First Encounter with Tong Yunfei

Qin Yu arrived at where Qin Xue lived.

But after making a round, he did not see Qin Xue. Puzzled, Qin Yu could only return to his own residence first.

Just as he reached the small courtyard, he saw a graceful figure sitting at its entrance. Looking closely, who else could it be but Qin Xue?

Qin Xue stared blankly at Qin Yu as he slowly approached. Tears welled in her eyes, while wild joy surfaced on her haggard face. She flung herself at Qin Yu, crying as she ran, "Brother!"

Feeling the frail body in his arms, Qin Yu's heart warmed. He said gently, "Xue'er, what's wrong?"

"Wuwu..." Qin Xue clung to Qin Yu and burst into tears. Four months of fear and worry had worn her body and mind to exhaustion. On top of that, after Tong Yunfei had berated her last time, Qin Xue had become even more terrified, afraid that she might ruin the relationship between Qin Yu and Zi Xun'er. The changes in the Qin Family had worried her even more. These days, she had no mind to cultivate, spending every day in panic and unease. Excessive worry had left her far more haggard and frail. Where was the strength and independence she had possessed when Qin Yu first met her?

"What happened? Who wronged you?" Qin Yu gently pushed Qin Xue away. Looking at her tear-blurred eyes, his voice sank.

At this moment, Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua also came out of the courtyard. Both showed delighted expressions upon seeing Qin Yu. During this time, the two had cultivated the Spirit Art Qin Yu had given them, and both had entered the Martial Realm First Layer.

"Third Young Master!"

"Third Young Master, you're finally back."

Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua ran over, looking at Qin Yu excitedly. Qin Yu glanced at them and asked in a low voice, "Has someone bullied Xue'er during this time?"

"Third Young Master, no one bullied Fourth Miss. You don't know, but you've been gone for four and a half months. Fourth Miss has spent nearly all that time worrying. She even put aside her cultivation," Xiao Hua said bluntly and hurriedly.

Qin Yu's heart ached. Holding the young wolf in his left hand and wrapping his right arm around Qin Xue's fragrant shoulders, he said softly, "Didn't Brother tell you? I would be fine, you fool."

"Wuwu... Brother, Xue'er was scared." Qin Xue's tears fell like beads from a snapped string as she choked out the words.

Seeing Qin Xue crying so bitterly, her face like pear blossoms drenched in rain, Qin Yu felt miserable. He quickly changed the subject. "Mm, it's all Brother's fault. Brother won't do this again next time. Right, this is a gift Brother brought you. See if you like it."

After all, Qin Xue was still young. Hearing this, she lowered her head and looked at the sleeping young wolf. "This is..."

"This is a green-backed wolf, and a wolf king's cub at that. Given time, it can become a fifth-tier fierce beast, or perhaps something even stronger! For the young wolf's sake, Xue'er, stop crying, all right?" Qin Yu lightly scraped Qin Xue's pert nose and spoke gently, then placed the young wolf in her hands.

Qin Xue held the young wolf as large tears rolled down her face, and she nodded heavily.

Qin Yu led Qin Xue into the small courtyard. Only after comforting her for some time did her mood ease. She chattered away, asking Qin Yu where he had gone these past months, then warned him to be careful of Cui Shuo and told him of the rumors she had heard. Every sentence revolved around Qin Yu, as though she feared he would suffer a loss a month from now.

"All right, Xue'er, you have to believe in your brother. Cui Shuo—I have absolute confidence that I can kill him! Now go rest for a while. Look how haggard you are." Qin Yu affectionately stroked Qin Xue's soft hair, his heart filled with warmth and gratitude. He could feel all of Qin Xue's concern and worry.

Receiving Qin Yu's reassurance, Qin Xue revealed a happy expression. Though she was still worried, she was much better than before. Holding the young wolf, she gently stroked its mane. Then, as if recalling something, her gaze dimmed. "Brother... Xue'er... Xue'er may have offended Sister Zi."

"Oh? What happened?" Qin Yu was surprised. With Zi Xun'er's shrewdness, she should not have made things difficult for Qin Xue. And Qin Xue would never go out of her way to offend Zi Xun'er.

"Twenty days ago, because Xue'er was worried about Brother, I went to ask..." With reddened eyes, Qin Xue recounted what had happened. For the past twenty days, she had worried constantly and had considered explaining things to Zi Xun'er, but whenever she thought of Tong Yunfei, Qin Xue became afraid.

Qin Xue only mentioned asking Zi Xun'er about Qin Yu. She did not mention Tong Yunfei.

"It's fine. Zi Xun'er isn't so petty and narrow-minded. You're overthinking it." After hearing Qin Xue's explanation, Qin Yu smiled calmly. Yet catching the fear and terror in Qin Xue's eyes, he frowned slightly. He vaguely felt that Qin Xue was still hiding something from him, but he did not ask, lest she overthink things.

