It was morning.

Yang Wei had already freshened up and was ready to step out.

As usual, he was dressed in robes so white they shimmered.

Ahhh~

With a flourish of his sleeves, he stepped out of his cultivation room, a smile gracing his face.

“Thanks to my Crimson Dragon Celestial Bloodline, my Crimson Dragon Immortal Art refined both my spirit root and celestial gold core with astounding efficacy. Now, I’ve awakened an Origin Dao treasure.”

Mu Lin had taught him what an Origin Dao treasure entailed.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and becoming a Grandcelestial, a cultivator birthed an artifact imbued with the celestial Qi of their nascent soul and spiritual imprint of their spirit root. It was a powerful and unique artifact, intrinsically connected to a cultivator’s destiny, embodying their Dao and enhancing their abilities.

“According to that knowledge, wouldn’t I possess several Origin Dao treasures? The one I’ve awakened pertains to my fate as the Blood Emperor, not Yang Wei.”

Every word that left his mouth came with pride and a bright facial expression.

“I’m pleased that my cultivation is advancing swiftly. Perhaps in a few months, I’ll break through to Late Core Formation!”

Though he still lacked many techniques from the Sutra of Eternal Vitality, each one he acquired promised profound breakthroughs.

His latest acquisition was the Emperor’s Bone Control Art.

With this technique, he could manipulate his bones, transforming them into weapons or shields at will. Moreover, he could even seize control of his enemies’ bones, shattering or contorting them to render foes incapacitated in an instant.

“Hehe~ I must say, Yang Wei, you truly shine brightly…”

The young man chuckled to himself, full of self-praise.

Stepping out of his cultivation room, he found He Dongmei waiting, already prepared for the day ahead.

“Ah, sweet Mei’er, you’re in good spirits today.”

He Dongmei nodded in agreement. “If I don’t assist Senior Brother, who will?” She sharply tilted her head and giggled softly.

The two walked together until they reached the dining hall.

This was Yang Wei’s first time here, so he took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the place. It was quite spacious, and the dining table placed in the center seemed somewhat out of place. It wasn’t due to its positioning or maintenance; rather, the hall was so large that having just a very long table surrounded by chairs at the center felt like a waste of space.

“Mei’er?”

“Yes, Senior Brother?”

“Shouldn’t the dining hall be… smaller?”

He Dongmei pondered for a moment before replying, “Well, this is actually the smallest room in the manor.”

Yang Wei narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “I see…” he muttered, rubbing his chin.

Just then, Huo Yue entered from another entrance, and her face lit up at the sight of her beloved.

“Husband, you’ve finished stabilizing your cultivation!”

Yang Wei nodded happily. “Yes! Good morning, Yue’er.”

Following Huo Yue was Liu Yan, who wore her usual plain expression on her delicate features.

“Ah, Junior Brother…” Liu Yan mentioned after adjusting her spectacles.

Yang Wei smiled warmly, already crossing the hall to meet her.

Although she had been helping him immensely with Grand Elder Peak, their different responsibilities left little time for them to interact.

“Big Sister Liu!” Yang Wei exclaimed with joy.

Liu Yan glanced at him, her gaze sweeping from top to bottom, pausing for a few seconds. Her cheeks tinged pink and she looked away bashfully, though her expression remained impassive.

“Hm?” Yang Wei approached her, concerned. “Is something the matter?”

Even Huo Yue joined in, equally perplexed. “Big Sister?”

Liu Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, resembling the elegant gaze of a phoenix.

She muttered something softly.

Yang Wei leaned in closer. “Big Sister… I couldn’t hear that.”

Liu Yan shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m just a little surprised you didn’t hug me and call me Yan’er…”

“Huh?” Yang Wei raised an eyebrow. “Do you… want me to hug you?”

Liu Yan hesitated momentarily. “Well… it’s not so much a request as it is an expectation.”

She wasn’t typically shy, but she also didn’t usually express such desires. It was clear she was acting based on their past interactions in the White Serpent Sect.

“Yan’er~” Yang Wei affectionately called her name, gently clasping her slender hands in his firm grip.

Liu Yan’s cheeks flushed deeper as she looked up at him.

“H-, hmm?”

The man’s beauty took her breath away, along with his charisma and the gentle tone of his voice, which sparked a lingering affection in her emerald eyes.

“Was that all you wanted?” Yang Wei asked.

Without waiting for an answer, he pulled her into a tight, affectionate hug.

