"Are you feeling better now?" Yi Chen asked softly.
"Mhmm," Feng Yu responded with a delicate hum while her arms were still tightly wrapped around Yi Chen's shoulders.
"That's good. There's still some time left for dinner, so why don't we go to our room and tidy ourselves up? I don't want your father to worry needlessly," Yi Chen asked with the same gentle tone.
"Alright…" Feng Yu reluctantly let go of her grip and soon leaned back on her seat with her head pointed downward towards her lap, where she fidgeted with her fingers.
The embarrassment had finally started kicking in, and she had no idea how to face Yi Chen anymore.
Seeing her like this, Yi Chen gently lifted her chin and, using his thumbs, wiped away her tear stains, "See you in the dinner hall then, alright?" he asked with a smile.
Feng Yu's breath paused at this sudden skinship, and she couldn't help but feel her entire face flush the next moment as she barely managed to give a nod.
Thanks to her veil, Yi Chen didn't see this and soon got up after seeing her response. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she saw this and followed after him.
The two soon separated and went to their room to tidy themselves up before finally meeting again at the dining table an hour later.
"I'm really glad that the two of you were able to select your engagement ring this quickly," Master Ru said when he heard the news and continued, "That leaves the two of you with more time to familiarise yourselves with the marriage ceremonies."
"Familiarise?" Yi Chen couldn't help but ask.
"Indeed. Ceremonial Training to be precise. It's something all young couples go through before their wedding day.
Tomorrow I'll contact a suitable teacher for the two of you, and your training will start in earnest the day after. Pay close attention to it, understand?"
"Yes, I will,"
"Yes, father,"
Yi Chen and Feng Yu responded simultaneously, which prompted them to steal a glance at each other, only to be caught and look away haphazardly.
A pleased expression appeared on Master Ru's face seeing this exchange, as he soon ordered the food to be served, and all three of them soon ate to their heart's content.
After he was done with the meal, Yi Chen decided to ask Master Ru something that had been going on in his mind, "I was wondering, when is our wedding planned?"
He already knew that the engagement was to be held in eight days, but was still unaware of the wedding.
"Ideally, it should take place within a month after the engagement, but still, that's something for the astrologer to decide.
I've already invited him, and he will be here a couple of days before your engagement, so that you two are already aware of the dates during the time of your engagement.
"Ah, I see," Yi Chen nodded in understanding. A part of him was glad that he still had a month to mentally prepare himself for his marriage day.
With a few more small exchanges, the dinner was soon over, and both Feng Yu and Yi Chen were out in the garden and strolling.
"The food was great…" Yi Chen tried to initiate a conversation.
Feng Yu, who was walking on his left, nodded at his words, "It indeed was." She was feeling a lot better now. However, there was still a hint of flush apparent on her face.
'To think I would cry my heart out while in his embrace…' She thought while keeping her gaze focused on the stone tiles below.
Seeing her walking with her head down, Yi Chen asked, "Are you still concerned about your earlier worries?"
"I'll be lying if I said I'm not," Feng Yu smiled slightly and turned towards him, "However, thanks to you, it's a lot better now."
"Well…that's a shame. I thought my special head patting technique would have cleared all your worries," Yi Chen exaggeratedly sighed.
"A special what?" Feng Yu couldn't help but ask with a frown, thinking that she had heard wrongly
"My Special Head Patting Technique," Yi Chen said while looking towards his right palm and said without batting an eye, "It's a technique I've honed after meditating under a great fountain for ten thousand days and nights."
A trace of disappointment became apparent on his face the next moment as he turned towards Feng Yu and asked, "Isn't it a pity?"
A bemused expression formed on Feng Yu's face the very next moment, and, realising whatever Yi Chen had said was utter nonsense, she soon burst into laughter.
Hearing her melodious laughter, a satisfied smile formed on Yi Chen's face as he patiently waited for her to calm down.
The two then leisurely walked around while sharing some pleasant childhood moments with each other before finally calling it a day.
When Yi Chen arrived at his room today, it was around eleven at night. He immediately sat in a lotus position and began his attempt to open the second Qi point.
According to Master Ru's words from the morning, it would take him two or three days to open it up. Therefore, he must keep up with his breathing routine no matter the result every single day.
One breath…hold…
Third breath…hold…
Sixth breath…hold…
Right now, Yi Chen could follow the routine only until the sixth breath and kept repeating the cycle while focusing all his attention on his second Qi point located a few centimetres to the right of his first Qi point.
He maintained clear focus and kept at it for several minutes, which unknowingly turned into hours.
A drop of sweat fell down his chin as he finally let go of his breath and started breathing properly.
Three hours had elapsed, and Yi Chen could finally feel that he was halfway there, and after another intense session just like this one, the second Qi point would finally open.
He was too tired to go on for another three hours and wanted to go and fall asleep. However, he felt that if he did that, then he would be betraying himself.
'How can I relax now after promising myself that I'll give my hundred and ten per cent while cultivating? Won't I be going back on my words?'
It was the words he had said to himself in the morning that acted as a push and made him once again sit in proper posture and once again begin his breathing routine.
Time kept passing, and unknowingly, more than three hours had passed, but Yi Chen was still sitting in the same position with his focus fully on breaking through his second Qi point.
Finally, when it was six in the morning, and the rays of the rising sun were making their way into his room from the windows, he finally opened his eyes.
"I did it,"
Yi Chen muttered with a confident smile while welcoming the warm rays with his eyes.