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"We'll rest here for the night," Shen Yuan softly said, bringing the Northern Wind Horse to a halt.
He dismounted the horse and then extended a hand to help Han Qingyu down. She took the hand gracefully before slowly descending down the horse.
Han Qingyu looked around, her silver eyes softening as she took in the tranquil beauty of the place. "It's... nice."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Shen Yuan smirked as he led the Northern Wind Horse to a nearby tree, tying its reins securely. "I thought so too. You can set up the campsite. I'm going to check the water."
"Check the water?" Han Qingyu turned, only to see Shen Yuan already walking toward the lake, his robe fluttering slightly in the breeze.
Her eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. "Wait, are you—"
"Yes," Shen Yuan said while turning his head back, a playful grin playing on his lips. "I'm taking a bath. The volcanic region was too harsh for my skin, I need to clean myself now."
Shen Yuan approached the lake with a mischievous smirk, his grin only growing wider as he felt Han Qingyu's gaze follow him.
Turning his head slightly, he called out, "You're welcome to join me, you know. The water's likely quite refreshing."
Han Qingyu's face flushed instantly. "Who would want to join you? Hmph!" she huffed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. Her silver eyes moved to the side, refusing to meet his gaze.
Shen Yuan chuckled, slipping off his outer robe and neatly folding it before setting it on a nearby rock. "Suit yourself," he replied, his tone filled with amusement. "But don't blame me if you regret missing out on such a perfect spot."
He jumped in the river, feeling the cold water wash away the residual heat and fatigue from their journey.
Sighing in contentment, Shen Yuan leaned back, letting the water ripple gently around him.
From the shore, Han Qingyu stole a glance, her cheeks burning as she saw his toned back and relaxed posture. She quickly turned away, muttering to herself. "Why does he have to be so... so shameless?"
As if reading her thoughts, Shen Yuan's voice floated over, teasing and light. "You know, Qingyu, it's not polite to peek. If you're curious, just come closer."
[No, not really. But it is far more elusive than Space, you should be able to guess which it is. But it is for another time, you need to increase your cultivation base first.]
'I know, but the energy from the Primordial Yins is not suitable for refining the cores, it's far too gentle for such a task. I need to head back and invest some time learning Alchemy to make a pill for Origin Core Refinement Realm,' he said back while finishing up.
[Oh that's a nice plan, you should try to reach the peak as soon as possible, but even then I doubt your strength can match those who are at the peak of Dao Core Forming Realm since they will also have intents as well as decent techniques from Divine Tier Sects.]
Shen Yuan gazed towards the sky, 'Then I will surpass my limits, and achieve that strength.'
...
After a while, he emerged from the water, droplets glistening on his skin as he shook out his wet hair.
His mood had refreshed from the long bath after talking with Yue Lan, he picked up his robe and tied it loosely around himself, his relaxed demeanor only adding to his teasing charm.
"All yours," he said casually as he walked past Han Qingyu, who quickly looked away to avoid his gaze. "The water's perfect. You'll feel much better after a soak."
Han Qingyu hesitated, fidgeting with her sleeves. She glanced toward the lake, the tranquil shimmer of the water tempting her. Finally, she huffed and stood up, brushing past Shen Yuan. "Don't you dare look!" she said firmly.
Shen Yuan raised his hands in mock surrender, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't dream of it."
She shot him one last glare before heading toward the lake, her steps hurried.
Shen Yuan, true to his word, turned his back and began setting up the campfire. The crackle of flames soon filled the air, and the faint scent of roasting herbs drifted through the clearing.
By the time Han Qingyu returned, her silver hair damp and her cheeks slightly flushed from the cool water, the campfire was burning brightly.
Shen Yuan sat cross-legged beside it, a pot of steaming tea resting on a flat stone nearby.
"Feeling better?" he asked without looking up, his tone softer than before.
Han Qingyu nodded, settling down across from him. "Yes. The lake was... refreshing."
Shen Yuan poured her a cup of tea, handing it over with a small smile. "Good. You looked like you needed it."