The Flying Sword beneath Pei Yuhang's feet, formed from clouds, suddenly dispersed. He descended calmly from the sky, landing so gently he didn't even startle the birds on the nearby treetops.
In the secret chamber built of Spirit Bricks, Ye Liyuan, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, suddenly heard the chime of a wind bell. She didn't need to guess who had entered.
"Ah Han, did you spend the last two days welcoming that group of Demonesses from the Yin Yang Sacred Land?"
Ye Liyuan's cheeks puffed out slightly, her voice tinged with a hint of resentment.
Pei Yuhang was slightly taken aback to see his Dao Companion looking so jealous.
'I haven't seen my Dao Companion show such petty emotions in twenty years...'
After all, many Cultivators shared a common trait after years of cultivation: their worldly desires would gradually weaken. Ye Liyuan was no exception. After her Cultivation reached the Nascent Soul realm, her once youthful and vibrant personality had slowly become calm and detached.
'Her behavior now... It seems that after her Dao Foundation shattered, her mortal emotions and desires have started to return.'
'However, this change might not be a bad thing.'
No matter what Ye Liyuan became, she was still Pei Yuhang's beloved Dao Companion. Besides, he quite liked this girlish attitude. It was much better than the somewhat depressed state she'd been in a few days ago.
It also reminded him of what it was like when he and Ye Liyuan first fell in love.
Thinking of this, Pei Yuhang wrapped his arms around Ye Liyuan's somewhat frail body from behind, pulling her snugly into his embrace.
Inhaling the sweet, citrusy scent from his Dao Companion's hair, Pei Yuhang said slowly:
"Liyuan, don't be jealous... You know I despise those Witches from the Yin Yang Sacred Land who mistreat women and force themselves on men. How could I possibly have taken a liking to them?"
Hearing this, Ye Liyuan's pretty face flushed slightly, but she quickly pursed her lips and said:
"Hmph, who'd be jealous of that bunch of Witches? I... I'm just a little angry. Why didn't you come back and discuss it with me after the Sect gave you that mission?
Yueqiu was the one who told me about it!"
Pei Yuhang ran his fingers through Ye Liyuan's long hair again and again, as if calming a spooked cat.
"I'm sorry, Liyuan. You were at a critical point in your healing. I couldn't disturb you."
Ye Liyuan gave a proud little snort and turned her head away, preventing Pei Yuhang from playing with her hair to show she was not satisfied with such a simple apology.
But Pei Yuhang tirelessly held his Dao Companion's somewhat cool body and continued to play with her hair.
Only after the warmth of his chest made his Dao Companion's body relax did Pei Yuhang take out a small porcelain vial containing the Fountain of Youth and dangle it in front of her.
"Liyuan, look what I brought back for you."
"This is..."
"A drop from the Fountain of Youth. Even if a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator drinks it, they can extend their depleted lifespan by several decades.
The incredibly rich Life Spiritual Qi contained in the Fountain of Youth will definitely heal the injuries the Celestial Tribulation gave you completely!"
Hearing that her injuries could be healed, Ye Liyuan's beautiful eyes widened, and she took the small porcelain vial with trembling fingertips.
"This... this is too precious... Where did you get it?"
Ye Liyuan looked at Pei Yuhang with some worry, her wide eyes seeming to ask, 'You didn't kill someone and steal this, did you?'
Pei Yuhang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He held Ye Liyuan's hand and smiled.
"Don't worry, just take it. This was a reward from our Sect Leader... If it weren't precious, I wouldn't be giving it to you."
Having been Pei Yuhang's Dao Companion for decades, Ye Liyuan didn't put on an act of refusal. She nestled into his embrace, her small hands clutching his lapels, unwilling to let go.
"Ah Han, you're too good to me."
"Hmph, hmph. Then how do you plan on repaying me?"
Ye Liyuan's face was so red and tender it looked like water could drip from it, but she still put on a brave, haughty front and said, "You jerk, Ah Han, you must have been holding back for months, haven't you?"
As she spoke, Ye Liyuan lay back in Pei Yuhang's arms, shyly turning her head aside and opening her arms.
"Come on, you've definitely wanted to do this for a long time! You jerk, Ah Han!"
Ye Liyuan closed her eyes nervously, but she didn't hear the expected sound of clothes ripping or heavy breathing.
She opened her eyes in confusion and saw Pei Yuhang's conflicted expression.
"..."
"Liyuan, your body is too weak right now... You can't do any strenuous exercise. You need to rest quietly."
Pei Yuhang never thought he would one day say such words. In the past, whenever his Yang Fire flared up uncontrollably, he would always be the one forcefully pulling Ye Liyuan back to their room.
But there was no helping it. Even Ye Liyuan at the Divinity Transformation Stage couldn't handle him, let alone now with her Cultivation completely gone. It would probably be the death of her.
Ye Liyuan wasn't stupid. She quickly realized what foolish, overconfident words she had just spoken.
'I'm doomed. I was so happy that I got carried away and said something so stupid, horny, and embarrassing to Ah Han!'
Like an ostrich, she buried her head in Pei Yuhang's chest to avoid looking at him.
At his Dao Companion's cowardly behavior, Pei Yuhang naturally had to laugh without restraint. The result was that he annoyed Ye Liyuan, who raised her small fists and began to subject the Sword Immortal to some "domestic abuse."
"Stupid Ah Han, you jerk, Ah Han! Who told you to laugh at me!"
"Hahaha! I've had professional training. Unless it's an unbearably funny joke, I absolutely won't laugh. Hahaha~"
"Jerk!"
Pei Yuhang and Ye Liyuan bantered for quite a while. When he saw that the still-frail Ye Liyuan had tired herself out, he instructed her to properly refine the Fountain of Youth.
After settling matters and sharing another tender moment, Pei Yuhang left the secret chamber, no longer disturbing his Dao Companion's cultivation.
Now, he planned to see which fellow Daoist had become his new neighbor on the adjacent mountain peak.
'I hope it's someone friendly.'
Pei Yuhang took off on his sword, soaring straight into the clouds and quickly arriving above the neighboring peak.
The once-empty mountain peak now had a grand mansion that seemed to have risen from the ground overnight. The splendor of this new residence was at least two levels higher than his Cold Palace Sword Mansion.
'This rich?'
Judging by the scale of the mansion alone, Pei Yuhang knew its master was not someone who lacked Spirit Stones. He was slightly puzzled. If the owner was so wealthy, why would they build a residence in such a remote part of the Sect?
The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was far inferior to the central area of the Xuanyuan Dao Sect.
Pei Yuhang's curiosity grew. He gradually slowed the speed of his Sword Control and landed lightly before the mansion's gate.
"Hello, I am Pei Yuhang, master of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion. I've come today to visit my new fellow Daoist. I wonder if you have a moment to spare?"
CREAK—
The tightly shut gates opened, and billowing, purplish-red clouds of mist spilled out.
When Pei Yuhang saw the graceful figure within the mist, his pupils contracted. He instinctively wanted to leap onto his Flying Sword and flee.
But a few lotus petals drifted down from the sky, blocking his path.
"Palace Master Pei, now that you're here, why the rush to leave?"
"Come in and have a drink with me~"
Shang Miaoyan said with a radiant smile.