Night Talk

"This is a High-grade Profound Water Attribute Dou Technique, the Water Dragon Palm. Once mastered to a high level, a single palm strike can unleash a water dragon formed from Dou Qi. I recall that, due to your master's attribute, she doesn't seem to have collected any Water Attribute Dou Techniques. Take this scroll and have your master teach you how to cultivate it." As he spoke, he handed a pale blue scroll to Xiao Yi Xian as well. Xiao Yi Xian did not want to accept it and could only look to Gu He for help. Gu He nodded, signaling for her to take it. Xiao Yi Xian reluctantly put the scroll into her Ring.

Afterward, Gu He and Yun Yun exchanged some idle conversation, giving Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran a chance to get acquainted as well. In the end, Yun Yun could no longer stand Gu He's even thicker skin and conceded defeat, finding an excuse to leave with Nalan Yanran. The vast council hall was immediately left with only Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian happily spun around and said playfully to Gu He, "Master, don't make me deal with things like this so often in the future! I still prefer cultivating by your side and watching you refine pills!"

Gu He rose to his feet and flicked Xiao Yi Xian's smooth forehead. Ignoring her pained cry as she covered it, he said, "Countless people rack their brains and still cannot get the chance to interact with them, yet you're already tired of it? Fine. From now on, you can stay behind your master and be a little tagalong."

As he spoke, he walked toward the door.

"Hmph, I won't be Master's tagalong! I want to be Master's number one chief disciple, and I want to stay by Master's side forever." Following behind Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian clenched her fists and spoke with determination.

When they reached the door, the disciple standing outside respectfully said, "Lord Gu He, Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian's room has already been arranged. It is next to your former Heaven-class room. It has long since been cleaned, so Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian only needs to move in directly."

Having forgotten there was someone outside the door, Xiao Yi Xian realized that this senior brother must have heard everything she had said. Her pretty face immediately flushed red.

"Mm, thank you for your trouble," Gu He said politely.

"Lord Gu He, you're too courteous. Do you need me to—" Seeing Gu He being so polite, the disciple outside excitedly raised his head. Just then, he caught sight of Xiao Yi Xian's flushed face and stared at her blankly.

Noticing the disciple's odd behavior, Gu He followed his gaze and turned toward Xiao Yi Xian. Seeing her flushed face, he knew she was most likely embarrassed because the disciple had heard what she said. Still, Gu He did not feel particularly comfortable letting someone stare at Xiao Yi Xian like that, so he coughed twice.

The coughs jolted the disciple awake. He hurriedly lowered his head and said awkwardly, "Lord Gu He, my apologies."

Gu He waved him away, then said to Xiao Yi Xian after her expression had returned to normal, "All right, he's gone now. I never expected little Xian'er to be so easily embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed! It's... it's..." Xiao Yi Xian tapped her lips with a finger, trying to think of an explanation.

"Haha, no need to think about it. I take that back. Let me show you your room first." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's adorable appearance as she desperately tried to come up with an excuse, Gu He was in high spirits and withdrew his remark.

Xiao Yi Xian followed Gu He toward the living quarters, inwardly annoyed that she had not thought of an excuse quickly enough.

Gu He first brought Xiao Yi Xian to her room. Seeing that it was indeed fully furnished, he said with satisfaction, "Not bad. You'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Imperial Capital and refine pills once. After that, we can return to the Monster Mountain Range."

"Mm, I've wanted to go back for a long time too. When I was in the valley, I wanted to come out a little, but after truly coming out, I started missing the days in the valley." Xiao Yi Xian nodded in agreement.

"Then let's settle things here as quickly as possible so we can return to the valley." Gu He looked around the room and found nothing missing as he spoke with his back to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Master, are we going out again afterward?"

Gu He turned around and looked at Xiao Yi Xian. "What is it? I was planning to show you around the various places in the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Let's forget it. I don't want to go out for the time being. I want to cultivate here. I feel like I'm about to break through to two-star Dou Zhe!" Xiao Yi Xian waved her hand at Gu He.

"Is that so? What a pity. I'll show you around the Misty Cloud Sect next time, then. Cultivation comes first." As Gu He spoke, he moved the large wooden tub in the corner to the center of the room and prepared the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk for Xiao Yi Xian before leaving her room. Along the way, he encountered disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect and told them not to disturb Xiao Yi Xian. He then headed to his own room nearby. Its furnishings had not changed in the slightest from what he remembered, and it was extremely tidy, clearly cleaned often. Gu He entered and immersed himself in cultivation as well.

Tomorrow, he would refine Sixth-grade pills with the cultivation of a Dou Wang, so Gu He intended to adjust himself to his best state. In the past, refining pills with the cultivation of a Dou Emperor had not felt difficult. After all, a Dou Emperor could suppress the heavenly disturbances caused by Sixth-grade pills with ease. However, there was an enormous gap between a Dou Wang and a Dou Emperor. Suppressing the impact when a Sixth-grade pill formed with the cultivation of a Dou Wang would still be somewhat difficult. Fortunately, only his cultivation had been sealed; his Soul Power remained as it had been. Otherwise, Gu He would truly have needed to consider refusing Fama's request.

While cultivating, he lost track of time. Suddenly, an exceedingly powerful aura entered Gu He's perception. Since he had been focused on cultivation, he had spread only a small amount of Soul Power outside. The fact that he could sense this aura meant it was not far away. Gu He awakened from his cultivation and found the aura extremely familiar. After a brief thought, he realized Yun Yun had come. Gu He simply stood up and walked in Yun Yun's direction.

"Yun'er, what brings you to see me so late at night?" Gu He asked as he approached Yun Yun.

"Brother Gu He, ever since you returned from the Monster Mountain Range, I have had a question in my heart. I came tonight hoping that Brother Gu He could answer it for me." Yun Yun brushed back the hair tousled by the wind and spoke softly.

"Yun'er, go ahead. I will certainly answer your question truthfully." Gu He knew the real matter had arrived. There had been too many people during the day, making it inconvenient for her to ask. Only at night would Yun Yun bring up the question in her heart.

"I don't know whether it's just my imagination, but ever since Brother Gu He returned this time, it seems that you have been deliberately distancing yourself from the Misty Cloud Sect?" Yun Yun stared intently at Gu He, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Gu He fell silent for a moment, then looked seriously into Yun Yun's eyes. "I don't want to lie to you, Yun'er. I am indeed distancing myself from the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Why? Has the Misty Cloud Sect done something wrong?"

"That is not the case. I simply feel that we need some distance to sort out the relationship between the two of us, for both your sake and mine." In the end, Gu He still revealed part of what he was thinking. He could not tell Yun Yun the other reason. He could not exactly say that her master was involved with the Soul Hall and might act against him. Even if he said it, Yun Yun would not believe him, and she would question the source of the information. Not to mention, it might draw the Soul Hall's attention.

Hearing Gu He's words, Yun Yun fell silent. Her expression shifted between red and pale as she realized that she herself was part of the reason.