Gathering Before the Battle

Seeing Qing Lin so enthusiastic, Ao Qing felt a little embarrassed. After all, he had not come to see Qing Lin; he had come to see Medusa.

Still, since he had run into Qing Lin, Ao Qing could not help mentioning it.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in seclusion in your little courtyard?"

Medusa did not give Ao Qing a pleasant look either. Over the past few months, Ao Qing had been in seclusion cultivating, and the number of times he had met Medusa could be counted on one hand.

Although Medusa knew that Ao Qing's diligent cultivation might be for some important reason, she was still reluctant to be apart from him. It was only natural for her to feel a little resentful.

But before Ao Qing could figure out how to explain himself, Medusa strode quickly toward him.

Then she wrapped her slender arms around Ao Qing's neck and threw her entire body into his embrace.

Feeling Medusa's familiar presence, Ao Qing chose not to say anything more. His strong arms held her delicate body tightly, and the two of them quietly savored this rare moment together.

Seeing this, Qing Lin blushed and quietly left the room.

But the moment Qing Lin stepped outside, she saw Zi Yan hopping over from afar.

Qing Lin quickly reacted and grabbed Zi Yan, who was about to enter the room.

"Qing Lin, what are you doing? Why are you stopping me? I still want to go see my Brother Ao Qing."

Qing Lin looked toward the room, then at Zi Yan. It was not easy for her to say it outright, so she could only use tactful words to make Zi Yan give up on the idea.

"Well, your Brother Ao Qing is indeed in there, but right now, Brother Ao Qing and my teacher have something to discuss. We'd better not disturb them."

Watching Qing Lin blink at her frantically, Zi Yan immediately understood.

A mischievous smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she changed her tone.

"Qing Lin, could it be that my Brother Ao Qing and Sister Medusa are doing something embarrassing in there?

"Don't worry, I won't disturb Brother Ao Qing. But Qing Lin, your face is so red right now. You look adorable!"

As she spoke, Zi Yan reached out and rubbed Qing Lin's thoroughly flushed cheeks.

This only made Qing Lin even more embarrassed. After all, Qing Lin was merely an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl. How could she possibly be a match for Zi Yan?

Over the past few years, Zi Yan's body had grown considerably as well, and she now looked like a girl of thirteen or fourteen.

Zi Yan was very satisfied with that.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Let's not stay here either. Also, you'll be competing with Yanran in a few days. How about we go find Yanran and hang out today?"

"Sure! Let's go find Yanran together. It's been so long since we played together. I really miss the old days! We've all been too busy these past few years."

Having reached an agreement, the two headed for Nalan Yanran's residence to find her.

It was the season when spring was warm and flowers were blooming.

As Qing Lin and Zi Yan walked toward Nalan Yanran's residence, they admired the rare blossoms along the way.

But they appreciated flowers differently from ordinary people. They were cultivators.

When ordinary young women admired flowers, they naturally would not forget to play a tune among the blossoms, lamenting the fleetingness of spring.

The sentiment of cherishing and admiring flowers was most apparent among women in their chambers. At this point, they had yet to experience the hardships of life, and were fond of melancholy.

Perhaps only after enduring life's trials could people become strong...

On the Dou Qi Continent, women who could not cultivate were the lowest class. They had neither the right nor the strength to choose their own lives.

They could only marry an unknown man under their families' arrangements—perhaps to happiness, perhaps to suffering.

So in some respects, Zi Yan and the others were already fortunate enough.

Before long, the two arrived at the small courtyard where Nalan Yanran lived.

"Yanran, are you there? Qing Lin and I came to talk with you."

Zi Yan's voice rang out beyond the little house. Inside, Nalan Yanran was in a terrible mood. She was not happy at all, merely sitting cross-legged in gloom with her eyes closed, recalling the beautiful days of the past.

But when she heard Zi Yan call out, Nalan Yanran's utterly miserable mood brightened at once.

She quickly got to her feet, tidied herself up, and swiftly opened her door, ready to welcome her close friends.

At the sight of Zi Yan and Qing Lin, Nalan Yanran's face broke into a smile. It had been a long time since she had smiled so freely.

After meeting up, they did not exchange much small talk and instead headed toward one of their secret hideouts.

Before long, Nalan Yanran and the others arrived at the lakeside where they had first met.

