Even Long Yunhui on the side and the silently eye-lowered Zhai Shuo looked up and cast a glance at Yuan Shu.
Long Yunhui was very surprised. The last time he saw Yuan Shu, her relationship with her senior brothers wasn't very good at all.
She had even given the eldest senior brother the cold shoulder.
How much time had passed? The eldest senior brother had actually become the one taking the initiative.
And then there was the fourth junior brother, Leng Shuxue. Others might not understand Leng Shuxue, but he did!
This man was just like his name, incredibly cold, with hardly any desire to interact with others.
Let alone women!
In the past, any women who approached him were either scared off by his cold face or had a clear, distinct line drawn between them.
If any female cultivator dared to cross that line, he would mercilessly throw her out!
Especially after his legs were poisoned and he could no longer stand up, no one had seen him proactively communicate with anyone like this.
Unexpectedly, today he saw Leng Shuxue inviting Yuan Shu to join his team.
The sun had truly risen from the west!
Looking at the three hands extended towards her, Yuan Shu frowned slightly.
Just as she was about to say something, Lu Guichen, seated at the head, saw this scene and spoke in a chilly tone.
"Is a low-level Qi Refining stage disciple really worth the three of you fighting over? Is she some kind of hot commodity?"
Lu Guichen's tone carried a hint of frustration at their failure to meet his expectations.
Shu Linyuan and Shen Qi were both geniuses he highly valued, with limitless futures ahead of them.
Although Leng Shuxue's legs were crippled, his cultivation talent was obvious to all.
Even if he was temporarily stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage, who could say what the future held?
What if his willpower was astonishing, and he managed to successfully advance just the way he was?
How could three such promising seedlings, upon whom he had placed such high hopes, all have entanglements with Yuan Shu?
In Lu Guichen's eyes, Yuan Shu was the delinquent corrupting his genius disciples.
If the ten-year period hadn't yet arrived, he would have long ago kicked this untalented space-waster Yuan Shu down the mountain!
Reprimanded by Lu Guichen's angry tone, the expressions of the three men shifted slightly.
Yuan Shu had said that in front of their master and outsiders, she hoped they would maintain a certain distance.
They shouldn't let anyone notice anything unusual.
Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan exchanged a glance and could only withdraw their hands.
Leng Shuxue looked up at Yuan Shu. Seeing her give him a slight nod, he obediently withdrew his hand, even though his heart cried out at the injustice done to her.
Yuan Shu didn't want to make their relationship public just yet.
He understood!
He would protect her well!
"Hmph."
Seeing this, Lu Guichen snorted coldly and glanced at the absent-minded Long Yunhui on the side.
"Yunhui, your expression has been off for the past few days. Did something happen?"
Long Yunhui snapped back to reality and hurriedly shook his head. "To reply to Master, nothing happened... It's just that I've gained some insights into my cultivation recently and have been pondering them."
Lu Guichen did not suspect him. Hearing this, he nodded, quite gratified.
This third disciple also had good aptitude; who knew, he might break through to the Nascent Soul stage at any time!
Seeing that the personal disciples had yet to form their teams, he frowned and spoke directly.
"For this exploration of the Death Demon Forest, Long Yunhui will take Yuan Shu, Shen Qi will take Shu Linyuan, Zhai Shuo will take Su Lingxi, and Leng Shuxue will go with the inner sect disciples so they can look after each other."
"Are there any questions?"
Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak.
"Go." Lu Guichen finalized the decision.
Many present had expressions of disappointment.
Shen Qi still wanted to be with Yuan Shu to protect her.
Shu Linyuan didn't want to leave Yuan Shu either; her strength was only at the Qi Refining stage, making the Death Demon Forest very dangerous for her.
Leng Shuxue pursed his lips, his hands resting on his knees clenching slightly.
How he wished his legs could stand up at this moment, so he could change their master's mind and shield her from the wind and rain.
Among them, only the person in question, Yuan Shu, wore a faint smile, her expression calm and breezy.
After all, in her heart, it was actually the same no matter who she was with.
She didn't need anyone's protection!
On the other side, the disinterested Long Yunhui casually raised his eyes to glance at Yuan Shu.
Junior Sister Yuan Shu was very beautiful, and she seemed even more beautiful this time they met.
There was an innate confidence in her eyes and brows, and when she smiled, her whole being seemed to glow.
However, Long Yunhui only took one look before withdrawing his gaze.
He now already belonged to someone else in his heart and had no interest in paying attention to anyone else.
Even if this person was his junior sister, it was a no!
Suddenly recalling the pear blossom fragrance within the red bed curtains, Long Yunhui's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
His body had recovered, and he had originally planned to go to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to see her tonight.
But he hadn't expected their master to suddenly have matters to attend to, making it impossible for him to see her.
He could only wait for the next opportunity.
He just didn't know if she would still be in Lingxi City next time.
Thinking of this, Long Yunhui felt melancholy again.
Once the teams were assigned, they drew lots to determine their exploration directions. A moment later, everyone had their destinations.
"Let's go, Little Junior Sister. We're going to find the fifth junior brother."
On one side of the hall, Zhai Shuo spoke as he extended a strong arm, supporting Su Lingxi up with a single hand.
Su Lingxi weakly raised her eyes, nodding at him with tearful eyes. "Thank you, Second Senior Brother."
Zhai Shuo glanced at the tears in Su Lingxi's eyes and frowned, an almost imperceptible flash of disgust sweeping through the depths of his eyes.
Yet he still suppressed his impatience and gave an "Mm."
...
In the eastern part of the Death Demon Forest, Yuan Shu followed Long Yunhui, walking one after the other into the woods.
The air exuded a foul, choking, turbid smell, which, paired with the hazy mountain mist, created a bizarrely oppressive feeling.
Long Yunhui originally thought that a delicate young lady like Yuan Shu definitely wouldn't be able to stand the harsh environment of the Death Demon Forest.
Even if she couldn't change their master's decision, she would at least have a few complaints.
But unexpectedly, along the way, aside from quietly following him on the journey, Yuan Shu didn't say a single word!
They walked continuously for a long time without a single complaint, let alone a single cry of fatigue.
Even he was getting a bit tired from walking, but when he turned his head to look, Yuan Shu's pace remained unhurried and steady, continuing forward in a very rhythmic manner.
?
Was this still the Yuan Shu he knew?
Long Yunhui felt somewhat doubtful.
Long Yunhui didn't know that while he was observing Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu was also observing him.
Yuan Shu was thick-skinned. Even knowing that the man in front of her had once spent two beautiful nights with her.
Performing the most intimate, harmonious actions to the fullest.
She could still keep a straight face, even appreciating with interest his tall, straight posture and handsome young face.
Youth made one happy and joyful.
When she was with Long Yunhui, no matter how she wanted to devour him or taste him, he wouldn't resist.
He would only make corresponding responses under the torment of her entanglements.
It had to be said, Yuan Shu actually liked him quite a bit.
Furthermore, it was a debt-repayment relationship where money and goods were settled—clean and straightforward. If they parted ways in the future, there would be no need to care about who had wronged whom.
"Are you tired? Shall we rest for a bit?"
Seeing him use the Cleansing Spell to wipe his sweat for the third time, Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow and asked.
Long Yunhui's footsteps paused, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Yuan Shu.
"Is it that obvious that I'm tired?"
