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Qi Yuan had not been in the hall for long when he saw Qi Yunxiao return with a troubled expression. He had already guessed the reason.
If nothing had changed during the visit to the Chen Mansion, even though Xin Ruyin might have been slightly upset, she wouldn't have been too angry about Qi Yunxiao missing their meeting. However, the dangers and life-threatening encounters they experienced had left a deep impression on her.
When she saw Qi Yunxiao, her attitude naturally turned cold.
If Qi Yunxiao knew how to comfort her, said some sweet words, and made her laugh, he might have been able to ease the tension between them. But as someone experiencing love for the first time, how could he understand such subtleties? Instead of turning things around, he kept apologizing, making himself seem inferior. Over time, the goodwill he had worked so hard to build would slowly fade.
Human emotions are not fixed; they shift and change. Just because two people become partners does not mean their feelings will remain the same forever.
Qi Yuan smiled and asked, "Why do you look so down? Is something troubling you?"
Qi Yunxiao sighed. "I forgot my appointment with Yin'er. I went to apologize, but she kept giving me the cold shoulder." His face was filled with distress.
Before Qi Yuan could respond, Qi Yunxiao quickly added, "I also want to thank you, Senior, for keeping Yin'er safe. When I heard Xiaomei describe what happened, I was terrified. Please accept my gratitude."
Qi Yuan's expression stiffened, and he quickly stopped Qi Yunxiao from kneeling. He felt like he was being treated as a savior, which made him a little uncomfortable.
"There's no need to thank me. I was only doing it for the payment."
Hearing this, Qi Yunxiao scratched his head and said, "Then how about I treat you to a meal at the finest restaurant in the city?"
"What's so great about food? I heard there's a place called Tianxiang Tower in the city, where the most beautiful women reside. I've wanted to go for a while but had no one to accompany me." Qi Yuan's tone carried a hint of regret.
Besides, he needed to collect yin and yang energy to repair the magic harp.
Qi Yunxiao was taken aback. He knew Tianxiang Tower—it was a famous brothel in Jinma City. Every time he passed by, he saw enchanting women dressed in revealing outfits, smiling seductively. A strong impulse always rose within him...
"Senior, can we go somewhere else? Tianxiang Tower might not be the best choice."
Qi Yuan's expression turned cold. "If you want to change the location, then forget it. I'll pack up and find an inn to stay at instead."
"No, no, no! I agree, Senior. Let's go to Tianxiang Tower."
Qi Yuan had saved his life and even brought Xin Ruyin back from the brink of death. Qi Yunxiao felt indebted to him, so he had no choice but to agree.
Qi Yuan's face lit up with satisfaction. "Good! I'll head over first to pick a seat. Don't be late!"
He didn't want to enter the brothel with Qi Yunxiao, who was well-known. Although the cultivators in Jinma City didn't recognize him, it was better to be cautious. They would enter separately.
For five consecutive days, Qi Yuan found different excuses to drag Qi Yunxiao to Tianxiang Tower every night to listen to the fairies sing. At Qi Yunxiao's insistence, they did not cross any boundaries.
After absorbing a large amount of yin and yang energy, the magic harp in the Chaos Cauldron was finally restored.
The body of the zither glowed with a deep crimson hue, exuding a mysterious charm. The music it produced had a hypnotic quality, capable of subtly affecting the listener's mind. It was now a true magic weapon.
Meanwhile, in a secluded bamboo house surrounded by flowers and fluttering butterflies, Xin Ruyin focused on crafting formation tools. After several days of effort, she successfully completed two high-quality sets. Including her previous stock, she now had five or six sets, which she planned to give Qi Yuan as a token of gratitude for saving her life.
Xiaomei, holding a food box, walked in with a cheerful expression. "Miss!"
Dressed in an elegant white robe, Xin Ruyin turned to look at her. A hint of envy flashed across her face. "Are you delivering food to that senior again? You don't even care about me anymore."
Xiaomei had been personally preparing snacks and delivering them to Qi Yuan, always returning with a bright smile. This made Xin Ruyin feel slightly melancholic.
Xiaomei giggled and set down the food box. She quickly arranged the pastries on Xin Ruyin's table and said, "How could I forget about you, Miss? Look at this!"
Xin Ruyin glanced at the delicate pastries and suddenly thought of Qi Yuan. A faint smile formed on her lips, but then Qi Yunxiao's image appeared in her mind, making her expression shift between happiness and confusion. She let out a quiet sigh.
Xiaomei observed her lady's troubled face and recalled some gossip she had overheard in the city. She hesitated before speaking. "Miss, I heard something about Young Master Qi while I was out."
Xin Ruyin's face remained indifferent. "What news? Tell me."
"Master Qi has been going to Tianxiang Tower for five days in a row."
Clang.
The object in Xin Ruyin's hand fell to the ground. A stunned expression appeared on her usually graceful face. She had heard of Tianxiang Tower before.
With Qi Yunxiao's personality, would he really go to such a place?
"Are you sure? Could it just be a rumor?"
Xiaomei shook her head. "It's true. I confirmed it with someone reliable. They saw Young Master Qi enter Tianxiang Tower with their own eyes."
Xin Ruyin's complexion turned pale. Her eyes became unfocused as she fell into deep thought.
After five days at Tianxiang Tower, Qi Yuan was finally ready to leave. The magic harp had been repaired, rumors about Qi Yunxiao had spread, and his monster materials had been refined into powerful magic weapons. There was no longer any reason to stay in Yuanwu Kingdom.
There were still many things waiting for him in Yue State.
Before leaving, Xin Ruyin handed him a storage bag, her expression cold. "This is a thank-you gift for saving my life. Please accept it."
Qi Yuan hesitated. "Miss Xin, this is too valuable. I'll take two or three sets of formation tools, but you should keep the rest."
Qi Yunxiao stepped forward. "It's not too much at all. Senior saved Yin'er's life, so a few sets of formation tools are nothing. If you ever return to Yuanwu Kingdom, I'll make sure to host you properly."
Xin Ruyin, however, subtly distanced herself from Qi Yunxiao.
The fact that he had spent several nights at a brothel had completely changed her impression of him. She still couldn't accept it.
Qi Yunxiao noticed her reaction and assumed she was still mad about him missing their meeting. Feeling disappointed, he remained silent.
Watching their interaction, Qi Yuan knew that the seed of doubt had been planted. It was only a matter of time before it took root.
Next time he visited Yuanwu Kingdom, he could finally give Qi Yunxiao the Forget Dust Pill.
(End of the chapter)