273: heartwarming

She took a sip. The bitterness of the heart-nourishing grass was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the jade lotus flower, spreading through her mouth with the soft texture of the Spirit Rice. A gentle wave of spiritual energy slid down her throat, slowly flowing through her limbs and bones. Her Nascent Soul at the Dantian seemed to feel the nourishment, stretching slightly. Her body, which had been tense for days due to cult affairs, finally relaxed quite a bit.

She looked up at Hua Hanxiang, her gaze much softer than usual, her voice light as a breeze:

“Thank you, sister, for taking the trouble to prepare this for me.”

“Why are you being so polite with me!”

Hua Hanxiang waved her hand, picked up an empty bowl for herself, and began to eat the porridge slowly, speaking indistinctly:

“We'll be family from now on, living together day and night. There's no need to be so formal.”

Upon hearing this, Widow Ya's hand scooping the porridge paused slightly, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes.

Since taking charge of the Poison Scorpion Cult, she had grown accustomed to flattery, schemes, and wariness; it had been a long time since she had experienced such pure kindness.

She looked down at the ripples in her bowl, silent for a moment before nodding gently. She didn't say anything more, just quietly ate her porridge, but the fingers holding the jade bowl relaxed slightly.

Once they both set down their jade bowls, Widow Ya looked up at Situ Jun, a hint of hard-to-detect reliance in her eyes, though her tone had regained some of its usual coldness:

“Husband, it's getting late. I must return to the Poison Scorpion Cult's camp. I didn't return last night, and the Elders in the cult are likely worried. Besides, if I leave too late and someone with ulterior motives spots me, rumors might start, which could bring trouble to you.”

The Nether Crow Cave Mansion was about to open, and various factions were secretly watching. If her relationship with Situ Jun were exposed, it would be inevitable for others to guess that they were friends or had formed an alliance.

Situ Jun nodded, his fingertips gently brushing a strand of hair that hung by her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. His voice was deep and gentle:

“Be careful on the way. If anything happens, you can send a sound transmission talisman to me.”

As he spoke, he took out a lustrous white sound transmission talisman from his storage ring and handed it over:

“The Immortal Cave is about to open. Take care of yourself and don't force anything. Contact me whenever there's trouble.”

Widow Ya took the talisman, the characteristic warmth of the talisman reaching her fingertips, warming her heart.

She carefully tucked the sound transmission talisman into the inner lining of her robe, placing it close to her heart, as if she could feel his presence that way.

After smoothing her dress, she was about to step out when Hua Hanxiang suddenly hurried forward, picking up a cloak embroidered with a subtle scorpion pattern from the bedside.

“Sister Ya, there's mist in the morning and the wind is cold. Put this on.”

Hua Hanxiang helped her tie the cloak's strings, delicately tying an elegant knot with her fingertips, and said with a smile:

“Come over to play whenever you're free. I'll have the cook make something delicious for you.”

The fine silver threads embroidered on the edge of the cloak glinted softly in the morning light. Wrapped in it, she felt exceptionally warm, and even her heart felt cozy.

Widow Ya's throat tightened as she whispered:

“Thank you, sister. I will.”

The three of them walked to the tent flap. Widow Ya looked back at Situ Jun once more, her gaze complex—longing, reliance, but more than anything, a firm resolve for the future.

Situ Jun gave her a slight nod, his gaze calm as a deep pool, seemingly reassuring her silently: I'll wait for you to return.

Widow Ya took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions in her eyes. After one last look at the two of them, she turned and lifted the tent flap.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated. The milky-white fog, carrying a cool breeze, rushed toward her. Her figure soon blended into the thick mist, and after a few leaps, she vanished into the depths of the forest outside the camp.

Inside the tent, Hua Hanxiang looked in the direction Widow Ya had left and sighed softly, her tone full of emotion:

“I really didn't expect Sister Ya to become so gentle in just one day. When I saw her in the cult before, she was always cold and prickly. Everyone had to be careful when talking to her. I can hardly believe she's the same person.”

Situ Jun walked to her side, reached out to rub her hair, his eyes filled with a hint of a smile and understanding:

“Being gentle is good. She was forced to be that way before. The internal strife within the Poison Scorpion Cult is intense; if she didn't put up thorns, she wouldn't have been able to hold her ground. Now that she has someone to rely on and doesn't have to keep her nerves taut, she can naturally show her true self—I actually find her more likable this way.”

He paused, casting his gaze toward the morning mist gradually clearing outside the window. The smile in his eyes faded, replaced by a touch of gravity:

“Once the matter of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion is settled, we won't have to hide like this anymore. When that time comes, I can openly take her back to the Northern Border with us and let her completely escape the troubles of the cult's affairs.”

Hua Hanxiang nodded, reaching out to take his arm and leaning her cheek against his sleeve. Her face once again wore her usual bright smile:

“That's great! When we get to the Northern Border, we'll plant jade lotus flowers all over the courtyard. Sister Ya likes peace and quiet, so we'll save a south-facing room for her. We'll eat and Cultivate together every day, and never be apart again.”

Hearing this, Situ Jun looked down at Hua Hanxiang, whose smile was like a flower in his arms. He gently pinched her cheek, his tone so doting it could melt:

“Alright, Once this matter is settled， Then I'll take you and Yaer back to the Northern Border.”

Hua Hanxiang's eyes crinkled with her smile. Just as she was about to say more about her dreams for the Northern Border, a hurried set of footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent, making a “rustling” sound on the grass. Accompanied by Bai Yu's slightly urgent voice, the warm atmosphere in the tent was broken:

“My Lord, I have important matters to report!”

Situ Jun's expression tightened slightly. He raised his hand to straighten his collar, his gentle aura instantly vanishing and being replaced by the steady demeanor of a leader. He said in a deep voice:

“Enter.”

The tent flap was lifted, and Bai Yu walked in quickly.

He was still covered in morning dew, and the hem of his robe was even a bit muddy, clearly having rushed all the way.

Bai Yu's voice was a bit more solemn than usual:

“I have confirmed the matters you ordered, My Lord. Currently, there are at least four Nascent Soul Cultivators clearly present in the valley. Mo Chenggui of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is at the Early Stage or Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul realm, Widow Ya of the Poison Scorpion Cult is at the Early Stage, the Withered Bone Ascetic of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect is also at the Early Stage, and there is a Loose Cultivator with an extremely sharp aura, suspected to be at the Peak of the Early Stage.”

Situ Jun's hand, which had just sat down and picked up a teacup, stiffened. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said:

“Perhaps more than four... It seems there are indeed many clever people. How could Nascent Soul Cultivators not be tempted by the place where a grand Void Refining Stage expert passed away? If it weren't for the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's rule forbidding the presence of anyone above the Nascent Soul level within the Dynasty, there might even be Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators appearing by now.”

“Furthermore,”

Bai Yu continued:

“Last night, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce announced they will hold an auction today. After the auction, they will open the Legacy of the Immortal Cave along with the other factions.”

“An auction? Mo Chenggui certainly has unique interests.”

Situ Jun put down his teacup and continued:

“Continue monitoring. Also, keep an eye out for the arrival of the State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi from the Tianqi Kingdom.”

“Yes.”

Bai Yu bowed and turned to leave.