The More You Say It, the More Excited He Gets...

As the cable car came to a halt, Gu Yan and the others arrived at their final destination.

Qili Garden was built on a gentle slope, giving it a unique multi-layered visual effect. The garden gate was carved from ancient redwood, entwined with vines and flowers, evoking a sense of timelessness and vibrant life.

"We're here, ladies. This is today's destination~"

"For the entire day, I'll be your guide."

Gu Yan held Leng Qingqiu's hand as they stepped off the cable car.

"Mm."

Leng Qingqiu's face still bore a faint blush from the ride. She nodded slightly.

"Brother-in-law, why is it so warm here? We're on a mountain, after all."

Leng Ling'er raised the question, noticing that the temperature was unusually mild.

Gu Yan chuckled softly and explained, "Because this is a climate-controlled area. The entire Qili Garden maintains a constant temperature of 24°C to 25°C."

"As for the cost of building this system... let's not talk about that, okay?"

Hearing this, Leng Ling'er stared in awe at the ancient gate and the lush greenery and flowers surrounding them. "Is this the joy of being rich?!"

"I love it, hehe!"

Gu Yan shrugged helplessly. "This is just the beginning. Let's go inside."

As they entered the garden gate, the first thing that caught their eyes was a stretch of emerald-green lawn dotted with cultivated flowers.

Beside the lawn was a winding path paved with colorful pebbles, flanked by a variety of flowers and shrubs in a vibrant array of colors.

Further ahead, at the end of the path, was a small fountain. Water droplets danced lightly, creating a soothing sound.

Beyond the fountain area, they saw meticulously arranged flowerbeds on the ground.

These flowerbeds were filled with seasonal blooms, from early spring tulips to late autumn chrysanthemums, each trimmed neatly yet retaining a wild, natural charm.

Leng Ling'er took out her phone and snapped countless selfies and photos of the scenery.

She even geotagged her location as Qili Garden.

She ran ahead, exclaiming, "Hehe, Qionglan is going to be so jealous when I get back!"

But... Leng Ling'er glared at Gu Yan in frustration.

Could those two walk any slower?!

I'm angry, and you can guess why!

Meanwhile, Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu strolled leisurely through the garden, hand in hand.

Gu Yan occasionally explained the history and features of the surroundings.

"Why did you think of coming here?"

Leng Qingqiu couldn't help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

Gu Yan, who had been explaining the fountain's long history, paused for a moment before smiling gently. "Because I thought you'd like it here."

"......"

Leng Qingqiu fell silent for a while, then slightly raised her chin, a faint smile playing on her lips. She huffed softly, "Next time, don't waste so much money."

"Hehe, that's not possible. Besides having the whole world, I also have endless money to spend."

"The whole world?"

"Of course. Having you, Qingqiu, is like having the whole world! My world is small—it only needs you!"

"...... You're such a smooth talker."

"Qingqiu, my Qingqiu~~ You know, the more you say that, the more excited I get!"

"...... Pervert..."

[I told you, the more you tease him, the more excited he gets...]

—Shut up!

......

While Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu were happily enjoying their trip,

at the Martial Arts Department hospital,

Bai Jun lay weakly on a hospital bed.

Beside him sat two martial artists dressed in white uniforms.

A man with dark circles under his eyes was frowning as he reviewed the data obtained that night.

A woman beside him was diligently recording key information from the data, her handwriting neat and swift, sketching out one clue after another on the white paper.

That night, Bai Jun hadn't been injured. Even after fighting the cloaked elder Gao, he had only lost some of his Qi.

The only exception was when he had supplied Qi to the heart of the evil entity, which had drained him completely.

For a grandmaster to have their Qi completely drained, recovery would take some time.

"I'm sorry. The mission was a failure."

"Almost all the martial artists from our sect were wiped out."

Bai Jun sighed in frustration.

The man reviewing the data shook his head and said gravely, "No, our primary mission was always to protect the civilians. The fact that there were no civilian casualties is already a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune."

The woman, however, seemed puzzled. "Why would the Night King spare the civilians?"

"Isn't he supposed to be a ruthless villain?"

This question prompted a response from another man leaning against the wall. "Qin Rong, what can I say? The only reason a beast spares its prey is because it's already full."

"Clearly, Bai Jun and the others managed to feed the Night King to the point of satiation."

