Minutes later, Nie Kong found Mu Xueyi and Hua Mei in a pavilion several thousand meters away. This pavilion was closest to the Medicine Pagoda, and it was unclear what wood it was built from, as it had remained uncorrupted by ten millennia. Tai Yan and Qing Yue had cleaned it out two days prior, and it proved useful today.

"Mu Kong, your little wife was quite reluctant to see you go. If you hadn't returned soon, we were planning to accompany her to the Medicine Pagoda to find you," Mu Yao Tong teased with a light laugh.

Hua Mei’s delicate face was already flushed like a ripe persimmon, and upon hearing the words, it became even more alluringly vibrant, her lower lip nearly dipping to her pert bosom. Seeing this, Nie Kong immediately knew his mother and Aunt Qing must have interrogated Hua Mei about many very private matters, prompting him to let out an awkward chuckle.

"All right, Yao Tong, don't tease Hua Mei anymore. We've toured every other part of the Spirit Abode; only the Medicine Pagoda remains. Let's go take a look now. Kong'er, stay here and keep Hua Mei company."

It was Mu Xueyi who was the most considerate. She smiled sweetly and gestured to the others before leading the way out of the pavilion.

Mu Qingyi, Mu Jinzhu, and Mu Yao Tong followed. As Mu Leng Xing passed Nie Kong, she gave him a look that was half-smile, half-smirk, and a thin, silk-like voice slipped into his ear: "Mu Kong, you usually look so proper and serious. I didn't expect you to have so many devious thoughts, even coming up with ideas for both the front door and the back door."

"Hmph."

Nie Kong’s aged face flushed slightly. Had Hua Mei told Third Aunt and the others about all of that?

As he stood momentarily stunned, Mu Leng Xing had already grasped Qing Yue's waist and whisked her out of the pavilion. Faintly, their voices drifted back: "Let go of me! Just because you're Nie Kong's Third Aunt doesn't mean you can just lay your hands on me, Grandma."

"The couple has important business; why are you lingering in there causing a ruckus?"

"Tch, what important business? Isn't it just touching the front, rubbing the back door?" Grandma me... Ouch! Why are you hitting me? I warn you, stop hitting me!"

"..."

With a creak, Nie Kong pulled the pavilion door shut, isolating the increasingly faint voices of Mu Leng Xing and Qing Yue outside. Only then, brazenly, did he pull Hua Mei close and sit down with a sheepish smile: "Hua Mei, what did you talk about with my mother and the others? I can tell they all like you very much."

"N-nothing..." Hua Mei's eyes darted around evasively.

"Really nothing?" Nie Kong’s hand settled upon Hua Mei’s plump hip.

"No," Hua Mei’s delicate body stiffened, her voice trembling slightly, her cheeks burning as if on fire, her pair of watery, beautiful eyes seeming ready to overflow with liquid.

"Nie Kong, I know."

A childish voice suddenly sounded. It was Hulu, whose round body tumbled down the stairs, seemingly just waking up and drowsily explaining, "Mu Yao Tong asked if Hua Mei had slept with you."

"Hua Mei said yes. Then Mu Qingyi asked, if you had slept together, why are you still a virgin? Hua Mei said she had done everything but that one thing. Then Mu Yao Tong asked if he had entered the back door too? Hua Mei said you refused to enter the back door..."

"Stop talking!" Hua Mei’s ears were steaming hot; she wished she could find a crack in the ground to vanish into.

"All right, Hulu, you can go out now." Seeing Hua Mei on the verge of tears, Nie Kong quickly gave Hulu a significant look.

"Oh." Hulu drifted out through the slightly ajar window, and a moment later, his round head poked back in, curiously inquiring, "Nie Kong, what is the back door, and the front door? ...Huh? Where did they go?" He mumbled suspiciously, finding that Nie Kong and Hua Mei had vanished from the room.

At that moment, Nie Kong had carried Hua Mei to the top floor of the pavilion.

