A moment later.

A figure stepped into the garden.

He was tall, with an imposing presence, his eyes sparkling with intelligence. He walked with the dignity of a dragon or a tiger, making him extremely noticeable.

"Junior Sister You, long time no see!" A hearty voice followed.

"Senior Brother Han." You Qingyi replied calmly.

The man got straight to the point: "I heard you're about to travel far. There are many dangers outside the sect now.

I'll accompany you, ensuring you return home safely!"

"No need to trouble yourself, Senior Brother Han. I'm just at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation; how would I attract the attention of an Evil Cultivator? Besides, Senior Sister Bi is accompanying me, so there's really no need for you to worry."

"Hey, we're both from Jin City. Isn't it normal for fellow townsmen to support each other?"

"It's not necessary. Please, go back, Senior Brother Han." You Qingyi refused him outright, not giving him any face.

Senior Brother Han tried to persuade her a couple more times, but seeing that You Qingyi's stance was firm, he awkwardly left.

"Tsk tsk, Sister Qingyi is really popular within the sect. Why does no one come to send me off?" Bi Yaoyao shook her head in exasperation.

"Everyone knows your father has a fiery temper. If he found out someone was pestering you and didn't like them, that person might end up with broken legs and arms." You Qingyi exposed her directly.

Soon after, two more people came looking for You Qingyi, wanting to escort her home.

Their thinking was simple.

If they could escort You Qingyi back, they could get in touch with her family. As the saying goes, strongholds are often breached from within...

Unfortunately, You Qingyi gave them no chance at all.

"These flies have such keen noses, knowing where to find out about my return."

"Someone at the Name Pavilion must have leaked it."

'Thump thump thump!'

A boy came running again, already out of breath and sweating profusely: "Fairy You, there's another senior brother outside looking for you..."

"Let him in." You Qingyi hesitated slightly before nodding.

Bi Yaoyao looked at her with some doubt: "If they're all flies, why waste the time?"

You Qingyi's expression didn't change: "What if there's truly something important?"

A man with thick eyebrows and a slightly heroic face came walking towards them.

Meanwhile, Bi Yaoyao, who was watching her close friend suspiciously,

suddenly noticed a light in You Qingyi's eyes that had never been there before.

'Hey, surely you're waiting for your childhood sweetheart, and I've caught you in the act!' Bi Yaoyao was excited, feeling she'd discovered something delightfully intriguing.

As Lou Yi approached, You Qingyi's heart was pounding.

'If he offers to escort me, should I agree or refuse?'

'I should probably refuse at first, but if he insists, it wouldn't hurt to give him a chance.'

'But if I refuse and he gets angry and leaves, what then?'

You Qingyi was deeply conflicted, unable to come up with a perfect solution.

"Miss You, Miss Bi." Lou Yi, realizing they were both present, greeted them without second thought.

You Qingyi and Bi Yaoyao stood together, one with snow-white skin and an icy aura, the other with bright eyes and a striking figure, a feast for the eyes.

"Junior Brother Lou, what brings you here?" Bi Yaoyao asked with a smile.

"Oh, I just found a suitable task at the Task Hall and wanted to ask for Miss You's help..."

Before Lou Yi could finish.

You Qingyi's face turned several shades whiter.

The light in her eyes completely dimmed.

Then a flicker of anger lit up.

"Why should I help you?" You Qingyi asked coldly.

"Uh..." Lou Yi was perplexed, wondering if he had offended her recently.

Beside him, Bi Yaoyao nearly burst into laughter.

Unbeknownst to him, Lou Yi had recently found a task quite suitable for him at the Task Hall:

'There have been consecutive incidents of beasts and birds attacking people at Yinfeng Mountain, suspected to have turned into demons, with potential threat of a new lethal monster.

Someone needs to investigate the cause. If danger arises, do not act on impulse...Restricted to Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, lasting two months. Seventy contribution points awarded upon completion.'

Yinfeng Mountain, located in the northwest of Zhao Kingdom, is perennially shrouded in heavy miasma at night.

Based on past experiences, the monsters born on the mountain are often of the Yin Element kind.

According to intelligence from the Corpse-Driving Sect, many beasts and birds have turned demonic at Yinfeng Mountain this time.

If he could slaughter them all, wouldn't his Yin Affinity skyrocket?

Thus, as soon as Lou Yi found this task, he hurried to seek You Qingyi's help, fearing other disciples would snatch it away.

He never expected her attitude would be much worse than he imagined?

Though unaware of what had happened, Lou Yi had no masochistic tendencies.

He shook his head, turned around, and prepared to ask Rong Xuejian for help.

Seeing this, You Qingyi's eyes instantly reddened.

A mixture of grievance, heartache, and regret suddenly filled her, overwhelming her.

'Why are you leaving just like that?'

'You didn't even ask why I was angry, or bother to care about my feelings...'

'Alas, I was overthinking it. Perhaps he really has no interest in me.'

At this moment, You Qingyi had already begun to faintly realize that Lou Yi probably wasn't interested in her, as she had previously thought, which made her feel even more distressed.

She wanted to call him back, but her inherent shyness made it hard to open her mouth.

"Junior Brother Lou, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Qingyi didn't say she wouldn't agree to help you." At this moment, Bi Yaoyao spoke up.

Lou Yi turned back and looked at You Qingyi.

You Qingyi forcefully suppressed her emotions and said calmly: "Brother Lou, what is the task?"

"There are many demonic creatures and monsters appearing at Yinfeng Mountain, and someone needs to investigate the cause." Lou Yi introduced the task briefly.

"Qingyi, Yinfeng Mountain is not far from Ying City, isn't it on our way?" Bi Yaoyao's eyes lit up as she spoke.

"You're going to Ying City?"

"Exactly, Qingyi is going back to see her grandmother. By the way, if we help you with this task, shouldn't you do something too?" A hint of cunning flashed in Bi Yaoyao's eyes.

"Do what?" Lou Yi asked in confusion.

"The road isn't safe nowadays. Shouldn't you, after completing the task, escort Qingyi back as well?"

"That is only proper." Lou Yi agreed without much thought, offhandedly.

Upon Lou Yi agreeing to escort her back, You Qingyi's mood instantly took a 180-degree turn.

She felt even the sunlight had become brighter, and her eyes regained their sparkle.

Soon, You Qingyi and Bi Yaoyao went to take on Lou Yi's task, and they agreed to set off from the sect the next day.

...

The next day, as the morning sun rose.

Lou Yi arrived early at the foot of Wendao Peak, waiting for You Qingyi and Bi Yaoyao.

However, he found three unfamiliar male cultivators already there.

Two wore dark blue Daoist Robes, one wore light blue, evidently two True Inheritance and one Inner Sect Disciple.

The four of them looked at each other in silence, while a strange atmosphere gradually filled the space.

'What's going on?' Lou Yi felt something off, but couldn't pinpoint what.

"Fellow brothers, what is this about?" Lou Yi asked.

"Oh, we're waiting for someone."

...

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