Xiang Shaoyun slowly reached out and accepted the cloak. His eyes turned gentle as he said, "Thank you, Xiaoqing.
When Lu Xiaoqing sensed the change in Xiang Shaoyun's gaze, she blushed and said, "You don't have to be so courteous with me."
Lu Xiaoqing's heart was filled with dedication toward Xiang Shaoyun. One could say that she would be willing to do whatever he asked with no hesitation. Xiang Shaoyun took a deep breath and unfolded the cloak before draping it over his shoulder. With the cloak on, a little bit of grace was added to his heroic bearing.
"Ahh, it fits nicely. I was worried that it wouldn't fit," said Lu Xiaoqing as she patted her chest in relief.
She then stepped forward and helped Xiang Shaoyun tie up the band of the cloak hanging on his neck. Looking at her innocent face at such close distance and smelling the fragrance coming from her, Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help wrapping his arms around her waist, and he pulled her into his embrace.
The hug instantly melted Lu Xiaoqing, who stayed in the embrace with a dazzled mind. Xiang Shaoyun was in a complicated state of mind. He had been avoiding any romantic feelings all this while. However, he couldn't bear to hurt the kind and innocent woman before him over and over again.
As of this moment, it was like there was nobody except them in the entire world. They silently hugged each other with not a single distracting thought in their minds.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Shaoyun gently pushed Lu Xiaoqing away and looked straight into her bashful eyes and said, "Xiaoqing, I won't be able to give you any promises right now. I am an unlucky person. In the future, I will have to face a massive calamity. Therefore, I am not the best person for you. I hope you can think this through."
A resolute glint appeared in Lu Xiaoqing's eyes as she said, "I have already made up my mind. I am only going to be with you. Alive or dead, I don't want to part with you anymore."
"Foolish girl," Xiang Shaoyun said as he rubbed Lu Xiaoqing's nose intimately.
That action filled Lu Xiaoqing with a feeling of happiness. Her entire heart was crammed full with sweetness. She suddenly tiptoed and planted a kiss on Xiang Shaoyun's face before quickly lowering her head bashfully, no longer daring to look him in his eyes.
Xiang Shaoyun stroked Lu Xiaoqing's hair gently for a bit before saying solemnly, "Xiaoqing, do you still remember what I told you in the past? So long as your cultivation level can keep up with me, it is possible for us to be together. But you are still currently too weak in terms of cultivation."
Lu Xiaoqing pouted and said, "I am already a Transformation Realm cultivator!"
She had been working very hard, but she found that the gap between her and Xiang Shaoyun was still so large.
"I know you are already a Transformation Realm cultivator. But that is far from enough. If you want to become my woman, you need to be at least at the Emperor Realm," said Xiang Shaoyun seriously.
Lu Xiaoqing's eyes turned slightly red when she heard that. The Emperor Realm was an extremely mighty realm. With her four-star physique, was that even reachable for her?
"Fine." Lu Xiaoqing thought it was just an excuse Xiang Shaoyun was using to reject her, and tears started dripping down her face. She then turned to leave as she did not feel like staying here any extra moment anymore. Right as she was about to leave, a strong hand grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing, Xiaoqing? I am only telling you all that so you can prepare yourself mentally for it. I am going to teach you a high-level cultivation method that will help you grow faster. I am not trying to make you leave," Xiang Shaoyun explained.
Lu Xiaoqing turned and looked at him before asking, "Really?"
"Why should I even lie? Foolish girl!" said Xiang Shaoyun as he helped wipe her tears. And thus, Lu Xiaoqing's nearly broken heart was fully healed.
Xiang Shaoyun did as he said. He taught Lu Xiaoqing a cultivation method and a battle technique. He also shared some of his experiences during cultivation so as to help her grow even faster. Lu Xiaoqing was an intelligent person. It did not take her long to memorize everything he told her. Inwardly, she vowed solemnly, I must double my effort and not be a burden to Shaoyun!
Although Xiang Shaoyun was now interacting much more intimately with Lu Xiaoqing than before, just as he had said, he wouldn't be able to give her any promises right now. Thus, he still maintained a certain amount of distance from her.
As for Lu Xiaoqing, she felt that she was still not worthy of Xiang Shaoyun, and was already happy with how he was treating her. They stayed together in gentle tenderness for a day before Lu Xiaoqing finally left reluctantly.
Although Xiang Shaoyun could make Long Hui allow Lu Xiaoqing to stay here long term, he felt like it wouldn't be beneficial to her. It would be better for her to rely on her own hard work and grow one step at a time.
After Lu Xiaoqing left, Xiang Shaoyun headed toward Gong Qinyin's residence with Long Hui's elder token. Gong Qinyin had an extraordinary status in the pavilion and had her own estate, like the top 10 personal disciples. These estates were slightly inferior to the elder estates, but they were much better than the inner disciple estates.
Holding an elder token, Xiang Shaoyun was able to move around freely in the inner pavilion. He would be fine as long as he stayed away from the restricted zones. But right after he left Long Hui's estate, he noticed someone tailing him.
Is it someone with a death wish from the Lightning Alliance? Xiang Shaoyun thought to himself.
For struggles between the younger generation, everything could be done so long as nobody went too far. That was why someone was so daringly tailing Xiang Shaoyun. This particular tail was Long Hui's disciple, Zhuo Yi. Apart from him, two other youngsters were with him as well. All three of them had similar cultivation levels. After Xiang Shaoyun came out of Long Hui's estate, Zhuo Yi immediately stopped him in his path.
"Senior Brother Zhuo, what can I help you with? Seems like you have been tailing me for a bit," said Xiang Shaoyun in an unruffled manner.
"Come with me right this moment," said Zhuo Yi with an unsightly expression.
"What if I refuse?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.
"Hah...the choice is not up to you at all. Take him with us. If he dares to resist, don't show any mercy," said Zhuo Yi with a vicious glint in his eyes.
At his command, the two youngsters behind him charged Xiang Shaoyun.
They both had cultivation levels above sixth-stage Transformation Realm. They approached Xiang Shaoyun from two directions, confident that Xiang Shaoyun would not be able to escape them. They then reached for Xiang Shaoyun’s shoulder.
Xiang Shaoyun did not do anything and glanced at the two before saying, "Let go or suffer the consequences."
"Kid, you are still acting all tough even now? You want us to teach you a lesson right here?" berated the person on the left.
The person on the right sneered, "Why don't we break his arms first?"
Zhuo Yi did not say anything. Clearly, he had tacitly agreed.
"I repeat, let go or suffer the consequences," said Xiang Shaoyun.
"Haha, what a joke. Suffer!" said the person on the right. He signaled the other person, and they started exerting strength with their grips, trying to snap Xiang Shaoyun's arms.
"AHHHH!"
"AHHHH!"