Reunion

Matters of the heart were complicated. Shen Hanyu had never been particularly interested in such topics; most of his thoughts were now focused on cultivation and growing stronger.

Only by becoming strong enough could one be confident in pursuing what they wanted. That way, those you loved and those who loved you would not be put at risk. That was the safest course.

The two chatted about such matters for a while. Afterward, Shen Hanyu suddenly felt much more relaxed, as though he had let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Sure enough, it's best not to meddle too much with feelings. Get involved too deeply, and problems will arise..."

Shen Hanyu sighed, then leaped down from the tree. Yet he suddenly spotted a familiar yet unfamiliar face beyond the fence.

Outside the fence, Shui Bing'er looked at the boy with a complicated expression. She nervously pressed her lips together, yet could not make a sound.

Shen Hanyu rubbed his eyes. He seemed to have seen Shui Bing'er. No, that couldn't be right. How could that be? Why did it feel so real, as though she were truly there...

The two stood silently facing each other for quite some time before finally confirming that the other truly existed.

"You..."

They spoke at the same time.

Then they both froze again.

A flicker of confusion and unease passed through Shen Hanyu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. With a faint smile, he said, "Long time no see, Shui Bing'er."

Shui Bing'er pressed her lips tightly together. Several times, she wanted to speak, but the words never came out.

She had clearly met him—the shameless person who had teased her and even said he wanted her to become his child bride. Yet the moment she saw him, all her disgust and anger turned into grievance and dissatisfaction. It was as if something about him was drawing her in, making her unconsciously want to get closer.

Tian Meng narrowed his eyes slightly within Shen Hanyu's Sea of Consciousness before saying in surprise, "Hanyu, this little girl is no ordinary person. Her Martial Soul is an Ice Attribute phoenix, and she has nearly touched the threshold of Extreme Ice. Yet she seemingly cannot fully control her Martial Soul and has never been able to unleash its true power. Otherwise, she should have already broken through to Soul Grandmaster. Looking at her now, she has clearly been drawn here by the Extreme Ice within your body."

Tian Meng paused, then added teasingly, "You two are quite fated, you know~ I think highly of you two..."

Shen Hanyu ignored him, merely shifting his gaze as though pondering something.

After hesitating for a moment, Shui Bing'er finally said, "Won't you invite me in to sit for a while?"

Shen Hanyu smiled innocently and made a welcoming gesture. "All right, don't just stand there foolishly. Come in and sit down. And the two little girls behind you as well."

Only then did Shui Bing'er start walking and slowly enter the courtyard.

Two mischievous little heads poked out from behind her. Shen Liuyu secretly gave Shen Hanyu an encouraging gesture, and Shen Hanyu immediately understood the whole story.

Meanwhile, the owner of the other little head had already fallen into a mental storm.

A handsome guy! And a super invincible, universe's number one, thunderous explosive handsome guy at that!

Shui Yue'er's eyes were practically bursting with hearts. Shen Hanyu smiled, unconcerned. He had long expected Shui Yue'er's severe lovestruck tendencies.

Shui Bing'er swept her gaze across the courtyard, a trace of amazement flashing through her eyes. She looked at Shen Hanyu and quietly asked, "Do you usually live here?"

Shen Hanyu turned back and shook his head. He brought over several wicker chairs from the side and gestured for the little girls to sit down.

Only then did he say, "I only moved here recently. I'll be staying in Element City for a while to accompany my Sister..."

Before Shen Hanyu could finish, Shui Yue'er hurriedly said, "My idol, my idol! My name is Shui Yue'er, and I'm my sister's younger sister. Who's your sister? Which academy does she attend? Maybe I know her."

Shen Hanyu smiled. "Then you probably do know her, and rather well at that."

Shui Yue'er tilted her head and thought for a moment. Then her gaze darted back and forth between Shen Liuyu and Shen Hanyu, and she covered her cherry lips in shock as she stammered, "N-no... Liuyu... you..."

Shen Liuyu nonchalantly took a sip of the fruit juice on the table and said with a charming smile, "This is my biological Older Brother, Shen Hanyu. Han as in cold, Yu as in wings. He's four years older than me."

Shui Yue'er abruptly came to her senses. The next moment, she glanced at her own sister and hurriedly said, "My idol, from now on you're my real Older Brother! Ahhh, you're so handsome! I love you so..."

The corner of Shen Hanyu's mouth twitched slightly. He had gained a new understanding of what it meant to be lovestruck.

Shui Bing'er merely pressed her lips together in silence...

So he's Liuyu's biological Older Brother. No wonder I saw his shadow in Liuyu...

So his name is Shen Hanyu...

Shui Bing'er's thoughts were in turmoil, her mind a complete mess. She was clearly distracted. Shen Hanyu noticed this as well and secretly gave Shen Liuyu a look. As his biological younger sister, Shen Liuyu instantly understood and grabbed Shui Yue'er, intending to leave.

Shui Yue'er looked reluctantly at Shen Hanyu's face as Shen Liuyu forcibly dragged her away.

Once it was quiet, Shen Hanyu looked at Shui Bing'er, only to find that her gaze had remained fixed on him.

After being caught, Shui Bing'er did not know whether it was shyness or something else, but she awkwardly lowered her head.

Shen Hanyu was silent for a moment before saying, "I didn't mean to do that before. I didn't expect you to remember me so deeply..."

Shui Bing'er licked her dry lips, not knowing what to say. She merely gave a quiet hum.

"Long time no see. Don't you have anything you want to say?" Shen Hanyu continued.

Shui Bing'er lowered her head, seemingly thinking of what to say. Only after a long while did she ask, "You... have you been well these past three years?"

Shen Hanyu paused, then said, "I went out to gain experience for a while, made new friends, and encountered new opportunities. We spent more time apart than together. There were good things and bad things."

Shui Bing'er nodded and continued, "You... back then... why did you treat me that way?"

"Fate, perhaps. Or to put it another way, I was waiting for you to grow up."

Shen Hanyu thought for a moment and realized he could not come up with a better excuse, so he simply went straight to the point.

A faint blush appeared on Shui Bing'er's flawless white face, but she said nothing, as though tacitly accepting it.

Feelings were a strange thing. They could easily change a person's thoughts and perceptions.

Shen Hanyu found the two sneaky little heads beyond the fence rather amusing. Looking at Shui Bing'er seated across from him, he took out a smooth gray pearl from his Soul Tool and held it out to her with a smile. "Last time, I left you half a comb. Don't say I'm stingy. This is a Shark Pearl produced by a thirty-thousand-year Bloodthirsty Fierce Shark. After refining it with Soul Power, it can cleanse the tendons and unblock the meridians, removing impurities. You're not far from becoming a Soul Grandmaster now, and this suits you best. After taking it, you should directly become a Soul Grandmaster. Take it. I don't lack such things, so don't be so polite and reserved with me. I'm Liuyu's Older Brother. If that doesn't work, you can treat me as your Older Brother too..."

P.S. I came up with this chapter in twenty-three minutes. Even I'm impressed with myself.