Qingyue, Long Time No See

Zhao Siya's words made the male disciples around them smile awkwardly before they left somewhat dejectedly.

After the male disciples had all departed, Zhao Siya turned her head and said to Su Qingyue:

"Qingyue, are you rested? We should continue moving forward."

Having recovered some of her spiritual power, Su Qingyue bowed to Zhao Siya: "Thank you, senior sister. As a Golden Core cultivator, I'm holding you back."

Hearing this, Zhao Siya waved her hand dismissively: "Ah, what's that? We're fellow disciples, we should help each other. Besides, I don't like being with those men anyway; the way they look at me always makes me uncomfortable."

As she spoke, Zhao Siya suddenly hugged Su Qingyue, taking a greedy sniff of her:

"You're so much better, junior sister. So fragrant and soft."

Su Qingyue was startled by Zhao Siya and quickly pushed her away, her face full of shyness: "Senior sister, please don't tease me."

Zhao Siya chuckled softly: "Junior sister Su, you are just too beautiful. Even I, a woman, can't help but feel moved by you."

Hearing this, Su Qingyue took a step back: "Senior sister, I, I, I don't like women."

Su Qingyue's reply made Zhao Siya pause for a moment, before she burst into laughter: "Haha, Qingyue, what are you thinking? Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Let's go. Didn't you want Frost Jade Marrow? It's abundant up ahead; let's go check it out."

In the shadows, Qin Hao watched as Su Qingyue ventured through the secret realm with her fellow disciple, a gratified expression appearing on his face:

"She has her own friends now, that's wonderful. She wants Frost Jade Marrow? There's an aura of a Nascent Soul realm presence ahead. With just Qingyue and that woman in red, they likely aren't a match for it."

Thinking this, Qin Hao activated his jade pendant and headed towards the Frost Jade Marrow-rich area one step ahead.

The moment he stepped in, a fierce roar followed, and a massive Frost Soul Demon Spider rushed towards Qin Hao at incredible speed, spitting a strand of silk from its mouth.

"Nascent Soul peak. It seems I came at the right time. The strength of this demon spider isn't something the two of them can handle."

Facing the venomous spider silk capable of easily piercing metal and stone, Qin Hao didn't even bat an eye. He merely flicked his wrist casually, shattering it.

Demonic beasts at the Nascent Soul realm possess considerable intelligence. Seeing Qin Hao dispose of its silk so effortlessly, the Nascent Soul realm Frost Soul Demon Spider immediately turned to flee.

Witnessing this, Qin Hao smiled lightly: "You threaten me and then think you can run? Do you think you can escape? Although we are both at Nascent Soul peak, there is still a gap between Nascent Soul peak cultivators!"

Before his words faded, Qin Hao activated his Dual Pupils. Because Qin Wuya had shielded Qin Hao's fate from heavenly scrutiny, even with his Dual Pupils activated, Qin Hao's eyes appeared no different from an ordinary person's.

His left eye shot out a strand of spiritual power, binding the demon spider, while his right eye released a destructive black light that killed the spider in a single strike.

Qin Hao retrieved the demon spider's inner core and placed it in a conspicuous spot:

"Qingyue wants Frost Jade Marrow. This demon spider grew stronger by devouring it. Its inner core will be even more beneficial to Qingyue than the marrow itself."

After doing this, Qin Hao hid back in the shadows. He was very curious how long it would take Qingyue to realize he was secretly helping her.

Not long after, Su Qingyue and Zhao Siya arrived at the entrance to the ice cavern.

Upon seeing the demon spider's corpse, Zhao Siya immediately assumed a combat stance. The distance was still considerable, the sight of the spider was sudden, and with its inner core still present, emitting a faint pressure, Zhao Siya didn't immediately realize the spider was already dead.

"Junior sister Su, be careful! There's actually a Frost Soul Demon Spider here! These beasts are at least Golden Core realm, and with a treasure like Frost Jade Marrow here, it might have even advanced to Nascent Soul realm."

Compared to the wary Zhao Siya, Su Qingyue was the first to notice something amiss: "Wait, senior sister, this demon spider seems to be dead!"

The two cautiously approached. Once closer, they saw a terrifying wound on the spider's head.

"It really is dead. Judging by this wound, it was killed with a single blow."

Su Qingyue didn't speak; her attention was completely focused on a fist-sized, ice-blue inner core lying beside the corpse.

Zhao Siya also noticed the inner core, her face lighting up with joy:

"Wow! Such a large inner core. Judging by its size, this spider was almost at the Spirit Transformation stage! Huh, strange. Who killed this spider? Why didn't they take the inner core?"

Suddenly, Zhao Siya's expression changed drastically. She raised her sword horizontally before her chest, her eyes filled with vigilance: "Who's there! Show yourself!"

This was too abnormal. In secret realms, killing for treasure was the norm. Who would kill a demonic beast, not process the spoils, but instead place them in such a conspicuous spot?

It felt as if someone was specifically waiting for them, making Zhao Siya smell a conspiracy.

While Zhao Siya was battling wits with thin air, Su Qingyue's breathing became rapid. She forced herself to calm down, then moved closer to the spider's corpse, carefully examining the wound.

The residual power on the spider felt very familiar to Su Qingyue. An image involuntarily surfaced in her mind: the night of their parting, Qin Hao activating his Dual Pupils, severing the laws of heaven and earth to forge a sword of protection for her.

The aura on the spider's corpse was similarly chaotic and ancient, with an undertone of indifference towards all things—identical to Qin Hao's Dual Pupils!

Su Qingyue's heart began to race uncontrollably, and a name escaped her lips.

"Qin Hao! Is it you?"

This was the only possibility Su Qingyue could think of. Qin Hao, fearing she might encounter danger, had defeated the spider in advance.

Beside her, Zhao Siya frowned deeply: "Qin Hao? Isn't that the name of the person you're always thinking about, junior sister? You think he came here and killed this spider?"

Su Qingyue nodded: "It must be him! It can't be wrong. I remember everything about him. This aura is unmistakable; it was left by Qin Hao."

In the shadows, Qin Hao felt a wave of intense frustration:

"No way, I deliberately concealed part of the aura, and Qingyue still figured it out?"

Qin Hao shook his head helplessly. Qingyue, truly worthy of being a Daughter of Fortune with maxed-out talent, comprehension, and luck.

Qin Hao thought that if it were Xia Lingxi, that little fool would probably just think she'd stumbled upon a stroke of luck falling from the sky and wouldn't realize he had intervened.

With a sigh of admiration, Qin Hao stepped out from the void.

"Qingyue, long time no see."

Qin Hao opened his arms towards Su Qingyue, his expression as gentle as ever.

"Qin Hao!!!"

Seeing Qin Hao, Su Qingyue was so overcome with emotion she momentarily lost her voice. Although they had only been apart for just over a month, the agony of that month for her was something no one else could truly understand!

Su Qingyue no longer suppressed her emotions. She mustered all her strength and threw herself into Qin Hao's arms.

Behind Su Qingyue, Zhao Siya stood rooted to the spot the instant she saw Qin Hao.

"This... this is the person junior sister Su likes? So handsome!"