Ten miles outside Dragon Gate Market, atop Cyan Mountain Peak.
Qin Yuehan stood against the wind, her robes fluttering, like a fairy in the clouds.
Shen Xuan stood silently beside her.
"Seven years ago, I was ready to try Foundation Establishment."
"Flesh body, spiritual power, divine soul, all passed dangerous tests."
"But, when finally establishing the Dao Foundation, I encountered a heart demon."
Qin Yuehan turned around, her eyes misty, as if shrouded in a haze of unspoken words.
Shen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, as if suddenly plummeting weightlessly.
He wasn't a naive young lad.
The gaze clearly revealed complex emotions hard to express.
However, soon, Qin Yuehan's eyes returned to clarity.
"In the end, I defeated the heart demon, only then succeeding in Foundation Establishment."
"Immortal Qin is blessed by the heavens," Shen Xuan murmured under Qin Yuehan's gaze.
When he first met Qin Yuehan, she was only twelve!
Shen Xuan was simply following Teacher Yan's teachings, aiding a junior schoolmate.
Just explaining the Dao Scripture to her, guiding her to introduce Qi into the body.
It was really nothing.
As a transmigrator from an ancient civilization, he had boundaries.
No matter what, he couldn't possibly have thoughts about a twelve-year-old girl.
Later, as they grew older, Shen Xuan deliberately created distance to avoid trouble.
After all, she was a commandery princess!
Even an unfavored princess was beyond a commoner's reach.
And Qin Yuehan's heart demon during Foundation Establishment had nothing to do with him!
Even if it looked like him, it was just Qin Yuehan's imagination.
The real Shen Xuan was completely different!
Qin Yuehan remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "I heard you got married?"
"Yes. Five years ago, deeming the path hopeless, I married a mortal woman from the Ding Family in Cyan Dragon Bay."
Qin Yuehan gave him a profound look.
"Your wife is a fortunate person."
Her tone seemed somewhat relieved.
Shen Xuan hesitated, thought for a moment, and didn't say more.
In such matters, more words, more trouble; silence is golden.
"I'll return to Cyan Cloud Sect now. In the future, you can write to me if needed."
"Alright."
Qin Yuehan said no more, summoned a cloud scarf, boarded it, and flew away.
Shen Xuan shook his head, bitterly smiled, and descended the mountain.
"Oh, Shen Xuan, are you coming down alone? What about Elder Qin?"
Outside, Lv Zhengying continued to respectfully address Qin Yuehan as "Elder."
"She returned to Cyan Cloud Sect."
"Oh."
Lv Zhengying's eyes repeatedly sized up Shen Xuan.
"What's your cultivation realm, anyway?"
"Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer."
Shen Xuan spoke truthfully.
"By the way, do you lack Spirit Stones? I can lend you some."
"Thank you for the kind offer, Daoist Lv. I can manage for now."
Relying on crafting the Rejuvenation Talisman, Shen Xuan had amassed over a hundred Spirit Stones.
He didn't want to owe Lv Zhengying a favor.
"Since it's rare to visit Dragon Gate Market, why not buy some Spiritual Elixirs and Talismans to bring back? Most Cultivation Spiritual Objects here are from Cyan Cloud Sect, quality assured."
"Never mind. My wife awaits at home, I plan to return to Cyan Dragon Bay."
The items sold at Dragon Gate Market are pricier than those at Cyan Dragon Bay Market, no need to buy here.
He also didn't want to invite trouble from unexpected incidents outside.
"You've settled down in marriage?" Lv Zhengying asked in surprise.
"Yes, got married five years ago, my wife is a Ding Family mortal woman."
"Ah!"
Lv Zhengying probed, "Ever thought of marrying a Spirit Root Dao companion?"
"Never thought about it!"
Shen Xuan laughed, "I can't afford a Dao companion. Mortals are better, they don't require many Spirit Stones."
Lv Zhengying chuckled.
"You!"
...
After parting ways with Lv Zhengying, Shen Xuan returned to the entrance of Dragon Gate Market.
