Alone

Shen Wen, accompanied by Qing Lin, did not linger in Holy Pill City.

Through the teleportation arrays within the Pill Tower, reserved for high-ranking Alchemists and Elders, they traveled with several transfers, hurrying along.

In three days, they arrived at the hub on the edge of the Northwest Continent.

However, upon returning to the Northwest, there were no teleportation arrays available, so they had to rely on a flying boat for travel.

Tianya City.

The current Tianya City had long since changed its appearance.

The towering city walls remained, but the flags fluttering on the battlements and the uniforms of the patrolling guards had quietly been replaced with the Cao Family's emblem.

Since Cao Ying officially became a Pill Tower Elder and Shen Wen's influence soared, the Cao Family's control over this crucial Northwest passage faced no further obstacles.

With a single word from the Young Miss, taking over a frontier stronghold like Tianya City was as natural as water flowing downhill.

As for the Luo Family that originally held sway here?

Shen Wen couldn't even be bothered to ask.

Back then, City Lord Luo Cheng, caught between the coercion of the Hall of Souls' Black and White Heavenly Venerates and the choice offered by Cao Ying, ultimately sided with the Hall of Souls.

Since he chose his path, he naturally had to bear the consequences.

Now, in the Northwest, there was no longer a place for the Luo Family to stand.

Shen Wen kept a low profile on this trip, not wanting to alert anyone.

With Qing Lin, he moved like two ordinary passing Cultivators, silently passing through the teleportation hall, blending into the crowd, and heading straight out of Tianya City's north gate.

Outside the city, the desolate plain was swept by a bleak wind.

Shen Wen raised his hand and waved, summoning a flying boat with sleek lines and a faint silver glow that appeared on the open ground.

This flying boat was not as flamboyant and blazing as those from Burning Flame Valley, appearing more restrained, yet its speed was no slower.

"Qing Lin, come aboard," Shen Wen called out, stepping into the cabin first.

Qing Lin responded and nimbly leaped onto the flying boat.

Today, she wore a light green outfit suitable for movement, her long hair tied into a ponytail, her jade-green eyes appearing exceptionally clear in the plain's wind.

Only occasionally, when her gaze drifted toward Shen Wen's back, it revealed a hint of barely noticeable shyness and evasion.

The flying boat ascended, transforming into a silver streak of light, speeding toward the direction of the Heavenly Serpent Empire.

While establishing the other end of the spatial channel to the Northwest was important, Shen Wen was never one to procrastinate.

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion leaked the information about Qing Lin possessing the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python, nearly causing a disaster; this debt had to be settled quickly.

The matter of the channel could wait until this threat was resolved.

The cabin was quite spacious, with simple furnishings.

Shen Wen sat cross-legged on a cushion by the window, a wisp of colorless flame silently dancing at his fingertip—the Fallen Heart Flame.

He closed his eyes to focus, his mind once again flowing with the operational methods of the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations and the many fragments of insight gained from the Legacy crystal of Burning Flame Valley.

"Unlocking the deeper power of the flame... resonance frequency..."

He murmured inwardly, attempting to simulate that unique operational trajectory with the Fallen Heart Flame, meticulously sensing every change and consumption of power.

Qing Lin sat on a soft cushion a bit farther away, initially able to quietly watch the clouds and land rapidly receding outside the window.

But as time passed, she inevitably grew somewhat bored. Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Shen Wen.

Shen Wen was immersed in Cultivation, his profile appearing calm and focused in the light filtering through the window.

He occasionally furrowed his brow slightly, occasionally changed the form of the flame at his fingertip, exuding an aura of reassuring, all-controlling strength.

As she watched, Qing Lin suddenly recalled the scene from earlier in the valley when they were in danger: Shen Wen tearing through space to arrive abruptly, casually severing the Demon Crow's wrist and completely suppressing him.

At that time, his back shielding her was as reliable as a mountain.

She also remembered before leaving, Sister Ying privately taking her hand and softly saying, "Qing Lin, this time it's just you and Husband traveling together. Although the journey is short, it's a rare opportunity.

You have a quiet nature; some words, some thoughts, are easier to express when alone together..."

As Qing Lin thought about it, she felt her cheeks grow hot, quickly lowering her head to pretend to adjust her clothes, but her heart pounded fiercely.

Her jade-green eyes shimmered with moisture, interwoven with shyness, anticipation, and a hint of fear.

The flying boat shuttle through the sea of clouds, the day passing swiftly.

Night fell, the silver moon like a hook, its cool moonlight spilling through the porthole into the cabin, spreading a hazy silver frost on the floor.

Shen Wen slowly withdrew his Cultivation, the flame at his fingertip fading.

He opened his eyes, about to stand and stretch, when his brow slightly raised.

He sensed that the aura from Qing Lin's room next door was moving toward his.

The footsteps were very light, carrying obvious hesitation and... nervousness?

In the middle of the night, Qing Lin coming to find him?

Could it be a problem with her Cultivation?

Shen Wen stood up, walked to the door, but did not open it immediately, instead waiting quietly.

A light knock sounded, exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"Brother Shen Wen... are you asleep?"

From outside the door came Qing Lin's voice, as faint as a mosquito's hum, filled with evident anxiety.

Shen Wen opened the door.

Under the moonlight, Qing Lin stood outside.

She seemed to have just bathed; the flying boat was fully equipped.

Her dark green hair was still damp, loosely draped over her shoulders. She had changed into plain white sleepwear, casually covered with a light green gauze outer robe.

Her small face was pale, those jade-green pupils under the moonlight like the purest gems, now gazing at him tenderly, her eyelashes fluttering uneasily.

In her hands, she held a tray with a pot of clear tea still emitting wisps of heat and two plates of delicate pastries.

"I... I saw Brother Shen Wen Cultivating for a long time, worried you might be hungry, so... I brewed some tea and brought some pastries."

Qing Lin's voice grew softer, her cheeks flushing with a faint blush, almost daring not to meet Shen Wen's gaze.

This excuse was hardly clever.

With Shen Wen's cultivation level, not to mention a few days, even secluding himself for ten days or a month without food or drink was normal.

Shen Wen, seeing her nervous and struggling to find an excuse, understood in his heart, a gentle smile flickering in his eyes.

He did not expose it, stepping aside: "Come in, I happen to be a bit thirsty."

Qing Lin, as if granted amnesty, quickly carried the tray into the room, placing it on the small table.

Her movements were somewhat flustered, nearly knocking over the teapot.

Shen Wen sat opposite her, poured himself a cup of tea; the fragrance wafted up, the temperature just right.

He took a sip and nodded in praise: "The tea is brewed well."

Receiving praise, Qing Lin's eyes brightened momentarily, then she lowered her head again, her fingers unconsciously twisting her clothes, clearly her mind was not on the tea or pastries at all.

The cabin fell quiet, only the tea fragrance lingering.

Moonlight through the window stretched their shadows, intertwining on the floor.

"Qing Lin," Shen Wen set down his teacup, his voice gentle, "is there something you want to tell me?"

Qing Lin's body stiffened slightly. She looked up, meeting Shen Wen's gaze.

The courage accumulated over this time, along with Cao Ying's encouraging words, finally broke through the shackles of shyness.