Watching the Sunset in the Woods

The two flew one after the other for about half an hour, and the outline of Azure Cliff Island finally appeared at the horizon.

Wang Mengde stopped a few miles away from Azure Cliff Island, the Wind-Riding Talisman beneath his feet hovering steadily in mid-air.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, you go first," Wang Mengde reminded him. "Remember not to reveal my whereabouts."

Zhao Hongying turned around, glanced at his all-black outfit and mask, and frowned slightly.

This person is dressed so mysteriously; he must be doing something shady on Azure Cliff Island.

A strong sense of curiosity welled up inside her, but she quickly suppressed it.

Whatever he does, what does it have to do with her?

"Understood." She responded calmly, and with a flick of her flying sword, she transformed into a streak of azure Flying Sword and sped towards Azure Cliff Island.

Wang Mengde hovered in mid-air until her figure disappeared into the island's spiritual light, then he took out a Voice Transmission Talisman from his pocket.

A flash of inspiration appeared at his fingertips as he typed. "I've reached the west side of Azure Cliff Island. You can come out now. Wear a veil and don't let your sister discover your whereabouts."

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a white figure flew out from Azure Cliff Island.

Shen Qingyue's long hair was blown about, and she wore a silver mask.

Wang Mengde reached out and removed the mask from his face, revealing a thin but familiar face.

Shen Qingyue's eyes lit up the moment she saw that face.

She sheathed her Flying Sword and, like a swallow returning to its nest, flew straight into Wang Mengde's arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and seemed to want to embed herself into his body.

The sea breeze whipped their clothes together, making them indistinguishable.

"I missed you." Her voice was muffled, coming from his chest, with a slight tremor.

Wang Mengde raised his hand and gently stroked her hair.

Her hair was a bit longer than it had been two months ago; it was jet black and soft, slipping through her fingers like the finest silk.

"I miss you too," he said.

He paused, looked down at the top of her head, and a slight smile played on his lips, "I'll take you to see the sunset. There's a small island to the west; the sunset there is beautiful."

Shen Qingyue lifted her head from his embrace and looked up at him.

Her eyes were red, and her eyelashes were still a little wet, but her cheeks were rosy from the sea breeze.

"You're lying." Her voice was soft and weak, lacking any intimidation.

Wang Mengde lowered his head, resting his chin on the top of her hair, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from it.

The heat within his spiritual energy began to surge again, the scorching power rampaging through his Dantian, making his throat dry.

"My spiritual energy is too volatile," he whispered in her ear, his voice slightly hoarse. "I came to you to neutralize it."

Shen Qingyue was taken aback.

Then, her face flushed red.

The redness started at the tips of her ears, burned down her cheeks and neck, and spread deep into her collar.

She looked like she was on fire, even the tips of her ears were pink.

"You----you----" she stammered, managing to say two "you"s, but couldn't get the rest out.

This guy messaged her today, asking if it would be convenient for her to meet, and she thought he missed her.

She lifted her head from his embrace and glared at him.

Her eyes were red, her cheeks were red, and her lips were red too, like a little rabbit that had been bullied.

That glare held no intimidation whatsoever; it was more like a coquettish tantrum.

Looking down at her like this, Wang Mengde felt a surge of heat rising within his spiritual energy, as if a fire was burning in his chest.

He quickly channeled his spiritual power into the Thousand-Mile Wind-Riding Talisman beneath his feet, Talisman carried the two of them westward together.

The sea breeze whistled in my ears, and the setting sun dyed the sea a golden red.

Shen Qingyue leaned against him, burying her face in his shoulder. Her ear tips were still red, but she secretly curved her lips into a smile.

After flying for about fifteen minutes, a small island came into view.

It was a very small, ordinary island, only a hundred feet in circumference. The island was covered with low shrubs and wild grass, and there was no trace of any cultivators living there.

The sand was white, gleaming softly in the setting sun.

Seabirds perched on the rocks by the island, and when they saw people approaching, they fluttered away.

Wang Mengde used his Spirit Eye Technique to scan the entire island and the surrounding sea.

There were no monks.

There are no monsters.

There is no one.

He then landed safely next to a grove of trees.

The sand was soft, making a soft rustling sound when you stepped on it.

Shen Qingyue jumped down from his arms, her feet landing on the sand. She looked down at her toes, the blush on her face not yet completely gone.

Wang Mengde took her hand and led her into the grove of trees.

The grove wasn't large, and the trees weren't tall, but the branches and leaves were quite dense. The sunlight from the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which felt soft and fluffy underfoot and exuded the unique fragrance of grass and trees.

