124: Sigh, women, their minds are really hard to fathom!

In the front hall, the Yan Lingluo's playful question instantly made the atmosphere subtle.

Lu Yu secretly thought that Her Majesty the Queen truly enjoyed watching the drama unfold, but he had to maintain his composure.

He lightly coughed, preparing to make introductions.

Luo Qingxue's gaze had already retracted from the Yan Lingluo, returning to Lu Yu's face. Her icy blue eyes were clear and calm, as if the momentary scrutiny had never occurred.

She nodded slightly, her voice still clear and crisp: “Who is this Fellow Daoist?”

“This is the Yan Lingluo. She is a friend I met in the Tianyan Mountain Range, specializing in Fire Techniques, and she is accompanying us for now.”

Lu Yu's introduction was concise, omitting the details of the Magma Cave and her status as Queen.

“Yan Lingluo, this is Luo Qingxue, the Saintess of the Canglan Sacred Sect, and my... fiancée.”

When the three words “fiancée” were spoken, the faint blush on Luo Qingxue's earlobes deepened, but her demeanor remained dignified.

She curtsied slightly toward the Yan Lingluo: “Miss Yan, it's a pleasure.”

The Yan Lingluo crossed her arms, her red eyes circling Luo Qingxue once more. Especially upon hearing “fiancée,” her eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

For some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable inside.

She did not return the courtesy, merely giving a faint “Mm” as a greeting, maintaining her cold and aloof posture.

Lu Yu quickly changed the subject: “Qingxue, you just arrived. Has your accommodation been properly arranged? Why don't you rest first, and I can take you around Fentian City later?”

Luo Qingxue nodded: “The Fentian Sacred Valley has arranged the Azure Wave Pavilion for us; the environment is acceptable.”

She paused, then looked at Lu Yu.

“If it is convenient for you, could you come to the Azure Wave Pavilion later? I... have some Cultivation questions I'd like to discuss with you.”

Her words were casual, but the invitation was clear.

“Of course, it's convenient.”

Lu Yu agreed readily.

The two chatted briefly for a few more sentences, and then Luo Qingxue took her leave, her posture elegant. She did not spare the Yan Lingluo another glance, as if she were just an irrelevant stranger.

After seeing Luo Qingxue off, Lu Yu returned to the front hall and found the Yan Lingluo still leaning against the doorframe, her red eyes watching him with a half-smile.

“Divine Son Lu, you certainly have quite a few beauties as confidantes, don't you?”

Her tone was lazy and teasing, yet her words carried a strange implication, making Lu Yu somewhat confused. Hadn't the Queen always been aloof? Why was she teasing him now? Her tone even sounded a little... jealous?

“One gentle as water staying at home, one passionate and lively revolving around you every day, and now an icy fiancée... Your life seems quite fulfilling?”

Lu Yu sighed helplessly: “Your Majesty the Queen, please stop teasing me.”

“Teasing?”

The Yan Lingluo took a few steps closer, her Queen's aura fully unleashed. She leaned close to Lu Yu's ear, lowering her voice with a hint of dangerous amusement.

“This King is merely reminding you not to forget the conditions you promised me. If you delay this King's great Atavism matter because of these messy affairs... Hmph.”

After speaking, she straightened up, no longer looking at Lu Yu, and swayed her figure back toward the inner courtyard, leaving Lu Yu alone in the front hall, rubbing his nose.

Did it seem like the Queen was genuinely a little jealous?

A Queen is a Queen; she is somewhat domineering. Although she outwardly refused to admit he belonged to her, her previous actions weren't fake, and perhaps she still acknowledged him in her heart.

Alas, women! Their hearts are truly hard to guess!

However, looking in the direction Luo Qingxue had left and thinking about her invitation, a hint of warmth and anticipation arose in Lu Yu's heart.

This girl seems a little more proactive than before?

It seems this fiancée relationship needs to be properly “Cultivated.”

