45 The Pagoda of Sun and Moon 2 (1/2)

”NOOOO!”

The shriek rang throughout the entire study, startling Wei Xuan who had just begun to lapse into a doze. Unable to control his control over the isolating barrier, the minister pitched forwards, nearly falling towards the ground.

A rather large hole burst open on the surface of the isolation barrier, causing much of the snow to torrent downwards at a frightening velocity.

Crack!

Balancing on a single knee and springing back into a standing position, he looked towards the sky to discover a large slab of solidified snow cascading down towards his head.

”Damn!” Wei Xuan swore.

Jolting the spiritual essence within his dantian into a frenzied motion, he spread the fingers of his right palm, sweeping the hand forward. The outstretched palm collided with the descending slab of snow, the swift shockwave of spiritual essence disintegrating the accumulated snow on the isolation barrier without a sound.

Stomping his left foot onto the ground and grinding his heel counterclockwise, Wei Xuan swept his hands to his sides, the right palm facing the ground, the left facing the sky. Manipulating the remaining strands of spiritual essence to coalesce at the center of his palms, the minister abruptly brought both hands towards his hands, slapping them together and forcing the spheres of spiritual essence to merge.

”Convert, restore!”

As he slapped his right palm onto the wooden floor, the sphere of spiritual essence exploded into numerous fragments of silver light. Soaring towards the isolation barrier above the study, the silver fragments assimilated into the fluctuating barrier, repelling the snow once more.

Seeing such a sight, Wei Xuan could only reveal a bitter smile.

”So this is what it feels like to be sealed in strength…” he murmured to himself, reclining against the wooden walls of the study. ”No wonder Yun Zhi was that eager to leave…”

Closing his eyes, the minister prepared to take a light nap for an hour, or until Xiao Ying had stepped outside to notify him elsewise. However, not much time had passed before another piercing scream rang out.

”Stop! Xiao Ying, stop!” a girl's pained cry pierced through the solid walls. ”It hurts, it hurts-AH! S-S-STOP, NO MORE!”

What was going on?

Completely bewildered, it took several moments before Wei Xuan could properly react. With a sense of panic arising within his heart as another wave of screams burst from within the study, the minister immediately expanded his perception.

Focusing towards the inner depths of the study, more particularly where An Fei and Xiao Ying where located, Wei Xuan's perception rushed in, only to quickly flee as if running for his life.

”Shuyan, Miaolan, even you little brat Chang Luo, someone come and fetch me, ah?” Wei Xuan groaned to himself, plugging his ears and shutting his eyes as tightly as possible.

”Lass! This method of tormenting your father is far too effective and terrifying, little girl!”

…immoral!

Too immoral!

He didn't want to see another sight like that one ever again!

-

”Xiao Ying, ah, can't we finish here today?” An Fei pleaded, breathless as she gazed at the maidservant with a pitiful, teary gaze. ”I can't, I can't take any more-ah!”

”No can do,” the maidservant responded with a cheerful tone. Waving her fingers towards the exasperated and suffering maiden, Xiao Ying reached out to stroke the fair skin before her, displaying a gentle leer towards the frightened girl.

”Master said that within six weeks, the Fourth Young Miss had to get some exercise!”

”Like I keep on telling you, this isn't exerci-AH! Stop, stop, stop, it hurts, it hurts, IT HURTS!”

An Fei screamed, her fingers curled into tight fists as countless rivulets of sweat streamed down all over her body. All she got in response was a gentle stroke on her shoulder and upper back, before a pair of hands pushed on her exposed shoulder blades with a pressure that was soft yet harsh.

”Master said that the Fourth Young Miss had to extensively prepare for a significant event that is supposed to occur at mid-winter,” Xiao Ying explained while massaging the girl's twitching muscles with her fingers.

Kneading, pinching, and rubbing the skin and underlying tissue with spiritual essence infused within her fingers, the maidservant engendered waves of comfort that wreaked havoc on An Fei's consciousness. Quivering at each touch that brought forth a wave of comfort, the girl truly wanted to sink into a light sleep and indulge in the indescribable pleasure, but couldn't even dare follow through on that idea.