A Hint of Meaning

Soon, Wang Baiying accompanied Lu Liqian to the outside of Li Qingyun's bamboo hut.

"Senior Sister Lu, this is it!"

Just as he was about to lift the door curtain, Lu Liqian stopped him.

Lu Liqian regained her usual cool and indifferent demeanor, waved her hand gently, and said, "Junior Brother Wang, you may go. Junior Brother Li Qingyun and I have something to discuss."

Wang Baiying's expression faltered slightly, and a hint of jealousy flickered in his eyes.

He cast a lingering glance at Senior Sister Lu but obediently left, though his steps were somewhat sluggish.

As if wanting to hear what Senior Sister Lu and that idle fellow who only knew how to meditate would talk about!

A smug smile touched the corner of Lu Liqian's lips.

Then, with graceful steps, she gently knocked on the door.

"Is Junior Brother Qingyun in?"

Her voice, as pleasant as a clear bell, naturally carried a hint of haughtiness.

But what was rare today was that her haughtiness was clearly tinged with more gentleness.

Inside, Li Qingyun looked surprised.

"Senior Sister Lu, someone as principled as her, coming to find a good-for-nothing junior brother like me so enthusiastically?"

After entering Qi Refining Layer One, Li Qingyun's senses had sharpened. He had naturally heard the conversation and footsteps outside long ago.

He stopped meditating, a hint of confusion on his face, and suppressed the surging mana within him before going to open the door.

He had been meditating for a long time, and his meridians were a bit sore from the mana circulation, so it was a good time to take a break.

"Please come in, Senior Sister Lu. What brings you here?"

Li Qingyun opened the door and saw the elegant and beautiful Lu Liqian, dressed in white, standing at the entrance. He was momentarily dazzled by her jade-like skin, snowy complexion, and the silver bracelets on her slender arms.

Judging by her appearance alone, this Senior Sister Lu, who was actually less than two years older than him, was quite charming.

However, after a brief encounter at Lu Nanling's residence, his intuition told him that it was best to keep his distance from this Senior Sister Lu.

"How are you? Qingyun, you're in the back mountains now, are you adapting well?"

Lu Liqian saw that Li Qingyun was hesitant to look directly at her face, and she felt satisfied. With a smile on her lips, she walked into the bamboo hut with a touch of reserve and gentleness.

Her eyes swept around, critically and quickly appraising the interior.

"Please have a seat, Senior Sister. I've just arrived at the temple, and my place is simple, so there's nothing much to offer."

Li Qingyun brought over a bamboo chair for Lu Liqian.

He felt a bit awkward. Having just arrived, he truly had nothing to offer as hospitality. Lu Liqian's enthusiastic visit meant he couldn't even offer her a cup of tea.

Fortunately, Lu Liqian seemed to have become much gentler, not as sharp-edged as she was in the grand hall.

A soft smile appeared on her beautiful face, and she said with understanding, teasingly, "I'm not here to beg for tea, Qingyun."

"Qingyun, when I first saw you yesterday, I felt we had a good connection. I happened to be passing by just now, so I thought I'd come and see you..."

Under Li Qingyun's seemingly shy gaze, she gracefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hmm, I heard from others outside that you spend all day meditating. Do you have any doubts about your cultivation?"

"Since Senior Sister is here and in a good mood, I can offer some guidance..."

Lu Liqian spoke softly, with a hint of reserve and yet a touch of enthusiasm, maintaining a perfect balance of approachability and distance.

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Sister. I do have some questions!"

Li Qingyun smiled slightly, took out the small booklet, and began to ask about the marked doubts within.

It was a rare opportunity for Senior Sister to come and offer guidance!

"These are all very simple..."

Lu Liqian leaned in to look, her skin as fair as snow, exuding a subtle fragrance that made Li Qingyun's heart flutter slightly.

However, Li Qingyun quickly composed himself, reminding himself that she had ulterior motives and to remain vigilant.

