Luo Shuiling slowly walked out of the Affairs Hall. Having resolved the matter that weighed most heavily on her mind and took top priority, her mood eased a little. Even her steps felt noticeably lighter.
Her heart was still filled with anxiety. Part of it came from her longing for Yun Hao, and part from her unease toward Lin Shengyu.
If she could, Luo Shuiling truly wished she could set off with him right away to complete that mission, which wasn’t particularly difficult. She would keep a close watch and deliberately drag things out a bit, giving the two of them more time together.
But that wasn’t possible right now. She still needed to prepare. The dreams of the past few days had shaken her far too deeply, especially the ones involving Lin Shengyu.
No matter how much she disliked Lin Shengyu or how hard she tried to find fault with her, Luo Shuiling had to admit the girl’s appearance was among the most exquisite she had ever seen—nearly matching her own in fairness and beauty. The realization caused a faint wavering in her heart.
Luo Shuiling had once firmly believed Yun Hao’s heart belonged only to her. After everything that had happened, she no longer felt so certain. Especially when she personally heard the youth admit seven days ago that Lin Shengyu was beautiful—it had struck her hard.
She… was feeling insecure.
Cold spiritual power gradually surged from her body. The withered trees around her froze over with a layer of frost. She had left herself a two-day buffer because there was still one important matter she needed to handle.
Before long, Luo Shuiling arrived at a grove. Her expression cold, she walked quickly inside.
Most ordinary trees had already withered away in the winter cold. But the trees here remained evergreen and full of life, quietly releasing a faint spiritual qi. Without question, this was a grove of spiritual trees.
Luo Shuiling searched slowly until she found several suitable ones. She gently ran her hand over the wood, satisfied with what she felt.
A short while later, she returned to Sect Master Peak on her flying sword, carrying the timber.
The wooden house, damaged for nearly a month, had lost all warmth of life. Cold wind and fine snow blew in through the broken walls. The interior was damp and freezing.
She looked down at her right hand. A dull pain throbbed in her chest. That slap… had also been struck with this hand, sending him flying out the door. Luo Shuiling stared blankly at the large, ragged hole, lost in thought. That day… she had hit Yun Hao with this very hand. How much pain must he have felt?
Regret and heartache rose in her chest. But she quickly steadied herself and offered silent comfort.
Such things would never happen again. She had sworn she would treat Yun Hao well and protect him for the rest of his life.
She lowered her head slightly. Her eyes, once calm as still water, now held a tangle of complicated emotions.
She would find Yun Hao and bring him back.
Western Peak, inside Lin Xian’s cave residence.
“Senior Brother, come look at what I found.”
A lively, mischievous girl’s voice drifted out from the bamboo grove, bright with surprise.
“What is it, Yu’er?”
Yun Hao turned to answer his junior sister.
Ever since Lin Shengyu kissed him seven days ago, the air between them had grown warmer. Sometimes Yun Hao didn’t even dare look at her too long, always feeling a little embarrassed. Lin Shengyu, however, acted exactly as she always had, as if that day had changed nothing at all. She still stayed close to him, unwilling to put even a little distance between them.
“It’s a guqin!” Lin Shengyu walked over quickly, her small face glowing with a smile. “I found it in a corner while tidying the room. It really brings back memories.”
She held the instrument out for him to see.
Yun Hao took the guqin and gently stroked its surface. A warm, smooth feeling spread across his palm. He looked mildly surprised.
“Yu’er, you can play the guqin?”
The words made Lin Shengyu pout. She felt he was underestimating her again, as if he thought she was that incapable. She shot him a glare.
“I learned when my eyes were still good. Why does Senior Brother sound so surprised?”
After a moment, Yun Hao explained gently, “I don’t think you’re dumb. It’s just that you’ve never played in front of me before, so hearing you mention it so suddenly caught me off guard.”
“Then I’ll play for Senior Brother right now and show you how good I am.” Lin Shengyu refused to let the matter drop. She found a place to sit, determined to prove herself in front of him.
She lightly rested her hand against the sect token at Yun Hao’s waist.
A streak of golden light suddenly arrived from the distant horizon, breaking the warm atmosphere. Carrying a trace of spiritual power, it pierced through the terrain and gently attached itself to the token at his waist.
Both of them froze for a moment. In the end, Lin Shengyu spoke first, her voice hesitant as she met Yun Hao’s puzzled gaze.
“Senior Brother, have you completed any sect missions in the past two years?”
Yun Hao shook his head. He had stayed inside the sect the entire time and never gone out.
“Then this… is probably a mission notification.”
Before losing her cultivation, Lin Shengyu had seen countless outer disciples receive sect missions. Combined with the light from the horizon and the fact that Yun Hao hadn’t done a single mission in two years, she could guess what was happening.
At her reminder, Yun Hao also came back to his senses. He remembered what Elder Lin Xian had told him two years ago—inner sect disciples were required to carry out one sect mission every two years.
Now that he hadn’t left the sect in two years, it seemed the sect was forcing him to complete one.
“Then let’s open it and take a look. The mission probably won’t be too difficult.”
Yun Hao recalled his first mission two years ago, when he had still been a complete novice. Even then, slaying five Miye Deer had been manageable. This one shouldn’t be much harder.
Under the infusion of spiritual power, the jade token slowly rose, releasing a soft glow. A line of text gradually appeared in the air.
December 17th. Assemble at the main mountain gate. Mission requirement: Slay ten Foundation Establishment stage demon beasts in the Great Continent Desert. Remember this well.
Responsible disciple: Luo Shuiling.
Yun Hao stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
His pupils constricted sharply. The words in the corner of the notification burned themselves into his eyes.
Responsible disciple: Luo Shuiling.
The youth remained rooted to the spot. All the ease and comfort from earlier had vanished without a trace.