"Sister Qiu Yun, how do you feel?"
Looking at Chen Qiu Yun, who had emerged, her entire demeanor seemed to have changed. She nodded slightly at Wan Yun Ting and said, "I feel much lighter."
"That's natural."
Wan Yun Ting nodded and smiled, "For you to reach the intermediate stage of internal energy in one night and half a day, from the very beginning, no one in the martial world today could achieve this. Even I couldn't match your speed back then."
"Sister Qiu Yun, I have to say, you are truly a once-in-a-millennium, no, a once-in-three-thousand-years martial arts prodigy."
Chen Qiu Yun looked at him praising her so much, and a faint smile involuntarily appeared on her lips. This nearly sent Wan Yun Ting to his demise.
"Bewitching, too bewitching..."
Wan Yun Ting's eyes widened. Although Chen Qiu Yun's smile was slight, her innate allure made his blood boil and his desires ignite, almost causing his vital energy to surge upwards...
"Tsk tsk, this is what a naturally born seductive bone looks like..."
Even women like Lu Xiao Die, Zheng Rong, and Duan Ying Ying, upon seeing Chen Qiu Yun's smile, felt their faces flush and their hearts race. They nearly questioned their own sexual orientations.
Seeing them all like this, Chen Qiu Yun immediately withdrew her smile, returning to her usual expressionless demeanor, and said, "I'll go make dinner..."
"Go ahead, go ahead."
Wan Yun Ting, having recovered, forcefully suppressed the fire in his heart and quickly told Chen Qiu Yun to prepare dinner. "When you were practicing, they didn't cook, and I was starving."
"Oh, so you dislike our noodles, little brother?" Lu Xiao Die, Zheng Rong, and Duan Ying Ying pointed at him accusingly.
Wan Yun Ting quickly turned his head and waved his hands. "No, I didn't mean that. I just felt..."
"Sisters, hit him..."
Lu Xiao Die, egging them on, raised her sword sheath and called to Zheng Rong and Duan Ying Ying to chase Wan Yun Ting. Laughter echoed throughout the valley...
Chen Qiu Yun began to prepare dinner for everyone. Gu Luo Tang came out alone. Qi Miao Miao had clearly fallen into a state of dejection and discouragement. Seeing this, Wan Yun Ting quickly comforted Gu Luo Tang and believed that given enough time, Qi Miao Miao would eventually understand.
After dinner, Wan Yun Ting gestured to Zheng Rong, then silently got up and entered the cave dwelling. A moment later, Zheng Rong rose, carefully glanced at Gu Luo Tang, who was discussing the White Rainbow Palm with Lu Xiao Die, before heading into the cave dwelling.
Chen Qiu Yun sat aside, silently reading a secret manual on seductive arts. Duan Ying Ying knew that the man would be taking Zheng Rong to practice tonight for dual cultivation.
Lu Xiao Die glanced at Gu Luo Tang, and the woman smiled, "Sister Lu, can you demonstrate the White Rainbow Palm for me?"
"Okay..."
Lu Xiao Die nodded and personally demonstrated the White Rainbow Palm for Gu Luo Tang.
Among the women present now, their relationships were very delicate, yet no one spoke of it, seemingly intending to preserve that thin veil of understanding without revealing it starkly.
In the secret chamber, Wan Yun Ting was flipping through a secret manual on alchemy found in a box. Upon hearing the sound of Zheng Rong entering, he turned to see her lowering her head, her face flushed with shyness.
"You're here."
Wan Yun Ting put down the manual he was holding, went over, and closed the stone door. He gently pulled Zheng Rong to sit on the cold ice bed. However, she suddenly stood up and nervously said, "Yun Ting, how about we forget it..."
Wan Yun Ting's expression froze. He looked at Zheng Rong, who was full of awkwardness, shyness, and nervousness, daring not to look at him. He smiled, "Senior Sister Zheng, don't you want to break through to the Dan stage?"
