A honey trap? Sorry, you've chosen the wrong person.

One by one, the Spiritual Materials in Lin Yuan's hands transformed into pure medicinal liquid, which was systematically fed into the Pill Furnace.

The refinement of the blood-melding muscle-generating pill is extremely difficult; an ordinary Fifth-Grade Alchemist performing well would only produce four Low Grade and two Medium Grade pills per furnace.

But Lin Yuan was different; he was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, yet he possessed the Fifth-Level Fire Control Art and Earth Core Nether Fire. His control over the purification and Fusion of Medicinal Pills far surpassed others of his Rank, and the grade of the Medicinal Pills he refined was at least two Ranks higher.

"Open!"

As Lin Yuan let out a low shout, the Pill Furnace lid sprang open.

Nine crimson streaks of light shot out from it and were snatched into his hand. A rich medicinal fragrance and pure Spiritual Qi fluctuations instantly permeated the air.

A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed nine Medicinal Pills: four Medium Grade, three High Grade, and two supreme grade.

These pills truly lived up to their reputation as sacred healing medicine. High Grade pills, as long as the Dantian or Primordial Spirit were not damaged, could even regrow severed limbs within a few days. As for the two supreme grade pills, their medicinal power was even more astonishing, capable of pulling dying Cultivators back from the brink of death.

Although they couldn't achieve the Heaven-Defying divine effects of bringing the dead back to life or regrowing flesh on bones, on a rapidly changing battlefield, this was a second life.

Only six Medicinal Pills needed to be submitted daily. After a brief contemplation, Lin Yuan placed four Medium Grade and two High Grade pills into a jade bottle, saving them for tomorrow's submission.

The remaining one High Grade and two supreme grade pills were confidently tucked into his Storage Pouch.

Such good items were excellent, whether for exchanging Spirit Stones in the future or for his own life preservation.

After refining this furnace of blood-melding muscle-generating pill, Lin Yuan did not continue.

He took out a supreme grade spirit gathering pill he had refined, placed it in his mouth. The Medicinal Pill melted upon entry, and a majestic spiritual power surged like a river bursting its banks. He immediately calmed his mind and circulated his Cultivation Technique.

His Divine Path Foundation Establishment, to Cultivate to Middle Stage Perfection, required a full 100,000 attribute points, which translated to five thousand supreme grade spirit gathering pills.

He had made up his mind: as long as no earth-shattering events occurred, he would stay holed up in this small courtyard, taking medicine and Cultivating.

The day passed without incident.

Lin Yuan had completely refined an entire furnace of supreme grade spirit gathering pills he had made yesterday, then casually refined another furnace, just as he was about to continue his diligent Cultivation.

His eyebrow suddenly twitched. Through the Formation Restriction, he sensed an extremely familiar aura outside the courtyard.

Lin Yuan was slightly startled. His Divine Sense extended through a gap in the Formation, and he indeed saw a graceful figure pacing back and forth outside the door, her pretty face filled with hesitation and indecision.

"Xue Linglong? Why is she here?"

Lin Yuan's heart first swelled with joy, but he immediately sensed something was amiss. Her hesitant manner, as if wanting to enter but not daring to, didn't seem like she was looking for him at all.

Recalling Gu Zheng's clumsy honey trap yesterday and Su Meiniang's meaningful gaze, a ridiculous and amusing thought instantly formed in his mind.

"Good heavens, could they have sent Xue Linglong to test me? Isn't this like throwing a meat bun at a dog... bah! Isn't this just delivering food?"

The curve of Lin Yuan's lips widened, and his eyes were filled with the playful amusement of an experienced driver spotting prey willingly coming to him.

"Interesting, truly interesting. I want to see what kind of scheme you're cooking up."

He chuckled mischievously in his heart, then formed a hand seal. The mist enveloping the small courtyard silently parted to both sides, revealing a path directly to the courtyard gate.

The change in the Formation startled Xue Linglong. When she saw the path leading into the courtyard, her delicate body trembled. She bit her red lips, finally made up her mind, and with light steps, cautiously entered the Formation.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw Lin Yuan sitting calmly in a chair.

