The atmosphere in the room was a little strange, quiet enough that they could hear each other's heartbeats.
Lu Xueqi slowly sat up. Her black hair fell loose around her shoulders, and her inner robe was slightly rumpled, revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone at the neckline.
She lowered her head to straighten her collar, moving slowly, as if trying to calm herself.
Lu Jiuyuan sat up too, his heated gaze fixed on her every move.
Lu Xueqi raised her head. Their eyes met, their breaths caught, and the atmosphere turned charged.
Neither of them spoke. They simply gazed into each other's eyes in silence.
"I..." In the end, Lu Xueqi was the first to give in. Gathering her courage, she said, "I should go."
She was just about to get up when a knock came from outside, interrupting her.
"Eldest Senior Brother, are you up?"
Wen Min's voice came from beyond the door, tinged with nervousness.
Hearing Wen Min's voice, Lu Xueqi asked in a fluster, "Eldest Senior Brother, what should we do?"
Lu Jiuyuan smiled faintly, drew Lu Xueqi into his arms, and gestured for her to be quiet.
Her delicate little face flushed. Lu Xueqi nodded softly and buried her head against his chest, not daring to make a sound.
After steadying himself, he looked toward the door and said, "Junior Sister Wen Min, is something the matter?"
Hearing his voice from inside, Wen Min grew a little excited. Her gentle voice trembled slightly as she said,
"Eldest Senior Brother, it's time for breakfast. Master cooked it herself today!"
The news that Shuiyue had made breakfast immediately transported Lu Jiuyuan back to the past.
When he had first joined the sect, Shuiyue had cooked delicious food for him every day and looked after him with great care.
But as time passed and her duties grew more demanding, Shuiyue gradually stopped cooking, only occasionally making them a sumptuous meal.
Her cooking again now took him by surprise and moved him. He couldn't help licking his lips and said softly, "Junior Sister Wen Min, I'll be there in a moment!"
"Okay, Eldest Senior Brother!"
With that, Wen Min walked away with light steps.
Only when the sound of her footsteps had faded did Lu Xueqi finally relax and let out a long breath.
She hurriedly slipped out of Lu Jiuyuan's arms, straightened her clothes, and composed herself. "Eldest Senior Brother, I'm going now!"
Lu Xueqi reached the doorway and stopped, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers.
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Hmm?" Lu Jiuyuan looked at her in confusion. "Is there something else, Xueqi?"
"Um... that... the slime!"
Lu Jiuyuan paused, taken aback.
"Could you be a little gentler when you squeeze it next time?"
After saying this, Lu Xueqi's ears turned red. She hurriedly pushed the door open and left, her white figure disappearing into the morning mist.
Lu Jiuyuan sat on the bed, gazing at the empty doorway without moving for a long time.
After a while, he chuckled and murmured, "Xueqi... You're so cute when you're embarrassed!"
He lowered his gaze to his hand.
It was slightly curled, and his fingertips seemed to retain the feel of something soft.
He suddenly remembered the soft moan from his dream. After pondering for a long while, he came to a conclusion: That sounded wonderful!
When Wen Min returned to Lu Jiuyuan's quarters, she saw Lu Xueqi coming out with a flushed face and hurrying off.
Wen Min's expression shifted. Then she grumbled, "You little Lu Xueqi, you've got some nerve!
"I was so worried about you that I wanted to let Eldest Senior Brother know. I even planned to tell him to bring you along to breakfast if he saw you on the way!
"I never imagined that someone as aloof as you would do something like that. That's just too much!
"How is a single woman like me supposed to cope? Honestly, how awful!"
Though Wen Min grumbled inwardly, she was happy that Lu Xueqi had found someone.
Jingzhu Pavilion.
The moment Lu Jiuyuan walked in, he saw Lu Xueqi sitting at the table with a bowl of porridge in front of her.
She lowered her head and stirred it gently with her spoon, lost in thought.
Wen Min was happily munching on a plate of fried peanuts.
Master Shuiyue sat at the head of the table, eating her porridge with graceful movements.
At the sound of footsteps, all three looked up at once.
Lu Xueqi's gaze lingered on his face for an instant before she quickly lowered her eyes, the tips of her ears turning red.
Wen Min's eyes lit up, and she winked at him.
"Jiuyuan's here." Shuiyue smiled warmly. "Come, sit down."
Lu Jiuyuan bowed properly. "This disciple greets you, Master."
He walked to the table and, without the slightest hesitation, sat down beside Lu Xueqi.
Lu Xueqi's spoon paused.
Wen Min's grin widened.
Master Shuiyue was slightly taken aback. Then, looking every bit like a mother-in-law pleased with her son-in-law, she nodded in satisfaction.
Shuiyue said gently, "I called you here today because there's something I need to tell you."
She paused, her tone turning serious. "In a few days, our Qingyun Sect will send disciples to the Southern Border!"
"Every peak will send people," Master Shuiyue continued. "Our Xiaozhu Peak has decided that the three of you will go."
Lu Jiuyuan, Lu Xueqi, and Wen Min looked up at the same time.
"Master, aren't you going yourself?" Wen Min asked.
Master Shuiyue shook her head. "I have to stay behind at Qingyun."
She glanced at Lu Jiuyuan. "With Jiuyuan there, as long as you don't run into the Beast God himself, there shouldn't be any major trouble."
She said it matter-of-factly.
At the mid-stage of the Taiqing Realm, he had every reason to be confident.
Lu Jiuyuan didn't protest. He simply nodded. "This disciple will do his utmost to protect my two junior sisters."
Lu Xueqi's lashes fluttered, but she said nothing.
Wen Min grinned. "Then we'll be counting on you, Senior Brother Lu."
Lu Xueqi quietly drank her porridge, occasionally picking up a little side dish with her chopsticks. Her movements were gentle.
Shuiyue turned her gaze to Lu Jiuyuan, set down her chopsticks, and said gravely, "Jiuyuan, you clashed with people from Fenxiang Valley and humiliated Yun Yilan.
"Fenxiang Valley will surely send people to the Southern Border as well. Do you... have any concerns?"
Lu Jiuyuan smiled. "Are you worried they'll try to provoke me, Master?"
"I'm not worried they'll provoke you." Master Shuiyue shook her head. "I'm worried they'll resort to underhanded tactics. He won't let yesterday's humiliation go unanswered.
"The Southern Border is far from the Emperor's reach. If they try to trip you up in secret..."
"Master." Lu Jiuyuan interrupted her calmly. "I'm at the Taiqing Realm."
As he spoke, Lu Jiuyuan shot Shuiyue a playful look and said with a smile, "Master, I was able to keep them from getting a word in at Yuqing Hall. Even in the Southern Border, they won't be able to stir up trouble!
"Besides, won't you be there to back me up?"
Shuiyue laughed at his words. "You always know how to sweet-talk me!
"But you still need to be careful in everything. Don't let your guard down!
"Fenxiang Valley has operated in the Southern Border for many years and has deep roots there. While you're away, try to avoid a direct confrontation with them!"
"Understood, Master!" Lu Jiuyuan nodded obediently, then stood up and filled a bowl of porridge for Shuiyue.
Watching him, Master Shuiyue felt a warmth in her heart and began reminding them about the journey's precautions.
How much dried food to bring, which pills to prepare, what to do if they encountered demon beasts, how to deal with members of the Demon Sect...
She went on and on, covering every last detail.
Before you continue