Yun Hao stood before the cave residence of Lin Xian on Western Peak, holding an exquisite box.
He straightened his robe neatly and knocked gently on the door.
Knock knock!
Creak!
A moment later the door opened.
A gaunt, frail old man appeared before Yun Hao.
Seeing him, Lin Xian smiled with relief.
“It is already winter outside and quite cold.
Come in quickly.”
Before Yun Hao could speak, Lin Xian hurriedly pulled him inside the cave residence.
Warmth filled Yun Hao’s heart.
He followed Lin Xian and said,
“Elder Lin, this disciple returned last night.
I wanted to report my safe return to you immediately upon arriving at the sect, but the sky was already dark.
I feared disturbing your rest and Junior Sister’s, so I came to visit today instead.”
“It is enough that you returned safely.
Nothing else matters.”
Lin Xian chuckled cheerfully, showing he did not mind at all.
As long as Yun Hao came back unharmed, everything else was secondary.
Yet Yun Hao felt a vague sense of unease.
For some reason, Elder Lin seemed even more listless than before.
He gave off the impression of a candle flickering in the wind, one that might burn out at any moment.
“How did the mission go this time?”
Yun Hao hesitated, about to ask if Elder Lin’s health was troubling him, when Lin Xian’s question reached his ears.
He nodded, speaking with respect and modesty.
“This disciple completed the mission and received approval from the Mission Reporting Hall.
I am now free for the next two years.”
“Hehe, I knew a few tiny Miye Deer would not be a problem for you.
Cough, cough, cough.”
Lin Xian’s words of praise did not make Yun Hao feel proud or pleased.
He looked at the old man ahead with deep worry.
Something felt very wrong about this visit.
A faint anxiety stirred in his heart.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally asked,
“Elder Lin… your health…”
Lin Xian paused, then smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Even this young one had noticed?
It seemed his final days were truly coming to an end.
He had tried so hard to hide any sign of fatigue in front of Yun Hao, but paper could not wrap fire forever.
“Hehe, you need not worry about my body.
It is just an old ailment.”
Yun Hao could only press his lips together and stay silent.
His heart brimmed with concern, but since Elder Lin had spoken that way, he could only believe him.
A short while later, Yun Hao reached the front courtyard of the bamboo house.
Lin Xian offered him a bamboo chair, then slowly reclined on his own and let out a weary breath.
“Can you tell me about your experiences this time?”
“Of course, Elder Lin.”
Yun Hao placed the exquisite box containing the hairpin on the bamboo table and began recounting the events of his training mission.
Since he had already told Luo Shuiling once, the words flowed smoothly this time.
He focused on the main points.
When he reached the part about washing up, he hesitated, glanced at Lin Xian’s cloudy eyes, and continued,
“…Afterward this disciple encountered an evil python.
It coiled around me so tightly I could not escape, so I had no choice but to use the Hunyuan Pearls.”
He secretly observed Lin Xian’s expression, afraid he might be angry.
“I know of that evil python.
It is a Nascent Soul realm demon beast.
But you had no grudge against it, so it should not have troubled you, right?”
Yun Hao grew uneasy.
His voice became smaller, losing its earlier steadiness.
“I picked a Clear Mist Flower… it might have belonged to the giant python…”
“…If you picked it, you should have returned it.
That evil python has gained intelligence.
If you had replanted it, it would not have continued to pester you out of respect for your status as a Proud Sword Sect disciple.
Why face such danger over a single flower!”
Lin Xian spoke with anxious concern.
He knew that although Yun Hao had not mentioned any danger, even a moment’s thought revealed how terrifying it must have been for a Qi Refining cultivator to confront a Nascent Soul demon beast.
Without the Hunyuan Pearls, Yun Hao might never have returned.
Listening to Elder Lin’s lecture, Yun Hao wilted.
Still, he spoke softly,
“This disciple knows he was wrong.
But the Clear Mist Flower is truly precious…
This disciple wanted to bring it back as a gift for Senior Sister to repay her kindness.”
Lin Xian sighed even more deeply.
Luo Shuiling again!
Why could this child not understand?
He could comprehend Yun Hao’s desire to repay a debt of gratitude.
But there were so many trees in the world—why insist on hanging from just one?
*Never mind, never mind. I no longer have the time.
He will understand later, and I trust Yu’er.
She will guide Hao’er back onto the right path.*
Looking at the dejected Yun Hao, he could not bear to scold him further.
“You were lucky this time to have the Hunyuan Pearls to help you.
If you encounter such a situation again, remember that your life is the most important thing.
You cannot act this way anymore!”
“This disciple will firmly remember your teachings!”