Wang Mengde released her hand and took out a Talisman he had prepared beforehand from his Storage Bag.

A relatively rare Soundproof Light-Blocking Talisman.

"What kind of Talisman is this?" Shen Qingyue asked curiously, looking at the Talisman in his hand.

"Soundproof Light-Blocking Talisman," Wang Mengde explained. "This is a high-level first-tier Talisman that can isolate sound, aura, and spiritual energy fluctuations, and also block vision."

From the outside, it's just an empty lot; you can't see or hear anything.

He infused his spiritual power into the Talisman, Talisman lit up, emitting a soft silver light.

With a wave of his hand, the Talisman flew into the air and exploded silently, transforming into a transparent Light Barrier that enveloped an area of several feet in radius.

The Light Barrier was almost invisible in the setting sun, with only a faint silver glint occasionally flashing at its edges.

Wang Mengde led Shen Qingyue into the Light Barrier, then raised his head, gesturing for her to look outside.

"This Light Barrier allows you to see outside, but those outside cannot see in, nor can they hear anything inside."

Shen Qingyue followed his gaze and looked outside.

Through that almost invisible Light Barrier, the scenery outside was crystal clear: the sunset, the sea, the beach, the forest—everything was exactly the same as before.

She looked away and found Wang Mengde looking at her.

His gaze was so intense it seemed to burn with fire.

Shen Qingyue's heart raced and her cheeks flushed under his gaze.

"This... this isn't quite right." Her voice was barely audible, like a mosquito's hum, but she didn't dare look at him, her gaze drifting to the tree trunk beside them.

Wang Mengde took a step forward, lowered his head, and his lips almost touched the tip of her ear.

"It's very exciting."

Shen Qingyue's ear tips instantly turned bright red, and her whole body looked like a boiled shrimp, even her neck turned pink.

She raised her hand to push him away, but as soon as her hand touched his chest, he grabbed it.

"Come on, let's watch the sunset."

The two watched the sunset together.

Watching the sunset through Light Barrier.

The setting sun was swaying slightly.

The clouds on the horizon were dyed orange-red, purplish-red, and golden-red, spreading out layer by layer, as if someone had spilled a palette of paint, staining the entire sky.

The sea reflected the colors of the sky, shimmering and sparkling like countless tiny gold specks.

Seabirds take flight from the distant reefs, skimming across the sunset, their wings edged in gold.

The sunset was beautiful.

It's really beautiful.

Wang Mengde asked, "Isn't the sunset beautiful?"

Shen Qingyue said with her eyes closed, "Mmm-hmm."

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +50]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +50]

[The Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula +30]

[Spirit Power Cultivation +30]

Late at night.

Wang Mengde closed his eyes and sensed the changes in the spiritual energy within his body.

My Spirit Power Cultivation increased by exactly one hundred points.

Although the effect was far less than the first time.

But it was equivalent to three months of his arduous training.

Moreover, this is because the Yin-Nature Power accumulated in Qingyue's spiritual power is too small.

If Qingyue had enough Yin-Nature Power.

It's estimated that it can increase by 200 points.

In addition, the burning heat within his body that made him restless was neutralized by 90%.

Qingyue's cultivation level has also improved considerably.

As the sunset faded, the moon rose above the sea.

The silvery moonlight spilled onto the beach, bathing the entire island in a soft, silvery glow.

The two sat on the beach, Shen Qingyue leaning on Wang Mengde's shoulder, watching the moonlight spread a silvery-white path across the sea.

Her clothes were a little disheveled, her hairpin was nowhere to be seen, and her long hair was draped over her shoulders, swaying gently in the sea breeze.

The blush on her face hadn't completely faded, but her eyes held a hint of languor and contentment she didn't usually display.

"You rascal," she suddenly spoke, her voice soft and gentle, "Why has the fiery power within your spiritual energy increased so rapidly?"

Wang Mengde glanced at her, then reached out and tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear. "Cultivating the Thunder Tempering Body Formula can quickly enhance the fiery yang energy within my spiritual power."

I struck myself with Palm Thunder Technique, drawing the power of thunder into my body to temper my physical form while simultaneously accumulating intense heat within my spiritual energy.

He paused, then gently stroked her shoulder with his fingers. "However, once the heat reaches a certain level, the growth rate will slow down significantly."

That's why I asked you to inquire at the Evergreen Sect about a body-tempering Cultivation Method that can enhance the Yin-Nature Power within your body. By accumulating Yin-Nature Power, we can both quickly improve our cultivation.

Shen Qingyue suddenly understood and nodded.

But soon, her eyes dimmed again, and she lowered her head.

