That morning, Wu Tian intended to resume hunting fourth-tier demonic beasts. He wanted to make the best use of the remaining time to push his cultivation to the peak of Qi Condensation.
However, just as he stepped out of the inn, an unexpected sight halted him in his tracks.
Lu Qingyao was standing in front of the inn.
Wu Tian fell silent for a moment. He was curious—how had she managed to find where he was staying? Yet that curiosity was quickly replaced by another question: why had Lu Qingyao come so early in the morning?
Without saying much, Lu Qingyao led him to a secluded place. Wu Tian followed quietly, choosing not to ask anything.
After making sure there was no one around, Lu Qingyao finally stopped.
"I want you to stop all of this," she said. Her voice trembled, as though she were suppressing something heavy in her chest.
Wu Tian frowned. The statement came far too suddenly. His thoughts drifted to what had happened the day before, but he knew—such a minor matter could not possibly warrant Lu Qingyao coming to see him in person.
"Miss Lu… what do you mean?" Wu Tian asked softly. "What is it that you want me to stop?"
"I already know everything," Lu Qingyao said, staring straight into Wu Tian's eyes. "The tiger cub you brought to me… it's the child of a fourth-tier demonic beast."
Wu Tian fell silent.
"Don't deny it," Lu Qingyao continued, her tone hardening. "You deliberately fought a fourth-tier demonic beast, didn't you? You just wanted to draw my attention."
Wu Tian smiled faintly."What if that really was my reason?" he replied casually.
Lu Qingyao's expression changed instantly.
"I don't want you to do it again, Wu Tian!" she said quickly. "It's far too dangerous! Your cultivation is still at Qi Condensation—fighting a fourth-tier demonic beast is not something you can treat lightly!"
Wu Tian looked at her without the slightest hint of guilt."But I survived, didn't I?" he said indifferently. "Besides, I had another reason for fighting a fourth-tier demonic beast."
Those words instantly ignited the anger within Lu Qingyao.
"That's not the point!" her voice rose sharply. "Do you really think I'd be impressed by you doing reckless things just to get my attention?!"
Wu Tian fell silent for a moment, yet the faint smile still lingered on his face, as though her anger had never truly reached him.
Lu Qingyao clenched her fists tightly."So it's really true…" her voice trembled, mixed with anger and disappointment. "You did all of this because of me."
Wu Tian shrugged lightly."I only did what I wanted to do."
Those words were like the final blow.
"I'm sorry, Wu Tian," Lu Qingyao said firmly, even as emotion glimmered in her eyes. "I will never return your feelings."
Wu Tian was stunned. The smile on his face finally vanished.
Lu Qingyao stepped forward half a step, her voice rising uncontrollably."You don't even know me! You don't care who I am, what I think, or what I feel!"
Lu Qingyao bit her lower lip.
"What you like is only what you see—this face, this outward appearance!" she said sharply.
She stared at Wu Tian coldly, as if trying to truly create distance between them.
"From now on, don't approach me again. If you insist, I will treat you differently—and that's not something you'll like."
Wu Tian fell silent for a moment. But before Lu Qingyao could turn away, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Let go," Lu Qingyao said in surprise.
"I didn't do all of this to get your attention," Wu Tian said in a low but firm voice. "And I didn't approach you just because of your appearance."
Lu Qingyao stared at him sharply."Then what is your reason?" she asked coldly. "Other than my appearance, what else?"
Wu Tian hesitated, as if weighing every word.
"I like it when you smile at me," he said softly. "Your smile gives me a sense of calm I've never gotten from anyone else."
He tightened his grip slightly and continued in a deeper voice."But at the same time, I hate it when you smile at other men."
"I'm happy when I see you happy," he went on quietly. "Yet at the same time, I know my heart would shatter if I ever saw you in sorrow."
He took a deep breath."Is what I feel love? I'm not sure myself. Are my feelings completely pure? Of course they are. And did I approach you partly because of your appearance? That's also one of the reasons."
"But what's certain," he said, meeting her gaze directly, "is that I need you in my life."
Lu Qingyao forcefully pulled her hand free."Every sentence you've spoken," she said with a trembling voice, "ultimately still points to what you see, doesn't it?"
