Welfare

Inside the cave, the campfire crackled, illuminating two faces, each lost in their own thoughts.

After several days of getting along, the atmosphere between them remained delicate, but the initial wariness and awkwardness had faded considerably.

The Purple Crystal Seal within Yun Yun was slowly dissolving. Although her Fighting Energy had not yet recovered, her movements were no longer hindered.

Mo Lin sat cross-legged by the campfire, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly cultivating and regulating his breathing.

He wasn't circulating the core techniques of the Yin Yang Feather Transformation Art. Instead, he deliberately simulated an extremely crude, even somewhat sluggish, energy flow. The Fighting Energy fluctuations emanating from him were weak and ordinary, appearing no different from the lowest-level Yellow-tier cultivation method at first glance.

However, Yun Yun, sitting opposite him and meticulously wiping her jade hands with clean water, couldn't help but furrow her brows.

Her clear eyes darted around, scrutinizing Mo Lin as he cultivated. Her gaze held a hint of confusion and disbelief.

"Strange..." she mused inwardly. "This Fighting Energy fluctuation seems weak and ordinary, and even the circulation route appears clumsy. Why... why does the primordial aura emanating from it feel so profound and unfathomable? It's as if... as if it contains some supreme rule of intent?"

With her knowledge and perception as a Dou Emperor, even though her strength was sealed, her eyesight remained.

She keenly sensed that within Mo Lin's seemingly "low-level" cultivation method, the purity of the Fighting Energy's essence, and the subtle, resonant mystical dao rhythm that seemed to harmonize with heaven and earth, were subtly more... advanced than the Misty Cloud Sect's treasured sect artifact, the Earth-tier low-level Yun Lan Wind Art?

How could this be?! How could a Yellow-tier cultivation method possess such depth?

"What cultivation method is this young fellow practicing? Who is his teacher? Is he deliberately hiding something?" Yun Yun's heart churned like a stormy sea, her gaze towards Mo Lin filled with inquiry.

She had initially thought he was just an ordinary youth with some fortunate encounters, but now she felt he was shrouded in a veil of mystery.

That profound, inexplicable feeling made her, the experienced Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, feel a tremor of apprehension.

"After this is over, I must ask him properly. If he's truly a gem hidden in the dust, perhaps... I can offer him some guidance, or even..."

A thought quietly arose in her mind, and her gaze towards Mo Lin couldn't help but carry a hint of concern she hadn't noticed in herself, and... the appreciation a powerful individual might have for raw talent.

Although Mo Lin's eyes were closed, how could Yun Yun's subtle emotional shifts and probing gaze escape his perception?

He chuckled inwardly, "The fish has taken the bait."

This was precisely the effect he wanted: to be low-key yet unintentionally reveal his extraordinary nature, piquing the curiosity and "desire to help" of this noble Sect Master.

Just then, the simulated Fighting Energy circulation within Mo Lin suddenly "deliberately" faltered, as if encountering an obstacle. His aura flickered slightly, and he cooperatively furrowed his brow, a look of "difficulty" appearing on his face.

Seeing this, Yun Yun's thought of "helping" grew stronger. She couldn't help but speak softly, her tone carrying a gentleness she hadn't noticed herself: "The path of cultivation cannot be rushed. If you encounter a bottleneck, you must calm your mind and spirit, and guide the Fighting Energy slowly. Do not force it."

Her words already carried a hint of guidance.

Mo Lin slowly opened his eyes, a "weary" yet "stubborn" smile on his face. He waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of youthful "obstinacy": "Thank you for your concern, Miss Yun Zhi. But I know my own cultivation method best. I'll get through it slowly. There's no need for you to worry."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Yun Zhi" (Yun Yun's alias), with a sense of distance.

Yun Yun was slightly taken aback. As the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, her status was revered. When had she ever actively offered guidance to anyone?

Now, after lowering her status to offer a reminder, she was being refused so "unappreciatively" by this youth?

A faint sense of frustration and a trace of annoyance at not being appreciated welled up in her heart.

She pursed her red lips, turned her head away, and stopped speaking. The action of wiping her jade hands, however, unconsciously became a little more forceful.

Mo Lin took in her reaction, feeling smug.

This was precisely the effect he wanted – to make this high-and-mighty Sect Master experience emotional fluctuations because of him.

Whether it was curiosity, concern, or a little annoyance, it all served as a catalyst for closing the distance between them.

The life of cohabitation in the cave passed peacefully for two days. On the afternoon of the third day, just as they finished a simple lunch, a sharp, ferocious wolf howl suddenly echoed from not far outside the cave!

Mo Lin's expression "suddenly changed." He quickly stood up, exchanged a look with Yun Yun, his brow furrowed, his face filled with "anxiety" and "confusion": "How could this be? I sprinkle scent-masking powder every day. A Mo Beast shouldn't be able to track us here!"

He paced back and forth, his gaze "inadvertently" sweeping over Yun Yun. Suddenly, he stopped as if having an "epiphany," looking at her with a bitter smile, his tone carrying a hint of "helplessness" and "blame": "Miss Yun Zhi, don't tell me... you went out today?"

An embarrassed and apologetic blush instantly spread across Yun Yun's pretty face, looking like a rosy sunset reflecting on snow, exceptionally beautiful.

She lowered her head somewhat awkwardly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's, carrying a hint of guilt: "I... I'm sorry, I... I felt a bit sticky today, so I... I just went to a nearby stream to wash up a little."

Mo Lin chuckled inwardly. The plot was unfolding as expected.

