44: May the Holy Lord find his ideal partner soon, so that they may jointly explore the Great Dao.

Clearly, he had come to the Canglan Sacred Sect because of his fiancée, her disciple Luo Qingxue, yet he had already been thoroughly devoured several times by her, the Revered Master.

"Sigh... Qingxue, don't blame Revered Master. Revered Master is also tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time. If you must blame someone... blame yourself for being too slow to act..."

She pulled the oversized outer robe carrying his scent tighter around her, feeling a sense of fullness she had never experienced before and a clear longing for Lu Yu. She turned and walked with light steps toward the Tingtao Pavilion.

As the morning light fell upon her, the majesty of the Holy Lord quietly returned, yet in the corners of her eyes and brows, there was an extra touch of vibrant spring color unique to a woman... By the time Lu Yu returned to the guest courtyard, the day was already bright.

Lin Wanqiu was practicing her sword in the courtyard. The sword light flashed with the unique golden flowing flames of the Nirvana Phoenix Fire, her small face tense and very serious.

"Revered Master, you're back!"

Seeing Lu Yu, she immediately sheathed her sword and ran over, looking him up and down curiously.

"You went on patrol, but how did you end up being gone all night? And your body... seems to have the smell of sulfur?"

"Oh, there's a hot spring over at the back mountain. I accidentally got some on me."

Lu Yu lied without changing his expression.

"Found nothing. Those demon brats fled quite thoroughly. You've practiced well; your Qi is much more solid."

Praised by her Revered Master, Lin Wanqiu immediately forgot her questioning and smiled happily: "Mm, I feel that my control over the Phoenix Fire has become much smoother!"

As they were speaking, footsteps came from outside the courtyard. It was Luo Qingxue.

She had changed into a brand-new water-blue dress, and her hair was neatly tied up again. Her expression was normal, but there were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly showing she hadn't rested well either.

"Lu Yu."

She entered the courtyard, and upon seeing Lu Yu, her gaze softened slightly.

"I was just about to look for you. Revered Master sent word that a banquet will be held at the Canglan Hall at the Hour of the Snake to express gratitude to Senior Ling of the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect and the War Demon Army for their assistance. You are specially invited to sit with Senior Ling."

Lu Yu's heart stirred. His Eldest Senior Sister would definitely be there, and Leng Qingshuang, as the host, couldn't avoid it either. Add Luo Qingxue to the mix... Good heavens, eating this meal would probably be more taxing on the heart than yesterday's battle.

"Alright, I will definitely be there on time."

Lu Yu nodded in agreement.

Luo Qingxue then looked at Lin Wanqiu: "Wanqiu, you come along too. You contributed quite a bit this time, and Revered Master specifically mentioned you."

Lin Wanqiu was overwhelmed by the favor and nodded hurriedly.

After finishing her instructions, Luo Qingxue seemed to want to say something. Her lips moved, but seeing Lin Wanqiu nearby, she held back and only said to Lu Yu:

"You... worked hard yesterday. At the banquet later, do not drink excessively."

There was a hint of natural concern in her tone.

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

Lu Yu smiled.

Luo Qingxue nodded and didn't stay any longer, turning to leave.

Approaching the Hour of the Snake, Canglan Hall.

For the Sect that had survived the disaster, although this gratitude banquet was rushed, it was of a very high standard.

The Formations within the hall were relit, and damaged areas were concealed with illusions, making it still look grand and magnificent.

Spiritual fruits and delicacies were in abundance, and the aroma of fine wine filled the air.

By the time Lu Yu arrived with Lin Wanqiu, many people were already seated in the hall.

On the Canglan Sacred Sect's side, Leng Qingshuang presided, accompanied by several core Elders.

On the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect's side, Ling Feiyan was still in her efficient black battle suit, her ponytail tied high, sitting in the chief guest seat with a cold expression.

Behind her stood several generals of the War Demon Army, each with a fierce aura.

