“Mmm…”
Yun Hao slowly opened his eyes.
Somewhat dazed, he gazed at the hanging beams that filled his vision.
His body, freshly awakened, felt sore all over.
It was just like the times back in the prince’s mansion when he had been beaten and then forced to work a full day.
“Mmm… hiss~”
While feeling that discomfort originating from his soul, he rose and looked around.
He still remembered that last night he had been dual cultivating with Senior Sister.
But in the end Senior Sister absorbed spiritual power too fiercely, and it seemed he had passed out.
Yun Hao recalled the events, a trace of disappointment rising inside him.
It seemed he had helped Senior Sister, yet not completely.
A moment later he rallied himself.
Yun Hao understood that his current cultivation was still far too low.
Senior Sister was in the late Dao Integration realm, while he remained at Qi Refining.
If he could raise his cultivation quickly, he would surely be able to help Senior Sister more in the future.
Then he noticed the quilt covering him.
Last night he had fainted completely rigid, so there was no way he could have pulled it over himself.
That meant only Senior Sister would have covered him.
Thinking of this, Yun Hao still sensed Luo Shuiling’s care, and a faint warmth and emotion stirred within him.
Feeling the food box and osmanthus cakes stored in his qi sea, he pondered for a moment and ultimately decided against asking Senior Sister about it.
Although still uneasy, Yun Hao chose to trust Senior Sister.
Maybe Senior Sister simply doesn’t like osmanthus cakes and didn’t want to embarrass me. I’ll just stop making them in the future.
He found a seemingly reasonable excuse for himself and buried the matter deep in his heart, no longer dwelling on it.
Then he got out of bed.
He stretched his muscles and bones, washed up, and walked outside.
Yesterday had been too rushed, and he had not yet given Senior Sister a proper account of the past few days.
He still needed to report everything to her.
Yun Hao slowly stepped out of the house and turned his gaze toward the osmanthus tree below.
A graceful figure appeared before his eyes.
As expected, Senior Sister still likes sitting under the osmanthus tree.
Harboring a faint sense of anticipation, he walked over to Luo Shuiling’s side.
…
Luo Shuiling was in an excellent mood right now.
Her guess had been correct.
Although Yun Hao’s special physique had not been detected, after dual cultivating with him yesterday her immortal foundation had truly been replenished.
Her Ice Jade Physique had also strengthened slightly.
This was a terrifying matter in the cultivation world.
The cultivation world never lacked geniuses.
Every era produced a large group of trendsetters who stirred clouds and overturned rains.
For example, right now in the Eastern Spirit Continent there was already the Holy Maiden of Flower Mist Valley and the Holy Son of Thousand Snow Cliff.
In two years Proud Sword Sect would also choose its next sect master successor.
Just these three would grow into Tribulation Transcendence powerhouses in the future, to say nothing of the geniuses from the other four continents.
Yet from ancient times until now, ever since the immortal path was opened, cultivators who assisted others in cultivation had always been extremely rare.
Most cultivators cultivated for themselves.
Those capable of assisting another’s physique often had no affinity with the immortal path themselves and ultimately wasted away.
Therefore, cultivators in the cultivation world who could assist others in cultivation were extraordinarily precious.
If others learned of Yun Hao’s usefulness… Yun Hao would probably become highly sought after.
Luo Shuiling was unwilling to let that happen.
Publicly, Yun Hao was a disciple of Proud Sword Sect, and she had no intention of letting him go to another sect.
Privately, she was the benefactor who had rescued Yun Hao from his suffering.
She only wanted Yun Hao to remain by her side.
A pet’s eyes should hold only its master—what was wrong with that?
I can’t let anyone else know about Yun Hao’s ability… He only needs to stay by my side.
An inexplicable possessiveness filled Luo Shuiling as she thought this and slowly sipped her tea.
Perhaps because her mood was so good, she found today’s tea exceptionally fragrant.
“Senior Sister.”
Luo Shuiling watched Yun Hao, who had already awakened and come to her side. She gently lifted her beautiful eyes and nodded.
“Sit.”
She then took out another teacup and poured Yun Hao a cup of clear tea.
After offering a respectful salute, Yun Hao accepted the tea, took a sip, and spoke.
“Senior Sister, have you been well these past few days?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I’ve been quite idle these days, sitting here under the osmanthus tree every day admiring the flowers and comprehending the heavens and earth.”
Luo Shuiling set her teacup down with her jade hand and lightly tapped the stone table. Her beautiful eyes turned toward Yun Hao across from her.
“On the other hand, what have you been doing these three days?”
Yun Hao had been wondering how to tell Senior Sister what he had done these three days. Now that she had asked directly, he recounted everything.
Luo Shuiling listened to Yun Hao’s experiences. At first, when he mentioned Elder Lin Xian asking him to deliver medicinal pills, her pretty face remained calm and she felt nothing.
Later, when Yun Hao spoke of acknowledging Lin Shengyu as his junior sister and helping suppress her demonic poison, Luo Shuiling’s expression showed faint displeasure, yet she still revealed nothing.
When Yun Hao reached the part about spending the entire previous day playing around, Luo Shuiling’s face darkened somewhat.
She felt that Yun Hao was gradually becoming her pet, yet he had disregarded his master to go make someone else happy.
This made her very uncomfortable.
Clearly she was not inferior to Lin Shengyu in any way and could even be considered a good master.
Perhaps noticing that Luo Shuiling’s expression was off, Yun Hao—who had been speaking with some enthusiasm—gradually lowered his voice.
