After feeding the carp in the pond, Jiang Moqing changed into her combat gear and left, wearing a bamboo hat and veil.
Riding her sword, she arrived at the entrance of Lin Que and Qin Wanyuan’s residence where Qin Wanyuan was already waiting.
“Senior Sister, please come in. Lin Lang is still refining pills, so I ask for your patience.”
“No problem.”
Jiang Moqing stepped over the threshold, dressed in crisp white attire. With a single ponytail falling beneath her bamboo hat, she truly looked like a martial hero straight out of a storybook.
Watching Jiang Moqing’s back, Qin Wanyuan blinked and made up her mind that, given the chance, she too would try dressing like that someday.
Under the midday sun, Lin Que stood in front of the pill furnace wearing a loose-fitting black robe, focusing intently on controlling the flame.
The reason he wore black while refining pills was simple: it didn’t show dirt easily, even if ashes from the furnace got on it. Lin Que had always been a practical person.
In fact, among the clothes he had bought for himself, the majority were black robes and pants…partly because it was harder to notice bloodstains after killing someone.
On the other side, Jiang Moqing found her gaze drawn to Lin Que’s sharp jawline and those eyes fully immersed in his task.
He was still as attractive as ever. No….he was even more attractive than before.
Just watching Lin Que focus on refining pills, watching the glimmer of light reflected off the sweat slowly sliding down his handsome face in the glow of the pill furnace, made Jiang Moqing feel a faint heat stir in her lower abdomen.
Even though it had only happened last night… why was she already feeling this way again today…?
Jiang Moqing clenched her fists, took deep breaths, and continuously circulated the Heartless Valley Technique to suppress these thoughts.
Her slender hands were currently wrapped in gloves, hiding the details….something she had done deliberately.
Right now, her slightly wrinkled and pale fingers were not exactly something she wanted others to see.
Lin Que was currently refining internal pills needed for the next few rounds of treatment, as well as miasma-repelling pills essential for entering the Evil Dragon Pool.
To be cautious, he made a few extra pills.
When traveling, one could never be too careful. Especially now that he was a man with a family.
Because the quantity was large, it took quite a long time. It wasn’t until the sun had set behind the western mountains that Lin Que finally finished and sealed the furnace.
Setting aside the red-hot pill furnace to cool, Lin Que took out several miasma-repelling pills, sealed them in a porcelain bottle, and handed it to Jiang Moqing.
“When entering the Evil Dragon Pool, remember to hold it in your mouth. No need to swallow it.”
“Understood.”
Jiang Moqing nodded and carefully stored the porcelain bottle.
Lin Que had no intention of resting either. He returned to his room, changed into the standard Daoist robe of the Sword-Seeking Sect, and prepared to depart.
“Aren’t you going to rest a bit first?” Jiang Moqing asked.
“No need. The sooner we go, the sooner we return. Better that than running into any unexpected trouble,” Lin Que replied calmly. Swift and decisive action had always been his style.
Qin Wanyuan didn’t try to stop him. She simply stood on tiptoe, holding a handkerchief, and carefully wiped the traces of furnace ash from Lin Que’s face and neck.
“This trip is dangerous, Lin Lang. Please take care of yourself and come back safely,” she said softly. Though her words held no attempt to keep him back, the reluctant emotion in her eyes quietly slipped through.
Lin Que was touched.
“I’ll definitely return safely. After I come back, and after I settle the duel between Glazed Pavilion and Juqi Tower next month, I’ll take you home.”
Although such words might sound like a death flag to someone who had transmigrated, Lin Que didn’t mind saying them if it meant putting Qin Wanyuan at ease.
After all, flag or not, giving his Dao companion peace of mind was what mattered most.
“Home… Lin Lang, do you mean… meeting your parents?”
Qin Wanyuan gently covered her mouth, her face full of delight.
“Of course. In the letters I’ve exchanged these past two years, my parents have been eager to meet you,” Lin Que said with a smile.
“Hehe… is that so? Then I’ll have to dress up nicely for the occasion,” Qin Wanyuan said shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Amidst the sweetness, Qin Wanyuan suddenly remembered….Jiang Moqing was still standing nearby!
She subtly glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw that the other woman hadn’t done anything. Only that the bamboo hat was lowered a little further. With the veil and the dim setting sun between them, it was impossible to make out Jiang Moqing’s expression.
At the same time, Qin Wanyuan turned to look at Lin Que and noticed that he too had glanced at Jiang Moqing.
