Yun Yun's Sigh

Jia Xing Tian also admired the other man's courage. If it had been anyone else, they would likely have been frightened out of their wits, perhaps even fleeing the Jia Ma Empire overnight to lie low.

It seemed this young man was completely different from what he had imagined. Such a free-spirited person was rare in the entire world.

"If Brother Lin Che ever needs anything, come to the Jia Ma Empire. Even if this old man has to risk his life, I will ensure your safety."

Lin Che said with a smile, "Old Jia, there is no need for such courtesy. If the need arises, I naturally will not refuse."

"Of course, I still need several thousand-year-old Fire Lotus plants, as well as some Marrow Cleansing Grass."

Jia Xing Tian was momentarily stunned before saying, "Good, good, good. I will have someone deliver those things to you."

Lin Che rose to his feet and cupped his hands in thanks.

"It is nothing; it is what I should do. When I saw you at the Misty Cloud Sect last time, I already knew your strength was extraordinary. Seeing you today, your reputation truly does not exceed the reality. I fear that even this old man is no match for you."

Jia Xing Tian stroked his small mustache and said with a smile.

"You flatter me."

After chatting briefly, Lin Che brought Xiao Yi Xian back to the Bamboo Forest in the Monster Mountain Range.

At the entrance of the Bamboo Forest stood a woman dressed in a moon-white gown. Faint tenderness and gratitude could be seen on her graceful, noble, beautiful face.

She was none other than the current sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun!

"You're back." Yun Yun brushed aside the dark strands of hair before her forehead. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Che's face, bright with a brilliant smile, and a faint smile involuntarily curved her rosy lips.

"Have you been waiting here for me?"

"What else?"

Xiao Yi Xian's wise eyes darted between the two of them. Then, she quietly slipped away, giving her teacher and Sect Leader Yun Yun a chance to be alone.

Yun Yun turned sideways and raised her head. Moonlight reflected off her exquisite face, while the ornaments in her hair gave off a faint glow beneath its reflection.

Lin Che shook his head slightly. Looking at Yun Yun's perfect profile, he too felt something strange.

Yun Yun said gently, "Today... thank you."

"There is no need to thank me. You are my friend, after all. When a friend is in trouble, I naturally cannot stand by and do nothing." Lin Che shook his empty wine gourd, then regretfully fastened it back around his waist. "Shall we go inside and talk?"

"No, I have to return. This matter has grown a little too large, and there is something I need to do."

Yun Yun wanted to see whether her teacher had emerged from seclusion. Now that Lin Che had offended the entire Chu Yun Empire, she wanted to use her teacher's strength to drive back those scheming people.

With one hand behind his back, Lin Che stood beside Yun Yun and looked up at the star-filled sky. "It's all right. I have not taken those people seriously. You need not be so anxious."

Yun Yun thought he was merely comforting her and shook her head. After three years together, she knew exactly what kind of person Lin Che was.

No matter what happened, he always carried everything on his own. She had to help Lin Che resolve these troubles as well.

Raising her head to gaze at the vast heavens, Yun Yun let out a soft sigh. "Little fellow, I'll be going back first. Once I settle this matter, I'll drink and make merry with you again."

Yun Yun gave Lin Che beside her a meaningful glance and murmured inwardly, Thank you, little fellow. Perhaps the friends you speak of are different from those in this world. After cultivating alone for so many years, I never expected that I would come to feel this way toward a young man...

Her body swayed slightly, and then, like a ghost, she slowly vanished.

Lin Che looked in the direction Yun Yun had left and sighed softly. "You still seem to think of me as a child..."

He had met Yun Yun three years ago. At the time, he had only been a Da Dou Shi. Yun Yun had not looked down on him for it; instead, she had helped him cultivate. Yet after all these years, this woman still treated him like a child.

That was rather interesting.

Lin Che sighed, then turned to look at Xiao Yi Xian, who was peeking from afar, and scolded her with a smile, "You little girl, why aren't you hurrying off to cultivate?"

Xiao Yi Xian giggled. "Teacher, Senior Yun Yun seems to look at you rather differently. Haven't you noticed?"

"Children should not interrupt adults' business."

"Bleh, bleh, bleh~" Xiao Yi Xian made a face at Lin Che, then ran deeper into the Bamboo Forest without looking back.

She needed to raise her strength as quickly as possible. Then she could become her teacher's disciple.

Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City, Xiao Family.

The stars shone brilliantly as fireflies emitting emerald light fluttered freely through the grass.

Listening to the news Ling Ying had brought back, a trace of surprise and shock appeared on Xiao Xun'er's exquisite face.

"He killed four Dou Emperor?"

Ling Ying knelt on one knee and answered respectfully, "In theory, it was three. The remaining one can still move his head, but his lower body is completely paralyzed. He will likely be killed by Chu Yun Que before long."

"Have you investigated his background and origins?"

Xiao Xun'er asked in a voice as gentle as water.

"This..."

Ling Ying smacked his lips and said quietly, "Lin Che's background is a complete mystery. At present, there is no information about him whatsoever. All we know is that he came to the forest in the back mountains of the Jia Ma Empire five years ago. However, he has never appeared in the public eye during all these years."

"The ones closest to him are Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, and a girl who calls herself Xiao Yi Xian."

"Yun Yun... Xiao Yi Xian."

Xiao Xun'er placed a jade-like hand over her lower abdomen and looked at the bright starry sky before her. Her expression changed subtly.

"Go investigate further and see whether you can uncover any clues. A Dou Emperor under the age of twenty would be considered exceptionally gifted even within the family."

Ling Ying nodded, but he still asked curiously, "Miss, why are you so concerned about this man?"

"He helped Brother Xiao Yan, and I have yet to thank him for it. If word gets out, would that not place me on the pedestal of an ungrateful and unrighteous person?"

Xiao Xun'er looked coldly at Ling Ying behind her. "Besides, if we can recruit such a genius into the family, he will surely help the family overcome its troubles in the future."

Now that Xiao Yan had recovered his strength, his cultivation speed had become extremely rapid. It had not been long, yet his cultivation had already broken through to the four-star Dou Zhe level. He would likely reach the Dou Shi realm within a year.

Ling Ying lowered his head deeply and did not dare say anything more. He only felt that ever since Miss had encountered Lin Che, her words had become somewhat colder and fewer.

Yet he also admired Lin Che's strength. To be able to kill four Dou Huang experts—such strength and courage were likely beyond the reach of all but a few people his age.