trace of that supposed guilt.

"Could it be because Tai Yan initiated it? No, no, Tai Yan was always the one initiating before..."

After a moment of hesitation, a sudden flash of insight struck Nie Kong’s mind. "Perhaps the power hidden within Tai Yan's body is too terrifying. That immense deterrence is instinctively conveyed through her eyes, preventing anyone from daring to harbor ill intentions toward her. And my Spiritual Treasure essence absorbed a large amount of Tai Yan's latent source power during its transformation, which is why the deterrent force formed by that power no longer affects me."

The more Nie Kong considered it, the more convinced he became that this was the explanation.

However, moments later, Nie Kong was immensely troubled. Since this event had occurred, how should he handle his relationship with Tai Yan moving forward? If he continued down this path, his guilt toward Hua Mei would only intensify. If he halted this relationship, even if he wished to, he would have to see if Tai Yan agreed. Moreover, if Tai Yan were to initiate intimacy with him again as she had before, without that restraint of guilt, it was an open question whether Nie Kong could maintain control.

This matter was truly difficult to decide, and after long turmoil, Nie Kong could only shake his head helplessly.

"Brother, I'm sorry." After affectionately rubbing against Nie Kong’s chest for a while, Tai Yan suddenly looked up, her tone slightly timid.

"Hm?" Nie Kong was momentarily stunned.

"Qing Yue said that using this method could remove the 'Tenth Grade Drunken God Incense' from your body. It didn't work until the seventh time. I planned to try one last time, and if it still failed, I would give up. But then, on the eighth attempt, the medicinal power really came out. But I didn't expect that medicinal power to pull the power within my body into yours as well," a hint of regret flickered in Tai Yan's beautiful eyes.

"So that's how it is..."

Nie Kong finally understood with a jolt. No wonder the medicinal power of Tai Yan's 'Hui Mou Grass' had suddenly permeated him, and Tai Yan’s terrifying power had surged in—