As soon as the words left his mouth, an utterly disheveled figure could be seen speeding over from the distance.
Xiao Chen was hastily adjusting his clothes as he flew, muttering something incoherent under his breath.
Ye Feng and Li Guanqi exchanged a glance, both struggling to hold back their laughter.
Spotting the two of them, Xiao Chen waved from afar.
With a flash of movement, he landed on the cloud boat, dragged Li Guanqi and Ye Feng aside, and said with great secrecy, "Man, oh man! You guys have no idea what I just went through!"
Yet, unexpectedly, Li Guanqi and Ye Feng burst out laughing at the same time.
"Hahaha! We know. We know all too well!"
Xiao Chen assumed this was merely something they had also practiced in secret, and he whispered conspiratorially, "Tempering the heart in the mortal realm! It truly lives up to its reputation! I can now run an entire greater heavenly circulation without being disturbed by external distractions!"
At that point, Xiao Chen added with immense regret, "It's a pity time was so short—we have to rush back to the Shenbao Domain. Otherwise, I would definitely have stayed for three days and three nights."
The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curled up as he said teasingly, "You can always do it after you get back to the Shenbao Domain."
Even so, Li Guanqi kindly reminded him, "Tempering your heart is one thing, but don't go doing anything reckless."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen immediately put on a solemn face. "That definitely won't happen! You underestimate me, Xiao Chen! How strong is my temperament? How could a mere mortal heart-tempering shake my Dao heart!"
Ye Feng curled his lips and muttered, "You nearly bled yourself dry from your nose, and you call that a strong temperament? If we cremated you, only that mouth of yours would survive."
Xiao Chen grinned and said nothing more.
However, Li Guanqi was surprised to find that after going through this so-called heart-tempering in the mortal realm, Xiao Chen really seemed a bit different. Perhaps it was because his pure, naive heart had never seen such things before. As a result, after witnessing them, he had suddenly lost his curiosity toward many things he used to yearn for.
Ye Feng noticed this as well and could not help sending a voice transmission: "Boss, how did this guy actually get real results out of heart-tempering?"
Just then, Xiao Chen pointed at Ye Feng and asked, "Why do you have the aura of a heavenly flame on you?"
Ye Feng glanced back at Li Guanqi and pouted toward him. "Boss gave it to me."
*Bang!*
A cluster of jet-black flames surfaced in his palm. The scorching heat caused the surrounding space to ripple and distort continuously.
The corners of Ye Feng's mouth curved upward. He attempted to use the unique properties of the Yinming Profound Flame to stir up flames within Xiao Chen's body.
Yet in the very next breath, Xiao Chen sensed it; with a surge of primal energy, he suppressed it instantly.
Xiao Chen possessed the Great Sky Rosy Flame in his own body, and its ranking was even higher than the Yinming Profound Flame. Dealing with it was more than within his capability.
Even so, Xiao Chen was thoroughly astonished. He turned to Li Guanqi. "You actually have that kind of... cultivation technique that allows someone without a fire spiritual root to integrate a flame?"
Li Guanqi nodded silently. In any case, even if others knew about it, there was nothing they could do. As long as he did not wish to give it away, no one could take it from him.
Meng Wanshu had arrived at the gunwale at some unknown point. Looking at the three whispering together, she could not help feeling a bit baffled.
*The friendship between men is truly strange. Not long ago they were fighting to the death, and now they're slinging their arms around each other's shoulders and whispering secrets.*
Meng Wanshu had actually come out because she was feeling uneasy.
Just moments ago, Li Changqing had told her that the cloud boat was fully repaired.
She naturally understood what that meant.
If she hadn't secretly sabotaged a few formations over the past two days, the boat might have been fixed yesterday.
She didn't want to leave.
At least, not right now.
She and Li Guanqi hadn't seen each other in years. After their nightlong conversation during this reunion, their hearts had drawn even closer. Even the awkward stiffness they felt upon first reuniting was gone, and their feelings were completely clear to one another.
That feeling... captivated her so deeply she couldn't pull herself out of it.
Seeing Meng Wanshu, Xiao Chen instantly beamed and waved, calling out, "Wanshu, why did you come out?"
Li Guanqi slapped a palm onto Xiao Chen's face and shoved him straight behind his back. Striding toward Meng Wanshu, he asked in a gentle voice, "Why did you come out?"
Meng Wanshu clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers nervously picking at her nails. She lowered her head, pressing her lips together and biting them gently, unsure of how to voice the question in her heart.
Seeing this, Li Guanqi smiled faintly and crouched halfway down to look up at her.
Noticing her slightly reddened eyes, Li Guanqi stood up and pulled her into his arms. In a soft voice, he whispered into her ear, "I'm going back to the Shenbao Domain with you!"
Xiao Chen saw Li Guanqi embracing her and immediately erupted in curses!
"You absolute bastard! I treated you like a friend, and you treated me like an utter chump! I know the two of you are inseparable now, but could you not do it right in front of me?! My heart aches! It aches so much!"
Before anyone realized it, a golden barrier of light appeared in front of Xiao Chen.
Ye Feng rested one hand on his sword while digging at his ear with his pinky. "Little Chenchen, I'm not trying to pick on you, but... why haven't you figured out where you stand yet?"
Xiao Chen turned to glare at Ye Feng, saying indignantly, "Why? How am I any worse than him?"
Ye Feng looked toward Li Guanqi and chuckled. "My boss has an innate charisma that you just can't match."
Meng Wanshu jerked her head up, her ice-blue eyes shining as she looked at Li Guanqi. "Really? Hahaha, wonderful! Are you really going back with me?"
Li Guanqi smiled, nodded, and turned to Ye Feng to ask for his opinion.
Ye Feng naturally had no objections. He shrugged casually and said, "Doesn't matter to me. Wherever you go, Boss, I follow."
Li Guanqi chuckled and said softly, "Then let's go see the Shenbao Domain together!"
Overjoyed, Meng Wanshu linked her arms around Li Guanqi's, rested her head against his shoulder, and closed her eyes with a smile.
Li Changqing, however, wore a dark scowl and kept silent for a moment before looking at Xiao Chen and asking, "Will Young Master Xiao be coming with us, or traveling alone?"
Xiao Chen answered solemnly, "Of course I'm coming with you! How boring would it be to travel alone?"
With that, everyone returning to the Shenbao Domain was aboard.
The cloud boat slowly levitated and pulled away from Yuntian City's dockyard. An ice-blue barrier of light snapped into place, and the vessel began its gradual ascent.
Just as they were about to step into their quarters, Li Guanqi felt a sudden tug of intuition and looked back toward the peak of a high mountain behind them.
A figure in green robes stood atop the summit, pale-faced and frail.
Even so, he cupped his hands in a distant salute toward the cloud boat, his posture gentle and filled with apology.
A breeze swept past, fluttering the youth's hair and robes. Unfastening the bamboo flute from his waist, he played a tune for the friend in his heart.
The melodious flute notes drifted through the air, laden with apology, reluctance to part, and many complex emotions.
Li Guanqi smiled with unburdened ease and cupped his hands toward the distant summit.
With a sudden burst, the cloud boat tore through the firmament, transforming into a streak of flowing light that vanished into the sky.
Chapter 524