Chapter 238: Sharing a Room

Chapter 238: Sharing a Room

Night.

"Shall we head back?" After their meal, Jiang Ning asked.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xiaojiu hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Sir, the snow is quite heavy, and it's very dark outside!"

"I understand!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Just then, footsteps approached.

The next moment, Liu Wan Wan appeared from the back door of the main hall.

"Miss Xie, your room is ready, and the hot water is being prepared!"

Hearing this, Xie Xiaojiu was momentarily stunned, her eyes darting towards Jiang Ning, her mouth slightly agape as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

At this moment, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

"Sis, it's not necessary! She can sleep in my room!"

"Sleep in your room?" Liu Wan Wan was taken aback. "Is that appropriate? Miss Xie is still an unmarried lady."

Jiang Ning explained, "I stayed at Miss Xie's home for a few nights when I was away from home."

"I understand!" Liu Wan Wan's face lit up with a knowing smile upon hearing these words.

She glanced at both of them, "In that case, I won't disturb you two!"

As her words fell, Liu Wan Wan hurried off to report the good news to Jiang Li.

"Sir!!" Jiang Ning turned around and heard Xie Xiaojiu calling out.

"I've been taking advantage of you and occupying your room all this time. Tonight, it's your turn to take advantage of me!"

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Xie Xiaojiu's face softened, and she relaxed visibly.

"Please ask Sir on my behalf! If I'm staying at your home, I'd feel safer sleeping in your room."

"Aren't you afraid of me?" Jiang Ning chuckled.

"No, I'm not!" Xie Xiaojiu shook her head earnestly.

Jiang Ning laughed, then lifted his leg and walked towards the main hall, "Let's go!"

Xie Xiaojiu quickly followed behind him.

As they stepped into the front courtyard, snowflakes continued to fall from the sky.

"Sir, it's a bit cold!" Xie Xiaojiu felt the snowflakes on her skin and couldn't help but speak up.

"If you're cold, put on another layer of clothing!" Jiang Ning said.

"I didn't bring any extra clothes!" Xie Xiaojiu lowered her head.

Then she added, "Later, I want to take a hot bath to warm up."

"Okay!" Jiang Ning nodded in agreement.

A moment later, the two of them arrived at the east courtyard.

Jiang Ning pushed open the door, lit the candle, and the darkness inside the room dissipated significantly.

"Come in first! It's cold outside!" Jiang Ning said, and Xie Xiaojiu quickly followed, stepping into the room.

As the door closed, the cold and snow were left outside, and the room became much warmer.

"Wait here, I'll bring the hot water for you!"

"If you feel cold, you can light a fire and use the charcoal. Just remember to open the window a little," Jiang Ning instructed.

"Sir, let me fetch the hot water! How can I let you do this?" Xie Xiaojiu quickly spoke up.

"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head. "It's too dark outside, and you're not familiar with the way. You don't even know where the kitchen is! Just wait here, and I'll bring the hot water."

After saying this, Jiang Ning turned and opened the door to leave.

"That's great!!" As Jiang Ning's figure disappeared through the door, Xie Xiaojiu muttered to herself, "If my father had taken care of my mother like you do, she wouldn't have suffered so much!"

On the other side, Jiang Ning was very familiar with the layout of the courtyard.

Even in the dark and snowy night, he easily found his way to the kitchen.

"Big Brother!" As he entered the kitchen, Jiang Ning saw a man tending the fire, and his face showed a hint of surprise.

Jiang Li turned around and saw Jiang Ning's silhouette at the kitchen door. He chuckled, "Ah Ning, you've come to fetch hot water!"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"Go for it! Ah Ning, seize the opportunity to win over Miss Xie. Don't worry about the formalities!" Jiang Li clenched his fist.

Jiang Ning remained silent.

Then he said, "Big Brother, I stayed at Miss Xie's home when I was away. That night in the bridal chamber, although we didn't have the blessings of our families, it was still the happiest day of my life."

Looking at the simple and honest man before him, Jiang Ning smiled.

After that, he effortlessly carried a bucket of hot water and a bucket of cold water.

"Wait!" Xie Xiaojiu spoke up, then stood on her tiptoes to brush off the snow on Jiang Ning's head.