Sent a Communication Talisman, and old Liu came to pick him up by carriage.
"Let's go."
Shen Xuan boarded the carriage, pulled open the curtain, watching the bustling Dragon Gate Market, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Next visit, should be ten years later.
Shen Xuan let old Liu slow the pace, half asleep and half awake.
Actually, Qin Yuehan willing to associate with them, acknowledging the camaraderie, was their connection within Cyan Cloud Sect.
The sect is unlike a cultivation clan.
It holds high-tier Spirit Veins and numerous precious cultivation resources.
Various cultivation techniques, techniques, spiritual pills, magical treasures, talismans, arrays, spirit plants, etc.
Sect disciples naturally stand above the rest.
Especially Qin Yuehan, a Foundation Establishment Elder.
Just based on the connection as classmates with Qin Yuehan, they could be sheltered from storms, under an umbrella of protection.
This kind intention, Shen Xuan understood.
Seven days later, Shen Xuan returned to Cyan Dragon Bay Market.
After paying a Spirit Stone as carriage fare, old Liu left with heartfelt thanks.
At home, Shen Xuan unexpectedly found Jiang Xueqi had moved back.
"Zhao Chunsheng returned from opening land," Ding Yuyao explained.
"So soon? Wasn't it supposed to take half a year? It's only been three months."
"Zhao Chunsheng got injured, heard he was poisoned."
"Oh, no wonder he returned early."
Shen Xuan looked outside, the sky nearing dusk, the setting sun like molten gold.
"Alright, I'll visit him tomorrow."
Then, he glanced at Ding Yuyao up and down.
"What's wrong, husband?"
"Nothing, prepare hot water, I'll take a bath."
"Alright."
Shen Xuan soaked in a comfortable hot bath, washing away the exhaustion.
"Yuyao, bring some more hot water."
"Coming!"
Ding Yuyao carried half a bucket of hot water into the bathroom.
As soon as she poured the hot water into the pool, Shen Xuan pulled her in.
Her clothes got soaked by the warm water.
"Husband, what are you doing!"
Ding Yuyao said teasingly.
"Of course, doing..." The words were whispered.
Ding Yuyao tried to struggle, but with a gentle tug from Shen Xuan, her whole body fell into the warm water, splashing.
She screamed like a startled deer.
"Be good, Yuyao, let's enjoy a mandarin duck bath!"
Shen Xuan made Ding Yuyao understand what it meant to be so happy in the fish-like water.
Afterwards, Ding Yuyao lay tiredly in Shen Xuan's arms.
In Shen Xuan's mind, the cold, noble young royal girl inexplicably appeared.
He shook his head, as if trying to shake off something.
These were just minor heart demons.
The wife in his arms was the one he vowed to cherish and protect with all his heart.
Next day, just at dawn.
Shen Xuan bought some Spirit Fruit and Demon Beast Meat, and went to Zhao Chunsheng's house.
The door was opened by Jiang Xueqi.
"Jiang Daoist, Zhao Daoist is back?"
"He's back. Darling, Shen Talisman Master is here to see you."
Following Jiang Xueqi inside, Shen Xuan then noticed the couple living very simply.
Zhao Chunsheng eagerly came out to greet the guest and casually took the gifts over, handing them to his wife.
"Shen Talisman Master is polite, no need to bring gifts!"
"Just something inexpensive, picked up on the street. You're injured?"
Zhao Chunsheng had a shallow scratch on his face.
"While opening land, our team encountered a Tier Two serpent demon, it spat poison mist, and a large group instantly fell!"
"Luckily I saw it coming and retreated immediately, just caught a hint of the poison mist, not a big problem."
Shen Xuan was curious, "Didn't use a Detoxification Pill?"
Encountering venomous demon beasts during land opening is common.
Every cultivator opening land would generally prepare some Detoxification Pills.
"Used it, the effect was average. Heard only middle-grade Detoxification Pills work, one costs twenty Spirit Stones!"