Night fell, and the entire street gradually dimmed.
Yun Liu still leaned against the door.
The Yao Lu Disciples waved goodbye one after another, leaving at the end of their shifts. Inside Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, only the young man remained.
After defeating and subduing the Huang Mao Mother and Daughter, and stepping into the role of a live-in son-in-law, from a business perspective, no matter how you looked at it, this deal was a surefire profit.
Could Ao Tian really be so confident that Ji Shiyu would win, unafraid of losing both daughter and mother in the process?
This was East Pole Province.
The prematurely awakened Xiao Xinran had every advantage—timing, location, and people.
Even Yun Liu couldn’t predict what the eldest daughter, who was originally a guaranteed win, would become if she got serious.
“You really underestimate me.”
The corners of Yun Liu’s lips curled up.
Having been through it all before, he knew Ji Shiyu and Ao Tian’s trump cards like the back of his hand.
Xiao Xinran did have a chance to win, but it wasn’t high.
However, if the Extreme Dao Female Yao mastered her exclusive cultivation method and weapon, the outcome would be uncertain.
Trying to pull both sides back to the same starting line?
Not that easy!
As the lights flickered in the distance, a streak of flowing light landed at Shenhua Pavilion.
A slender figure walked straight toward Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.
So late, and still a customer?
That person’s footsteps grew faster and faster.
Upon reaching the shop entrance, without a word, she threw herself into Yun Liu’s arms, took off her cloak, and revealed a tired yet lovely face.
Turned out it wasn’t a customer, but the Lady Boss.
“Whew, finally made it back!”
Qin Yao had traveled day and night, finishing a journey that should have taken more than ten days in just a few. She had barely closed her eyes.
“Welcome… home?”
The joy on the youth’s face was genuine.
Amid his surprise, he felt a bit of heartache.
The Clear Mist Peak Senior Sister’s Spirit Breath was erratic, and her whole body was covered in bloodstains, as if she’d just been through a bitter battle.
“Sister Qin, you’re hurt? How could you be so careless? If anything happened to you… what would I do all alone? (referring to the Reversion Pill)”
“It’s nothing, just some demon beast blood. That monkey was a bit tricky, but it couldn’t get the better of me.”
Qin Yao waved her hand and rubbed the anxious youth’s fluffy head, warmth filling her heart.
She didn’t return to Clear Mist Peak to report, nor did she go to Celestial Phenomena Peak to assure them of her safety.
Instead, she came to the shop first, and sure enough, the child was here, waiting day and night for her return.
This trip down the mountain felt different from all the others.
Qin Yao was eager to return, only because there was someone at home waiting for her.
Such long-lost warmth was especially rare in the secluded cultivation grounds of the Immortal Manor Sect, making it all the more cherished.
But someone was only here daydreaming by chance…
Qin Yao pulled Yun Liu’s hand, shutting the cold wind outside, and decided to rest well for one night, leaving the mundane matters for tomorrow when she returned to her Sect.
That night, Yun Liu didn’t go home either, but stayed in the shop, preparing a table of simple home-cooked dishes.
During the Lady Boss’s absence, all was well at the shop.
Not only had an Apothecary arrived, but there was also a Little Clown Apprentice, whose only use so far was to liven up the atmosphere.
Yun Liu talked about recent amusing events in Rosy Fragrance Pavilion and the Sect, while Qin Yao listened intently, smiling and nodding.
Even though a Golden Core Sword Cultivator had long since transcended mortal needs and reached the Fasting Realm, Senior Sister still ate with great relish.
Junior Brother Yun was clever and skillful, with boundless prospects on the Path of Alchemy, and his cooking skills were first-rate.
Who knew which lucky girl would get to be her sister-in-law in the future?
Whether in the Sect or at the Medicine Hut, Qin Yao always played the role of Big Sister, caring for all the Junior Sisters. She was used to being relied upon, and often felt mentally exhausted.
But the appearance of this youth allowed her to set aside all her burdens.
He thought of everything for her, always considering others, making their time together feel especially easy and pleasant.
Only now did Senior Sister realize that she, too, was just a girl. No matter how strong her cultivation or high her status, she still needed to be cherished and cared for.