On his face, however, a more "solemn" and "resolute" expression appeared. He took a deep breath, tightened his fists, and said in a deep voice, "Stay here and don't move! I'll go out and lure that beast away!"

"Your... your strength..." Yun Yun's guilt intensified upon hearing this. She quickly stood up, "Let me go! Although my Fighting Energy is sealed now, I should be able to deal with a low-level Mo Beast..."

"Stay here and don't move!" Mo Lin suddenly turned around, his voice abruptly rising, carrying an undeniable sternness, even a hint of "ferocity," directly interrupting her words. "You go out? Do you know how much your scent attracts Mo Beasts? You going out will only attract more Mo Beasts! Do you want to get both of us killed?!"

This sudden fierce scolding completely stunned Yun Yun.

She stared blankly at the youth before her, who had suddenly become "fierce and menacing," her mind a complete blank.

How many years had it been... Since she became the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, who had dared to speak to her like that? And such a ruthless reprimand?

A surge of grievance, shame, and a trace of anger at being offended welled up in her heart, but more than anything, it was an indescribable, forceful sense of being protected... a peculiar feeling?

It was as if, in an instant, she was no longer the Sect Master who had to bear all responsibilities alone, but just an ordinary woman who could be protected and directed.

This unfamiliar yet somewhat reassuring feeling made her emotions turbulent, and for a moment, she forgot how to respond.

Mo Lin merely gave her a deep look, his eyes complex and unreadable, then turned without hesitation, his figure rushing out of the cave.

Watching the direction he disappeared, Yun Yun stood rooted to the spot, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her pearly teeth lightly biting her full lower lip.

On her stunning face, her expression shifted rapidly, anger, worry, a trace of inexplicable disappointment, and that lingering peculiar feeling intertwined.

After a long while, she seemed to stomp her foot lightly, half-angrily, half-chidingly, and muttered softly towards the empty cave entrance, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness and complaint that she herself hadn't noticed:

"This young man... he's not old, but he has quite the temper. He's so ruthless when he gets angry..." She paused, remembering how she had intended to guide and help him earlier. A strange frustration welled up within her. "I can't believe... I can't believe I wanted to lend him a hand. Since he's so stubborn and insists on facing danger alone, then... then let him be!"

Even though she said that, she couldn't help but take a few steps forward, anxiously gazing at the cave entrance.

Listening to the increasingly fierce wolf howls and sounds of battle outside, her heart was in her throat.

The waiting time felt exceptionally long. When the wolf howls gradually faded into the distance, but Mo Lin still hadn't returned, Yun Yun finally couldn't hold back. Her jade hand clenched, and the strange long sword instantly appeared in her hand, a cold glint flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Purple Crystal Winged Lion King! If anything happens to Mo Lin, I'll make sure this mountain range knows no peace!"

Saying that, she was about to rush out of the cave.

Just then, a figure stumbled into the cave from outside, covered in blood and weak, it was Mo Lin!

"Mo Lin! Are you alright?" Yun Yun's pretty face instantly shifted from worry to joy, and she hurried to meet him.

Mo Lin looked up, revealing a "weak" and "helpless" bitter smile, his voice hoarse: "Big Sister... please... don't run around next time... If another one comes... I'll really be done for..."

Before he finished speaking, his body swayed as if he had exhausted all his strength. His vision went black, and he fell straight forward.

The moment he fell, Mo Lin "precisely" controlled his direction and angle. His head landed perfectly, without any deviation, right into Yun Yun's soft, ample chest that was facing him!

"Mmph!"

An indescribable soft, warm sensation, mixed with a faint body fragrance, instantly enveloped his cheeks.

The astonishing elasticity and full curves were clearly discernible even through his clothes.

Mo Lin even deliberately rubbed his nose "weakly and powerlessly" against the soft peaks, secretly praising, "As expected... the D-cup lives up to its reputation..."

Yun Yun froze completely! Feeling the warm breath and that... that faint friction against her chest, her mind went "boom," and went blank!

Her cheeks, neck, and even the roots of her ears instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp!

She instinctively wanted to push him away, but seeing the boy's blood-covered, unconscious "miserable state," the hand she extended froze in mid-air.

"Shameless! Lewd! Pervert! Pretending to be unconscious to take advantage! I've never seen anyone as shameless as this!" In her mental sea, the Ice Emperor's screams were almost enough to shatter the heavens.

Mo Lin ignored the Ice Emperor's protests and continued to "faint," enjoying this hard-won "perk."

He felt Yun Yun's body go from stiff to trembling slightly, her breathing becoming rapid. The sound of her frantic heartbeat clearly reached his ears through her chest.

After a few seconds, Yun Yun seemed to recover from the immense shock.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shame, anger, and that strange flutter in her heart. Carefully, and in a way that avoided sensitive areas as much as possible, she helped Mo Lin lie down on the dry grass.

Looking at the boy's pale, blood-stained face, and then thinking of how he had been seriously injured while luring away the Mo Beasts, the slight annoyance in her heart was ultimately replaced by deep worry and gratitude.

She sighed softly, resignedly took out water and medicinal powder, and began to carefully clean his wounds and bandage them.

However, her slightly trembling fingers and her gaze that never dared to meet his (even though he was "unconscious") revealed her far from calm inner state.

Although Mo Lin's eyes were closed, his senses were fully open. He enjoyed Yun Yun's clumsy yet gentle care, feeling incredibly content.

This "hero saves the beauty" combined with an "accidental" perk seemed to have worked quite well. It appeared to have loosened the defenses of this Misty Cloud Sect Master a little more.