A Gift for Xun'er

Not long after, In the courtyard, Lu Yu unhurriedly finished the breakfast Little Fairy Doctor had prepared—a few plates of delicate side dishes with a bowl of rice porridge cooked to just the right consistency, with two nourishing red dates still settled at the bottom.

"Your skills are getting better and better."

He smiled as he set down his bowl and chopsticks, then took the silk handkerchief Qing Lin handed him and wiped the corner of his mouth.

Little Fairy Doctor's ears reddened slightly as she lowered her head and cleared the tableware. "Is Brother Lu going out today?"

"Mm. I'm going to see Xun'er."

Lu Yu straightened his lapels, the Third-grade Alchemist badge gleaming brilliantly in the morning light, and said at an unhurried pace, "I was away training for so long this time. That girl is probably going to throw a tantrum again."

There was a hint of indulgent fondness in his tone.

After that, he rose and left, passing through several courtyards. Morning dew dampened the hem of his clothes, and from afar, he saw the elegant little courtyard where Xun'er lived.

"Knock, knock!"

He lightly rapped on the courtyard gate, and hurried footsteps immediately came from inside. The gate opened with a creak, revealing Xun'er's city-toppling face.

She wore a pale purple gauze dress, the white magnolia hairpin in her hair swaying slightly. A trace of pleasant surprise flashed through her beautiful eyes, yet she deliberately put on a stern face. "Oh? Isn't this our very busy Brother Yu? So you still know how to come back?"

Lu Yu laughed despite himself and naturally reached out to rub the top of her head. "Isn't it because I missed our Xun'er?"

Xun'er gave a soft snort, but she could not hide the smile at the corners of her mouth, and she turned sideways to let him through.

A set of celadon tea ware had already been laid out on the stone table in the courtyard, tea fragrance curling upward. "Come in. I just happened to brew your favorite Oolong Green Tea."

Lu Yu stepped into the courtyard, his gaze lingering briefly on a certain shadow before he sat down with a smile.

After they were seated, Xun'er held the pot in her fair hand, the tea tracing a graceful arc through the air. "Brother Yu, did you find the Exotic Flame?"

Lu Yu sighed softly. "I did find a clue, but..."

As he spoke, he slowly repeated the explanation he had given Old Man Yao the day before. When he reached Queen Medusa, a trace of gravity flashed through his eyes.

Xun'er nodded thoughtfully. "So, the Green Lotus Core Flame is in Queen Medusa's hands now?"

Her beautiful eyes shifted as she asked with concern, "Is this Exotic Flame very important to Brother Yu?"

"Not exactly."

Lu Yu smiled faintly, and a cluster of blue-red flames suddenly rose from his palm. The flame was extraordinarily lively, sometimes transforming into a flood dragon that leaped and soared, sometimes condensing into a blooming Fire Lotus, its scorching heat filled with abundant spirituality.

"Although I didn't obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame, this Earth Core Flame evolved quite a bit through a stroke of fortune."

He flicked his fingertip lightly, and the flame drew a beautiful trail through the air. A faint smile flashed in his eyes as he said, "What does Xun'er think of this flame?"

Xun'er stared at the leaping blue-red flame in Lu Yu's palm, a trace of surprise appearing in her beautiful eyes. She pondered for a moment, then said softly, "In Xun'er's opinion, Brother Yu's Exotic Flame should rank between fifteenth and twentieth on the Exotic Flame Ranking in terms of power."

At that, she paused, then spoke in a rather firm tone. "At the very least, the Exotic Flames ranked in the last three places are far inferior to the one in Brother Yu's hand."

"Between fifteenth and twentieth, huh..."

Lu Yu nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly gave a mysterious smile. "But I came this time with a special gift for Xun'er."

With that, he took an exquisite Jade Box from his Storage Ring and gently placed it on the stone table.

The lid opened, revealing three Jade Slips of different colors lying quietly inside.

"This is...?" Xun'er tilted her head curiously, her black hair falling over her shoulder.

Lu Yu took out one fiery-red Jade Slip and explained, "Recorded inside this is a method called the Exotic Flame Spiritual Vein. It can use an Exotic Flame to improve one's aptitude. It can be considered a rare and wondrous method in this world."