"Yanran, are you nervous about this competition between you and Qing Lin? Your teacher isn't still putting a lot of pressure on you, is she?"

Zi Yan's question left Nalan Yanran unsure what to say. She sighed softly.

"My teacher hasn't made me train at such high intensity these past few days, but I can tell that she wants me to win this match."

Qing Lin merely listened quietly from the side without voicing an opinion.

If it had been any other time, she could have simply lost to Nalan Yanran on purpose. But this time, she represented not only herself, but also her teacher, Medusa.

Qing Lin knew about the friction between her teacher and Yun Yun. Their unpleasant relationship had nothing directly to do with Qing Lin, yet it was precisely because of it that Qing Lin had the opportunity to become Medusa's disciple.

If Qing Lin deliberately lost this match, she did not know how she would explain it to Medusa. Even if Medusa said she no longer cared about Yun Yun, if Qing Lin truly lost, her teacher would surely still feel upset.

No one wanted to lose to their opponent. Moreover, this match was also a test of Qing Lin's cultivation during this period. Some things could not be casually given up, even for friends.

Nalan Yanran would not make such a request of Qing Lin either. She had her own pride. Although she had no choice but to engage in an all-out match with her friend because of her teacher, Yun Yun had truly taken great care of her over the years.

Moreover, Yun Yun had promised that in a few years, she would take her to the Xiao Clan in Wutan City to break off the engagement.

Thus, Nalan Yanran could only grit her teeth and persevere. Even though the pressure of cultivation was immense, she kept going, climbing upward step by step.

"Don't worry, Zi Yan, I'm fine. I'll give it my all in this match against Qing Lin as well. Let's just consider it a friendly exchange through martial arts."

"Mm, Yanran, I'll also go all out this time. When the time comes, neither of us should hold back."

Qing Lin echoed Nalan Yanran's words.

Seeing her two good friends acting so righteous and solemn, Zi Yan could not help but laugh.

"Isn't it just an ordinary match? Do you really have to make it sound so terrifying? At worst, just don't fight. Your teacher isn't going to eat you, Yanran, is she? Besides, I'll hold your teacher off when the time comes, and you can just run!

"And Qing Lin, you don't need to fight Yanran either. I'll go find my brother Ao Qing and see how he deals with your teacher.

"So, did you two hear me or not?"

Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin looked at Zi Yan's mischievous expression and her amusing words, and could not help being amused by her.

Setting aside whether any of that could actually happen, even if it could, neither Qing Lin nor Nalan Yanran would do such a thing.

Time slowly passed amid the laughter and chatter of the three girls. Before long, moonlight shone upon all three of them.

The pure white moonlight complemented their fair skin, making them gleam softly like three fairies descending into the mortal world. Their youth was filled with hope and vitality.

Inside Medusa's room, Ao Qing was tidying up his clothes.

Medusa had long since instructed someone to prepare some delicious food, intending to welcome Ao Qing back and wash away the dust of his journey.

"Cai Lin, once the matter between Qing Lin and Nalan Yanran is over, we won't remain at the Misty Cloud Sect any longer."

Three years ago, Ao Qing had started calling Medusa Cai Lin directly, naturally because it was more convenient. He could not keep calling her "beautiful snake" forever, could he?

"Is that so? That's good. We've been at the Misty Cloud Sect for several years already. It would be nice to leave and go somewhere else.

"What are your plans after we leave this time, Qing Ge? Are we going back to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan?"

Medusa was quite supportive of leaving the Misty Cloud Sect. She herself had grown a little tired of the place. However, she did not know why Ao Qing had remained here all this time, so she had never urged him to leave the Misty Cloud Sect with her.

Of course, Ao Qing had not yet told Medusa about the Ancient Jade or the other matters. Even if he told her, she would not be able to help him; it would only make her worry helplessly.

So Ao Qing chose to conceal it. Medusa had some guesses, but she still did not ask. Some things only needed to be known, understood, and accepted.

Saying them aloud would only spoil things.

"After leaving the Misty Cloud Sect this time, I may return to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan for a while, but only after I finish that matter.

"As for after that, I don't plan to stay in the Ancient Void Dragon World forever. Let's continue traveling through this beautiful world."

"Mm, I'll listen to you. Wherever you say we go, we'll go."

As she spoke, Medusa picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it in Ao Qing's mouth.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with happiness and deep affection.