Could it be… that Lin Lang had deliberately said those words for both of us to hear?
Qin Wanyuan’s guess wasn’t wrong. Lin Que’s words had two purposes: first, to reassure Qin Wanyuan that even while away, she was still on his mind; and second, to make it clear to Jiang Moqing that he was already a married man. With the hope she would understand the boundaries.
Although that kind of thinking might sound conceited at first, Lin Que would rather be misunderstood than have any unnecessary trouble arise later.
“Then, we’ll be off now,” Lin Que said as he took out his flying sword. Stepping onto it, he hovered into the air.
“Safe travels,” Qin Wanyuan waved.
Lin Que and Jiang Moqing departed. Yet for some reason, as Qin Wanyuan watched Jiang Moqing’s departing figure, she couldn’t shake the sense that she looked somewhat dejected and lost.
“Could Senior Sister really have been crushed by Lin Lang’s words…?”
Qin Wanyuan thought about it, then shook her head. “Hopefully not. If she misses this opportunity, it’ll be hard to get another chance to be alone with him.”
Though a trace of bitterness lingered in her heart, Qin Wanyuan still understood the importance of the bigger picture. Right now, they had to seize every possible opportunity, no matter how small, to grow stronger together with Lin Que.
As she pondered, Qin Wanyuan took a deep breath, drew her spirit sword, and began practicing the sword techniques An Xiaoyao had taught her in the courtyard.
She couldn’t rely on the system for everything. She had to work harder and be more diligent herself.
With each movement of the sword, fallen leaves in the courtyard swirled and danced with the intent of the blade. Qin Wanyuan moved with grace and agility, her figure ethereal, like a celestial being.
***
Lin Que and Jiang Moqing had traveled through the night before finally stopping to rest at an inn.
“Waiter, two rooms,” Lin Que had said first upon entering the inn, addressing the young attendant who was still cleaning up.
The innkeeper’s assistant had a keen eye. The moment he saw them, he recognised them as distinguished guests. He noticed the woman standing beside Lin Que and the subtle distance between them, which hinted at an ambiguous relationship just short of crossing the line.
He immediately spoke up, “Apologies, honored guest, but we only have one room left.”
As he said this, the assistant even secretly winked at Lin Que.
“Just give us two rooms,” Lin Que replied, then took out a piece of silver. “This should be enough for one night, right?”
“More than enough!”
Seeing how generous Lin Que was, the assistant quickly brought two keys, handed them over with a flattering smile, and said, “Our finest Heaven-class rooms, right next to each other. Wishing you a pleasant stay.”
“Thank you,” Lin Que nodded and went upstairs with Jiang Moqing.
Watching the two of them leave, the assistant blinked in confusion. He was somewhat puzzled.
“In the past, whenever a man and a woman booked two separate rooms, wasn’t it usually the man who felt disappointed? Why do I feel like that lady looked even more disheartened? Ah well, the affairs of the high and mighty aren’t my concern. What matters most is money.”
With that, he bit down on the silver to confirm its authenticity. Once satisfied, he pulled a string of copper coins from his own pocket, carefully counted out the fee for two rooms for one night, and placed it into the inn’s money drawer. Only then did he smile in satisfaction, feeling far more energized as he resumed cleaning.
Meanwhile, Lin Que and Jiang Moqing were standing in front of their respective room doors.
“If you need anything, call me anytime,” Jiang Moqing said. “I mean… if there’s any danger, we should look out for each other.”
“Mm,” Lin Que responded.
He didn’t pay much attention to the ambiguous tone in her words. He simply gave a light nod, then stepped into his room.
Only after watching his back disappear into the room did Jiang Moqing turn to enter hers.
She spread out her divine sense to confirm there were no hidden observers or formations in place. Then she removed her bamboo hat, took off her shoes and socks, sat on the edge of the bed, and casually set up a soundproofing formation.
Gazing at the wooden wall of the inn, she felt as if she could see Lin Que’s figure through it.
Slowly, the heat she had forced down earlier began to rise again.
“Junior Brother is right next door to me… with only a wall between us…”
She removed her gloves and stared at the slender, fair fingers of her left hand. Her eyes once again grew hazy and unfocused.
With a casual wave, she extinguished the candle. The room was plunged into darkness, leaving only the soft rustle of fabric and the sound of a woman’s suppressed breathing. Outside the room, all was silent.
The flame of a candle could be snuffed out easily, but once the fire of desire was lit, it was far harder to extinguish.
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