After saying that, he picked up the second white Jade Slip and said, "This one contains a secret method called the Clear Heart Pill Method. By cultivating this secret method, one can continuously improve Soul Perception. Although it can't be considered a pure soul cultivation method that directly raises the soul realm..."

"Precisely because of that, it's easy to begin, and its grade is high enough. It can be used all the way to peak Dou Zun."

"As for this last one..."

Lu Yu looked at the final Golden Jade Slip, and his expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

After hesitating for a moment, he still pushed the Jade Slip toward Xun'er and said, "Xun'er had better study it alone tonight. This method... is a little special."

"A secret method that can improve aptitude?"

"A secret method that can improve Soul Perception?"

"And there's even a strange method that needs to be comprehended at night?"

With each thing Lu Yu mentioned, Xun'er's eyes widened a little more. As the Ancient Clan's Eldest Daughter, what kind of cultivation methods and secret methods had she not seen before...?

But the things Lu Yu had taken out were first-rate precious secret methods even if placed within the Ancient Clan!

As for whether they were genuine, she had never doubted Lu Yu.

Thinking of this, Xun'er took a deep breath, gently pushed the Jade Box back, and said softly, "Brother Yu, these things are all too precious. I can't accept them."

Lu Yu smiled and shook his head, pushing the Jade Box back in front of her. "Between you and me, why be so distant?"

As the two pushed it back and forth, Xun'er's expression suddenly shifted. Golden light flickered at her fingertips, and an ancient, simple Jade Slip appeared in her palm. "Since Brother Yu insists on giving me these, Xun'er cannot be petty either. This is a fighting skill from my clan... one I obtained by chance..."

"When cultivated to great depths, this fighting skill is enough to rival a Heavenly Rank Fighting Skill. Today, I'll give it to Brother Yu."

"I hope Brother Yu won't refuse. Just remember, Brother Yu, you must not pass it on to outsiders."

"And it would be best not to use it too much in front of others. Only use it when you encounter a crisis."

"However, there's a prohibition placed on it. Brother Yu will have to reach the Dou Wang Realm before he can open it."

Hearing that, Lu Yu froze, then inwardly pondered, Something powerful enough to rival a Heavenly Rank Fighting Skill... Could it be the Ancient Clan's Emperor Seal Art?

At that thought, his gaze swept imperceptibly over the shadow in the corner of the courtyard—everything there was calm as usual, without the slightest movement.

Could I have guessed wrong?

He was muttering to himself when he suddenly felt a faint tug at his sleeve.

Turning his head, he found himself face-to-face with Xun'er's beautiful face, so close it was almost touching his. The young girl had somehow come right up to him, her lively eyes brimming with slyness. "What are you spacing out for, Brother Yu?"

The faint, unique fragrance of quiet orchids from her body lingered at the tip of his nose.

Heat stirred in Lu Yu's heart. He suddenly spread his arms and pulled the beauty into his embrace. Xun'er let out a soft cry, but did not struggle. Only the tips of her ears turned rosy at a speed visible to the naked eye, looking very much like pink cherries.

"I just suddenly felt..."

Lu Yu lowered his head and whispered by her ear, "Our Xun'er really is becoming more and more considerate."

"W-what nonsense are you saying..."

Xun'er buried her burning cheeks against his chest, her voice muffled, yet the arms wrapped around his waist tightened a little of their own accord.

At that moment, atop the treetop in the corner of the courtyard.

Ling Ying was hiding there in a sorry state, wiping away cold sweat with lingering fear. "That brat... when did his perception become so sharp? I nearly got exposed..."

He tugged at his lapels with a miserable expression, looking exactly like an aggrieved old steward. "If this keeps up, this old man, a dignified Dou Huang, will really become some lecherous wretch peeping on the young lady's romance..."

The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Ling Ying could not help taking out a Message Jade Talisman, hesitating over whether to report to the clan. But on second thought, if the clan found out that the young lady had even given away the Emperor Seal Art...

"Sigh..."

He let out a heavy sigh, stuffed the jade talisman back, and lamented inwardly, This assignment is getting harder and harder to handle...