"What if we can't find that kind of Cultivation Method?" Her voice was muffled. "Will you have to find many dao companion in the future?"

Wang Mengde was slightly taken aback and looked down at her.

Her eyelashes drooped, casting a fan-shaped shadow in the moonlight, obscuring the expression in her eyes, but her lips were slightly pursed, as if she were enduring something.

He reached out and touched her head, his palm resting on the top of her head, gently rubbing it. "Find the Cultivation Method first, don't think about those other things."

Shen Qingyue didn't speak, but simply buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Her mind was in turmoil.

The Evergreen Sect couldn't find a single body-tempering Cultivation Method that could quickly accumulate Yin-Nature Power.

The master also said that the vast majority of body-strengthening Cultivation Method increase the intense yang energy, and there are almost no techniques that increase Yin-Nature Power.

This kind of Cultivation Method is rare, and it may be impossible to find it at all.

But what if you can't find it?

She alone cannot help Wang Mengde quickly improve his cultivation level.

He was born with Five-Attribute Five-Element Spirit Root, so his cultivation speed was exceptionally slow.

He's over thirty and only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining. Even if he cultivates desperately, he might not be able to reach the Foundation Establishment in the future.

She's different.

She possesses Three-Element Spirit Root, giving her a good chance of Foundation Establishment.

She wanted to be with Wang Mengde for a long, long time.

One hundred years, two hundred years.

However, if Wang Mengde cannot Foundation Establishment, his lifespan will only be a little over a hundred years.

More than a hundred years later, he has turned into a pile of dust, and she lives on alone. What's the point?

But if he finds another dao companion in order to achieve Foundation Establishment ----

Shen Qingyue's mind was a tangled mess, impossible to unravel or sort out.

She bit her lip and lifted her head from the crook of his neck.

"You rascal." Her voice was soft, as if afraid of being carried away by the sea breeze. "Let's search and see. If we can't find that Cultivation Method within six months—then you should find a few more dao companion."

Wang Mengde paused slightly and looked down at her.

The moonlight shone on her face, and her eyes shone brightly, as if they were filled with water.

Her lips trembled slightly, but she forced a smile.

He reached out and pinched her chin, making her look at him. "Aren't you jealous? Aren't you upset?"

Shen Qingyue's eyes reddened. She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek and onto his fingers, warm with her body heat.

"It hurts." Her voice choked with emotion. "I'm jealous, but I want to be with you forever, I want to Foundation Establishment with you."

If you can't Foundation Establishment —what's the point of me living alone?

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

She lowered her head, tears falling drop by drop onto his shirt, leaving a small, dark stain.

Wang Mengde looked at her, and felt as if something had struck his chest hard.

This girl is so sensible, it breaks my heart.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

He lowered his head, pressed his lips to the top of her head, and gently placed a kiss.

Wang Mengde said, "I'll figure out the Cultivation Method. Don't worry about it too much, just focus on your practice."

Shen Qingyue nodded in his arms without saying a word, but simply hugged him tighter.

Shen Qingyue leaned against him, watching the moon rise from the sea and slowly climb to its zenith.

After an unknown amount of time, the moon began to set in the west.

Wang Mengde gently patted her shoulder. "Qingyue, it's time to go back."

"Going back so soon?"

"Um.

Although reluctant, Shen Qingyue nodded.

Wang Mengde took out the Thousand-Mile Wind-Riding Talisman from his Storage Bag, activated it, stepped on it, and reached out to pull Shen Qingyue up.

The Talisman carried the two of them, flying towards Azure Cliff Island.

The sea breeze whistled in her ears as Shen Qingyue leaned against him, watching the outline of Azure Cliff Island grow ever closer.

The island is dotted with lights, like stars scattered in the darkness.

Her heart sank; she didn't want to go back, she didn't want to leave him.

Just as they were about to arrive, she suddenly turned around, snuggled into Wang Mengde's arms, and hugged him tightly.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist, her face buried in his chest, as if she wanted to embed herself into his body.

Wang Mengde lowered his head, touched her head, placed his palm on the top of her head, and gently rubbed it.

"Don't let anyone know about our affair for now." His voice was low, only she could hear. "Especially your sister."

Shen Qingyue lifted her head from his embrace, looking at him with some confusion. "Didn't my sister already know?"

"Ye Wuhen at Rosy Cloud Island to ambush me means that Ye Wushuang already knows about what happened between us."

Wang Mengde explained, "He wanted to kill me. It was probably your sister or your master who told Ye Wushuang about it. I think it was your sister."

Shen Qingyue's expression changed.

No wonder Wang Mengde sent her a message today, telling her to avoid her sister and the others.

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