Chương 65: The Identity Jade Slip and the Beauty’s Heart

Li Xiumei caught a glimpse of Reyn's expression from the corner of her eye, and a subtle, involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her lips. For reasons she couldn't quite define, her heart felt significantly lighter than it had moments ago.

"Elder Yan, Elder Mo—please, stand up quickly!" she urged as the group touched down on the solid earth. She rushed forward, catching the two old men by their arms to pull them upright, her face glowing with a mix of genuine affection and spoiled playfulness.

"Didn't we already agree on this? You aren't allowed to perform such formal salutations when we meet. If you keep acting so stiff, I'll simply stop speaking to you altogether!" The grim, somber expressions of the two elders softened instantly. Hearing her familiar, spirited banter, they exchanged a look and offered warm, grandfatherly smiles. Their eyes, once sharp enough to pierce stone, were now filled with nothing but doting care for the young woman before them.

"Young Miss, when you vanished from the sect without a word, the Sect Master nearly dismantled these old bones of ours," Elder Yan remarked, stroking his long white beard with a wry, pained chuckle.

"If we hadn't found you soon, we would have had to return and face a punishment that would have sent us to our graves early."

"He wouldn't dare!" Li Xiumei declared, brandishing a small, defiant fist with an exaggerated scowl.

"If he even thinks about punishing you two, I'll go back and pluck every single hair from his beard! Then, I'll run away again and never, ever come back!" Elder Mo's eyes crinkled with warmth at her protective outburst, though he quickly waved his hands in a frantic gesture of dismissal.

"Heaven forbid! Please, Young Miss, if you go missing again, these old bones will truly fall apart during the search. We've scoured half the continent over the last six months just to track your trail. We can't endure another ordeal like that." As for the threat of plucking the Sect Master's beard... well, it wouldn't be the first time she had followed through on such a promise. In truth, the two elders had locked onto her location two days prior.

They had known she was afflicted by the poison of the Bead of Indulgence and had been consumed by a silent, burning anxiety. However, as they scrutinized her now with their profound cultivation, they realized she was still a maiden—her Primordial Yin remained perfectly intact. A massive weight lifted from their chests. Li Xiumei possessed an extraordinary spiritual root; her cultivation of the Jade Maiden Pure Heart Art, a top-tier demonic scripture, meant her future potential was limitless.

Had she lost her purity before reaching the Nascent Soul stage, her foundation would have been crippled, making further progress an agonizingly steep climb. At that moment, the man in the brocade robes, who had remained silent until now, shifted his gaze toward Reyn. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of frost dancing within them as he spoke in a measured, detached tone.

"Cousin, might I ask who this fellow Daoist is?" Though he kept his face a mask of calm, a murderous glint flashed in the depths of his pupils. He knew of the Bead of Indulgence's effects. Even though Li Xiumei was physically untouched, the mere fact that she had been traveling in the company of a strange man filled him with a cold, possessive resentment.

"Cousin Guan, he is my friend. There is no need for you to overthink things," Li Xiumei replied, her brow furrowing slightly at his intrusive tone. Her voice turned cool, but as she turned back to the two elders, her demeanor softened back into a sweet, pleading tone.

"Elders, this is Daoist Reyn. When I was being hunted by the remnants of the Breeze Sect, it was only thanks to his intervention that I survived. You must thank him properly on my behalf."

"Oh? Since he saved the Young Miss, a heavy reward is certainly in order," the two elders said in unison. They shared a knowing glance and nodded with practiced grace. Reyn suddenly felt the air around him thicken. Under the concentrated scrutiny of two Golden Core masters, he felt as though he were standing naked in a storm. It was as if every secret in his meridians and every drop of blood in his veins were being cataloged by their piercing Divine Sense.

Fortunately, the sensation lasted only a heartbeat before the elders withdrew their pressure, offering a subtle, non-committal nod of approval. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"This Daoist has done a great service to our Myriad Extinction Demon Sect by protecting our Young Miss," Elder Yan began, his voice resonant.

