105: Xiao Xun'er's transformation

Just then, Xue Ni, who had been quietly observing, seemed to discover a new continent, her eyes darting around as she giggled.

Her clear voice, full of playfulness and cunning, instantly broke the somewhat ambiguous atmosphere:

"Hehe, Instructor Ruo Lin is right. We won't mention Xiao Mei, she's his bed-warming maid. But Lin Fei, Senior Sister Xue Mei, and also Xiao Yu, aren't they all revolving around Yu Han, Younger Brother?"

She deliberately drew out her words, then changed the subject, her lively big eyes filled with a mischievous smile, accurately aiming at the aloof, light-green figure beside her, her voice suddenly rising as if she wanted to stir up trouble.

"But then again—! The most beautiful and noble 'flower' in our class—Senior Sister Xuner hasn't been charmed by Yu Han, Younger Brother yet, Yu Han, Younger Brother, you need to work harder!"

As she spoke, she giggled and gently nudged Xiao Xuner with her elbow.

Boom!

These words were like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake!

Lin Fei, Xue Mei, and Xiao Yu's gazes instantly focused on Xiao Xuner, each with different complex meanings.

Mo Yuhan's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He subconsciously looked up, his gaze carrying a hint of tension and inquiry that he himself hadn't noticed, towards Xiao Xuner.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting fragmented light spots on Xiao Xuner's exquisite, flawless profile.

She still stood there quietly, her posture graceful, her light-green dress spotless, as if all the surrounding noise had nothing to do with her.

Facing Xue Ni's teasing and the focused gazes of everyone, her long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes merely trembled ever so slightly, like a calm lake surface rippled by a gentle breeze, creating an almost imperceptible ripple.

Those eyes, as still as an ancient well, seemingly containing an endless starry sky, slowly and calmly turned towards Mo Yuhan.

Her gaze was clear and serene, like an unchanging deep pool, reflecting the young man's sweat-stained and slightly embarrassed face.

There was no annoyance, no reproach, no fluctuation, not even a trace of extra emotion in her eyes.

It was like looking at a blade of grass by the roadside, a cloud in the sky, so calm it made one's heart tighten.

She just quietly looked at Mo Yuhan, for a full two seconds.

Two seconds, under everyone's bated breath, felt as long as two centuries.

Then, she tilted her head ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.

No words.

No expression.

Just an extremely subtle head tilt.

Like a goddess's unintentional glance at the clamor of the mortal world—silent, yet carrying an unparalleled sense of detachment and coldness that pierced straight to the heart.

As if to say: What does the mortal world's turmoil have to do with me?

The next moment, she gracefully turned, her light-green skirt drawing a cool arc in the air, leaving behind an aloof figure as she walked calmly towards the elegant pavilion nestled deep within the bamboo forest.

The sunlight outlined a hazy halo around her, as if she could ascend to immortality at any moment.

The wind rustled through the bamboo forest.

Leaving behind an eerie silence on the path.

Lin Fei, Xue Mei, and Xiao Yu all stared blankly at the disappearing figure, their expressions varied.

A hint of frustration and faint unwillingness flashed in Lin Fei's eyes, while Xue Mei showed understanding and an almost imperceptible sigh. Xiao Yu, on the other hand, pouted, with a look of "just as expected" understanding.

Xue Ni stuck out her tongue, seemingly realizing she had taken her joke too far, and made a face at Mo Yuhan.

Mo Yuhan stood in place, looking in the direction where Xiao Xuner had disappeared, still leaning on the sweat-soaked longsword in his hand.

His heart, which had not pounded violently even under Instructor Ruo Lin's Domain pressure during training, was now uncontrollably and heavily thumping in his chest.

That calm, unruffled glance, that silent head tilt...

She clearly said nothing, expressed nothing.

Yet it drew a chasm more clearly than any words.

A strange, somewhat bitter emotion, quietly grew in the young man's heart.

