Chapter 117: Saintess's Heart Flutter?

"You… you're just giving it to me like that? Aren't you afraid I'll back out once I get the Xuan Wang Secret Treasury and stop helping you suppress Kun Long?"

After all, the Xuan Wang Secret Treasury is her sole objective on this trip.

Now that the objective is in hand, ordinarily she could simply turn and leave; there's no need to waste Spiritual Energy helping Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng sat on a red Wood chair, watching her nervous demeanor, and couldn't help a smile.

"Just your help tonight alone is enough to keep the Kun Long inside me docile for half a year. This is the First Time in my whole life that I don't have to be kept awake at midnight by the Kun Long's agitation, nor have to practice with a panicked heart fearing to provoke it."

He paused, a barely perceptible hint of fatigue flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by gentleness.

"In the past, on every full‑moon night, the Kun Long's violent aura would double, and I had to rely on the symbols left by Master and my own grit, often staying up until dawn, with Inner Force becoming chaotic. Tonight, your Yin Spiritual Energy suppression has weakened its struggling strength by more than half; this ease is more important to me than the Xuan Wang Secret Treasury. This Sheepskin Scroll was always meant for you."

Lin Qinghan's fingers gripping the Sheepskin Scroll tightened slightly, as if something had gently struck her heart.

Although she had never seen the Kun Long's outbreak with her own eyes, she could, from the Spiritual Energy she just sensed, imagine the torment Jiang Feng had endured over the years.

That ancient, wild violence made even her heart flutter, yet Jiang Feng must coexist with it daily and constantly guard against it losing control.

Her eyes lowered slightly, her originally cool voice dropping a bit, carrying a barely perceptible pang of compassion.

"I… I won't back out. As long as I remain in Jiangcheng for a day, I will help you practice at this time every day, until I am forced to leave. Kun Long's Impact on you is too great; suppress it one more day and you will suffer less."

Those words warmed Jiang Feng's heart a little.

He had originally thought Lin Qinghan was simply Pure, but hadn't expected her to also carry such Kindness.

She didn't turn hostile just because the Xuan Wang Secret Treasury was in hand.

He smiled and nodded: "Alright, then I thank you first, Fellow Lin."

The two chatted a few more details about cultivation, and as night deepened, Jiang Feng rose to take his leave.

Lin Qinghan escorted him to the main hall doorway, watching his figure vanish into the Bamboo forest path before turning back into the hall.

Just as she was about to store the Sheepskin Scroll, Madam Mei entered through the side door.

"Saintess."

Madam Mei bowed and saluted, her gaze landing on the Sheepskin Scroll in Lin Qinghan's hand.

"The Xuan Wang Secret Treasury is already in hand; why not return to the Qingxiao Sect immediately? The sect's transmission said the Elders are still waiting for you to bring back the Treasury, to study methods for breaking through the bottleneck."

Lin Qinghan's hand gripping the Sheepskin Scroll paused, and a Sudden image of Jiang Feng flashed in her Brain, causing a faint, inexplicable blush to spread across her cheek.

But she quickly composed herself, handed over the Sheepskin Scroll, and her Tone returned to a hint of coolness.

"Take the Treasury back to the sect first, deliver it to the Grand Elder. I… I still have matters to handle in Jiangcheng, so I won't leave for now."

"Matters to handle?"

Madam Mei lifted her head, her eyes full of doubt.

"Saintess, this descent's mission was the Treasury; now the mission is complete, what else requires you to stay in the mortal world?"

Lin Qinghan subconsciously averted Madam Mei's gaze.

"This is my matter; Aunt Mei, just follow the instructions and send the Treasury back, no need to ask further."

She grew up in the Qingxiao Sect; Madam Mei watched her grow, being both servant and elder.

But at this moment she truly couldn't give a reason. She felt that if the sect learned of this, it would inevitably be criticized.

Madam Mei, seeing her slightly panicked demeanor, though doubtful inside, also knew Lin Qinghan's temperament and didn't press further.

She only took the Sheepskin Scroll, carefully placing it into her portable cloth bag.

"Old servant understands. At dawn tomorrow we'll set out for Penglai; if the Saintess needs anything in Jiangcheng, she may send a message to me at any time."

"Hmm."

Lin Qinghan gave a gentle nod, watching Madam Mei's figure disappear outside the door before sighing in relief, turning to the Window.

She recalled Jiang Feng's smile moments ago, her cheek warming again, and quickly shook her head.

"Don't dwell on such trifles; suppressing his Kun Long is merely keeping a Promise. Once he can stably control the Kun Long, I'll return to the sect."

For the next five days, Jiang Feng would appear punctually on Jiangxin Island each You hour.

The Kun Long in Jiang Feng's Divine Sea visibly settled down,

By the end, it was almost curled up in a corner of the Divine Sea, lacking even the strength to open its eyes.

The pale green Spiritual Energy, like a thin sheet of ice, tightly enveloped it, while the Golden Light Shield reinforced the outer layer, forming a double suppression.

Jiang Feng's Inner Force circulation became twice as smooth as before, and even the previously stuck bottleneck showed faint signs of breakthrough.

But on the sixth night, as Jiang Feng stepped into the house, he sensed the atmosphere was somewhat different.

"Why aren't you Standing by the Window today?"

Lin Qinghan heard the voice, slowly lifted her head, the coolness in her eyes lessened, replaced by more complex emotions.

She was silent for a few seconds before speaking softly.

"Jiang Feng, I… I'm leaving."

"Leaving?"

Jiang Feng looked at Lin Qinghan, stunned for a few seconds before responding, "Return to the Qingxiao Sect?"

"Hmm," Lin Qinghan nodded, her voice as low as a mosquito's hum.

"Just now Aunt Mei messaged, saying the sect was pressing hard; the Grand Elder had already deciphered part of the Treasury's clues and needed me to return to assist research. Tonight… is the Final Time I help you practice."

Jiang Feng watched her gloomy demeanor, feeling an inexplicable unease in his heart.

"What do you do every day at the Qingxiao Sect? Just cultivation?"

Lin Qinghan hadn't expected him to ask that, hesitated before answering.

"At dawn we rise to practice swordsmanship, from the hour of the Dragon to noon we sit in meditation to condense Spiritual Energy, afternoon we study cultivation scriptures with the Elders, evening we train Spiritual Energy control for two hours, and at night we review the day's practice—nothing else."

"That's way too boring, isn't it?"

Jiang Feng couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head.

"That's not how a young person's days are—all they do is sit in meditation or practice swordsmanship, with nothing interesting at all."

Lin Qinghan blinked, and their gaze was full of doubt.

"Interesting thing? What is it? The elders of Qingxiao Sect say that cultivators must have a mind without distraction and cannot be distracted by mundane trivialities."

"Having a mind without distraction also can't mean lacking even basic pleasures, huh?"

Jiang Feng Standing up, walked to her, Tone carrying a few degrees of relaxed suggestion.

"Then just skip cultivation tonight; I'll take you to do something ordinary young people do, consider it... a gift of practice, how about it?"

Lin Qinghan sat on the cushion, lifted their head and looked at Jiang Feng.

Candlelight fell on their face, bearing a gentle smile.

Her inner gloom Gradually faded a bit, and she asked curiously.

"Things ordinary young people do? What are they? I... I haven't been to ordinary places, and I don't know what to do."

"If you come with me, you'll know."

Jiang Feng gave a mysterious smile.