CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 7: YUN HENG IS INJURED [PART 2]

"Don’t worry, we were really quick just now, so they probably didn’t see what you look like clearly. Just make sure not to expose yourself," Yun Ran said, feeling relieved that she had been quick-witted and dragged Gu Qingqing away. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened.

"That’s good," Gu Qingqing patted her chest, "You are so smart, Sister Yun."

"You sweet talker." Yun Ran patted Gu Qingqing’s hand; though her words were teasing, her tone was full of affection.

"I’ve been inside fighting for quite a while and feel a bit tired. Let’s head back first," Gu Qingqing said, looking around and speaking to Yun Ran.

Yun Ran certainly had no objections, and the two headed back to the city and returned to the Yun Family.

"Miss, the Young Master is waiting for you."

As soon as they entered the courtyard where Yun Ran lived, a maid came to report.

Yun Ran was a bit surprised, "Why would Young Master come over?"

She knew Yun Jing’s personality. They didn’t interact much usually, let alone Yun Jing taking the initiative to seek her out.

"I don’t know, Miss. It’s best if you go in and check," the maid, afraid of offending Yun Jing, urged her.

"Sister Yun, I’ll head to my room first." Gu Qingqing had learned about some of the Yun Family’s matters over the past couple of days and understood who the Young Master they mentioned was. She thought for a moment and said to Yun Ran.

Yun Ran hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "You go ahead and rest; I’ll come find you later."

Gu Qingqing nodded and turned to walk towards her room.

Yun Ran followed the maid into the flower hall, where she found Yun Jing sitting and drinking tea, and quickly stepped forward.

"Yun Ran greets the Young Master." Yun Ran walked up to Yun Jing, speaking as she prepared to bow.

"No need for formality, Sister Ran." Yun Jing waved his hand, and a gentle force held Yun Ran up, preventing her from bowing.

"What business does the Young Master have with me?" Yun Ran was still thinking about Gu Qingqing being alone and wanted to wrap up the conversation with Yun Jing quickly, so she asked directly.

"Did Sister Ran go to the Trial Tower today?" Yun Jing, not beating around the bush, put down his teacup, looked at Yun Ran, and asked directly.

Yun Ran’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged as she nodded.

"Was the person who went with Sister Ran named Gu Qingqing?" Yun Jing’s smile remained, but his eyes suddenly became sharp as he stared at Yun Ran.

"The Young Master already knows?" Yun Ran thought it inevitable. Although she was fast today, familiar people could still recognize her, and Yun Jing had indeed identified her.

"I happened to be outside today; Zhou Qi and Zhao Cheng were there too." Seeing that Yun Ran didn’t hide anything, Yun Jing’s smile became more genuine, and his gaze softened as he lowered his head and picked up his teacup again.

Yun Ran’s gaze focused, her brows furrowing before quickly relaxing, "Geng Geng is my good friend."

"May I meet her?" A look of understanding flashed in Yun Jing’s eyes as he asked.

Yun Ran hesitated, "I need to ask her."

"She should be in the courtyard, right? You can ask her now." Yun Jing had already inquired before coming and knew the girl Yun Ran brought back was living here, so he wasn’t in a hurry.

Yun Ran gave Yun Jing a deep look and got up to leave.

In the room, Yun Ran conveyed Yun Jing’s intention to Gu Qingqing and sought her opinion.

"Why does he want to meet me? Is it because I challenged the 196th floor of the Trial Tower?" Gu Qingqing asked curiously, tilting her head.

"Probably. Huazhou City’s strongest of the younger generation have always been Yun Jing, Zhao Cheng, and Zhou Qi. Suddenly, someone else breaks through, and they’d naturally be curious. If you don’t want to meet, I can decline him." Yun Ran certainly didn’t want to force Gu Qingqing and didn’t mind offending Yun Jing either.

"No need, it’s just a meeting, nothing more," Gu Qingqing understood Yun Ran’s current situation and didn’t want Yun Ran to have a hard time because of her. She wasn’t particularly concerned about meeting Yun Jing, as long as it wasn’t a crowd surrounding her.

Since Gu Qingqing didn’t mind, Yun Ran took her to the flower hall.

"Young Master, this is my friend, Gu Qingqing," Yun Ran introduced Gu Qingqing to Yun Jing, then turned her head, "Geng Geng, this is the Yun Family’s Young Master, Yun Jing."

Gu Qingqing was not wearing a veil at the moment, her exquisite beauty made Yun Jing feel momentarily dazed.

"Gu Qingqing greets Young Master Yun." Gu Qingqing cupped her hands towards Yun Jing.

"Yun Jing greets Miss Gu." Yun Jing snapped back to his senses and quickly returned the salute.

"I wonder why Young Master Yun wishes to meet me?" After sitting down on a chair, Gu Qingqing glanced at Yun Ran and directly asked.

"I learned today that Miss Gu has reached the 196th level of the Trial Tower; such impressive skills, I wanted to make your acquaintance." Yun Jing, though a bit surprised, patiently explained.

"You only want to get to know me?" Gu Qingqing tilted her head, looking at Yun Jing.

