Fu Manman walked with a very upright posture, keeping her hands together below her abdomen, her fingers restlessly fiddling.

She occasionally turned her head slightly, looking at Fan Wubing's profile.

The latter always had a hint of a faint smile on his lips.

Was he... happy?

Happy because he had slain the Umbrella Demon?

Or was he happy to stroll in the rain with me?

No, no, no, how could it be the second reason. I... someone like me, I can't even say a nice word, let alone speak as effortlessly as Junior Sister Qingyao, who can casually say impressive things... I'm just a very boring person, even the Sect Leader often tells me I should interact with people more...

Fan Wubing was happy because of that "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill."

Truly fortuitous! This Peach Blossom Spring truly lives up to being a Daoist Blessed Land! Right from the start, it was a non-graded Divine Technique like the "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill."

Non-graded sounds intimidating, but that's not really the case.

Generally speaking, if a Cultivation Technique, Divine Technique, or Martial Skill is created by humans, it would have a grade. Non-graded ones are usually results of natural evolution, since their content is typically not developed in accordance with a cultivator's cultivation system, they don't have grades, and are extremely difficult to cultivate.

So... non-graded is a description with very high potential but also very low potential.

It could range from immortal-grade to being not even as good as mortal-grade. It varies greatly from person to person. The same non-graded cultivation technique could have someone achieve immortal-grade results, while another might face backlash against their own cultivation.

This is a common occurrence.

Therefore, there is a common understanding in the Cultivation Realm that if you acquire a non-graded cultivation technique, you should not easily try it unless you truly understand it.

But for Fan Wubing, these things are not a concern. He doesn't need any "profound understanding," possessing a player interface, isn't that equivalent to having "heaven-defying comprehension?"

Fu Manman finally found a topic after holding it in for a long time, breaking the silence,

"How... how did you think of separating the red-clad woman from the main red umbrella?"

Fan Wubing joked,

"In fact, I just wanted to escape, it was just a coincidence."

"Ah?!"

Fu Manman visibly wilted. She pursed her lips and lowered her head, looking a bit disappointed, and although she said nothing, one could feel a sense of "I'm really not that important" resentment emanating from her.

Fan Wubing hurriedly added,

"I'm just kidding! Just kidding! I realized that the red-clad woman had an advantage in the rain and wanted to take her to a place where the rain couldn't reach to weaken her a bit."

"So that's how it is."

Fu Manman perked up again. Although she didn't directly laugh, her steps became noticeably lighter, and her shoulders were no longer tense.

"But, even if the red-clad woman was just an external incarnation and not the main body, she still had the cultivation at the Peak of Foundation Establishment. How... how did you defeat her?"

As soon as she asked, she realized she sounded like she was prying for secrets, so she quickly added,

"It's okay if you don't want to say!"

Fan Wubing shook his head,

"It's no big deal. For those of us in the Cultivation Realm, there's a subconscious belief that cultivation level equals cultivation itself. In such a world, aren't there all sorts of cultivators? Cultivating the Martial Dao, Divine Dao, Demon Dao, even the rumored ones born cultivating the Heavenly Dao... Indeed, I can't absorb immortal energy, but to assume I'm a completely ordinary person just because of that would be far too narrow-minded."

Fu Manman chuckled lightly and nodded, saying,

"That's what I'm saying. Throughout history, every senior who pioneered a new path was initially met with skepticism and ridicule. But in the end, didn't time prove who was truly outstanding?"

"I wouldn't dare compare myself to those seniors. For now, I just want to enjoy walking in the rain."

Having said that, he handed the red umbrella to Fu Manman,

"This umbrella, I'm giving it to you."

The resentful spirit within the red umbrella had dissipated, now it was just an ordinary oil-paper umbrella. Such a beautiful umbrella was useless to keep around, might as well give it to someone worthy.

Fu Manman was stunned, accepted the umbrella, but didn't speak. She had no idea what to say, completely baffled.

