That night, after the intense events at Liuyao Pavilion, the front yard still bore traces of the minor damages, though nothing severe. The stones on the ground were slightly cracked, leaves had fallen, and the lingering aura of high-level experts hung faintly in the air, like a reluctant breeze that refused to vanish.
The members of Liuyao Pavilion were immediately deployed. They worked carefully, repairing the minor damages. The sound of their footsteps, the swish of brooms, and the weary sighs blended into a quiet rhythm of the night. The pale moon above seemed to watch silently, its cold gaze witnessing the small flurry before all returned to stillness.
Inside the pavilion, Yao Yue offered Yifan and his companions a place to rest. Yet Yifan, showing no trace of fatigue, gently shook his head. There was a calm in his eyes that was difficult to comprehend, as if everything that had just happened were trivial.
"Yao Yue," he said softly, his voice low like a gentle night breeze,
"Is there a secluded place here suitable for cultivation?"
The question caused Yao Yue to react subtly. She gazed at Yifan attentively, as if confirming his intent. Then she inclined her head lightly.
"Of course, there is," she replied politely, her tone filled with respect.
"I can escort you to the place, Young Master."
"Then, thank you," Yifan nodded lightly, calm as ever.
Yao Yue gave a faint smile. "The thanks are mine. You have helped me drive away the troublemakers earlier. It is only fitting that I serve you now."
She hesitated briefly before asking, "Um… will Young Master cultivate?"
Yifan did not answer immediately. His lips curved faintly, and his gaze shifted to Xue Yao, standing not far behind him.
His gaze was serene, calm, clear without flaw. Like the surface of a spring lake, it reflected the sky as it was, undisturbed. From that look emanated a strange warmth, gentle yet unobtrusive.
Xue Yao, receiving that gaze, immediately lowered her head. Her cheeks tinged with a soft blush, her expression awkward. The fearsome rumors surrounding her cruelty seemed distant, like old tales that no longer related to her.
A soft breeze stirred her hair. The lower she bowed, the more unsettled she felt. Silence… no sound came from Yifan, which made her slightly panicked.
With her head slightly bowed, Xue Yao dared to glance forward. When her eyes met Yifan's, who was suddenly close, she jumped. The distance was mere inches, as if one wrong movement would bring their faces together.
Her eyes widened, pupils trembling. Her lips parted slightly, but no words emerged. In her shock, she quickly diverted her gaze, eyes flitting nervously, unable to calm herself.
"I never expected… the rumors said you were a cruel demoness, yet you can look this shy." Yifan's voice finally broke the silence, light and tinged with a soft chuckle.
Xue Yao remained silent. Her fingers moved slowly, tips brushing together, as if fidgeting with something invisible. She herself did not know what to say.
Nearby, Yun Xi, who had been observing all along, looked at Yifan with annoyance. She turned her face away, a faint huff escaping, her pupils rolling slightly upward, a trace of lazy displeasure clear.
'Young Master, it's all because of your perfect looks,' Yun Xi grumbled internally.
'Which woman wouldn't feel shy in front of you? Even the Young Lady of the Huangfu Immortal Clan would be captivated. And you still pretend not to notice? Annoying…'
Suddenly, Yifan felt something strange, like a faint whisper brushing past his ears, as if someone were talking about him. He glanced at Yun Xi. Seeing her expression, he smiled slightly. Indeed, the girl in the purple dress was sulking.
'Hah… my little fox is getting cuter by the moment,' Yifan murmured inwardly.
He then broke the silence with his words.
"Ekhem… Xue Yao, it's time for you to refine the blood essence you obtained earlier. I will watch over you."
Xue Yao startled slightly, still embarrassed. "Ahm… alright, Young Master," she replied, a little flustered.
"Yao Yue," Yifan turned, "show her the place."
"Yes," Yao Yue responded briskly, her tone firm, as if not wanting to delay further.
Xue Yao paused for a moment. Only now did she realize that all this was for her. A warmth, the first in a long time, touched her heart.
'Young Master… you are so kind,' she whispered in her mind, watching Yifan's retreating back.
---
They finally arrived at the destination, slightly distant from Liuyao Pavilion, hidden among thick trees. A small cave awaited, as if it had been there for ages. A cold draft seeped from its crevices, yet the spiritual energy inside was dense, thick in the air like morning mist. This was indeed a place suited for cultivation.
"Xue Yao, you may refine it now. Do not worry, I am here." Yifan said, his tone calm but carrying an unshakable assurance.
"That's right, Miss Xue Yao can train in peace." Yao Yue added softly.
A moment of silence followed.
"If needed, I am also here." Yun Xi's voice sounded calm, yet a cold decisiveness lingered beneath.
Though often brushed by jealousy she never voiced, Yun Xi was not the type to hold grudges. She could feel jealous, yet she remained wise. As long as no one betrayed Yifan, she would embrace them like family.
"You all…" Xue Yao spoke.
