Chapter 210 A Burning LoveAs the night breeze caressed the air gently, Hua Qiyue put all her concentration on cultivation. She no longer thought about Yun Shimo and Tianci. The pain she had felt was now concealed without a trace.
The Bodhi Tree emitted a faint silvery light, like moonlight, gently enveloping Hua Qiyue under it.
The hidden pair of eyes was suddenly full of astonishment.
Hua Qiyue only felt her entire body full of anima energy. The Spirit Summoning Art’s anima energy in her Sea of Qi was now abundant.
Each time a person mastered a secret art, his or her body would contain a Sea of Qi. How much anima energy was contained in one’s body would depend on that Sea of Qi. The bigger it was, the more powerful the secret art, and the higher the level.
Even when Hua Qiyue shut her eyes, she could still sense the anima energy flowing inside her body. The abundant anima energy of the heaven and the earth all gushed into her Sea of Qi. She did not know how much time had pa.s.sed—perhaps about four hours.
“Buzz—”
A soft sound. For the first time in three months, Hua Qiyue felt a sense of joy!
Her Spirit Summoning Art had reached Lvl 5!
She had succeeded!
Hua Qiyue was overjoyed now that her Art had elevated. Her Spirit Summoning Art was now even more powerful. She would no longer need to fear Qi Artists at the Great Completeness of Round Sun.
Of course, this Spirit Summoning Art could only remain her trump card. She would not use it from the start.
Hua Qiyue gently breathed in and out, channeling her anima energy, then slowly opened her eyes and discovered the glimmering light around herself. She was astonished, raising her head to observe the huge Bodhi Tree.
“Thank you, Bodhi Tree… ”
The light had wrapped her in its midst, causing Hua Qiyue to feel a boundless, soothing ease. The pain at the bottom of her heart dissipated slowly.
The light from the Bodhi Tree intensified, as if it could sense Hua Qiyue’s grat.i.tude. As it glittered, she could feel her eyelids growing heavy.
Hua Qiyue felt exceptionally comfortable, leaning lightly against the Bodhi Tree. She felt a natural drowsiness overcome her, making her eyelids so heavy that she could not open them.
In the past, she needed alcohol to intoxicate herself before she could sleep. Quite unexpectedly, after the cultivation tonight, she felt a sense of drowsiness.
For the first time in months, Hua Qiyue fell into a pleasant sleep.
The light from the Bodhi Tree gradually dissipated, and the pair of eyes in the near distance shimmered. A man emerged from the shadows, sitting down by Hua Qiyue’s side.
The man silently and intently stared at Hua Qiyue’s slightly tired face. He could not disguise the love in his eyes. It burned like an intense fire, making the heart tremble.
Had Hua Qiyue opened her eyes and saw him, she would be astounded.
The man stretched out his hand as if to caress her face, but stopped halfway.
“Qiyue… ” The man muttered quietly. “No matter what happens, you will always be the most important person in my heart. It doesn’t matter who you love… ”
The man murmured, the emotions in his eyes becoming even more blazingly intense, almost as if it was about to well out uncontrollably.
Hua Qiyue’s countenance was tranquil and calm like an ethereal fairy’s. Especially after cultivation, her face was flushing with a faint, pinkish glow, making her even more adorable.
What man would not fall for such a woman?
The man could bear it no longer. He gently lifted Hua Qiyue’s head. It had been a long time since she had slept so comfortably and she was now totally unaware of the man taking advantage of her.
The man felt utterly bewildered, staring at Hua Qiyue’s little face in a daze. He tried strenuously, trying to suppress the surging feelings in his heart, but his emotions still gradually engulfed his rationality.
His amorous feelings had been suppressed for too long. He could no longer put them down.
He lightly bent down and kissed her. His tender lips pressed against Hua Qiyue’s, soft as rose petals, her lingering feminine odor working him into a frenzy.
His hands supported the back of her head and he kissed on more fervently.
Hua Qiyue opened her eyes, her jade-like palm cleaving brutally down at the back of the man’s neck. She fought down panic as she remembered when Yun Shimo had forcefully kissed her. She steadied her breathing as she reminded herself that she was now a Qi Artist at the medium level of Moon Eclipse. None of the men in the Ten Thousand Spirit Cave except Xuanji was her match.
The man gave a m.u.f.fled groan as his Qi flow and energy began to dispel. Hua Qiyue pushed him away, and he fell backward.
Hua Qiyue stared shockingly at the man’s face. She gave a low, furious gasp. “Xuan?”
Huangu Xuan was blushing, his head lowered, avoiding Hua Qiyue’s scorching eyes. “I’m sorry… I was too impulsive… ”
Abruptly, he stood up and ran. It seemed that, had he taken smaller steps, Hua Qiyue’s eyes would have scorned him to death.
Hua Qiyue sat there in a daze. She had never expected one of her companions to do something so presumptuous. All along, he had been quiet. Perhaps he had suppressed himself for too long.