"You don't even know me. You don't know my flaws, my shortcomings, or the things I want to keep hidden."
Wu Tian looked at her without the slightest hesitation.
"Perhaps I don't know them yet," he replied calmly. "But when I like the sky, I accept all of its weather."
Lu Qingyao fell silent for a long time. Her gaze wavered before she finally steadied herself.
"I will continue to take care of the tiger cub," she said coldly."But from now on… we'll act as if we don't know each other."
After saying that, Lu Qingyao turned and left, leaving Wu Tian standing alone where he was—burdened with feelings he had yet to fully understand.
Wu Tian watched Lu Qingyao's retreating figure in silence, his mind in chaos over what had just happened.
'I didn't know she had this kind of psychological condition. If I had known from the beginning, I would never have praised her looks, nor approached her so openly.'
Wu Tian began to realize that Lu Qingyao's condition had been shaped by her surroundings—people who only looked at her appearance, never truly seeing what she was capable of. Moreover, over the past few weeks, Wu Tian had also noticed how increasingly quiet Lu Qingyao had become.
"Constantly praised for her looks, yet never truly listened to… no wonder she always keeps her distance from me," Wu Tian murmured, letting out a soft sigh.
Within the sea of his consciousness, Soul Reaver began rambling—suggesting ruining Lu Qingyao's appearance, then extending a hand when others began to distance themselves from her. Before the rambling could continue, Wu Tian forcefully silenced it.
Not long after, Wu Tian headed to the Alchemist Association to ask Lin Yao to prepare several healing pills as well as pills that would help him fight fourth-tier demonic beasts.
Over the past few weeks, Wu Tian's relationship with Lin Yao had grown increasingly close. Many people had even begun to assume that the two had sworn brotherhood.
Wu Tian's reputation continued to rise. Every time he successfully killed a fourth-tier demonic beast with Qi Condensation cultivation, his name spread further through the taverns.
People also noticed his habit of asking Lin Yao to refine pills before hunting. This caused other cultivators to line up at Lin Yao's stall, believing that Lin Yao's pills were the main reason Wu Tian could kill fourth-tier demonic beasts.
During the same period, Wu Tian successfully advanced his cultivation to the peak of Qi Condensation, ninth stage. In addition, he had comprehended and trained six emotions of the Soul-Severing Dream Technique, making him confident that he could now face Lin Yao—and even her master.
At times, Wu Tian would also visit Lu Qingyao. He would ask about her condition and always point out the subtle changes he noticed.
"Miss Lu, have you been playing the zither lately?"
"Yes, but I'm not talented, so I decided to stop."
"Miss Lu, I see you've begun practicing swordsmanship. If you don't mind, I could teach you."
"Thank you for the offer, but I must decline."
"Miss Lu, you don't look very well. Perhaps you should rest more."
"Thank you for your concern, but I believe I'm still fine."
That was how their interactions went. Even so, Wu Tian did not give up. He continued trying to draw Lu Qingyao into longer conversations. He wanted her to think of him as someone she could confide in—a place where she would be heard.
Until one day, Soul Reaver's voice echoed within his mind.
"I can now absorb another soul."
Wu Tian smiled faintly. "Good. Then how confident are you in dealing with the master inside lin yao ring?"
"The master inside the ring?" Soul Reaver sounded confused. "What do you mean?"
"Wait," Wu Tian frowned. "You didn't sense the presence of a master's soul inside his storage ring? Then how did you know he was a Child of Destiny? I thought you wanted me to save him to maintain the relationship—and eventually absorb his master's soul."
Soul Reaver fell silent for a moment before replying, "I saw an extremely dense golden aura around his body. In addition, he was fighting a Qi Condensation-level demonic beast with an exceptionally rare demonic core."
Soul Reaver paused for a second, then continued, "I didn't sense any hidden master protecting him. My true intention was simply to absorb his soul, because the soul of a Child of Destiny has a significant effect on me."
Wu Tian frowned deeply. He did not want to lose Lin Yao. That would only cause Soul Reaver to waste time—time that should have been spent digesting the souls it had already consumed.
"I don't know why you think that way," Soul Reaver said again. "But even if he does have a powerful master, I'm certain their cultivation has declined significantly. And I'm confident… I can still absorb them."