Chapter 964: Duty Calls

After arriving at the Inner Sect area, Wang Jianqiang approached a large gate as if he were very familiar with the path.

With a shift of his intent, he triggered the Restriction outside the gate.

A moment later.

The gate opened, and a graceful figure walked out from within.

Seeing Zhou Qingyu again, Wang Jianqiang's expression was somewhat complex.

Compared to his memories, Zhou Qingyu's figure had become much thinner, and her temperament carried a hint of melancholy.

Clearly, she had been having a very difficult time during this period.

The only good news was that her cultivation had improved significantly, having already reached Golden Core Stage Perfection.

Her Soul power had reached about five times its original level.

Without having received purification or practiced any special techniques, achieving this was already no small feat.

Upon seeing Wang Jianqiang, Zhou Qingyu was visibly stunned.

Then, a look of respect appeared on her face, and she bowed to Wang Jianqiang, "Qing Yu greets the Vice Sect Master."

Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang shook his head with a smile, "Junior Sister Zhou, you and I are old acquaintances; there is no need for such formality. You may still call me Senior Brother."

Zhou Qingyu was silent for a moment, then nodded, "I wonder what instructions Senior Brother Wan has for coming to find Qing Yu?"

Wang Jianqiang smiled and looked around, "Junior Sister, won't you invite me in to sit for a while?"

Zhou Qingyu was startled, then immediately reacted, "Please come in, Senior Brother."

After speaking, she led Wang Jianqiang into her residence.

Once back inside the Residence Space, Zhou Qingyu looked at Wang Jianqiang, "Senior Brother Wan, please state what business you have."

Wang Jianqiang smiled and reached out to grab Zhou Qingyu's palm.

Zhou Qingyu was shocked; she instinctively pulled her hand back and looked at Wang Jianqiang with anger, "Senior Brother Wan, what is the meaning of this?"

Wang Jianqiang chuckled, and a powerful force instantly enveloped Zhou Qingyu.

Zhou Qingyu was unable to move.

Wang Jianqiang walked step by step to Zhou Qingyu's side, reached out his hand, and pinched her cheek.

"Such a beauty as Junior Sister Zhou—I have long coveted you. Why not just submit to me?"

"Let me go!"

Zhou Qingyu's expression changed drastically, and she struggled desperately, but she could not break free in the slightest.

A look of despair appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang sighed and his expression turned serious, "My apologies, Third Miss. I deceived you previously in order to protect myself."

As he spoke, he shifted his intent.

The powerful force enveloping Zhou Qingyu's body vanished instantly.

However, after regaining her freedom, Zhou Qingyu did not retreat at all; she only stared blankly at Wang Jianqiang.

The expression on her pretty face was completely dazed.

That just now was...

Daniu's voice?

"You..."

She looked at Wang Jianqiang, her expression filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

Wang Jianqiang smiled, a flash of Spirit Light shone over his body, and he returned to his original appearance, "Third Miss, long time no see."

Seeing that familiar face, Zhou Qingyu's figure trembled.

Her eyes instantly turned red, "Daniu, you didn't die?"

"I didn't die."

Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingyu seemed to think of something, and a look of vigilance appeared on her face again.

Her figure flashed as she put distance between herself and Wang Jianqiang, "No, you are Wan Guiyuan. You are pretending to be Wang Daniu to deceive me."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head with a smile, "Third Miss, do you remember the scene when we first met?"

"At that time, you were cultivating in the Jade Pool, and fearing I wouldn't see clearly, you specifically jumped out of the Jade Pool and landed right before my eyes..."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Zhou Qingyu's face instantly turned bright red.

At this moment, she confirmed Wang Daniu's identity directly.

Because the situation when they first met was simply too embarrassing; besides the two of them, not a third person knew about it.

"When we came to the Beast Taming Sect, we were attacked by enemies. You were severely injured, and I was the one who applied medicine to your body, inch by inch..."

Just then, Wang Jianqiang's voice came again.

Zhou Qingyu's face turned even redder, "Alright, stop talking, I believe you."

Hearing this, Wang Jianqiang paused.

He walked to Zhou Qingyu's side and very naturally took hold of her hand.

Zhou Qingyu's pretty face grew even more flushed.

But she did not pull away as she had before; instead, she looked at Wang Jianqiang with a hint of reproach, "Wang Daniu, you bastard, to think you dared to lie to me. Do you know how sad I was after hearing the news of your fall?"

Wang Jianqiang sighed, "I caused too much trouble in the Alchemy Emperor Secret Realm back then; if I hadn't faked my death to escape, I certainly wouldn't have survived..."

"Enough, don't explain, I know it all."

Zhou Qingyu shook her head with a smile, "Regardless, the fact that you are still alive is the best outcome."

Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile, "Third Miss is still as understanding as ever."

Zhou Qingyu rolled her eyes at Wang Jianqiang, "Still calling me Third Miss? You, such a powerful genius, actually pretending to be a servant of the Zhou Family."

"If I didn't know, it would be one thing, but now that you're calling me that, I'm too embarrassed to answer."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head with a smile, "Third Miss has been so good to me, I couldn't bear not to acknowledge it; no matter how strong I become in the future, you will always be my Third Miss."

Zhou Qingyu lowered her head, feeling a bit shy.

Wang Jianqiang looked Zhou Qingyu over with a beaming smile, then suddenly reached out his hand...

"Ah, what are you doing?"

"Third Miss, why have you become so thin? Let me help you check your body, in case something is wrong."

"There's no need, I'm fine."

"How can there be no need? Caring for your health is my duty as a servant..."