It was rare to be treated like a little girl, especially by a much younger, far weaker, yet adorable youth.
Watching Yun Liu focused on making soup, boiling hot water, and preparing clean clothes for her, never letting her lift a finger for any chores, Qin Yao’s eyes shimmered with gentle light, unable to tell who was the elder in this family anymore.
Just for today, relying a little on Xiao Yun shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Just for a while, let me indulge a little longer…
After her bath, the young woman felt refreshed.
The bath barrel even had Spirit-Gathering herbs added—such thoughtfulness.
She couldn’t find her beloved little brother anywhere in the attic, so she lit a lamp and went downstairs, discovering Yun Liu in the inner Alchemy Room.
Inside the dark chamber, Wood Spirit energy was thick, and the scent of pills filled the air.
The Spirit Pill was about to be completed.
“Foundation Stabilizing Pill.”
The familiar aroma made Qin Yao cover her mouth, almost disturbing Yun Liu.
She, too, had been studying Third-Grade Pill Recipes lately, but could never grasp the essentials.
Foundation Stabilizing Pill was the most commonly used stabilizing elixir for Golden Core cultivators.
The youth’s face was pale, constantly gulping down Spirit Summoning Pills.
The emptiness in his Qi Sea made refining third-grade Spirit Pills extremely difficult, and his powerful soul was severely limited by the lack of Spirit Qi.
And this was just one of the more ordinary third-grade Pill Recipes—imagine how hard it would be to refine a Reversion Pill.
Qin Yao’s eyes sparkled. They really had underestimated Yun Liu.
Though only at Qi Refining, his soul strength was on par with the Golden Core stage—a true peerless genius!
“Whew!”
Yun Liu let out a long breath, task completed, and stored the Foundation Stabilizing Pill in a jade bottle.
Looking up, he saw the freshly bathed beauty waiting quietly outside the door.
Qin Yao’s whole body was still damp, her waist-length hair shining with an inky green luster under the candlelight, her Wood Spirit Root talent outstanding.
Rosy Fragrance Pavilion didn’t have an Inner Disciple’s robe for her, so she wore the Shopkeeper’s attire instead. The Azure Cloud Silk hugged her delicate figure.
One had to admit, Mr. Kuai had a fine eye for aesthetics. For a moment, the youth was stunned, the earlier question in his mind answered.
The Head of Clear Mist Peak didn’t need a sexy qipao to look captivating—an Apothecary’s Robe was enough, pure yet enchanting, with a mature charm no young girl could match.
“Uh, Sister Qin, aren’t you going to sleep yet? I’ve prepared Tranquility Tea by your bedside.”
Yun Liu coughed, having stared for a long time before coming to his senses, eyes shifting to the ceiling.
Seeing this, Qin Yao was suddenly tempted to tease the innocent youth. She slowly approached, cornering the nervous Yun Liu against the wall.
“Another special blend? If you take too much Meiyao Powder, there’ll be side effects, you know. It’s so late, what are you… planning to do to me?”
“Please rest assured, Senior Sister. I swear to the heavens, I have no other intentions, I only want you to have a good night’s sleep!”
Heaven and earth bear witness, all I want is to freeload off your seven-segment Golden Core Sword Cultivator labor!
Hearing Yun Liu’s earnest vow, Qin Yao burst out laughing, then feigned grievance and sighed, “Really? So I’m not attractive to you at all? Well, I suppose it makes sense. You have so many beautiful young confidantes around you.”
“Eh?”
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. Since you say you have no other intentions, why are you so good to me, Junior Brother?”
“Because you would give me… Uh, I’m not sure either. Maybe it’s because you seem familiar, like I’ve known you for a long time.”
Yun Liu brushed it off casually, almost letting slip what was truly in his heart.
Offering kindness for no reason—either a thief or a schemer. Of course, he had something to ask of her.
Besides, Senior Sister had done him a favor, and asking her for help wouldn’t be a loss to the Sect.
If he got further involved with Shenhua Sect, it wouldn’t be good to trouble Aunt Master or Second Mother again, given their high status.