As time passed, the effects of what the two had absorbed did not weaken in the slightest. Instead, they grew increasingly intense.
With Ma Xiaotao in his arms, Gu Qingnian used Body Flicker to reach the poolside. He waved a hand, and amid a flash of light, a fully erected tent appeared at the edge. He waved his hand again, cast two successive layers of Soul Power barriers, and immediately stepped inside.
Then, deep within the silent cave, sounds of "Riiip-" echoed through the cavern, followed by a moan. It was like a dragon and phoenix dancing together, or a cave within a cave...
Elsewhere, the middle-aged man who had left-
The middle-aged man who had peeked at Gu Qingnian and Ma Xiaotao, only to leave after Gu Qingnian noticed him, was none other than Yan Shaozhe. After taking the Soul Emperor teacher back, he had returned alone and searched the surroundings for ages before finally finding the pair in this secluded little nook.
Even then, he had only discovered it after a painstaking search. He had passed over this spot several times, and only after sensing something strange and inspecting it repeatedly did he finally uncover it.
At first, he hesitated over whether to investigate. After all, a young man and woman were alone together suppressing her Evil Fire. He trusted Gu Qingnian's character; what worried him instead was whether his student Ma Xiaotao might do something if her Evil Fire erupted...
But upon reflection, even if Gu Qingnian was currently weaker than Ma Xiaotao, he was hardly incapable of evading her. Yan Shaozhe had also examined him before; suppressing Evil Fire of this intensity would pose absolutely no problem.
As for whether the two were here, the moment he discovered this concealed location, he sensed their Soul Power.