A Long-Awaited Question

She continued to cultivate the Moon Gaze Treasure Canon to advance her realm, all while diligently comprehending the nine combat diagrams left by the dragon. Chi Qiu also practiced the divine ability, ‘Blooming Life,’ with unwavering effort.

Over a month passed in this manner. Chi Qiu noticed that her comprehension of the ‘Dao’ was remarkably swift, yet her cultivation realm progressed at an agonizingly slow and obscure pace. The stark contrast to her previous cultivation speed in the Heart Scripture Realm was so immense that she began to suspect something was fundamentally wrong with her own body.

After pondering for several days, Chi Qiu finally pinpointed the issue. Her cultivation method, the Moon Gaze Treasure Canon, was no longer keeping pace with her rapid progress.

The Moon Gaze Treasure Canon was an Earth-tier cultivation method. While most Earth-tier methods typically capped out at the God Concealing stage, the Moon Gaze Treasure Canon was an exceptional Earth-tier technique, capable of reaching the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Now, with Chi Qiu’s cultivation nearing its limit, her progress had naturally slowed considerably.

“At this rate, it might take decades to reach the Dharma Manifestation Realm,” Chi Qiu murmured, reluctantly withdrawing from her meditative state.

To accelerate her path to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, changing her cultivation method seemed the only viable option. Yet, Heaven-tier methods were exceedingly precious, often guarded as secret inheritances by major sects and aristocratic families. Acquiring one would be an arduous, if not impossible, task.

Just as Chi Qiu wrestled with her dilemma, a subtle ripple of spiritual energy emanated from beyond her residence. Her head snapped up, and in a flash, she moved from the backyard to the front gate.

Above the residence, a white paper kite circled. It attempted to fly into the courtyard but was repelled by the defensive array, repeatedly colliding with it and causing faint wisps of spiritual energy to dissipate.

Chi Qiu recognized it as the paper kite Su Hanxing had given her. With a wave of her hand, the grand array parted, creating an opening that allowed the kite to enter. Chi Qiu took the kite, extracted a letter from within, and then stored the paper kite in her purple-gold bracelet. She unfolded the letter and began to read silently.

Little Chi,

The Tianyan Sect has been exceptionally busy these past few days, preventing me from replying sooner. Please forgive my delay.

I have already copied the list you requested and will personally deliver it to you shortly.

As for that longsword, if it’s sold, then so be it. You will acquire better ones in the future.

Everything is well with me here at the Tianyan Sect. The elders, now aware that I have obtained the True Dragon’s Aura, are gradually entrusting me with greater responsibilities.

Spiritual plants with innate Dao patterns are quite rare, but I will keep an eye out for you. Remember, the Nine-Petaled Azure Lotus you acquired in Sishui Marsh previously also possessed innate Dao patterns.

The preliminary rounds for the second Martial Arts Tournament are about to begin. This time, the Daqi Imperial Family has broadened the criteria, allowing all cultivators under fifty years old to participate. As a renowned cultivator from the previous grand competition’s Heavenly Pride Rankings, I naturally don’t need to partake in the preliminaries. We can attend as spectators together.

The qualification to enter the Imperial Family’s forbidden grounds is once again up for grabs in this competition, but the other rewards are hundreds, even thousands of times more generous. I believe you, Little Chi, will find them quite tempting.

Let us both strive to achieve better rankings in that tournament, shall we?

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we shall meet again very soon. I am greatly looking forward to it, and I wonder if you feel the same?

Su Hanxing.

Chi Qiu folded the letter. Her heart was a tumultuous mix of anticipation and apprehension regarding Su Hanxing’s impending arrival.

After their next meeting, could they truly remain just friends?

A gentle autumn breeze rustled, and in a blink, golden autumn had arrived. The Imperial City was awash in a dazzling tapestry of emerald and gold, a truly beautiful sight.

In the front courtyard of Chi Qiu’s residence, the osmanthus trees were now laden with vast clusters of golden blossoms. Their sweet fragrance drifted on the autumn wind, permeating the entire manor.

Dressed in a loose white gown, Chi Qiu was currently perched on an osmanthus tree, a bamboo basket tucked into her arm, gathering blossoms. Although she had cultivated daily and meditated nightly during this period, her progress had been exceptionally slow. Today, she decided to halt her cultivation, taking advantage of the golden osmanthus blooming to pick some flowers for sweets, granting herself a much-needed day of rest.

Chi Qiu moved busily through the spacious residence, alone. Outside her manor, a tall figure paused, stopping to gaze through the open gate.

Chi Qiu washed the collected osmanthus flowers, then took out a mortar and pestle, intending to add honey and crush them. However, after searching high and low, she realized there was no honey in the house. She set down the mortar, rose, and prepared to go out and buy some.

Chi Qiu walked through the central courtyard’s corridor to the front yard, where she found the main gate wide open. A familiar figure stood before it.

