Shuiyue Makes Arrangements for the Southern Border

The atmosphere in the room was subtle, quiet enough to hear each other's heartbeats.

Lu Xueqi slowly sat up, her dark hair draped loosely and her undergarment slightly disheveled, revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone at the neckline.

She lowered her head to adjust her clothes, her movements slow, as if trying to calm herself down.

Lu Jiuyuan also sat up, his burning gaze fixed intently on her every move.

Lu Xueqi looked up, their eyes meeting; their breathing hitched, and the atmosphere turned ambiguous.

Neither of them spoke, simply gazing quietly into each other's eyes.

"I..." Lu Xueqi eventually lost the battle, gathering her courage to speak first, "I'll be going now."

She was just about to rise when a knock on the door suddenly interrupted her.

"Senior Brother, are you awake?"

Wen Min's voice came from outside, her tone carrying a hint of nervousness.

Hearing Wen Min's voice, Lu Xueqi's tone became flustered, "Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Lu Jiuyuan smiled slightly, pulled Lu Xueqi into his arms, and made a gesture for her to be silent.

A blush crept across Lu Xueqi's delicate face, and she nodded gently, burying her head in his chest, not daring to make a sound.

Adjusting his emotions, he looked toward the door and spoke slowly: "Junior Sister Wen Min, is something the matter?"

Hearing the voice from inside, Wen Min sounded a bit agitated, her gentle voice trembling slightly:

"Senior Brother, it's time for breakfast. Master cooked it herself today!"

Shuiyue cooking breakfast instantly pulled Lu Jiuyuan's thoughts back to the past.

Back when he first joined the sect, Shuiyue would make him delicious food every day, caring for him in every way.

But as time passed and duties grew busy, Shuiyue gradually stopped cooking, only occasionally showing off her skills to prepare a grand meal for them.

That she was cooking again now left him feeling very surprised and touched; he couldn't help but lick his lips and say softly: "Junior Sister Wen Min, I'll be there in a moment!"

"Alright, Senior Brother!"

With that, Wen Min walked away with light steps.

Listening to the footsteps fade into the distance, Lu Xueqi's tense body finally relaxed, and she let out a long sigh.

She quickly pulled away from Lu Jiuyuan's embrace, straightened her clothes, and returned to her usual state: "Senior Brother, I'm leaving!"

Lu Xueqi walked to the door and stopped, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Senior Brother!"

"Hmm?" Lu Jiuyuan looked at her in confusion, "Is there something else, Xueqi?"

"That... that Slime~!"

Lu Jiuyuan was slightly stunned.

"Can you... be a bit gentler when you knead it next time."

After saying this, Lu Xueqi's ears turned red, and she hurried out the door, her white figure disappearing into the morning mist.

Lu Jiuyuan sat on the bed, staring at the empty doorway, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a while, Lu Jiuyuan chuckled softly and muttered: "Xueqi... that shy look of hers is truly cute!"

He looked down at his own hand.

His hand was slightly curled, and his fingertips seemed to still retain a certain soft sensation.

He suddenly remembered that soft moan from his dream, and after thinking for a long time, he gave an evaluation: It sounded wonderful!

When Wen Min had just returned to Lu Jiuyuan's residence, she saw Lu Xueqi walking out with a flushed face, leaving in a hurry.

Seeing this, Wen Min's expression shifted slightly, and she grumbled: "Well, well, Lu Xueqi, you've got some nerve!

I was so worried about you, wanting to let Senior Brother know so he could bring you along for breakfast if he saw you on the way!

I never expected that someone as cold and aloof as you would actually do something like this; it's just too much!

How is a single person like me supposed to handle this? It's infuriating!"

Although Wen Min was complaining in her heart, she was actually happy that Lu Xueqi had found someone.

Jingzhu Pavilion.

As soon as Lu Jiuyuan walked in, he saw Lu Xueqi sitting at the table with a bowl of porridge in front of her.

She kept her head down, stirring it gently with a spoon, lost in thought.

Wen Min was holding a plate of fried peanuts, munching on them with great relish.

Shuiyue sat at the head of the table, eating her porridge with elegant movements.

Hearing footsteps, all three looked up at the same time.

Lu Xueqi's gaze lingered on his face for a moment 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 is here." Shuiyue smiled gently. "Come over and sit."

Lu Jiuyuan bowed respectfully: "Disciple greets Master."

He walked to the table and, without the slightest hesitation, sat down in the seat next to Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi's spoon paused for a moment.

The corners of Wen Min's mouth widened even further.

Master Shuiyue was slightly stunned, then wore the expression of a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law, nodding with satisfaction.

Shuiyue said in a soft tone: "I called you here today because I have something to entrust to you."

She paused, her tone becoming serious: "Regarding the matters in the Southern Border, our Qingyun Sect will be sending disciples to depart in a few days!"

"Every peak must contribute people." Master Shuiyue continued, "We at Xiaozhu Peak have decided to let the three of you go."

Lu Jiuyuan, Lu Xueqi, and Wen Min looked up at the same time.

"Master, are you not going yourself?" Wen Min asked.

Master Shuiyue shook her head: "I must remain to guard Qingyun."

She glanced at Lu Jiuyuan: "With Jiuyuan there, as long as you do not encounter the Beast God himself, there shouldn't be any major trouble."

She said this quite candidly.

The mid-stage of the Taiqing Realm certainly provided the confidence for such a statement.

Lu Jiuyuan did not feign modesty, simply nodding slightly: "This disciple will certainly ensure the safety of my two junior sisters."

Lu Xueqi's eyelashes fluttered, but she remained silent.

Wen Min said with a grin: "Then we'll be relying on Senior Brother Lu."

Lu Xueqi drank her porridge quietly, occasionally picking up a piece of side dish with her chopsticks, her movements very light.

Shuiyue fixed her gaze on Lu Jiuyuan, set down her chopsticks, and spoke with a solemn expression: "Jiuyuan, you had a conflict with the people from Fenxiang Valley, and Yun Yilan lost all face because of you.

With this trip to the Southern Border, Fenxiang Valley will surely send people as well. Do you... have any concerns?"

Lu Jiuyuan smiled: "Is Master worried they will look for trouble?"

"It is not that I am worried they will look for trouble." Master Shuiyue shook her head. "I am worried they will strike from the shadows. He will never let go of yesterday's humiliation.

The Southern Border is far away from the reach of the law; if they were to trip you up in secret..."

"Master." Lu Jiuyuan interrupted her, his tone calm: "This disciple is in the Taiqing Realm."

As he spoke, Lu Jiuyuan gave Shuiyue a meaningful look and said with a smile: "Master, if I could suppress them until they couldn't catch their breath in Yuqing Hall, they won't be able to stir up any waves in the Southern Border!

More importantly, don't I still have you to back me up?"

Shuiyue was amused by Lu Jiuyuan's words: "You, you only know how to coax me!"

"However, caution is paramount in all things; you must not be careless!

Fenxiang Valley has operated in the Southern Border for many years and is deeply rooted. Try your best to avoid direct conflict with them on this trip!"

"Understood, Master!" Lu Jiuyuan nodded obediently and stood up to serve Shuiyue a bowl of porridge.

Master Shuiyue watched Lu Jiuyuan's actions, feeling a warmth in her heart, and began to remind them of the precautions for the journey.

How much dry rations to bring, what medicinal pills to prepare, how to handle spirit beasts, how to respond to members of the Demonic Sect...

She rambled on, covering every detail.