"That's why he left the civilians unharmed and retreated with his spoils."

Qin Rong rolled her eyes at the man leaning against the wall, who was scrolling through his phone. "Li Chuan, can you come over here and help us review the data from that night?"

"With something like this happening in our Peace Faction's territory, the teacher is already busy explaining things to the higher-ups!"

Li Chuan seemed a little intimidated by Qin Rong. He shrunk his neck and muttered, "With Chu Ge here, what's the point of me looking? The teacher's explanations won't change anything anyway."

"It's obvious that the Night King has been resurrected, but those stubborn old-timers just want to downplay the situation."

"If you ask me, we should have stationed more personnel in Jianghai from the start. Then this wouldn't have happened."

"Now, after devouring so many martial artists' souls, the Night King's power has undoubtedly reached an unimaginable level."

Qin Rong was left speechless. She turned to the man who had been reviewing the data and asked, "Chu Ge, what do you think?"

Hearing his name called, Chu Ge set down the documents and sighed with a hint of helplessness. "Putting aside the complications, at least we have some good news."

At the very least... the searchlight managed to capture traces of the Night Organization's members, didn't it?

"With this, we won't be completely passive."

At this point, Chu Ge turned to Bai Jun. "By the way, the report mentioned a group of hidden civilian martial artists in the city?"

"They're said to be very strong? Is that true?"

Bai Jun seemed to recall the martial artists who had appeared that night—Murong Ci, Mei Xue, and You Xingxue—and nodded. "Yes, I created a small group with them. I was thinking of trying to recruit them into our Martial Arts Department."

"How strong are they? Stronger than you?"

Li Chuan looked at Bai Jun in surprise.

After all, Bai Jun was not only the youngest grandmaster in their Peace Faction but also in the entire Martial Arts Department!

Bai Jun nodded. "Yes, one of them... might even be stronger than me!"

"The other two also have unique abilities that would be perfect for covering their teammates' retreats!"

This statement immediately piqued everyone's interest.

"Really? Are they here now?"

"Let's arrange a meeting! We can't let such talents fall into the hands of other factions!"

"Agreed. I was thinking the same thing."

......

As time passed,

the evening bell rang,

marking the end of Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu's day of fun.

In front of the Leng Family estate,

the car slowly came to a stop.

"Qingqiu, see you tomorrow~"

"Hmph, I'll be studying hard tomorrow. Don't disturb me."

"So cold? How about a goodbye kiss then?"

"...... Get lost."

"Hey, hey, don't hit me, Qingqiu!!"

Vroom!

The car started, and Gu Yan quickly drove away.

"Sis, aren't you going inside?"

Leng Ling'er, carrying a bag full of snacks, asked in confusion.

Leng Qingqiu gazed into the distance, watching the fading life essence of Gu Yan.

She nodded slightly. "Mm."

Happy times were always fleeting. Now, she needed to focus on more serious matters.

[Other me, you had a great time with the cauldron, didn't you... Your perception has improved a lot.]

[But it's a pity you didn't go to a livelier place. I thought you'd do something more exciting.]

Leng Qingqiu listened to the voice of Little Cold in her mind.

She smiled lightly and helped Leng Ling'er carry some bags into the house. "Ling'er, Ling'er, you really don't understand."

"No matter how lively or quiet the place is, Gu Yan will always love me this much."

"You still have a lot to learn about how to handle Gu Yan~"

"As for you... even if I go to a bustling area, all you'll experience are the changes in my inner emotions. What does it have to do with whether you'll be disappointed or not?"

【......】

【Hmm, you're right.】

Surprisingly, Ling'er didn't argue back.

This made Leng Qingqiu feel somewhat pleased.

Hehe~ Ling'er finally stopped contradicting her~

She must have also approved of her current approach. As they returned to the warm home, Leng Qingqiu decided to fully relax today.

She wouldn't stay up late studying tonight and would go to bed early. There was plenty to do tomorrow morning.

The Night Organization needed tasks assigned, and she also had to make new preparations for the Leng Family's annual meeting.

What she didn't know was that it seemed her thoughts had been overheard by Ling'er.

【.......】

【Hehe】

In Leng Qingqiu's mind, Ling'er's lips curled slightly, letting out a silent laugh.