Yun Yun's Gratitude, News of the Ancient Cave Abode Leaks Out

"Mmm~~"

I do not know how much time had passed when suddenly, Gu Shenge heard a sound from behind him. He turned his head to look and saw the unconscious beautiful Sect Master's jade lips part slightly, emitting a soft moan. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened.

Yun Yun looked at the unfamiliar ceiling of the cave, her beautiful eyes filled with a trace of confusion and doubt. She vaguely remembered being struck by the Amethyst Seal and being hunted by the enraged Amethyst Winged Lion King, but a man in golden robes had suddenly appeared, repelled the beast, and saved her. Because she was severely injured, she had been unable to hold on and had lost consciousness halfway.

However, aside from a lingering dull pain in her chest, there was nothing wrong with the rest of her body. The exhausted Dou Qi within her had recovered by a small fraction, though it was still restricted by the Amethyst Seal, leaving her with little she could actually mobilize.

This left Yun Yun quite puzzled. Could it be that the man in golden robes had healed her injuries?

"You're awake."

A voice as gentle as the morning sun rang out beside the beautiful Sect Master's ear. Yun Yun braced her somewhat weak body, struggling to rise from the carpet, but was stopped by Gu Shenge.

"You are still weak; it is better not to get up."

Hearing this, the beautiful Sect Master hesitated for a long moment before finally obeying and lying back down on the carpet. She turned her head to look at the man in golden robes who had saved her, a flash of surprise crossing her beautiful eyes.

Yun Yun had originally assumed the other party was someone around her own age. She had not expected him to be shockingly young—only three or four years older than her own disciple—yet he already possessed the strength to repel a Tier 6 Magic Beast with a single palm. He was likely a Dou Emperor expert as well.

Of course, one should not judge by appearances; perhaps the other party's age was not as young as he looked.

"Many thanks to you for your help, Yun Zhi is deeply grateful."

The beautiful Sect Master thanked Gu Shenge, her voice gentle and soft, carrying a hint of weakness. She did not tell him her real name, instead continuing to refer to herself by the name "Yun Zhi."

Gu Shenge smiled slightly and said, "It was just a small effort, no need for formalities."

As he spoke, he took a Jade Ganoderma Pill from his system space and handed it to Yun Yun, gesturing for her to take it.

"This is a Jade Ganoderma Pill. It can help you recover your strength. Once you take it, you will be able to move about before long."

The beautiful Sect Master did not refuse. If the other party had wanted to harm her, there would be no need to wait until now. She extended her snow-white arm, took the Jade Ganoderma Pill, and consumed it. The medicinal power of the pill transformed into a warm current flowing through her body, feeling warm and pleasant. Gradually, Yun Yun felt that her body was no longer so weak, and her strength slowly returned.

Yun Yun looked at Gu Shenge again, her beautiful eyes showing gratitude, and she asked softly, "Many thanks for the medicinal pill, may I ask your name?"

Gu Shenge: "Juan Shoutian."

"Juan Shoutian..." Yun Yun savored the name, and for some reason, it felt somewhat familiar.

"Miss Yun Zhi, have you heard my name before?"

Hearing the beautiful Sect Master's murmur, Gu Shenge asked her. Yun Yun shook her head, indicating that she only felt the name was familiar, as if she had heard it from people around her, but she could not recall it for the moment.

Seeing this, he did not ask further, assuming that Ya Fei must have mentioned his name while in the Jia Ma Holy City, which had then reached Yun Yun's ears, causing her to feel a sense of familiarity.

Yun Yun noticed that there were no traces of medicinal powder on her chest, yet the claw wounds caused by the Amethyst Winged Lion King had already healed, leaving only some pale red marks. The recovery speed of her internal Dou Qi was even faster than when she meditated. She guessed it must be because the other party had given her a precious healing pill, so she spoke up:

"Young Master Juan, my injuries have recovered so quickly; it must be because of the pill you gave me. I wonder what kind of pill it was, so that I may compensate you for its value."

