Amidst Yun Yun's confusion, Xiao Che lifted her up, settled into her original seat, and placed her across his lap.
One arm wrapped around her waist while his other hand produced a crystal-like jade bottle. Inside was a pill that looked breathtakingly beautiful and enticing.
"Is this a pill?"
Yun Yun raised her head and asked Xiao Che.
"This is a pill I meticulously prepared for you over this period—a fifth-grade pill, the Youth Preservation Pill. I participated in the competition precisely to gather its ingredients."
"You once mentioned our age difference was too great, so I refined this for you. It can keep you eternally youthful."
"Furthermore, we cultivators have long lifespans. Once we reach a certain realm, we can live forever. At that point, even after ten thousand or a hundred thousand years, you will only be a few years older than me."
"Now that your teacher has betrothed you to me, you have a legitimate reason. There will be no more concerns, correct?"
Yun Yun felt the depth of Xiao Che's affection, her eyes brimming with emotion and love.
She wrapped her arms around Xiao Che's neck, lifted her head, and swiftly leaned in, pressing a light kiss to his lips.
Yun Yun attempted to pull away after the brief kiss, but Xiao Che immediately cradled her head, pressing them tightly together.
Their breaths intertwined between their lips and teeth, as though the entire world had been reduced to the sound of their breathing alone.
Xiao Che released her only when Yun Yun was on the verge of losing her breath.
Yun Yun, breathing heavily, lay in Xiao Che's embrace.
Xiao Che smiled gently, stroking Yun Yun's loose hair and savoring its softness.
From her initiating the kiss, he already knew that Yun Yun had fully accepted him and that her entire heart was now his.
"Xiao Che, thank you for allowing me to truly have you."
Yun Yun's voice, though faint, was filled with conviction.
"Come, open your mouth."
Xiao Che poured out the Youth Preservation Pill, held it between his fingers, and placed it by Yun Yun's lips.
Yun Yun opened her mouth and swallowed the pill. In the process, her tongue inadvertently brushed against his finger. A warm, moist sensation spread, as if a faint electric current had coursed through his body.
Yun Yun also registered her action, and her face instantly flushed scarlet.
A glow radiated from Yun Yun's form, then swiftly dissipated.
Yun Yun rose from Xiao Che's embrace and approached the mirror in the room. Her entire being resembled a descending celestial. She touched her skin, now as tender and smooth as a newborn's.
"Yun'er, you are so beautiful."
Xiao Che came up behind Yun Yun, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered, resting his head upon her shoulder.
The warmth of his breath against Yun Yun's ear instantly made her body go limp in his arms.
Xiao Che kissed Yun Yun's alluring red lips once more.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Xiao Che lifted the enchanted Yun Yun and carried her toward the bed veiled by pale blue curtains.
The gentle chirping of birds.
…
After an unknown stretch of time, the sounds from the room gradually subsided.
The battle had been exhilarating.
"Yun'er, you know my identity and that tomorrow is the duel between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran."
"At that time, let them decide things fairly. This is what both sides requested, and I sense there is something amiss between them."
Xiao Che stroked Yun Yun's hair and shared his suspicion that Nalan Yanran knew Xiao Yan's alter ego, Yan Xiao.
Upon hearing Xiao Che's initial words, she realized that she was now the woman of her disciple's fiancé's elder brother.
Then, considering that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran might already know each other, her disciple might eventually fall for Xiao Yan and end up with him.
In that case, from master and disciple to sisters-in-law? Younger brother's wife and elder brother's wife?
This tangled relationship made Yun Yun shyly bury her head against Xiao Che's chest.
"Last time, when I accompanied you to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's mountain cave, the person I carried was your younger brother, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Last time, Yanran also ventured to the Magical Beast Mountain Range with me. Just before we met in the cave, I left her in a nearby town."
Yun Yun recalled and spoke.
"So that is how it is. You mean after you departed, Nalan Yanran disguised herself and slipped away, and then two disguised individuals encountered one another and became acquainted?"
