539: Lu Xueqi (Sixteen)

Her gaze shifted between Su Han and Lu Xueqi, lingering for a moment on Su Han. Seeing him full of vigor, she almost imperceptibly let out a sigh of relief, then immediately reverted to her petulant demeanor. “I’m starving, starving! Su Han, quickly order some food!”

Seeing her full of energy, Su Han smiled, “Alright, I’ll go now.”

Breakfast was still simple porridge and side dishes, but a few delicate pastries had been added.

The three ate in silence, the atmosphere slightly more natural than last night, but still imbued with a subtle quietness.

After the meal, Su Han said gravely, “We still need to stay here for at least two or three days.”

Junior Sister Lu needs time to stabilize her injuries, and I also need to adjust my state to the Peak.

During this period, we will take turns guarding at night and meditating, and we will not go out unless absolutely necessary.

Bi Yao, especially you, do not be playful and cause trouble.”

Bi Yao, hearing this, retorted indignantly, “Hey! I’m not a three-year-old child; I know what’s important! Besides, what’s so fun about Heyang City? I don’t care to go out!” Despite her words, her eyes darted around, clearly not entirely devoid of curiosity about the bustling town.

Lu Xueqi nodded in agreement, “Everything according to Senior Brother Su’s arrangements.”

Thus, the daytime hours slowly passed in monotonous Cultivation and meditation.

Su Han spent most of his time meditating, further consolidating his Cultivation and assimilating the insights gained from the battles of the past few days.

Bi Yao could sit still at first, but after half a day, she grew a bit restless, occasionally getting up to pace around the room, or sometimes leaning by the window, curiously peering through the gaps at the street outside.

As the most prosperous city within a hundred-mile radius, Heyang City was bustling during the day with a cacophony of hawkers’ cries, carriage sounds, and conversations, all of which were novel to a young girl like her, who had long resided in the secluded Ghost King Sect.

Lu Xueqi, meanwhile, remained seated on the bed, concentrating on circulating her Qi to heal her injuries.

Her Cultivation Technique was profound, her spiritual power pure, and coupled with the remarkable efficacy of the Medicinal Pills provided by Su Han, her internal injuries were recovering faster than anticipated.

However, the wound on her left arm still required time to heal, and any movement still caused a throbbing pain.

In the afternoon, Su Han finished a round of meditation. Seeing Bi Yao was truly bored, he took out a Go set from his simple travel bag and smiled, “Sitting idly is no fun. Bi Yao, would you like to play a game?”

Bi Yao’s eyes lit up, and she immediately came closer, “Good, good! But you, you dullard, you play chess so rigidly, it must be boring.

How about we make a wager?”

Su Han chuckled, “What wager?”

Bi Yao smiled slyly, “Whoever loses will be responsible for guarding the entire night tonight! How about it?”

Before Su Han could answer, Lu Xueqi, who had been sitting quietly nearby, frowned slightly and said softly, “No, Senior Brother Su also needs rest.”

Bi Yao snorted, “Sister Lu, are you already feeling sorry for him? Don’t worry, his Cultivation is profound; what’s one night without sleep? Besides, who’s to say he’ll lose?”

Su Han, not wanting to argue at this moment, said, “The matter of guarding has been arranged properly, there’s no need to change it.

However, a game of Go to pass the time is fine, but let’s skip the wager.”

Bi Yao pouted, but didn’t insist, enthusiastically setting up the board.

Her playing style was nimble and unpredictable, often making unexpected moves.

Su Han, on the other hand, was steady and profound, with an excellent strategic vision.

Their Go skills were evenly matched, and for a time, they were locked in an intense, inseparable battle.

Although Lu Xueqi remained silent, her gaze occasionally fell upon the Go board.

She also had some knowledge of the Dao of Go and could discern the subtle intricacies within.

Seeing Su Han calmly handle Bi Yao’s unconventional moves, always proceeding cautiously, she nodded inwardly.

And Bi Yao’s myriad ingenious changes also gave her a slightly different impression of this demonic sect’s enchantress.

She seemed not to be as solely reliant on wicked schemes as rumored.

At the end of the game, Su Han narrowly won by half a point.

Bi Yao pushed the board away in annoyance, “Doesn’t count, doesn’t count! I didn’t see that move clearly; let’s restart, restart!”

Su Han chuckled, “Once a piece is played, there’s no regretting it, Young Miss Bi Yao. Your skill at cheating has certainly improved.”

“Who’s cheating?!” Bi Yao’s pretty face flushed, and she glared at him playfully.

This interaction between the two naturally revealed an inexpressible familiarity and closeness.

Lu Xueqi silently withdrew her gaze and re-closed her eyes to meditate.

However, her mood was no longer as calm as before.

She suddenly recalled hearing Senior Sister Wen Min mention that Junior Brother Su Han, many years ago, had traveled down the mountain and seemed to have had some dealings with people from the Ghost King Sect.

It appeared to be this Miss Bi Yao.

There seemed to be a deep connection between them.

The next two days passed in such an atmosphere of outward calm and underlying currents.

The three took turns meditating and guarding at night.

Su Han and Bi Yao occasionally played Go or exchanged a few quiet words.

Lu Xueqi mostly remained silent, focused on healing her injuries.

Although there were no conflicts with Bi Yao, there was also no real conversation.

They maintained a polite distance.

By the evening of the third day, Lu Xueqi’s internal injuries had stabilized.

Although not fully healed, they no longer affected her normal movements.

As long as she didn’t engage in intense combat, there would be no major issues.

Su Han’s Cultivation had also fully recovered.

In fact, due to the continuous tempering of the past few days, he had subtly made some progress.

Bi Yao, even more so, had long been unable to restrain herself, clamoring to leave this “stifling little room.”

“Tomorrow morning, we will leave Heyang City,” Su Han decided, “Rest well tonight, and we’ll depart early tomorrow.”

That night, the moonlight was like water.

Perhaps it was the impending departure, but all three found it difficult to sleep.

Bi Yao leaned by the window, looking at the bright moonlight outside, and suddenly murmured, “The moon’s essence is like water, water like the sky; night mist shrouds, mist shrouds gauze… The moonlight in Heyang City does have some charm.”

Hearing this, Su Han walked to her side and looked out the window.

In the distance, houses were arrayed like fish scales, their indistinct outlines silhouetted by the moonlight.

In the inn’s courtyard nearby, tree shadows swayed, quiet and peaceful.

He softly hummed in agreement.

Lu Xueqi had also not slept, sitting on the edge of the bed.

She listened to the faint chirping of insects outside the window and the almost imperceptible breathing of the two by the window.

She suddenly felt that this small room, this strange “cohabitation” of three days.

Perhaps it would become an extremely special and unforgettable memory in her long Cultivation journey. (End of Chapter)