He sped up and finished recounting the events of the final night, then asked uneasily.
“Senior Sister… are you all right?”
Only then did Luo Shuiling realize her displeasure had shown on her face. She adjusted her expression and calmed her inner thoughts.
“I’m fine. I just suddenly sensed a wisp of aura.”
Hearing Senior Sister say this, Yun Hao slowly relaxed. He picked up his teacup and drank the tea slowly.
He would be going to cultivate soon, so he wanted to stay by Senior Sister’s side a little longer if he could.
Inside, however, Luo Shuiling’s heart was somewhat turbulent.
Earlier, when Yun Hao had been recounting his experiences, his expression had clearly been filled with joy.
She felt inexplicably irritable, and her good mood had been considerably diluted by learning what he had done.
She hesitated, but ultimately asked as if in passing.
“Looking at how happy you seem, have you taken a fancy to that Lin Shengyu?”
Yun Hao had been slowly savoring his tea, feeling at ease beside Senior Sister.
Luo Shuiling’s sudden words startled him. He quickly stood up and said to her.
“Senior Sister, please don’t speak nonsense. This junior brother only feels the care of an elder brother toward Junior Sister Shengyu. How could I dare harbor any improper feelings?”
After speaking, feeling it was not enough, Yun Hao added.
“Junior Sister Lin Shengyu is Elder Lin’s granddaughter. Elder Lin entrusted her to me to look after, which is a sign of trust in me. If I took advantage of Elder Lin’s lack of guard to do something unethical, I would truly be worse than a beast.”
“Senior Sister, please don’t say such things in the future. It wouldn’t be good if others heard.”
Luo Shuiling watched the agitated Yun Hao explain so much to her and secretly felt relieved. She still spoke in the tone of an elder instructing a junior.
“It’s not that it’s impossible, but you are still young. I don’t want you getting involved in romance too early. You should focus on the path of cultivation.”
She hesitated again.
“In five years… no, ten years later, when you reach Core Formation or Nascent Soul, it won’t be too late to consider then.”
Luo Shuiling felt her words were sincere and perfectly concealed her probing.
Yun Hao listened and nodded slightly with some reluctance. In the end he still felt uneasy and spoke once more.
“I understand what Senior Sister said, but please don’t mention those words about Junior Sister Lin Shengyu again. This junior brother has no such feelings.”
“Mm, good.”
Only after seeing Luo Shuiling nod in agreement did Yun Hao feel completely at ease.
Senior Sister is good in every way, except she likes to overthink. If I really admire someone, it would be…
Yun Hao secretly glanced at Luo Shuiling, and the admiration in his heart overflowed even more.
Having received Yun Hao’s answer, Luo Shuiling was in an excellent mood. She naturally sensed his gaze but said nothing. Today’s pet had performed well, so she would let him look as he wished.
Moreover, Yun Hao’s gaze was very pure—the kind of pure admiration that contained no filthy impurities—which she quite enjoyed.
Who wouldn’t want to be admired by a handsome and outstanding member of the opposite sex? Especially one that belonged only to her, which she could firmly keep in her grasp.
This feeling of dominance and control left Luo Shuiling somewhat immersed.
After a while longer, Yun Hao stood up and bid farewell to Luo Shuiling. Having wasted three days, he needed to continue cultivating.
He also told Luo Shuiling that every three days he would go to Elder Lin Xian’s cave residence to suppress the demonic poison for Lin Shengyu.
Luo Shuiling had been somewhat hesitant at first, but recalling the deal they had made that day and the oath she had sworn to the heavens, and considering Yun Hao’s attitude toward Lin Shengyu, she ultimately nodded and gave permission.
At the same time she set a condition: after suppressing the poison each day he must return, and he could not stay overnight outside unless absolutely necessary.
Yun Hao replied that of course he would listen to Senior Sister in everything. Only then did Luo Shuiling feel at ease letting him go cultivate. She herself continued sitting under the osmanthus tree, comprehending the heavens and earth.
Thus the days passed slowly like this.
Every three days Yun Hao would go to Elder Lin Xian’s cave residence. After suppressing the demonic poison for Lin Shengyu he would accompany her for a day. Afterward, no matter how much Lin Xian tried to persuade him to stay, he refused to remain for the night.
Lin Shengyu, feeling sorry for putting Yun Hao in a difficult position, told him to go back first. As long as he came to accompany her once every three days it was enough. Seeing this, Lin Xian could only sigh helplessly and let Yun Hao leave.
The rest of the time Yun Hao spent cultivating and keeping Luo Shuiling company. However, he never made those osmanthus cakes for snacks again.
Luo Shuiling found it a little strange that Yun Hao had stopped making osmanthus cakes, but then felt it did not matter and gradually put the matter out of her mind.
The leisurely days passed like this for a full month.
…
One month later, at Elder Lin Xian’s cave residence.
Yun Hao had just finished dispelling the poison for Lin Shengyu. The three of them were still sitting on bamboo chairs chatting idly.
Lin Shengyu smiled gently. She felt that Senior Brother always took special care of her and could always pick up exactly where her words left off.
The three of them had been particularly relaxed until dozens of light beams suddenly appeared from the direction of the elders’ mission reporting hall.
One of the beams flew straight toward Elder Lin Xian’s cave residence.
It finally passed through the cave and attached itself to the disciple token hanging at Yun Hao’s waist.
Yun Hao still did not know what had happened, but Elder Lin Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured softly.
“Sect mission.”