Xiao Che, having processed Yun Yun's words, analyzed Nalan Yanran's odd behavior and sat up slightly.
"Mm~"
The two were still intertwined, and Xiao Che's movement drew a soft sound from Yun Yun.
Then, the diligent Master Xiao, with practiced ease, resumed his busy work.
…
The sun hung high in the sky.
Xiao Che and Yun Yun stirred from their slumber, straightened the disheveled room, and dressed neatly.
A piece of golden-red circular metal materialized in Xiao Che's hand.
"This metal is called Cloud Dream Immortal Gold. Once you bind it as its master, it can be freely manipulated to change shape. Its material is nigh indestructible."
Xiao Che took Yun Yun's hand, extracted a drop of blood from her finger, and let it fall onto the metal.
She felt a wondrous connection, as though an invisible bond now tightly linked her to the metal.
"Try it. Inject a wisp of Dou Qi into it, then simply imagine the form you wish it to take."
Xiao Che placed the Cloud Dream Immortal Gold in Yun Yun's palm and instructed her on how to control it.
Yun Yun's eyes held a trace of nervousness and anticipation. She drew a deep breath, infused a wisp of Dou Qi into the Heavenly Dreaming Gold, and silently envisioned the item she desired.
In an instant, the Cloud Dream Immortal Gold transformed from a metal sphere into a slender rapier. It was identical in shape to the one she customarily wielded, yet this one appeared even harder and sharper.
Yun Yun's eyes sparkled with delight. After a few effortless swings, the sound of space being sliced rang out.
"So sharp, so powerful! I feel that with this weapon, combined with the cultivation technique you bestowed upon me, I can contend with opponents several ranks above my own."
Yun Yun's face was alight with excitement and joy. Her gaze toward Xiao Che grew even more tender.
At last, the Cloud Dream Immortal Gold changed shape to a ring and wear the ring in her hand.
Yun Yun handed the ring to Xiao Che and extended her right hand.
Xiao Che accepted the ring with a smile, slipped it onto Yun Yun's ring finger, and then pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
Yun Yun gazed at the ring upon her finger with pure happiness. It was not only a gift from Xiao Che but also a symbol that she had become his woman.
"And this is a sound transmission stone."
Xiao Che produced a sound transmission stone for Yun Yun and explained its function.
"If you miss me, you can send me a message directly."
Xiao Che winked, teasing her.
"Hmph. Who misses you, you philandering scoundrel? Do not flatter yourself."
Yun Yun accepted the sound transmission stone and cast Xiao Che a charming sidelong glance.
"I must go to the Sect Master's Hall to handle matters concerning tomorrow. Would you like to accompany me?"
Yun Yun kissed Xiao Che's cheek and asked.
"Of course. I shall take the opportunity to tour your Misty Cloud Sect and become acquainted with this maiden home of yours."
Xiao Che replied with a playful smile.
Xiao Che and Yun Yun walked out of the room side by side.
Along the way, Yun Yun enthusiastically introduced Xiao Che to the sect's various buildings and their purposes.
The Misty Cloud Sect disciples they passed, witnessing their Sect Master in such a state, could not help but rub their eyes, wondering if they had over-cultivated, strayed from the path, and were now hallucinating.
The two arrived at the Sect Master's Hall and saw that Nalan Yanran was already waiting inside.
"Teacher!"
Nalan Yanran called out respectfully upon seeing Yun Yun enter.
"Xiao Che, why are you here?!"
When her gaze inadvertently swept over the person beside Yun Yun, her face filled with disbelief.
"What, Miss Yanran does not welcome me?" Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, eyeing Nalan Yanran with a half-smile.
"No, I am merely astonished that you would appear here. After all…" Nalan Yanran struggled to compose her emotions.
"There is no place in this world that I cannot go. Also, from this moment forward, you shall address me properly as Master's Husband."
Xiao Che spoke teasingly, deciding to drop a bombshell on the prideful young woman.
"Master's Husband?!"
Nalan Yanran's voice shot up an octave, brimming with bewilderment and shock.