---
Night had fallen.
Qi Yuan stepped out of Chen Qiaoqian's cave after a refreshing bath, making his way to Han Yunzhi's residence.
It had been a long time since he'd spent quality time with her, and guilt gnawed at him. Fortunately, he'd bought some exquisite jewelry at the market — a thoughtful gift to make up for his absence.
When he arrived, Han Yunzhi was already standing at the entrance of her cave. Dressed in a flowing green dress, she stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the path as if waiting for someone.
Qi Yuan landed softly nearby and called out, "Yunzhi..."
"Brother Qi, I thought you weren't coming."
She pouted slightly and walked over, her large, expressive eyes reflecting her unease. Her fingers twisted together, betraying her nervousness. The evening breeze stirred her dress, and a faint, delicate fragrance filled the air.
Qi Yuan took in her scent, then reached out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
"You're not one to break promises," a voice chimed in.
"Who's the beauty that Brother Qi can't keep his eyes off?" Han Yunzhi teased, her cheeks flushing pink.
Qi Yuan chuckled and took her hand, guiding her inside.
Han Yunzhi quickly dispelled the cave's protective formation before welcoming him in. She poured a cup of spiritual tea and offered it with a soft smile.
"Brother Qi, I bought this specially for you. Please try it."
Qi Yuan took a sip. The tea was pleasant enough, though it couldn't compare to the refined brew Xin Ruyin prepared. Still, he appreciated Han Yunzhi's effort.
"This tea is good," he said. "But more importantly... I'm sorry. You've had to endure a lot in Yellow Maple Valley."
Her eyes welled up with tears. "As long as Brother Qi doesn't abandon me, I can bear any hardship."
Qi Yuan smiled fondly, pulling her into his arms. He wiped her tears away with a clean handkerchief.
"You're crying like a little cat," he teased.
Han Yunzhi bit her lip, lowering her gaze. "Don't laugh at me... I must look terrible."
Qi Yuan tilted her chin up and kissed her softly.
Han Yunzhi's heart raced, her fingers tightening around his hand. Her head spun, and she closed her eyes as warmth spread through her chest.
When Qi Yuan finally released her, her face was flushed like a blooming lotus.
"Now you know you're not ugly," Qi Yuan said playfully.
Han Yunzhi pouted and gave him a light punch on the chest. "Brother Qi is such a tease!"
Qi Yuan chuckled darkly. "Oh? I haven't even started yet..."
With that, he scooped her up, disappearing into her room.
---
The following days passed peacefully.
Qi Yuan spent half a month in Huangfeng Valley, dividing his time between Chen Qiaoqian, Han Yunzhi, and visiting Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan at the market. Without the Chaos Cauldron's support, his cultivation progressed slowly — but these quiet moments brought him rare comfort.
After leaving behind pills and self-defense techniques for his loved ones, Qi Yuan turned his focus to his next goal — acquiring the Five Elements True Spirit Fruit from the Hehuan Sect's medicine garden.
---
The Hehuan Sect's No. 6 Medicine Garden sat on the outskirts of Tianluo Kingdom. It wasn't heavily guarded, with only a few Jindan stage cultivators watching over it.
The highest-ranking guardian, the Camellia Hermit, rarely concerned himself with such trivial duties. Meanwhile, Tengshe, another Jindan cultivator, had recently left the sect on business. This left only two early-stage Jindan cultivators, Kuangfeng and Duyan, to manage the garden.
Despite the seemingly weak defense, few dared to act recklessly. The Hehuan Sect's leader, known as the Hehuan Old Demon, was a late Nascent Soul cultivator — and crossing him was a death sentence.
Yet this lack of vigilance left a perfect opening for Qi Yuan.
Kuangfeng, arrogant and self-indulgent, had recently shirked his duties to visit the brothel, leaving Duyan to guard the medicine garden alone.
"That arrogant fool..." Duyan muttered bitterly. "When Senior Brother Camellia returns, I'll report him for neglecting his duties."
The three-fingered demon beside him snickered. "Don't be mad, big brother. Once you report Kuangfeng, the higher-ups will probably send him to the front lines — and knowing how dangerous it is there, he might not return at all."
Duyan's face brightened at the thought. "Good. That'll teach him a lesson."
---
Three days later, Kuangfeng finally returned — or so it seemed.
In reality, it was Qi Yuan in disguise, having ambushed Kuangfeng, subdued him with the Blood Spirit Drill, and hidden him away in a secluded cave. By assuming Kuangfeng's identity, Qi Yuan had the perfect cover to infiltrate the medicine garden.
Setting up restrictions in his cave for safety, Qi Yuan prepared to make his move.
The Five Elements True Spirit Fruit was within reach.
(End of Chapter)