Reflections and Diminishment

"Chengcheng."

Lin Qingyan's voice sounded again, but this time, it was about serious business.

"Hmm?"

"My inner demon has been weakened significantly now."

Gu Chengyin's gaze flickered slightly as he patiently waited for her to continue.

"But," Lin Qingyan paused. "I don't know how to make it disappear completely."

"So, I want to continue my comprehension."

Gu Chengyin listened and didn't reply immediately. After a moment of thought, he was just about to speak.

Lin Qingyan seemed to know what he was going to ask and preemptively explained:

"Although the inner demon will grow strong again as my comprehension deepens."

"But you don't need to worry."

Lin Qingyan lifted her head from his embrace, her expression incredibly serious. "This time, I will control the pace well."

"Every once in a while, I will weaken it again."

"And then continue my comprehension."

Listening to her, Gu Chengyin nodded thoughtfully.

Lin Qingyan's idea actually made a lot of sense.

The inner demon had already been weakened.

But if she wanted to make it disappear completely, the key likely lay in the severed Immortal Dao.

So it was perfectly reasonable that she wanted to continue her comprehension.

The inner demon would indeed regain its strength as her comprehension deepened.

But since they had experience this time, Lin Qingyan could easily seek him out to weaken it again before it spiraled out of control.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingyan's comprehension would not vanish, but the inner demon would be weakened and controlled time and time again.

If this continued, sooner or later, they would find a way to make the inner demon disappear completely.

Gu Chengyin nodded.

"Alright, as long as you pay attention to the pace, Auntie."

"As for the rest, I will fully cooperate with you."

Lin Qingyan looked at him, a trace of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

She softly hummed in agreement and buried her face back into his chest.

Although her expression seemed normal, Gu Chengyin failed to notice that the base of Lin Qingyan's ears had quietly turned red.

The blush was faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it was truly there.

It started from her earlobes, spreading all the way to the auricles before finally vanishing into her hairline.

Lin Qingyan buried her face in his embrace precisely so that Gu Chengyin wouldn't see it.

Because she realized that, compared to comprehending the Immortal Dao, she seemed to be looking forward to the weakening of her inner demon even more.

It was a very subtle feeling.

Every time the inner demon was weakened, it required Gu Chengyin's cooperation.

And every time they cooperated, it meant physical closeness.

It meant intimacy.

It meant she could do whatever she wanted with Gu Chengyin.

The base of Lin Qingyan's ears grew even redder.

She told herself in her heart that this was to weaken the inner demon, not for any other reason.

But she also knew that if she said those words out loud, even she wouldn't quite believe them.

However, she absolutely could not let Gu Chengyin discover these little thoughts of hers.

Otherwise, this man would definitely think she was lovesick again and would try to keep his distance.

She didn't want that at all.

Gu Chengyin had merely called her Lord Jingzhe once, and it had almost made her explode with anger.

If they truly kept their distance and he didn't even allow them to cuddle...

She would go crazy.

Lin Qingyan took a deep breath, suppressing all these messy thoughts.

Then, she lifted her head from his embrace again and asked tentatively:

"Then... I want to try it right now."

Gu Chengyin blinked.

Now?

He looked out the window.

The sunlight was bright, and the convoy was on the move.

There were people all around them. Although the Heavenly Master Mansion's carriage was spacious and had a soundproofing array, it was ultimately just a simplified version. It was impossible to completely isolate their auras like the Meditation Pagoda could.

If he circulated the Qingyun Art here, the people outside would probably notice it.

After all, this was a top-tier Heaven-grade cultivation method; every single trace of it was immortal energy containing the Great Dao.

Lin Qingyan seemed to know what Gu Chengyin was worried about.

She suddenly leaned in close, her lips almost touching his ear, her voice very soft:

"Chengcheng, you actually don't need to release your aura outwardly."

Lin Qingyan's warm breath brushed against his ear, carrying a faint, cool fragrance.

"You just need to circulate it internally, and then let me enter."

Gu Chengyin froze.

These words...

He understood what Lin Qingyan meant.

To comprehend the Immortal Dao, she didn't need him to release his aura; she only needed him to circulate the Qingyun Art.

Then, Lin Qingyan would use her own divine sense to perceive, touch, and comprehend it.

This way could indeed prevent the immortal energy from leaking out, ensuring the people outside wouldn't notice.

But...

Why did it sound so weird?

What did she mean by just let me enter?

Enter how?

Enter from where?

Gu Chengyin's thoughts involuntarily drifted to certain inappropriate places.

He hurriedly shook his head, suppressing those messy thoughts.

But as Lin Qingyan looked at Gu Chengyin's reaction, a trace of sly amusement flashed in her eyes.

So he had no desire for her, huh? He was only moved but not emotionally invested, right?

Then she would tease him every single day and see just how long he could remain unperturbed with her in his arms.

"Chengcheng? What are you thinking about?"

Gu Chengyin's face stiffened for a rare moment.

He looked at Lin Qingyan's innocent-looking eyes, momentarily unsure if this fairy was doing it on purpose.

Or if it was just an accident.

Gu Chengyin took a deep breath, making his expression return to normal.

"Nothing. We'll do as you say, Auntie."

Lin Qingyan looked at him, the smile in her eyes deepening.

She didn't tease him any further, merely nodding gently.

"Okay."

She sat up from his embrace and straightened her posture.

Gu Chengyin also sat up straight, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Qingyun Art.

He opened his hands, palms facing up, and rested them on his knees.

Spiritual energy slowly flowed, running along his meridians.

This was a very gentle state, not turbulent, not radiating outward, just slowly flowing inside him like a small stream in the spring.

Lin Qingyan then placed her hands on Gu Chengyin's open palms.

Then, her divine sense slowly extended, approaching Gu Chengyin through the palms of his hands.

It was a very wondrous feeling.

It wasn't touching, nor was it invading; it was merging.

Like two streams blending into one at the intersection of their palms.

Lin Qingyan could feel the trajectory of the spiritual energy circulating within Gu Chengyin's body, and she could sense the fluctuations of that immortal energy.

She could feel that rhythm resonating with the Heavenly Dao.

This was the complete Immortal Dao.

Lin Qingyan immersed herself in it, forgetting the time, forgetting the space, and forgetting everything outside.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengyin maintained the circulation of his spiritual energy.

He could feel Lin Qingyan's divine sense intertwining with his own.

It was very subtle, he didn't feel spied upon or invaded, but rather enveloped.

It was like a pool of warm, soft water wrapping around his entire being.

The patrol convoy continued to move forward.

The carriage wheels rumbled, crushing the gravel on the official road.

Sunlight spilled in through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled shadows inside the carriage.

The two sat facing each other with their eyes closed, immersed in the rhythm of the Immortal Dao.

No one spoke, and there was no need to speak.

In this moment, words were superfluous.

There was only the flow of spiritual energy, the blending of divine senses, and two hearts...

Silently drawing closer.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Lin Qingyan slowly opened her eyes.

There was something more in her eyes.

It looked like enlightenment, or perhaps a deep settling of the soul.

It looked like a harvest, or perhaps pure satisfaction.

She looked at Gu Chengyin opposite her, looking at his still-closed eyes.

Suddenly, she leaned in.

And planted a light kiss on Gu Chengyin's lips.