Are You Serious About That Half-Step Back?

When Yun Yun returned to Misty Cloud Mountain, her face still had a slightly unnatural blush.

She walked through the sect's main hall, her pace quicker than usual. Several disciples bowed to her along the way, but she didn't even respond.

Only after entering her residence and closing the door did she let out a long sigh, lean against the door, and raise her hand to press her temples.

"What am I even saying...?"

Yun Yun closed her eyes, and the words she had just spoken to Qin Yu involuntarily flooded her mind.

Although it was a hasty decision, the way she said it just didn't sound right.

Especially after Xiao Yi Xian had just witnessed the difference in their abilities, saying these words would likely make the girl think he was trying to steal her man.

For some reason, Yun Yun found herself becoming somewhat irritable. She walked to the window, opened it, and let the mountain breeze in, trying to dispel the lingering heat on her face.

That wasn't her original intention, but after she said "I can give you anything," the meaning changed.

"This... won't affect their relationship, will it..."

Yun Yun leaned against the window frame, gazing at the distant verdant mountains, her brows slightly furrowed.

If my words were to affect the relationship between the young couple, I would be committing a grave offense.

"How about we find an opportunity to explain things to them?"

Yun Yun tried to suppress the jumbled thoughts in her mind and began to think about how to solve the problem.

"Knock knock knock"

There was a knock on the door.

Yun Yun composed herself, regaining her usual aloof demeanor, and turned to open the door.

"Sect Master, I heard from the disciples that you have returned."

The person outside the door was Gu He. The moment Yun Yun opened the door, Gu He was stunned for a moment, and then quickly asked.

"Didn't you say you were going to the Magic Beast Mountains today? Why are you back so soon?"

"I'm not feeling well, I'll rest for a couple of days."

Yun Yun's tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion.

But after hearing this, Gu He quickly switched to his "warm man" mode and asked with concern:

"Not feeling well? Did something go wrong with your cultivation, or are you feeling unwell? How about I take a look and refine a restorative pill for you?"

Gu He spoke, he raised his hand.

Yun Yun took a half step back, avoiding his outstretched hand, her tone remaining calm:

"No need, I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest."

Gu He's hand froze in mid-air, and he reluctantly withdrew it. His smile remained unchanged, but a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

(Background music should be playing here: Are you serious about taking half a step back? Such a small movement, yet it causes so much damage~)

"Then... Sect Master, please rest well. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"Um."

Yun Yun nodded, said nothing more, turned and walked back into the house, closing the door behind her.

Gu He stood outside the door, looking at the closed door to him, and remained silent for a moment before his brows furrowed slightly.

His intuition told him that Yun Yun's condition didn't seem to indicate any problems with her cultivation.

Her complexion was rosy, her breathing was steady, and she even looked more energetic than she had a couple of days ago.

Yun Yun's appearance suggested that she had something on her mind that she didn't want to tell anyone.

"Never mind... she's always been like this."

Gu He shook his head, turned and left. He was already used to Yun Yun's hesitant and indecisive manner.

But it doesn't matter. Looking at all the people around Yun Yun, who can compare to me?

Not only has her cultivation reached the Dou Wang realm, making her the only Sixth-Grade Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, but Gu He also sees her frequently. He can't think of anyone who could steal Yun Yun away from him.

Meanwhile, Qin Yu and his two companions had already entered the Jia Ma Imperial City.

As soon as she entered, Zi Yan was like a wild horse about to break free, her eyes wide open, darting around in all directions, as if she wished she had eight eyes to look in eight different directions at the same time.

Qin Yu looked at her like this and sighed helplessly.

"Alright, alright, go ahead and have fun if you want."

"Real?!"

Upon hearing this, Zi Yan instantly became excited.

Is this what they mean by "after hardship comes happiness"?!

"Really, but there are a few conditions."

Qin Yu raised his finger and laid out rules for Zi Yan one by one:

"First, no trouble allowed; second, no making a big commotion; third..."

He paused, then emphasized:

"You must be back on time tonight. I don't care how much fun you have outside, you must be in front of me before dark."

"No problem!"

Zi Yan agreed faster than anyone else, as if afraid that Qin Yu would change his mind. Before she had even finished speaking, she had already rushed out.

Qin Yu looked in the direction she disappeared and shook his head.

Xiao Yi Xian stood beside him, watching Zi Yan leave, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Qin Yu, why were you so comfortable letting her go out alone today? Aren't you afraid she'll cause trouble?"

"It's time to let it all out after suppressing it for so long. I believe Zi Yan will know how to handle things."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

But her intuition told her that Qin Yu must have had another purpose in letting Zi Yan leave.

Sure enough, the next second Qin Yu turned around, his gaze falling on her face, as if he had already seen through the little secret she was hiding in her heart.

Xiao Yi Xian felt a little guilty under his gaze and subconsciously took half a step back:

"Why... are you looking at me like that?"

What do you think?

Qin Yu took a step forward, while Xiao Yi Xian took a step back, her back pressed directly against the wall.

"What... what did I say?"

Qin Yu looked down at her and asked directly:

"Have you been accelerating your cultivation lately?"

Xiao Yi Xian's body stiffened slightly, her eyes darted around, and her hands and feet began to move restlessly.

"No... I'm just practicing normally..."

Do you take my soul perception for nothing?

Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian was still being stubborn, Qin Yu had no choice but to issue an ultimatum.

Knowing she had no way to defend herself, Xiao Yi Xian pursed her lips and remained silent.

Seeing that she remained silent, Qin Yu suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair, then gently pulled her into his arms.

"Alright, I didn't say I was going to blame you."

Xiao Yi Xian looked up at him, somewhat surprised:

"Are you really not angry?"

"Don't be angry."

"Why?"

"You... how about we do it again, and I'll yell at you?"

Xiao Yi Xian waved her hands repeatedly, saying she didn't have that kind of peculiar hobby.

If she had known Qin Yu wouldn't blame her for this, why had she kept it a secret? It was such a hassle.

No, it seems I didn't hide anything at all.

"If anyone's to blame, it's me. I haven't been able to completely solve your constitution problem."

"If you could cultivate freely like a normal person, why would you need to do this?"

"What kind of talk is that! How can you be blamed for this!"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Xiao Yi Xian instantly bristled, even more so than when Yun Yun had provoked her before.

Her appearance surprised Qin Yu; what was wrong with this girl?

Xiao Yi Xian opened her mouth, as if to say that she didn't actually have such great ambitions or pursuits.

Although she has traveled around with Qin Yu for the past two years and seen many new things, her original aspirations and pursuits have never changed.

But she was also afraid that if she said this, it would be misunderstood as a denial of what Qin Yu had done before.

Anyway, it's not your fault.