Fan Wubing suddenly stepped out from under the red umbrella and stood in the pouring rain.

Every line of rain became unusually distinct. The raindrops hit him and splattered into a thin veil of rain mist. A nearby house still had its lights on. The light passed through the paper window, illuminating him, mixing with the hazy rain mist, creating a vibrant brilliance.

Behind him, the girl under the umbrella gazed at his back, momentarily thinking she had seen a Divine Being.

She snapped back to reality, her tone slightly trembling, albeit concealed by the sound of rain. She asked,

"Why give it to me?"

Fan Wubing, feeling the "Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill" grant his body a unique experience in the rain, felt as comfortable and at ease as being in a warm bed, his mood couldn't have been better.

He heard the girl's question and smiled,

"A beautiful umbrella should be with a beautiful girl."

Yet, his words received no response. He turned around to see the girl holding the oil-paper umbrella, standing in the rain, the dim yellow light casting on her. She seemed like a person wandering alone in a rainy alley.

"What's wrong?"

Fu Manman lowered her head, hiding her face in the dark, and softly said,

"Let's go back quickly. I... I'm a bit cold."

...

"Senior Brother, you're finally back!"

As soon as they returned to the inn, Luo Qingyao rushed up, like an eggplant hit by frost, she looked listless and unhappy.

Fan Wubing asked,

"What, didn't have any gains today?"

"No gains, not a single one! Senior Brother, I need your comfort..."

"Hmm... Keep it up, work hard! You'll definitely have gains tomorrow, Junior Sister is the best!"

Even such a perfunctory comfort worked wonders for Luo Qingyao. She immediately brightened up,

"Senior Brother seems very happy."

"Not really. Just wandered all day."

At this moment, Fu Manman walked in and put away the umbrella. She glanced at Fan Wubing and Luo Qingyao, then hurriedly lowered her head and returned to her room.

Hmm?

Luo Qingyao squinted her eyes... something's off, something's very off! Senior Sister Manman seems to be deliberately avoiding me and Senior Brother... why is that? Could it be that she had a dispute with Senior Brother and is unhappy? No!

The young girl quickly dismissed this thought. That behavior wasn't indicative of a dispute, but rather,

shyness!

She immediately grabbed Fan Wubing's sleeve,

"Senior Brother! You and Senior Sister Manman, did you have any gains today?"

Fan Wubing said,

"Manman gained quite a lot. But it's all bits of good luck, as for me... I can only say I gained some knowledge."

"Manman? Manman? Manman!"

"It seems your focus is misplaced."

Luo Qingyao's mouth drooped,

"You've never even called my name!"

"Qingyao?"

"Eh!" Luo Qingyao responded with a smile, then quickly shook her head, her expression turning serious in an instant, "Senior Brother, are you and Senior Sister Manman close?"

"Not really. We've just known each other for a long time."

"What? How long?"

"Since we were about four years old..."

Luo Qingyao froze in place, motionless.

"Junior Sister? Qingyao?"

Fan Wubing called her twice, and upon no response, realized the child had gone off in her own world again. Ignoring her, he hurried back to his room to review the day's gains as the right path.

As soon as he returned to the room, he heard Luo Qingyao's agitated and slightly mournful shout from outside,

"So they were childhood sweethearts!"

Fan Wubing's mouth twitched, disregarded her lament, and began to meditate and rest.

In another room, Fu Manman was so startled by the loud voice that she shivered, softly saying,

"Not childhood sweethearts at all."

But her voice was only audible to herself.

She stared blankly at the red umbrella leaning against the wall, the rain still trickling from it.

What on earth did he mean?

Did he not want the umbrella, or did he deliberately give it to me?

She thought about the words Fan Wubing said when he gave her the umbrella...

After a long time, she suddenly realized, her face turned bright red, and she almost started steaming,

"So, so... he thinks I'm a pretty girl?"

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