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As its name suggests, Illusory Moon Lake is shrouded in a light mist all year round. Under the refraction of moonlight or sunlight, one can often see a hazy, dreamlike scene, hence the name.
In the heart of the lake lies a verdant island, elegantly and uniquely decorated, with pavilions and terraces nestled among ancient trees and exotic flowers—the very " Water Moon Grotto-Heaven " where the Jade Pool entertains distinguished guests.
Li Qingshan appeared on a white stone path at the edge of the island.
He made no attempt to conceal his presence, and walked with unhurried steps toward the exquisite pavilion deep within the island, where the spiritual energy was most abundant.
After walking a few steps, a slender figure quietly stood in the lush flowers and trees ahead, as if she had been waiting for a moment.
She wore a light blue long dress, the hem of which trailed on the ground, her figure as graceful as a willow by a lake.
Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, held in place only by a simple wooden hairpin, the rest flowing smoothly over her shoulders.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, Ruyu carving, with both the natural charm of a demon and a serene and aloof air about her.
It was none other than the demon princess, Yan Ruyu.
At this moment, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes were quietly watching Li Qingshan walk slowly towards her. A complex emotion seemed to flash across her eyes before finally returning to calm.
" Yan Ruyu greets the Eastern Exalt." She bowed slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like pearls falling on a plate.
Li Qingshan stopped and looked at her. He noticed that her aura was calm and deep, even more refined than when he first met her at Burning Heaven Valley. Clearly, she had made considerable progress during this time.
He returned the courtesy and said, "No need for formalities. I was neglecting my duties during my seclusion and was unaware that you had already arrived at Jade Pool. I have not visited you for several months, and I hope you will forgive my neglect."
Yan Ruyu straightened up, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips:
"You flatter me, Eastern Exalt. The Jade Pool Immortal Realm is rich in spiritual energy, and the Holy Maiden Qingyao often takes care of her. Ruyu has benefited greatly from her quiet cultivation here, so how can you say she has been neglected?"
Qingfeng blew by, stirring a few strands of hair at her temples, making her face appear even more Yan Ruyu.
She stood still for a moment, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes meeting Li Qingshan's gaze for the first time without any hesitation.
In the depths of that gaze, some emotion seemed to finally find a way to flow out in this moment of tranquility and eye contact.
"Actually," she spoke again, her voice slightly lower and softer than before, but clearer,
"My uncle, the Azure Flood Dragon King, sent me here that day not only to temporarily avoid the limelight, but also for another reason that he never explicitly stated."
She paused, as if carefully choosing her words, or perhaps gathering her courage.
"He has the intention of forming a marriage alliance. Uncle Azure Flood Dragon King believes that you, Eastern Exalt, possess unparalleled talent and have a limitless future. If you can forge a deeper bond with the demon race, it would be a great blessing for our demon race."
Li Qingshan's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not interrupt; he simply listened quietly.
Yan Ruyu's gaze remained fixed on her, and she continued her calm statement as if it were something unrelated to her:
"At first, Ruyu tacitly agreed," she admitted frankly.
"Upon our first meeting at Burning Heaven Valley, the Eastern Exalt's demeanor and bearing captivated me. And then, his actions in the Eastern Exalt Northern Region were far beyond what ordinary prodigies could achieve. While my uncle harbors this thought, Ruyu, Ruyu, also harbor a slight expectation within myself that I haven't fully explored."
"But," she changed the subject slightly, her tone carrying a faint, almost self-deprecating sense of relief,
"I never expected that it would be only a little over two years since we parted ways at Burning Heaven Valley, and that you Eastern Exalt, have already reached a level that we can only look up to. In the past six months, when news of your Severing the Dao the heavens and slaying the Dao in the outer sea, your annihilation of heroes with a single thought, your annihilation of two kings with a flick of your finger, and the collapse of the Nine Hells overnight came, Ruyu realized that the gap between us is beyond description."
She took a small breath, calming the last ripples in her heart, and looked directly at Li Qingshan. Her voice regained its usual cool and calm tone, yet it sounded more sincere than ever before.
