Two Women Meet for the First Time, Xun'er's Warning

After refining the Ice Spirit Throat Protectant Liquid, Lu Yu headed toward his own courtyard. He had only just stepped through the gate when he saw a slender figure in white hanging clothes out to dry.

The ink-black robe hanging from the bamboo pole swayed gently in the evening breeze, taking on a faint golden hue in the setting sun.

"You're back?" Hearing the sound, Little Fairy Doctor turned around. Damp wisps of hair clung to her forehead, and a few drops of water slid down her fair cheeks. She naturally raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, a gentle smile lifting the corners of her lips.

At that moment, the courtyard was still filled with a faint soap-pod fragrance, and the clothes in the wooden basin were soaking in water.

Lu Yu froze in place for a moment. The afterglow of the sunset gilded Little Fairy Doctor with a golden edge, and her casual motion of pinning up her hair carried a soft, unintentional grace. Water droplets slid down her slender neck and into her collar, and the warm scene actually left him a little dazed.

"Mm, I just finished refining medicine..." Before he could finish, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a pale purple figure walking over from not far from the courtyard gate.

"Brother Yu."

A cool, clear voice suddenly came from behind him. Lu Yu turned around and saw that Xun'er had, at some unknown point, appeared at the courtyard gate, holding an exquisite sandalwood box in her hands. Her gaze lingered on Little Fairy Doctor for a moment before she slowly walked closer.

"This is..." Xun'er wore a proper smile at the corners of her lips, but inquiry showed in her eyes.

"Little Fairy Doctor, a friend I met in Qingshan Town." Lu Yu gave a light cough and introduced them. "This is Xun'er, from the Xiao Family..."

"My name is Xiao Xun'er." Xun'er took the initiative to pick up the conversation and gave Little Fairy Doctor a slight nod. She handed the wooden box in her hands to Lu Yu. "I noticed the training clothes Brother Yu often wears were a little old, so I made a new set."

Little Fairy Doctor dried the water from her hands and curiously sized up this young girl with an extraordinary bearing. Xun'er was wearing a pale purple dress today, with only a white magnolia hairpin in her hair, yet it made her entire person look pure and refined, untouched by the mundane world.

"Miss Xun'er has such skillful hands."

Looking at the finely made ink-black robe in the box, almost identical to the one she had just washed, Little Fairy Doctor could not help praising her.

Xun'er smiled faintly. "If Miss Little Fairy Doctor doesn't mind, I can make a set for you another day as well."

Standing between the two of them, Lu Yu unconsciously rubbed his nose. For some reason, he felt the atmosphere was a little off, leaving him not knowing what to say for the moment.

"Well... I'll go try on the new clothes."

He let out two dry laughs, hugged the wooden box, and quickly walked into the room, leaving the two young girls looking at each other in the courtyard.

After he left, Xun'er looked at Little Fairy Doctor, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the familiar ink-black robe on the bamboo pole. Her heart stirred, and she immediately said in a warm voice, "Is Sister Xian'er planning to stay temporarily at the Xiao Family? There are still empty side rooms in my courtyard."

"Men and women are different, after all. I imagine it must be rather inconvenient for Sister Xian'er to stay in Brother Yu's courtyard. Why not stay at my place instead?"

Hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor narrowed her eyes slightly and carefully studied the elegant young girl before her. Thinking back to Lu Yu's flustered look just now, a strange emotion suddenly rose in her heart.

"I'm afraid that won't do." Little Fairy Doctor gently shook her head, the corners of her lips curving into a meaningful smile. "Lu Yu and I still need to dual cultivate. If we're too far apart... it would be somewhat inconvenient."

"Dual cultivate?"

Xun'er's gaze tightened slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched around her sleeve. The gentle smile remained on her face, but her voice was a few degrees lower than before. "This matter of dual cultivation... Could Sister Xian'er explain it in detail?"

Little Fairy Doctor blinked, then suddenly revealed a sly smile. "Well..." She deliberately drew out her tone. "I'm not too sure either. After all..."

She leaned close to Xun'er's ear and whispered, "We haven't started dual cultivating yet. If Miss Xun'er is curious, why not personally ask your 'Brother Yu'?"

Xun'er's jade-white earlobes were instantly dyed crimson, and she took half a step back without a trace. Her fingertips lightly brushed her temple, and then she suddenly took out a mutton-fat Jade Bottle from her Storage Ring. "Sister Xian'er has just arrived at the Xiao Family. Consider this bottle of Snow Skin Jade Visage Pills a greeting gift."

The bottle felt warm to the touch, clearly no ordinary item.

Little Fairy Doctor looked at the jade bottle in Xun'er's hand, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes. She reached out and accepted the pills, her fingertips lightly brushing across Xun'er's palm. "Then I'll thank Miss Xun'er for your kindness."

The tense atmosphere between the two seemed to ease somewhat. Just then, Lu Yu, having changed into his new clothes, pushed open the door and stepped out. The ink-black robe set off his tall, straight figure, making him look handsome and exceptional.