The figure possessed sword-like brows and star-like eyes, exuding an imposing aura. Dressed in a purple-black Star Palace Daoist robe, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he watched Chi Qiu in the courtyard.

It was Su Hanxing.

Chi Qiu halted, and the two stood in silence, facing each other.

Chi Qiu walked forward, stopping before Su Hanxing. “You’ve come at just the right time,” she said softly. “Could you buy some honey for me?”

Chi Qiu produced a silver ingot and handed it to Su Hanxing.

“There’s quite a bit of dust accumulated outside your residence, Little Chi. You must rarely go out, don’t you?” Su Hanxing took the silver ingot, a smile playing on his lips. “Why not seize this opportunity and come with me to buy honey, and perhaps enjoy the autumn scenery of the Imperial City along the way?”

Su Hanxing extended his hand, inviting Chi Qiu. Chi Qiu tilted her head, pondered for a moment, then reached out and placed her hand in Su Hanxing’s, accepting his invitation.

Feeling the soft touch against his palm, Su Hanxing’s lips curved upward, unable to conceal the joy in his heart. He gently tugged her arm, drawing Chi Qiu out the gate, and then led her onto the street.

“I say, you should let go now,” Chi Qiu said. Her small hand was tightly clasped in Su Hanxing’s, her five fair fingers pressed together, making it impossible to pull free.

Passersby on the street occasionally cast knowing glances their way. Even with Chi Qiu’s composure, she found it a bit much and spoke up, hoping Su Hanxing would release her hand.

Su Hanxing turned, seeing Chi Qiu’s embarrassed expression and reddened earlobes. She tried to subtly pull her arm back, but it wouldn’t budge. She dared not use her spiritual energy, fearing she might inadvertently harm him.

Witnessing this, Su Hanxing felt an endless well of affection rise within him, making him even more unwilling to release her hand.

“Heheheh… Little Chi, just walk closer to me. That way, it won’t look so strange,” Su Hanxing chuckled, pausing until Chi Qiu stood parallel to him.

“It’s not about that…” Chi Qiu looked up at Su Hanxing, raising her hand and giving it a slight shake. “Do ordinary friends act like this?”

“Could it be that Little Chi thinks we are merely ordinary friends?” Su Hanxing loosened his grip slightly but did not fully release her hand, continuing to hold it as he countered.

“You know that’s not what I meant,” Chi Qiu said, calming herself slightly. She gazed intently at Su Hanxing’s face, trying to discern something from his expression.

During this time, Chi Qiu had cultivated alone, often recalling Su Hanxing’s various actions during their journey to the Yinglong Tomb, and the fragment of his memory she had witnessed on the vast scorched earth.

Chi Qiu had long suspected Su Hanxing’s affection for her. She had previously interrupted him only because she hadn’t been ready to face a confession from a man. Now, however, Chi Qiu was fully prepared. She yearned for an answer: what were Su Hanxing’s true feelings for her? Though she already held an answer in her heart, she wished to hear it from his own lips. Only then could she truly feel at ease.

“Then what do you mean?” Su Hanxing seemed to sense something profound. His expression gradually grew serious, and his pace of speech slowed considerably.

“Lately, I’ve been constantly thinking about the nature of our relationship. The first time you saved me, one could say it was due to your exceptionally high moral character, your unwillingness to harm the innocent. Even after I destroyed so many of your magic artifacts, you still refused to follow your sect’s orders and kill me.” Having initiated the topic, Chi Qiu no longer hesitated, immediately revealing the thoughts in her heart.

“That was because I wasn’t your match at the time,” Su Hanxing attempted to argue.

“Then, you specifically sought me out to tell me that because of the divine ability, ‘Intertwined Gold,’ I had been targeted by certain powers. You then took me to Qibao Hall to hand over the ability, helping me avert that crisis. I also benefited from your help, gaining a new divine ability.” Chi Qiu disregarded his interjection, continuing to narrate calmly. These were words she had contemplated for a long time, and finally, today, they were spoken.

Su Hanxing fell silent, listening quietly as Chi Qiu recounted their shared past. His expression gradually softened, and it seemed he had already made a choice in his heart.

“Later, during our journey to the Sishui Marsh, I fortuitously saved you, and you repeatedly insisted on repaying that debt. Consequently, under the guise of gratitude, you brought me into the Yinglong Tomb, where you then gifted me many of your spoils of war. In the end, you even relinquished the True Dragon’s Aura to me,” Chi Qiu continued, looking at Su Hanxing with a bewildered expression.

“You saved me twice, and I saved you once. By all rights and reasons, it should be me who repays you,” Chi Qiu’s recollection was nearing its conclusion. She asked, “So why do you still treat me this way? Even the closest of friends, sworn brothers, wouldn’t go to such lengths, would they?”

Then, Chi Qiu leaned closer to Su Hanxing’s face. She looked at the now remarkably calm Su Hanxing, gathering all her courage, and asked, word by word, “Hanxing, do you like me?”