After Chu Liuxiang left, Meixiu turned to look at Yuan's building with a worried look on her face.
"Yuan… Are you there?"
"Yes."
"Are you okay?"
"…"
After a moment of silence, Yuan responded, "I lost control for a bit, but Lulu helped me, so I am fine now."
'Lost control? That explains the bruises on her neck… They probably fought.' Meixiu sighed inwardly, misunderstanding the situation entirely.
"Yuan, if you feel like losing control again, let me know and I will immediately get help." Meixiu said to him.
As much as she wanted to help him, she knew that she was no match for Yuan if they fought, so she could only rely on others for now.
'I am still too weak compared to them…' Meixiu bit her lips in frustration before sitting down and cultivating.
Eight hours passed in a flash while Meixiu focused on cultivation, and before she was aware, Chu Liuxiang was already back for her shift.
"I can continue. You should rest a little more." Meixiu said to her.
"Thank you for worrying about me, but I am really fine. Look, the bruises are already gone." Chu Liuxiang showed Meixiu her neck, and sure enough, all of her bruises were gone.
Meixiu silently stared at her for a moment before speaking, "If anything happens, you need to get help."
"I will." Chu Liuxiang nodded with a smile on her face.
Once Meixiu left, Chu Liuxiang sat before the building and said, "I am back, Yuan. If you need me, I will be out here."
There was no response from Yuan, but Chu Liuxiang didn't panic.
'He's probably focused on his recovery,' she thought to herself.
An hour into her shift, Chu Liuxiang noticed a figure in the distance, and they appeared to be watching her from the shadows.
It was already dark outside, so Chu Liuxiang couldn't see this figure's face.
"Who's there?" She called out to the figure.
A few seconds later, this figure stepped out of the shadows and into the light.
It was Qi Fang.
"Master? Do you need something?"
"How is he doing?"
"Yuan? He's recovering."
"Is that so." Qi Fang didn't say anything else and turned around and began walking away.
"Master! Wait a moment!" Chu Liuxiang stopped her.
"What?"
"A-Are you still angry at Yuan for what happened last time? If you are, please accept my apologies for him…"
"…"
Qi Fang spoke after a moment of silence, "I am more angry at myself than I am with him."
"Eh?" Chu Liuxiang's eyes widened.
"I thought I was strong. Strong enough to defeat him— strong enough to defeat a demon. Turns out that I've been wrong this entire time."
"You don't have to worry. What happened at the Chu Family is already behind me. I may be stupid and arrogant, but I am not foolish."
And without explaining any further, Qi Fang disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Chu Liuxiang speechless.
Two days later, Yuan opened his eyes and stood up to stretch.
"The urges are completely gone now, which means I have fully recovered. What a horrible experience. I swear I will never carelessly swallow demon cores ever again."
He opened the door and walked outside to see Chu Liuxiang sitting in front of him.
And when Chu Liuxiang heard the door open behind her, she stopped cultivating and turned around.
"Yuan! Have you finally recovered?" She quickly stood up and asked him.
"Yes, and it's all thanks to you."
Yuan suddenly opened his arms and embraced Chu Liuxiang tightly.
"Lulu… I am truly sorry about what happened last time. I asked you for your help, but that caused you a lot of pain. Even if I wasn't in the right state of mind, I am still responsible for my actions. I hope that you'll forgive me."
"I will forgive you… If you do it properly next time." Chu Liuxiang hugged him back and said.
"Let's wait until we go back home?"
"I think I prefer that as well." Chu Liuxiang chuckled.
"Let's go tell the others that you're fine." She then said.
"Okay."
Yuan and Chu Liuxiang went to meet up with Meixiu.
"Meixiu, are you awake?"
"Yuan!" Meixiu stopped cultivating when she heard Yuan's voice outside her room.
"Are you okay?" She asked him after opening the door.
"Yes, I have fully recovered. Thank you for watching over me."
"Where is the Qi Family? I'd like to speak with them."
"Senior Qi should be at the training area with the disciples. We can ask her." Meixiu said.
"Where is this place?"
"Follow me. I have been there before."
They made their way to the training area next, and sure enough, Qi Fang was training the disciple with an iron fist.
"Your demon sealing aura is too weak! Are you trying to seal the demon or unseal it?!"
"Senior Qi, I think they are looking for you." One of the disciples noticed Yuan's group and notified her.
When Qi Fang saw Yuan's face, she immediately recalled the incident they had not long ago and started blushing.
Sometime later, she approached them and asked, "Need something?"
Yuan smiled and said, "I have fully recovered, and I am prepared to train the Qi Family."
Qi Fang narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you sure?"
"I am." He nodded.
"Wait right here. I am going to notify my grandparents." Qi Fang then walked away for a few minutes before returning.
"They will be here shortly."
"While we wait… I need to speak with you… In private." Qi Fang looked at Yuan.
Qi Fang then dragged Yuan to a secluded area where they were alone.
Once Qi Fang was certain that nobody was around, she pointed at Yuan and spoke in a low but aggressive voice, "What happened that night never happened, okay?! I was drunk, and you were sick! Forget about it! If you dare tell anyone about it, I will kill you even if it's the last thing I do, and then I will kill myself! Do you hear me?!"
Yuan smiled and said, "What happened that night? I don't remember very clearly since I was sick."
"That's a good response. Now keep it that way— forever.." Qi Fang coldly snorted before walking away like nothing ever happened.