Xiao Jinghou's Seclusion

"Master, we found the ruins of a ninth-grade alchemist. We obtained his inheritance there, including a ninth-grade medicinal pill. And Junior Brother even helped me absorb the Bone Spirit Cold Flame."

The moment Han Shanshan entered the secret chamber, she released Lin Yu's hand and threw herself at Xiao Jinghou like a fledgling returning to its nest. Wrapping both arms around her master's arm, she spoke with uncontrollable excitement and delight.

Xiao Jinghou swayed slightly from her sudden pounce, nearly spilling the tea from the cup in his hand.

He instinctively wanted to put on a stern face and scold her for her lack of decorum, but the sheer amount of information in Han Shanshan's words immediately seized his attention.

His weathered eyes widened slightly. No longer caring about the sight of the two entering hand in hand, he asked in shock, "Really?"

Han Shanshan nodded heavily.

She hopped down from Xiao Jinghou and stood straight. With a flick of her slender hand, a jade box carved entirely from creamy white jade appeared in her palm.

At the same time, she spread open her left hand. With a thought, a cluster of pale white flames silently emerged from her palm.

The instant the Bone Spirit Cold Flame appeared, it gave off a contradictory aura of extreme cold intertwined with extreme heat.

The temperature in the entire secret chamber dropped sharply the moment it appeared. A thin layer of ice even formed over the remaining tea in the cup.

Xiao Jinghou's gaze lingered on the Bone Spirit Cold Flame for a long while before slowly shifting to the jade box.

The expression on his usually placid face changed in layers like undercurrents beneath ice, from surprise to shock, from shock to gratification, and finally into heartfelt joy.

He reached out to take the jade box, then gently closed Han Shanshan's hand, signaling for her to put away the Heavenly Flames. Stroking his snow-white beard, he said "Good" three times in succession.

Each "Good" rang louder and more vigorous than the last. By the final one, his face was already flushed with excitement.

His gaze turned toward Lin Yu standing beside Han Shanshan. The scrutiny and authority in his eyes had faded considerably, replaced by undisguised approval and gentleness.

Over the past year, this nominal disciple had continued to surprise him ever since entering the sect. Now, he had even willingly given the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to Shanshan.

He had seen Lin Yu's feelings for Shanshan clearly.

Xiao Jinghou said nothing more. He merely held the jade box in his palm and slowly released a thread of soul force into it.

The hand holding the jade box began to tremble slightly, and rare excitement surfaced in his mountain-steady eyes.

He had seen countless high-grade medicinal pills in his life and personally refined more pills than he could count. There were very few pills capable of moving him.

Yet now, after sensing the vast medicinal power within this pill, he could no longer suppress the turmoil in his heart.

Seeing Xiao Jinghou like this, Han Shanshan could not hide her curiosity. She leaned closer, tilted her head, and asked, "Master, what kind of pill is this?"

She had never seen her master so excited. In her memories, Xiao Jinghou had always been an aloof expert, calm and unchanging even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Yet now, her master's hand was actually trembling.

Xiao Jinghou took a deep breath and slowly calmed his surging emotions.

He raised his head, his gaze carrying unprecedented solemnity and expectation as he said in a deep voice, "This pill can allow me to break through to the Half-Saint realm."

As his words fell, the entire secret chamber sank into brief silence.

Han Shanshan froze, and so did Lin Yu.

"Then take it, Master. That way, we'll have a Dou Saint backing us," Lin Yu said with a smile, the first to recover.

Xiao Jinghou gave Lin Yu a complicated look. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Take good care of Shanshan from now on."

The words were spoken softly, yet they carried the solemn weight of entrustment.

He had been through it before. From the moment the two entered holding hands, he had already understood.

The instant he saw them arm in arm, he had gone back and forth in his mind countless times before ultimately choosing to give them his tacit approval.

This boy might be a few years younger than his Shanshan, but in talent, character, and devotion to Shanshan, he was beyond reproach. If he entrusted Shanshan to him, he could rest easy.

At those words, the smile on Lin Yu's face slowly faded, and his expression turned solemn.

He looked directly into Xiao Jinghou's eyes and said seriously, "I will take good care of Senior Sister."

There were no excessive assurances or flowery promises, only a simple sentence that carried more weight than any oath.

Han Shanshan's pretty face instantly turned red.

She secretly glanced at Xiao Jinghou, then turned to Lin Yu and muttered softly, "Who needs you to take care of me?"

Her voice was full of coy indignation, but her crimson ears and slightly upturned lips betrayed her true feelings.

The curve of Lin Yu's lips lifted even higher.

Xiao Jinghou took it all in and could not help throwing back his head in hearty laughter. His bright, unrestrained laughter echoed through the secret chamber for a long time.

Now that he saw his disciple had finally found someone to belong with, this master felt nothing but joy.

Han Shanshan grew even more embarrassed under her master's laughter and wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

She stamped her foot and buried her face in Xiao Jinghou's sleeve, protesting in a muffled voice, "Master, stop laughing!"

Xiao Jinghou laughed a few more times before gradually restraining himself.

He reached out and ruffled Han Shanshan's hair. His large, callused yet exceptionally warm hand gently pressed atop her head as he said with deep affection and expectation, "All right, you two should leave first. I still need to enter seclusion and break through to the Half-Saint realm."

Han Shanshan obediently nodded. She rose from beside her master, naturally hooked her arm through Lin Yu's, and the two walked side by side toward the exit of the secret chamber.

The instant they stepped out of the secret chamber, the heavy stone door behind them slammed shut. The restriction patterns flowing across it lit up one by one, completely sealing the chamber off from the outside world.

Xiao Jinghou's attempt to break through after taking the pill could not tolerate the slightest disturbance.

Han Shanshan slowly walked down the corridor with her arm linked through Lin Yu's. Her steps were much slower than usual, as though she were deliberately prolonging the journey.

After quite some time, Lin Yu suddenly stopped and turned to Han Shanshan. "Senior Sister, give me two Sub-Flames. I need them for something."

"Sure!" Han Shanshan readily agreed. She opened her left palm, and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame appeared within it.

With a thought from her, two pale white flames steadily floated before Lin Yu.

Lin Yu took out two jade bottles and carefully stored the Bone Spirit Cold Flame Sub-Flames away. Then he leaned forward slightly and gently kissed Han Shanshan on the forehead. "Senior Sister, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

Han Shanshan was briefly stunned by the kiss, then two blushes rose on her cheeks once more.