He Loves Her, She Loves Him, and He Loves Her Too

"Congratulations, Mr. Gu He."

"You flatter me, Mr. Wu Yan. These trifling achievements of mine are nothing before you."

"A Sixth-Grade Alchemist is considered trifling?"

"Haha..."

Although he had been mentally prepared, Gu He had never expected his status and standing to rise so quickly after truly advancing to a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.

Even this man—the youngest Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire's history—treated him so... gently.

Well, compared to the cold expression he showed everyone else, he was indeed much gentler toward him.

"Congratulations to Elder Gu He on advancing to the sixth grade."

"Yun... Sect Master, you are too kind."

Gu He could tell that Yun Yun seemed somewhat absentminded, and a trace of gloom rose in his heart.

Yet compared to Yun Yun's "inexperience," Gu He was far more composed. At the very least, no one could see the faint disappointment in his eyes.

As a Dou Emperor, merely showing his face was enough to convey his goodwill. Naturally, Wu Yan would not linger at such an occasion.

Seeing Wu Yan leave first, Yun Yun followed closely behind.

Watching this scene, Gu He, who should have been invigorated by such happy news, felt something go crack in his heart for some reason.

But Gu He was a good old fellow and could not bring himself to behave rudely in front of so many people.

He chatted with the group for a while longer before excusing himself on the grounds that he could not hold his liquor and slipping away.

By the time Gu He arrived, the conversation between Wu Yan and Yun Yun had already ended.

"With you teaching Xiao Yue, I can rest easy. Consider this one favor that I owe you."

"Xiao Yue is very talented. I have no intention of turning away a future Dou Emperor."

"Then I'll be taking my leave."

"I'll see you off."

Watching Yun Yun escort Wu Yan away as he held a young girl in his arms, Gu He fell silent.

Not far away, the chatter of little girls caught Gu He's attention.

Two girls of eleven or twelve were chatting about something, occasionally letting out innocent laughter.

Gu He naturally recognized Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun's disciple.

But the other girl was someone Gu He had seen for the first time today.

Combining that with what he had just heard, Gu He quickly figured out what was going on.

"Wu Yan entrusted his younger sister to Sect Master Yun for instruction? No wonder..."

After standing there for quite some time, Gu He's mood brightened, and he left with light steps.

Elsewhere, Yun Yun watched Wu Yan fly out of sight with Ya Fei in his arms, unable to accept the sight before her.

"He's so outstanding. How could a woman with such abysmal cultivation talent possibly be worthy of him?"

"With his incredible talent, at the very least, he should be with... someone like me, right?"

Having suffered little of society's harshness and possessing limited worldly experience, Yun Yun did not approve of their relationship.

In her eyes, handsome men should be paired with beautiful women, geniuses with geniuses, and strong people with strong people. That was the proper way for people to come together.

"Besides, her cultivation talent is so poor, while his is so exceptional. How long can she even stay by his side?"

"Yes, that's it. I just think this is bad for both of them. Two people with different lifespans being together are destined to end in tragedy!"

Yun Yun convinced herself that she was merely evaluating their relationship from an observer's perspective and that absolutely no personal feelings were mixed in.

After Wu Yan brought Ya Fei back, she returned to her residence, but she could not calm down at all. She kept pacing through the courtyard, looking as though she was one step away from scratching at the windows with her nails.

As Ya Fei's closest grandfather, Luo Su became her first choice for confiding in, aside from Wu Yan.

Luo Su, wearing a bracelet and lounging beneath the shade of a tree in retirement, watched his granddaughter circle around him without stopping and could not help feeling dizzy. His face was full of helplessness.

"Girl, if you've got something to say, just say it. This old man's bones are still sturdy enough—I can handle anything, no matter how big. Could you stop circling like that? You're making me dizzy!"

"Hehe~ Hehe~ Hehe..."

"Girl, don't scare this old man. That laugh of yours is downright frightening."

"Hehe~ I'm just too happy!"

Ya Fei covered her face somewhat bashfully, but Luo Su's eyes were not blind. Naturally, he could see the affection written all over her face.

She looked like a female cat in heat.

"..."

"Why aren't you asking anymore?"

Seeing Luo Su remain silent for so long, Ya Fei was rather confused. Could her grandfather already know?

That couldn't be, could it? That had happened at the Misty Cloud Sect, so far away, and Brother Xiao Yan was not one to gossip.

Could it be Yun Yun?

Well, well. Yun Yun, with those thick brows and big eyes, I thought you were a woman of few words. Who knew you were such a gossip?

A few hours ago... Wait, a few hours ago?

"Girl, your expression changes every other moment. It's pretty scary. If you have something to say, just say it. Even if this old man is fine now, you'll scare me into having problems."

Luo Su had previously felt that his retirement years might not be so peaceful, but he had never expected it to happen because of this little girl.

"Fine, do you know? Just now, at the Misty Cloud Sect, when Brother Xiao Yan introduced me to Sect Master Yun Yun, he said I was his..."

"What was it? Just say it already!"

Watching his granddaughter cover her face in embarrassment, Luo Su felt that this girl would sooner or later make him sick.

"Brother Xiao Yan said I was his... Wuwuwu!"

"Hehe..."

"Grandfather, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Hurry up and leave. Once you leave, I'll be fine."

"Grandfather, why are you talking nonsense?"

"You little brat, either say it right now or get lost. Stop bothering me!"

Luo Su had had enough. Where had this girl learned such a habit? Two sentences were enough to leave a person hanging. What a calamity!

A moment later, Ya Fei left, and Luo Su finally learned those few words.

"His virtuous helpmate? It's just 'virtuous helpmate.' Was that really worth all this fuss?"

Luo Su abruptly sat up from his recliner, his old face filled with shock.

"Virtuous helpmate? That kid is really that loyal?"

The current Wu Yan was no longer the Dou Zhe he had been ten years ago. He was now the youngest Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire's history!

With his status and position, he could have as many women like Ya Fei—women with utterly terrible cultivation talent and nothing but beauty—as he wanted. Even keeping one by his side as a personal maid or bedchamber servant would count as him remembering old affection.

After all, to be beside a Dou Emperor and receive a Dou Emperor's favor was the dream of countless young girls.

But giving the status of "virtuous helpmate" to a woman like Ya Fei... Even Luo Su, as Ya Fei's grandfather, had to admit that she was somewhat unworthy of such a title.

After all, on the Dou Qi Continent, the title "virtuous helpmate" carried a special meaning.

A woman a man called that was either his wife or someone he held in an extremely important place.