Mei's qi responded, her energy rising to meet his touch. It was strange, intoxicating—a connection unlike anything she had felt in her cultivation.
Her dantian vibrated, her meridians glowing as their energies began to intertwine, like two rivers merging into a single stream.
Julian carefully leaked only a fraction of his mana, but even that was more than enough to guide her. He watched her closely, noting the flush on her cheeks and the way her lips parted slightly.
"This is the beginning," Julian murmured. "Do you feel it?"
Mei nodded, her voice a breathless whisper. "Yes… I feel it. It's… warm. Alive."
Julian's smile was hidden in the dim light, but his satisfaction was visible.
"Good," he said. "This is only the first step. As we progress, our union will deepen—body, mind, and soul. But for tonight, let this be enough."
He withdrew his hand slowly, and the connection between them faded, leaving Mei with a sense of warmth and longing.
