"That technique is really strong," he remarked, finishing the last bite of the fish they'd roasted over a fire. He stood, stretching his arms over his head with a slight groan. "I'm going to meditate for a bit."
Without further explanation, he moved to a stone slab near the cave's edge and settled into a cross-legged position, closing his eyes to focus. Yun Zhi, who had been watching him quietly, tilted her head as he began to cultivate. Her sharp gaze took in every detail of his posture and the way he guided his Qi flow.
After a few moments, her frown deepened. "Why is he using the most basic Qi method?" she muttered, just barely loud enough for herself to hear. "His teacher must be stingy with good techniques."
Yun Zhi shook her head in dismay, her mind racing. Though she hadn't met Shen Yuan's teacher, it was clear that the person was either incapable or unwilling to share advanced techniques with him. Such potential, she thought, deserved far better guidance than what he was getting.
"After I finish here, I'll help him out," she resolved silently. "Such potential shouldn't go to waste."
With that decision made, she turned her attention inward. Her focus shifted to the Amethyst Seal, a suppressive force that weighed down her power and limited her abilities. The process of removing it was slow and challenging, but every bit of progress brought her closer to regaining her full strength.
Over the next few days, while Yun Zhi concentrated on breaking the seal, her interactions with Shen Yuan began to change. The arrogance she had initially displayed faded, and a new ease settled between them. Shen Yuan, for his part, found her much more tolerable without her noble, distant attitude. They grew comfortable with each other in their shared routines, cooking meals, discussing cultivation, and occasionally sparring to keep themselves sharp.
On the third day, after lunch, they were basking in the rare moment of peace when a distant wolf's howl echoed through the cave, shattering the tranquility. Shen Yuan stiffened immediately, his easygoing expression replaced with one of sharp alertness. He sprang to his feet, his gaze sweeping the cave entrance.
"How did they find us?" he muttered, mostly to himself. Each day since their arrival, he had meticulously applied a special medicine powder to mask their scent, making it nearly impossible for Magic Beasts to track them. Yet somehow, a pack of beasts had locked onto them.
He turned to Yun Zhi, his expression growing serious as he met her eyes. "You didn't… go out today, did you?"
Yun Zhi froze, a flicker of guilt passing over her face. After a brief hesitation, she offered a sheepish smile. "I… went to take a bath…"
Shen Yuan was silent for a moment, staring at her with a mix of disbelief and frustration. He drew in a deep breath before letting it out in a long sigh. "Are you serious?"
Without waiting for her response, he reached for his weapon—a massive, mysterious ruler that he wielded with a strength and skill that belied its unwieldy appearance. "Stay here. I'll lead the beasts away."
"But your strength…" Yun Zhi started to protest, but he cut her off sharply.
"Just stay here!" His tone was firm, almost scolding. "If you go out, you'll only attract more Magic Beasts."
Yun Zhi froze, stunned by his sudden harshness. Shen Yuan had actually raised his voice at her, something she hadn't anticipated. For a moment, she just stared, processing what had happened. Did he… really just yell at her?
"Stay inside. If you go out, we'll both die!" Shen Yuan added, his tone leaving no room for argument. Before she could respond, he turned and dashed out of the cave.
Yun Zhi remained rooted in place, still processing his uncharacteristic outburst. After a moment, she scoffed, muttering under her breath, "That brat sure knows how to be pushy… Fine, you want to act like that? Go take care of it yourself."
Despite her irritation, however, worry gnawed at her. She paced restlessly around the cave, glancing toward the entrance every few minutes. She tried to reassure herself that Shen Yuan could handle himself—he was strong and had proven to be resourceful.
But as time passed and the echoes of the wolves' howls grew faint, Shen Yuan still hadn't returned. The cave felt too quiet, and her unease deepened until she couldn't stand it any longer. Ignoring her own warning, she rushed to the entrance, eyes scanning the trees below.
Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of a dark figure lying on the ground in the distance. She sprinted toward it, her pulse pounding in her ears.
As she drew closer, she realized that Shen Yuan was lying casually atop a pile of Magic Beast corpses—fourth-rank and third-rank creatures scattered around him in a brutal display of strength. Blood stained the ground and the air was thick with the scent of iron, but Shen Yuan looked completely at ease, his head resting against his hand as if he were taking a nap.
"This brat... Wasn't he just a Dou Zhe? How did he defeat third and fourth-tier magical beasts?" Yun Zhi muttered to herself, eyes widening as she gazed at the lifeless corpses sprawled before her. She hadn't expected to encounter such formidable creatures already slain, and certainly not by someone she thought of as a beginner.
At that moment, Shen Yuan's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, focusing his gaze on Yun Zhi standing over him. Despite feeling her formidable Dou Huang aura radiating around him, he spoke with a calm and casual tone, "So, you finally broke the seal?"
Yun Zhi blinked, slightly taken aback that he could sense her advancement so accurately. "Yes, I did break the seal," she replied, a hint of astonishment in her voice. She studied him, trying to reconcile what she knew with what she was witnessing. "But... How did you defeat these beasts? Aren't you just a Dou Zhe?" Her voice held a tone of disbelief as her gaze flickered back to the defeated magical creatures.
Shen Yuan chuckled lightly, his expression calm yet mysterious. "Actually, I am a Dou Ling," he said, letting his words sink in before casually lifting his hand and releasing a suppressing seal he had been carrying. His aura surged, filling the air with a sudden intensity.
Yun Zhi's eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open slightly. This casual revelation left her momentarily speechless as she tried to process it. His aura felt stronger than she would have ever expected.
"And," Shen Yuan continued, a smile playing on his lips, "another thing… Your name is Yun Yun, isn't it?"
Yun Zhi—no, Yun Yun—stiffened, her expression shifting from surprise to outright shock as his words sank in. Only a handful of people knew her true name, yet here he was, casually addressing her with it.
"H-How did you know that?" she stammered, her voice tinged with disbelief and a trace of irritation. She quickly tried to regain her composure, but her astonishment was evident.
Shen Yuan merely smiled. "I have my ways. You shouldn't underestimate me just because I appeared weaker," he said lightly, though his gaze held a certain depth, hinting at mysteries yet unrevealed.
For a moment, Yun Yun's expression softened, mingling curiosity with a rare hint of respect. This young man was not at all what he seemed, and she realized that there was more to him than met the eye.