As Chen Qiuyun finished preparing dinner, Wan Yunting, bare-chested and wearing only shorts and slippers, went into the cave dwelling to call Gu Luotang and the others for a meal…
After all, the temperature in the valley was very comfortable, and the most amazing thing was that there were no mosquitoes. So, Wan Yunting walked in bare-chested. Seeing the women decorating the cave dwelling’s living room with fresh flowers, filling the air with a faint floral scent, he smiled with satisfaction, "A home still needs women."
"Oh, Brother Yunting, why aren't you wearing any clothes?"
Qi Miaomiao turned her head, about to say something, when she saw the guy bare-chested.
Lu Xiaodie, Gu Luotang, and Duan Yingying rolled their eyes at her but said nothing. Zheng Rong, on the other hand, blushed, her heart pounding as she looked at the man's well-defined chest muscles, his physique carved out of hard stone like perfect sculpture.
Last night, she had planted love flowers and was not in her right mind, unable to feel the sensations the man brought…
"It's like you've never seen it before."
Seeing Qi Miaomiao’s shy demeanor, Wan Yunting gave her a look and then said, "Sister Chen has finished dinner, everyone go out to eat."
"Okay, but Brother Yunting, how do you like our decorations?"
Gu Luotang took his arm, letting Wan Yunting see the cave dwelling’s living room and bedrooms. Lu Xiaodie said, "The bedroom is for you, Luotang, and Yingying to sleep in. I and Sister Zheng will sleep in the living room. What do you think?"
Seeing that they had all made arrangements, Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "No problem, but I might be in the secret chamber for closed-door training from now on!"
"Alright, then we'll make our own arrangements."
Lu Xiaodie nodded, knowing that the man had come here to train in seclusion…
Wan Yunting led the women out to eat. Chen Qiuyun was already taking a bath, telling them to eat first. Wan Yunting didn't stand on ceremony and ate with the women. Qi Miaomiao chatted about how she also wanted to train…
Wan Yunting asked, "Are you sure you want to train?"
Qi Miaomiao nodded, "Mm-hmm, Brother Yunting, just teach me."
Gu Luotang also smiled, "Miaomiao really wants to train."
Wan Yunting nodded, "Okay, I'll teach you how to train after dinner and see if you have the talent. If not, don't force yourself, understand?"
"Okay."
Qi Miaomiao was overjoyed to see that he was finally willing to teach her.
Wan Yunting looked at Gu Luotang, Lu Xiaodie, Zheng Rong, and Duan Yingying and said, "Don't slack off either. I asked you to come together because I want you all to train in seclusion!"
Seeing the man's serious expression, Gu Luotang and Lu Xiaodie nodded and said, "Don't worry, Yunting, we won't hold you back."
Wan Yunting said, "In that case, Sister Lu, take Luotang and Yingying, and Sister Zheng into the secret chamber first to meditate and train on the ice bed. I'll teach Miaomiao for a while longer, and I'll find you later tonight to guide your training."
"Alright, it's settled…"
Lu Xiaodie and Gu Luotang nodded. Although Wan Yunting didn't say it, they all understood that the man wanted them to train well. Even if they couldn't help him in the future, they would at least have the ability to protect themselves…
So, after dinner, Lu Xiaodie, Gu Luotang, Zheng Rong, and Duan Yingying went into the cave dwelling's secret chamber. The four women squeezed onto the ice bed to meditate and train. Lu Xiaodie also guided Gu Luotang and Duan Yingying in areas they didn't understand.
After all, among the four women, Lu Xiaodie had the highest skill and was capable of guiding them…
Outside, Chen Qiuyun, who had finished bathing, ate alone. But on a large stone nearby, a flat, smooth stone that Wan Yunting had moved from afar, resembling a small bed, he sat cross-legged with Qi Miaomiao, guiding her in meditation and qi cultivation…
"Follow my movements, and try to calm yourself down…"
Wan Yunting sat cross-legged. Qi Miaomiao, wearing a pink sheer ancient-style nightgown, her hair cascading down her shoulders and back, also sat in a proper meditation posture like the man. But Wan Yunting patted her back, "Straighten your waist, close your eyes. Do you know what meditation is? It's about concentrating your mind and not letting it wander. Imagine yourself in an empty place, focusing your spirit on the center of your brow…"
Wan Yunting guided her on how to concentrate, but Qi Miaomiao's eyes rolled under her closed lids. After trying for a few minutes, she shook her head and said aggrievedly, "Brother Yunting, I can't concentrate. What should I do?"
Wan Yunting looked at her helplessly, but this was expected. He then formed a sword finger with his left hand and pointed it at Qi Miaomiao's brow, circulating his qi and saying, "How is it? Do you feel anything?"
Qi Miaomiao looked at his sword finger touching her brow, and suddenly her face lit up with joy and surprise, "It's warm, like something is flowing into my body. Ah, my face feels so hot…"
Wan Yunting looked at Qi Miaomiao's flushed face, which was emitting heat like a ripe red apple, and said, "This is what we martial artists call qi!"
