44: From now on, we'll each discuss our own points.

Early in the morning, within the tranquil courtyard of the State Preceptors Residence.

Lu Yi sat leisurely by the stone table, sipping newly delivered fragrant tea, as if he were the master of the residence himself.

Beside him, Wu Mingyue lay silently on the table.

Her once bright and spirited eyes now appeared somewhat hollow, her expression depressed to the extreme.

Since witnessing the tragedy of her father and brother killing each other in the Secret Realm, her mental state had been unstable.

The new emperor, Wu Mingxu, had sent various greetings and rare calming supplements.

Even though they filled her room, she ignored them all.

For the past few days, she had stayed by Lu Yi's side inseparably and dependently.

It was as if in this collapsing world, only this man was her sole reliance.

This somewhat sorrowful stillness was soon broken by an uninvited fragrant breeze.

Chu Qianqian had arrived.

Today, she had specifically changed into an extremely bold and provocative purple gauze dress.

The semi-transparent gauze material outlined her seductive and fiery figure in a looming fashion, filled with a fatal allure.

She came uninvited, holding a steaming bowl of soup that emitted a thick medicinal fragrance.

After seeing Lu Yi, she walked straight towards him.

Under Wu Mingyue's somewhat dazed gaze.

Chu Qianqian ignored the empty stone stool nearby, turned her body, and sat directly on Lu Yi's lap.

Lu Yi felt the warm and soft sensation on his leg and couldn't help but sigh in his heart:

"As expected of the Hehuan Sect Holy Maiden, she really is supple..."

She held the soup bowl in one hand and wrapped her other arm around Lu Yi's neck.

In a sweet, delicate voice that could make a man's bones go soft, she whispered:

"Holy Son Lu~ This is the 'Grand Tonic Soup' I personally brewed for you early this morning. Quickly, have a taste..."

And this erotic and ambiguous scene happened to be fully witnessed by an "elder" who had just walked into the courtyard.

Leng Ningshuang, who had come looking for Lu Yi, saw this unseemly scene, and her brow furrowed tightly in an instant.

The State Preceptors Residence had always been cold and quiet, a place for her dedicated cultivation.

But it was only the second day since Lu Yi and the others moved in, and they were already being so indecent. If they stayed any longer, it would be unbearable!

This caused a strong sense of displeasure to rise in her heart.

"Ahem!"

Leng Ningshuang coughed lightly, her cold voice breaking the ambiguous atmosphere.

Putting on the air of an elder, her gaze fell on Lu Yi, and she spoke in a somewhat admonishing tone:

"Martial Nephew Lu, this is a place of quiet cultivation. I hope you conduct yourself with self-respect."

"Martial Nephew?"

Before Lu Yi could respond, Chu Qianqian on his lap immediately caught onto the word.

Not only did she have no intention of getting up, but she pressed her body even closer.

She turned her head, her charming peach blossom eyes looking at Leng Ningshuang with a flirtatious gaze, and chuckled while covering her mouth:

"Oh my, so it's the 'Martial Aunt'. That 'Martial Nephew' of yours sounds so distant. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were quite old."

As she spoke, she deliberately traced circles on Lu Yi's chest with her finger, continuing to provoke:

"Our Holy Son Lu doesn't like women who are stiff and old-fashioned."

These words accurately pierced the spot where Leng Ningshuang had already felt uncomfortable.

She was in the prime of her youth, exceptionally beautiful, yet because of a damn seniority rank, she was made a generation older than her peers for no reason!

Her face instantly turned cold, and the aura around her dropped several degrees.

But due to her status as the State Preceptor, it was difficult for her to bicker publicly with an "Enchantress" like Chu Qianqian, who clearly didn't come from a proper Sect. For a moment, she was left speechless.

Just as Leng Ningshuang fell into this awkward dilemma, Lu Yi, who had been silent, finally took action.

He reached out and gently pushed away Chu Qianqian, who was clinging to him and still radiating charm.

Then, he stood up and unobtrusively blocked Leng Ningshuang's path.

He isolated her from Chu Qianqian's provocative gaze.

Looking at the stunned Chu Qianqian, he said in a half-joking tone:

"Qianqian, don't be rude."

Immediately after, he turned around and gave a gentle smile to the equally dazed Leng Ningshuang behind him.

Then, he spoke in an extremely natural tone:

"Sister Ningshuang, she speaks without thinking, don't mind her. I understand you don't like people joking about your seniority."

Then, he added with a smile to Leng Ningshuang:

"Sister Lengshuang, I think from now on, we should just address each other our own way."

"I'll call you 'Sister', and as for you, if you're happy, call me 'Nephew'; if not, you can just call me by my name. What do you think?"

This sudden "Sister Ningshuang" instantly changed the situation between the two.

It clearly declared to Chu Qianqian that his relationship with Leng Ningshuang was much closer than she imagined.

It also gave Leng Ningshuang, who was in an awkward position, a perfect way out.

At the same time, it cleverly packaged the change in address within the act of "facing an external enemy together," making it appear completely natural and not at all abrupt.

Hearing this form of address, Leng Ningshuang was momentarily stunned.

Although Lu Yi had mentioned it once at the assembly, she thought he was just joking at the time.

But when she realized Lu Yi was clearly trying to help her out...

The words of correction at the tip of her tongue were ultimately not spoken.

She tentatively... tacitly accepted this form of address that made her feel slightly more comfortable.

To break the subtle deadlock, she shifted her attention to Wu Mingyue, who had been sitting blankly the whole time.

Her cold voice softened accordingly as she asked gently:

"Has Mingyue... been like this these past few days?"

Seeing this, Lu Yi immediately followed her lead and requested in a somewhat helpless tone:

"Yes, this girl's mental state is extremely unstable. She won't listen to anyone and only recognizes me."

"Sister Ningshuang, you are knowledgeable and experienced. I wonder if you have any way to help counsel her?"

Leng Ningshuang thought for a moment, then shook her head and stated:

"This is a sickness of the heart. Heart sickness must be treated with medicine for the heart. Let her think things through on her own."

"Since she only recognizes you now, then you should spend more time with her."

Lu Yi nodded upon hearing this.

However, his focus wasn't on "spending more time with Wu Mingyue."

But rather that Leng Ningshuang had now tacitly accepted the title of "Sister Ningshuang."

"Martial Aunt" had become "Sister." Would the next step be far off?