"Not just that, if there’s a chance, I’d love to spar with Miss Gu. I hope Miss Gu will kindly teach me." Yun Jing stated his purpose directly, looking Gu Qingqing right in the eye.

A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Qingqing’s eyes, "I signed up for the tournament. Sister Yun said a lot of people would participate. You’re joining too, right? We can spar then."

"Miss Gu has also signed up for the tournament?" Yun Jing was somewhat surprised, not expecting Gu Qingqing to participate in such a competition because she appeared like someone who should be adored, but considering her record in the Trial Tower, he was relieved, "Then we can definitely spar well then."

"I hope Young Master Yun will go easy on me then." For Yun Ran’s sake, Gu Qingqing didn’t mind flattering Yun Jing a little.

"Miss Gu is too modest. I’ve bothered you today; I’ll take my leave first." Yun Jing was self-aware enough to know that Gu Qingqing’s reaching the 196th level of the Trial Tower already showed her strength surpassing his; calling for mercy was just a face-saving humility.

"Take care, Young Master." Gu Qingqing and Yun Ran together saw Yun Jing out.

"This Yun Jing seems nice enough, and the Yun Family atmosphere isn’t bad either, Sister Yun’s choice to stay here is good enough." Gu Qingqing said to Yun Ran as they walked back.

"The Yun Family here is indeed quite fine." Yun Ran agreed very much with this point, otherwise, she wouldn’t stay, "Now the Zhao Family and Zhou Family are likely aware of your association with me. It might be troublesome going forward."

This Huazhou City, though large, is also small, and for people of the Zhou Family and Zhao Family to know Gu Qingqing’s relation with her was easy. Based on her knowledge of Zhou Qi and Zhao Cheng, they’d surely try to pay Gu Qingqing a visit to probe her background.

"Are they all that idle? Why must they know who I am?" Gu Qingqing frowned with some dissatisfaction, finding these people somewhat bothersome.

"It’s not that they are idle. It’s because this tournament is very important to them. Their opponents were originally just each other, but now there’s you as a variable. Naturally, they want to ascertain your background first." Yun Ran, knowing more, was unsurprised by their actions.

"Didn’t you say the tournament is held once every three years? Given their age and strength, shouldn’t they have participated before? Why do they care so much now?" Gu Qingqing asked, puzzled.

"Because this year the City Lord Mansion is offering a Breaking Barrier Pill as the grand prize, which can elevate one’s cultivation from the eighth rank to the ninth without any conditions. Such an elixir is rare even in the Sub-immortal Realm, and they all covet it." Talking about this tournament’s prize, even Yun Ran was a bit excited.

Gu Qingqing, having learned some alchemy with Mu Chen, naturally knew the function of the Breaking Barrier Pill, and was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

"Your City Lord Mansion really went all out; as far as I know, the main ingredient for the Breaking Barrier Pill, Snow Spirit Grass, is not easy to find!" Gu Qingqing remarked in amazement, "Sister Yun, do you want it?" She turned her head and asked Yun Ran.

"Of course, I’d want it, but unfortunately, I surely won’t win it!" Yun Ran was quite aware of her abilities; she couldn’t beat Yun Jing and the others!

"Since Sister Yun wants it, I’ll get it for you!" Gu Qingqing herself was not lacking such elixirs, but since Yun Ran wanted it, she thought she’d put in some effort!

"Thank you, Geng Geng, but there’s no need to do anything for me; your happiness is what matters." Although Yun Ran was very touched by what Gu Qingqing was doing for her, she didn’t want to force Gu Qingqing.

"Come on, I’ve grown up, and I know what to do. Go and freshen up now." Gu Qingqing didn’t give Yun Ran a chance to say more, pushing her into the room.

...

The next day, just as Yun Ran expected, the Zhao Family and Zhou Family sent invitations to Gu Qingqing, but sadly, Gu Qingqing had absolutely no interest in seeing them, so she directly refused, ignoring their reactions, and simply continued cultivating with Yun Ran.

In the afternoon, when Gu Qingqing and Yun Ran returned from outside, they found someone waiting at the entrance. The person seemed somewhat disheveled, with clothes showing some wear and bloodstains, indicating significant injuries.

"Yun Lin, why are you back? And injured?" Seeing that person, Yun Ran’s face changed, she quickly walked over and asked worriedly.

"Sister Yun Ran, come quickly, we need to rescue someone, Brother Yun Heng is hurt." Yun Lin, visibly agitated at the sight of Yun Ran, grabbed Yun Ran’s hand and started walking, speaking without pause.

"What happened? Yun Lin, speak clearly, how did my brother get injured?" Hearing Yun Lin’s words, Yun Ran immediately lost her composure, holding onto Yun Lin’s hand, she asked anxiously.

"We went to Red Cloud Mountain outside the city for training, only to encounter a Demon Cultivator. Everyone got injured, Brother Yun Heng stayed behind with others to fight the Demon Cultivator, and sent me back to deliver the message!" Yun Lin quickly recounted the events, "Sister Yun Ran, come quickly with me, or else I fear..."

Although he didn’t finish his sentence, everyone present understood his implication.