I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Qin Yuan first met this person outside the venue of the Heavenly Pride Gathering. At that time, he had just won the championship and was talking to Lin Qing'er when Mu Sangzi descended from the sky and refused him entry with the words, "My Qingmu Sect does not accept disciples from lower sects."

At that time, Qin Yuan was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

He is now at the Refinement stage.

Mu Sangzi's gaze lingered for a moment on the Xuan Yu Dao Token at Qin Yuan's waist, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a gloomy expression.

"I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly, Master Qin." His voice was hoarse and his tone stiff. "May I ask what brings you here, Master Qin?"

Qin Yuan looked at him and calmly said, "Visiting a friend."

Mu Sangzi's eyes twitched slightly.

He certainly knew who the "friend" Qin Yuan was referring to was.

Three days ago, Mu Changchun and his sister returned from the Temple of War, bringing news of Lin Qing'er. Mu Sangzi had felt uneasy at the time, but he did not expect Qin Yuan to arrive so quickly—so quickly that he had not had time to make any preparations.

"Qin Daozi is joking." Mu Sangzi suppressed his irritation and forced an awkward smile. "Although the Qingmu Sect and the Taiyi Sect have a relationship, they are, after all, two separate sects. If Qin Daozi wishes to visit a friend, he might as well present a visiting card first, and I will inform the sect leader and arrange a date accordingly..."

"No need."

Qin Yuan's tone remained calm, but there was no room for negotiation.

"I only met one person, and then I left."

He took a step forward.

Mu Sangzi's expression changed drastically.

Several disciples behind him stepped forward, trying to stop him, but Qin Yuan glanced at them casually, and they were struck as if by lightning, retreating in unison.

There was no murderous intent, not even a trace of emotion, in that glance.

But it was precisely this calm that made them feel a tremor from the depths of their souls.

Mu Sangzi took a deep breath, his voice growing even more sinister: "Qin Daozi, although you are a Daoist disciple of the Taiyi Sect, the Qingmu Sect is not a place where you can run wild!"

"act wildly?"

Qin Yuan finally looked at him properly.

"I've only come to see an old friend. Elder Mu's repeated attempts to stop me—are you afraid I'll see her, or you're afraid she'll see me?"

Mu Sangzi's pupils constricted slightly.

This statement struck at his deepest fear.

He wasn't afraid of Qin Yuan, or even the Taiyi Sect behind Qin Yuan. What he feared was that after Lin Qing'er saw Qin Yuan, her heart, which had gradually resigned itself to fate, would come back to life.

He knew the potential of the innate wood spirit body better than anyone else.

Once Lin Qing'er makes up her mind, once she has the strength and belief to support her, no one in the Qingmu Sect will be able to suppress her.

At that time, all the suppression, deductions, and difficulties he has faced over the years will become the sharp blade that backfires on him.

"Qin Yuan," Mu Sangzi's voice was extremely low, so low that only the two of them could hear, "I admit that my refusal to accept you back then was due to my own selfish motives. But Lin Qing'er is now a disciple of the Qingmu Sect, and her fate and future should be decided by the sect. What right do you, an outsider, have to interfere?"

Qin Yuan looked at him.

After a long silence, he said, "Because she is an old friend of mine."

This answer was unexpected by Mu Sangzi.

He had initially thought Qin Yuan would invoke his status as a disciple of the Taiyi Sect, using his power to intimidate him, or even resort to violence on the spot. He had already prepared plans to deal with all possible scenarios.

But Qin Yuan simply said—because she is an old friend of mine.

Mu Sangzi suddenly realized that he had made a fatal mistake.

From the very beginning, he regarded Qin Yuan as an opponent who needed to be guarded against and suppressed. He thought that Qin Yuan came to the Green Wood Sect to show off, to take revenge, and to snatch Lin Qing'er, his "genius disciple".

But Qin Yuan only wanted to see one person from beginning to end.

This realization both angered and frustrated him.

He was annoyed because he realized all his defenses had become a joke, and powerless because he realized he couldn't stop it at all.

Because Qin Yuan simply didn't compete with him.

He was simply stating a fact.

Mu Sangzi remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he stepped aside, clearing the way to the mountain gate.

"One hour," he said hoarsely. "You must leave in one hour."

Qin Yuan did not answer.

He passed Mu Sangzi and stepped into the mountain gate of the Qingmu Sect.

The Qingmu Sect's inner halls are scattered among ancient trees, exuding a vibrant and life-giving wood spirit.

Qin Yuan had no interest in appreciating it. His divine sense had already locked onto Lin Qing'er's aura, and he headed straight for a secluded courtyard in the northeast corner of the sect.

That was Lin Qing'er's residence.

The courtyard gate was half-closed, and a few withered leaves lay on the bluestone steps in front of it, unswept. An old plum tree stood crookedly in the courtyard, with a few late-blooming flowers hanging sparsely on its branches, trembling slightly in the wind.

Qin Yuan stood outside the courtyard gate, not going in immediately.

He heard slight noises in the courtyard—the sound of water, the rustling of fabric, and someone humming an off-key tune.

The melody of that folk song was very familiar.

Qin Yuan closed his eyes.

Many years ago, by the stream behind the Xuan Yuan Sect, a little girl with her hair in two buns squatted on a blue stone washing spiritual herbs, humming this tune as she did so. At that time, she was just an outer disciple, worrying about a few spirit stones every day.

The little girl heard footsteps, looked up, and gave a bright smile.

"Brother Qin Yuan, you're back?"

Qin Yuan opened his eyes and pushed open the courtyard gate.

The scene in the courtyard came into view.

Lin Qing'er was squatting by the well washing clothes, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing a section of her slender, fair forearm. Her hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, a few stray strands falling in front of her forehead, damp with water, and clinging to her slightly flushed cheeks.

She looked up when she heard the door open.

Eyes facing each other.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The clothes in Lin Qing'er's hands fell into the basin of water, splashing up a fine spray. She stared blankly at the figure in blue at the doorway, her lips trembling slightly, but no sound came out.

Qin Yuan looked at her.

She has lost weight.

She had lost a lot of weight since we parted three years ago. The innocence and naivety of a young girl had faded from her eyes, replaced by a calm and restrained air. But her eyes remained unchanged, still clear and bright, still holding the promise of spring.

"Qing'er."

Qin Yuan called her name softly, as if afraid of waking her from a dream.

Lin Qing'er suddenly stood up, knocking over the basin of water and spilling it all over the floor. She ignored it, staring intently at Qin Yuan, her eyes gradually reddening.

"Brother Qin Yuan..."

Her voice choked with emotion.

"You...you really came..."

Qin Yuan stepped forward.

He walked very slowly, each step firm and steady. It took him a long time to cover the distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Then he stopped in front of Lin Qing'er, reached out and gently brushed away the damp stray hairs from her forehead.

"I'll come pick you up."

Lin Qing'er could no longer hold back, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She threw herself into Qin Yuan's arms, clutching his clothes tightly like a drowning person grasping at the last piece of driftwood. She didn't cry out, but her shoulders trembled violently, and tears quickly soaked the fabric of Qin Yuan's shirt.

Qin Yuan did not move.

He simply stood there quietly, one arm around her back and the other gently patting the top of her head.

The petals of the old plum tree in the courtyard drifted down in the wind, swirling and landing at their feet.

a long time.

Lin Qing'er finally stopped crying.

Blushing, she stepped back from Qin Yuan's embrace, lowered her head, and dared not look at him, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"I...I'll go get you some tea..."

She turned to run into the house, but Qin Yuan gently grabbed her wrist.