A Temporary Farewell and a Promise

Three days passed quietly in the silent cave.

Yun Yun's injuries had improved greatly under the effects of the pills Gu Long provided and her own Dou Emperor physique.

Although her Dou Qi remained sealed, she could move about without issue, and color had returned to her cheeks.

Yet the gentle beauty revealed by her weakness had not fully faded. Instead, it gave her an added softness and grace rarely seen in her usual self.

Over these three days, aside from necessary night watches and meditation, Gu Long did not disturb her much.

The meals he prepared punctually each day were nothing more than simple roasted meat and wild fruit, yet he always handled them perfectly. The grilled fish, in particular, had practically become Yun Yun's daily anticipation.

The two did not speak much, but the stiffly hostile atmosphere between them had long since dissolved without a sound, replaced by a subtle and peaceful coexistence.

Yun Yun found herself increasingly unable to see through this young man.

He was powerful, mysterious, and unfathomable in his methods, yet he appeared meticulous and even considerate in certain details.

These contradictory qualities intertwined, gradually replacing the resentment she felt over the awkward treatment and her forced confinement with a more complicated curiosity and desire to understand him.

Whenever her gaze happened to fall upon his calm profile, her heartbeat would even skip a beat.

That morning, Gu Long finished meditating, looked toward the already-awake Yun Yun, and spoke directly.

"Your injuries are no longer a concern. Remaining here will not benefit your recovery."

Yun Yun's heart tightened when she heard that. She instinctively thought he intended to take her somewhere else and imprison her again.

But then Gu Long continued, "You may return to the Misty Cloud Sect first."

Yun Yun froze, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment. "You... are letting me go back?"

"Yes." Gu Long nodded, his tone flat.

"I sealed your cultivation for two reasons. First, to ensure that you would not recklessly use Dou Qi before recovering from your injuries. Second, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Now that your condition has stabilized, it is time for you to return. I imagine the Misty Cloud Sect has many matters that require your attention."

He paused, looked at Yun Yun's still-disbelieving face, and added,

"As for your teacher, Yun Shan, since I have promised, I will not go back on my word. Once I have dealt with certain necessary matters at hand, I will naturally go to the Misty Cloud Sect to help him repair his Sea of Dou Qi and break through to Dou Zong."

Yun Yun stared at him blankly, her feelings a tangled mess.

He was really letting her leave just like that? Was he not afraid that she would gather the sect's forces and seek revenge after returning?

Or was it that he simply did not fear the Misty Cloud Sect's retaliation? And the certainty in his tone when he spoke of treating her teacher made her choose to believe him unconsciously.

"Then why are you helping me? Helping the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Yun Yun could not help asking the question that had been buried in her heart for days.

She did not believe there was such a thing as kindness without reason in this world, especially from someone as calculating and terrifyingly powerful as him.

Gu Long glanced at her, his gaze deep. "You may regard it as an investment. A stable Misty Cloud Sect is more beneficial to me than one in internal turmoil. Besides..."

His words paused slightly, and his tone seemed to undergo an almost imperceptible change. "My time with Sect Master Yun these past few days has been pleasant enough. I do not wish for us to meet on the battlefield in the future."

Hearing Gu Long's final words, Yun Yun's heartbeat inexplicably accelerated.

What did he mean by that? Was he merely stating the practical considerations, or was there some other meaning mixed in?

She did not dare dwell on it, yet a faint flush rose uncontrollably on her fair cheeks.

After a moment of silence, she sorted through her chaotic thoughts. Finally, she raised her head, and her gaze regained some of the calmness and wisdom befitting the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Very well, I believe you. I will await your arrival at the Misty Cloud Sect. But how should we contact each other then? And what should I call you?"

Even now, she did not know this mysterious young man's name.

"My name is Gu Long."

Gu Long gave his name, then took out an ordinary-looking white jade token and handed it to Yun Yun.

"Hold this jade token and infuse it with a trace of Dou Qi. I will be able to sense it. When I reach the vicinity of the Jia Ma Empire's Holy City, I will contact you through it."

