Bing Rong calmed down and held Shen Yuan''s hand to check for his pulse, but found it to be pulsing normally and he really seemed to not be injured.


    She heaved a sigh of relief while looking at him as if he had just wronged her.


    Shen Yuan smiled and took her in his embrace before softly whispering in her ear with a mischievous tone, "Nice way to greet me in the morning, eh? Can''t say that I don''t like it though."


    Bing Rong''s eyes clouded with confusion for a second as she couldn''t make sense of what he was talking about, but then she felt his hand caressing her butt gently as a shiver ran down her spine.


    She hurriedly distanced herself from him and pulled up a nket before looking down in embarrassment. Shen Yuan smiled evilly and teased her, "Oh? Getting shy now after all those things we didst night?"


    Bing Rong''s face exploded in redness as she lowered her head even further; she felt like digging a hole and jumping inside to nevere out of it.


    Shen Yuan lightly shook his head and smiled gently before pulling her into a gentle embrace.


    He didn''t say any words as his actions conveyed all that he wanted to say to her. She also closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest as they stayed like that for some time.


    ...


    Shen Yuan and Bing Rong sat side by side beneath the cherry blossom tree, watching the petals fall slowly as she rested her head on his shoulder. Readtest stories on м??


    "Will you join the Inner Sect today?" Bing Rong asked with her eyes closed.


    "Yes, I have already broken through to the Inner Sea realm; it''s about time I head inside the Inner Sect to take a look at how the disciples are there." He smiled and replied softly.


    "How were the disciples of the Outer Sect then?" Bing Rong curiously asked as she sat up straight and turned her face to his.


    Shen Yuan turned to face her and replied, "Except for a few, most of them are generally good disciples, though theyck something very important as cultivators."


    Bing Rong tilted her head, "And what is that?"


    "Dao Heart. A heart to seek the Grand Dao. Their will is weak, way too weak. Most of them are content with only learning some healing arts from the sect. I have only seen a handful of disciples here who have any grand aspirations," he seriously replied from what he had observed so far.


    Bing Rong thought over his words as they made sense to her; even she herself was the same, as she was happy as long as she was in thepany of her family.


    But Shen Yuan''s words woke up her lost Dao Heart as she realized that if she didn''t focus on her cultivation then Shen Yuan will only leave her far behind on the path of the Grand Dao.


    And she doesn''t want to be a burden on him.


    Her eyes became firm as she looked at Shen Yuan again, this time with both affection and gratitude, "Than—"


    "You can thank me by giving me a kiss, you know?" Before her words could even finish, Shen Yuan shamelessly asked her for thanks.


    Bing Rong blushed slightly, but nheless she leaned forward and gave him a light peck on his cheek.


    "Aww, I was expecting a kiss on the lips. Just like we had done all nig—" But before he could tease her further, Bing Rong vanished from her ce.


    But Shen Yuan was able to gaze at her silhouette even if only for a split second as she flew away.


    "Haha. It''s always fun to tease those two." Heughed to himself and took out his wine.


    He poured himself a cup before bringing it close to his mouth and gulping it down, "Puah! I was able to look at her leaving silhouette, which I wasn''t able to do with Big Sis Huo Rong, so it means I have be much stronger than thest time."


    [Of course you have, did you forget how many opportunities you have encountered during this time?]


    Yue Lan''s voice echoed from his mind as she manifested into her cat form on the seat beside him.


    Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow as it had been some time since he hadst seen her. He smiled remembering theirst encounter and teased, "Why don''t you turn into your human form?"


    Yue Lan ignored him as she took a small te from the system space and poured herself some wine as well.


    "Hmm? You can drink wine? Even though this body is only an illusion?" Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow as he questioned her.


    Yue Lan licked some wine from the te before raising her head,


    [Of course, I can do it. And what trashy wine are you even drinking? Even beasts wouldn''t drink something so bad.]


    She disdainfully said before throwing the te away and jumping on top of his head.


    "Hey! That ce is not your home." Shen Yuan''s annoyed voice echoed beneath the plum blossom tree as Yue Lan looked at the falling petals.


    [Now now, don''t be so stingy. You have already seen my true form; are you sure you don''t want to form a good rtionship with me?]


    Shen Yuan felt his eye twitching at her words. He put away his wine cup, reached out with his hand, and tried to grab her from his head.


    And to his surprise, he was able to hold her as he felt her small and soft form.


    [Nyahh!! Release me!]


    Yue Lan screamed at him while trying to attack him with her ws, but Shen Yuan evilly smiled seeing her struggling so much as he had put her in front of his face. "Hoh, now what do we have here?"


    Yue Lan struggled even harder but she seemed to have the strength equal to that of a mortal cat, but with a nearly indestructible body.


    Shen Yuan didn''t tease her much put her down on hisp and began petting her head.


    [Hmph.]


    Yue Lan huffed and looked away, but didn''t leave Shen Yuan''sp. He smiled seeing her actions and closed his eyes to rest for a bit while continuing to pet her.


    [Will you continue with your Alchemy training or not? It''s been a while since you practiced it,] Yue Lan asked as she raised her head to look at him.


    Shen Yuan opened his eyes and looked down before thinking for a bit and answering, "I will continue learning it after entering the Inner Sect; I''m not in a hurry to learn the side professions though."


    [Hmm? Why not?]


    "Because at my current level, I can find all the suitable things in the market; there is no need for me to learn new things right now, but increasing my cultivation is my topmost priority." He thoughtfully replied.


    [That is true as well, but you can''t force your cultivation; you need to wait a few days for your body to stabilize first.]


    "Oh, now that you mention it, how did my injuries get healed? I''m sure I was injured at the end of the cultivation session." Shen Yuan remembered the weird and warm sensation he had felt back then and asked the question now.