Last night, Little Bai Mao first listened to Lu Xingzhou and Ji Wenchuan chatting, mainly because she thought there was something important. She perked up her little ears and listened for two or three sentences, only to find it was just brothers reuniting over a drink, so she stopped listening.

Most of the night was spent pondering that Ice Illusion God Jade.

The reason why cultivating by taking elixirs is considered superficial is not that elixirs themselves cannot be taken; in fact, taking elixirs is not much different from using spirit stones. However, cultivation is not just about the pure accumulation of energy, but also about insight and enlightenment.

In many fields, “understanding” is often much more important than pure numerical value. Just like a scholar who memorizes texts by rote versus one who truly understands the essence of grammar, they are not on the same level. Cultivation is the same.

When there is new insight and enlightenment, even without accumulating power, cultivation will still grow, and this growth is much more grounded than taking medicine.

Du Gu Qingli originally thought she had a deep understanding of ice, especially when it became demonized, it was practically the embodiment of a law.

But the appearance of this jade reminded her that her understanding and mastery of ice and frost were still insufficient.

Ice also has illusions.

Once fully grasped, she would undoubtedly break through to the super-grade, even without elixirs.

Unfortunately, despite her natural affinity with it, it wasn’t so easy to fully grasp it overnight. When she awoke from her meditation, her insights were vague and she had gained little. However, when she saw the daylight, her first reaction was to go find Lu Xingzhou for breakfast.

Immediately, she found it a little amusing herself. At this moment, she could finally answer her past question—why her dear Tinglan would smile with crescent eyes, looking utterly smitten, whenever she mentioned him.

It turns out that when one’s heart is full of that person, it really is like that. Waking up and thinking of him, wanting him to accompany her for whatever she eats.

As for affecting cultivation… when she couldn’t clearly define her feelings before, even healing went awry; when her feelings were clear, her heart was peaceful and calm all night, and her cultivation was not affected at all.

This is natural, perhaps.

In fact, her dear Tinglan, who taught her this, wasn’t so natural herself.

Little Bai Mao looked inward and found that although she hadn’t gained any specific insights, her cultivation had grown significantly.

The young girl sniffed the ice-cold flower in the vase by her bedside and, in a good mood, went out, intending to find Lu Xingzhou for breakfast. At the door, she heard the “Master-Uncle” from yesterday, who had such high standards, confessing: “I really like you, blah blah blah.”

Bai Mao poked her head out.

Yuan Muyu’s pretty face turned liver-colored.

The image of a dignified expert that she had painstakingly built up yesterday collapsed, and the key was that she felt guilty.

Speaking of which, this Little Bai Mao was not one of his wives, but just a bridesmaid, and a little ‘hot stuff’ who secretly ate her master’s food. Logically, he should have been quite assertive in front of her. But yesterday’s peeking at their night walk was too beautiful and peaceful; it always gave one the feeling that it was their romance drama, and anyone else inserting themselves would seem like a third party.

In fact, Yuan Muyu’s confession this time was also somewhat learned from Du Gu Qingli.

The young girl’s sincerity, straightforwardness, and a heart like clear glass touched the old demoness who had been drifting in the Demonic Dao for so many years. Learning to be more direct, she saw Lu Xingzhou’s rare stunned look and thought it was having some effect, then turned around and saw the true owner of his affection.

Du Gu Qingli walked in and very honestly called out, “Shishu.”

Earlier, she had said that Yuan Muyu hadn’t returned to the sect and wasn’t considered a Shishu. This time, she knew to call her Shishu. The implication was clear: “Old woman, don’t compete with your Shizhi Nü for a man. Have some shame.”

Yuan Muyu was silent for a moment: “Do you need Shishu to help you arrange a marriage proposal with the sect?”

Du Gu Qingli didn’t realize that Yuan Muyu’s words were actually a threat, meaning, “If you keep this up, I’ll tell Ye Tinglan. How dare you, Little Bai Mao, who is snatching a man from your master, talk to your Shishu like this?”

