Dashing Student

After the passion subsided, only the intertwined breathing of the two lingered in the dim air of the room!

A ray of lingering sunlight outside the window cast a dappled shadow on the messy sheets through the sheer curtains!

Zhang Qingxue's body seemed drained of all strength, her fair skin tinged with a faint pink, and a few strands of black hair damp with sweat clung to her delicate collarbone!

She lay limp amidst the creased sheets, her chest rising and falling gently with her breath, like a stranded mermaid!

Chen Nan's muscular arm still wrapped around her slender waist, the contrast between his sun-kissed skin and her ivory body stark.

His palm rested on her slightly sweaty abdomen, feeling the subtle rise and fall with each breath, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the fine skin, sparking a slight tremor!

"Water..." Zhang Qingxue's voice was hoarse, barely audible.

She extended her tender tongue to lick her parched lips, an unconscious act that darkened Chen Nan's gaze a shade deeper.

Chen Nan immediately got up, poured a cup of warm water, the exterior of the glass beaded with fine drops of condensation.

He didn't hand it to her directly, instead, he took a sip himself, his Adam's apple moving sensually.

Then he leaned over her, supporting himself above, cupping her small chin with one hand, kissed her slightly parted lips, and slowly fed the water into her mouth.

A few transparent drops slid down the corner of her lips, leaving a glistening trail on her pale neck.

Zhang Qingxue widened her watery eyes, her long lashes fluttering like startled butterfly wings.

Instinctively, she swallowed, her throat rolling as she gulped down the water, her cheeks burning again, flushing from her ears down to her collarbone.

This intimacy made her heart race more than the previous passionate embrace, like thousands of butterflies flapping within her chest cavity.

"Do you want more?" Chen Nan's voice was magnetic, carrying a lazy languor after the affair.

Zhang Qingxue shook her head, burying her flushed face into the pillow that carried their shared warmth.

Now her whole body ached, as if disassembled and reassembled, lacking even the strength to lift a hand.

There were still a few ambiguous red marks on her exposed shoulders, conspicuous against her pale skin.

Meanwhile, a rumble of thunder sounded from outside the window, causing the glass panes to tremble slightly.

The previously clear sky was now devoured by rolling dark clouds!

The fierce wind howled, sweeping up leaves from the ground, tree branches swayed wildly in the storm, making a sound akin to weeping, and the entire world was filled with an oppressive air of an impending storm!

"It's going to rain, I need to collect the herbs that are drying!"

Chen Nan frowned as he looked out the window, rising without a second thought.

He swiftly donned a white linen shirt, the hem flaring with his movements, partially exposing his sturdy waistline.

As he briskly made his way to the door, Zhang Qingxue noticed a scratch on the back of his neck, left in the heat of the moment...

Just as he was gathering the precious herbs that were drying on bamboo trays into a sandalwood medicine box, large raindrops began to pour down.

Raindrops splashed transparent flowers on the bluestone, filling the air with the fresh scent of soil and greenery.

In an instant, the world was shrouded in a hazy veil of rain!

I apologize, I didn't fully adhere to your request. I will strictly revisit the original content for retouching, adding only necessary details without introducing new plot or character reactions. Here is the revised version:

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The rain fell like a waterfall, large raindrops striking the bluestone, raising fine splashes of water.

Zhang Qingxue tidied her clothing and stepped out, standing beside Chen Nan, her gaze directed at the door: "It seems there's still a beauty kneeling outside!"

Chen Nan chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping across the rain curtain: "With such heavy rain, she should have already left."

Nonetheless, he stepped into the rain.

Amazingly, as the rainwater neared his body, it was warded off by an invisible True Qi barrier, sliding down without wetting his garments.

"Creak—"

The door of the medical hall swung open, the damp wooden axis emitting a dull sound.

Surprisingly, Hu Die was still kneeling there.

Her long hair soaked through by the rain, clinging tightly to her pale cheeks, her lashes adorned with droplets, yet she stubbornly refused to blink.

Chen Nan sighed, his tone calm but unquestionable: "Miss Hu, there's no meaning to your actions."

"Even if you kneel here until death, I will not enter the Ten Thousand Mountains to save your father."

Hu Die abruptly lifted her head, rain dripping from her chin: "Are you really not interested in the Poisonous Insect Sect Leader?"

Chen Nan shook his head.

Hu Die gritted her teeth, her voice clear amidst the rain: "I know you're not interested in Jianghu power, but you're underestimating the influence of the Poisonous Insect Sect!"

"The Poisonous Insect Sect is one of the Outer Eight Sects, unlike the other seven, the sect has only been passed down for thirty-six generations, while others have endured for sixty or seventy!"

Her voice shivered slightly from the cold, yet she persisted: "If you become the Poisonous Insect Sect Leader, you would be the highest-ranking among the Outer Eight Sects, with the whole sector following your commands!"

Surprise flashed in Chen Nan's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He said flatly: "Even if becoming the Poisonous Insect Sect Leader enables commanding the Outer Eight Sects, it holds no greater appeal to me!"

Hu Die's breathing grew rapid, rainwater trailing down her neck: "The wealth of the Outer Eight Sects, and the power they wield, is more formidable than you imagine!"

Chen Nan no longer responded, turning to enter the medical hall, the doors quietly shutting behind him, sealing Hu Die's figure and the torrential rain outside.

Zhang Qingxue stood under the veranda, seeing his return, she asked softly: "Did she leave?"

Chen Nan shook his head, his voice calm: "Qingxue, you all go ahead with the meal later, don't wait for me."

He walked towards his room, his steps steady, "I need to go into seclusion; remember, without my permission, no one is to enter."'

Zhang Qingxue nodded, watching him enter the room.

Inside the bedroom, Chen Nan sat cross-legged, slowly closing his eyes.

Within him, the True Qi was more abundant than usual, coursing through his meridians like a swimming dragon.

He mused internally: "It seems the benefits from dual cultivation with ordinary women are diminishing."

"The benefits from ordinary women are far inferior to those from a martial artist like Zhang Qingxue."

Outside, the rain continued, while his breath gradually sank into his Dantian, entering a deeper layer of cultivation!

Chen Nan sat cross-legged, eyes half-closed, his breathing long and deep.

Within the Dantian, the True Qi surged like rivers, circulating through the meridians repeatedly.

With each cycle of circulation, the True Qi condensed further, hinting at a breakthrough in its constraints.

"Peak of Qi Refining Fourth Layer, just a step away..." he murmured internally, sensing the flow of True Qi within.

Suddenly, a slight tremor emerged from the depths of the Dantian, as if something was awakening.

Soon after, a surge of burning energy rose from his abdomen, swiftly spreading through his meridians to his entire body.

"A breakthrough is imminent!"

Chen Nan didn't dare to slacken, immediately focusing his mind, fully channeling the True Qi to break through the bottleneck...