Zheng Rong nodded without hesitation. "I do, but, but I don't want to trouble you!"
Wan Yun Ting stood up, a gentle smile on his face, and placed his hands on Zheng Rong's fragrant shoulders, making her sit down. "Senior Sister Zheng, do you think I look down on you, and that's why you feel troubled?"
This made Zheng Rong look up, her eyes glancing at Wan Yun Ting's face and eyes. "Isn't that the case?"
"Of course not."
Wan Yun Ting shook his head and smiled. "I didn't agree before because you are Sister Lu's senior sister. It's not that your looks are not outstanding. On the contrary, I think you are the type of gentle and virtuous woman that a man would want to marry."
These words made Zheng Rong's face flush again. Although she knew Wan Yun Ting was teasing, such praise was effective for every woman, and Zheng Rong was no exception. She shyly said, "Yun Ting, don't comfort me. With such outstanding women around you, you definitely wouldn't fancy an ordinary woman like me..."
Seeing Zheng Rong's lack of confidence and self-deprecation, Wan Yun Ting simply took her hand and smiled, "Senior Sister Zheng, look me in the eye!"
Zheng Rong, who had been looking down, tried to pull her hand away from the man, but Wan Yun Ting held it tightly, making Zheng Rong feel inexplicably nervous yet excited. She obediently looked up, her gaze meeting the man's, wanting to evade it, but Wan Yun Ting cupped her face and held it steady, meeting her eyes, and smiled, "Do you believe me?"
Facing the man's sincere and intense gaze, Zheng Rong's face turned completely red, and her heart pounded like a startled deer. Her trembling body quivered uncontrollably. She nodded involuntarily, "Mm..."
Wan Yun Ting smiled, "Then don't think about anything else. Just listen to me obediently, okay?"
Completely lost, Zheng Rong nodded blankly. Then, Wan Yun Ting leaned in and kissed Zheng Rong's rosy lips. It was like an electric shock, making her red lips tremble...
Outside, Gu Luo Tang, Lu Xiao Die, Duan Ying Ying, and Chen Qiu Yun, after washing up, sat in a row, tilting their heads back to admire the bright moon in the sky above the valley. The weather tonight was excellent, and the crescent moon was exceptionally beautiful. Gu Luo Tang and the others had never seen such a beautiful scene, so captivating.
"It's getting late, let's go back to sleep."
It was already ten o'clock at night, and Wan Yun Ting and Zheng Rong were still practicing in the secret chamber, clearly intending to practice until the next day.
"Okay..."
Everyone got up and went into the cave dwelling to rest. Gu Luo Tang looked at Qi Miao Miao, who had already fallen asleep. The girl had slept for a whole day and barely ate any meals. No matter how Gu Luo Tang tried to persuade her, she remained dejected and expressionless, as if her heart had suffered too great a blow to think clearly.
This made Gu Luo Tang sigh. The one who tied the knot must untie it. She could only hope that Yun Ting brother would properly persuade the girl tomorrow.
Time flowed, day and night alternated. It was the morning of the next day. The weather outside the valley was clear. In the Boundless Daoist Temple, Wu Wei Zi and Yang Jing Yi had no idea how Wan Yun Ting and Duan Ying Ying's group were doing in the valley below the Kunlun Mountains.
Although there was no mobile signal, Wan Yun Ting had brought a satellite phone, which could connect even in areas with no signal. Yang Jing Yi had not received any calls in the past few days, indicating that Wan Yun Ting and the others were safe.
In the capital, the Ouyang family continued their daily routines. Fang Yan Xi, who was pregnant, still insisted on working and also brought her younger sister, Ouyang Fan Meng, for an internship, teaching her many skills.
The Beijing Chinese Medicine Association was presided over by Gu Yuan Bai. The association was in good order. Simultaneously, Liu He, the vice-chairman, displayed outstanding ability. He quickly resolved the issues at the headquarters of the Traditional Medicine Alliance. Many affairs, big and small, were handled by him alone, earning him support from many within the association.