"My words today are not intended to seek pity. It is simply that I feel deeply indebted to the Eastern Exalt for saving me and to Jade Pool for protecting me; such kindness is perhaps impossible to repay in this lifetime. I, Yan Ruyu, am not one to feign or be coy; my heart is my heart, and the gap between us is the gap between us. My uncle's thoughts are for the long-term benefit of the demon race; Ruyu's heart may only be a fleeting infatuation. But in any case, the initiative in this matter has always rested solely in the hands of the Eastern Exalt. My words today are not only honesty, but also a sign of letting go."
After she finished speaking, she fell silent and simply stood there quietly, waiting.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on her exquisite profile. Though she was so close, it was as if an invisible veil separated her from him.
Li Qingshan remained silent for a moment.
Yan Ruyu's frankness was indeed beyond his expectations.
The frankness of this demon princess stirred a ripple in his heart.
To be fair, Yan Ruyu is exceptionally beautiful, has an extraordinary temperament, is of imperial lineage, wields Emperor Weapon, and it is by chance that we have met.
In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, this would undoubtedly be a match made in heaven.
However, he devoted almost all his energy and time to spiritual practice, enlightenment, and crisis management throughout his journey.
Cultivation, tribulation transcendence, creation of Dharma—every single task requires one's utmost effort.
He was like someone struggling to move forward in a turbulent river, with only the road ahead and the rapids beneath his feet in his eyes, hardly paying attention to the scenery on the bank.
Because his cultivation breakthrough was too rapid, he lacked the complex grudges, love affairs, and emotional entanglements that are common among ordinary geniuses.
Faced with Yan Ruyu's clear and straightforward expression of her feelings, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Refusing? That would seem cold-hearted, but it wasn't entirely without his intentions.
Accept? Putting aside the fact that his mind is focused on the Great Dao and he has no such thought, even if he were to consider the matter of a Daoist partner, it would not be something that could be decided hastily under the current circumstances. Moreover, how could he not know what his senior sister meant?
After a long pause, he spoke slowly, his voice lower than usual. "I understand Miss Yan's intentions."
He didn't say "thank you" or "honored," he simply stated a fact.
His gaze remained calm, but it lacked the usual aloofness.
"Miss Yan is frank, and I, Li, am not lying. My path is just beginning to take shape; there are still countless obstacles ahead to overcome. As for matters of the heart,"
He paused slightly, but ultimately didn't say anything definitive.
"That's not my primary consideration for now. What you said today is what I heard. I've remembered the Azure Flood Dragon King's intentions and Miss Yan's feelings. As for the future, let's leave it to fate. What do you say?"
He neither explicitly accepted nor outright rejected it.
Yan Ruyu listened, the last trace of emotion in her eyes finally subsided completely, transforming into a deep, still lake.
This answer was perhaps better than any she had expected.
There was no feigned perfunctoriness, nor any cruel decisiveness.
"Very good." She nodded slightly, and the faint smile on her lips returned, this time seeming to ease her somewhat.
Li Qingshan left Illusory Moon Lake and returned to his secluded meditation chamber deep within the Jade Pool, but outside the hall came the sound of light footsteps and a familiar, ethereal aura.
"Junior brother." Lin Qingyao's voice rang out from outside the palace gate.
" Qingyao, come in." Li Qingshan collected his thoughts.
Lin Qingyao entered the quiet room. She had changed into a more dignified palace dress, her hair was lightly tied up, and her beauty was unparalleled.
She first bowed to Li Qingshan before speaking:
" Qingyao has come here to report several important matters to her junior brother, concerning the follow-up to the alliance's recent purge of the two Assassin Divine Dynasty."
Li Qingshan gestured for her to sit down. "Please speak, Senior Sister."
Lin Qingyao sat down and spoke softly:
"First, there's the matter of the remaining forces in Hell and the Human World. Just as my junior brother predicted, after receiving the intelligence, the various factions within the alliance, like sharks smelling blood, launched a swift and fierce attack. However,"
She paused, "Those two are indeed ancient dark giants, and their response was extremely swift. Hell, in particular, had already relocated its remaining forces on a large scale almost before our intelligence was even sent out, abandoning numerous secondary strongholds and peripheral networks that they had cultivated for a long time, leaving only empty shells or even ruins."