"All done!" She patted her hands, squinting slightly, her face showing satisfaction.

Jiang Ning smiled, "Do you want to adjust the water temperature, or should I help you?"

"I have a naturally cold body, so I prefer hotter bath water. I'll do it myself!" Xie Xiaojiu spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded, "Alright, then you go first. I'll leave, and you can call me when you're done."

After saying this, Jiang Ning turned and left without hesitation.

"Sir!"

"What is it?" Jiang Ning turned his head.

At this moment, Xie Xiaojiu's face was tense as she bit her lip, and after a long moment of silence, she finally spoke, "It's dark outside, and it's snowing and windy. It's too cold!"

"Sir, it's better if you stay indoors!"

As she finished her sentence, Xie Xiaojiu instinctively buried her face in her chest.

Such straightforward words caused her face to turn bright red.

At that moment, Jiang Ning glanced at Xie Xiaojiu.

Suddenly, he nodded.

He understood that for an unmarried woman to speak these words, it took immense courage.

Then, he said, "Then I'll wait behind the screen for you!"

As his voice trailed off, Jiang Ning walked towards the screen beside him.

His room was spacious, covering over a hundred square meters.

There was a screen at the entrance, which he had moved to the corner earlier as he found it obstructive.

In this situation, hiding behind the screen was the best option.

"Listen to the sir!" Xie Xiaojiu saw the screen in the corner of the room and immediately felt relieved.

Although everything was going as she wished, she was incredibly nervous as the moment approached.

The screen provided her with a psychological buffer.

Otherwise, she didn't know how nervous she would become.

After that, Jiang Ning moved the screen to place it between the two of them.

Then, he took a towel and a bath towel from the wardrobe.

"This is the towel I use for washing my face and taking a bath. If you don't mind, you can use it later!" Jiang Ning said.

"I don't mind!" Xie Xiaojiu quickly took the towel and bath towel from Jiang Ning and held them to her chest.

"I'll go first!" Jiang Ning said.

"Yes, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu nodded.

Then, seeing Jiang Ning's figure hidden behind the screen, she also breathed a sigh of relief.

After her pounding heart calmed down a little, Xie Xiaojiu placed the towel and bath towel aside.

She then began pouring suitable hot and cold water into the bath.

When the water temperature was right, she started to undo her clothes.

For a martial artist, even in the depths of winter, they wouldn't wear thick clothing.

Thick clothes would restrict their movements, making it inconvenient to move freely.

So, she only wore three layers of clothing, similar to what she would wear in spring or autumn.

On the other side of the screen, Jiang Ning watched Xie Xiaojiu's graceful figure with great interest.

He wasn't going to pretend to be a gentleman.

Having come this far, he wasn't a fool and understood Xie Xiaojiu's intentions.

However, he had his own concerns.

In this world, even though he knew his future potential was great, he was still an ordinary commoner.

He couldn't even guarantee his own safety.

Especially after learning that He Jinyun's second brother, He Jinsheng, had entered the city that morning.

If they were to confront him in the next few days, and the situation became unmanageable.

The more people closely associated with him, the more constraints he would face.

Especially if his woman became his biggest weakness.

Moreover, after experiencing the joy of martial arts, Jiang Ning found that compared to women, martial arts were even more alluring.

The power returned to his body, and every increase in strength brought immense pleasure.

Especially the elevation and transcendence of his life, which gave him unparalleled satisfaction.

Just as he was lost in thought.

A rustling sound came from the other side, and a dress fell to the ground.

In the candlelight, Xie Xiaojiu's graceful figure was revealed.

On the other side of the screen, Xie Xiaojiu looked towards Jiang Ning, but he was in the shadows, his figure blurred.

Yet, she could sense a gaze upon her, and her face involuntarily showed a hint of shyness.

At this moment, she was prepared to offer herself.

So, she was unafraid.

The next moment, she lifted her leg and stepped into the bath.

Behind the screen, Jiang Ning saw Xie Xiaojiu's reflection on the screen as she entered the bath, and the sound of splashing water reached his ears.

A scene of a beautiful woman bathing appeared in his mind.

"No!" Jiang Ning shook his head.

