Lingering Dreams and Shared Solace

Boom—

A resounding blast echoed, filling the surroundings with sword intent and an intimidating chill.

Yu Qingxuan seemed to embody the sharpest sword light in the world, transforming entirely into a formidable azure blade poised to deliver a fatal blow to the flood dragon thrashing amidst the dark clouds above.

This was the self-detonation strike of a Golden Core cultivator, an attack so potent that even a Nascent Soul expert could suffer utter defeat if they made a single misstep.

“Senior Sister!”

Qin Yan cried out.

Then, he abruptly felt his body plummet, jolting him awake from his bed. It took him a moment to gather his wits before he realized he had merely been dreaming.

Having embarked on the path of cultivation, he had barely dreamt since; this realization prompted him to rise from bed, straighten his clothes, and then open his door to step outside.

From the courtyard nearby, a series of ‘swish, swish, swish’ sounds drifted.

Upon drawing closer, Qin Yan saw a woman in white robes gracefully performing a sword dance. It was early morning, and the rising sun’s rays bathed the scene, creating a profoundly harmonious tableau.

“Junior Brother, are you awake?”

Spotting Qin Yan, the woman in white paused her sword movements and spoke with a radiant smile.

“Senior Sister, good morning.” Qin Yan gazed at Yu Qingxuan before him, a smile slowly gracing his own lips. “How are your injuries faring now, Senior Sister?”

“After half a month, I feel mostly recovered, thanks to Shizun’s help.

Moreover, that demon dragon’s core seems to have advanced my cultivation further.”

Yu Qingxuan spoke with an air of proud ease, though in truth, she simply wished to spare Qin Yan any worry.

Noticing Qin Yan’s somewhat troubled expression, she quickly inquired, “What troubles you, Junior Brother?”

“It’s nothing, just a nightmare.”

Qin Yan shook his head.

Yu Qingxuan nodded upon hearing his words, refraining from pressing the matter further. “Since there’s nothing else to do, why don’t you watch me practice my sword, Junior Brother?”

“Of course,” Qin Yan replied.

Yu Qingxuan resumed her sword dance, her movements truly as graceful as a soaring dragon.

Qin Yan watched, a wave of emotion washing over him, as half a month had already passed since the incident with the demon dragon.

He recalled how Senior Sister had, at that time, extracted her own Golden Core, preparing for self-detonation.

To see her now, dancing with her sword as if nothing had happened, was truly a blessing.

Yougu City, he knew, had long since been usurped by the demon race, becoming a den of fiends.

It was a classic case of ‘darkness under the lamp’; every living creature within its walls was a demon.

As for why the Zhao Nation remained oblivious, the intricacies of the situation were far too complex for Qin Yan to ponder.

Just then, Qin Yan noticed Yu Qingxuan stumble.

He quickly stepped forward, catching her by the waist to prevent her from falling to the ground.

Though Senior Sister claimed to have recovered, it was evident she was merely putting on a brave front.

Qin Yan gently guided her to sit on a nearby corridor bench.

“I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Junior Brother.”

A strained smile touched Yu Qingxuan’s lips as she spoke to Qin Yan, who sat beside her.

Qin Yan offered no reply, instead shaking his head.

He then took Senior Sister’s hand and placed it against his cheek.

Just as no man truly understands another man better than himself, no one understood this particular Senior Sister better than Qin Yan.

Gazing at Qin Yan’s face before her, much of the gloom in Yu Qingxuan’s heart dissipated.

Especially as she felt the warmth radiating from his hand, an inexplicable heat stirred within her.

It was a pity, however, that her previous injuries had been so severe; she had literally torn her Golden Core from her spiritual aperture.

This act was akin to self-destructing her foundation, yet fortunately, her cultivation path hadn’t suffered any major setbacks.

Though her cultivation had nearly plummeted to the peak of Foundation Establishment, she could still continue her progress on the path of cultivation.

She had promised to protect her Junior Brother, and that was no empty vow.
“Senior Sister, perhaps you should rest?”

Qin Yan discerned the weariness in Yu Qingxuan’s eyes.

She was a woman of immense pride, and for such a situation to arise, he knew she must be enduring considerable distress inwardly.

“Then, just like before, would Junior Brother lie on my lap? When you were little and tired, you always liked to do that.”

Yu Qingxuan blinked, a hint of mischief flickering in her eyes.
“But aren’t you the one who needs to rest, Senior Sister?”

Qin Yan said, then patted his own leg.

The implication was unmistakable.

Yu Qingxuan swallowed, wondering, ‘Can this truly be happening? My thoughts are truly running wild.’ Yet, since Junior Brother had already suggested it…

Tentatively, she bent down, resting her head on Qin Yan’s leg.

‘Is this what it feels like to lie on a man’s lap? It’s a bit firm…’

Yu Qingxuan lifted her head. Qin Yan’s long hair fell across her face, tickling her slightly.

Then, looking at her Junior Brother’s smile, she felt an inexplicable flush of embarrassment.

“Senior Sister, just lie comfortably…”

Noticing Yu Qingxuan attempting to struggle upright, Qin Yan reached out and gently pressed her shoulder.

‘A domineering Junior Brother forcing affection, is it? Hehe…’

‘Since I can’t resist, I might as well enjoy it.

To lie in the embrace of the sect’s ‘white moonlight’, whom so many female cultivators adore—if others knew, wouldn’t they be green with envy?’
Yu Qingxuan mused, feeling utterly delighted.

Observing that Yu Qingxuan’s body was still somewhat tense, Qin Yan reached out and gently stroked her head.

She, in turn, seemed to sense her Junior Brother’s tenderness, and her taut posture gradually relaxed.

Though as a Senior Sister, she shouldn’t display such a vulnerable posture, there were no outsiders present, and besides, lying in her Junior Brother’s embrace felt simply wonderful.

The morning light illuminated them both, creating a scene as harmonious as always.

****

Within a city in the Zhao Nation.

Inside a cultivation market, a young woman in a black dress was observing the wares displayed at the surrounding cultivators’ stalls.

“Have you heard? Yougu City was apparently harboring a great demon of the Nascent Soul level.”

“Your news is outdated.

Not only was it a Nascent Soul great demon, but the entire Yougu City has actually become a demon race stronghold.

Pity those mortals.”
“I heard disciples from the Yanqing Sect of the Qin Nation discovered this?”

“I know, it was Yu Qingxuan and Qin Yan.

I heard the latter is a male cultivator, a new-era prodigy of the Yanqing Sect.”

“Tell me, why would something like this be unknown to our Tiancheng Sect in the Zhao Nation, yet discovered by that…”

“Fellow Daoist, mind your words.”
This young woman was none other than Xiao Miao.

She listened to the discussions among the surrounding cultivators, for such was the purpose of a cultivation market: not merely a place for transactions between cultivators, but also a hub for exchanging information.

Since the great Nascent Soul demon had been slain last time, her Shizun had quietly led her away.

More than half a month had passed since then.

“Shizun, all the materials for refining that wondrous water have been acquired.

I truly didn’t expect a demon dragon to be lurking within it.”

Xiao Miao said to her Shizun, her face etched with lingering apprehension.

“This wondrous water is called Heavenly Dew, ranking one hundred fifty-second on the list of wondrous waters.

Its primary function is healing.

The demon dragon, gravely wounded, had sought out this wondrous water, but in the end, we unexpectedly reaped the benefits.”