After Xuan Wuhan kissed him on the cheeks and went back inside her house, Yuan touched the spot she kissed with a dazed look on his face, the sensation of her soft lips still lingering on his cheeks.
"What was that about?" He mumbled in a low voice.
'The girls in the cultivation world… They are truly bold…' Meixiu sighed inwardly.
If she had such boldness, what would her situation be like right now?
After standing in front of Xuan Wuhan's living quarters for a couple of moments, Yuan and Meixiu left the scene.
"Are you sure about this decision?"
Inside Xuan Wuhan's living quarters, Elder Xuan sat on the couch with a cup of tea in his hands.
A bittersweet smile appeared on Xuan Wuhan's face, and she said, "I am satisfied with just that. I know my limits. He and I… we live in two separate worlds. There's no way I am worthy to follow him."
"You're thinking too much. It's not about your worth, but whether he'll accept you or not, and if you don't ask him, how will he know, much less accept you?"
"I-I think I was pretty obvious with my actions just now…" Xuan Wuhan said in a dumbfounded voice.
"Haha… You underestimate him, Wuhan. Yuan… He's a special fellow who's also quite naive and innocent. He probably won't understand the meaning behind your actions unless you tell him straight."
Xuan Wuhan sighed, "It is what is it… I have already said my goodbyes. Even I don't have the guts to approach him after what happened just now. I will need at least a few months to recover."
"Do whatever you want, I guess…" Elder Xuan said to her, and after finishing his tea, he left her place.
Meanwhile, Yuan went to find Elder Shan at the Blossom Peak.
Once they arrived, Yuan noticed Elder Shan giving lectures to her disciple right outside her living quarters just like his last visit.
"I'm sorry to disturb your lecture again, Senior Shan." Yuan approached them.
"That is…"
This time, Elder Shan's disciples looked at Yuan in a different light, almost like they were filled with admiration.
"Disciple Yuan? Do you need anything from me? And you don't have to worry about disturbing us. I'm not really lecturing them," she said to him.
Yuan then said, "I know you already know this, but I want to say goodbye formally."
"Thank you for everything, Elder Shan." Yuan lowered his head a little to pay his respects.
"W-Why are you thanking me? I barely taught you anything. In fact, I should be the one thanking you…" Elder Shan was taken aback.
"That's not true, Senior Shan. I have learned a lot from you, and it's always a pleasant feeling with you around."
Elder Shan couldn't help but smile after hearing Yuan's words, and she spoke in an enchanting voice, "Are you trying to court me before you leave? It's working pretty well. But alas, if only I was a little younger."
"Eh?" Yuan was puzzled by her words. What did she mean by 'courting' her?
"Good luck out there, Yuan, and most importantly, stay safe." Elder Shan said to him.
Yuan nodded. "I will."
"Before you go."
Elder Shan suddenly stepped forward with her arms spread.
The next second, she embraced Yuan tightly.
After a few moments of physical contact, Elder Shan released him and stepped back.
"I hope to see you at least one more time before you leave for the Spirit Heaven," she said.
"I will definitely return before I leave," Yuan said.
"It's a promise."
Sometime later, Yuan left the Blossom Peak with Meixiu.
"Master… what was that about? Why did he make it seem like he'll be leaving the sect?" One of her disciples asked.
"Because he is leaving the sect." Elder Shan said.
And she quickly followed up with, "Keep this a secret, though. If I hear that you've opened your mouth about this matter to others, I will disown you as my disciple."
"I-I understand, Master. I won't tell a single soul!"
They all swore with nervous looks on their faces.
Elder Shan then turned to look at Yuan's disappearing figure in the distance.
'If only I had met you earlier…' she sighed inwardly.
After leaving the Blossom Peak, Yuan went to look for Elder Xuan.
"Here to say goodbye?" Elder Xuan greeted him with a smile at the door.
"Yes. I want to thank you for everything you've done for me." Yuan said to him.
"Hahaha… I've only brought you to places, and it was my job. You don't have to thank me."
Yuan and Elder Xuan proceeded to spend a few minutes chatting with each other.
"I would give you a farewell gift, but I really don't know what to give you, as anything I give you would become obsolete or worthless very quickly knowing your insane talents and progress, especially once you go to the Spirit Heavens."
"You don't need to give me anything. I have already received enough from you and everyone else in this sect."
"Okay. Then good luck out there and achieve great things. I'm sure I will still hear your name even after you leave." Elder Xuan said.
Sometime later, Yuan went to visit the other high-ranking sect elders despite spending very little time with them.
In the end, Yuan returned to the Sect Master's headquarters.
"Enter."
Long Yijun's voice resounded after Yuan knocked on the door.
"Sect Master, I'm here to say my goodbyes and to hand in my disciple uniform."
Yuan said as he held his Inner Court uniform in his hands.
Long Yijun looked at the uniform for a moment before speaking with a smile on his face, "Keep it."
"Normally, a disciple would have to hand in their uniform once they leave the sect, but I want you to keep it. In fact, I have even prepared the Core Disciple's uniform for you, as I will be promoting you to Core Disciple as of this moment."
Long Yijun said as he retrieved a set of uniforms meant for Core Disciples and placed it on the table before him.
"This is…" Yuan was at loss for words.