He knew that if he continued like this, he wouldn't be able to control his physical urges.

Today, he was not prepared.

As he thought of this, he shook his head to clear his mind of distractions and closed his eyes.

The next moment, he focused inward, his mind sinking into his body.

Instantly, he began to mobilize the vital energy within, gathering the Qi and Blood Hammers.

Boom—

As his body shook violently, he started to forge his bones.

With the experience from the afternoon, Jiang Ning was now more familiar with the process, and the Hundred and Eight Heavenly Stars Earthly Stars Bone Forging Technique flowed more smoothly than the first time.

With each strike, the vibrations dissipated, followed by another hammer blow.

On the other side, Xie Xiao Jiu bathed with an extremely nervous heart.

She knew that in a situation where a man and a woman were alone together, and with Jiang Ning being at the age of raging hormones, anything could happen.

So every moment, her heart was filled with apprehension.

For over an hour, Xie Xiao Jiu had been tense for more than an hour.

Especially when preparing to get out of the bathtub, she had an internal battle, and it was only then that she mustered up the courage.

The next moment, the sound of splashing water filled the air as Xie Xiao Jiu rose from the tub.

Unfortunately, no one was there to appreciate this scene.

At this moment, Jiang Ning was fully focused on his progress, immersing himself in the bone-forging process.

After a while, Xie Xiao Jiu finished drying herself and wrapped her long hair in a towel.

Only then did she pick up the thin sleepwear she had set aside earlier.

After putting on the sleepwear, Xie Xiao Jiu's face turned slightly red.

If she were at home, she would often wear such sleepwear.

But now, it was different.

Sharing a room with Jiang Ning, her thin sleepwear would be visible to him.

Although her current sleepwear wasn't overly revealing, it only exposed her slender arms and the waist of a young girl.

The lower half also merely revealed half of her thighs and calves.

Even by Jiang Ning's previous life's standards, it was less revealing than what girls wore on the beach.

But this world was different.

This type of clothing was extremely private, and for a respectable woman, only their husband would typically see it.

This was a significant psychological challenge for Xie Xiao Jiu.

The next moment, she took her first step, gathering her courage.

After crossing the screen, Xie Xiao Jiu saw Jiang Ning sitting with his eyes closed.

She then noticed a faint rumbling sound coming from within his body.

Xie Xiao Jiu: "..."

At this moment, she stared at Jiang Ning in disbelief.

She had never expected this.

After standing there in a daze for a long time, Xie Xiao Jiu looked down at herself.

"Am I really not attractive?" she thought, feeling a bit deflated.

At this moment, Jiang Ning had also completed a full cycle.

He opened his eyes and raised his hand, summoning a jade vessel containing Iron Bone Pills.

The next moment, he opened his mouth and sucked, and five Iron Bone Pills, each the size of a soybean, flew out of the vessel.

Each pill was only about a centimeter in size.

As the five pills entered his body, Jiang Ning closed his eyes once more.

As for Xie Xiao Jiu beside him, he had no time to appreciate her at this moment.

Seeing this, Xie Xiao Jiu obediently remained silent, not making a sound.

She also realized that Jiang Ning had reached a critical point.

She was amazed by what she saw.

The Iron Bone Pills that flew out of the vessel were instantly recognizable to her.

"The adult's talent is truly unparalleled, and he has already started bone forging! I am far inferior to him!" Xie Xiao Jiu's heart was filled with admiration.

At this moment, she also turned her full attention to Jiang Ning.

She knew that with the ingestion of the Iron Bone Pills, Jiang Ning had reached the most crucial step in bone forging.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, Jiang Ning, with his newfound familiarity, seamlessly integrated the iron marrow from the dissolved Iron Bone Pills into the thirteen bones he had just tempered.

Forging thirteen bones at once was still his limit.

As the dust settled, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

The next moment, his eyes widened slightly.

"So big!" he thought to himself.

At this very moment, Xie Xiao Jiu, wearing her thin sleepwear, stood before him. Without the binding constraint, her figure appeared even more impressive.

"No wonder she had been binding her chest earlier."

"No wonder she had been binding her chest earlier."

Looking at this scene, Jiang Ning finally understood.

For martial artists, being too large could indeed hinder their movements.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end