Yun Yun had already changed into casual attire suitable for bathing, slightly turning her body so only her snow-white shoulders remained exposed.
Yet in this dim, faintly lit environment, the impression it gave felt even more direct.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
Gu Han clasped his hands in salute, taking the opportunity to lower his head and avoid looking at Yun Yun further, his tone neither subservient nor arrogant.
"What is your name?" Yun Yun inquired.
Hearing how Gu Han addressed her, she understood he was a disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect.
This youth appeared to be about the same age as her disciple Nalan Yanran, and his cultivation level was actually the same as Nalan Yanran's—a three-star Dou Fighter. He was definitely not an unknown figure within the sect.
"Outer Sect disciple, Gu Han," he replied.
"So you are Gu Han." Yun Yun looked him up and down, a sense of surprise rising in her heart.
She had certainly heard of this top-talented cultivator among the Provisional Disciples.
If Gu Han possessed wind-attribute Dou Qi instead of ice-attribute, he would have had a better chance than Nalan Yanran to become her personal disciple.
"When did you break through to the Dou Fighter stage?" Yun Yun asked, resting her chin on her hand with keen interest.
"Twenty days ago," Gu Han answered truthfully.
There was no need to hide such a matter; Yun Yun could easily find out upon returning to the sect.
"Twenty days?" The astonishment in Yun Yun's lively eyes was impossible to conceal. "You stabilized your cultivation and advanced to three stars in just twenty days?"
"This disciple was fortunate to find the Mystic Ice Force in the Skill Transmission Hall, and half a month ago, I discovered a seasonal Yin Wind at the peak of the third mountain. After secluded cultivation here for a period, I broke through to three stars yesterday," Gu Han replied, withholding some details.
His tone was cold, carrying an innate sense of detachment, yet it gave an impression of utmost seriousness and sincerity.
Yun Yun didn't question him further. Everyone had their own secrets; as long as Gu Han didn't harm the Cloud Mist Sect's interests, the stronger his talent, the better.
"What kind of token do you hold? How is your treatment within the sect? Have you encountered any difficulties?" Yun Yun's fondness for talent surfaced, and the three questions spilled out in quick succession.
A youth of such pure background, raised by the Cloud Mist Sect from orphanhood, whose loyalty was higher than that of ordinary disciples, and whose talent was exceptional—he was practically the ideal candidate to cultivate as a future pillar of the sect.
Instead of answering, Gu Han raised his head and met Yun Yun's gaze, asking, "Sect Leader, should I really answer your questions like this?"
He was only wearing underwear, with everything below his navel submerged in the hot spring.
He was no more than two meters away from Yun Yun, and what she wore was rather light as well.
"Why not?" A hint of teasing and amusement flickered in Yun Yun's eyes.
Under normal circumstances, sparing Gu Han's life would already be a concession made in light of his talent and potential.
But now, after a series of events, Gu Han's behavior had been so proper, even "aloof," that it sparked a mischievous desire in her to tease the young man.
And truth be told, though Gu Han was young, his physique was excellent—clearly, he trained diligently and emphasized tempering his body.
"You are the Sect Leader," Gu Han saluted again, lowering his head and answering obediently.
The implication was: you hold a high position and great power, so naturally, you call the shots.
Seeing his somewhat "humiliated" demeanor, Yun Yun felt a twinge of guilt, but it was overshadowed by the thrill of breaking a certain taboo.
After patiently listening to his answers, she suddenly changed the subject: "How did you come to be here?"
The voice carried an unprecedented chill and pressure.
"Beneath this hot spring, there's a hidden passage leading to an outdoor hot spring," Gu Han answered with complete candor. "Curious about where the passage led, I swam nearly fifteen zhang from the outside and emerged here."
A hidden passage?
Yun Yun immediately released her Dou Qi to sense her surroundings.
At the bottom of the hot spring pool, she discovered the entrance to the passage Gu Han had mentioned.
It seemed everything that happened tonight was just a coincidence.
As the sect leader and a Dou Emperor powerhouse, she couldn't possibly take action against a talented disciple of the sect over such a minor matter.
"You haven't taken a master yet?" Yun Yun looked at Gu Han and suddenly inquired.
"Within the sect, there are no elders skilled in ice-attribute Dou Qi," Gu Han replied.
"You could still take a master. The treatment for a personal disciple would be better, with a Dou King elder personally guiding your cultivation." Yun Yun analyzed for Gu Han, clearly intending to bind him through mentorship.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Gu Han responded, "I'm not familiar with the sect's elders and don't know which one would suit me."
"If the sect leader wishes for me to take a certain elder as my master, I'm naturally willing."
"But I have one condition."
"What condition?" Yun Yun grew interested.
In matters like this, she was actually more concerned if Gu Han had no conditions.
"My master's seniority must be equivalent to the Great Elder's," Gu Han answered.
Within the Cloud Mist Sect, Yun Leng was of the same generation as Yun Shan, making him Yun Yun's elder.
However, Yun Leng wasn't from the sect leader's lineage, so Yun Yun didn't need to address him as martial uncle.
"Seniority?" Yun Yun hadn't expected Gu Han to care about such things.
Gu Han offered no explanation, merely bowing his head and waiting for Yun Yun's response.
"I'll consider it after I return," Yun Yun said without giving a definite answer.
"As you wish." Gu Han had no objections and proactively spoke up, "Then I'll take my leave first."
Yun Yun gave a slight nod of agreement.
Gu Han took a deep breath, submerged into the hot spring, and swam toward the bottom.
Watching him disappear, leaving only ripples on the water's surface, Yun Yun felt a peculiar sensation rise in her heart.
Along with it came an indescribable sense of strangeness.
"Swish."
Yun Yun rose from the hot spring, the energy of heaven and earth transforming into a gentle breeze that dried her body. A brocade robe materialized out of thin air, enveloping her graceful figure, leaving only her fair swan-like neck exposed.
Dou Qi surged out, forming cyan wings. In a flash, she arrived outside the cave, then swiftly ascended along the cliff. Before long, she reached a massive rock nestled within the forest.
Her gaze lowered, and she immediately spotted the outdoor hot spring pool Gu Han had mentioned.
Not long after, a figure emerged from the hot spring and slowly walked to the shore.
"So, that Dou Emperor was Yun Yun."
"Did I manage to gain her favor?"
Gu Han pondered these questions in his heart while retrieving a towel from his Storage Ring to dry himself. He then changed back into his outer sect disciple attire and headed down the mountain.
Once he was out of sight, Yun Yun soared into the air, transforming into a cyan streak of light that shot toward Cloud Mist Mountain.
Within dozens of breaths, she arrived at the peak, entering the courtyard belonging to her, the sect leader.
"It's late today. I'll see Yan Ran tomorrow."
Glancing up at the moon, Yun Yun entered the courtyard and returned to the bed in her bedroom.
But after sitting down, she found it difficult to fall asleep. From time to time, Gu Han's youthful yet strikingly handsome face, which even seemed somewhat endearing, surfaced in her mind.
"What's happening to me?"
On the other side, Gu Han took out his token and entered the Cloud Mist Sect's mountain gate. He made his way through the paths and returned to his small courtyard in the outer sect. After entering the secret chamber, he resumed his cultivation.
First, set a small goal: surpass Yun Yun!
The feeling of bowing his head in front of her was truly unpleasant!
But before that, let's check today's opportunity.
"Hmm!?"
"This master and disciple pair has a connection with me?"