Two quarters of an hour later, Yun Hao returned to the spot where they had set out that morning, still carrying Lin Shengyu on his back.
He had arrived a quarter of an hour later than expected because he figured his junior sister must be tired after playing all day.
Running too fast might make the ride bumpy, and since she was now essentially an ordinary person with a frail body, she couldn’t handle too much jostling.
The two stopped at the sect entrance.
After showing the gatekeeping disciples the token Lin Xian had given them, they entered without any obstruction.
It was already the You period.
Most disciples without missions had returned to their cave residences.
Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu walked slowly along the path back to Western Peak.
Unlike that morning when Lin Shengyu had only been holding onto his sleeve, the two were now holding hands.
Neither spoke, simply enjoying the peaceful quiet after a relaxing day.
After walking for another two quarters of an hour, the light of a teleportation array enveloped them, and Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu appeared inside Lin Xian’s cave residence on Western Peak.
Looking at the familiar cave abode, Yun Hao wanted to gently release the fingers interlocked with his junior sister’s.
However, even after he loosened his grip, Lin Shengyu continued to hold his right hand tightly.
Seeing this, Yun Hao reminded her softly,
“Junior Sister… we’re home.”
Yun Hao hesitated slightly before deciding to refer to Lin Xian’s cave residence as “home.”
After hearing Yun Hao, Lin Shengyu let out a soft sound of acknowledgment.
Then, in a voice that was both shy and determined, she whispered,
“Mm… Senior Brother, just hold my hand like this and go in…”
“This…”
Yun Hao felt that holding hands in private between them as senior and junior brother and sister was fine, but now they were about to face Elder Lin.
It might not be appropriate.
After all, they were still a man and a woman.
Lin Shengyu seemed to sense his hesitation but remained firm.
“It’s fine, Senior Brother. Just hold my hand and go in.”
Seeing how persistent she was, Yun Hao could only smile helplessly.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he chuckled,
“I really can’t do anything with you. Hold on tight then.”
Lin Shengyu didn’t reply, but in her heart she thought with a hint of joy,
I’ve finally taken Senior Brother’s hand. I won’t let go.
Using the token in his hand, Yun Hao opened the main door of Lin Xian’s cave residence.
He led Lin Shengyu slowly over to where the elder was sitting on a bamboo chair resting with his eyes closed.
Yun Hao bowed his head slightly and spoke respectfully,
“Elder Lin, this disciple has brought Junior Sister back.”
Lin Shengyu also spoke up,
“Grandfather, Senior Brother and I have returned.”
Lin Xian opened his slightly narrowed eyes.
His somewhat cloudy pupils looked at the tightly joined hands of Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in his gaze.
It seemed his family’s precious cabbage had successfully attracted a pig to come nibble.
“Good, you’re back. You must be tired after playing all day. Go wash up first, then come eat dinner.”
“Yes, Grandfather. Senior Brother, I’ll head back first.”
Lin Shengyu answered softly, then finally released Yun Hao’s hand.
After bidding him farewell, she made her way back to her boudoir behind the bamboo grove using memory alone.
“Alright, be careful.”
Yun Hao had been a little worried at first, but seeing that his junior sister was walking steadily without bumping into anything, he gradually relaxed.
He turned to look at Lin Xian, who had already stood up, and saluted,
“Elder Lin, I have delivered Junior Sister back safely. This disciple should also return to Sect Master Peak now. I’ve been gone too long, and I’m worried Senior Sister might be concerned.”
After saying this, Yun Hao prepared to leave for Sect Master Peak.
He had already been away from Senior Sister for two full days.
Although he had spent the time with Elder Lin and Junior Sister, his longing for Senior Sister was something else entirely.
To Yun Hao, Senior Sister inspired admiration and respect.
Toward Elder Lin he felt respect and affection. As for Lin Shengyu, he treated her completely as a little sister.
His feelings toward Lin Xian and Lin Shengyu were like familial care, while his feelings for Luo Shuiling were those of yearning for someone he admired romantically.
Lin Xian watched Yun Hao, who was clearly eager to return to Luo Shuiling’s side, and felt a twinge of disappointment.
He thought to himself that one day was indeed not enough to change Yun Hao’s heart.
He would need to create more opportunities.
Thus he said,
“There’s no rush. You should stay here tonight.”
“Elder Lin… why is that?”
Yun Hao grew anxious.
He really wanted to see Senior Sister.
He wondered whether the osmanthus cakes had been finished and whether he would need to make another batch tomorrow.
Seeing Yun Hao’s impatient expression, Lin Xian stroked his beard and said,
“I have never taken a disciple, and my supreme techniques have no one to inherit them. Now that I see your excellent immortal aptitude and clever nature, I wish to pass them on to you. It would not be a disgrace to this immortal art.”
Yun Hao hesitated. He was currently only practicing the Wind Shadow Art.
In the early stages he lacked combat ability and truly needed a set of offensive techniques to strengthen himself.
However, he had not seen Senior Sister for two days… and he missed her terribly.
Lin Xian saw Yun Hao struggling and knew he had already swayed him somewhat.
He decided to press his advantage.
