Su Meiyu had departed, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

Han Lie turned his gaze to Qin Lan. Her face was pale, her aura weak, yet her beauty remained undiminished—a fragile jade amidst the chaos.

“I have burdened you, Senior Qin Lan,” Han Lie said, his voice laced with genuine guilt. “I owe you a significant favor for today.”

“Perhaps with my current cultivation, I cannot repay this debt immediately,” he continued, meeting her eyes. “But rest assured, this old man always pays his debts. There will be opportunities in the future.”

Qin Lan shook her head gently. “What is this talk of favors? Was this not our prior agreement?”

She would shield Han Lie from the Overlord Hall’s wrath; Han Lie would aid her cultivation. It was a transaction, simple and cold.

“It was an agreement, yes,” Han Lie replied, a gentle smile softening his features. “But I still feel uneasy knowing you suffered injury on my account.”

“Enough of this dithering. This is already the best possible outcome,” Qin Lan interrupted, her expression hardening into stern resolve. “If Old Ghost Black Sha or anyone from the Overlord Hall dares to trouble you again, tell me immediately. I will ensure those disciples of the Overlord Hall live to regret it.”

“Mm.” Han Lie nodded.

Although Su Meiyu had claimed the matter with Old Ghost Black Sha was settled, neither Han Lie nor Qin Lan were naive enough to believe the grudge had simply vanished. When the old ghost left, the resentment in his eyes had been palpable. He had only retreated today because Su Meiyu’s presence forced his hand.

“Come,” Qin Lan said, her tone shifting. “Accompany me while I recover. Your Yang energy will be the finest medicine for my healing.”

“Yes, Senior.”

For the next several days, the world outside ceased to exist. Han Lie and Qin Lan secluded themselves in her residence, engaging in deep Dual Cultivation to repair her damaged foundation.

Qin Lan’s injuries were not life-threatening; the backlash from the confrontation had merely shaken her internal organs and thrown her meridians into chaos.

Under the relentless nourishment of Han Lie’s Pure Yang energy, the chaotic qi within her was smoothed and tamed. In just a few days, she had recovered almost completely.

The benefits were mutual. As their energies spiraled and merged, the cultivation bases of both Han Lie and Qin Lan climbed visibly.

“Senior, shall we continue?” Han Lie asked. Even after days of ceaseless effort, he was still brimming with vigor, his eyes burning with intensity.

“Let us stop here for now. My injuries are mostly healed,” Qin Lan said, though her voice held a trace of reluctance.

She wished to continue—the sensation of his energy filling her void was intoxicating—but the power she had absorbed in these few days was immense. Signs of instability were beginning to show in her foundation. She needed to consolidate her gains and circulate her techniques properly. To be too hasty now would invite disaster.

“Then please rest and recuperate, Senior. I won’t disturb you further.”

“Mm. Go ahead.”

After dressing, Han Lie stepped out of Qin Lan’s residence, the cool mountain air failing to dampen the heat still lingering in his blood.

“Han Lie!”

“Finally found you!”

Just as he left Enforcement Peak and returned to the Heavenly Void Sect’s main mountain gate, a familiar figure blocked his path.

Zhuo Hongyi.

“Captain Hongyi? Long time no see. How have you been?” Han Lie smiled easily, his posture relaxed.

“I’m fine, but are you okay?” Zhuo Hongyi scanned him from head to toe, her brows furrowed in worry. “I heard that a few days ago you clashed with people from the Overlord Hall and then vanished. I thought something terrible had happened to you.”

“What exactly happened that day?” she pressed.

“Nothing too major,” Han Lie summarized with a shrug. “I went to seek Senior Qin Lan’s protection, and the Hall Master of the Overlord Hall came looking for trouble. Later, my master arrived, and the matter was temporarily settled.”

“The Overlord Hall’s Hall Master personally intervened? And you call that ‘nothing too major’?” Zhuo Hongyi stared at him, stunned by his nonchalance.