Hua Qiyue’s heart was full of bitter helplessness. The ones she loved had left her, the ones who loved her were guarding her jealously. She could not shake them off no matter where she went.
At the start of her new life, Huangfu Xuan had been arrogant and conceited. He had thought that Hua Qiyue really pined for him. But it was not true. Since then, he had clearly fallen for her…
Hua Qiyue gave a bitter smile. Why was she not in love with Huangfu Xuan? Or with Ji Feng? It would make things so much easier.
However, since what had happened had happened, there was no point in regrets. Hua Qiyue leaped down the rock, walking slowly back to the log cabin.
Hua Qiyue returned to her room and lay down. Soon, she was asleep again.
Xuanji, watching from a distance, retreated to his own room to be alone with his thoughts.
——————
Huangfu Xuan ran away from the Bodhi Tree, finally stopping at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Spirit Cave.
He leaned against a smaller Bodhi Tree, panting heavily. His face and ears were crimson, and his heart was pounding wildly. Everything was over! How would she react in the morning?
Huangfu Xuan sat down under the tree regretting his rash actions.
“G.o.dd.a.m.nit! How can I face her in the future?” Huangfu Xuan smacked his forehead with his palm, his inky hair disheveled and straggly in the wind. His entire body was robed in scarlet, looking lonely in the moonlight.
Huangfu Xuan sat there until daybreak, before returning to the cabin to retrieve his sword for some hunting. Unexpectedly, Hua Qiyue had walked down the stairs quietly, causing him to lower his head in fright and run away, yet again.
Hua Qiyue was startled, but found herself quite amused. Last night, she had been furious. But recalling Huangfu Xuan apologizing like a boy caught taking a cookie, her anger slowly dissipated.
Ji Jing, standing behind her, started to laugh. “Oh, how strange. Why did Young Master Huangfu run off the moment he saw you? And his face was red! Sister Qiyue, did you bully him?”
Ji Feng in the dining room joked as he sipped his porridge. “Well, only he can be the bully… no one else dares to bully him! Don’t you know Young Master Huangfu?”
Xuanji was also seated, his teal robe clean and pressed.
Hua Qiyue forced herself to smile. Xuanji’s divination had struck her a big blow. But she must try her best to live on.
That cad, Yun Shimo, had married another woman. Well, she could find herself another man. There were so many outstanding men in this world, and Ji Feng and Huangfu Xuan were amongst the best.
But first, she must get Tianci back.
Right now, her abilities were not on par with Yun Shimo’s. Even if she found them, she could not defeat him and seize Tianci back.
Ji Jing smiled, quickly taking a bowl and rinsing it clean, before serving Hua Qiyue a bowl of porridge. “You’re right. Young Master Huangfu used to be so arrogant. But he’s matured so much.”
Xuanji turned to face Hua Qiyue directly. He saw that she was acting quite normally, as if the incident the day before had not taken place.
The hare leaped onto the table, glancing at the porridge in the bowl. “Plain porridge? Tsk, tsk. Everywhere around here are demonic beasts. You people can roast them. Taking plain porridge is so pathetic!” the hare griped.
Hua Qiyue cast him a cold glance. “It’s good enough for you, a hare, to have something to eat. If you think this shabby, you can nibble on the gra.s.s outside.”
The little hare gave a soft sigh. “I used to be a great deity. To stoop so low as to nibble gra.s.s… ”
Ji Feng suddenly gave a smile. “Later, I will hunt some low-level evil beasts and roast them. I heard that some of their meat is very tasty and tender.”
Ji Jing said excitedly, “That’s right! Brother’s actually very adept at roasting. Sister Qiyue, you must sample his culinary skills.”
Hua Qiyue stared at Ji Feng with some astonishment. He was such a gentleman, yet he could plant herbs and cook? It appeared he was full of surprises.
Xuanji put down his bowl and took out a white vial. “Top-grade Magic Pellets. For you.”
Xuanji pa.s.sed the vial to Hua Qiyue’s front, a tenderness suffusing his handsome face.
Hua Qiyue was shocked, but took the vial.
“What? Top-grade Magic Pellets? Good heavens, it’s the top elixir on the charts! It can increase your longevity by 500 years and restore your physique when you encounter a life-and-death situation the first time! It can even keep your looks at a certain age!” The little hare widened its ears, its blood-red eyes full of pleasant astonishment. “Young boy Xuanji, can you give me a vial as well? I will surely help you in the future, no matter what… ”
The greedy little hare was smiling as it polished its claws.
“Sorry, I have only one vial,” Xuanji said quietly.
A cold voice rang out from outside the door. “If you really have such top-grade elixirs, would you give them to her? You’ve only come across each other a few times. Qiyue, I feel it’s better not to take these pills.”
The company looked up to see Huangfu Xuan standing in the doorway.