"We must show our gratitude. If there is anything you require—be it resources or techniques—simply speak your mind." Reyn was momentarily taken aback by the directness of the offer. However, he quickly regained his composure and shook his head with a faint, detached smile.

"I saved Xiumei only because I found her to be a kindred spirit. I acted according to my own will, not for the sake of a bounty. I appreciate the seniors' kindness, but I must decline." His blunt refusal caught the two elders off guard. They blinked in surprise, but the confusion in their eyes was quickly replaced by a flicker of genuine respect for his integrity.

"You absolute fool!" Li Xiumei cried out before the elders could respond. She looked at Reyn with a mix of exasperation and genuine worry, her face a mask of 'how can you be this stupid?'

"I'm giving you the chance to ask for anything! Spirit tools, cultivation manuals, rare pills—whatever you name, the elders will provide! How can you just turn it down?" A trace of warmth flickered in Reyn's heart at her obvious concern. He couldn't resist teasing her one last time.

"I've already collected my payment," he said with a playful glint in his eye.

"It would be poor form to keep asking for more." No sooner had the words left his mouth than he felt a pang of regret. It was a dangerous joke to make in front of her sect elders. Li Xiumei's face instantly turned a deep, vivid crimson. She shot him a fierce, embarrassed glare before burying her face in her hands, unable to meet anyone's gaze. The reaction sent a ripple of different emotions through the members of the Myriad Extinction Demon Sect. Cousin Guan's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

A surge of killing intent flared in his eyes, and his hands, hidden within his voluminous sleeves, clenched into white-knuckled fists. Elders Yan and Mo exchanged a look of deep concern, their assessment of Reyn shifting into something far more complicated and wary. As for the surrounding disciples, their mouths hung open in shock. They had never seen their untouchable, icy Young Miss show such a vulnerable, girlish side.

Their gazes toward Reyn were a chaotic mix of begrudging respect and burning, unadulterated envy.

"Ahem. Regardless, since you saved our Miss, a reward is mandatory," Elder Yan said, clearing his throat to break the awkward silence. With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a small, inch-wide jade pendant from his storage bag and tossed it toward Reyn.

"This is a Protective Jade Pendant. It contains a sealed spiritual shield capable of withstanding a full-strength strike from any cultivator below the mid-Golden Core stage. Keep it well." Withstanding a strike from a Golden Core master! Reyn's expression shifted. He caught the jade, feeling the dense energy humming within it. After a moment's hesitation, he tucked it into his own storage bag and cupped his hands.

"In that case, I thank the Senior for the gift." Seeing Reyn accept the item, Elder Yan's expression relaxed slightly. He turned to Li Xiumei.

"Young Miss, the Sect Master has commanded that we bring you back to the mountain the moment you are found. We must depart immediately." Li Xiumei hesitated, looking at Reyn, then slowly nodded. Her brush with death during this excursion had taught her a harsh lesson: the cultivation world was a treacherous abyss, and her current Foundation Establishment strength was not enough to roam it with impunity.

"Reyn... this is my identity jade slip," she said softly, stepping forward. She pressed a jade slip into his hand—it was cool to the touch but carried the faint, lingering scent of her perfume. Her cheeks were still tinged with pink as she added, "If you ever find yourself in trouble or in need of help, come to the North Yue State and find me." Without waiting for a response, she summoned her flying light and shot into the sky, a streak of radiance heading toward the horizon.

Cousin Guan lingered for a second, casting a frigid, murderous smile at Reyn. His eyes promised a future reckoning before he turned and vanished into the clouds. Elders Yan and Mo shared a final, weary look, shook their heads, and signaled the rest of the disciples to follow. Within heartbeats, the entire group had disappeared from sight. Reyn stood alone, fingering the jade slip that still held the warmth of her hand. A complex swirl of emotions rose in his chest.

He sighed, shaking his head to clear his thoughts, and stowed the slip away. With a flash of his own遁光 (escape light), he oriented himself and sped off in the opposite direction. High above, among the departing group, Cousin Guan suddenly slowed his flight.

"Elders, you go on ahead," he said, cupping his hands toward Yan and Mo.

"I have a few minor matters to attend to. I will catch up with the main group shortly."