"You two..." Before he could finish speaking, Xun'er had already turned around. Her gaze was sharp as a torch, carrying an unquestionable cold edge as it shot straight at Lu Yu, and she questioned him, "Brother Yu, what exactly is this so-called dual cultivation?"

Lu Yu's steps halted, and the Ice Spirit Throat Protectant Liquid in his hand nearly fell. His gaze paused for a moment on Xun'er's frosty face, then quietly slid toward Little Fairy Doctor.

He saw her leisurely playing with the pill bottle in her hand, the corners of her lips carrying an almost imperceptible smile. Clearly, she was more than happy to see this sudden turn of events.

"This..." Lu Yu rubbed his nose somewhat unnaturally and said, "Actually, I can explain..."

Seeing Lu Yu like this, Little Fairy Doctor could not help letting out a pfft of laughter.

Xun'er, meanwhile, said calmly, "Come with me. Explain it at my place. Don't let outsiders laugh at us."

Little Fairy Doctor's smile immediately froze on her face. She watched helplessly as Lu Yu somewhat guiltily followed Xun'er away, leaving her behind alone.

"This..." Little Fairy Doctor's eyes immediately widened, and she said somewhat angrily, "Who's an outsider!"

On the western side of the Xiao Family, tea fragrance curled through a quiet courtyard.

"So..." Xun'er's fingertips lightly tapped the stone table, her voice so calm that no emotion could be heard. "Brother Yu obtained a cultivation method that requires dual cultivation, and it just so happens that woman possesses the Calamity Poison Body and can aid your cultivation?"

Lu Yu nodded slightly. He and Xun'er had grown up together since childhood, so there was no need to hide these matters.

Xun'er fell silent for a long while, then suddenly said, "May I see that scroll of cultivation method, Brother Yu?"

Lu Yu took out a stack of copied papers from his Storage Ring. However, the instant Xun'er's gaze touched the first page, her pupils abruptly contracted. Golden Flame sprang from her fingertips and instantly burned the papers to ash.

"This cultivation method..." Her voice carried a rare gravity. "It is at least Heaven Class. Before Brother Yu becomes a Dou Saint, you must absolutely not pass it on to a third person." Golden Flame flickered in her eyes. "As for that woman with the Calamity Poison Body..."

Xun'er paused, her jade-white fingertips lightly tapping the stone table. "Since she is useful to Brother Yu, keep her by your side for now. If someone asks about the origin of this cultivation method in the future, Brother Yu can say it was taught to you by someone from the Ancient Clan. As for what comes after that, you need not pay it any mind."

"Ancient Clan?"

Lu Yu pretended to show a trace of confusion. Xun'er had never spoken to him about the Ancient Clan before, so at this moment, he could only pretend not to know.

Xun'er sighed and said, "Brother Yu, the Dou Qi Continent is vast beyond your imagination. Wutan City, where we are, and even the Jama Empire, are nothing more than a corner of it..."

After that, Xun'er gave a simple introduction to the territory of the Dou Qi Continent, the major forces of the Central Plains, and the Eight Ancient Clans.

After hearing her out, Lu Yu said in sudden understanding, "So they're a top-tier power with a Dou Saint holding the fort. Xun'er, you want me to pin all the cultivation methods on them. Aren't you afraid they'll find out and come after us later?"

Hearing this, Xun'er's lips curved slightly, revealing a calm smile. "Don't worry, Brother Yu. The Ancient Clan has always acted mysteriously. Outsiders have no way to verify it. Besides..."

She suddenly leaned closer and whispered by Lu Yu's ear, "With me here, I won't let anything happen to you, Brother Yu."

"It's just that woman with the Calamity Poison Body..." Xun'er changed the subject, a golden glint flashing faintly in her eyes. "Brother Yu, you still need to be extra careful."

"If that mysterious cultivation method can't suppress it, Brother Yu, protecting yourself comes first. You mustn't push yourself."

Lu Yu felt the warm breath by his ear and saw the concern in Xun'er's eyes before him. He nodded solemnly and agreed. "I understand. If anything seems wrong, I'll definitely put my own safety first."

Only then did Xun'er nod in satisfaction. She raised a hand and straightened Lu Yu's collar, her movements gentle, her voice warm as she said, "It's getting late. Brother Yu, you should go back first. Xun'er will come find you tomorrow."

Lu Yu nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Xiao Xun'er watched Lu Yu's back as he gradually walked farther away. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she said softly, "Elder Ling..."

A black shadow appeared without a sound. "Miss."

"Send word to the clan. There's no need to send anyone over."

Ling Ying's figure paused slightly. "This old servant is bold enough to ask, but that Calamity Poison Body..."

"It's fine."

Xun'er's expression did not change, and her voice was calm as she said, "A mere Calamity Poison Body won't stir up any real trouble. Since she's useful to Brother Yu, we'll wait and see for now."

"If she dares to hurt Brother Yu..."

"When the time comes... I'll deal with her myself..."