Lu Yu immediately spotted Luo Qingxue sitting below Leng Qingshuang.

She also saw Lu Yu and nodded slightly.

When Lu Yu's gaze met Leng Qingshuang's on the main seat, he was slightly taken aback.

Leng Qingshuang had changed back into her majestic and solemn moon-white palace dress, wearing a jade hairpin, her face calm and rippleless, as if the vulnerable woman who lost control and acted shyly by the cold pool last night had never existed.

However, as her gaze swept over Lu Yu, in the depths of those ice-blue eyes, a trace of almost imperceptible reproach flashed by?

"Junior Brother Lu, over here."

Ling Feiyan's cold voice came as she pointed to the empty seat beside her.

Lu Yu composed himself and walked over with Lin Wanqiu to sit down.

"Eldest Senior Sister."

Ling Feiyan nodded. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and her brow furrowed imperceptibly, as if she had sensed something, but she said nothing.

He sat with Lin Wanqiu beside Ling Feiyan. The generals of the War Demon Army also made way for Lu Yu, showing no contempt for this minor Cultivator at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage.

This man was the Tianyan Immortal Sect Divine Son, their own Divine Son, and the Junior Martial Brother of their War Demon Army commander. Furthermore, as members of the War Demon Army, they were also people of the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect.

The banquet began, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

As the host, Leng Qingshuang raised her glass to give a speech, thanking the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect for their help with appropriate words and a graceful bearing.

Ling Feiyan also gave a brief response with a resonant tone, stating that as fellow members of the Human Race, helping each other was their duty.

After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere livened up slightly.

Several Elders began to toast Ling Feiyan, inquiring about the latest battle situation at the border of the Demon Domain.

While Lu Yu dealt with the occasional toasts, he kept his eyes and ears open to everything around him.

He noticed that Luo Qingxue seemed somewhat distracted. Her gaze occasionally drifted toward him, then toward Ling Feiyan beside him, before quickly looking away, as if she were confirming something.

And on the main seat, although Leng Qingshuang responded with ease, whenever someone toasted her and she raised her glass, her wide sleeve would slide down, revealing a section of her fair wrist that seemed to have... a very faint red mark, as if it had been gripped firmly?

Lu Yu subconsciously touched his own wrist. Did Sister Leng forget to circulate her spiritual power to recover?

Just then, a general of the War Demon Army sitting below Ling Feiyan—a fierce-looking man at the Tribulation Crossing Stage with a full beard—likely feeling the effects of the wine, stood up unsteadily with his glass and shouted toward the main seat.

"Holy Lord Leng, today's feast with fine wine, delicacies, and the company of Fairies is truly delightful!"

"Old Xiong here is a rough man and doesn't know how to speak eloquently, so I'll just toast the Holy Lord. Thank you for the hospitality!"

"I also wish the Holy Lord great progress in her cultivation, and may she soon... hehe, soon find an ideal Dao Companion to seek the Great Dao together!"

These words were nothing special, just common toasting phrases at a banquet.

But as soon as the words "ideal Dao Companion" came out, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became somewhat subtle.

The expressions of several Canglan Elders remained unchanged, but they exchanged glances.

Luo Qingxue's fingers holding her glass froze for a moment as she looked at her Revered Master.

Ling Feiyan glanced at the general but said nothing.

And Leng Qingshuang... Lu Yu clearly saw the fingertips gripping her wine glass turn white almost imperceptibly, even though the smile on her face remained perfect as she raised her glass in response.

"General Xiong is too kind. Please."

But those ice-blue eyes swept toward Lu Yu's direction almost imperceptibly and very quickly.

That single glance contained too many emotions: warning? embarrassment? or something else?

Lu Yu lowered his head, pretending to study the patterns on his wine glass, while feeling inexplicably... a bit guilty, yet also a bit secretly pleased.

This meal was indeed not going to be easy to get through.