After returning to her room, Nangaka Akiyama sat on the tatami mat to cultivate, but even after a long while, her mind remained unsettled.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to the earlier scene at the Tranquil Spring.
As she thought about it, her pretty face flushed red.
“That little rascal, stripping right in front of me, hmph!”
Nangaka Akiyama let out a delicate huff.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Ever since I met him, my heart hasn’t been able to stay as calm as before. I’m afraid if this continues, it might give rise to inner demons.”
“That wretched man, causing me so much trouble.”
Thinking that Ye Qiu would leave Dadong tomorrow, Nangaka Akiyama’s heart filled with reluctance.
“Who knows when we’ll meet again after this parting?”
With this thought, Nangaka Akiyama gave up on cultivating, left her room, and headed straight for the Tranquil Spring, hoping to talk to Ye Qiu.
However, when she was still a hundred metres away from the spring, she heard strange sounds coming from the hot spring.
What’s happening?
Nangaka Akiyama craned her neck to glance towards the spring, and instantly, her face turned bright red.
“In broad daylight, that guy is bullying Xiaoxue. How shameless!”
Nangaka Akiyama stole a couple more glances, her face growing even redder.
She wanted to leave, but for some reason, her feet refused to move, and she inexplicably took a few steps closer.
Just then.
Nangaka Akiyama suddenly noticed Ye Qiu turning his head towards her direction.
“Oh no, he’s spotted me!”
Feeling like a thief caught in the act, Nangaka Akiyama, startled like a rabbit, turned and fled.
In the hot spring, a faint smile curled at the corner of Ye Qiu’s lips.
In truth, he had noticed Nangaka Akiyama long before.
With his current cultivation level, nothing within a hundred metres could escape his senses, unless someone’s cultivation surpassed his own.
“That woman, so thin-skinned,” Ye Qiu thought, chuckling to himself as he watched Nangaka Akiyama flee in embarrassment.
Qianshan Xue noticed Ye Qiu’s distraction and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” Ye Qiu replied, turning his gaze back and continuing with what he was doing.
Much later.
The hot spring finally grew quiet.
Qianshan Xue’s stunning face rested on Ye Qiu’s shoulder, her lotus-like arms wrapped around his neck as she said, “I don’t want you to leave. I want to go with you to Huaguo.”
How could Ye Qiu not want to take Qianshan Xue back to Huaguo? But with a great enemy still at large, bringing her along would drag her into the turmoil.
Holding Qianshan Xue, Ye Qiu comforted her, “Xiaoxue, I don’t want to leave you either, but I can’t take you to Huaguo right now.”
“As for why, I’ve told you before: I have a powerful enemy.”
“Soon, I’ll face this enemy in a life-or-death battle.”
“Oh, there’s something I think I should tell you.”
Qianshan Xue softly asked, “What is it?”
Ye Qiu said, “My father is Ye Wushuang.”
What!
Qianshan Xue jerked her head up, her eyes wide with disbelief, her beautiful gaze filled with shock.
Ye Qiu continued, “This is my secret. Very few people know.”
“You’re someone close to me, so I think you should know.”
“Xiaoxue, keep it a secret.”
Qianshan Xue nodded solemnly and said, “Don’t worry, I’d die before I’d let this secret slip.”
The reason Ye Qiu was willing to reveal his background to Qianshan Xue was that he wasn’t certain of victory in the upcoming battle. He feared he might die at the hands of those in the Forbidden City, and he didn’t want to miss the chance to tell her.
Though Qianshan Xue was Dadong’s national goddess, she was no mere decoration. She immediately grasped Ye Qiu’s intent.
“You’re telling me about your father’s identity now because you’re not confident about the battle?”
“Yes.”
“What are your odds?”
“Very slim.”
Qianshan Xue’s eyes reddened, tears nearly spilling over.
“But I’ll give it my all,” Ye Qiu said with a smile. “I want to stay with you and our child. I don’t want to die.”
As if making a monumental decision, Qianshan Xue said firmly, “Ye Qiu, rest assured. Whether you live or die, I’ll bring our child into this world and raise her.”
“Thank you,” Ye Qiu said sincerely.
Qianshan Xue added, “Give our child a name. I went to the hospital, and it’s a girl.”
Ye Qiu thought for a moment and said, “Let’s call her Ruyi.”
“Ye Ruyi?” Qianshan Xue asked.
Ye Qiu nodded, saying, “I hope our daughter lives a peaceful life, with everything going smoothly as she wishes.”
“Good,” Qianshan Xue said to Ye Qiu. “In my eyes, you’re someone who creates miracles. Though the odds in this battle are low, I believe you can defeat your enemy.”
Ye Qiu smiled, “I’ll do my best.”
Afterwards, the two left the Tranquil Spring.
Once Qianshan Xue had helped Ye Qiu dress, he said, “Xiaoxue, go fetch your master. I’ll teach you both the Killing Technique.”
“Alright,” Qianshan Xue went to find Nangaka Akiyama.
A while later.
Qianshan Xue returned alone.
“Where’s your master?” Ye Qiu asked.
Qianshan Xue replied, “I don’t know where Master went. I checked her room, but she wasn’t there.”
Ye Qiu said, “Then I’ll teach you the Killing Technique first.”
He began teaching Qianshan Xue the technique.
Until evening.
Nangaka Akiyama still hadn’t returned.
That night.
Since Ye Qiu was leaving for Huaguo the next day, Qianshan Xue, reluctant to part, spent more intimate time with him. By eleven o’clock, Qianshan Xue dressed and left.
“Xiaoxue, where are you going?” Ye Qiu asked.
“I’m going to check if Master’s back,” Qianshan Xue replied. No sooner had she left than Nangaka Akiyama entered.
Nangaka Akiyama looked exhausted, her face weary from travel.
“Nange, where have you been?” Ye Qiu asked.
Nangaka Akiyama said, “I stayed on the mountain, afraid of disturbing you and Xiaoxue, so I went down for a walk.”
Ye Qiu didn’t believe her and asked again, “What did you really do?”
Nangaka Akiyama pulled a pouch from her chest and tossed it to Ye Qiu, saying, “For you.”
Ye Qiu caught it, opened it, and found a peace talisman inside.
“This is a peace talisman from Huguo Temple. It’s quite effective. Keep it with you,” Nangaka Akiyama said.
Ye Qiu asked, “How far is Shuiyue Sect from Huguo Temple?”
“Three thousand li, round trip.”
Ye Qiu was stunned.
That far?
“So, you went down the mountain just to get this peace talisman for me from Huguo Temple?” Ye Qiu asked.
Nangaka Akiyama rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t flatter yourself. I had business at Huguo Temple and just grabbed one for you on the way.”
“Is that really true?” Ye Qiu stared directly at Nangaka Akiyama.
She quickly turned her head away, saying, “It’s true.”
Whoosh!
In a single step, Ye Qiu moved to Nangaka Akiyama, his hands swiftly wrapping around her waist.
