"Well, I'm rather impatient by nature, so I'll probably leave today to reach the Imperial City sooner. Oh, from what you said just now, Miss Changsun, you seem to intend to cultivate quietly here for a few days? Don't worry. I'll explain things to the innkeeper and tell him someone is still staying here. I'll leave this courtyard to you, so feel free to stay." Huang Xiao paused, then added, "Of course, you'll have to pay for the rest of your stay yourself."
"You're leaving today?" Zhangsun Youyue asked, as though she had not heard his last words.
"Yes. I really want to meet those experts competing for the rankings sooner. This time, I want to enter the Dragon Rankings," Huang Xiao said with a smile.
"I'm very curious about those experts too. Heading to the Imperial City sooner sounds like a good idea. Brother Ling, why don't we travel together?" Zhangsun Youyue asked with a smile.
"Ah... you-you don't need to cultivate quietly?" Huang Xiao asked, inwardly startled.
"Cultivating quietly? That doesn't necessarily mean staying in one place to cultivate. As long as your heart is still and your spirit platform is clear, that counts as quiet cultivation," Zhangsun Youyue said with a smile.
Huang Xiao wailed inwardly. You can't do this! That clearly wasn't what you meant just now! Could it be that I... she recognized me?
The thought flashed through Huang Xiao's mind.
But if Zhangsun Youyue had seen through his identity, why had she not exposed him?
Huang Xiao could not quite make sense of it. He also felt that Zhangsun Youyue might not be as he had just imagined; perhaps she had not recognized his true identity yet.
"Well..." For a moment, Huang Xiao did not know how to answer.
"What is it? Is there