This jade token had come from the system's sign-in rewards. It possessed communication and tracking functions within a certain range, making it more concealed and exquisite than some of this world's communication Jade Slips.

Yun Yun accepted the jade token. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and she carefully put it away.

This meant that a bond of contact now existed between them.

"Then I shall take my leave first."

Yun Yun rose to her feet, smoothed her slightly wrinkled dress, and gave Gu Long a slight bow.

This gesture now carried the respect she afforded an equal powerhouse, and even a faint trace of gratitude toward a benefactor.

"I will escort you to the outskirts of the mountain range." Gu Long stood as well.

The two walked out of the cave one after the other. The morning sunlight was somewhat dazzling.

Yun Yun narrowed her eyes, breathing in the long-missed air of freedom. Yet rather than the wild joy she had imagined, she felt a faint reluctance that even she could not explain.

Gu Long summoned the Dou Ancestor Puppet and had it clear the way ahead. He himself kept neither too near nor too far from Yun Yun as they headed toward the outskirts of the mountain range.

Neither spoke much along the way. Only birdsong in the forest and the rustle of fallen leaves beneath their feet could be heard.

The atmosphere was subtly stagnant.

At last, they reached the edge of the mountain range, and the outline of an official road could be seen in the distance.

"This is where we part." Gu Long stopped walking.

Yun Yun stopped as well and turned to look at him.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across him. His handsome face seemed somewhat blurred beneath the halo of light, yet it imprinted itself even more deeply in her mind.

"Mr. Gu Long..." She considered how to address him. "The Misty Cloud Sect will await your arrival at any time. I hope... you take care."

Gu Long nodded. "You too."

There were no more words. Yun Yun gave him one final, deep look, as though she wanted to remember exactly how he appeared at this moment. Then she turned resolutely and walked toward the official road.

Her steps were steady, and her back remained elegant, but her slightly clenched jade-like hand betrayed the unrest in her heart.

Gu Long stood where he was, watching that slender figure in white gradually recede until she vanished behind the trees. His expression remained calm and undisturbed.

Letting Yun Yun return was one step in his plan.

A Yun Yun who needed something from him and held complicated feelings toward him was more valuable than a Yun Yun forcibly imprisoned and filled with resentment.

This could stabilize the Misty Cloud Sect to a great extent, preventing it from becoming an obstacle to his early development and perhaps even turning it into assistance in the future.

As for Yun Yun's subtle feelings, he had noticed them, but he did not care.

Allowing emotions to dictate one's actions was a mistake only the weak would make. Before he achieved his ultimate goal, such things could all be tools to exploit.

He withdrew his gaze. With a thought, the Dou Ancestor Puppet silently returned to his side.

"It is time to deal with the next matter."

Gu Long murmured softly. His figure flashed, and he vanished from the spot alongside the puppet, heading deeper into the Monster Mountain Range.

There was still the recently subdued Amethyst Winged Lion King that needed to be properly arranged.

Elsewhere, Yun Yun traveled along the official road for a long time, until she was certain she had completely left Gu Long's line of sight.

Only then did she slowly stop, lean against a large tree, and gently let out a breath.

Her freedom had returned, but her feelings were incomparably complicated.

The events of the past three days replayed endlessly in her mind: the young man named Gu Long, his strength, his mystery, his composure, the focused way he grilled fish, the steadiness of his hands as he treated her injuries...

And finally, his calm yet profound eyes when he let her leave.

She took out the warm jade token and gripped it tightly in her hand.

"Gu Long... just who are you?"

She murmured to herself, her eyes holding confusion along with a trace of anticipation she had not even noticed herself.

After a long while, she gathered her thoughts, and the dignified calm of the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master returned to her face.

This was not the time for wild thoughts. She had to return to the sect as quickly as possible, stabilize the situation, and then wait for his arrival.

She tidied her appearance, determined her direction, and sped toward the Misty Cloud Sect.

But whether the lake of her heart, stirred into turmoil, could ever return to its former calmness was something even she did not know.

This temporary farewell might be for the sake of a better reunion next time.