"No need, it was just two inexpensive pills. However, I am more curious as to why you would go and provoke the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Although it only has the cultivation of a low-level Tier 6, the physical body of a Magic Beast is stronger than that of a human. Even though you are a three-star Dou Emperor, you are not necessarily its match. Why would a woman as beautiful as you do such an unwise thing? Could it be that the Amethyst Winged Lion King has something you want? Is it a Purple Spirit Crystal or the Companion Amethyst Source?"

Gu Shenge looked at Yun Yun, feigning ignorance while exposing her motives in just a few words.

Seeing him ask so specifically, perhaps due to his life-saving grace and generous demeanor, Yun Yun did not hide it and told Gu Shenge the reason she had come to the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

"I only wanted to trade with the Amethyst Winged Lion King for a Purple Spirit Crystal, but I did not expect it to be so greedy, actually wanting me to trade a Transformation Pill for it. After the negotiations failed, I had no choice but to fight."

At the end of her sentence, the beautiful Sect Master sighed softly. The exchange conditions she had offered were generous enough, but unfortunately, she had still been rejected.

After listening, the corners of Gu Shenge's mouth curled up, unable to hide his amusement as he teased Yun Yun.

"Since you knew that the Amethyst Winged Lion King was a lion, isn't it normal for it to be 'lion-hearted' and greedy?"

Upon hearing this, the beautiful Sect Master felt that what Gu Shenge said made sense.

"Young Master Juan, what is the reason for your visit to the Magic Beast Mountain Range?"

Gu Shenge: "Me? I have no other business. I just heard that an ancient cave dwelling is set to appear here before long, so I came specifically to wait for it."

"An ancient cave dwelling?"

Hearing this, Yun Yun thought of a piece of information she had heard in the Jia Ma Holy City some time ago. It was said that an ancient cave dwelling in the Magic Beast Mountain Range would appear in two months, containing not only a Po Zong Pill and a Heavenly Flame, but also a Nirvana Heart condensed from the entire cultivation of a Dou Ancestor expert.

She told this information to Gu Shenge, wanting to verify it.

Gu Shenge put on a grave expression, his voice cold and heavy as he questioned the beautiful Sect Master: "How many people know about this information?"

Looking at the sudden change in Juan Shoutian's demeanor, Yun Yun knew he was angry that the information about the cave dwelling had leaked, so she spoke cautiously.

"I fear this information has already spread throughout the Jia Ma Holy City, though I am not sure how many people believe it."

Gu Shenge fell into silence and contemplation, which made Yun Yun's heart tighten. According to her thoughts, discovering that the opportunity she had been waiting for had been leaked would surely make him furious.

However, not long after, Gu Shenge revealed a look of relief, no longer as grave as before. He spoke again, not angry that more people knew about the cave dwelling, his tone revealing a sense of detachment and reflection.

"Forget it, it is fate. But even if more people come, they should not think of competing with me for the Nirvana Heart."

This made Yun Yun heave a sigh of relief, and she looked at Gu Shenge with a hint of something different in her eyes. If an ordinary person knew their opportunity had been leaked, they would surely be jumping with rage and extremely angry; at the very least, she had never seen someone so detached.

However, the beautiful Sect Master was also curious if the Nirvana Heart was truly as the information claimed—the condensed life-long cultivation of a Dou Ancestor expert?

If that were truly the case, the appearance of the ancient cave dwelling would likely set off a storm of blood in the Jia Ma Empire.

"Gurgle~"

Suddenly, a slight, strange sound occurred, drawing Gu Shenge's gaze. Yun Yun's fair face flushed with a shade of shame, her eyes darting away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Gu Shenge's eyes followed to the beautiful Sect Master's abdomen, the source of the sound. This made Yun Yun's face turn even redder, like an agate, and a trace of embarrassment rose in her heart.

"Hungry?" It sounded like a question, but the tone was one of certainty.

Yun Yun blushed and nodded, admitting it quite embarrassedly; although the Jade Ganoderma Pill had restored her stamina, her stomach was still completely empty.

Gu Shenge smiled knowingly, then stood up and left the cave.

~

PS: I'm planting a small bit of foreshadowing here. As for what it is, feel free to take a guess.