Dao Companions

Ye Yun had no idea that his master and mistress had already picked him out as their future son-in-law. At that moment, he was recalling the plot of Zhu Xian, hoping to find something he could take advantage of and get himself some benefits. But after thinking it over, he realized there didn't seem to be anywhere he could go to claim any treasures.

Just as Ye Yun was about to give up, he suddenly felt a jolt in his mind. A cool sensation spread through his head, bringing him incredible comfort. His thoughts had been muddled from daydreaming, but now his mind was instantly sharp and clear. Even memories that had grown hazy over the years became vivid again. The change made Ye Yun sit bolt upright. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, trying to find the cause.

To his dismay, after circulating his energy through a full cycle, he found nothing unusual about his body. Yet the cool sensation remained, assuring him that it wasn't just his imagination.

Just as Ye Yun was about to investigate further, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind. "Host, don't worry. This is the system absorbing the world's power, which has been released because the plot has been disrupted. The system has absorbed most of this energy. A small portion has dissipated into spiritual energy, while another small portion will be absorbed by you, increasing your potential."

Ye Yun stroked his chin, thinking of Qi Hao's bitter expression, and silently asked, "I see. So if I ignore the plot and do everything I can to disrupt it, will I fill up the energy gauge in no time?"

"I advise the host not to do that. First, your strength isn't enough to stand against this world's most powerful figures. Second, doing so could easily provoke a backlash from the world's will. As it tries to repair the plot, it might notice our presence and target you, preventing the system from collecting more energy. In the end, we'd lose more than we gained."

"So even if I disrupt the plot, I have to do it gradually. I can't just kill off the protagonist or the final villain in one go, right?"

"Your understanding is correct. But let me clarify one point: killing the protagonist or villain won't actually attract the world's attention. The world's will can simply find someone else to take their place. In terms of collecting energy, killing the protagonist of a plot world outright is the fastest method, but it isn't the best one."

"I know. The protagonist's halo—practically an undying cockroach. As long as you can't kill him with one blow, he'll always come back stronger the next time you meet, with even more trump cards."

The system fell silent again, leaving Ye Yun with complicated feelings. Unlike other systems, his didn't issue missions and threaten to kill him or deduct points if he failed. It gave him considerable freedom, but it also lacked the jaw-dropping abilities and tempting shop those other systems had. He supposed that was the nature of getting something and giving something up in return. Apart from being unhappy that he had to help the system gather energy in order to travel between worlds, Ye Yun was satisfied with everything else.

There was nothing to pack, and it wasn't time to eat yet. He wanted to cultivate, but his mind wouldn't settle, so he had no choice but to give up. In the end, he lay on his bed and thought of his senior sister, Tian Ling'er.

Bi Yao and Lu Xueqi might be more beautiful and more talented than Tian Ling'er, but Ye Yun didn't know them, so he had no feelings for them. Ling'er might not match them in talent or looks, but she had left a deep impression on his heart. He could tell that Tian Ling'er liked him too. So if he had to choose one of the three—Bi Yao, Lu Xueqi, or Tian Ling'er—it could only be Tian Ling'er. The system couldn't interfere much in his affairs, which meant that if he brought someone back with him, she might betray him unless he used some method to control her.

At dinner, Ye Yun noticed Tian Ling'er sneaking glances at him now and then. Whenever he looked over, she immediately turned away and focused on her food, leaving him perplexed. But judging from the smile at the corner of her mouth, she seemed to be in a good mood.

Ever since her parents learned about her feelings, the weight on Tian Ling'er's heart had finally lifted. But as one burden fell away, another took its place: she feared that she was only imagining his feelings. Still, as a girl, she was too embarrassed to say anything. She hadn't expected that what began as a way to tease Ye Yun and distract him from his past sorrow would lead her to gradually fall for this junior brother who always indulged her and kept her company. Her reason for teasing him had shifted from distracting him to getting his attention, and, in the end, leaving a deep impression on his heart.

After dinner, Ye Yun unusually didn't go to Tai Chi Cave to cultivate. Instead, he returned to the small courtyard to think carefully about what he would do after leaving the mountain: which direction to take and which road to follow. He didn't want to wander around like a headless fly.

When Tian Ling'er saw that Ye Yun hadn't gone to cultivate, she hesitated, then followed him toward the courtyard. After noticing her, Ye Yun changed direction and headed toward the back mountain. He had something he wanted to tell Tian Ling'er too, and the courtyard was hardly a place to speak without being overheard.

The two walked one behind the other in tacit understanding toward the back mountain, stopping only when they reached the small pavilion in the bamboo grove where they went to rest.

Although they liked each other, both had their reservations, and neither spoke first. An awkward silence settled over the pavilion.

A few minutes later, as if they shared the same thought, they spoke at the same time. "Senior sister (junior brother), I have something I want to tell you."

As soon as the words were out, they both couldn't help laughing. The awkwardness vanished at once. In the end, Tian Ling'er, who was more used to speaking first, went ahead. She hesitated, lightly bit her lip, and asked, "Junior brother, how have I treated you?"

"You've always been very good to me, senior sister. If you hadn't been there with me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to carry on." Ye Yun answered without hesitation, his tone full of conviction. That was exactly how he felt.

"Then... what do you think of me?" Tian Ling'er felt a little embarrassed after asking, but she still met Ye Yun's eyes and waited for his answer.

Ye Yun had felt something was off when Tian Ling'er asked her first question. When she asked a second, even he—though he'd never dated anyone—realized what was going on. His heart pounded wildly. He swallowed hard, licked his dry lips, and stammered, "Senior sister, you're talented, beautiful, and kind. You're the best woman in the world besides Mistress."

"Then... would you be my Dao Companion?" After saying this, Tian Ling'er fought the urge to bolt. She clenched her fists so tightly that the blue veins stood out clearly. Her pretty face flushed, and her eyes brimmed with anticipation. The sound of her heart pounding filled the pavilion, though it was hard to tell whether it was hers or Ye Yun's.