"Internal qi?"
Qi Miaomiao's round, almond-shaped eyes widened as she looked at him, saying, "My senior sister told me about it."
Wan Yunting chuckled, "You're not entirely stupid, just a bit lacking in talent. Even if you learn martial arts, you'll at most reach the Dan Jin stage!"
Qi Miaomiao pouted unhappily, "Brother Yunting, you're discouraging me again."
Seeing the girl’s dejected expression, Wan Yunting smiled, "I'm not discouraging you, I'm just telling you the truth. Moreover, even to reach the Dan Jin stage, you'll have to put in a lot of effort. And you're naturally lazy and don't like martial arts. If you don't study hard, you might not even reach the Dan Jin realm."
Qi Miaomiao nodded, pouting, "But I don't want to hold you back."
Wan Yunting gently stroked her head and smiled, "Silly girl, what could you possibly hold back? You're not your senior sister."
Qi Miaomiao looked up, her almond eyes fixed on Wan Yunting. Her pouting lips gradually revealed a sad expression, her almond eyes reddening with tears. This scene confused Wan Yunting. "No, what's wrong with you?"
"Hmph."
Qi Miaomiao turned her head away, saying aggrievedly, "Brother Yunting, do you really not understand, or are you pretending to be ignorant?"
Wan Yunting's expression stiffened. How could he not see the girl's little thoughts?
Qi Miaomiao, who had turned back, stared at him with her reddened almond eyes, pouting and saying, "I know you like Senior Sister, and I know I can't compare to her, but I just like you…!"
Her direct confession was in line with Qi Miaomiao's lively and cheerful personality. But this sentence had actually been hidden in Qi Miaomiao's heart for a long, long time. She had only mustered the courage to say it tonight because she didn't want to miss her chance.
Wan Yunting rubbed his nose, recalling how she had suddenly kissed him when she was drunk before, and he understood the girl's hidden feelings for him.
"Alright, Miaomiao, let's not talk about this for now…"
"Why not?"
Qi Miaomiao became unhappy, her eyes wide with confusion as she looked at Wan Yunting, her small lips pursed. "I'm lazy, and I can't do anything as well as others, but I'm not bad either. At least I'm better than that Duan Yingying. But Brother Yunting, why are you with her and not considering me?"
Wan Yunting was taken aback by her words and chuckled, "No, Miaomiao, why are you bringing her up?"
"Hmph, it's true."
Qi Miaomiao’s resentment towards Duan Yingying stemmed from jealousy. She believed that she was no less attractive than Duan Yingying, so why did Brother Yunting like her and not herself?
Wan Yunting found the girl's behavior amusing. He patted her little head, "I'm really amazed by you. Why do you have to compare yourself to her? Can you even be compared?"
Qi Miaomiao looked up at him sideways, pursed her lips, and said, "Then, Brother Yunting, what exactly do you mean? I've already said it so clearly, can't you just say it directly? Also, I've probed Senior Sister, and she hasn't said anything!"
This statement surprised Wan Yunting again. "No, you even spoke to Luotang?"
"Yes."
Qi Miaomiao nodded, pouting. "Senior Sister isn't stupid, can't she tell I like you?"
Wan Yunting rolled his eyes speechlessly and said, "If she knows, you're still acting like this?"
Qi Miaomiao lowered her head, fiddling with her clothes, her lips pursed aggrievedly, "But I really like you…"
Seeing the girl's dejected and innocent appearance, how could Wan Yunting not soften his heart?
Moreover, he didn't dislike Qi Miaomiao. Her personality was like Su Ke'er's, giving people a sense of liveliness and cheerfulness, always wanting to try everything but not always succeeding. However, whenever she was around, she brought a lot of joy, a true ray of sunshine.
Besides, the girl had gone this far. If Wan Yunting didn't respond, wouldn't it be too hurtful?
But Qi Miaomiao was different. She was Gu Luotang's junior sister and also her close friend. Wan Yunting couldn't have any thoughts about her, so he said, "Miaomiao, let's put this matter aside, okay?"
Qi Miaomiao immediately looked up, her almond eyes wide as she stared at Wan Yunting, her heart about to break. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she was lost in thought for a long time.
Wan Yunting felt a pang of reluctance, but he still rationally stopped the girl. He said, "Regarding your training, I'll think of a way to get you started. It's getting late, you should go in and rest. I'm going to check on Sister Chen…"
With that, Wan Yunting jumped off the stone and went into the cave dwelling to find Chen Qiuyun, leaving Qi Miaomiao sitting on the stone. Head bowed, she shed tears that she couldn't hold back…
Wan Yunting dared not look. He sighed helplessly in his heart. If he saw Qi Miaomiao crying, he would be unable to resist, so he could only let her process it herself…