"Saving people but losing territory is a brave sacrifice, though it weakens our vitality, it preserves our foundation." Li Qingshan nodded slightly, not surprised. "To have survived to this day amidst darkness and bloodshed, one must possess some extraordinary qualities."
Lin Qingyao continued, " The Human World seemed to react a beat too slowly, resulting in even greater losses. After this battle, almost all of the Human World's tentacles were severed, and even if it wasn't completely wiped out, it's destined to remain silent for a long time."
She took out a jade slip and used her divine power to present it to Li Qingshan:
"This is the preliminary list of battle results compiled by Jade Pool. Everyone has gained something, but Jade Pool, due to its superior intelligence and location in the Eastern Wasteland, has obtained quite a lot. It has acquired more than 20 million catties of Pure Source alone, as well as various divine materials, ancient books, and magical artifacts. Although it was not possible to completely eradicate the scourge in one battle, this heavy blow is enough to make it difficult for it to recover its former glory for hundreds or even thousands of years."
Li Qingshan scanned the jade slip with his divine sense, but didn't pay much attention to the numbers on it.
Lin Qingyao nodded gently. After hesitating for a moment, she added in a low voice:
"Furthermore, there is another matter. According to our disciples who have inadvertently discovered, there seems to be a very subtle rumor circulating that the Assassin Divine Dynasty, especially Hell, is extremely wary of you, Junior Brother. There are rumors that they have already listed you as an 'untouchable' and 'to be avoided at all costs' entity, and it is unlikely that there will be any further proactive actions against you or Jade Pool in the short term."
Li Qingshan neither confirmed nor denied it.
The temporary retreat of the Assassin Divine Dynasty was within his expectations.
The methods he displayed last night were enough to intimidate any force that still retains a shred of reason.
But this does not mean the end; the lurking venomous snake is often more dangerous.
"Thank you for informing me, Senior Sister." He put away the jade slip, his gaze returning to Lin Qingyao.
"We will continue to trouble Senior Sister and Queen Mother to take care of the follow-up matters. Now that the alliance has taken action, we should continue to exert pressure and not give them a chance to breathe. As for the distribution of the spoils, Jade Pool does not need to fight for first place, but it should not be modest about its share."
" Qingyao understands." Lin Qingyao replied, and seeing that Li Qingshan seemed to have no further instructions, she prepared to take her leave.
As she turned around, she paused slightly, as if mentioning it casually:
He glanced at Lin Qingyao and couldn't help but smile, "Senior Sister has spent so much time with Miss Ruyu, she should know her better than I do."
Lin Qingyao was taken aback upon hearing this, and quickly replied, "Oh, okay, I understand."
He then quickly left the meditation room.
Watching Lin Qingyao's slightly flustered figure as she hurriedly left the quiet room, almost as if she were "fleeing," the faint smile that appeared on Li Qingshan's lips because of her reaction did not immediately disappear. Instead, it settled into a gentle warmth in his eyes.
The door to the quiet room closed gently, shutting out all outside noise, leaving him alone.
He slowly walked back to the jade table by the window, not continuing his previous thoughts. His gaze fell on the spot where Lin Qingyao had stood, as if he could still see the lingering shadow of her skirt fluttering as she left, and he could still hear her embarrassed "Oh, I know" echoing in his ears.
When I first met this Jade Pool Holy Maiden, it was Pingyan City, not long after I arrived in the Northern Region. It was during my journey to Purple Mountain Purple Mountain the Black Emperor, when we were undergoing the Dragon Transformation Nine Changes.
She arrived riding on celestial light, followed by the elders of Jade Pool.
She stood atop the clouds, pure and otherworldly.
Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.
These past five years have been a period of breaking free from constraints and rising against all odds for him, a decade or so of traversing countless realms of bloodshed and turbulent times.
He devoted almost all his mind and time to cultivation, enlightenment, and conquest.
Lin Qingyao's figure, however, was like a quiet yet resilient thread, always subtly weaving through this turbulent era.