Their eyes met. Xue Linglong was stunned at first, then an uncontrollable surge of surprise and excitement instantly burst forth from her captivating eyes. All her previous hesitation and indecision transformed into a moth-to-a-flame passion at this moment.

"You... how are you here! This is great!"

She let out a soft cry, like a young swallow returning to its nest, and directly pounced into Lin Yuan's embrace, holding him tightly.

Lin Yuan hadn't expected to reunite with Xue Linglong in this manner here.

Feeling the warm, soft jade in his arms, his hand naturally wrapped around her slender waist. He noticed that while her appearance hadn't changed much, her overall temperament was at least ten times more alluring than before he left.

Every frown, every smile, every gesture exuded an innate charm, as if even the air became sweet because of her.

"It seems your Cultivation Technique has greatly improved." Lin Yuan chuckled softly in her ear, his warm breath fanning her earlobe. "What, are you perhaps missing someone to help you hone your state of mind?"

Xue Linglong's delicate body trembled. She playfully thumped his chest, then naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her alluring face upwards, and exhaled like orchids.

"Then... did you miss me?"

Lin Yuan laughed heartily as he watched her eyes shimmer. With a surge of strength in his arm, he scooped her up into a horizontal embrace and strode towards the bedroom... An hour later.

Inside the bedroom, the spring warmth lingered, and a faint, ethereal scent of intimacy still permeated the air.

Xue Linglong leaned languidly in Lin Yuan's embrace, like a contented cat.

Feeling his steady, strong heartbeat, her eyes rippled with a touch of unreal bewilderment.

This sudden reunion still felt like a dream to her.

"How did you end up here..." She finally broke the momentary tenderness, her voice soft and sweet, carrying the relief of surviving a disaster and the dependent fear of loss.

"I thought I'd have to wait a very, very long time to see you again."

"I was singled out by Old Ancestor Xuan Yin and sent to the front lines to serve."

Lin Yuan held her boneless waist, resting his chin on her head, inhaling the unique fragrance of her hair. His voice was deep and steady.

"But you, what happened? I just sensed that your aura seemed unstable, and your spiritual power circulation was a bit sluggish."

At the mention of this, Xue Linglong's delicate body visibly stiffened. The alluring look in her eyes instantly flickered with a hint of lingering fear and ruthlessness.

"Some time ago, the Misty Immortal Sect on the North Bank of the Blood River, for some unknown reason, suddenly launched a fierce attack. I was with Master, supervising the battle on the front lines, when a Core Formation Middle Stage Sword Cultivator from the opposing side ambushed me, piercing my chest with a sword. I almost didn't make it back."

She looked up, her captivating eyes now filled with sincere gratitude and attachment.

"Thanks to the supreme grade Medicinal Pills you gave me back then, a supreme grade healing pill saved my life at the critical moment, otherwise..."

Lin Yuan's heart tightened, and his arms around her involuntarily tightened a bit more, as if he wanted to knead her into his very bones and blood.

"It's good that you're alright." His voice held a trace of imperceptible lingering fear. He paused, then changed the subject, pinching her smooth chin, a playful smile on his face.

"Now, shouldn't you honestly confess? What were you doing, pacing around outside the courtyard like a headless fly just now?"

Xue Linglong's cheeks immediately flushed with an unnatural blush. She bit her lower lip, her eyes darting away, stammering.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan chuckled softly and revealed the truth in one sentence.

"Let me guess, did Su Meiniang send you?"

This sentence was like lighting a powder keg. Xue Linglong finally couldn't help but sit bolt upright from his embrace, pouting her rosy lips, her tone filled with unconcealed sourness and grievance.

"You knew all along!"

"It's all because of certain people! I heard that someone is about to become our Yin Corpse Sect's future Son-in-Law, Junior Martial Uncle Gu Zheng's Dao Companion! With noble status and boundless prospects!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she got. Her small fists lightly pounded Lin Yuan's chest like raindrops, and her eyes turned red.

"My Master just wanted to see what kind of person you are, whether you're worthy of Junior Martial Uncle Gu entrusting her life to you! So she sent me to... to test you!"

"And I... I was foolishly worrying about you, guarding my chastity for you, but you, on the other hand, are about to become someone else's husband in the blink of an eye!"

"Lin Yuan, you heartless scoundrel!"