"All right, I happen to have something to discuss with Zi Xun'er. I'll explain it to her while I'm there. Rest well at home. I'll be back soon." Qin Yu slowly rose to his feet. He had originally planned to seek Zi Xun'er out and find out what had happened in the Land of Beast Burial. With her influence, she would surely know. Qin Yu even guessed that her coming to Tianwu Main City was very likely connected to it.

"Mm, Brother, tell Sister Zi for me that I never doubted her." Qin Xue nodded.

Watching Qin Yu leave, Qin Xue was still haggard, yet her eyes shone with relief. The current Qin Yu let Qin Xue feel cared for, and what made her even happier and more comforted was that she, Qin Xue, finally had someone to rely on.

This feeling was truly wonderful! Qin Xue murmured inwardly.

Zi Xun'er had been rather troubled lately.

Something had gone wrong with the matter she had planned for so long, catching her off guard. The Dao Mansion had actually opened ahead of time, and... it seemed not to be as she had expected. In other words, it had not unfolded as Old Man Wangxian had deduced.

Fortunately, a few days ago, experts from the Zi Family and Guiyuan Sect had arrived at Tianwu Main City. Though they had not reached the Land of Beast Burial in time, they had still gained something. In particular, Guiyuan Sect had found their ancestor's remains and Void Storage Ring, so their journey had not been in vain.

What left Zi Xun'er unwilling to accept was that she had not obtained the Lightning Fire. Still, what somewhat balanced her heart was that the Lightning Fire had not fallen into the hands of the Tianlong Ancient Sect either.

"Xun'er, are you still thinking about the Lightning Fire?" Tong Yunfei poured Zi Xun'er a cup of tea and spoke slowly.

Zi Xun'er did not answer. She gazed at the crowd below, seemingly lost in thought.

"This is the will of heaven. You already did your best. No one expected the Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Fire Sect to actually self-destruct at the final moment, creating an opportunity for the Heavenly Fire Sect's ancestor to seize the Lightning Fire," Tong Yunfei said slowly.

Recalling the events of ten days ago, he still felt lingering fear. Fortunately, he and Zi Xun'er had watched from afar at the time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Ten days ago, when they arrived at the Land of Beast Burial, it had already been razed to the ground. The Lightning Fire floated above the ruins, its terrifying power burning a hole through space itself. At that time, a Dao Realm expert was already forcibly collecting the Lightning Fire. That person was Li Jujin.

Just as they moved to stop Li Jujin, the ancestors of the Tianlong Ancient Sect, Myriad Heavens Battle Sect, and Heavenly Fire Sect unexpectedly arrived in person, triggering an earth-shaking battle.

At the final juncture, the Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Fire Sect did not hesitate to self-destruct, creating an opportunity for the Heavenly Fire Sect's ancestor to collect the Lightning Fire. The self-destruction of a Dao Realm expert was unimaginably terrifying. Fortunately, several powerful formations had been set up around the outskirts of the Land of Beast Burial beforehand. Otherwise, the aftershock alone would have destroyed every living creature within ten thousand li.

In that battle, nearly everyone involved was injured to varying degrees. The casualties were exceptionally severe. Fortunately, the Zi Family and Guiyuan Sect had arrived relatively early and gained quite a lot. Otherwise, this time they would truly have suffered a tremendous loss.

Though ten days had already passed, the matter troubling Zi Xun'er still had not gone away. Logically speaking, Old Man Wangxian had made his deductions, and things should not have developed this way. Why had it opened ahead of time? This question had continued to puzzle Zi Xun'er.

Just as Zi Xun'er's thoughts churned, she suddenly saw a familiar figure below. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she was inwardly astonished. Ninth Level of the Martial Realm?

A moment later.

"Alchemist Zi, an old acquaintance requests an audience," the manager of the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop said in a low voice.

"Let him come up," Zi Xun'er said calmly.

Tong Yunfei's thick brows furrowed slightly.

After a while, Qin Yu appeared at the entrance to the balcony. He swept his gaze over Zi Xun'er and Tong Yunfei, then said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Zi, it has been many days. I trust you have been well. My younger sister disturbed you some days ago, and I ask Fellow Daoist Zi to forgive her." Though he appeared to have come to apologize, a trace of coldness laced his tone.

In truth, Qin Yu was indeed somewhat displeased with Zi Xun'er. Qin Xue had merely come to ask a question. Why had she needed to embarrass her?

"You're that lowly maid's brother?" Tong Yunfei glanced sideways at Qin Yu and suddenly shouted coldly.

In an instant, a fierce light shot from Qin Yu's eyes as he abruptly turned to stare at Tong Yunfei.