Lu Liqian, however, began to explain. Her slender, fair fingers occasionally traced lines on the booklet. During one "accidental" moment, her finger brushed against Li Qingyun's palm.

Senior Sister blushed slightly, appearing a bit shy and very pure.

Her insights were profound, and her cultivation was advanced. Her explanations were far more detailed than those in the booklet.

Under Lu Liqian's patient guidance, Li Qingyun's doubts were cleared, as if a fog had lifted, and he suddenly understood.

Although his current cultivation relied entirely on his "golden finger," the mysterious Daoist effigy illusion in his mind could handle the cultivation for him, he still needed to fill the gaps in his theoretical knowledge of cultivation sooner or later.

He was eager to learn, hoping to gain his own understanding and comprehension in Daoist cultivation.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. You've enlightened me..."

After Lu Liqian's detailed explanation, Li Qingyun stood up and sincerely bowed to her.

Regardless of whatever purpose this Senior Sister Lu had in approaching him so proactively, her explanations were practical and had helped him, so he should express his gratitude.

Of course, it would end there. Even if Senior Sister Lu harbored any other ill intentions, he was not someone to be trifled with and would keep a safe distance.

"That's all for today. If you have any questions later, you can come find me at Tingfeng Small Abode, as long as I'm free!"

Lu Liqian was clearly satisfied with Li Qingyun's reaction.

She immediately stood up, her close-fitting white robes billowing, revealing her graceful figure.

The bamboo hut was dim, filled with a faint fragrance. She then seemed to unconsciously stretch, her jade arms long and slender, her figure exquisitely proportioned, exuding the vibrant aura of youth.

"Junior Brother, what are your plans for the future? While you're quite diligent, there are over two hundred disciples like you in the back mountains. Do you know what the most successful among the past Dao-destined disciples did? Some lucky ones managed to pursue elite disciples within the temple, and their quality of life and status skyrocketed..."

She seemed to be hinting at something and gave Li Qingyun a shallow smile, bright and alluring.

Without waiting for his reply, she twisted her slender waist and walked out of the bamboo hut in a few steps.

In Li Qingyun's eyes behind her, her graceful retreating figure was quite a pleasing sight.

His gaze grew warm, and a hint of admiration appeared on his face as he followed her outside.

"Farewell, Senior Sister!"

Lu Liqian glanced back, seeing the admiring gaze of her new junior brother, much like that of many disciples within the temple, and a hint of smugness crossed her jade face.

"Ride the wind and go, become one with me!"

She let out a soft cry, and her mana aura surged.

The mountain winds wandering among the nearby forest dwellings immediately rushed towards her, causing the surrounding maple trees to sway.

A ball of wind swirled around her, blowing her dark hair into the air and her white robes fluttering, making her appear even more ethereal.

"Here I go!" She tapped her foot and instantly ascended into the air.

Then, a flash of white, and the wind carried the beautiful woman away, disappearing into the hazy mist and afterglow.

This Wind Riding spell was skillful and natural, quite exquisite, filling Li Qingyun, who remained in his admiring posture, with envy.

He thought that since he had already cultivated over three furnaces of mana, he could also choose one or two suitable spells to practice.

In a world overrun by demons and strange creatures, one must master some spells early on as a protective foundation.

"After meditating to my physical limit this afternoon, I'll go check out the Scripture Repository. If the price is right, I might as well copy a few more..."

Li Qingyun withdrew his distant gaze, lowered his head slightly in thought, his eyes now clear and calm, with no trace of the previous hot admiration for Senior Sister Lu.

"I really can't imagine what good I have that she'd be interested in."

Li Qingyun felt there had to be a trick to Lu Liqian suddenly coming to offer unsolicited kindness, and the previous cautionary tale of that demoness Cui Wan'er was still vivid in his mind.

All his expressions and reactions just now were merely to appease Senior Sister Lu, to put on a show.