She paused briefly. She had never been treated with such attention before. A warmth she had long missed returned. Memories of her past struck her, she had been alone since childhood after witnessing her mother's brutal murder. Fortunately, she had survived her pursuers. Since then, a long loneliness had frozen her heart.
Xue Yao's eyes glistened. She lowered her head, her lips trembling.
"Th… thank you all," she whispered, holding back tears.
"Xue Yao," Yifan's voice came again, firm yet gentle.
He stepped forward, standing directly before Xue Yao. His hand reached out, wiping away the tears gently streaming down her face.
"You no longer need to feel alone from now on."
Behind his cold demeanor, his heart stirred, touched by her suffering. He knew well how cruel the cultivation world could be. Without rising above it, one could only be oppressed.
Yet instead of calming her, his words caused Xue Yao's dam of tears to break. Her face pressed against Yifan's chest, and her tears flowed even more freely.
'Why are her tears increasing?' Yifan wondered inwardly.
He stood stiffly, puzzled. His intent was to soothe Xue Yao, but the effect was the opposite. A wry smile appeared. He glanced at Yun Xi and Yao Yue, as if silently asking for help.
Yao Yue was moved too, yet a small laugh escaped her at Yifan's antics.
Yun Xi only shook her head slightly. Amused. The cold Young Master was now pretending to comfort a woman moved to tears. Yun Xi knew he had never faced this before. For Yifan, challenging a battlefield was likely easier than soothing a girl's heart. He seemed helpless.
After a while, Xue Yao's sobs subsided. Her breathing returned to normal. She lifted her face, eyes still wet.
"Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, everyone. Xue Yao feels much better." Her voice was sincere and warm, though slightly hoarse.
Yifan, Yun Xi, and Yao Yue exchanged glances. The three of them smiled lightly, almost simultaneously. Xue Yao smiled too, a rare elegant smile. Without delay, she turned and entered the cave.
At the same time, Yifan raised his hand, activating a formation. Complex blue patterns appeared in the air, interconnecting like veins of the sky. It was a protective formation. Yifan would not make a single mistake at this moment.
'What kind of formation is this?' Yao Yue wondered inwardly.
She looked up at the glowing patterns above the empty space. She had never seen a formation this intricate. Even in her ancestor's exile area, the formations never reached such complexity. She felt like a frog seeing the vast sky for the first time.
Formation levels were divided into nine, from level 1 being the lowest to level 9 the highest. But the level Yifan activated, Yao Yue did not know.
After the formation was active, Yun Xi stepped closer, standing by Yifan's side.
"Young Master, the people around you seem to have great potential," Yun Xi said, glancing toward the cave where Xue Yao was training, then briefly at Yao Yue.
Yifan simply shrugged, replying casually, "I don't know either. Perhaps… it's luck."
"Luck?" Yun Xi smiled faintly, though inwardly she murmured, 'You can even suppress the destined heir. What is luck before you?'
Yifan liked to humble himself to the extreme. Yun Xi sometimes wanted to grab him whole out of annoyance.
Time passed, and night turned to morning. The first sunlight spilled from the east, illuminating the quiet yard.
From within the cave, a powerful aura began to seep out. A crimson aura burst forth. The wind blew violently, and the surrounding trees trembled.
Xue Yao opened her eyes, her gaze burning. She then stepped out, the breakthrough was complete.
Outside the cave, three figures waited.
"Third-stage Heavenly King?" Yao Yue exclaimed.
Previously, Xue Yao had only been at the first-stage of Heavenly King. In a single night, she jumped two small stages at once. This was extraordinary. Normally, a cultivator would spend years to advance one minor stage. But Xue Yao shattered it like water breaking a fragile dam.
"Excellent," Yifan said with a smile. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Xue Yao."
Xue Yao bowed deeply. "Thank you. This is all thanks to your protection. I will surely repay your kindness."
Yao Yue quickly responded with a friendly smile. "Miss Xue Yao, you jest. We are already acquainted. There is no need for such formality."
Yun Xi remained silent, but her smile was clear.
Yifan spoke again, "Come, Xue Yao. I have a gift for you."
"Ahh…?" Xue Yao was startled. She looked at Yifan, puzzled. A gift? What gift did he mean?
Hesitant, she stepped forward. Her red dress billowed in the wind, revealing pale jade-like skin on her thighs. The cut of her dress accentuated her beauty, and a fragrance lingered around her. Her breath quickened, chest rising and falling rapidly, heart pounding.
Yifan lifted his hand, his index finger touching Xue Yao's forehead. In an instant, a golden energy flooded into her. Xue Yao closed her eyes, fully focused. The energy did not overwhelm her but harmonized, as if it belonged within her body.
Xue Yao's cultivation aura surged drastically.
"Fifth-stage Heavenly King… peak?!" Yao Yue exclaimed in disbelief, eyes wide.
Her body tensed immediately. What was this energy? How could it so easily raise Xue Yao's level instantly? Even others required years to achieve this.
With a gaze full of shock and awe, Yao Yue looked back at Yifan.
This man… still managed to surprise her. Who exactly was he?