Little Bai Mao began playing with subtext herself, but unfortunately couldn’t analyze others’ subtext. Instead, she thought seriously for a moment: “I don’t need a marriage proposal. Last time they got married, I thought it was very silly.”

Yuan Muyu was stunned: “You don’t want a proper title?”

Du Gu Qingli thought again, somewhat puzzled: “What’s the use of that thing? I don’t know why they care so much, and I don’t know why Shishu would go crazy over such a thing, you’re an immortal who is about to reach Qianyuan…”

Yuan Muyu: “I’m not going crazy.”

Du Gu Qingli gave her a look and said nothing more.

Yuan Muyu once again felt the tragedy of being in a wheelchair; when being scrutinized with such questioning eyes, there was an added sense of condescending disdain, and an attitude of looking at someone with intellectual disability.

Coupled with Du Gu Qingli’s expression, the feeling was indescribable, making one feel utterly uneasy.

Yuan Muyu couldn’t stand it anymore: “Are you not afraid I’ll tell Ye Tinglan about your illicit affair? You’re being so brazen in front of me!”

Du Gu Qingli said: “I am standing, not jumping. It’s because Shishu is sitting that she thinks I am tall, but Shishu can clearly stand.”

Yuan Muyu: “?”

Lu Xingzhou listened with great interest from behind. This was the first time he encountered a Shura field where he didn’t want to mediate but instead found it highly amusing.

Du Gu Qingli said: “And Lu Xingzhou and I don’t have an illicit affair; we have a romantic relationship.”

Yuan Muyu: “…”

“Furthermore, Shishu, do you think Master is more wary of me or of you?”

Yuan Muyu: “…”

If it were Pei Chuyun maliciously mocking her, it would be one thing, but Yuan Muyu knew that Du Gu Qingli wasn’t doing it on purpose; every word she said was sincere.

It was extraordinarily difficult to bear, leaving her speechless.

Du Gu Qingli said: “Does Shishu have anything else?”

Yuan Muyu took a deep breath, intending to gain some advantage in terms of cultivation: “Did you study the cultivation method I gave you yesterday?”

Du Gu Qingli said: “I have mastered the cultivation method bestowed by Shishu, thank you, Shishu… Oh, by the way, Shishu, do you understand the path of ice illusion? Qingli would like to ask about that…”

Yuan Muyu couldn’t bear it anymore: “Go let the trusting Ye Tinglan teach you!”

With that, she didn’t even push her wheelchair; she lifted it and flew out of the courtyard gate.

This little thing really only Ye Tinglan could tear into; no one else could match her at all.

Then she still had to hear Du Gu Qingli asking Lu Xingzhou inside: “That wheelchair looks familiar. Is it the one you used to sit in?”

Lu Xingzhou said: “Yes, Sister originally made it for me.”

“Can things given away be taken back? You shouldn’t be so stingy as to come back for the flowers you gave me.”

Is this being stingy? Yuan Muyu was so indignant she nearly fell out of her wheelchair.

Lu Xingzhou patted Little Bai Mao’s head: “Of course not.”

Du Gu Qingli said: “There’s basically nothing left to do at Bingyu Sect, right?”

“Yes, but I’ll rest here for a few days first. Sister just gave me a set of Chaynü Xuan Gong, and I need to study it. If I can really deduce the complete version of the Yin-Yang Extreme Intent, it would be extremely important to me, so other matters can wait for now.”

“Do you need my help?”

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: “For yin and yang matters, you’d better not… you’re the one who needs harmonization the most.”

“Hmph. I also have things to practice. I’m not bothering with you.”

“Sister and your master have high levels of cultivation and insight, but they aren’t omniscient. Especially concerning these extremely special items, Jiang Yuan knows more. You might want to communicate with her.”