For half a month straight, Mo Yuhan, wielding the ordinary iron sword given by Xiao Yu, moved through the dense green bamboo forest, displaying the agility and speed of the Flowing Wind Sword to its fullest.

Sword light flickered, bringing with it a faint whooshing sound, cutting through the stagnant air.

"Lower your wrist by another three fen, unite your waist and horse, the sword follows the body, not the body following the sword!"

Instructor Ruo Lin leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, her skin glowing fair in the morning light, her eyes sharp as an eagle's, mercilessly pointing out flaws in Mo Yuhan's sword moves.

Even she, usually so gentle, wore a capable black outfit while teaching students, outlining the alluring curves of a mature woman.

Fine beads of sweat beaded on Mo Yuhan's forehead. Hearing her words, he immediately adjusted, his Dou Qi circulating, and his sword strikes suddenly became more condensed and tricky. Several falling bamboo leaves were silently split in half by his sword edge.

"Yes, Instructor Ruo Lin!"

Lin Fei peeked out from the kitchen, holding a plate of steaming, exquisite pastries, her red dress like fire, and called out discontentedly: "Instructor Ruo Lin, Little Han Han has been practicing for half a month straight, it's time to let him rest and eat something!"

She scurried over and, without question, shoved a soft osmanthus cake into Mo Yuhan's mouth. She then glanced at Instructor Ruo Lin, "Instructor Ruo Lin, refining medicine is also very draining."

Xue Mei stood quietly to the side, holding a warm jade pot containing medicinal tea she had specially brewed with morning dew and calming herbs.

When Mo Yuhan stopped, she silently offered it, her ice-blue eyes showing unspoken concern.

"Senior Sister Xue Mei, thank you."

Mo Yuhan took the jade pot. The warm tea flowed down his throat, carrying the fresh scent of herbs, instantly soothing the agitated Dou Qi in his meridians from practicing the sword, and also relaxing his spirit considerably.

Instructor Ruo Lin then returned to her gentle demeanor, casually picked up a pastry and popped it into her mouth, mumbling: "A doting mother spoils her child... er, no, a doting elder sister spoils her younger brother! Little Yuhan, don't let them spoil you, continue this afternoon!"

Despite her words, she patted Mo Yuhan's shoulder with gentle force.

On the second floor, by the window, Xiao Xuner stood quietly.

The light-green gauze curtain was half-drawn. She watched the young man in the courtyard below, surrounded by several people, looking slightly helpless but with gentle eyes and brows, as well as Xiao Mei's infatuated admiration, Lin Fei's coy complaints, Xue Mei's silence, Xue Ni's suggestive remarks, and Xiao Yu's frankness.

The golden light of dawn outlined her perfect profile. In the depths of her serene eyes, this warm, ordinary scene was reflected, and a faint smile, so subtle that even she herself didn't notice it, quietly spread like a glimmer of light cast into a deep pool.

Deep within the Hundred Refinements Hall, inside Mo Yuhan's private stone chamber, heat waves rolled.

The qingyan cauldron stood steadily on the stone platform, its body dark green, with three earth core fire crystals like sleeping eyes, now emitting a stable deep red glow.

Mo Yuhan held his breath and concentrated, his small face flushed red by the flames rising from the cauldron, his bangs already soaked with sweat.

His hands moved like dancing butterflies, pure Dou Qi leaping from his fingertips, precisely controlling a cluster of Xuan Huang Purple Flame he had released within the cauldron.

At times, the flame roared like an angry dragon, instantly melting a tough iron-bone grass into a verdant essence.

At other times, it transformed into a docile stream, carefully enveloping another mass of pristine white evening primrose juice, preventing its medicinal properties from being lost.

"Condense!"

He let out a low shout, and his Soul Power, like an invisible giant hand, pressed down suddenly.

Inside the cauldron, several masses of medicinal liquid essence, of different colors and properties, were forcibly kneaded together in a violent flame vortex.

The intense energy conflict caused the entire qingyan cauldron to hum under the strain, its body vibrating violently, and the three earth core fire crystals flashed with explosive red light.