Han Lie smiled faintly. “Mm, it’s alright. I’m still standing, aren’t I?”

“That’s good. You really scared me,” Zhuo Hongyi let out a long sigh, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. The stone weighing on her heart for the past few days crumbled away.

“Heh, apologies for making Captain Hongyi worry about this senior.”

“Hmph! Apologies aren’t enough. You have to compensate me!” Zhuo Hongyi crossed her arms, a playful glint returning to her eyes. “I’ve recently hit a bottleneck. Come practice with me?”

Han Lie considered it for a moment. “Alright.”

If he didn’t possess the Pure Yang Sacred Body, this lifestyle would have drained him dry long ago. But… without the Pure Yang Sacred Body, he wouldn’t have encountered such ‘fortunes’ in the first place.

Han Lie followed Zhuo Hongyi back to her residence.

Compared to the profound depth of Qin Lan, Zhuo Hongyi was somewhat lacking in endurance.

In just three days, she was completely overwhelmed, trembling like a leaf in a storm.

However, the results were undeniable. Her aura was fluctuating wildly, showing clear signs that she was on the verge of breaking through to the late-stage Golden Core realm.

For Han Lie, however, the benefits were negligible. His cultivation barely moved. With his current level, Dual Cultivation with Zhuo Hongyi served more to satisfy physical needs than to advance his power.

“Darling… your Yang energy is truly wonderful,” Zhuo Hongyi murmured, nestling contentedly in Han Lie’s arms. Her face was flushed, her eyes misty with bliss. “If I cultivated normally, breaking through to late-stage Golden Core would take eight or ten years. After just a few times with you, I’m already touching the threshold.”

She estimated that a short period of seclusion was all she needed to smoothly advance.

“Then congratulations in advance, Captain Hongyi,” Han Lie said with a grin, his hand resting possessively on her slender waist, which felt as supple as a water snake.

“Captain Hongyi?” Zhuo Hongyi pouted, dissatisfied with the title.

“Ahem… congratulations, Xiao Qing,” Han Lie corrected himself quickly.

“That’s more like it.” Zhuo Hongyi looked up, studying Han Lie’s profile with an intensity that belied her usual playfulness.

After a long silence, she took a deep breath, her expression turning serious.

“Darling, I want to ask you something.”

“Mm? Go ahead.”

“If one day… I were to form a Dao Companion bond with someone else… what would you do?”

“?”

Han Lie was startled. He lowered his gaze to meet hers. There was no trace of jest in her eyes; she was asking with absolute sincerity.

“……”

For a moment, Han Lie fell silent.

“You wouldn’t stop me… right?” Seeing his silence, a flicker of disappointment flashed deep within Zhuo Hongyi’s eyes.

“Not so.”

Han Lie suddenly moved, cupping Zhuo Hongyi’s face firmly in his hands. His voice dropped, low and dominant.

“You are mine. No one can take you away.”

“That’s more like it!” Zhuo Hongyi beamed, her smile radiant and relieved.

She then explained the reason behind her strange question.

Not long ago, her father had sent a letter summoning her back to the family clan. They had arranged a marriage alliance for her. Unless something unexpected occurred… Zhuo Hongyi would be forced to form a Dao Companion bond with a stranger.

“So… if you don’t want me forming a bond with someone else… come back with me.”

“Alright. When?” Han Lie asked without hesitation.

Through their recent time together, Han Lie could sense that Zhuo Hongyi’s affection for him was genuine. He was not a man to let such devotion go unanswered. Furthermore, without Zhuo Hongyi, his past two years in the Heavenly Void Sect would have been infinitely more difficult.

“In about half a year or so.”

“No problem. Just call me when it’s time,” Han Lie nodded.

“Mhm!” Zhuo Hongyi smiled happily, snuggling closer into his chest.

Then, she looked up again, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“Darling… when we successfully refuse this arranged marriage… would you be willing to form a Dao Companion bond with me?”

…….