125: My beloved is in my arms

Luo Qingxue's body stiffened slightly, but she did not pull away, only curling her fingers slightly, allowing him to hold her hand.

Her cheeks reddened further, even her neck flushed a faint pink, yet she forced herself to remain calm, staring at the bamboo outside the pavilion, as if the hand being held wasn't hers.

"I missed you too."

Lu Yu gently stroked the back of her smooth hand with his thumb, feeling her fingertips tremble slightly.

"Relying only on the communication Jade Slip always feels like there's a layer in between. It's much better like this, being able to see and touch."

Luo Qingxue didn't speak, merely letting out a soft "En," as a form of acknowledgment.

Her other hand unconsciously fiddled with the teacup, betraying her inner tension.

Seeing her simultaneously shy and determined appearance, Lu Yu found it amusing, and a mischievous thought surfaced in his mind.

He gently tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her slightly towards him.

"Ah!"

Luo Qingxue let out a soft cry, caught off guard, her body tilting slightly as she was pulled, almost leaning into his embrace.

She looked up, her expression somewhat flustered, her icy blue pupils reflecting the moonlight and his face.

"Lu Yu... You..."

"Didn't you say we needed to deepen our understanding?"

Lu Yu spoke righteously, naturally wrapping his other arm around her waist and gently pulling her close.

"Just talking isn't enough, is it? We are an engaged couple; hugging is quite normal, right? We haven't seen each other for months; we need to get properly acquainted."

As he spoke, his breath brushed against her ear, causing Luo Qingxue's earlobes to burn. Her body stiffened, and her heart pounded rapidly.

Having grown up in the Canglan Sacred Sect practicing a Cultivation Technique that advocates for a Detached and Desireless life, she had little contact with others. How could she have experienced this?

She wanted to push him away, but her hands lacked the strength, and deep down... she didn't truly want to push him away.

"You... You are always like this..."

She mumbled softly, with a hint of reproach, but it lacked any real force, sounding more like coquetry.

She lowered her head slightly, leaning against his shoulder, feeling the warm breath emanating from him, and that familiar sense of security.

Her tense body slowly relaxed.

Lu Yu held her slender and soft waist, the cool fragrance of plum blossoms from her body lingering near his nose, feeling completely content.

This girl, outwardly cold, was actually pure and soft inside; very easy to coax.

The two embraced quietly for a while, neither speaking.

The night wind blew through the bamboo grove, rustling softly, and the clamor of Fentian City in the distance seemed very far away.

After a long moment, Luo Qingxue moved slightly, her muffled voice coming from his shoulder.

"You... you smell like someone else."

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens, this sense of smell is too sharp?

He had clearly used his magical power to conceal the fiery, wild scent of Yan Lingluo.

"It must be from the Tianyan Mountain Range; the heat there is heavy."

He explained vaguely, knowing that now that they were together, he couldn't have the scent of other women on him, so he quickly changed the subject, lowering his head to gently sniff her hair.

"You smell much better, cool and refreshing."

Lu Yu's action made Luo Qingxue's neck shrink back, but she didn't press further. She just looked up at him, her cheeks rosy, her icy blue eyes moist.

"The Alchemy Convention... will you participate?"

"Depends on the situation. I'm mainly accompanying Sixth Senior Sister to have a look."

Lu Yu loosened his hold slightly, but his arm remained around her waist.

"I heard that the youngest Alchemists coming this time are at least Fourth Grade, equivalent to the Nascent Soul level? Did anyone from Canglan come?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin will participate. He is Fourth Grade Perfection; one step further, and he will be a Fifth Grade Alchemist."

Luo Qingxue nodded, leaning against his chest without moving.

"This time, background doesn't matter. Some people from the Yao Domain and Demon Domain have also arrived. The Saintess Yan Linger from Fentian Sacred Valley is rumored to have extremely high talent in the Dao of Alchemy; she is already a Fifth Grade Alchemist and a favorite to win the championship."

Mentioning Yan Linger reminded Lu Yu of Xiao Yan.

That unlucky fellow who possesses an old grandpa of an Alchemy Emperor and had his engagement broken—his fiancée is this Saintess. Interesting.

Although Xiao Yan outwardly appears only as Fourth Grade Perfection, Lu Yu suspected he might have secretly reached Fifth Grade Alchemist... He was familiar with this trope of hiding one's true strength.

The Protagonist, of course, must show off a little while hiding some skills.

"Besides Yan Linger, are there any other people we need to pay attention to?"

Lu Yu asked, his fingers unconsciously twirling a stray strand of her hair.

Luo Qingxue felt a little ticklish from his action and tilted her head, but she did not stop him.

"From the Demon Domain, the Heavenly Fiend Hall sent someone called 'Ghost Hand,' who refines pills using poison and strange flames; he cannot be underestimated. People from several other Halls also came. The Yao Domain sent a princess from the Azure Luan Clan; she is naturally close to Wood and Fire Qi, and her Alchemy methods are unique. Besides her, there are people from the Fire Fox Clan; among the Yao Race, the Fire Fox Clan has the highest talent in Alchemy."

"And... Xiao Yan from the Xiao Family of Yangzhou."

She paused, seemingly recalling some rumor: "I heard he obtained an Opportunity, and his Alchemy technique advanced by leaps and bounds. He even vowed to redeem his reputation at the Convention. His fiancée back then was Yan Linger."

The setup for this engagement-breaking protagonist was indeed a focal point wherever he went; his own fiancée knew of this person immediately upon arriving here.

He wondered what kind of stir he would cause when he, possessing Immortal Rank Alchemy Skills and holding three top-tier flames, finally stepped onto the Alchemy stage?

He suddenly felt a bit expectant.

"Never mind who they are."

Lu Yu lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, looking at her slightly trembling eyelashes so close by, and softened his voice.

"Right now, I just want to properly look at my fiancée."

Luo Qingxue's breath hitched, and her heart skipped another beat.

She looked into Lu Yu's smiling eyes that reflected her own image, feeling a little dizzy.

Then, Lu Yu kissed her.

Lightly, tentatively, landing on her lips.

Luo Qingxue's eyes snapped wide open, her body instantly rigid, her mind a blank slate.

The warm touch on her lips was unfamiliar yet strange, carrying the clean, refreshing scent of him.

Lost and unsure what to do, her hands unconsciously clutched the lapel of his robe.

Lu Yu did not deepen the kiss, merely pressing gently, and withdrew after a moment. Seeing her completely stunned, face crimson, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Silly girl, close your eyes."

Luo Qingxue snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream, hastily closing her eyes, her eyelashes trembling violently.

Then, Lu Yu's kiss fell again, heavier than before, carrying an irresistible tenderness, slowly guiding her inexperienced response.

The night wind swept past, the bamboo shadows swayed, and the figures embracing in the pavilion were elongated by the moonlight.

Meanwhile, in another courtyard in Fentian City, Xiao Yan was intently controlling a cluster of deep purple flames over an ancient Medicine Cauldron.

The medicinal liquid inside the cauldron churned, emitting a strange fragrance.

His expression was calm, his gaze focused, as if all the disturbances outside had nothing to do with him.

Only the black ring on his finger occasionally flashed with an almost imperceptible, faint light.

As someone who had fallen from being a Prodigy to a good-for-nothing, and now returned to the ranks of the Prodigies, he naturally understood the hardship involved and would not waste even a moment that could be used for improvement.