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know, probably still researching that drop of blood. You can go look for her.”

Du Gu Qingli didn’t want to go find that smelly meat-selling beggar at all, and she huffed almost imperceptibly.

Lu Xingzhou found it amusing and couldn’t help but pat her head again.

Du Gu Qingli looked up, pouting: “Why do you always like to pat my head now?”

“Because you’re cute.”

“But you don’t pat Ah’nuo; you prefer to pinch her face.”

Lu Xingzhou pinched her face.

Du Gu Qingli kicked him.

The two chased each other out of the courtyard, Du Gu Qingli raising her sword and shouting, “I forgot I hadn’t gotten revenge for that slap to the face, and you’re still patting and pinching!”

Yuan Muyu watched from the side as the two chased and fled past her, her hands clasped, speechless for a long time.

Ji Wenchuan, munching on a steamed bun, came over and mumbled indistinctly, “Old Lu is going south. What’s the next arrangement?”

Yuan Muyu straightened her face: “Qianyuan is within sight. I will enter seclusion to digest what I gained from the Ice Demon. For all matters concerning Miaoyin Mountain, you and Situ discuss and handle them together.”

“Alright.” Ji Wenchuan let out a long sigh of relief.

It seemed she hadn’t heard the slanders from last night.

Then he remembered something: “Speaking of which, Ye Tinglan and Gu Zhanting breaking through to Qianyuan both seemed to have some veiled methods… Shouldn’t we ask Old Lu?”

Yuan Muyu said indifferently: “I will contact Ye Tinglan myself.”

“Old Lu is right here? Why go to such lengths?”

“I… don’t want to owe him any more.”

Ji Wenchuan stuffed the last bite of his bun into his mouth and mumbled indistinctly, “If it were me, I’d ask relentlessly and continue to owe… There’s a trick in the mortal officialdom: asking for help is sometimes not about consuming a relationship, but rather an excuse to strike up a conversation and foster a relationship.”

Yuan Muyu heard him and turned to look in the direction where Lu Xingzhou and Du Gu Qingli had run off, her eyes flickering.

Over there, Du Gu Qingli and Lu Xingzhou, tired from chasing and playing, sat side-by-side on the edge of the cliff, enjoying the snowy scenery and eating the local fruits for breakfast.

Don’t let Du Gu Qingli’s increasingly sharp tongue and verbal attacks fool you; in fact, when she was with Lu Xingzhou, both of them enjoyed the quiet intimacy, speaking very little.

And, after all, they were outdoors, so they didn’t dare to be too affectionate, at most just holding hands and kissing foreheads and eyelids.

It wasn’t until they finished eating the fruits that Du Gu Qingli leaned leisurely on Lu Xingzhou’s shoulder and spoke: “Where are you planning to go next?”

Lu Xingzhou said: “South of Daqian. The capital is in the north, so the south is far away and offers more room to maneuver. For example, our Yama Hall chose to avoid the capital and establish its headquarters in the south, and many others would think the same. I’m thinking if Gu Yiheng has secretly cultivated his own forces, they would likely be in the south. I’ll use the pretense of investigating demons to look into this.”

Du Gu Qingli was a little happy: “I haven’t been to the south, so it’s a good chance to see it. Can I visit Miaoyin Mountain?”

Lu Xingzhou was startled: “Miaoyin Mountain isn’t that spectacular. On the outside, it just looks like an ordinary mountain; everything is inside.”

Du Gu Qingli whispered: “I just… want to see the place where you and Ah’nuo stayed for so many years.”

Lu Xingzhou couldn’t help but lower his head, wanting to find her lips again.

Du Gu Qingli gently pushed him: “We’re outside. There are still many people from the Tianyao Holy Land in Bingyu Sect right now… Mmm…”

Her lips were sealed, and Little Bai Mao didn’t care if there were still people from the Tianyao Holy Land; she closed her eyes.

It had been two days since they had kissed…