Wan Yun Ting had been gone for a week, but his absence had not caused any significant disturbance. The Heavenly Eye Main Divine Cult had not caused trouble in China. However, the Ouyang family could not afford to relax for a moment, as potential enemies were the most terrifying.
Deep within the Kunlun Mountains, at the bottom of the valley.
"Sister Qiu Yun's breakfast is always the best..."
Lu Xiao Die was wearing a fresh long dress. Although the weather in the Kunlun Mountains was cold, in the valley below, due to the hot spring pool, the valley's temperature remained between twenty-five and twenty-six degrees Celsius, the most comfortable temperature.
Therefore, everyone wore light clothing, mainly for convenience in practicing, to avoid overheating.
"I'll go check on Miao Miao."
Gu Luo Tang, holding a bowl of oatmeal porridge, got up and walked into the cave dwelling. As soon as she entered the bedroom, she saw Zheng Rong push open the secret chamber door and walk out. Gu Luo Tang immediately smiled and greeted her, "Senior Sister Zheng is out."
Upon seeing Gu Luo Tang, Zheng Rong instantly looked embarrassed and nodded hello, "Luo Tang..."
Gu Luo Tang knew why she was like this and smiled without saying anything. She said, "Sister Chen has prepared breakfast. Hurry and go eat."
Zheng Rong dared not meet Gu Luo Tang's eyes, nodded, and quickly left.
Then, she saw Wan Yun Ting walk out. Seeing Gu Luo Tang place a bowl of porridge on the stone table, and noticing that Qi Miao Miao was still asleep, Wan Yun Ting's expression froze. He hadn't expected the girl to be so stubborn.
"Brother Yun Ting, come in with me for a moment..."
Gu Luo Tang went up, pulled Wan Yun Ting into the secret chamber, and closed the stone door. Wan Yun Ting said, "Miao Miao still hasn't come around?"
Gu Luo Tang frowned, nodded, and said worriedly, "She seems really unable to think it through. Brother Yun Ting, why don't you try to persuade her?"
Wan Yun Ting scratched his head and said, "Luo Tang, aren't you asking me to..."
"Brother Yun Ting, I'm really afraid Miao Miao won't be able to think it through. Are you just going to watch her have an accident?"
Gu Luo Tang was very worried about Qi Miao Miao, and she had never minded the man being with Miao Miao.
Wan Yun Ting looked at the earnest Gu Luo Tang and said helplessly, "Luo Tang, what exactly is going on in your head? Everyone else is furious, but you, on the other hand, are pushing me forward as if I were..."
This made Gu Luo Tang pout and look displeased. "How could I? It's because of Miao Miao. Otherwise, do you really think I don't mind at all?"
"You finally said it."
Wan Yun Ting pointed at her, confirming she was indeed forcing a smile.
Gu Luo Tang hit him and pouted playfully, "Anyway, I don't care. Miao Miao is like this because of you, so you deal with it."
"Hey, it's not you..."
After speaking, Gu Luo Tang pushed open the stone door and went out. Wan Yun Ting couldn't stop her, leaving him completely speechless. Stepping out of the secret chamber, he looked at Qi Miao Miao lying on the mattress in the corner of the bedroom, her hair disheveled, making it impossible to tell if she was truly asleep or faking it.
Finally, Wan Yun Ting sighed and slowly lay down. He moved the hair covering Qi Miao Miao's face, revealing the girl's fair complexion. She hadn't eaten much yesterday and had been lying still, her complexion worsening, which made Wan Yun Ting's heart ache. He softly called out, "Miao Miao, wake up..."
Woken up by the call, Qi Miao Miao slowly opened her eyes. Upon seeing the man in front of her, her dejected expression shifted. Her listless apricot eyes glanced at Wan Yun Ting, and she directly turned over, her back facing the man.
Seeing this, Wan Yun Ting's expression froze. He rolled his eyes speechlessly and finally said, "I promise you!"