“The path of cultivation is full of unexpected dangers. Mastering more skills will not only benefit yourself, but if one day your loved ones need help, you will also be able to protect them.”
Yun Hao listened and imagined a scenario where Senior Sister needed help but he was powerless to assist.
Just thinking about it made him feel distressed. After silently admonishing himself, he decided to stay.
Lin Xian looked at Yun Hao with satisfaction.
His earlier words had been half true, half false.
He did need a successor, but more importantly, he wanted to keep Yun Hao here longer so he could spend more time with Lin Shengyu.
This way, the success rate of that matter in a little over a month would be higher.
And so that night, after Yun Hao had dinner with Lin Shengyu and Lin Xian, he received Lin Xian’s teachings in private.
***
The next day
“Senior Brother, you must be careful on the way back.”
Lin Shengyu gripped Yun Hao’s sleeve tightly with one hand, nagging him nonstop along the way.
The shy little girl from yesterday had suddenly become rather fussy today.
Yun Hao looked at Lin Shengyu with a mix of amusement and helplessness.
He comforted her gently,
“It’s fine, Junior Sister. We’re still inside the sect. Nothing will happen.”
But Lin Shengyu acted as if she hadn’t heard him.
The hand clutching his sleeve tightened even more.
She couldn’t bear to let Senior Brother leave… Once he was gone, she would be alone again…
Yun Hao looked at the silent Lin Shengyu and quickly understood the reason. He took her small hands in both of his and said sincerely,
“Junior Sister still needs the demonic poison suppressed. Senior Brother will come back once every three days. Don’t worry, I won’t stop coming.”
After a long pause, Lin Shengyu asked slowly,
“Is Senior Brother telling the truth?”
Yun Hao’s tone grew even more sincere as he tried to make her believe him.
“Of course it’s true. Senior Brother would never lie to you.”
Lin Shengyu slowly lowered her hands and said,
“Then Senior Brother should go. As long as you come to see Junior Sister once every three days, that’s enough.”
Yun Hao patted her small head, gave an affirmative reply, then turned and stepped into the teleportation array, disappearing from sight.
Although Lin Shengyu couldn’t see, she could smell Yun Hao’s scent gradually fading in the air and knew that Senior Brother had left.
Her shoulders drooped with disappointment.
She really wanted to stay by Senior Brother’s side longer and keep hearing him call her Junior Sister…
“Do you want Yun Hao to stay by your side forever, Yu’er?”
Lin Xian appeared beside Lin Shengyu at some point and asked gently.
Lin Shengyu bit her lip.
“Senior Brother has his own things to do. I can’t keep acting willfully and pestering him.”
Lin Xian looked at his foolish granddaughter and let out a soft sigh.
“If he marries you in the future, given his personality, he will stay by your side forever.”
Lin Shengyu remained silent, staring blankly into the distance with her blind eyes—toward the direction of Sect Master Peak.
“But Senior Brother likes Senior Sister Luo Shuiling right now. Even if he hasn’t said it, I can feel it.”
She felt discouraged. She was no match for Luo Shuiling at all.
Lin Xian played with a small stone in his hand for a moment before speaking slowly,
“Feelings need to be cherished and nurtured. Yun Hao may like Luo Shuiling now, but Luo Shuiling does not cherish his feelings. Over time, as one side grows and the other fades, Yun Hao’s affection will eventually wear away.”
“But you will always stay by his side. You will comfort him when he is down and share his joy when he is happy. With time, he will notice you.”
Lin Xian paused.
“Moreover, Grandfather will help you.”
Lin Shengyu fell silent.
She recalled in a daze the warm, scorching sensation from when Yun Hao had suppressed the demonic poison for her two days ago, as well as his care for her yesterday.
A decision gradually formed in her heart.
She wanted to have Senior Brother all to herself and was unwilling to share him with anyone else.
***
Yun Hao moved as light as a swallow, speeding up Sect Master Peak.
Having not seen Senior Sister for three days, he could hardly wait any longer.
But halfway there, he suddenly remembered that he had not bathed for the past three days.
His body had likely accumulated quite a bit of dirt. It wouldn’t be good to meet Senior Sister like this.
He recalled that there was a clear spring on the mid-slope of the back mountain of Sect Master Peak. It was usually deserted.
After a brief hesitation, Yun Hao decided to bathe there first.
Upon reaching the spring, Yun Hao carefully checked that no one was around.
Only then did he confidently remove his clothes and gently slip into the spring water.
He swam freely, thinking back on the past two days.
He had gained a well-behaved little sister, managed to somewhat repay Elder Lin’s kindness, and even received an immortal technique from him.
Soon he would see the Senior Sister he had missed so much.
Yun Hao’s mood was excellent.
He closed his eyes and floated on his back facing the sky, letting his body drift, until his head suddenly bumped into something.
Yun Hao opened his eyes and reached out to grab the object, wanting to see what it was.
His blurry vision gradually cleared, adjusting to the glaring sunlight.
Once he saw clearly what it was, his mind went completely blank.
His limbs froze instantly, and he could no longer move.
It was the food box he had used a few days ago to serve osmanthus cakes to Senior Sister…