Lu Yu rubbed his chin with his right hand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

As dusk approached, bright Fire Crystal Lamps lit up everywhere in Fentian City, making the crimson city look like daytime, although the stifling heat dissipated somewhat with the evening breeze.

Lu Yu greeted Liu Yunshu, saying he was going to the Azure Wave Pavilion to discuss Cultivation with Luo Qingxue. Liu Yunshu nodded gently without asking further, merely handing him a small food box containing some refreshing Spirit Fruit Desserts.

Li Miaoer, whose ears were sharp, was eavesdropping by the door. She only ran off giggling after Lu Yu flicked her forehead.

The Yan Lingluo was sitting in her room, eyes closed, regulating her breath. She didn't even lift an eyelid, acting as if she didn't care at all.

The Azure Wave Pavilion was a courtyard specially used by the Fentian Sacred Valley to host guests who Cultivated water-based techniques or preferred cool environments. It utilized underground Cold Springs and was decorated with pavilions and waterside structures, lush and verdant—a completely different world from the scorching heat outside.

The Canglan Sacred Sect mainly Cultivated Water Techniques and ice techniques, which naturally clashed somewhat with the Fire Techniques and Yang Techniques of the Fentian Sacred Valley. In such a scorching environment, they were inherently unsuited, which is why this specific courtyard was arranged.

Following the instructions, Lu Yu found Courtyard A. The courtyard gate was slightly ajar.

He knocked on the door, and Luo Qingxue's clear, cold voice came from inside: “Please enter.”

Pusing the door open, he entered. The small courtyard was planted with clumps of Cold Bamboo, and a stream of flowing water had been introduced. Moonlight scattered down, making the water ripple, which accentuated the white-robed figure sitting on the stone stool in the bamboo pavilion, making her appear even colder and more ethereal.

A set of plain white tea ware was placed on the stone table, and a small stove next to it warmed a pot of water, which was bubbling softly and emitting fine white steam.

Luo Qingxue had changed into a more casual Plain Moon-White Dress. Her long hair was loosely tied up, having shed the elaborate hair ornaments of the day, with only an Ice Jade Hairpin obliquely inserted.

She was looking down at a scroll in her hand. Hearing footsteps, she raised her head, her icy blue eyes appearing softer in the moonlight.

“You're here.”

She put down the scroll and motioned for Lu Yu to sit.

Lu Yu naturally walked over and sat beside her, placing the food box on the table: “Yun Shu asked me to bring this. She said the Fire Energy here is too strong, so you should eat something cool to moisturize.”

“Sister Liu is thoughtful.”

Luo Qingxue nodded, her gaze lingering on the food box for a moment before moving away. She raised her hand and poured Lu Yu a cup of freshly brewed Cold Mist Tea.

The tea was cool, carrying a refreshing coolness that penetrated the heart.

Although she had been in the Canglan Sacred Sect for a while, she was aware of everything Lu Yu had been doing recently, and she knew about his current relationship with Liu Yunshu.

Lu Yu took the teacup, his fingertip “accidentally” brushing against her finger.

Luo Qingxue's hand paused slightly but didn't retract. She lowered her eyelids, picked up her own teacup, and took a sip, her earlobes clearly visible in the moonlight, stained with a thin layer of red.

“Was the journey smooth?”

Lu Yu took a sip of tea and asked casually, but his eyes were fixed on her profile, which was close at hand.

Her skin was so pale it was almost transparent, her eyelashes long and thick, her nose bridge high, and her lips a pale pink... After a few months apart, this girl seemed even more beautiful.

“Acceptable.”

Luo Qingxue replied softly, seeming to notice his scrutinizing gaze, and shifted her body slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“It's just... I missed you a little.”

She spoke the last sentence very softly, almost dissipating in the night wind. As soon as she finished, her earlobes were completely flushed, yet Lu Yu beside her heard it clearly.

His heart fluttered. He put down the teacup and naturally reached out to grasp her slightly cool hand resting on the stone table.