After instructing Yun Hao, Lin Xian listened to the rest of his two-day experiences.
Only after Yun Hao finished did he nod gently.
The two sat resting together until Lin Xian noticed the exquisite box on the table and asked,
“What is inside this box?”
“A few days ago, before this disciple left, Junior Sister gave me a brocade pouch.
Now that I have returned safely and noticed that Junior Sister usually only uses one hairpin, I bought a pink-white peach blossom hairpin at the Treasure Pavilion.
I hope she will find it useful.”
As Yun Hao continued speaking, Lin Xian’s expression grew increasingly strange.
He knew Yu’er had given Yun Hao a brocade pouch, but for Yun Hao to return the favor with a hairpin…
He spoke with hesitation.
“You… truly intend to give Yu’er a hairpin?”
Yun Hao looked puzzled.
It was only a hairpin, after all—not some precious treasure.
Junior Sister only had one hairpin, which seemed a bit too few.
Giving her another was perfectly appropriate, wasn’t it?
He asked carefully, a trace of uncertainty in his voice.
“Is it not allowed… Elder Lin?”
Lin Xian’s expression became even more peculiar.
He realized Yun Hao truly lacked certain common knowledge.
But he had no intention of correcting him.
Sometimes a few misunderstandings could make things easier.
At present, Lin Xian felt it would be best if the two of them simply cooked the rice into a finished meal in one go.
That way he could rest completely at ease.
“It is fine.
Yu’er happens to lack a hairpin.
Yours will be very suitable.”
Receiving Lin Xian’s approval, Yun Hao felt reassured.
The two chatted idly for a while longer before Yun Hao rose to take his leave and head to the bamboo grove behind the house to find Lin Shengyu.
Watching Yun Hao’s departing figure, Lin Xian forced a smile.
Everything was arranged.
Now he only needed to persuade Yun Hao.
………..
Yun Hao arrived outside Lin Shengyu’s boudoir and called out gently.
“Junior Sister, may I come in?”
A sound of something being knocked over came from inside the room, followed by a crisp, delighted voice.
“Senior Brother, you’re back?!”
A pale yellow figure immediately appeared at the doorway.
Lin Shengyu, her face full of surprise, felt her way toward Yun Hao.
“Ah, Junior Sister, be careful!
Don’t trip!”
Yun Hao hurried forward and steadied her.
He truly feared this frail, often-ill junior sister might get hurt.
Although he felt she had improved greatly, he still subconsciously believed she needed looking after.
Lin Shengyu gazed at Senior Brother’s handsome face and his undisguised worry.
Her heart melted with sweetness.
Senior Brother cares about me.
She deliberately did not tell him that her eyesight had already recovered.
She still wanted to enjoy his care and concern.
She was very greedy that way.
“I know, Senior Brother.
I’ll be careful.
Let’s go inside and sit.”
Lin Shengyu eagerly took Yun Hao’s hand.
Although they had only been apart for three days as usual, she somehow could not bear the loneliness.
Every day she had waited anxiously, hoping Senior Brother would return soon.
Senior Brother really is so handsome…
Lin Shengyu stared at Yun Hao’s brows and eyes, lost in dreamy thoughts.
Even when Yun Hao kept calling her name beside her, she did not snap out of it.
“…Junior Sister… Junior Sister!”
“Ah…!”
Only when Yun Hao saw that Lin Shengyu had finally come back to her senses did he smile helplessly.
He did not know what was wrong with his junior sister just now—she had not responded no matter how he called.
He had almost wanted to shake her.
“Did you hear what I said earlier, Junior Sister?”
Lin Shengyu panicked.
She had been too busy admiring Senior Brother’s features and had not heard a word.
She tugged nervously at her sleeve, opened her mouth, but could not speak.
Seeing her reaction, Yun Hao understood.
This girl had completely missed everything he had just said.
So he repeated himself.
“Junior Sister, do you still remember the brocade pouch you gave me a few days ago?”
“Mmm… of course I remember.”
Lin Shengyu’s face reddened slightly.
Why was Senior Brother bringing that up?
She nodded shyly and continued stealing glances at him.
“Good that you remember.”
“I thought it over.
Since Junior Sister gave me a brocade pouch, Senior Brother naturally has to return the favor.
I noticed you usually only have one hairpin, so I picked out a pink-white peach blossom hairpin at the Treasure Pavilion.
It should make things more convenient for you in the future.”
Yun Hao placed the hairpin in Lin Shengyu’s hand and explained carefully.
But Lin Shengyu seemed not to have heard a word.
Instead she suddenly asked, her voice shy yet filled with excitement,
“Senior Brother… you really want to give me a hairpin?!”