Liu Yan felt her soft body pressed against his, evoking nostalgic memories of their past interactions. Soon, she found herself tightly embracing Yang Wei, burying her face in his chest and inhaling his comforting, addictive scent.

Her mind stirred.

Mu Zhong… he’s like the sun – bright, unavoidable, but sometimes too intense. It’s not that I dislike him; he’s just always there, like an elder brother. There’s comfort in his presence, a sense of stability that I appreciate.

Yet, when thoughts of romance surface, I falter…

Could I see him as more than a friend? Perhaps. But then again, the idea feels awkward, as if I’d be crossing some invisible line.

Liu Yan’s slender arms remained attached to Yang Wei’s body.

It was as though she didn’t want to let go.

Then there’s Wei… he’s different. I’ve noticed how effortless it is to envision him in a romantic light. Even when he was just a junior disciple, there was a magnetism about him that drew me in. It’s not merely physical attraction; there’s a connection that goes deeper.

Yet, I find myself hesitating.

Is it love? Or is it merely fascination, a curiosity that I haven’t fully explored?

She couldn’t produce an answer to save her life.

I’ve never been one to wear my heart on my sleeve. Perhaps that’s why Mu Zhong sometimes sees me as emotionally shallow. It’s not that I lack depth; it’s just harder for me to navigate these waters.

With Yang Wei, it’s almost like a dance – subtle, nuanced, yet undeniably there.

But how do I express what I feel when I’m not even sure what these feelings truly mean?

Sigh~ impossible…

Liu Yan sighed softly, pressing her face into Yang Wei’s chest.

She wanted more of his scent.

She wanted to feel his very being.

Maybe she even wanted everything.

“I want to understand…” she suddenly murmured.

Yang Wei looked down at the top of her head. “Yan’er, is there a problem?” he asked.

Liu Yan gently shook her head. “No…”

I want to grasp these feelings and give them the voice they deserve. Yet, each time I try, I stumble over my own hesitations. Am I afraid of rejection? Or am I simply afraid of the unknown?

It has to be something…

A little frustrated, she clawed his robes emotionally – as if she didn’t want him to disappear.

Maybe it’s time to stop overthinking and start trusting my instincts.

Whether it’s Yang Wei or even someone else entirely, I owe it to myself to explore these emotions with an open heart.

It’s not about being bold or emotionally shallow – it’s about finding the courage to be true to myself, whatever that truth may be.

Hmm~~ yes, that’s my answer…

“Uh, Yan’er… we’ve been hugging for an oddly long time.”

It was Yang Wei’s words that snapped her back to reality.

“Huh?” Liu Yan uttered.

She gently pulled away and composed herself. With a small “ahem”, she closed her eyes briefly to let the slight redness in her face settle. “My apologies, I got a bit carried away,” Liu Yan said calmly.

Her voice was quite steady despite the situation, unlike how most women might react.

Yang Wei chuckled softly. “Haha, if you hugged me any longer, I might have gotten handsy.”

Liu Yan’s eyes widened slightly, recalling a previous incident.

“Ah?”

She didn’t quite know how to respond to his remark.

Huo Yue playfully punched Yang Wei on the shoulder. “Don’t say such things to Senior Sister! Not everyone has your patience.” Then, she turned to Liu Yan with a gentle smile. “Senior Sister, please forgive him. He gets a bit carried away sometimes. But he truly values all your efforts for Grand Elder Peak.”

Liu Yan waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s fine. I was the one who suggested the hug, so if he had gotten, um, handsy, it would have been my fault.”

Huo Yue giggled. “That’s one way to look at it optimistically.” Adjusting her light-blue hair, she walked towards the dining table. “Husband, before you head out, I’ve prepared a special dish for you~~”

Yang Wei’s eyes lit up. “Really?!”

Huo Yue nodded enthusiastically. “Mhm!”

Like a child eager for his mother’s cooking, Yang Wei hurried back to the dining table.

Meanwhile, Liu Yan stood there watching Yang Wei, He Dongmei, and Huo Yue.

Hmm, grab my butt… he’s always so unpredictable. I guess that’s the thing that makes every second with him an adventure. I want to be more involved with him… maybe part of his life? I don’t know.

Sigh~ he has a lot of women around him. Perhaps I don’t belong with them. How would I even tell him, he barely notices this confusing feeling I’m experiencing.

She wanted to smile but restrained herself.

Suddenly, Yang Wei waved excitedly at her from the table.

“Yan’er, come join us!”

Liu Yan nodded and made her way over.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep