23: Feelings gradually develop

Watching Tang Zhen disappear, the coldness in Leng Qingshuang's eyes finally began to recede.

She sat down again and rubbed her temples, revealing a hint of exhaustion; dealing with these old foxes was more tiring than fighting a battle.

"Sect Master."

A low female voice sounded from the shadows within the pavilion; it was the leader of her personal Xuanbing Guard.

"After the Grand Elder left, he went straight back to his residence and activated the highest-level isolation Formation. Our people cannot eavesdrop, but several of his confidants have quietly left the sect, heading... seemingly toward the Black Mist Swamp."

The Black Mist Swamp was located on the edge of the buffer zone between the Canglan Sacred Sect and the Demon Realm, a lawless land where dragons and snakes mingled.

"As expected, he's lost his patience."

A cold arc curled at the corner of Leng Qingshuang's mouth.

"Continue watching them, but do not alert the enemy. Additionally, send more manpower to protect the guest courtyard of Lu Yu and Qingxue. Tang Zhen wouldn't dare act openly, but there will be no shortage of underhanded schemes in the dark."

"Yes!"

The leader of the Xuanbing Guard withdrew silently.

As the night deepened, all was silent.

Lu Yu sat cross-legged in the quiet room of the guest courtyard, a purple-gold halo circulating around him. He was consolidating his newly broken-through Nascent Soul Realm, adapting to his Physical Body that had become absurdly powerful after being tempered by the heavenly lightning.

Lin Wanqiu had already fallen into a deep sleep in the next room. Today's events had frightened her quite a bit and left her exhausted.

Suddenly, Lu Yu's heart stirred, and he opened his eyes.

He detected an extremely subtle yet familiar cold aura—a faint ripple that touched the layer of warning Divine Sense he had laid around the courtyard.

He stood up and walked noiselessly to the window, pushing open a crack.

Moonlight was like water, spilling into the courtyard.

A slender and graceful figure stood quietly by the spiritual plant, looking up at the crescent moon in the sky.

Her moon-white dress fluttered slightly in the night wind, making her figure appear even more cold and lonely; it was Luo Qingxue.

She seemed somewhat restless and did not notice Lu Yu's observation.

After a moment's thought, Lu Yu pushed open the door and walked out.

The sound of footsteps startled Luo Qingxue. She turned abruptly, and only when she saw it was Lu Yu did her tense body relax, though a trace of worry remained in her ice-blue eyes.

"It's so late, why has Qingxue come here?"

Lu Yu walked to her side and also looked up at the moon.

"Can't sleep? Worried about the Grand Elder's retaliation?"

Luo Qingxue nodded slightly, then shook her head.

"It's not just that,"

she hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice.

"Revered Master... confronted the Grand Elder in the Tingtao Pavilion today. Although she suppressed the matter, the Grand Elder's expression was extremely unsightly when he left. I'm worried... he might be driven to desperate measures."

"Moreover, with Tang Wu heavily injured, their connection with the Demon Realm might accelerate or change its method."

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Lu Yu, however, was very calm.

"Since your Revered Master made plans early on, she must have expected this. We should just do our part and not cause trouble for her."

He looked at her from the side. Under the moonlight, her cold profile seemed shrouded in a soft light, losing some of its daytime aloofness and gaining a bit of pitiable fragility.

"As for you, don't think too much. Even if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up."

He spoke easily, with a hint of teasing.

Hearing this, the tight string in Luo Qingxue's heart loosened inexplicably.

She turned to look at Lu Yu, observing his sharp profile outlined by the moonlight and his eyes that remained bright in the night, and suddenly asked, "Were you... afraid when you were Undergoing Tribulation today?"

Lu Yu was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"To be honest, during the first thirty-six rounds, I didn't feel much; I just treated it as tempering my body. But when that final combined lightning ball smashed down... well, it was still a bit daunting."

"After all, that thing didn't look like it would be easy to deal with."

He rubbed his chin, reminiscing.

"But after swallowing it, I found it was just like that, though it was uncomfortably bloating."

He spoke lightheartedly, but Luo Qingxue could imagine the danger at the time.

She couldn't help but say, "In the future... do not take such risks again."

"Oh?"

Lu Yu suddenly leaned closer, a mischievous smile in his eyes.

"Is Qingxue... worried about me?"

Here he goes again!

Luo Qingxue's cheeks heated up. She instinctively wanted to retreat, only to find the spiritual plant behind her, leaving her with no way back.

She could only force herself to stay calm and glare at him. Unfortunately, under the moonlight and her embarrassment, that glare had no deterrent power; instead, it seemed more like a bashful complaint.

"You... you're talking nonsense again. I just... I just don't want you to be lost for nothing and delay the serious business!"

"Oh, serious business."

Lu Yu readily nodded, yet he still didn't pull away. Instead, he lowered his voice and looked at the somewhat duplicitous Luo Qingxue with a hint of playfulness.

"Then besides serious business... does Qingxue not have even a little bit of other worry for me as a person?"

The distance between the two was very close, close enough to feel each other's breath.

Luo Qingxue could smell the refreshing scent on him—a mix of faint sunlight and the aura of the Lightning Tribulation. Her heart beat so fast it almost jumped out of her chest.

She had never been so close to a man, especially... this person who made her feelings increasingly complex.

It seemed that over this period of time, she had already accepted him in her heart.

She turned her face away, her long eyelashes trembling violently, her voice barely a whisper: "...I don't know what you're talking about."

That appearance of being clearly shy yet still trying to maintain a cold front was, in Lu Yu's eyes, exceptionally cute.

He knew he couldn't tease her anymore, lest he truly scare her away.

He gave a light chuckle, straightened up, and pulled back a bit.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you."

He said seriously, "It's late and the air is cool outside. Qingxue, go back and rest early. Rest assured, with me here, Tang Wu won't be able to stir up any big waves, and your Revered Master must have made arrangements long ago."

The certainty and care in his tone slightly settled Luo Qingxue's flustered heart.

She gave a soft "mm" and didn't dare look at him again, whispering.

"You too... rest early."

After speaking, she turned into a streak of ice-blue light and disappeared into the night somewhat hastily.

Lu Yu looked in the direction she had left, smiled, and turned to go back inside.

The tips of his fingers seemed to still hold the faint, snow-like fragrance that had drifted from her when he was close.

Meanwhile, deep within the Canglan Sacred Sect, in Grand Elder Tang Zhen's secret chamber.

The Formation glowed dimly. Tang Zhen stood with a dark expression before a small teleportation Formation. Light flickered within the Formation as a blurry shadow shrouded in black mist began to coalesce.

"Lord Demon Lord!"

Tang Zhen bowed to the shadow, his tone carrying suppressed anger and urgency.

"Wu'er was heavily injured by that little brat from the Tianyan Sect. That wench Leng Qingshuang is clearly biased. Our plan must be moved forward!"

The shadow in the black mist emitted a hoarse, unpleasant sound, as if two pieces of rusted iron were grinding together.

"Useless! You couldn't even handle a junior who just broke through to the Nascent Soul!"

This voice contained an extreme sense of indignation. How could a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage Perfection fail to defeat a junior who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul?

Was this still the Disciple he had taken in?!

Was he still worthy of being sworn brothers with his Genius son, Tang San?!

"However, with thirty-seven rounds of Heavenly Tribulation, this boy absolutely cannot be left alive! How is the collection of profound yin true water progressing?"

"It is nearly eighty percent complete. In half a month at most, we will have the full amount!"

Tang Zhen said hurriedly.

"Good. Activate the Sleeper Agents to distract them. Half a month from now, when the profound yin true water is ready, will be the moment we act!"

"At that time, this seat will descend personally! And while I'm at it... I'll crush that eyesore of a little bug!"

The black mist shadow emitted a heart-chilling, cold laugh and slowly dissipated.

Madness and venomous light flickered in Tang Zhen's eyes.

"Lu Yu... Leng Qingshuang... and that little wench Luo Qingxue... just you wait!"