Chapter 082: Does He Care About Her?

Accompanying Qiao Yue Ru was a disciple from the Beast Taming Sect. This person's spirit beast was a snake—a massive cobra. The excitement Yan Shu felt upon seeing Gun Gun was instantly dispelled by the sight of the spirit snake. She stood frozen, chills creeping through her limbs, unable to move.

Xiao Ji Han noticed she had suddenly stopped and turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

Yan Shu stared at the cobra, swallowed, and whispered, “Snake…”

Xiao Ji Han glanced at the snake, the faintest curve appearing at the corner of his lips. He spoke, “Master, you’re unafraid of demonic beasts and demon cultivators. Why do you suddenly fear a spirit snake?”

How could those be compared? Demon cultivators, no matter how they looked, were still human; demonic beasts, shrouded in dark energy and hidden by the night, were rarely seen clearly. But this spirit snake was alive and out in broad daylight. It stood there, its neck expanded into a hood, flicking its forked tongue now and then. Just looking at that tongue was terrifying!

Seeing her face pale, Xiao Ji Han’s smile faded. He said softly, “Wait here for a moment.”

Yan Shu nodded, and Xiao Ji Han strode forward.

At that moment, Qiao Yue Ru spotted him, her face blossoming with a smile as she hurried to greet him. Gun Gun, at her side, shifted from sitting to crawling, following her closely. The other Beast Taming Sect disciple brought his spirit snake along as well.

“Brother Xiao, you’re here,” Qiao Yue Ru greeted, her eyes bright and unwavering.

Xiao Ji Han acknowledged her with a hum and looked past her. Qiao Yue Ru quickly recovered and introduced, “This is my junior, He Qiu. He Qiu, this is Brother Xiao whom I mentioned to you—it was he who saved me.”

He Qiu smiled at Xiao Ji Han. “Thank you, Brother Xiao.”

“It was nothing,” Xiao Ji Han replied, his gaze resting on He Qiu’s snake. He said, “Would you mind putting away your spirit snake for now, Brother He? My master is uncomfortable around them.”

He Qiu was taken aback. Asking a Beast Taming Sect disciple to put away their spirit snake was rather rude, but Xiao Ji Han was his senior sister’s benefactor, and she obviously favored him. He Qiu agreed and promptly withdrew the snake.

Yan Shu finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

From the moment Xiao Ji Han appeared, Qiao Yue Ru’s entire attention was consumed by him; she hadn’t noticed anyone else. Only when Xiao Ji Han mentioned his master did she turn and look behind.

When she did, she was stunned.

A cool, ethereal woman, her beauty almost otherworldly, stood not far away, watching them calmly.

Such a young and beautiful woman—she was his master?

Somehow, a sense of inadequacy welled up in Qiao Yue Ru’s heart. With a woman like that by his side, it was no wonder he was so distant, so cold toward her.

Seeing He Qiu put away the snake, Xiao Ji Han turned and called, “Master.”

Yan Shu immediately stepped forward. Xiao Ji Han introduced, “This is my master, Yan Shu.”

As soon as the name was spoken, He Qiu and Qiao Yue Ru both drew in a sharp breath.

The reason was simple: the name was legendary.

Nearly everyone in the cultivation world knew it. About a century ago, in Yunzhou, a rare genius was born—mutated thunder spiritual roots, a natural Dao body. From birth, the Sect Leader of Xuan Tian Sect adopted her and personally named her Yan Shu.

Qiao Yue Ru remembered every time her own master mentioned Yan Shu, it was with envy and jealousy: “What luck for Xuan Tian Sect! Such a child of heaven born in their territory? With Yan Shu, who could challenge Xuan Tian Sect after a thousand years?”

No need to inquire—every advancement Yan Shu made was known throughout the cultivation world.

Her name became the model for all sects to urge their disciples, a legend in the entire realm.

And now, she stood before them.

He Qiu was so nervous that he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet. He stammered, “Aunt Yan…”

With her true appearance, Yan Shu naturally assumed the cool demeanor of the original, nodding faintly as a greeting.

If, earlier, seeing Yan Shu made Qiao Yue Ru feel inferior, now she couldn’t even summon the thought of comparison. Bitterness rose in her heart as she followed suit, “Aunt Yan…”

Though Yan Shu played the aloof role, her eyes couldn’t help but drift to Gun Gun.

Upon hearing Qiao Yue Ru address her, Yan Shu responded with a hum and naturally shifted the conversation toward Gun Gun. “Qiao Yue Ru, right? I’ve often heard Xiao Ji Han mention you. Is this your spirit beast?”

Yan Shu intended for Qiao Yue Ru to follow her lead and introduce Gun Gun, but Qiao Yue Ru only seized upon the part where Xiao Ji Han often mentioned her.

The bitterness in her heart vanished instantly, replaced by joy.

Yan Shu, young, beautiful, and a once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius—was still Xiao Ji Han’s master. It must have been petty of her to suspect anything.

Unable to contain her smile, Qiao Yue Ru said to Yan Shu, “Brother Xiao often mentions you as well, Aunt Yan.”

Yan Shu: ???

Where was her Gun Gun?

But since Qiao Yue Ru didn’t elaborate, and Yan Shu was maintaining her aloof demeanor, she couldn’t openly display her affection for Gun Gun.

She cast another lingering glance at Gun Gun before speaking with apparent disinterest, “Is that so?”

Favorability: 8 (First Meeting)

Yan Shu suddenly tensed and hurriedly pressed, “What did he say about me?”

Qiao Yue Ru: …

Xiao Ji Han was always cold toward her; every word he spoke was fewer than ten characters. How could he possibly chat about his master?

Qiao Yue Ru had only spoken casually, never expecting Yan Shu to ask—essentially exposing her lie on the spot.

Her face flushed red. “He… he…”

Seeing her struggle, Yan Shu quickly realized her mistake and was about to say something when Xiao Ji Han interjected, “He didn’t say much. It’s getting late. Let’s go.”

Qiao Yue Ru’s face lit up with relief. “Brother Xiao is right, it is indeed getting late. Aunt Yan, let’s set out.”

Yan Shu looked at Qiao Yue Ru, then at Gun Gun on the ground with disappointment, and nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

As the group moved forward, Qiao Yue Ru couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Ji Han, her heart fluttering with happiness. He… had just come to her rescue. Did this mean he cared for her?

With this thought, her spirits soared, and she eagerly began to introduce the forbidden area.

“That forbidden place was discovered by accident, just behind a large tree in the depths. There’s a hollow in the trunk—I assumed it was ordinary, until Gun Gun accidentally rolled in. That’s when I realized it was actually a teleportation array.”

Gun Gun, who had been walking along, perked up proudly, flicking its tail as Qiao Yue Ru mentioned it.