When he first entered Jade Pool, it was she who guided and introduced him, easing his initial sense of unfamiliarity.
While he was in seclusion, she quietly handled many trivial matters outside, keeping out any potential disturbances.
She never sought credit or took the initiative to say anything; she simply arranged everything meticulously and thoughtfully, like a gentle spring rain nourishing the earth.
Li Qingshan had seen her seemingly casual question and the rare embarrassment and panic she showed after he had exposed her thoughts. He was not heartless, nor was he insensitive to romance.
They simply focused most of their attention on higher goals, often overlooking the subtle ripples around them.
If you calm down now, many subtle images will naturally emerge:
Her earnest gaze when discussing sect affairs, the occasional glint of wisdom in her eyes during philosophical discussions, and even the fleeting tenderness and concern in her eyes during moments when only the two of them were present—a tenderness she herself might not have even noticed—
These little things, which he usually overlooks, come together now to form a quiet and enduring companionship.
He walked to the door of the quiet room and pushed it open.
The sunlight outside the corridor was just right, shining on the unique crystal-clear jade floor of Jade Pool, giving it a warm and lustrous sheen.
In the distance, Lin Qingyao hadn't gone far; she was standing beside an ancient fairy flower, her head slightly bowed, seemingly gazing at the flower, or perhaps lost in thought.
The sunlight outlined her beautiful profile; she was dressed in white, her black hair cascading down her back, and the curve of her neck was graceful and delicate.
Li Qingshan didn't call out to her, but just watched her quietly for a moment.
After a short while, he shouted:
"Senior sister."
Lin Qingyao trembled slightly, then suddenly looked up, her gaze somewhat flustered, towards the quiet room, where she met Li Qingshan's eyes.
"I misspoke just now, please forgive me, Senior Sister."
Li Qingshan's voice continued to flow gently and steadily in her heart.
"For the past five years, I have devoted myself to cultivation and traveled extensively. I have relied on my senior sister to assist the Queen Mother in managing many affairs both inside and outside the Jade Pool. I am aware of this and have always been grateful."
He paused, looking at the pair of beautiful eyes in the distance that were slightly widened in surprise, and continued:
"If you have any worries or feel tired, please feel free to come to me. The path of cultivation is long and not a solitary journey. I may not be good with words, but I can always listen and offer guidance."
He didn't say anything more.
But this proactive care, sincere gratitude, and the words "The path of cultivation is long and not a solitary journey" were an unprecedented and incredibly clear signal to Lin Qingyao, who had always been aloof and reserved, keeping her feelings deeply buried.
Lin Qingyao stood there in a daze, her cheeks flushing slightly uncontrollably. The melancholy and embarrassment she felt because of Yan Ruyu were replaced by a more surging, warm emotion.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she only nodded slightly, her eyes glistening with a faint sheen of water that refracted tiny sparkles in the sunlight.
Li Qingshan smiled slightly at her, a smile that was no longer the usual calm and indifferent one, but rather carried a hint of genuine warmth.
Then, he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and returned to the quiet room.
The door was gently closed again.
Outside the corridor, Lin Qingyao remained standing beside the fairy flower, motionless for a long time.
A gentle breeze swept by, fluttering her white dress and ink-black hair, and dispelling the last trace of gloom in her heart.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the blooming fairy flower, its petals soft and delicate.
A faint yet heartfelt smile finally blossomed on her lips, more beautiful than the celestial flowers beside her.
In the quiet room, Li Qingshan sat down cross-legged again, his mind more at peace than before.
Walking the great path alone does not mean severing all ties.
Some warmth and support, like starlight in the dark night, may not be dazzling, but they can illuminate the way forward and make one's heart more steadfast.
He closed his eyes, his breath quickly becoming calm and still, and he once again entered a profound state of cultivation.
This time, however, the aloofness and coldness that usually lingered between his brows seemed to have softened slightly, revealing a touch of warmth and humanity.
Raindrops fell obliquely into Immortal Lake, creating fine Qingyi on the surface.
A pair of mandarin ducks play on the water's surface in the rain.