"I put you through a lot."

After sitting down, Nie Kong held Hua Mei's waist tightly and murmured softly. Given Hua Mei’s temperament, forcing her to answer such intimate questions from Mu Yao Tong and the others was truly too difficult for her. Nie Kong guessed that the time leading up to this must have felt like an eternity for Hua Mei.

With no one else around, Hua Mei's embarrassment began to fade slightly. She quickly shook her head: "No, actually, Aunt Xue, Aunt Qing, Aunt Xing, Aunt Tong, and Mother-in-law are all very kind. It's just that they like to ask those kinds of questions..." As she spoke, Hua Mei discreetly glanced at Nie Kong, her eyes liquid with allure.

Nie Kong smiled wryly: "You haven't been to Yin Ruins. Most of the people there are women, and they have very little reservation about such topics. It’s just that we just met, so they are curious about everything. Once you spend more time with them, they won't be as interested in asking such questions."

"Mmm," Hua Mei nodded lightly, her face still burning hot.

"Hua Mei, now that you are here, you should stay in the Spirit Abode to cultivate, and not return to the Butterfly Secret Realm, right?" Nie Kong gently stroked Hua Mei’s smooth back and smiled.

"I can't. Sister Pian Pian said my cultivation speed can only increase faster in the Butterfly Secret Realm, and she also said I can concentrate better on my practice there," Hua Mei shook her head.

"It’s Hua Pian Pian again. Is she doing this because she wants me to come and pester you daily now that you’re staying in the Spirit Abode?" Nie Kong felt a headache coming on. Hua Pian Pian was clearly retaliating for the threat he had made toward her, but what she said was also true; if Hua Mei stayed in the Butterfly Secret Realm, Nie Kong suspected he truly wouldn't be able to control himself.

"..." Hua Mei said nothing, clearly acquiescing.

"This Hua Pian Pian—she’s afraid I’ll bother you? Fine, I’ll bother you right now." Seeing Hua Mei raise her startled eyes, Nie Kong moved toward her rosy, soft cherry lips and kissed her fiercely, the strength in his hands increasing, as if he wanted to melt her delicate body into his own flesh.

"Mmm..."

A thick, sweet, lingering hum escaped, and Hua Mei quickly grew faint under Nie Kong’s intense assault, her delicate body softly collapsing onto his chest.

After an unknown period, Hua Mei suddenly cried out, startled awake from her daze. Her face flushed crimson as she tried to scramble up to evade Nie Kong's hand, which was delving deeper, but she couldn't muster any strength. In the end, she could only lean her beautiful head against Nie Kong’s shoulder like a thirsty fish, allowing the man to invade wantonly, her red lips occasionally parting to let out hot breaths, yet fiercely suppressing the sounds in her throat.

Fortunately, after a short while, Nie Kong’s right hand slid out, leaving him just gently embracing Hua Mei’s soft, boneless frame. Hua Mei’s breathing finally gradually calmed. After a pause, she suddenly bit her red lip and leaned close to Nie Kong’s ear: "Brother, I can give it to you right now, using the method Master mentioned."

Nie Kong, immersed in the sensation of Hua Mei's smooth, springy touch, didn't immediately respond: "What method?"

Hua Mei’s voice was like a mosquito’s whine: "It’s... the back door thing..."

"Let's forget it." Nie Kong's heart pounded, but he ultimately shook his head in frustration. The method Hua Mei spoke of was akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; it couldn't fundamentally solve the problem. If he truly did it, who knew if he might impulsively force open the "front door thing" later on.

"Brother, it really is possible." Hua Mei's voice took on a note of urgency.

"Hua Mei, what's wrong?" Nie Kong was taken aback. He turned Hua Mei's face toward him, looking at her with confusion.

He understood Hua Mei better than anyone. Aside from that one accident after her memory returned, Hua Mei would never take the initiative at any other time. Her insistence on these words today was truly strange.